Chapter 7: Violence and Unravelling

After a brief moment of tenderness, Kabir impatiently asked where the money was. Meera was a bit unhappy, pouted, and said nothing.

He barely hugged her before blurting out, “Where is it?” The tension in the room was thick enough to cut with a knife. Meera pouted, folding her arms and looking away, hurt by his bluntness.

Kabir coaxed her for a long time, promising marriage and swearing he only loved her, until Meera finally pointed under the freezer.

He tried everything—words, caresses, even that lopsided smile. “Darling, I swear, you’re the only one. Main sach bol raha hoon.” Meera finally relented, eyes brimming with hope and fear.

“Three lakh, all for you.”

Her voice was soft but proud, as if she was offering him her whole life.

“Darling, I love you so much.”

Kabir’s voice was almost a whisper, heavy with greed and something darker.

Kabir gave Meera a big kiss, then got down to search.

He knelt on the cold tiles, hands trembling, eyes wild. For a second, he looked like a boy searching for his lost cricket ball under the bed.

“Nothing here, Meera. There’s nothing underneath.”

His voice rose, panic creeping in. He banged on the freezer, opened it, turned it upside down, but found nothing. The room filled with a rising sense of dread.

“Impossible, are you kidding me?”

Meera’s voice cracked, her bravado slipping. She rushed to the freezer, her face pale.

“Really, see for yourself if you don’t believe it.”

Kabir stepped aside, arms folded, watching Meera with growing suspicion.

Meera suspiciously got down to look, glanced around, then sat on the floor in shock, clutching her chest. “The money... where’s the money?”

She stared at her trembling hands, as if they alone could explain where the money had gone. Tears welled in her eyes, her breath coming in short, panicked gasps.

“I should be asking you—where’s the money?”

Kabir’s face darkened, voice sharp as a slap.

“I clearly put it underneath.”

Meera’s voice was a plea, a desperate attempt to make sense of the impossible.

“There’s nothing underneath.”

Kabir’s voice was ice. He glared at her, lips curled in disgust.

“It was just underneath, I put it there with my own hands... how could it be..."

Meera’s words trailed off, her voice fading into broken sobs. She clutched her knees, rocking back and forth.

Kabir’s face changed. He straightened his clothes.

He suddenly looked older, colder. He smoothed his shirt, eyes narrowing.

“I get it, you’re playing me, huh?”

His words were venomous, spat out with all the hurt and anger of a man betrayed.

“I... no, I really withdrew three lakh, all my money, put it in the bag, put it underneath.”

Meera’s voice trembled, her desperation raw. She crawled towards Kabir, hands outstretched, begging him to believe her.

“Bloody hell!” Kabir slapped Meera in the face. She cried out and fell onto the bed. Instinctively, she covered her cheek with her dupatta and shrank away, eyes glistening but refusing to meet his gaze.

“Wretch! Dare to play me!” Kabir pulled off his belt, folded it, and whipped Meera hard. “I’ve already signed the contract, where’s the money? Where’s the money?”

The belt whistled through the air, landing with a sickening thud. Meera screamed, curling into a ball, arms shielding her face. Kabir’s voice grew hoarse, each word a hammer blow.

After just a few hits, Meera was kneeling on the floor, hugging Kabir’s leg and begging for mercy. But Kabir was furious. He threw away the belt, grabbed Meera by the neck, and lifted her like a chick to the north window.

Meera’s face turned red, her breath coming in ragged gasps. Kabir dragged her to the window, shoving her forward so the world outside could see.

That window overlooked Harish Bhaiya’s matka shop. As long as Harish Bhaiya looked up, he would see his wife being humiliated at the window.

Kabir pointed downstairs. “No money? I’ll post your business all over this main road.”

His threat hung in the air, as sharp and filthy as the city’s gossip. Meera cowered, unable to meet his eyes.

Kabir left, and Meera crawled back to the bed, sitting on the floor, tears streaming uncontrollably.

The room was silent except for her sobs. She looked lost, broken. The world had closed in on her, and there was nowhere left to run.

I felt a bit guilty—anyone would feel sorry for such a beautiful woman. Meera lit a cigarette, her gaze changing as she smoked. She dialled a number.

She drew deep, angry drags, her face hardening with each puff. Her eyes shone with a dangerous resolve. As the smoke curled around her, she picked up her phone and dialled, voice icy.

“Honey, there seems to be a rat at home. Do you still have the rat poison from last time?”

She tried to sound casual, but her voice trembled with rage.

“Yes, at the shop. I’ll bring it home later.”

Harish Bhaiya’s voice was gentle, unsuspecting. He had no idea what storm was brewing.

“Okay, you scared me to death. Bring more.”

Her tone was soft, almost playful, but her eyes were cold as stone.