His knuckles are white over the steering wheel. And I can feel the rage in the way he is taking turns and speeding the car.

" You could've said no. " I utter out and watch the grip tighten.

It won't be a suprise if this man was thinking of me rather than the steering wheel.

" I did. " He spoke through clenched teeth and accelerates the car taking me only he-knows-where.

" No....." I trail. " You didn't. You were making an excuse. " Shrugging I pull out my phone and start going through my emails.

" Well , I cannot be disrespectful and spit a 'no' on their faces. I am not a mannerless man. " I can hear the growl in his voice and that's why I know that it's better to not look at him.

I hate angry faces.

My father looked terrifying in red eyes. I hate loud voices as well.

People should talk slowly and softly.

I do that with my patients knowing very well that it's important for a psychiatrist like me to behave with people who are having conflicts with their own selves.

" Well.....why? Why couldn't you simply say the truth? Hiding your feelings won't do anything goo-

" Oh stop lecturing me like one of your patients! I am not y-

" Can you please talk more politely? " I ask trying to focus my eyes on the phone but his glare to my side is very strong.

" Don't teach me how to fucking talk , Meera!! " He yells and a soft sigh escapes my lips.

As you know , I hate when people yell upon me.

Closing my phone's screen I shoot my stare at him because I am done with this bullshit.

Enough is Enough.

There is a confusion and stressed anger in his eyes and I do not like and absolutely do not like the way he is looking at me.

" Treat me like a human. " I say. " Talk with respect." Adding with no softness , I look away.

There is a pause of few seconds before I start speaking. This habit of me won't leave me.

Acting like a psychiatrist is not just a job but a part of me now.

So , I can read people like an open book. And many times it gets too much.

People are twisted. Very twisted.

Their thoughts , way of looking at the world , thought process of how people think of them - these things are so fixated in their mind that it's very difficult to make them think otherwise.

Self-loathe is a strong emotion and it takes longer than one can think , to pull it out of the head.

But then sometimes there are people who look twisted from the outside but are actually very simple from the inside.

Dhairya is the latter.

He is a simple man. His expressions are twisted but his mind is loud.

His eyes speak his thoughts and I can read them but somehow I am not trying to.

I don't want to read his eyes. What he is thinking. And I want to leave it like that. Unspoken - riddled.

Those dark orbs scream what they want and that's why I don't want to read him that easily.

This behaviour of mine is barbaric. I know.

But..... sometimes it's better not to know everything. Because I feel that knowing everything won't be a good choice.

" Why didn't you say anything to your mother last night? " I ask , looking at the endless stretching highway.

Where the hell are we even going?

" Because I couldn't! I can't act reckless an-

" Stop yelling. " I say calmly. My eyes still on the road.

" Stop cutting when I speak-

" Softly. Talk softly. " A sound starts to echo in the back of my head.

Tick-Tock

Tick-Tock

" Don't teach me how to talk!! " He grits out glaring at me , I tilt my head and look at him. And smile.

" I don't like when men disrespect me. " I say and the tires screech loudly as he shoves the car to the sides with force and we both jerk forward with the car taking a sudden halt.

My heart is pumping loudly. My ears ringing. Cold Sweat is dampening my forehead and chest.

This man is annoyingly simple.

He is angry and the worst part? I can manipulate him by just a few bunch of words.

Few huffs leave our lips before we look at each other. Our gazes locked. His brows knitted together while mine are in a thin calm line.

I am calm. He is not.

See.

Simple as it is.

Removing his seat belt , he half hovers upon me.

His eyes blazing hot and jaw hinged tight.

It's sharp though. A good chiselled jaw.

" Last night my daughter cried because of you! This morning she was sad because she heard her cousins speak in the wedding that she won't be living with me the way she used to all these years. Her family is forcing her away from me because I have got a fucking wife! - to take care of and that I should shower love upon her for she is a part of our family now. Now you tell me what to do? Smile at things, stay calm like you are doing? " His voice his hoarse . Raspy and growly as if an animal.

" Why couldn't you say no to this marriage? Huh?" He is finding something in my eyes. They are rapidly moving right and left in stern shifts. Locked and loaded.

" Why couldn't you? " I ask. There is no desperateness, anger or hurt in my tone.

Because again , I have no feelings.

Here this man is angry and kinda helpless but what was my dilema? I could've tried and said no but why didn't I?

Because it doesn't matter. I don't care where I live or with whom I live.

I never expect anything from others because if one does , they get disappointed in the end , and I don't want to feel that emotion , so I simply do not expect.

That's why - that's why I didn't try saying no.

No. You know the true reason.

A voice in the very back of my head speaks.

It's living in the darkest parts of my mind and I don't let it come out but maybe I am losing control - just like this man infront of me.

He hates you.

It whispers in my ears.

Look at those eyes. They are full of hate. He hates your presence just like others.

You don't deserve him. He deserves better.

" I know. "

" What? " He frowns.

Oh. Maybe I said that aloud.

Clearing my throat I mumble softly, " Could you please back off a little , you're big. It's getting difficult for me to breathe. "

His eyebrow arcs and I see a barely but visible enough bewildered look on his face.

What?

Did I do something wrong?

Looking away, he gets back into his seat and pulling the seat belt , starts the car. Engine makes a humming sound before we start the journey again.

" I tried. Just like you did. " I say.

" Then perhaps your parents don't really care about you if they get a high class family as their in-laws. " He taunts with a mocking chuckle.

" Perhaps. " I shrug.

" ............... "

" I am sorry that you are going through this because of me. I know that this marriage has no meaning to it but your parents want you happy. And Urvi.....she is a baby. Not a mother but maybe she needs a friend. " I press my lips.

" Maybe she won't ever accept me as her mother but at least I could be a friend to her. I know she hates me but practically I could try. "

My manipulation tricks are far better than anyone else. Maybe I could use them and be more than just a friend to that little girl.

He huffs. His eyes looking at the road.

" Whatever. " He mutters and then takes a U-turn over the high way.

I know what he is doing now.

" If someone asks , you say that we went for breakfast at a restaurant." He declares.

I nod.

My hands in my lap with the phone clutched and voice recorder still on.