I have been handed a new red suit, and asked to get ready for Abhimanyu.

I should be grateful, someone wants to take care of me. But why? I cannot give anyone anything.

Abhimanyu is my successful brotheri in law. I wonder what it is that he will get if he gets married to me.

I sit at the bed, bewildered with the thoughts that have been running inside me. Did ma tell about my relationship with Raghav to Abhimanyu and does he think he can do the same things to me and I won't complain.

I caressed my baby bump out of fear, it is only me and my baby in this life. What other option do I have, rather than following what's going on and if he behaves the same way then bear it.

Is there anything I can do to say no to this relationship? There is nothing in the world I can do to survive alone, and even if somehow I survive. What would happen to my child?

And why do they want me to study? Does he want me to work and would be beat me if I don't earn money or make a mistake at work? Does he want me in his office to release his stress.

My hand tests in my palm and I realise I am shivering.

"Stress is not okay, Radhika. Stress is not okay for the baby."

I move to change and get ready. I barely look at myself in the mirror, but when I did today. I did not look like the girl who used to love colors.

I could still see the marks beneath my suit. The beating marks were etched in my eyes more than they were in my skin.

There was nothing I liked in the mirror except my baby. The only thing Good about all of this is I will have someone of my own.

I moved out of the room, and felt a wave of nausea hit me. I have come out of this room after a month.

"Ma'am Abhimanyu Sir is waiting for you in the home office." I was greeted by the maid as soon as I left the room.

I nodded and adjusted my clothes I moved down. One step at a time. Gasps left my mouth at the activity.

"Do you need help ma'am?" The similar maid behind me asked and I nodded in no climbing the last two steps.

I took a minute standing at the stairs trying to grasp my breath. And then took slow steps to the office room.

I don't remember much about Abhimanyu, only that he is six years older than I am. He has a very scary personality and he does not talk a lot.

In his own brother's wedding he used to look like a business partner more than a brother.

I corrected my clothes for the last time and knocked on the door.

"Come in" I heard a gruff voice from inside.

I was scared to go inside, I did not want to go inside. What will I say when I go inside.

I don't even understand why this meeting is happening at this place, why does he even want to see me or get married to me.

"I said come in." I hear again, the tone is gentler this time.

I nodded to no one in particular and moved in opening the door.

His eyes were darted on the door and at me now, Abhimanyu looked younger than he looked last time. There was a subtle beard on his face and was dressed in a three piece suit.

His hand clasped against his mouth, he rakes his eyes at me up and down. Staring at me.

I stand there not knowing what to do, I hold my suit from the sides and bring it down adjusting it.

"Sit down Radhika." He said, softly.

I nodded, but there was no strength in me to even move an inch. I peeked at him from my lashes and I was scared to make him repeat again.

I moved towards the chair in front and pulled one of them back. The screeching voice of the chair had me closing my eyes at the disturbing sound it created.

I sat down on the edge of the chair. Something in me stopped me from moving even an inch at this point.

"Did you decide if you want to get married?" He threw a question at me, his eyes not even moving away for a second. Was he waiting for me to make a mistake? Was this a trick question?

Why was I being asked? I am never asked.

I don't reply to his question and look down. Will he punish me if I say no. I know he expects a yes. He is helping me and then if I would say no to marrying him I would seem ungrateful.

He cleared his throat and leaned back against the chair.

"Are you agreeing to this marriage proposal Radhika, is this your decision?" He asks again and does asking twice means he is implying I say a yes.

"Will you take care of all the expenses of my child, if I get married to you?" If he was angry at my question he did not let it show.

He moved forward and picked the glass of the water, my hands in a reflex covered my face. I didn't want to get hurt.

"Here, drink this." He said keeping the water glass down and sliding it towards me. I nodded but did not pick it up.

He bent a little and took some papers out of their drawer.

"Sign these papers."

What are these papers? I wanted to ask. They cannot be any property papers because I have nothing in my name. Was he buying me? Legal permission to hit me? Was that possible? Or were they marriage papers?

I took a pen with shivering hands to not make him angry and wanting to get done with whatever he wanted from me.

"These documents state that when we get married, if I ever raise a finger on you or our child with the intention of hurting you both. I would be directly sent to jail with no questions asked or needed for proof. My property would be transferred 60% to you and 40% to our child."

He leaned back and rotated the paper back on the table. I gasped at the audacity of the words, and he spoke them so casually.

And our child? It is not his child.

"it is not your child, it is Ra..."

"Do not complete that sentence Radhika, this child and you belong to me. You get married to me and your child is my child." I nodded hurriedly scared of the anger on his face and started signing the papers.