His clothes were so dirty and wet and seemingly ragged. His face was sweating profusely. His steps were not steady.  And when he reached near her, she felt the piercing stench of liquor.

Reaching near the cot, he slumped down onto it and closed his eyes as if in a drunken stupor. He remained like that for quite some time and then opened the eyes as if with great difficulty and stared at her, while she stood at the centre of the room, without knowing as to what to do.

“Come on, come here.” He said in a commanding tone. His face was so hard and the voice so rough that she felt a tremor pass through her.

Slowly, she moved towards him.
“Come on.  Sit down here.” He ordered when she reached near the cot and she sat down.
“I want to tell you one thing, which I want you to keep in mind always.”
He paused as if searching for the correct words and then continued:
“Doctor or no doctor, always remember that I am your husband and I do not care whether you are doctor or nurse. Okay?”

She could not understand what he meant. Does he think that I am a Doctor of Medicine?”

But his next words exposed his mind to her.
“Your father believes that a doctorate is something great. But I don’t think so.  That fellow wants me to be a graduate at least to match with your great status. To hell with it, I say. I can buy a thousand filthy doctorates, if I want.  Do you want to see? Does the old snooty dickhead want to see it?” He took her by the shoulders and shook her violently. “So mind it. Since to-day, you are to obey me. Obey this non-graduate.  Okay?” And he began to laugh aloud.

She now understood it all. He has taken her father’s words about her being a doctorate-holder as an insult to him.
“He just asked it.” She said.
“What do you mean by just asked? My father had explained everything to him. But he purposely enquired about it. To tell it to my face that his daughter is a great personality and I am a non-entity.” His voice was becoming more and more angry. “And I am going to show him what this non-entity is. And to you too.”
“I did not tell my father to ask it.” She said defiantly.

He turned towards her. “See, I did not marry you to argue with me. Just obey what I say. I will never tolerate an insolent behavior from a woman; wife or no wife.  That is all.  Now…” He glared at her face for some time. And she retched at his stinking breath, which made him angrier.  “Do not pretend as if you never smelt liquor in your life.” He paused and went on staring at her for some time and continued. “Now... remove your clothes. Quick.” And he took the end of her sari and pulled it with such a force that she fell on him.
“What is it?” He pulled at her hair so forcibly that she almost screamed. “I told you to remove it all and you are falling on me? Okay. I will do it myself. Come on.”

And he began to remove her clothes so rudely that her eyes filled with tears.  She had never expected such a cruelty on the first night.

Thereupon he began the attack.

To be continued

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