Chapter 3: Duty's Chains

Priya ground her hips harder against Aryan's face. She clenched her thighs around his head. Pleasure surged through her core as his three fingers twisted deep inside her. He pumped them faster now. His tongue lashed her clit without pause. She pulled his hair tight with both hands. "Haan bhaiya... aise hi jor se!" she gasped. Her body tensed again. Waves crashed harder this time. Juices flowed out. She bucked forward once more. "Aa... aa gaya dobara!" she cried out low. Legs shook under her. She rode the peak, pressing his mouth deeper into her folds.

Aryan sucked every drop. He lapped at her entrance slow. Fingers slid out inch by inch. He nipped her inner thigh light. Priya panted above him. She released his hair. Her hands dropped to her sides. But then Papa's voice echoed in her mind from dinner. He praised Rajesh uncle's son. Called him perfect match. Family honor weighed on her. She thought of Ma's proud smile at the rishta talk. Guilt stabbed sharp. Priya shoved Aryan's shoulders hard with both palms. She pushed him back from her. "Bas, Aryan! Ruk jaa ab!"

Aryan rocked back on his heels. He wiped his mouth with the back of his hand. He stood up quick. Towered over her. "Kya hua? Abhi toh tu chillati thi mera naam!" He grabbed her wrist. Pulled her hand to his chest. She yanked it free. Priya bunched her saree down over her hips. She smoothed the pleats with shaking fingers. Fixed her underwear quick. Pulled the pallu up over her shoulder. Blouse buttons clicked shut one by one. "Yeh galat hai, bhaiya. Family ke saamne shaadi fix ho rahi hai. Main yeh rishta tod nahi sakti." She stepped sideways. Put the wardrobe between them.

Aryan followed her around the edge. He blocked her path again. "Rishta? Woh Rajesh ke bete ka? Tu pagal ho gayi hai?" He jabbed a finger at her chest. Priya swatted it away. She backed up to the bed. Sat on the edge. Folded her hands in her lap. "Papa ne kaha woh ladka business mein successful hai. Humare family ko izzat milegi. Yeh sab chhodna padega." She looked down at her feet. Toes curled on the tile. Aryan knelt in front of her. Grabbed both her knees. Spread them slight. "Dekh, Priya. Yeh choot sirf meri chhui. Tu meri hai. Us suitor ko bol de no."

Priya slapped his hands off her knees. She stood up fast. Paced to the mirror. Adjusted her bindi with one finger. Saw her flushed cheeks stare back. "Tu samajhta nahi. Society kya kahegi? Papa ka dil toot jaayega. Ma roengi." She turned to face him. Pointed at the door. Aryan crossed his arms. Leaned against the wardrobe. "Society? Fuck society. Tu mera lund feel kar le pehle. Phir decide kar." He stepped closer. Reached for her waist. Priya dodged left. Walked to the side table. Picked up her phone. Checked for messages from college friends. None came. She set it down hard.

"Aryan, yeh affair khatam. Kal se shaadi ki baatein seriously hongi." She met his eyes straight. Aryan laughed short. Grabbed her shoulders. Shook her light. "Khatam? Tu abhi cum hui meri jeebh pe do baar. Kal bhi aayegi." Priya twisted free. Pushed him back with flat palms on his chest. "Nahi! Main strong rahungi. Duty first." She grabbed her dupatta from the bed. Draped it over her head. Aryan snatched the end. Yanked her close. "Reject kar us suitor ko. Bol de parents ko tu ready nahi." His breath hit her face hot.

Priya pulled the dupatta back. Wrapped it tight around her neck. "Reject? Papa ne already uncle se baat kar li. Ladka milne aayega jaldi." She walked to the door. Hand on the latch. Aryan lunged. Spun her around by the arm. Pinned her against the wood. "Main bol dunga unhe. Tu mat dar." Priya kneed his thigh light. Broke free. "Tu mat bol! Sab barbaad ho jaayega." She twisted the latch. Opened the door a crack. Listened. Hall stayed quiet. Kamla cleared plates in kitchen far off.

Aryan slammed the door shut from behind her. Locked it again. Pulled her away from it. "Priya, sun. Yeh passion hum dono ke liye hai. Shaadi mat kar." He cupped her face. Thumbs stroked her cheeks. Priya turned her head. Bit her lip. "Passion? Yeh sin hai. Bhagwan maaf nahi karega." She shoved past him. Grabbed her sandals from under the bed. Slipped them on. Straps snapped against her ankles. Aryan blocked the door once more. Stood with legs wide. "Sin? Teri moans sin the? Bol na sach." Priya punched his arm. "Haan, galti thi. Ab sudhar jaayenge."

He grabbed her punching fist. Held it tight. "Sudhar? Roz raat ko aaunga tere room mein." Priya yanked her hand. Clawed his wrist light. "Nahi aayega! Door lock kar dungi." She sidestepped him. Reached the latch again. Aryan pressed his body against her back. Ground his hardness into her saree. "Feel kar mera lund. Yeh tere liye khada hai." Priya elbowed his ribs. Spun around. Slapped his cheek sharp. Sound cracked loud. Aryan rubbed his jaw. Eyes narrowed. "Slap mat kar, Priya. Reject kar us ladke ko abhi."

Priya rubbed her palm. Sting burned there. "Reject kaise? Phone nahi hai uska. Parents ko bolna padega direct." She unlocked the door. Pulled it open wide. Cool air rushed in from hall. Aryan grabbed the frame. Held it shut half. "Main phone number nikaal lunga. Tu message kar de no." Priya ducked under his arm. Stepped into the dim hall. Light from courtyard lamp flickered on walls. "Chhod mujhe, Aryan. Yeh last time tha." She straightened her saree pleats. Walked fast toward stairs.

Aryan followed close. Grabbed her elbow. Spun her back. "Last? Tu jhut bol rahi. Teri body jhukegi mere saamne." Priya jerked free. Tripped on stair edge. Caught the railing. "Body control mein rakhungi. Shaadi kar lungi." She descended two steps. Aryan jumped down beside her. Blocked the bottom. "Shaadi? Uske saath sex karegi? Soch le." Priya pushed his chest. Squeezed past. "Sex? Arrange marriage mein adjust ho jaayenge." Hallway lamps glowed soft. Family photos lined the walls. Papa's stern face watched from one frame.

Aryan matched her pace. Stuck to her side. "Adjust? Meri tarah maza nahi milega. Bol parents ko tu mera hi rahna chahti." Priya stopped at kitchen door. Peeked in. Kamla washed dishes. Humming old song. Priya pulled Aryan into shadow alcove. "Chup reh! Kamla sun legi." She pressed finger to his lips. Aryan licked it slow. Sucked the tip. Priya snatched it back. Wiped on her saree. "Yeh band kar. Main rishta accept karungi family ke liye."

He pinned her to alcove wall. Hand on her throat light. "Accept mat. Main force karunga agar tune nahi kiya." Priya kneed higher this time. Hit his groin soft. He doubled slight. She slipped out. Ran down hall to courtyard. Moon lit the rangoli patterns faint. Diwali lamps hung dark now. Priya paused at fountain. Splashed water on her face. Cooled the flush. Aryan caught up. Grabbed her from behind. Arms locked around waist. "Priya, please. Reject kar de."

She stomped his foot. Broke hold. Turned to face him. "Nahi! Duty zaroori. Papa Ma ke sapne poore karne hain." Tears welled. She blinked them back. Wiped cheek with pallu edge. Aryan stepped close. Wiped the other cheek with thumb. "Sapne? Yeh humara sapna tod dega." Priya backed away. Tripped over diya stack. Righted herself. "Humara kuch nahi. Behen bhai bas." She headed to main door. Hand on bolt.

Aryan yanked her back by dupatta. Pulled her into his chest. "Behen? Teri choot meri ghulam hai." Priya slapped him again. Harder. "Ghulam nahi! Free hoon main." She bolted the door open slight. Night air hit cool. Street dogs barked far. "Affair khatam. Kal se door raho." Aryan held the door. Stared hard. "Tu regret karegi." Priya shoved past. Stepped onto veranda. "Regret shaadi ka nahi hoga. Yeh galat ka hoga."

She walked down steps. Saree swished on stone. Aryan leaned on door frame. Watched her silhouette fade into garden path. Priya glanced back once. Shook head. Kept going toward her old play area near back wall. Vines climbed there from childhood swings. She sat on stone bench. Buried face in hands. Sobbed quiet. Aryan clenched fists at door. He slammed it half shut. Thought fast. Rajesh uncle's number he knew from business cards. Anonymous call to parents. Tell them rishta wrong. Force her hand. He pulled out his phone. Scrolled contacts. Found it. Dialed slow.

Priya rocked on bench. Memories hit. Last Diwali, Aryan pulled her behind pillar. Kissed neck quick. Parents laughed near. She shivered then. Wanted more. But now guilt choked. She stood up. Wiped eyes. Walked back slow. Aryan hung up call. No answer yet. He pocketed phone. Stepped into garden after her. "Priya, wait." She spun. Pointed finger. "Door raho! Main complain kar dungi Papa ko." Aryan stopped. Raised hands. "Complain? Kya bolegi? Tu bhi enjoy karti thi."

Priya crossed arms. "Enjoy galti thi. Ab nahi." Wind rustled mango leaves above. Fruit dropped thud. She jumped. Aryan smirked. "Dekh, dar rahi. Mere bina reh nahi payegi." Priya turned away. "Reh lungi. Suitor accha ladka hai." She walked faster. Aryan jogged up. Grabbed her hand. "Accha? Kitna lamba? Mera size?" Priya slapped hand away. "Size matter nahi. Commitment matter." Bench creaked as she passed. Vines snagged her pallu. She tugged free.

Aryan pulled vine off gentle. "Commitment mere saath de." Priya snatched cloth. "Nahi possible. Society nahi maane." Moon hid behind cloud. Garden darkened. Lanterns swayed. Priya bumped low branch. Aryan steadied her elbow. She shrugged off. "Chhod." Argument looped. She paced garden path. He matched. Talked over each other. "Reject kar!" "Duty first!" Voices rose. Dog barked closer. Priya shushed him. "Chup! Jag jaayenge sab."

Aryan lowered voice. "Theek hai. Par soch le raat bhar." Priya shook head. "Sochegi nahi. Decision final." She reached back door. Pushed it open. Slipped inside. Aryan followed. Hall empty now. Kamla snored from servant quarter. Priya climbed stairs quiet. Bare feet silent on wood. Aryan right behind. Grabbed ankle at top. Pulled light. She kicked free. "Last warning, Aryan." Turned into her room. Door half-shut.

He pushed in. Closed it soft. "Ek baar aur baat kar le." Priya whirled. Grabbed pillow. Threw at him. He caught it. Tossed aside. "Pillow se nahi. Sach bol." Priya sank on bed. Knees weak. "Sach yeh ki shaadi karungi. Tu bhai ban jaa." Aryan sat beside. Arm around shoulder. She shoved off. Stood. Paced room again. Mirror caught her steps. Blouse creased still. She smoothed it. "Kal ladke ke parents aayenge shayad."

Aryan stood. Grabbed her arms. "Nahi aane dunga." Priya twisted. "Kaise rokega?" He released. Punched air light. "Dekh lunga." Priya laughed bitter. "Hero mat ban. Haar maan." She opened door wide. Gestured out. "Jaa ab." Aryan lingered. Stroked her hair once. She slapped hand. "Jaa!" He stepped back. Priya slammed door. Locked it double. Leaned against wood. Breathed deep.

Aryan stood outside. Fist on door. Thought of call again. Anonymous voice changer app he downloaded last week. Record message. Send to Papa's number. "Rishta mat karo. Ladka galat hai." Force the break. Priya inside sobbed again. He heard muffled. Turned away slow. Walked to his room end hall. Door clicked shut. Pulled phone out. Typed draft message. Hit record.

Priya slid down door. Sat on floor. Hugged knees. Thought of Aryan's tongue. Pleasure mixed guilt. She banged head light on wood. "Band kar yeh sab." Stood up shaky. Went to bed. Pulled sheet over. Turned lamp off. Dark wrapped room. Aryan pressed send on voice note. Anonymous number masked. Phone pinged sent. He lay back. Stared ceiling fan spin.

Priya tossed under sheet. Sleep fought her. Aryan closed eyes. Plot set. Confrontation tomorrow. He smirked in dark.

Priya punched pillow. "Khatam yeh sab." Rolled over. Aryan fist pumped air. Plan locked. Phone screen glowed faint. Message delivered. He deleted trace. Settled in.

But Priya sat up sudden. Guilt peaked. She grabbed phone. Texted friend about rishta. "Haan, accha lag raha." Sent. Lay back. Aryan heard her room creak. Knew she fought. He whispered to self. "Meri jeetegi." Phone vibrated. Papa replied? No, wrong number bounce. He checked. Clear.

Priya deleted text. Regret hit. "Kya kar rahi?" Erased. Buried face. Aryan stood. Paced his room. Thought details. Call timing morning. Before guests. Voice deep. "Rishta cancel karo. Ladke ke affairs hain." Lie but works. Sat down. Planned words.

Priya finally slept fitful. Aryan lay awake. Plot firm. He watched door crack light from her room under his. She breathed steady now. He gripped sheet. Tomorrow force her hand.

Priya dreamed Aryan. Woke sweat. Checked clock. 2 AM. Drank water from table. Gulped half glass. Set down. Back to bed. Aryan heard glass clink. Smiled. Plan perfect.

Argument echoes stayed. She vowed end. He vowed win. Garden dew formed outside. Night deepened.

Aryan typed more notes. "Papa, suno. Rajesh beta characterless." Send chain. Anonymous perfect. He hit save draft.

Priya turned again. "Duty," she muttered. Slept.

Aryan deleted history. Phone dark. He watched her door shadow. Plot sealed. Confront parents soon. Force the hand.