The first rays of morning sun filtered through the large windows of the master bedroom. The Arabian Sea sparkled under the golden light outside while inside the room the air still carried the heavy scent of jasmine flowers and the faint musk of the previous night. Avani lay curled up on the dark silk sheets. Her body felt heavy and marked. Dark hickeys bloomed across her neck her breasts her stomach and her inner thighs like signatures of ownership. The mangalsutra rested between her full breasts. The sindoor in her hair parting had slightly smudged during the night. She stirred slowly. Her big doe like eyes opened with confusion and fear. Every part of her felt tender. Her lips still tingled from Armaan's fierce kisses. Her skin burned where he had sucked and bitten. She pulled the sheet higher trying to cover her naked curvy body. Tears welled up again as memories of the forced wedding and the long night flooded back.