Answer It

Akshay:
I got married to Netra the next day. I didn't want to call it marriage because I married her without her consent. Sometimes I feel life forces us to do anything though we hate it. I have never thought that I would separate Netra from Jeevith and marries her forcefully. I know how much Netra gets affected by this act. What if her heart breaks again?
As soon as we got out of the temple, reporters surrounded us.
"Sir, we heard that Netra is a prostitute and has an affair with you. Is it true?" one of the reporters asked, and Netra looked at me.
I held her hand tightly to assure her everything would be fine.
"Sir, we heard that she has two kids whose father is unknown, is it true?" someone else questioned me.
"I have married Netra, whom I love for a long time. I will answer every question in today's press meet. For now, let us leave," I said and left for home with Netra.
Netra went to the room, and I followed her. I couldn't find any emotions in her though reporters asked stupid questions.
"Netra, I am sorry," I said.
"It's okay. Tell me everything that had happened," Netra said in a firm voice.
"Netra, this was done by Jeevith's brother. I came to your house that day to talk to you about this, but the blasting incident had diverted my focus. It's me who has planned the accident of Jeevith's brother. He didn't change, and he would never change. He enquired about you and came to know that you are behind his mom's death and the ruining of his business. Not just that, but he knows even your past.
Defaming you was his goal as a part of his revenge against you. I tried to talk to Jeevith about this, but he just denied saying his brother changed a lot. I succeeded in stopping the press from publishing the news, but someone leaked it on the internet without my notice.
Yesterday I got a message while we were talking about the blast and that's why I forced you to marry me. Because I have no trust in Jeevith that he would save you from this non-sense. And I don't want our children to suffer because of this. Their hearts are fragile like the petals of a flower, and your past shouldn't be a cause that creates unforgettable pain to them," I said.
"True, but they also should know my past," Netra said.
"But, Netra...."
"Akshay, I know you care a lot about us. But I don't want my children to be in the dark about my past. Embracing bitter truth is better than living a sweet lie forever. Children develop their mindset in the way we train them," Netra said, surprising me.
Netra never talks much before me and stays silent, whatever I say. For the first time, I saw the Netra whom this world had already seen. Now I understood why everyone gets scared of Netra, and even today, no reporter dared to question Netra though they asked stupid questions to me. Of course, even I feel a kind of fear listening to her words and seeing this version of Netra.
"Akshay, if you are okay with it, I want to answer the press. Being a prostitute in the past and having two children can never define what Netra is and especially my character. You would have told this to me before than creating this marriage drama. Nowadays, it became a routine to play with marriage. And having an affair with you or anyone I love is entirely my issue. No one has the right to point it out or question me," Netra said.
I felt to clap listening to her words, but pain also created in my heart when she told marriage is a drama. Drama? Is it a drama? Is Jeevith correct for Netra? Jeevith never saves her or stands by her when it's needed, but he will come to her when he needs someone to soothe his pain. I might sound selfish, but now after tying a knot to her, seriously, I feel Netra is mine, though this marriage is nothing but a drama to her.
"Netra, you too can attend the press conference," I said.
"Thank you," Netra said.
"If you leave the room, I will rest for a while," Netra said. I clenched my fist, but I couldn't say anything to Netra because I know marriage never gives the right over anyone to force them to go against their wishes or to interfere in their privacy.
"Sure," I said and left the room.
In the afternoon, Netra had lunch and was busy with her business works. I didn't find any tension or dullness in her after knowing the issue. Is it true that Netra is this brave and bold? Why didn't she show this side in her until now to me?
When I forced her to go to Jeevith, Netra accepted it calmly but didn't fight with me saying a no. Not just that, but in many issues, she used to accept whatever I say without question. I am scared of this version of Netra, but my love for her increased manifold.
Netra seemed more surprising and exciting to me now. Akshay, what's happening to you? I smiled at my stupidity as I know Netra would never accept this marriage or me.
I thought that Netra would break down knowing all this, and it might again take a long time to heal her. But thank god, she is brave and decided to answer this society with guts. I love her courage, and I feel every girl should be like her.
I heard the sound of snapping fingers and looked at Netra.
"Akshay, what is this? She is snapping her fingers at you, and you were silent," my egoistic and male chauvinistic mind asked me.
"This is the best side of Netra. I am admiring it," My heart smiled and supported me.
"Tell me, Netra," I said.
"I think you should get ready for the press conference. We need to go," Netra said.
"I know," I said.
"If you know it already, I don't think you would sit and keep staring at me as if I am a girl with whom you wanna flirt," Netra said.
I want to do that, Netra.
"Nothing like that. I was thinking about how to set everything right and answer the press. That's it," I said and went to my room to get ready.