Chapter Ten

Jwala:

Agni came towards me and gripped my jaw.

"Didn't I tell you to shut your bloody mouth? I think you won't listen to me as you know well that I won't hit you. But Baby, with one phone call, I can create tremors in your family. You know well that I can do anything using my influence and money. Just a call is enough to bring your whole family onto streets. Do you want to see my reaction to your words" he said and took his mobile.

"Agni, please please I am sorry" I pleaded him.

"You want to provoke me, isn't it? Now celebrate the consequences of your bullshit. Just a call and you will see your family on streets."

"Agni, I am sorry," I begged with tears.

"Remember you can never win the fight over me unless I choose to lose for you. Rarely I do that, and for now, we didn't develop such a strong bond between us."

"I swear I won't provoke you and I didn't want to win over you. Please, leave my family," I said.

"Stop crying, it hurts my Baby," he ordered, and I wiped my tears.

He sat on the bed.

"Good, now move aside. Let's share the same bed today," Agni said, and I moved as I can't dare to argue with him again.

"My dear sweetheart, I told you that we are playing a game of husband and wife, do you remember? My legs and hands are aching badly. My dear fiance, come on help me to get relieved from the pain."

"How?" I asked.

"Press my legs and hands until I sleep," he said lying on the bed and pecked me on the lips.

"You are an addiction, Baby. I experience ecstasy when you are with me. I hate sending you to the clients, though I want to kill your self-respect for becoming an obstacle in my way. Now, my Baby gave complete control over you," Agni said smirking.

I massaged his legs for about half an hour.

"Why did you stop, Baby? Continue till I ask you to stop," he ordered.

I resumed my work again. My hands were aching. Stupid! I scolded Agni in my mind. He noticed me looking at my hands.

"Are your hands aching?"

"Yes!"

"Okay, stop it and sleep."

I slept turning another side. Agni pulled me towards him by wrapping his hands around my waist. Our eyes met explaining unrealised feelings.

"From tomorrow I will show you how I will treat my wife. Then decide whether you will marry me or not. Jwala, I am not acting. I will give orphanage building to you," he said looking into my eyes.

"Jwala, your family is not in a good position now, but they are not telling you," he said.

I looked at him suspecting him as the reason behind the misery of my family.

"No, I didn't do anything. Your father kept surety for someone who is his friend, for a bank loan of fifty lakhs. That friend cheated on him. The bank manager sent the legal notice to your father saying they will seize your house and field if your dad fails to clear the loan. Your dad is a farmer, and if they take over the field, he can't-do anything except committing suicide."

My eyes became wet. I know my father kept surety for his close friend. How can he cheat my father? My brother never helps him with anything. Now, how will dad handle this? It's impossible for him to pay the loan. He is a farmer and knew only agriculture. How can I help him?

"Jwala, please stop crying," he said wiping my tears.

"I cleared the loan."

His words shocked me. Why did he clear the due? Is he planning something against me?

"What?"

"Yes, but I am not demanding you to marry me for that because you didn't ask me to help. I did it voluntarily. So we have no deal for that. But marry me for our child."

"I want to give a good life to our child. I want my kid to experience parents' love unlike me. Jwala, I saw hell in my life. I don't want our child to suffer. I know you are scared of me. But frankly, I won't hurt you ever after our marriage until you respect me and my words."

That's the problem Agni. I have to sacrifice my dreams, freedom, and everything if I marry you. Otherwise, you will punish me mercilessly. I will be a puppet who play as you wish but not as an individual who has feelings.

"Do you know what I expect from my husband?" I asked Agni.

"I am sure you are not beyond money because if you expect money, you would have agreed to our marriage by now. Maybe Love or caring."

"No, loyalty and sincerity."

"Do you think I am not loyal?"

"Agni, many times I saw you naked in bed with girls. As you are not my husband, I bore it. But if you are my husband, I would have died with heartbreak. I can never feel for you. I feel so disgusted when you touch me. I assume myself as garbage for allowing you to reach me. I am nothing but shit to you. You finally succeeded in making me too to feel that I am a shit.

If I marry you, I will lose my confidence forever. Please, leave me. Injuries that you made to my body will cure soon. But the scars that you've done to my heart can never be erased. I can't live in tension lifelong thinking whether my husband will sleep with other girls or will send me to other clients for deals."

He slapped me harshly showing his true self.

"Just shut up. If one more word comes from your mouth, I will kill you today. Sleep right now" Agni said dangerously.

I held my cheek and closed my eyes with tears. He never changes. He slapped me even now, but he says he will never hurt me in future. I didn't say anything wrong. I just said what he did.

In the morning I woke up and he got ready at that time. I was about to get up, but he threw the documents on my face. He threw my luggage on the floor. I checked the papers. They were orphanage building documents which he transferred to my name with immediate effect. I looked at him.

"You can leave to your hostel now. I handed over those documents to you. Now the orphanage is all your's. I am never going to come into your life again. Abort our child if you want. But, if the child is alive, I have right on my kid to see him and responsibility to give love to my child. You can raise the child allowing me to visit him and take care of him or can hand over the child to me forever and you can visit whenever you want. Decide yourself," he told me.

I got ready and about to take my luggage.

"Wait, the maid will help you," he said.

He called the maid and ordered her to keep my luggage in his car. He dropped me at my hostel. I got down. He kept my bags down. I am looking at him, but he left in his car without looking at me.

I went to my room and closed the door. I am happy. I am free from Agni. I am free from that hell. I remembered his torture. Finally, God saved me from his clutches. Thank God!

Suddenly, I realised tears were rolling down from my eyes. Why am I crying? Is it for Agni? No, I don't miss him. I should be glad for becoming free from his stupidity. But, am I really happy? What happened to me? Am I worried about my unborn Baby?

This Baby is innocent and doesn't know anything about his/her father's cruelty. I can't kill this innocent soul who wants to enter into the world with many dreams. What should I do now? I am sure if this child grows up in beast guidance; he never respects women and becomes a threat to this society. What should I do now?