CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE

Jwala:

I am not ready to marry Aadarsh though I hate Agni. I want my child to be happy. What if Aadarsh changes after a few years when he had his child? Will he treat my child with love and care? It's not a serial or movie which ends with a happy ending. It's life; I can't risk the life of my child.

I asked Aadarsh to leave me alone. After some time, my brother gave a call to me saying it's my friend. Which friend?

"Hello"

"This is Agni, darling."

God, how did he know my brother's mobile number?

"How are you now? Why did you fall like that in the temple? Are you not eating properly?" He asked

I thought to cut the call.

"Don't disconnect my call or I will come to your home to know about the health condition of my sweet wife and
cute child."

"Meet me at midnight. I want to check on the health of my wife and child to know how they are. If you didn't meet me, I know what to do" he said and disconnected the call.

At night, I went to meet him. He is waiting for me in front of my home. I shivered a bit as the weather is too cold. He removed his coat and made me wear it. Does he care for me? He looked at me and cupped my face.

"Don't stress yourself, sweetheart. Everything will be alright" Agni said kissing on my cheek.

"Don't touch me. Your touch is making me feel as if an insect-filled with venom is passing through my skin. It's a disgusting feeling."

"Is it?" He chuckled.

I saw few water drops at the corner of his eyes. Am I hurting him? But he deserves it.

"One day will come where you will beg me for my touch which filled with full of love on you. You will regret your words that day."

"No way."

"Let's see. Jwala, I didn't understand what you said but realised one thing. Someone tried to rape my wife using my name. Whoever it might be, they can't escape from me. I will show them the hell. They have made the biggest mistake of their life by touching my wife. They will face for it, I promise."

"It's you who should be punished. You are the one who sent me there."

"The day you knew the truth, you will regret your words."

He held Nuptial chain which I hid inside and kept it front on my dress to be visible. He took something from his pocket. He opened it and kept vermilion on my forehead.

"You are looking cute with this vermilion and nuptial chain in your neck. But if it's someone else who puts this vermilion on your forehead, I won't hesitate to break Aadarsh's hand. You are my wife, and I never tolerate anyone snatching you from me."

I didn't speak anything.

"Look Jwala; if I didn't change, I would have taken you to our home forcefully the moment I saw you. But no, I didn't want to hurt you. I want your trust, love and our baby. I don't know who sent a message to you from my mobile, but whoever it is, I won't leave them freely."

Is he telling the truth?

"Don't hurry to marry someone else because I am not ready to let my wife go. She is precious to me. At any cost, I will stop this marriage. After all, who can bear seeing his wife getting married to someone else when he is alive and still loves her?"

I want to believe him, but still, my heart was scared to trust his words. I looked at his hand that bled in the morning. He noticed it.

"It's fine, nothing to worry. At least not more than the pain which my heart is bearing right now."

I looked at his hand again, and he kept his hand in front of me. I touched it and examined the injury removing the bandage. Then I bandaged his hand up as first aid kit is in his car. All the while, He kept smiling looking at me.

"I know Jwala, you love me and cares for me. But you are scared to trust me. I will remove your fear and suspicion. I am not angry with you because I know it's me who created this fear in you. So even now, it will be me who removes that fear."

"Jwala, today is my birthday. I thought at least on this birthday I will celebrate it with my family, but as usual, I am alone even this year. Maybe that's what decided by God that I should live alone forever with no one to love me, care for me and be with me. You didn't know much about me. I am not what you think, and this world see."

I don't know why but my eyes filled with tears hearing him. I unknowingly hugged him and cried.

"Jwala, please don't cry."

"I love you Agni. I love you so much. I want to be with you forever. I want to take care of you every second and keep you happy. I can't see you in tears or pain. But you don't know all this. You betrayed me and broken my trust. Even now my heart loves you" I cried hard.

He hugged me tight to his chest.

"Jwala, don't cry. I love you. I didn't do anything which you are thinking."

I broke the hug and looked at him.

"Happy Birthday," I said and kissed his cheek.

"Look, I am not trusting you even now. But, I don't want to regret later. My parents fixed my marriage after 15 days. So, prove the truth within these 15 days and take me to our home as your wife with respect and honour. Do anything but let them get punishment. If you fail in proving your innocence within 15 days, I am never going to trust you, and I will break our marriage. I will leave with our child far from everyone."

"I will prove the truth to you. Thank you so much for giving me a chance."

He said and lifted me in his arms.

"What are you doing?"

"Now I am taking you to the hotel where I am staying to celebrate my birthday with you. I will drop you by the time your family wakes up. Please, can you come with me?"

I nodded. Agni took me to his hotel room. He already arranged a cake and everything. I looked at him.

"I know you will give a chance to prove myself. I love you dear" he said and started cutting the cake.

We fed each other the cake.

"May I know about your heart problem? You never mentioned that with me anytime."

"It does not matter to you. I never like to share my pain or problems with anyone"

"This type of behaviour can never bring us closer."

"Don't worry. I am not going to die this early," Agni said

"Why are you talking about death on your birthday?" I yelled.

"Fine, I won't talk anything like that now."

We sat on his bed and chit chatted for some time. Slowly I drifted into sleep on his lap feeling peace and love hoping to stay forever, though I want to know the truth.