CHAPTER THIRTY THREE

Jwala:

I immediately went to Agni and held his hands. Seeing me, they stopped their conversation.

"I will search for a flat for you both," Vedika said.

"Vedika, it's not necessary now. I am comfortable here with you. I know no one can snatch my husband from me" I said, and both looked at me worriedly.

"Jwala, it's ok we can shift. The doctor will come every day to check on me to our flat. So, no need to worry."

"Jwala, I never had any intention of snatching your husband from you. I feel you as my sister. I loved Agni in the past, but I am not that worst to snatch him from his wife and love him even after his marriage. Sorry for being so rude to you on the phone and making you feel insecure with my behaviour" Vedika said holding my hands.

"Vedika, please don't be sorry to me. If I am your sister, are you going to apologise to your sister? Now all my doubts and insecurities flew away from my mind and heart. I understood your friendship. I have no problem with your friendship with Agni" I said and embraced her into a friendly hug.

"Vedika, you are thinking that I will hate you knowing your past. But no, it's wrong. Just tell me one thing. Even I became pregnant by a person whom I didn't like and without my notice. If Agni is not good and didn't agree to marry me, my life would become like yours. I too had experienced everything that you went through. I was starved, sent to clients and used without my acceptance. The only thing which differentiated our life is the change in Agni. If he didn't change, I would also have led a life of a prostitute or a whore carrying a child in my womb who is a symbol of someone's merciless lust....."

"SHUT UP JWALA, NOT ONE MORE WORD" Agni shouted at me.

"Agni, please relax, you should control your anger. Jwala is just saying in general. She is... " Vedika tried to cool him.

"Leave me alone for some time," he ordered.

Vedika left.

"Ag. Ni... I.. Didn't. Mean... "

"I SAID LEAVE ME ALONE" he shouted again.

I left the hall. What did I say? I just said in general and what he did to me. Why is he angry with me? In the afternoon, I went to give him lunch.

"I am not hungry; you can leave."

"Please Agni, you should take tablets. Please have it."

"Abort the child Jwala."

"What? What are you talking?"

"Yes, you are viewing the child as a symbol of my hatred and merciless lust. So it's better to abort. But Jwala, for me that child is a symbol of my unexpressed love and your unrealised love" he said.

Unrealised Love? Is it true that I loved him at that time? But I don't think so; I hate him so much at that point. I looked at him. For now, I should think only of making him calm. Being angry and stressed is not suitable for his health.

"Ok, I will go for abortion. See, I am your wife. How can I say no to my husband's decision?" I said acting innocent.

"What? I mean you can't go for abortion. You love our baby. You even slapped me for holding your stomach a bit tight. You can't agree with that" he said as if he was shocked by my words.

My sweet husband, I know well you are against abortion. You agreed to become a father to someone's child to make a child live respectfully in this society. How can you kill your child?

"That's before marriage. But now, after the wedding, I can't do that. So, I will follow your every order" I said very innocently.

He looked at me for some time and burst out laughing.

"My dear angel, stop your sweet drama now. I know we both love our child a lot" he said and placed his hand on my stomach.

"I love this child and her/his mother too. Sweety, you know when I am making love to you with the intention of making you pregnant, I imagined our baby in my hands and you in my lap with nuptial chain in your neck and vermilion on your forehead. I felt so happy and wished so much to make that happen. I made love to you, but you thought it's fulfilling my need as you didn't know what's going on in my mind at that time. Now tell me, do you think this baby is out of my merciless lust or revenge as said by Vedika."

"Agni, I can't believe even now that you loved me at that time. But, I am sure you love our baby and me a lot now. I know this too. You will keep our baby and me happy throughout our life. That's enough for me, and I am sure you will be the most loving father to our child."

He smiled, and I fed him. I heard door knocking sound and looked at that side. Vedika smiled.

"Shall I come in?" Vedika asked.

"Yes," I said.

"Agni, I got a call from our orphanage as your mobile was not reachable," Vedika said.

"Cheque or cash," Agni asked.

"Cash is better for now."

"Fine," he said.

"Jwala, take my cards from my blazer and go in our car. ATM is in first left. Go and withdraw 50k and give it to Vedika," Agni said.

Me? Using his cards? Withdrawing fifty thousand? God, I never withdrew that huge amount anytime till now.

"Agni, I can't, how can I use your cards?"

"You can use my cards as I will give my password to you," he said so casually.

"I am sorry Agni, I can't use your cards. How can I....?"

"My sweetheart, it's not my cards. It's our cards and our money. As a wife, you have equal rights with me. Moreover, already my everything became your's except one thing."

"Except one thing .....?"

"One thing that can never be your's and can never give it to you or anyone until my last breath."

"Is it that important than your wife?" I asked

"Yes, it's my life."

"What is that?" I asked fuming at him.

Vedika and Agni burst out laughing. I looked at them.

"Hey Jwala, don't burn me in the fire of your anger. He is talking about you" Vedika said, and I glared at him.

"Nothing can be more important to me than you sweety. Now please go and withdraw the money."

I pouted.

"Please Agni, I don't like to use your cards," I said.

"I said to withdraw the money right now without argument," he said raising his voice.

"I am not scared of you now. I know you are not angry with me."

"Ok, my baby," he said.

I took cards from his blazer and went for withdrawing money. I took fifty thousand and about to come out, but I got a call from my brother.

"Hello, bhaiya."

"Jwala, grandpa admitted with a heart attack in hospital."

"What? How is he?"

"Doctor said he should undergo surgery within 24 hours or he will die. Dad is trying for money, but no one is helping him"

"How much do we need for surgery?"

"Fifteen lakhs."

I inserted the card and checked the balance. Agni had crores in his account.

"I will call you again," I said disconnecting the call.

I called Agni, but he didn't receive the call. I called Vedika, and she said she went to a grocery shop. Agni is alone; I need to go fast. But what about grandpa's surgery? I am sure dad can never arrange the money and bhaiya won't help him. I took a deep breath and transferred the amount from Agni's account to my dad's account. I informed it to dad.

"From where did you get such a huge amount Jwala?"

"Dad, I transferred money from your would be son in law's account."

"Did you take his permission Jwala. It's not good to take advantage given by him to you."

"No dad, he.. He. Himself... Told to transfer. The amount" I lied to dad.

"But Jwala, I don't feel good to take money from him."

"Don't worry dad; he is a good person. He will understand. First, let doctor complete surgery for grandpa" I said and disconnected the call.

What if Agni shouts at me? What if he thinks I took advantage of his trust? Will he understand the situation? I went to Agni.

"Did you bring the money sweetheart?"

"Yes"

"Give it to Vedika."

I nodded and gave money to her.

"How much did you withdraw?"

"50 thousand."

"Fine," Agni said, but I sensed something wrong in his voice.

Did he know that I transferred 15 lakhs to dad's account without his permission?