CHAPTER THIRTY SIX

Jwala:

We were almost near to the village, but he stopped the car in a hotel.

"Get down; we will be going after having lunch. At least you should have the energy to cry," Agni said sarcastically.

"No, we will go directly to my home."

"It's not your home anymore, Mrs Jwala Agni," Agni said stressing the last words.

"I know, it is my maternal home."

"Look, your parents are not going to receive us as daughter and son in law. They will either scold us or curse us acting innocent. So, let's go after having lunch as you should have the energy to watch stupid live drama played by your so-called maternal family" he said taking me to a room he booked.

"After that for one month, I should struggle again to make you normal where you cry continuously. This is my fate, how can I escape" he murmured making me smile.

"Sleep for some time. I will order the food. Is your back aching due to 5 hours continuous journey?" He asked

"No, I slept in your lap Agni throughout the journey. Why will I suffer from a backache when you took that care not to hurt me in any way?"

"But my care or love didn't make you trust me. I was a failure in making my wife trust me and making this relationship a strong bonding."

"Agni," I said sadly as his tone sounded sad and dull.

"I don't know what your friend Aadarsh told you about your family or me. The decision is yours, Jwala. As I said earlier, I am never going to stop you, if you want to leave me. I believe that relationships sustain through love and trust. If you are mine and my love is true, you will be with me forever. I am not going to prove anything because even if I show, you may feel it as an action. Find it by yourself and try to explore the truths" he said coldly.

"Do you know that I met Aadarsh?"

"Of course Jwala, you are my wife, and I will know your every move including your thoughts. Do you think you can hide anything from me? It's highly impossible. You are free to do anything or meet anyone, but only when your every step is taken care of by me. You may think it's spying, but I feel it's a measure of your safety."

"Look Jwala, until you and our baby are safe, I have no objection with whatever you do. I am ready to bear anything. But, if you or baby falls into a problem, I am never going to forgive you, and you will never see loving Agni in me. I am okay if you hurt me but if you hurt yourself, I won't be relaxed and calm as I am now.

You may have many doubts on me right now. But, one day you will realise the truth about me, and I am sure you will regret doubting me. At that time, you will trust only me in this whole world. But, I don't know whether we will be together or not by that time" he said, and I was in shock with his words.

"What do you mean Agni? Are you planning to leave me?"

He chuckled.

"It's never going to happen until my last breath. Only death is capable of making me leave you. Jwala, though I didn't see the pain of my mom, I can understand and feel her pain when her husband left her. I am never going to bring that situation to you. I respect our relationship and marriage. Whatever happens, I am sure you will be my wife forever. The day I tied this knot to you, I promised myself from that moment your happiness is my responsibility, and I should never leave you. I will never let any harm reach you as long as you are my wife" he said.

"Then why did you talk about separation?"

"I am sure I won't leave you. But, I am not sure about you. You may leave me anytime breaking our marriage. Till now, I never felt you valuing this relationship or marriage. This nuptial chain is just an ornament to you. This vermilion is something which you use to make me feel happy."

"How can you say that I didn't have value on marriage?"

"Because I observed many times you took off this nuptial chain whenever you don't like and wearing it sensing my anger. I am giving you love, and you are giving me pain every time. I don't know where this relationship takes us. But Jwala, I can tell you only one thing. You are so innocent, and you don't know whom to trust. You can't understand the true nature of anyone. So, before taking a decision, think well and make sure you won't regret later," he said placing a kiss on my forehead.

"I love you, though you didn't trust me. I will order the food" Agni said and called reception.

Am I wrong in doubting him? But how can a person like Agni change all of a sudden? Is it possible for a beast to become a loving husband? How can I trust him? Why should I trust him when he showed me hell before marriage? Should I doubt my parents who raised me up all these years believing the words of a person who destroyed my life?

I know I was the one who agreed to give my virginity to him. But, I was forced to do so on that day to save Vigna. It's not my decision taken voluntarily. I don't know but how can I trust him that undoubtedly and why he didn't want to prove his innocence when he loves me? India is a country where a woman was put into the fire to prove her innocence to the world, though her husband knew that no stain could touch his wife. He was praised as God and treated as an inspiration to the next generations. But a man never does anything to prove his innocence, and he wants his wife to trust him without any proof.

"Sweetheart, have your food and resume your thinking session," he said.

We had food, and he took me to my maternal home. Dad, grandpa, mom, and sister in law shocked looking at us.

"Dad," I said stepping into the home.

"Don't step inside Jwala. You are not allowed into my house, and you are no more a daughter to me. You married him without our consent and not in touch with us all these days. Get lost from here" dad yelled at us.

Neighbours started looking at us disgustingly as if I have made a mistake. Of course, in their opinion, I have committed a terrible blunder of eloping. Before I speak, Agni reacted.

"Drama is enough. She is your daughter and had every right to step into the house. You can't stop her" he said to my dad and turned towards neighbours.

"I know every family had their own story. If you didn't want others to know your story, stop watching the show and resume your works" he warned, and everyone went inside their home.

He held my hand and took me to my home.

"Look Mr Niranjan; she is my wife now. I hate anyone insulting her. She came here to talk to you. Let her speak first. However, she is not going to stay here, and she didn't want any share in your property or the money she gave to you. She had enough wealth and people who love her truly as she is, without expecting her to be a resource which gives a good profit" he said.

"Jwala, talk what you want. But make it fast. I didn't want you or our baby to stay with such people for a long time" he said and sat on sofa crossing his legs, as usual, showing his pride.

"Mr Niranjan, don't try to hurt my wife or will face the consequences" he warned dad hurting me.

"And you don't shed your tears or I will take you to our home the next minute I notice tears from your eyes" he warned me too.

"Dad, I didn't flee. It's not what you think" I tried to explain, but Dad threw some photographs on my face from the cupboard.

I looked at the photographs shockingly. They are those photos with which Agni blackmailed me earlier when I refused to go to a client. I was nude beside Agni. He is making love to me. Every photo showed that disgusting romance between us. I took all the images crying. But how did these pictures reach my parents? Is it Agni who sent these pictures to them to create a gap between my family and me?? Why is he playing such a cheap game with me?