CHAPTER FORTY THREE

Agni:

I called Jwala and requested her to come back. But suddenly I heard a big sound and then her mobile was not reachable. I felt restless. Is she safe? God, I shouldn't have raised a hand against her. I was angry as she talked about baby's death. My anger is my enemy.

I started in my car to search Jwala. But I didn't find her anywhere. I didn't sleep whole night as I am so tensed about her and our baby. I hope they are safe. Early in the morning, I got a call from a hospital. Someone admitted Jwala in the hospital.
I immediately went to the hospital. I saw Jwala in bed with a bandage to her head. The doctor is checking her.

"Doctor, how is my wife? Is she safe?" I asked.

"Yes Mr Agni, she is safe, and there's nothing to worry about."

"Thank you, doctor, what about the baby?" I asked.

"I am sorry Mr Agni. The baby was dead in the womb itself. We removed the baby through surgery to avoid infection."

Her words broke my heart. All my dreams about the baby shattered. But, how did they operate on her without my signature? I didn't ask them any questions as I am concerned about Jwala. Maybe they treated her without my sign to save her.

I controlled my emotions and went near to her. I sat beside her and tried to caress her hairs. But, she closed her eyes with fear. I think she thought that I am going to hurt her for losing the baby. But, I am not a fool to behave so. It's not her fault, and it's just an unfortunate incident happened unexpectedly. I caressed her hairs and kissed on her forehead to relax her.
She looked at me shockingly.

"It's ok Jwala, don't worry. It's not your fault. Maybe God planned something better than this for us. I know it's very tough to digest this fact, but please be strong. I am with you" I said slowly to her.

"It's all because of you. You are the reason behind this," Jwala accused me.

"Jwala!"

"Yes, as you raised your hand at me, I left the house in the rain. Because of your anger, I lost the baby" she accused me.

"I am sorry, Jwala," I said hugging her.

She didn't speak to me for three days. Slowly she started talking to me again. Doctor discharged her after 15 days. I brought her home. I started spending time with her to make her forget about the baby.

"Agni, you go to the office. I didn't want you to ruin your business for me" she said sleeping in my lap.

"Sweetheart, don't worry about all those things now. Take rest. However, that company is your's; I have no rights" I said smiling.

"No Agni, it's your hard work, not mine. However, Vedika is here to care for me in your absence. Don't worry, please" she said.

"Ok fine, from tomorrow I will go to office. I will work on your behalf, but everything is your's" I said to Jwala.

Next day as I promised her, I went to the office leaving her at home and asking Vedika to take care of her every second. I am in my cabin, and Aadarsh came inside directly without seeking permission.

"Can't you knock before coming inside?"

"Sorry sir, actually Jwala told me taking permission before entering her cabin is not mandatory, as I am her best friend," he said very politely.

This idiot is taking advantage of my Jwala's innocence. I want to fire him immediately, but I withdrew my decision. As Jwala appointed him, I shouldn't remove him from the job. It means insulting her and not this idiot Aadarsh. I respect Jwala and her decision. I assigned work to him as he is the PA. He went off, and I called Jwala to inquiry how is she. But the phone was picked by Vedika.

"Jwala, how are you, baby?" I asked.

"Agni, this is Vedika. Jwala went out without taking her mobile"

"What? Where did she go?"

"I asked, but she didn't answer me."

I disconnected the call and called the driver. But driver told that she went out driving a car by herself. I went home and waited for her. She didn't return home, and it's already 11 p.m. I got a call from an unknown number.

"Hello"

"Hello sir, is it Mr Agni?"

"Yes, speaking"

"Sir, we are calling from Antura bar and restaurant. Jwala madam is here now. Please come to take her home" they said.

"Ok, I am coming."

I disconnected the call. I didn't understand why Jwala can't come by herself. I went to the place they said. They showed Jwala. My head spun for a moment seeing her in that condition. She was drunk and unconscious. I brought her home. Vedika changed her dress which is a mess. I fed her dinner with much difficulty and then she slept.

Days are passing by, but there's no change in her behaviour. I am fed up with her way.

"Agni, consult a psychologist as soon as possible. It may help her. Maybe she is in depression as she lost her baby" Vedika advised.

"I will talk to Jwala once about this," I said.

Jwala came late night to home. I didn't speak to her anything as she is not under her control. Next day, I woke up early.

"Jwala, I want to talk to you."

"What?"

"I think you are in depression due to baby's death. Shall we consult a psychologist? It's better than getting addicted to alcohol" I tried to explain to her.

"Do you think I am mad? I am not mad like you to take psychologist treatment."

"No, I didn't mean it Jwala. I just told to make you come out of depression."

"I will come out of my depression only when you leave me."

"What?"

"Yes, I am stressed because of you. Frankly speaking Agni, we both married only for the baby. But now there's no baby. I think now our paths should be parted away" she said.

"What do you want to do now?"

"I want the divorce, I want to marry Aadarsh as per my parent's decision and settle with my parents and Aadarsh," she said giving a shock to me.

"Jwala, do you understand what are you talking? I am never going to give divorce to you."

"I want to get out of this hell as soon as possible," she said and left me.

Within the next eight months, her behaviour changed drastically. One day she told me that she wants to go to her maternal home. I agreed and sent her ordering driver to drop her at her maternal home safely. After two days, I got a call from the driver asking me to come immediately. I went there and got shocked seeing Jwala and Aadarsh in wedding attire. I understood that she married him without divorcing me.

I tried to talk to her, but she refused. I went back to my home.

"Agni, bring her back, she is your wife. She didn't divorce you, and that marriage is illegal."

"I am not going to bring her back. At the same time, I am not going to stop if she comes back to me. Anyways, I can't stay here anymore Vedika. I will leave to abroad. I need peace" I said.

Entire local media covered the news that Agni's wife married someone else. A week passed by and I made all arrangements to leave.

Jwala:

"Water, water" I groaned as my body is sore with the hitting of the belt. My entire body is of blood.

My eyes flowed tears continuously. I remembered the night after marrying Aadarsh. Aadarsh asked me to accompany him to the city immediately as he had some work. We both reached the capital and went to Aadarsh's flat. At night, I went to his room as officially it's my first night. I have already informed Aadarsh that I am not yet ready for this. It's just a formality of sharing room with him as there is no spare bedroom in his house. But, the scene there shocked me. I saw Aadarsh, Vigna and one unknown person.

"Are you panicked, Jwala?" Vigna asked me.

"What are you doing here?"

"I am sorry Jwala, I married you only to save my parents, I am sorry," Adarsh said and left the house.

I tried to escape, but that man held my hand and slapped me hard. I fall on floor and blood came out from the forehead and lower lip.

"Who are you? Why are you hurting me? Vigna di, save me please" I said

"Oh my dear sister, I can't do that because it's me who planned everything from creating misunderstandings between you and Agni to this marriage. Do you know who he is? He is the one who bought Vedika and done business with her. But, your husband ruined his business and took away Vedika. In return, he decided to take you away from Agni for business.

I joined hands with him to take revenge against Agni and as I will get money too. That hotel incident, photos, debt receipt, everything was created just by us. Agni doesn't know anything, but you trusted everything like a fool. Now we will see the tears of Agni for the first time, seeing his wife as a prostitute and used by many every day" she said.

"No please leave me" I begged them.

But they abducted me from there and tortured all this week hitting me with a belt and starving me, as I refused to be a prostitute. I remembered Agni. I am sorry Agni, I hurt you many times and I deserve this for my behaviour with you. Someone opened the door.

"Look Mrs Agni; you are going to Dubai within a week. Tomorrow, a client is coming to show you hell and see heaven himself. You will be a prostitute from tomorrow. Your husband saved Vedika and got me arrested. He saved many girls that day by ruining my business. But, now he can't save his wife" he said smirking.