CHAPTER FORTY FOUR

Jwala:

Next day, they forced me to wear the clothes which were transparent. They sent me to a room. I am unable to walk, speak or stand. My body is aching badly, and the whole body covered with bruises. They burnt my feet and hands with a hot spatula. My lips got swollen, and blood marks were still visible. They threw me on a bed and warned me to behave correctly.

Tears were flowing continuously. Today I am going to be someone's prey. My anger at Agni killed my sense. The photos showed by Aadarsh where my Agni is beside Vedika in bed nude faded my love on him. I trusted those photos and decided to marry Aadarsh as I am unable to digest the fact that Agni had an affair with someone else after marriage. I was addicted to drink knowing about his illegal relationship with Vedika, but not about the child. But, after Aadarsh's betrayal, I understood that those photos were morphed, and it's me who betrayed Agni but not Agni who cheated me.

Today, for my mistake of betraying my husband and marrying someone else, I am going to pay for it. But, I can't die because I didn't want my baby to become an orphan. I hope she is safe in the hands of a caretaker. I influenced the doctor to lie to Agni about the baby. I failed to be a good wife and now as a good mother too. I should do something to hand over the child to Agni. Only then I can leave this life.

Suddenly the door opened. I closed my eyes knowing what is going to come. The person closed the door and kept the bolt. He sat beside me. He placed his hand on my belly. I recognised the touch. Fear, guilt, sorrow, happiness occupied me at once.

The person removed the scarf tied to his face. It's Agni. Tears were not stopping from my eyes, and I want to apologise him, but words didn't form at all. I am unable to open my mouth due to the hard slaps on my cheeks that crushed corner of my lips too.

Before I speak, he started talking.

"Don't get tense. I will save you at any cost. No one will touch you. I always doubted Aadarsh, but I never expected that he would stoop this low. Just be calm and relaxed. I already talked to him"

"What?"

"I choose to settle this silently. I can get him arrested, but it will reveal your identity on all channels. Hence, I decided to pay the amount they ask and free you from here."

"But I am not going to leave any of those b*st*rds and you too for your betrayal. Everyone will get the share" Agni said dangerously.

I am sure in this life; I can't get his forgiveness. What if he comes to know about the baby being alive? I am sure he will kill me. However, I deserve his anger for my foolishness and betrayal.

"I will just come," he said leaving me.

I held his hand tightly with fear.

"No need to act. If you have this fear, you would have never left the house and married someone else."

"I am freeing you from here as you are my wife and I had a responsibility of saving you. But, don't think I will release you from the torture. It will be continued there too," Agni threatened me and left the room.

Agni is back. Thinking to bring human in him, I brought that old beast in him back again. I am sure; he will show hell to me.

After one hour, he came back to me and lifted me with his arms. He took me to the car and then home. He opened the car.

"Get down and walk to our room," he said dreadfully.

I got down and placed my feet on the floor.

"Aah," I screamed due to pain.

"Walk" he shouted.

I nodded and wiped my tears. I took one step, I felt as I can't walk. But seeing Agni in anger, I tried to walk. But I fell, and blood started coming out from feet again.

"I will come inside later. Please allow me to sit here for some time," I said to Agni in between my sobs.

But, he lifted me again in his arms. He took me to our room and placed slowly on the bed. He called someone.

"Mom, I am Agni. Please come to my home immediately. I am sending a car. I brought Jwala home" he said.

He didn't speak to me, and Vedika tried to come to me, but he asked to leave me. Bleeding was stopped from feet as he cleaned the injury. I tried to speak, but he ignored me. Someone came and by seeing her; I understood she is a doctor.

"Mom, please check her," Agni said to that doctor.

The doctor checked me.

"Agni, she was severely injured. Admit her to the hospital immediately."

"No mom, treat her here itself. I can't admit her in hospital. I can't trust anyone."

"Ok fine but take care of her. She needs someone who takes care of her every second."

"Ok mom, I will send her to her maternal home. They will take good care of her" he said sarcastically.

Doctor and Vedika looked at him shockingly. The doctor gave medicines and said something to him, and she left.

"Call your parents, tomorrow I will drop you there," he said giving his mobile to me.

I dialled my maternal house number, but no one received the call. I tried calling mobiles, but no one picked my call.

"No one is picking the call," I said in a low voice.

"So where will you go? Shall I call Aadarsh? He is your husband, right. I will call him" he said snatching mobile from my head, and injury on my palm started aching.

"Agni stop it, she is not well" Vedika shouted at him.

"Stay away from this Vedika. It's better for both of us or leaves the house" he said, and Vedika looked at him shockingly.

Vedika left seriously from the room.

"I will leave Agni; I won't become a burden to you. Please don't say anything to Vedika" I said trying to get up from the bed.

"Shut up idiot. I am not that Agni who gave you freedom and love to you and allowed you to do whatever you want. From now, you are completely confined to this room. If you step out of this room without my permission, I will kill you. Just keep your mouth in control and stay here as my servant, nothing else than that. I will decide what you will do and what not" he said.

I nodded.

"If you are well, I would have slapped you for your stupidity. What would you do if someone raped you there? Are this pain and torture necessary for you? I gave everything to you that gives happiness. But you chose this pain" he scolded me.

He went off from the room and came after 15 minutes. He kept medicines, Dettol, ointments on the table. He closed the door. He brought water and tried to remove my clothes.

"I will do it by myself, " I said.

"I already told you that you should do what I say," he said.

I removed the clothes and felt guilty and uncomfortable. Agni slowly cleaned me and observed my every injury on the body. He applied ointment on all cuts very carefully. I sensed his anger and tears which he tried hard to hide.

"I won't leave anyone in them," he said seriously clenching his fist.

"It's my fault," I said slowly.

"Even if it's your fault, it should be me who should punish you, not those b*st*rds," he said.

"Losing the love of someone who loves you truly, is the best punishment for you and nothing else is required," he said.

I looked at him with tears as I understood what he meant. I wanted to beg him for his forgiveness, but I know I didn't deserve it.

He gave loose clothes to me. He dressed me and then brought food for me. He fed me and gave tablets to me.

"Take rest; I am not going to leave you Jwala. You no need to go anywhere and no one is required to care for you until I am alive. Sleep peacefully" he said.

I closed my eyes to sleep. I felt Agni's lips on my forehead as usual which he do every time I sleep.