CHAPTER FIFTY FOUR

Jwala :

I read the papers. It's a copy of a complaint filed by my brother against Agni for abducting me and marrying me through the blackmail.

"It is the consequence of your refusal to file a case against Aadarsh and withdrawing case on your family. Are you happy now?"

"Agni, I didn't expect this."

"I know who is trying to ruin my reputation, but the saddest thing is it's my wife who is helping them every time either directly or indirectly."

"I will give a statement now."

"Hmm, then they will say that I forced you to give such a statement."

"I will give a statement that says I love you and I married you willingly."

"No need. Let me try first to solve the problem without taking you to court. If it doesn't work, I will tell you. Then you can give a statement."

"I am sorry," I said slowly.

"Jwala, I am not expecting sorry from you. I want you to understand people's nature. As you said, I withdrew all cases and freed them. But they are still trying to trouble us. Loving everyone is not wrong but loving the people who are wrong hurts you and your family."

"Trusting is not my fault Agni," I said slowly.

"Hmm, don't try to cover your foolishness in the name of innocence. Jwala, no one can betray you unless you trust them."

"Do you mean I shouldn't trust anyone? You too trusted me, how can we be without trusting anyone."

"I trusted you, but it's not the wrong choice. Because you are trustworthy and I knew it well. I never trust a person again once if they betray me. But even after your betrayal, I trust you because I know you are not intended to betray me. They are different from you" he said.

I am happy to know that he trusts me and still he believes I am different from them. He asked me to sleep. We slept in our respective rooms. Next day too he was late to home. I took his laptop and kept in the bedroom. I was leaving for my room but stopped hearing his words.

"Do you have your dinner?"

After many days, he asked me regarding dinner. I know he cares for me, but he wants to hide it and show only his anger.

"Not yet, actually I am waiting for you," I said

"I didn't ask you to wait for me. See, sometimes I will be busy with company works and may skip dinner or have it outside. It's not the right thing to wait for me. You are weak, and you need to take food on time and medicines too," Agni said softly.

"Yes but I love waiting for you. I hope at least for me; you will come home soon and never skips your dinner," I said.

"Shall we have dinner?"

I nodded, and we went to the dining hall. I served him, and he served me.

"This curry is too delicious. I have never eaten such a delicious food until now," he said.

I smiled.

"Learn this recipe for me Jwala, I love it," he said, and I nodded.

It's me who prepared it for him after observing his taste for many days. I decided to cook food for him every day with love. Even before I cooked for him but as a responsibility of a wife but now I prepared it with my love and especially as per his taste.


He tasted another curry.

"This is too spicy otherwise it's tasty too. Tell to cook to lessen the spices," Agni said.

"Won't you eat spicy food?"

"I will eat, but it shouldn't be over spicy."

"Ok," I said.

He had dinner and about to get up.

"You have to taste dessert too," I said serving sheer kurma.

Vedika told me that he loves sheer kurma which is usually cooked at the time of Ramadan.

"It's yummy. Not too sweet, the sweetness is sufficient to my taste" Agni had it.

He served himself another cup and had it. I felt happy as he had full today. Every day he takes food as it's necessary to survive without tasting it properly. If I prepare, he used to compliment me for my happiness, but I understood he didn't feel any difference. But today I helped him to have good food. I had my meal too and went to wash my hands. I am about to go, but he pulled me to him holding my hand.

"Food is delicious. Thank you for preparing such an awesome food for me. But do you think preparing delicious food for one day helps you to gain my forgiveness."

I smiled and encircled my hand around his neck.

"You already forgave me, if not you would not talk to me. Anyways I prepared food to make my husband eat properly, and de-addict him from unhealthy habit of having food at the hotel. Now as you can't find such food which is cooked so carefully according to your taste anywhere, you will have food every day at home."

He suddenly started moving his forefinger on my temple, cheeks, and corner of my lips. I shivered.

"Cooking food alone doesn't make you a good wife. You have a very long way to go" he said

"I am ready," I said.

From the next day, I started caring for my daughter and enjoying that. I did everything that he wants me to do for our child. I learned from Vedika how to hold a baby without hurting her. But, the only thing that saddened me is Agni is coming very late to home. Of course, he is taking the time to have dinner with me and know about our angel and me. But, he is in some tension which he is not sharing with me. I decided to ask him today. I served him dinner. We had dinner, and he came to my room to take his princess with him. Still, he is maintaining that distance from me.

"Agni, I need to talk to you."

"Tell me Jwala."

"Why are you so tensed and dull these days? Is everything ok? Is it because of that case?"

He nodded.

"Doesn't my statement works to free you from that fake case."

"It's not the fake case, dear. After all, your statement made the case so strong against me," Agni said.

"My statement? But when did I give the statement."

"Aadarsh recorded when you shared your grief with him saying that I tortured you, blackmailed you, sent you to clients and made you pregnant without your notice. They added rape case too."

"But you didn't rape me anytime."

"It's you who told him that I used you for a long time without mercy."

"It's not rape. Because I agreed with myself for that and you had never hurt me when you made love to me anytime. It's called rape only when you force me, but it's not rape in my case. Whenever I said no even before getting conceived, you used to scare me but never forced me. You just used to leave me when I say no" I said.

"But you can't say this or argue like this in court," he said and played something on his mobile.

It's a conversation between Aadarsh and me.

"Do you mean you didn't love Agni?" Aadarsh asked.

"No, I don't love Agni. I married him for my baby," I said.

"If you didn't love him, how did you become pregnant with his child?"

"He forced me. I didn't even know that I may become pregnant until the doctor told that I am pregnant."

"Forced you?"

"Yes Aadarsh, he used to force me. Even before the day of our exam and on my birthday too, he used me harshly till morning. He tortured me a lot. He hit me belt till I bled and starved me. I hate that Agni. He is a beast, a monster. He had many affairs. He even recorded our intimate moments to blackmail me" I said.

What did I do? I completely booked him. I looked at him.

"That's the proof they submitted in court against me."

"I said those things when I was drunk. How can it stand as a witness?"

"Because your tone was not in drunken style. So we can't prove that you were drunk at the time."

"Can't we do anything?"

"Let's see. But take care of our baby and yourself in my absence."

"In your absence?? What do you mean?"

"Jwala, relax. Don't shout; our baby is sleeping. I will try my best to get out of the case. But if anything happens, you must be strong enough to care for yourself and baby" he said hugging me from the side.

"Let's say that we are into living together relationship before our marriage. As I fell for Aadarsh, I accused you like that to get rid of you. You can prove by showing property papers on my name, appointing Aadarsh in office and photos of me marrying Aadarsh" I said crying.

"Are you mad? Do you mean I should blame my wife's character for saving myself?"

"It's not wrong because I am the one who created this mess."

"Trust me, Jwala, I will try my best to make everything right. Please don't take another quick decision and hurt yourself. This time, please listen to my words. Don't do anything without informing me" he said.

"But... "

"It's getting late, go and sleep. Don't strain yourself."

"I am sorry."

"Not necessary. Go and sleep" Agni said.

I went to my room, but I am unable to sleep. I threw Agni into problems with my foolishness. I should do something to help him. What if I talk to Aadarsh? I should do something before it becomes late. But, I promised Agni that I never speak to him. If I talk to that idiot, Agni may become angry with me but if I didn't, what if my Agni gets arrested? I think I should meet Aadarsh and ask him why he is creating problems in my life. I should save Agni.