CHAPTER FIFTY SIX

Jwala:

"I took a decision Jwala. I have many works to manage. I can't always keep worrying about you. I should keep a check to your immature acts" he said.

"Agni"

"I am not going to listen to you. Court ordered me to hand over you to your parents immediately" he said

"No, I won't go."

"It's court order, and I think it's better to leave you at your maternal home. It makes you realise what they are" he said.

"Please Agni, I can't go. I know what my parents are already," I requested.

"I can't tolerate my wife paying no heed to my orders. You crossed all the limits. You must pay for it. Just leave me."

"At least for baby, don't send me."

"Vedika takes good care of her. I don't think there will be any difference even if you leave. She will be a better mother to her" he said.

"Thank God, you didn't say that she will be a good wife to you too."

"Jwala, keep your mouth in control. Don't make me do that" he said.

"Vedika is a perfect woman who can be a good mother or wife. She is so understanding and matured unlike you."

Is he fed up with me? I met Aadarsh only to request him to withdraw the case. I didn't go to hurt Agni. Why can't Agni understand me? I didn't mean Vedika is a wrong person. I know she is good, but I can't bear my husband appreciating another woman. I am trying hard to discharge my responsibilities correctly though I am just 21 years old.

"Tomorrow is the hearing, and I should hand over you to your parents in court. Be ready by 9 am tomorrow" he said.

"How long should I take this punishment? When will you bring me back?" I asked

"Never, if you want to stay here, come by yourself. I won't save you this time. If you are the one who created the problem, then you should be the one who should solve it too.

If others betrayed you, then you should be the one who should teach a lesson to them. Jwala, if you keep on fearing for a person, they will scare you forever. Just for once, leave your fear aside and face it.

I am going to hand over you in court as per order, but I want you to come back to us by yourself" he said confusing me.

I took some time to process his words. I understood what is he saying. But can I do it? I looked at him.

"Think as Mrs Agni. Then definitely you can do it" he said cupping my face.

"I love you. I thought you decided to leave me" I said hugging Agni tightly.

"Never. I won't leave you even if you wish to leave me. I love you so much."

Suddenly I heard my baby crying. God, she was left for two hours. She might be hungry; she needs her momma. I rushed to my room though he is calling me. I held the baby carefully. However, now I won't hurt my angel as I cut off my nails which pierced into the delicate skin of my baby. I placed a soft kiss on her.

"Oh oh don't cry my dear, your Mumma is here, she will feed you now," I said kissing her again.

I fed her, and she stopped crying. She held my chain and started playing.

"Maa" suddenly she said.

"What? What did you say, baby?" I asked where my vision went blur with happy tears.

"Maa," she said again.

"I love you, I love you so much," I said hugging her to my chest tightly while tears still flowing from my eyes.

"Amazing" Agni said looking at us.

"You are getting addicted to our baby slowly."

"Yes, she is cute. You know what, she called me mama. She understood that I am her Mumma" I said putting my baby to sleep.

"Did you have lunch?" Agni asked me.

"Not yet."

"Shall we have it together?"

"Sure, I love to have food with you," I said.

I kept baby on the bed and tried to get up to have food, but the baby caught my forefinger of the right hand. I smiled and sat again near my princess.

"Agni, you, please have your food and I will have it later. Baby held my hand. Now if I try to move, she will wake up" I said.

"Let me try to make her leave your finger," he said.

"No no, it's ok. Let the baby sleep, don't disturb her. She will start crying. I didn't want to see her crying."

"My cute and sweet baby," I said caressing her hairs and kissing her.

Agni smiled and went off the room. Managing both the responsibilities of a wife and mother is tough. I should sacrifice one for another. I lied on the bed beside my baby looking at her.

"Shall we have lunch together?" Agni said.

I looked at him. He brought food to the room and fed me. We both had food together. After many days, he fed me again.

He sat near me and started talking to me. What all I did is to look at my baby and listen to his words. I felt happy, and honestly, I didn't want this time to pass. My husband and our baby, they are my life. He is talking something, and I kept staring at him.

"What?" He asked noticing my constant gaze on him.

"I love you, you made my life complete," I said.

"No your life is still incomplete Jwala," he said making me confused.

"What do you mean? Every woman wishes to have a happy family with a loving husband and sweet baby. What is that which makes my life incomplete?"

"Is this what you wished for?"

"Of course, this is what every woman wishes for"

He chuckled.

"This is where every woman compromises, sacrifices, and betrays herself," he said.

"I didn't get you."

"How can a woman or a wife be happy when she sacrifices her everything including her life goals for her family? Is she born only to dedicate her life to her husband or to give an heir to him?"

Tears appeared in my eyes as these were the same questions in my heart for many days. When I am in my college, I thought to become an inspiration to all girls, but my life turned upside down after meeting Agni.

"If it's me who broken you and destroyed your life, then it should be me who should heal your heart and make your life happy with no regrets," he said to me.

"It's not possible Agni. Leave it. I am happy with you and baby. I didn't want to invite new problems into my life by trying to pursue my dreams. If by any chance, it creates the gap between us, I can't bear. I love to live like this taking care of you and our baby. Already I had hurt her by leaving her for one year. At least now, I should take care of our baby and make her never to miss me. I already forgot my dreams, and it's better for us to forget those things which we can't make true" I said.