CHAPTER FIFTY EIGHT

Jwala :

His words motivated me, and I rethought about my life. Baby and Agni are significant to me. But, it's true that I didn't want to depend on Agni for my survival. I always dreamt of being a courageous and independent woman. I am in balcony thinking about these things, and Agni hugged me from the back.

"Today, I got a call from the authorities of your college," he said.

"Oh"

"They said great and wonderful news to me," he said placing his lips on the back of my neck.

"What?"

He turned me towards him and kissed my forehead.

"This girl with golden heart will become the Gold medallist soon. For every two years, your management conducts the convocation. Next week is your convocation where you will be awarded the Gold medal you won by being the highest scorer in university," he said surprising me, and I didn't understand how to react.

In my final year, I faced a lot due to Agni. But still, I made it. I achieved my goal of winning the gold medal. I hugged Agni.

"Congratulations baby," he said hugging me.

"After clearing this case issue, we will go abroad to celebrate this"

"Thank you," I said.

"I love you," he said kissing me.

"Now go and sleep. Don't think much."

"Shall I sleep in your room?" I asked hesitating.

"No, sleep in your room."

"Didn't you forgive me yet?"

"No Jwala, I love you, and in love, there is no forgiveness except understanding. Moreover, I feel I am the reason behind every mistake you have done. So I don't think I deserve to forgive you and you also try to forget it."

"Then why are you staying away from me?"

"I want to give you some space. Take some time for yourself. Let baby sleep with you. I am not at all angry with you. If you wish to stay in the same room with me you can, but I think you need some time" he said.

"Maybe you are right, you understand me more than myself," I said and went to my room with the baby.

Agni:

Next day I got ready to take her to court. I don't know how I am going to hand over her to her parents. How can I live without her? It's too tough. I can't even sleep as I will be worried about her when she stays with them. What if they hurt her? No, I can't take this risk.

But, how can I make strong when I fight for her every problem? She should learn to fight for herself. But is it not a hard way to teach her that? No, maybe I am wrong. I shouldn't throw her into the problem telling her to solve by herself. It's like throwing a kid into sea saying he should learn swimming. Without teaching swimming, if we throw a child into the sea, he will die rather than learning swimming. Same may happen with my Jwala. No, whatever it takes, I won't hand over her to those idiots.

"Agni, I am ready," Jwala said to me.

"For what?"

"You told me yesterday that I should be ready by 9 am to go to court, and you will hand over me to my parents."

"I think you are so excited to go there," I said looking at her dressing.

She dressed as if she is going to a party or for some celebration.

"Of course, I am. Because I am going to my parents", she said.

"You are not going. I can't leave you even for a day there. I can't take this risk" I said.

I hugged her tightly and kissed her forehead.

"I didn't want to put you at risk. I love you" I said.

"What will you do now?"

"I will attend the court and will get arrested for not handing over you. Then our lawyer will bring me out on bail. Later we shall plan something" I said and called my advocate.

"Hello Mr Jetendra, I am not handing over Jwala to her parents. I will surrender to the court. You, please make bail papers ready" I said to him.

"Agni, you are lucky. You no need to hand over your wife because your wife's brother and parents withdrew all cases on you," he said.

"What but how and why?"

"I don't know the details, but you are free now."

I disconnected the call and looked at my innocent, not so innocent wife.

"How did you do that?" I asked her.

"What?"

"How did they withdraw all cases on me?"

"Miracle, you must thank God," she said innocently.

I cupped her face.

"Thank you. You are my everything, my Goddess too"

"I love you. When you are not ready to put your wife into risk and live without her at least for a day, how can I live without you and get you arrested?"

"I know you are smart but innocent too."

"I just thought like the wife of Agni, who play games well in business."

"May I know your plan if it's not confidential?" I asked smiling.

I am sure she won't hide anything from me from now as she trusts me to the extent where I trust her completely.

"Agni, you told many times that they need money but not their daughter."

"Yes"

"Do you remember me asking you to transfer whole property to your name from my name?"

"Yes, you compelled me a lot."

"I met Aadarsh not to request him, but to confuse him."

"What?"

"I told him that after my betrayal, you took back all your property from me. I said to him that you are treating me as a maid and I had no control over money or property. He almost believed it, but your entry and words which show concern and love for me made me think that my plan was unsuccessful."

"But when you told that you wanted to send me to my parents, I called my parents last night thanking them for saving me from a monster like you. So they trusted my words and drama. They felt I am useless to them without your property, so they withdrew the case" she said with few tears in her eyes.

"Amazing Jwala," I said hugging her.

"You are not useless. I will make your parents regret missing a diamond like you. Anyways I am lucky as this diamond is all mine."

"Shall we go out to celebrate it? I even got ready for the party."

"Sure, let's go."

"I will make baby ready, and you ask Vedika to get ready. After all, no celebration will be complete without our family, and that includes Vedika too" she said.

I found a little difference in her words and acts. She is becoming better. I will help her to become normal again. I nodded and went to Vedika to accompany us.

"No Agni, I am not going accompany you this time. Go with your wife and child. Jwala feels happy and gets time only when you both go on a trip with your baby. Have a happy time together" Vedika said to me.

"Didi, it's nothing like that. You are also a part of our family. Please accompany us, so that we will be happier" Jwala said.

"No Jwala, I want only you three to go. Spend your time with your husband and understand each other well. I will come next time" Vedika said, and finally, Jwala agreed.

I asked the driver not to accompany us. I took her to a resort. I planned a few things for her. I hope this trip will change her thinking a lot. Her intelligence worked in saving her husband but not herself. I think she loves me more than herself. She is making me regret every second for hurting her in the past. Why did I behave that stupidly with this angel? How can I be that rude to her?

Suddenly she slept keeping her head on my shoulder. Baby is in her lap. I often feel Jwala as a baby. It's tough for a kid to handle another child. I drove 4 hours from our home to resort.

She woke up slowly and walked to the suite I booked. As soon as we checked in, she slept on the bed again. I decided not to disturb her sleep and sat on the sofa playing with my baby. She woke up after 2 hours and looked at me.

"I am hungry" she declared.

"I will order food," I said and called to reception.

We had lunch and then I asked her to get fresh up as we are going out. She refreshed and wore a sari. I too got ready. We went to a place which she didn't imagine.

"Agni, what is this? Why did you bring me here?" She asked reading the board Suhana's Fertility Clinic.

"Come with me, you will understand."

"But we already have a baby, and I don't think we need any treatment. Or by any chance are you planning for another baby? Or are you disappointed with a girl child and need a baby boy as next child? But, this clinic can't do that" she said.

"Jwala, don't panic. I have no plans to have another child shortly. I am already regretting forcing you to accept pregnancy and child without your consent. I have no discrimination towards a girl. Whether it's a boy or a girl, I am happy. Whoever it is, it's my baby. That's enough for me" I said to her.

She nodded, and we both went inside the clinic. Suhana is my friend's wife who is a gynaecologist and running this fertility centre. I took permission from her and went into her room. We both sat aside listening to the words of women who are infertile and came here for treatment.

"Madam, I got married ten years ago. But we didn't have a child. We tried many treatments, but none worked" a patient said with tears.

"Madam, I got married eight years ago. After a year, I became pregnant. But, as I am too young at that time, I opted for abortion. After that, I didn't become pregnant at all. I am ready for every treatment; please help me doctor" another patient said.

I observed face feelings of Jwala. She held the baby to her chest tightly kissing her. I feel happy whenever she kisses the baby and secures baby in her love.

Another patient came in who is so weak and crying.

"Madam, I got married 15 years ago but not blessed with a child. I am unbearable to bear the words of people in this society. Everyone is calling me as a barren woman. My husband is planning for a second marriage. If this treatment doesn't work, I won't live" she said crying.

I clenched my fist. Infertility is not the problem of women alone. The problem may be in men. Why should people call her with odd names as a barren woman etc.?

"Agni, I want to leave, I can't stay here," she said holding baby carefully.

I nodded. We went back to our resort. I played a video on my laptop. I asked Jwala to watch.

"Research revealed the shocking facts. The children who were abandoned by parents or neglected by parents face many psychological problems in their future. They lack confidence, emotional intelligence, develops too much anxiety and anger, depression, can't mingle with people around them and had high chances of utter failure.

Baby can sense the love and care of parents even from the womb. Children who are loved by parents are the one who had better chances of succeeding in life.

There are also a few instances where children who were neglected in childhood becoming hard-core criminals and a threat to society" she closed the program and hugged me tightly crying.

"Agni, I didn't want our child to become like that. I want our child to be happy and successful."

"I know it, baby. Don't cry. Jwala, though it's my mistake to make you pregnant at the wrong time, that effect shouldn't fall on our child. Already she was neglected for one year. Now we both must give her so much love which makes her forget that one year.

The child is a blessing in our life. Our daughter brought us together and helped us to understand each other. See her as the one who planted a seed of love in our hearts rather than a symbol of my torture.

See her innocent face, little hands, and legs, cute expressions. Isn't she so adorable like her mom?" I said winking at her.

She smiled understanding my indirect comment on her. She took the baby and kissed her. Now I am sure that Jwala will keep baby happy by giving her love to baby. She will be the best mom in the world as she is the best wife in the world. She fed baby and ay night we had dinner. Jwala didn't leave the baby for a second. That night, a loving mom was born in Jwala after more than one year of child's birth.

Suddenly I remembered that we didn't name our baby yet. For one year, she is not with us, so we didn't name her. Even in these 3-4 months, I didn't name her being busy on different issues. Jwala slept hugging the baby, and I immersed myself in searching for a name for my baby.