CHAPTER SEVENTY ONE

Jwala:

"Jwala, we should talk to Aneesh. We should send him to mom. Mom is going to break the marriage for Aneesh," Agni said.

"You don't worry, I will talk to him," I said.

"No, Jwala. We will go together to meet him."

We both went to Aneesh's home.

"Jwala bhabhi (sister in law) and bhaiya (elder brother), what a pleasant surprise!" Aneesh said seeing us.

"We need to discuss something important with you, Aneesh," I said

"Sure, come in," Aneesh said

We went inside and sat on a sofa thinking where to start.

"Aneesh, your mom, is breaking her marriage with your father for you," Agni said.

"I can't help it, bhaiya (elder brother)," Aneesh said without looking at us.

"Aneesh, you are their son. Do you want your parents to break their marriage just for you?" I asked

"I regret being a son to such a father."

"Think about your mom, Aneesh," I said

"Bhabhi, I think that is better for mom too," Aneesh replied emotionlessly.

"No, Aneesh. It is not right. In this age, divorce is not a fair choice," Agni said

"Bhaiya, Bhabhi found me and convinced me to come to India for mom. As mom didn't do wrong, I came to India. But I can never forgive that man who is, unfortunately, my father, for killing my Prarthana."

"I loved Prarthana very much. But mom and dad refused my marriage. I married her without their acceptance. After a few months, she became pregnant. Mom and dad called us to home knowing about her pregnancy. We went home and stayed there. She was in her ninth month, and Dad sent me on a business trip. When I returned, I found my wife and child dead. One of our maids told me that Prarthana got labour pains but dad didn't agree to take her to hospital. He was the reason behind her death. I didn't even see her dead body till now because of that man" Aneesh said emotionally.

Agni went near to him.

"Aneesh, you are wrong. Your dad didn't do anything wrong. Prarthana was not pregnant. She faked her love and pregnancy for your property. She called her lover that day, and she eloped with her boyfriend. Whatever that maid told to you was created by dad to avoid breaking of your heart. Now, both you and mom do not trust him," Agni said.

"Shut up, just shut up. Not a word about my wife. She is not like your wife to elope and marry someone else after marriage. She is not that characterless," Aneesh said.

Tears appeared in my eyes, but it shocked me more when Agni slapped him.

"Don't talk about Jwala. What do you know about her? She didn't know planning and cheating. She knows only to love. When she is in the US too, she earned by herself without expecting money from me. She is never behind my money. She always carved for my love. When she felt that my love is not real, for the baby she married someone trusting that he is good. She tried to accept him for giving a better life for my child as he promised her before marriage. She married him because she predicted the problems that a child would face if he is fatherless. After realising her fault, she made sincere efforts to gain my trust and love. She proved she is a good wife and mother. No one had right to talk about her character," Agni said, and I tried to go from there.

However, Agni held my hand stopping me from leaving.

"Come with me, Aneesh. I will show you Prarthana alive. I will remove all your doubts," Agni said, and Aneesh agreed.

We went to a house where a girl was playing with a baby.

"Prarthana?" Aneesh said, and I understood it is Prarthana.

Aneesh went to her. He held her wrist turning her towards him.

"How could you do this to me, Prarthana. I trusted you and left my parents for you. But you betrayed me,"

She closed her eyes and wiped her tears.

"I am sorry, Aneesh. I didn't love you. I love my friend. But we didn't have money, and we both didn't study much due to financial problems. We can't get a job to have a decent life. My love is an action. After marriage, I spiked milk and made you drink it. You thought that we became one. It's not true. You never made love to me. I pretended as if I was pregnant and that made us stay with your parents. I escaped from the home with jewellery and money when you are out of the station. I married the one whom I love, and we started a small business with the money. Please Aneesh, please forgive me. Now I have a baby too. I am sorry for what I had done to you," she said with tears sitting on her knees begging him.

Aneesh made her stand and slapped her.

"Disgusting is a small word. I hate myself for loving a person like you. At least don't raise your daughter like you," Aneesh said.

Aneesh sat in our car, and his tears had no bound. He cried uncontrollably, and Agni hugged consoling him.

"Do you want to sue her?" Agni asked.

"No, bhaiya. Let Prarthana live her life. I don't want to file a case against her," Aneesh said.

We took him into our home. Agni asked me to bring water. He made Aneesh take water. Aneesh became a bit fine by evening. I was working in our kitchen preparing some healthy and quick food for Jagni. She often feels hungry in the evening, and she needs something healthy and tasty. Aneesh came to the kitchen.

"Aneesh, do you want anything?" I asked him.

"No, bhabhi, I am…." he stammered.

"What happened, Aneesh?" I asked him.

"I am sorry, bhabhi. I shouldn't have slipped my tongue, even after knowing everything about you," Aneesh said stammering.

"It's ok. You are my husband's younger brother. That means you are equal to my child to me. So, I can understand your emotions," I said to him.

I prepared coffee for Agni and Aneesh. I gave it to them and fed the baby with food. I missed Vedika didi (elder sister) today. She went to visit her son who is staying in a hostel.

We went to his mom's home with Aneesh. Aneesh told everything to his mom and apologised to his dad. They have united again into a family. Agni didn't talk to Aneesh's dad, and I know that he hates Agni thinking that he is a son of a wh*re. Only mom is close to him.

"Okay mom, we will leave," he said

"Agni," Aneesh's dad said, and Agni shocked for a second.

"I am sorry, beta. Though I am elder than you in age, I behaved so immaturely than you. I never accepted your mom's love for you. I insulted you many times and broken your heart at your tender age. You forgot everything and united us again. Please forgive me, Agni. You both stay here as my elder son and daughter in law,"

"Uncle, it's ok. I forgot everything already. But we can't stay here. My ways are different, and only Jwala can bear me. I can't stay here," he said politely.

Aneesh and his parents tried a lot to convince him, but he didn't accept at all. We started in the car to our home.

"Agni, why did you disagree to stay with them?" I asked.

"Jwala, I didn't want to hear the words told by Aneesh about you from anyone again. If we are at our home, you will be the head, and everyone respects you like a queen of our home and business. If we stay there, anyone may slip their tongue when something happens, and it hurts me. If I shift, then you will feel that only because of you I left them. I didn't want all that to happen. No one should dare to insult you. You are my life. Everyone must respect you," he said.

I can't say anything except wondering how he changed to that extent. In the past, he insulted me many times, but now he is not ready to listen to even a word against me. I felt happy with his love. We reached home, and Agni became busy with work.

"Agni, I want to talk to you about Vedika."

"Tell me," he said

"I want to get her married to a good person. How long will she be alone?"

"Vedika is not ready for marriage, Jwala. She had her reasons," he said

"Can't we convince her? She should lead a happy life too," I said.

"Jwala, actually when you were in the US, Vedika underwent surgery. Due to infection, the doctor removed her uterus. Vedika didn't want to disturb you, so we didn't inform you. She was raped brutally many times in the past when she is in that prostitution house. She used to get a stomach ache, but she never shared with us. She fainted one day in the kitchen, and our maid called me. I took her to hospital. Doctors confirmed that her uterus was poorly infected and due to negligence, it must be removed. After surgery, she was better, but the doctor said if she keeps any physical relationship with anyone, she will die.

I don't think there will be any men who marry a girl without expecting pleasure or heir from her. She applied for a job in Germany. She completed her nurse training from there in the past, and she got a job. She will be moving to Germany soon," he said.

I cried hugging him. Vedika's life was spoiled without her mistake. I can understand that still, she had complications with her health. Her heart is pure, and she always wishes the best for the people around her. I was not with her even at the time of her surgery. No one informed me too.

"Don't cry, Jwala. I want you to be strong. Our Jwalaagni Home for Rehabilitation needs you. You should train those women to be strong and lead their life. Only you can do it."

"I will do it," I said wiping my tears.

We tried a lot to convince Vedika to stay with us. But, she didn't agree. Instead, she said that if she is here, the baby may not become close to me ever as she was close to Vedika. She said if she is away, only then the baby will become close to me gradually. She convinced me and left for Germany within a week. Baby became sick as Vedika moved to Germany. However, slowly she recovered and started loving me.

Six months passed by and Agni wanted me to focus on my career. I don't know why but I was scared of chasing my dreams. What if I can't take care of Agni and Jagni while building my dreams? Agni always needs my attention, and if I fail in making him feel my love, he will get irritated. I know he doesn't get love till now and he expects a lot from me. I didn't want to miss his love and hurt him in any way. We joined Jagni in a school, and she too needs my love and care. I don't want to mess up with my life.

"Good evening, angel," Agni tapped on my shoulder.

I smiled at him. He brought Jagni from play school.

"You go and get fresh up. I will make our princess get fresh," I said taking our baby from him.

"Wait, are you fine? Why are you looking dull?" He said checking the temperature by putting his hand on my forehead.

"I am fine, Agni," I said

"What's the matter which is bothering you?"

"Nothing serious, Agni. A very general problem which every married Indian woman faces; a struggle between choosing career and family," I said

"I can understand, but I don't think you need to stress yourself much because I am not forcing you to quit the career as many husbands do. So what is your problem?"

"Agni, building a career and becoming successful is not easy. It needs a lot of effort. Jagni is still a kid, and she needs her mom. You too don't like if I didn't pay attention to you becoming busy. I feel it's better for me to be a homemaker so that I can give more time to you and baby."

"Do you think it gives happiness to you?"

"I will be happy as long as you and baby are with me."

"Jwala, I know well that you didn't like to be a homemaker. You are compromising your dreams for us. Just imagine maybe one day, I may lose in business. Then, you may feel so helpless, and can't start your career all of a sudden. Baby will grow up in a few years and will be busy with her studies. Then you will feel all alone. Don't give up on your career for temporary responsibilities. I am with you. I will understand you even if you pay less attention to me due to your job. I will try to be with baby as much as possible when you are away from her," he said

"Thank you so much. I will start my career. I will try my best to spend time with you and baby without making you both feel missing me."

Leap of one year:

"Madam, this year we had admissions better than last year. We are creating an image in our city," Principal of my school said.

"That is great. But we shouldn't relax. There is more to achieve and what we accomplished is just one percent," I said.

I took a loan from bank keeping my certificates. I established a school last year. Agni told that he would help, but I chose to develop with my hard work. This year admissions increased as a sign of our hard work done last year. Jagni was with me as I joined her in my school.

This whole year Agni supported me a lot. He took care of Jagni and me when I neglected my health due to school administration.

That idiot who tried to force me got arrested as Agni caught him and handed over to the police. That fellow revealed that it's Aadarsh who sent a message from Agni's mobile on that day. Aadarsh followed Agni that day and finding him unconscious; he implemented his plan. Agni had those private photos of both of us in his email. As it's his mobile, his Gmail was always signed in that enabled Aadarsh to transfer the pictures to his mobile and later sent them to my parents. Both were arrested and still in jail.

I went to my orphanage and asked his father to leave the orphanage. I told him who am I and everything he had done to Agni. I sent him out of the orphanage. I know I was merciless, but I can't help. He deserves to be on the streets and have a bitter life. He had done a lot to my Agni and mother in law. Agni came to know this, but he didn't speak anything about that. I know he wants to kill him, but I can't see my husband becoming a criminal.

From last one year, we rescued fifty women who were forced into prostitution by women trafficking. I have given a free seat to their children in my school. I designed a course for the women where we teach basic spoken and written English skills, basic Computer operating and then any handicraft they chose. Few girls applied for distance education to complete graduation and others for vocational courses. Agni recruited few educated girls from the Home in his office. We decided to spend 50% of what I earn and 15% of his earnings towards the Home.

Everything is going well in my life now. Agni became understanding and Jagni got attached to me a lot emotionally. If I am dull, she cries immediately and beats her dad thinking he scolded me. I love to watch his expression at that time. He finally apologises to me though he didn't hurt me and requests me to smile to save him from Jagni. My life became happy and fun-filled one with their love.