Anika’s PoV
With a throbbing heart and bursting sobs, I walked a long way without any destination. My heart felt so heavy every time I breathed and my knees started buckling telling me that it cannot go an inch longer. I disregarded every passerby who looked at me weirdly. Some tried to approach me, maybe to lend a helping hand and some just followed me with their eyes. I avoided everyone and kept walking like my life depended on it. My heart is like a land after a storm, chaos everywhere. My life is done and dusted for good.
I stopped at a point when my eyes started seeing blur. My baby, I have to take care of my baby. I should be prepared to fight with Arjun to keep my baby. The sole reason for me still breathing after all this humiliation is my baby. I cannot give away my baby to him.
“Anika? Anika? Are you alright?” I heard someone calling my name but I could not open my eyes to see who that was. I slowly lost my consciousness.
“Relax, Mrs. Arjun. You are fine.” A nurse talked to me when I opened my eyes.
“Who got me here?” I asked her, trying to sit up straight.
“You are very anaemic. We have administered IV for you as you were dehydrated and had low blood pressure. You need to eat well especially when you are carrying a baby.” The nurse said.
“Thanks, who got me here?” I asked her again.
“I did, dear. What were you thinking walking all alone on a road crying your eyes out? What is happening?” He asked me in a very serene tone. I never expected to see him here at this time. What should I tell him now? Should I be angry at him? Is there any point in getting angry at him after I have decided to let go of Arjun?
I refused to answer him but he was very stubborn to know what was happening. I remembered the times he was with me and the more weak my heart is right now, I wanted to seek refuge in him. This will for sure infuriate Arjun if he gets to know about this but I don't care about him anymore. I confided in him and told him everything that has been going on in my life. I told him every insult Arjun threw at me. I told him how Arjun never trusted me at any point in these 4months of being together.
He was overwhelmed and confused at the news that Anamika is alive and is with Arjun. His eyes watered in joy and it took him more than ten minutes before he digested that news and started talking to me. I instantly knew that he completely trusts Arjun as he always does and he is ready to wait for Arjun to reveal it to everyone with his antics. Though he is filled with emotions, he spoke to me calm and composed as nothing I said affected him in any way.
“I am so sorry that you have to go through all this. I am partly responsible for all that you are going through. I would say this separation is necessary for you both to understand each other. Set aside the fact that you are married and approach this situation in a third person point of view, Anu. He didn't trust you, I agree, but you never gave him enough chances to trust you. You both had a bad start that fueled him to believe otherwise. There is something hidden that is spoiling your life and I understand that you don't want anything to do with it. I can feel that you think it is done between you two. It is right of you to think that proving yourself to him is unnecessary. Let it be, but try talking to him like a friend. I don't say that his anger is a good quality and you have to get along with it but try not to get angry when he is already angry. Pelting with words on each other will probably hurt you both equally. I am sure that the hurt you endure is the same thing he endures.” He said. He is right, we actually did the exact same thing to each other. We pelted each other with words. He said something ridiculous and I said something equally ridiculous to get back at him.
“Don't wait for your significant other to apologize to you. You apologize to him for what you think is wrong on your side. This will instill a guilty feeling in your partner that will fuel the urge to sort things out. This is how every marriage in our country works even though we marry someone who is a stranger, dear. Our culture tells women to adjust to the situation and play subtly in a relationship because we know that the mental strength of a woman is far greater than the mental strength of a man. From what you have said, I feel like you both share an equal amount of ditching in this relationship. I would say, it is high time you mend your wrongs. I am not asking you to mend your wrongs to unite with Arjun. I am asking you to do it for your own satisfaction. If at all you both decide to go separate ways, you will be free of guilt.” He continued when he saw me quiet.
Know what? He is right in every bit of the words he said. I baselessly blamed him in Anamika’s matter. Even after him repeating so many times to not talk bad about Preethi, I did it wantedly. But it turns out that Preethi is no way connected to our life. Above all, I, in the heat of the moment, asked him if he wasn't man enough to keep me happy. I later realized how harsh it was of me to say that to a man. It must have brushed his ego.
I decided to apologize to Arjun for what I did. About this baby, I am sure I can take care of my baby all alone. I have a degree and a hand craft that will give me money to live. But what did my baby do to live without the love of a father? I thought it was so wrong of Preethi to stop Avni from meeting her dad. How can I do the same thing to my baby? If I want him to be a father figure to my baby, I cannot keep on fighting with him. I should learn to get along with him. I no longer have the desire to live with him but my baby needs him. His parents need our baby as their heir. I still remember how happy his mother was when we consummated. If I want my baby to have all the relatives, I must learn a way that will not infuriate Arjun.
“You are right. I have made some mistakes and I have no ego to accept them and ask for his forgiveness. I think, so far I have had an expectation from Arjun. I wanted him to trust me. I wanted him to love me the same way I do. When I didn't get what I expected, the disappointment turned into anger. Now I don't have any expectations from him. Maybe now I will have no problem talking to him like a friend. Above all, Arjun is a very influential man and he has enough proof to separate my baby from me legally. If I want to have my baby, I don't want to be on his wrong side.”
“There, my girl. A very simple truth. You must realize that you are no longer a girl. You are a woman who is going to be a mother very soon. As you grow in your character, you must reduce the number of mistakes you make. I wish you all the best, dear.” He caressed my head with love.
“Thank you! You gave me the right advice at the right time. Thank you for your timely help. I think I can manage myself from here.”
“Don't be hasty to send me away. Tell me what you are going to do next. I am sure you cannot go to your parents now as you said to Arjun. What do you have in your mind?”
“I … I don't know.”
“Don't worry. I know a place that is safe for you. You can stay there, you can work independently and earn. Think it through before you act from now on.”
“Thank you so much. I will talk to Arjun about moving out. He is so adamant to keep me under his gaze until I deliver my baby but I dont think I can endure that slavery any longer. He will never listen to me if I turn him down bluntly. I have to comply with him to make him loosen his grip on me.”
“Good, I will take care of your expenses for now.” He said which I straight up denied.
“No, thank you. I have my jewels that will help me for now. Please don't make me more guilty by giving me money.”
“Ok, ok. Relax. Now how are you feeling?”
“I am feeling fine. Energetic too.” I told him.
“Good, the doctor wanted to do a scan after you wake up.”
“No, I want to do the scan with Arjun. I wont take away any joy from him. This baby belongs to him as much as it belongs to me.”
“Haha, I see a great start. Alright, shall we go see the place I was talking about?”
“Sure! I can't thank you enough.” I went along with him after being discharged from the hospital to look at that working women’s hostel. I started preparing myself to talk to Arjun in a way that he would never refuse. I rehearsed a million times before I called a cab to go to the farm house.