62. The Living Hell!

Arjun’s PoV

The minute she said that horrible thing, I knew this would never work out between us even though there is a spark and love. I can feel she does have feelings for me with her possessive behavior and insecure feeling. She doesn't trust me and is scared of Anamika. I understand her trust issues, because it was me who made her insecure but her fear over Anamika? That is uncalled for. I am not a person who will cheat on her when I am committed to a relationship with her. I am unlike her which she failed to understand about me. She is battling her feelings with me and her feelings with Arun. That is what is making me more mad. I don't like being compared to anybody.

Every time she tried to talk with me, I simply walked out on her. It is already a living hell for me to stay in the same space with her and not talk to her or ignore her beauty, she is not helping me either. I don't want her. I am sure about that but my heart is still with her. But who am I to stop her from getting a life she liked? I gave her the divorce papers the very same evening, she didn't say a word but took it and kept it on her shelf. Now I am waiting for her to make a move. But she doesn't seem to move out. She works all day in the home and takes good care of granny. She keeps the house neat and clean. She even washes my clothes which I purposely ignore recognising. She makes her jewelry until late at night. Unfortunately, I could only bring back Kathir, I could not replace any other. I have asked the hospital to send a nurse to take care of granny and that is not approved yet.

It has already been more than a week since we fought. As days passed by, she looked more tired and exhausted. Kathir told me that she is not eating properly. I don’t care anymore, no one has stopped her from eating or no one has asked her to do all these tasks. It is her that is complicating things for her, not me. But her exterior is like nothing has ever happened at all, she is a tough one to crack. I don't know what she is planning to do but I think it is fine until she stays because I don't have that courage to break it to my family that we are breaking up. My mom would never take this without getting a heart attack. Why is this life too cruel to me? What did I ever do wrong in this damn life?

“Hello, Arjun?” I picked up the call from Harish. Why is he calling me at this hour? I am on the way to the restaurant for my lunch.

“Yes, Harish. Tell me, How are you?”

“I am good. Arjun, you have to come to the Shrishti clinic near Minjur.”

“What? Why?”

“I have brought Anika here.”

“What? Is she ok?” I stopped the car at the shoulder of the road.

“She is ok. But please come soon.” He said and hung up on me. What is she doing in Minjur? It is exactly opposite to the location of the farm house. I started driving towards that mentioned clinic. The only thing that is keeping me sane is the words Harish said. ‘She is ok.’

It took me almost an hour to reach there and I rushed into the clinic. It was a very small clinic and I saw Harish sitting in the waiting area. I walked up to him in long strides.

“Harish, what happened? Where is Anika?”

“Relax, Arjun. She is with the doctor. You can go in.” He showed me the doctor’s office. I knocked on the door and opened it.

“Hello, doctor. I'm Arjun.” I went in and introduced myself to the lady doctor. Anika was sitting opposite to her.

“He is my husband, doctor.” Anika told her.

“Oh, please be seated. Do you guys need a moment alone?” The doctor asked us. I am completely clueless at this point.

“Yes, doctor. Please.” Anika stood up indicating to me to walk out the room. I followed her out.

“What happened? Are you alright?” I asked her as soon as we walked past Harish to the outside of the hospital.

“I’m pregnant, Arjun.” She said looking straight into my eyes.

I was terrorized when I heard what she actually said. Why is this happening? I gave her divorce papers and she is pregnant? How is it even possible with that one time? That is why she has been looking tired and exhausted. What should I do now? I want my baby but she wants to go.

“This is your baby, Arjun. Please don't say anything horrid.” She added when I stayed quiet for more than a minute. I never had second thoughts about that. She always talks insensitively. I took another minute to settle myself to stop me from saying the wrong thing.

“I promise, Arjun. I had it with only you. Say something. You are scaring me with your silence.” A drop of tear rolled out of her eye and ran down her cheek.

“God, shut up. Shut up your stupid mouth. I know that it is my baby.” I yelled at her to stop her from talking like a lunatic. I saw her relax at my yelling.

“I forgot to keep track of my dates. It is actually just 5 weeks since we did that. But I had my periods due two weeks ago. The doctor asked me to do the urine test and the kit shows I’m pregnant. She asked us to get a scan to confirm the exact date.” She hugged me with her face in my chest. I couldn't stop but to hug her. I cannot describe this feeling I am having right now. I am elated. Finally, something gripping for my life. My Baby!

“Alright, come, let's thank the doctor and go to our family doctor. We will proceed from her.” I told her, bringing her in my arms. We walked to the doctor’s office together, hand in hand.

“Thank you, doctor. We will take it up with our family doctor.” I told the doctor.

“Sure, congratulations, Mr. and Mrs. Arjun., take care.” We took leave from her and met Harish outside.

“Thank you, Harish.”

“Oh, it’s nothing, Arjun. What did the doctor say?” He asked us with a wide smile. He guessed it already.

“We are pregnant, Harish.” I told him.

“Wow, congratulations. I am so happy for you guys.”

“Thank you, anna.” Anika told him.

“Ok, Harish, we have to go to our doctor and get some scans. So we think we will tell everyone after the scan and test results come in.” I said to him.

“That is better. Ok, Arjun, carryon. I have some pending work that I have to tend to. Take care, Anu.”

He jumped on his bike and drove off and we walked to our car. I opened the car door for her and she got in. I started driving but there were so many questions in my head right at that moment. I kept looking at the road and she kept looking at me. I could not act like I didn't see her looking at me. My life is chaotic. I truly don't know what is happening in my life, right now.

“Did Harish recommend this doctor?” I finally asked that question. I want to know what she is doing here in this area.

“No, um… I called Harish for help.”

“So you know this doctor before?” Something is stopping me from directly asking that question to her.

“No, I …. Uh… I came here for … um… getting some stuff for my jewelry making. I felt a little dizzy all of a sudden, so I called Harish because I knew his office was nearby. He came and took me to this clinic. This was the closest one.” She said looking down at her lap.

“Oh, Are you alright now?”

“Yes.” She said while placing her hand on my hand on the gear. Why can't I enjoy anything in this life? I am going to be a father and I could not even express how happy I am. Instead I have to act all grumpy because my wife is in love with someone else. What will she do now?

“Will Arun be ok if you stay with me until you give birth to our baby? You can go to him after the delivery. I will not stop you after that. I will take care of the baby myself.” I told her to know what she plans on doing. But she retrieved her hand soon after I started talking and she was fuming when I was done.

“Are you mad? Do you even hear yourself? I have given you a beautiful reason to be happy and all you think about is taking my baby from me? What do you think of yourself? A cinema hero? Why do you always keep talking about Arun? How many times do I have to tell you that there is nothing between Arun and me? Your lunatic friend fed you with lies and you believe all of them? She is a psycho who needs medical attention. She is not supposed to be roaming around. She belongs in a cage.” She started shouting in the car and now she looks like a lunatic who belongs in the cage.

“Shut up, Anika. How many times do I have to tell you to stop talking about Preethi? She is completely irrelevant to our life. To me, you look like a psycho. She didn't tell me anything about you. I know you are talking with your boyfriend behind my back. I have proof. I don't just believe anything I see or hear.” I shouted at the top of my voice to settle her down.

Just then her phone rang. She looked at the phone and ‘tsk’ed irritatingly. She ignored the call and sat back but never stopped glaring at me. Her phone died down and started ringing again.

“Who is that?”

“I don’t know.” She said, cutting the call. But her phone rang again and this time I grabbed her phone and looked at the number. It was him. I attended the call and put the call on the loudspeaker.

“Anu, what took you so long to attend the call? Your husband must have gone to work, right?” He asked on the phone. I looked at her and she was horrified as she was caught red handed.

“Hello, Anu… You there? I really miss you, Anu. Shall we meet tomorrow? I want to see you. Just half an hour. Anyways, your husband works all day, right?” He went on and I was not ready to hear one more word, so I hung up the call.

“Are you going to tell me that this is not Arun?” I asked her, trying to maintain my cool.

“I know this number has regularly been on your call list. Are you still going to deny the fact that you had sex with me and love your boy friend? You will stay with me and deliver my baby healthily to me and the next day you will be out of my life. You will never try to talk to me again. If you do, I will just expose your true colors to everyone. I hope you will behave yourself.”

I told her and parked the car at the hospital for her check-up. My life is a living hell no matter what happens.