71. He is Not Human!

Anika’s PoV

All the while he spoke on the phone, I sat in the car with my mouth opened in awe. I could not comprehend many things that they spoke but I know that Anamika is no more Anamika. He is Anand now! She is a HE! The beautiful girl we all know is no more, she was suffering from inside since she knew that she is not meant to be this person she is. I couldn't even imagine all the problems she must have gone through all these years. She, no he would have been scared for this society and its approval.

I know Sivaprakasam Perippa is a very strict man. I can sense how strict Dhanam perima can be. The sudden change of Anand when we were little, from a quirky girl to a very silent girl was all because he was not comfortable in his own skin. I still remember that day at our relative’s wedding, Dhanam perima took Anamika into a room and beat her up for playing with boys. That was why he withdrew from all of us. He doesn't like to play girl-games. He wanted to be with boys, her kind.

I cannot even imagine the horrors she must have felt when she was married to Arjun. She knew she was a man inside and yet she was forced to marry Arjun. They were together for almost a full year and yet Arjun made no move on Anand? I don't think Arjun knew about this then because if he had known he would have helped Anand years before. How did Arjun live in the same room without a physical tension? Arjun is not a normal human.

Anand lived with Arjun for a year only because it was Arjun. If at all another man, he would have no other go than to come out as transgender. I cannot comprehend my mind around all the dreadful thoughts Anand must have got while he was living here and leaving here. All this because our society is not forthcoming in accepting the natural changes. I could not stop but to imagine how this life would have been for Anand if at all his parents were easy on him and understood his changes, accepted him as he is and stood with him in all the ups and downs.

“Anika, are you here?” I came back to my senses when Arjun snapped in front of my face.

“Um… yes... “ I struggled to make words out of my mouth. I felt so guilty to have talked ill about the relationship between them. I could not face him or meet his eyes, I failed to keep my trust in him. I was so wrong to have thrown a baseless accusation on them because not one day did Arjun stay a night away from me after we came back from our so called ‘honeymoon’. He came home very late and was out all day even on the weekends but Priya said that Arjun was toiling hard in the factory everytime we spoke on the phone.

“I want you to keep this a secret, Anika. I am planning to take him to coimbatore after two months, after his full recovery. If his parents are not ready to accept him as he is, I am going to settle him somewhere new where he will be looked upon as a man. That way, it will be easy for him to lead his life in a way he always wanted.” Arjun said. I had nothing to say to him so I just nodded my head in agreement.

“Don't you have anything to say or ask?” He asked me when he saw me quiet.

“I am so sorry, Arjun. I never expected this. I was so wrong to have accused you. I... I didn't mean it, I just said that to get back at you.” I said, though I know that I was being so insecure after the arrival of Anamika and the insecurity is because of my lack of trust in Arjun.

“You have already apologized for it and I have accepted your apology. Let's not talk about it any further.” He said.

“I am at a loss of words. How can you be so good? Are you for real?”

“Haha, I didn't do anything supernatural. So I think I am real. You apologized for your mistake and I I forgave you. I think this is not the first time this has happened in the world.” He said, trying to lighten the air.

“No, I didn't mean that. How can you help Ananmika? It was because of her cowardice, your life got complicated. If at all he came out as a transgender before marriage, you would be saved from all the horrible years you spent after that. He tarnished your name and your reputation. It was because of him that your family went through so much criticism. All the days spent searching for her, police station visits, court, the untrue accusation that you did something to her, the unpleasant comments on your back! If I were you, I would not in a split second have thought to help her, if not to expose her and clear my name. Where do you get this enormous amount of empathy and compassion from?” I asked him couldn't believe what he had done to her in spite of every wrong she did to him.

“You are right, Anika. Everything she did to me was wrong. But on whom should I take that out on? Anamika? No, Anamika was an imaginary person. She was not real since the day I have known her. When I saw him in Kolhapur, I only saw a man, not my ex-wife. If I am to take out my anger on someone, it should be Anand’s parents for failing to acknowledge his changes and suffocation and this society for scaring him to death to accept him as he is. He has tried to run away and take his life many times fearing the reputation of his parents if he comes out as a man. I understood the practical difficulties, Anika. I didn't get the anger I thought I would get when I met him. So the anger-less me thought of a solution for him. If at all I was angry I would have done the same thing you said you would.” He said, calm and composed with a little smile.

‘I am now happily married to my wife and I have happy news to share with you. Anika is pregnant. So, you see, I am happy. Nothing has happened to me or my life. I think things happen for a reason. Maybe you came into my life to bring Anika to me.’

I remembered the conversation he had with Anand. Did he really mean it or just said that to calm Anand down? We are not happy now. We are not together now. He is definitely happy about our pregnancy but beside that? Did he really think that Anand came into his life to bring me to him? Yes, it was because of Sivaprakasam perippa that I married him. He did that to make up for the deeds done by his daughter.

“Did you really mean what you said to Anand about your life?” I asked him straight. I don't like playing guessing games anymore.

“I didn't tell any lies to him. I am really happy in this life, Anika. When I got to know that I am not blessed to have the love life, I was hurt but this baby! This is the grip for my future. This baby will be the reason for my existence. This baby would continue my legacy. I don't know about you, but I for one hundred percent think this baby is made out of love. So, yes, I am happy and I should thank Anand for bringing you to my life and thank you for giving me a baby.” He spoke with real joy in his voice.

He is all about this BABY. Alright, he took my words so seriously and eradicated me from his world. I don't exist in his life as his wife, I am just the bearer of his baby. It was me who said to forget that we are married and try to be friends. It was me who wanted to be away from him. Now, I should contain my love for him inside myself and act like I care only about the baby, the only common thing we have between us. He still thinks that I don't love him. He still thinks that I love Arun even after I told differently so many times.

“You are welcome, Arjun. And yes, this baby is made out of love.” said I, looking him in the eye. He wanted to say something to me but his phone rang again and because his phone was connected to the bluetooth of the car, I saw it was Preethi calling.

“Yes, Preeth. How are you?” He attended the call.

“Ajju, I want to see you.” She spoke and we could clearly hear a distress in her voice. It was like she was crying.

“Where are you, Preeth? Are you alright?” He asked her in a hurry.

“No, Ajju. I am not alright. I am on the streets now, Ajju.” She spoke bursting out crying.

“What? Where?”

“Ajju, my mom and dad sent me out of the house. They even snatched Avni from me. It was all because of Sharanya. I don't even know what I did to her to do this to me. Everyone is telling me that I am insane. They all call me a lunatic.” She was crying profusely that Arjun stopped the car to the side of the road and started talking to her to know her location better.

“Shhh, Preethi, calm down. You are making no sense. Why would your parents send you out? Where exactly are you? Wait, let me call Praveen.” He said.

“See, even you won't believe in me. You think I make no sense? I thought you will be with me no matter what. But you want to cross check with them? There is no one for me to live with, I have nothing in this world. I will end my life now. Bye Arjun.”

“Wait wait, Preethi. I will listen to you. Where are you? I promise I won't call anyone, I will come straight to you. Tell me where are you?”

Well, she said where she was without any resistance and he drove there straight. I wonder what she is planning on now. Poor Arjun, believes everything she says without any questions. Arjun has a beautiful heart inside of the hard and rugged outer appearance. His heart contains so much goodness in it like no other human on this planet has.