Chapter 28: Chapter 28

*Ajay Mehra Pov*

“You will be really fine, right?” Mom asked for the millionth time.

“I will be, Mom.” I replied, smiling at her when the car stopped in front of the apartment.

“Are you sure about this?” She asked again.

“Mom! It’s been ten days since I got shot. Don’t worry about me.” I replied and got outside the car, but didn’t let the pain show on my face.

“Well let’s go inside. They must be waiting.” Dad said and we three started walking inside.

“You are killing me with surprise. What do you have with which she will accept for you to stay here?” Mom asked again.

“Knock the door, Dad.” I said, ignoring her question.

“What are you doing here?” That’s what she asked opening the door.

“Jiya! Don’t talk to the guests like that. Please come in.” I heard her Mom saying and we three walked in.

“Did you guys packed your luggage?” I asked her father.

“Yeah! We don’t want to go, but the workers need us after so long break.” He replied.

“Now you can take care of them and the company as all the property got shifted to you.” Dad said to Uncle.

“What is going on?” Jiya asked.

“We are returning to Palghar.” Uncle replied.

“What? But... ok then I will be there with you guys in few months after the contract.” She said nodding.

“Can you all sit down?” I asked them and sat in a single chair.

“I am so excited finally to know.” Aunty said, and I rolled my eyes.

“About what? What is happening?” Jiya asked us confused.

“I am going to shift here with you.” I replied.

“Are you joking?” She asked, narrowing her eyes.

“You can shift with him too.” Mom replied, and I glared at her.

“How can you guys allow some single man, and women stay under a roof?” Jiya asked them after a few minutes.

“We are married, Jiya.” I replied.

“Yes! But that ended with one-year time already.” She said frowning.

“Actually, one thing is missing.” I said, rubbing my neck not knowing how to explain it.

“Look, I was your wife in that one year and then became mistress and ex-wife in your words. What is missing? As far as I know we don’t need to do any other legal obligation after the signing we have done on the document before marriage.” She said folding her hands.

“You are absolutely right, but one thing missed in the procedure.” I said, and everyone looked at me with eyes narrowed.

“What is it?” She asked.

“The signature.” I replied.

“What are you saying? I signed the papers even though I don’t know about them.” She said raising her voice.

“You signed them but… but I didn’t.” I said, and silence consumed the whole room.

“You what?” everyone asked in a whisper after a few minutes.

“I forgot to sign them, but made my lawyers to seal it. Every time I thought of signing, but something came up, and I didn’t sign. I thought there is still one whole year to sign, but didn’t get time to sign them at all.” I replied.

“Then what were you talking with a lawyer?” She asked frowning.

“My lawyers don’t know that I didn’t sign them. If they know, then they would have approached Dad for sure as I didn’t even sign the pre-nup. For the protectiveness on the property, they would have definitely reached Dad. And, I didn’t want my Uncle knows even though I don’t know why I felt to hide that.” I replied and coughed.

Aunty immediately passed water for me. I thanked her and waited for Jiya’s reaction.

“So you never signed them. But why?” She asked narrowing her eyes.

“I got lazy?” I replied as a question.

“You got lazy for a small signature?” She asked, closing her eyes and leaned back.

“I am glad that I got lazy.” I mumbled to myself and our parents still looking at me like I am crazy guy.

“Where is the proof?” She asked, opening her eyes.

I gestured Dad for the file and gave her the paper removing from it. She read each page and then glanced up.

“I want a divorce.” She said within seconds.

“No!” I too replied within seconds.

“But why?” She asked frowning.

“I don’t want to give you a divorce.” I replied.

“Look, is it because of no pre-nup? Don’t worry, I will not ask anything.” She said after a few minutes.

“How can you even think that? I don’t want a divorce because I want to stay as your husband.” I said and inside promised myself that until she gets better.

“No! I will not accept.” She replied getting up.

“Jiya! Why don’t you try the things out?” Mom asked her.

“No Aunty! I don’t want to do anything with him.” She replied pleading us.

“How about this? Try things out until these six months. Then you will also finish the job contract too.” Her Dad suggested.

“Dad!” She said frowning.

“It is a good plan.” Her Mom said.

“Please Jiya!” Dad pleaded her.

“Ok! But I will stay here alone.” She said.

“No! He will stay here or you come back to our house.” My Mom said and I again glared at her.

“Ok, ok! You both stay here only. He is not allowed in our house.” She said, and I nodded at Mom.

“But...” She started to say, but felt the lack of words.

“Fine! Do whatever you want to do.” She said, shaking her head.

“We will leave. Otherwise, we will miss our flight.” Her Dad said getting up.

“Are you going to the old house in Palghar?” Jiya asked them.

“Yes! We got everything back.” He replied.

“You are happy right Mom? You finally got what you want.” She asked her Mom.

“No Jiya! I am feeling completely guilty. I just want you to be happy.” Aunty said hugging her.

Then Aunty walked towards me and whispered “She doesn’t eat dinner at all. Take care of that.”

“Same as me, I guess. I will.” I said, and she nodded smiling.

Her Dad walked towards me and whispered “I still don’t think you are good for her, but just try to heal her.”

“I know that.” I said smiling.

They both left and then Mom walked towards Jiya holding my medical bag. She opened it and started explaining the medicines.

Nonetheless, I walked near her and pulled away the bag saying, “It is not her duty to take care of me. I will take care of myself so don’t worry.”

“But...” Mom started to say, and I shook my head.

“Fine! Then take care of Jiya and make her have her tablets properly, otherwise her uterus will be damaged.” She said, and I nodded.

She already told me one week back about the condition of Jiya. My parents too left and we both stood in our places staring at each other.

“Where will you sleep?” She asked, frowning and turned to look at the locked door.

“I am fine on the couch. But I am hungry. Can we have lunch?” I asked her.

“Sure!” She replied, and we both sat at the dining table.

I hissed a little while sitting, but didn’t say a word. We had our lunch calmly and then in the evening walked inside the only washroom in the house.

I glanced at the number of blades and stared at them. I get to do something to stop it.

I took the marker pen and opened all the blades. I can’t write the whole name right, so I should think the short form.

She said something about the nickname. I immediately got it and wrote the letter on all the blades carefully.

After that I calmly walked outside and lay on the couch. It is so small couch, I thought, gripping the wound feeling the pain.

I shook my head and sat on the couch leaning back. I can’t sleep on this otherwise the wound will open up, and if it does, then she will get worried.

“What the hell is this?” She asked, walking near me and showed the blades.

“What?” I asked her innocently.

“Why did you write B?” She asked frowning.

“Oh, that! Well by the time I got to know that Durga decided to kill herself, I feel irritated seeing the blades, so I write on them like that all the time.” I replied.

“Do you think I am foolish? You got to know about the letter B only ten days back.” She said shaking her head.

“Well, I felt tired of writing Durga on them.” I said shrugging.

“Then why didn’t you do it in Palghar?” She asked narrowing her eyes.

“Well, how can I accomplish that? You will ask me questions right so.” I replied, and she groaned.

“What is that?” She asked, staring at my shirt.

I looked down to find blood. I immediately got up and walked towards my bags.

“I lay on the couch few minutes back and look like it got disturbed.” I said, taking the medical kit and started walking toward the washroom.

“You can do it?” She asked.

“Yes!” I replied and tried to do it but it was rubbish but still tried.

“I cooked the dinner and you can eat.” Saying that she walked inside the room and closed the door.

“What about you?” I asked her.

“I already ate and even had tablets.” She replied and then I saw her switching off the light.

It is still evening, so I too ate a little and had some tablets. I sat on the couch and decided not to sleep on it.

I can try it on the ground, but I can’t get up. I hissed feeling so uncomfortable.

She suddenly opened the door and said, “You need to get to the hospital."

“I am fine.” I said frowning.

“No! There was blood so you need to go to the hospital." She said in a determined tone.

“Look very little place didn’t get stitched well, and it will be fine soon in a few days. Doctor himself said that. Do not worry.” I said in a calm voice.

“Go inside my room and sleep.” She said after a few minutes.

“What about you?” I asked her frowning.

“I will be fine here.” She replied.

“No!” I said, shaking my head.

“Fine! The bed is big, and we both can sleep there.” She said taking a deep breath.

“Are you sure?” I asked her frowning.

“Just get up.” She replied, and we both walked inside her room.

We both lay on either side of the bed and drifted off into sleep very early. Just six months. Jiya and I don’t know will I be able to do everything before that.

“Good night!” I whispered even though I didn’t get a reply.