Chapter 17

Vikram left for China the next day, hoping to see Lakshmi before he left, but he couldn't. After reaching China, he became consumed by work. Yet, whenever he was alone, he terribly missed her. Days passed, and he wasn't able to return to India as planned because of some transaction issues. In the beginning, he was caught up in his work, but as time went on, his longing for her only grew stronger. It had been almost a month since Vikram left, and all he wanted was to talk to her, to at least hear her voice. He loved her voice, and he still remembered the first time he heard it—it was the first thing that attracted him to her, even before he saw her face.

He cursed himself for not buying her a mobile phone before he left, so he could at least contact her and let her know what was going on. He wanted to tell her that he was stuck in China because of work, but without a way to reach her, he felt helpless. Now, all he could do was wait for the job to be done, hoping to return to her arms soon. But to his dismay, everything seemed to be dragging on, and his patience was wearing thin.

Meanwhile, Lakshmi was growing increasingly worried about him. She couldn't understand why he hadn't returned yet. Every night, she cried for him, and the change in her behavior didn't go unnoticed by others. When they asked, she shrugged it off, saying she missed her parents. But deep inside, she knew that no one could truly understand the pain she felt without him. She had once been happy knowing he was there to care for her, to love her, to lean on, but lately, an unknown fear had begun to creep into her heart. She couldn't name it—was it anger? Doubt? Loneliness? She wasn't sure, but one thing she knew for certain was that she couldn't live without him. Every morning, she woke up hoping that today would be the day he would return. But with each passing day, her hope faded, and she was left with the same bitter disappointment.

Lately, she hadn't been feeling well. She looked pale, tired, and worn out, and Rekha—ever observant—noticed even the smallest changes in Lakshmi. She could tell something was wrong. She remembered seeing Vikram leave Lakshmi's room the night before he left for China, and a feeling of unease gripped her heart. As a mother of two, Rekha understood something was wrong, and she knew it was time to step in and act.

The next day, Lakshmi was serving lunch to Rekha. Vikram's father was not home, and Vinay and Vinitha were at school. As Lakshmi opened the curry to serve it, a sudden wave of nausea hit her, triggered by the strong smell. Lately, this had been happening more often. She didn't know what was going on with her. Her health had been deteriorating, but her mind was consumed with thoughts of Vikram's absence. A gnawing question lingered in her mind: Did Vikram leave her? Was what Raghu had said true?

She quickly ran to the nearby sink and vomited, trying to fight the rising panic. In that moment, Rekha's suspicion was confirmed. Her eyes narrowed with cold fury.

Rekha stood up from the table and moved silently toward Lakshmi, who was still bent over the sink, wiping her mouth. Standing behind her, Rekha locked eyes with Lakshmi's reflection in the mirror. Her voice was icy as she said, "Come to my room."

Lakshmi, trembling from fear, assumed Rekha was angry because she vomited in their sink. She nodded slowly, afraid to speak, and quickly wiped her face with the edge of her half-sari pallu. Rekha shot her one last withering look before leaving the room, her anger palpable.

Shaking, Lakshmi slowly made her way to Rekha's room. Every step felt heavy with dread. She stood in front of the door, took a deep breath to steady herself, and knocked softly.

"Come in," came Rekha's voice, cold and stern, from inside the room.

Lakshmi slowly entered the room and saw Rekha sitting on the couch, one leg crossed over the other, an air of dominance surrounding her. Lakshmi hesitated for a moment, then walked toward her, standing nervously in front of her. Without a word, Rekha pulled out an envelope and tossed it onto the table in front of Lakshmi.

"You are no longer needed here. You may leave," Rekha said coldly.

Lakshmi stood frozen, shock and confusion flooding her mind. Tears welled up in her eyes as she struggled to comprehend the reason behind Rekha's anger. Her body trembled at the harshness of Rekha's words, and she stared at her with a dumbfounded expression, unable to respond.

Rekha glanced at her with a smirk, her voice laced with contempt. "What? Do you think I don't know what's going on behind my back?" She leaned back with a cruel chuckle. "Are you waiting for your lover? For your kind information, he won't be coming back."

Lakshmi's heart shattered at the cruel words. The shock was overwhelming, but what cut deeper was the finality in Rekha's tone. He won't come back. Those words echoed in her mind, repeating over and over, drowning out everything else.

Her worst fear had come true. What Raghu had told her... he left her. That's why he hadn't returned. Her heart sank as the reality of Rekha's words settled in, her body going numb with disbelief. The pain of losing Vikram was unbearable, but now the depth of her loss seemed all the more final.

"What? Do you think I don't know he's using you?" she said casually, her words laced with venom. "I knew it long before. I don't care because I know he'll eventually get bored of you and chase you away. He did the same now. You're just a plaything to him. You're not the first girl, and you won't be the last."

Tears flowed uncontrollably from Lakshmi's eyes as she interpreted the words. Her heart crashed at the thought of Vikram's betrayal. Then she remembered their marriage – or was it even a real marriage? The question echoed in her mind. No mangalsutra, no priest, no flower garlands, no family and guests, no vows – just a signature. Was it even considered a marriage?

Her mind racing with thoughts, Lakshmi wondered if it was all a drama to use her, to get her. The woman's next words pierced her like a dagger.

"He's in America now, and he won't be back for years. So take this money and leave before his father knows about...the thing in your belly," she said, pointing to Lakshmi's stomach.

"If he gets to know, he'll definitely kill you and...that thing," she continued, her expression twisted in disgust.

Lakshmi, already in shock, felt her world crumbling around her. So Vikram wasn't in China, he had lied to her. The changes in her body, which she had ignored, now made sense. She was pregnant.

Rekha's next words cut through Lakshmi's thoughts. "What? Do you think I don't know you're pregnant, you greedy bit**? Wonder how your parents must be – I think they're also morally bankrupt, just like you."

Lakshmi cried out, clutching her stomach, as Rekha's cruel words pierced her heart.

"Enough of your acting. Now get out, take your salary, and leave. If Vikram's father comes to know, this will be your last day on earth. And remember, no one should know what happened here. If you say anything to anyone, your aunt, who works here, think about her. I'll make her life hell," Rekha warned, stuffing an envelope into Lakshmi's hands.

Lakshmi, still reeling from the shock, stood frozen, unsure of what to do. Rekha's angry voice snapped her back to reality.

"How long are you going to stand there? Leave!" she barked.

Lakshmi flinched at the tone and slowly turned to leave, but Rekha stopped her.

"Wait," she said, her voice dripping with malice.

Lakshmi hesitated, wondering what new torment awaited her.

Lakshmi turned back, her eyes filled with a mix of fear and uncertainty.

"You need to get rid of...the thing in your belly," Rekha said, her words cold and calculated. "I'll take you to the hospital myself. I don't trust you to do it on your own."

Lakshmi's eyes widened in horror. "What? No, I...I won't do it," she stammered, her voice trembling with conviction. To her, the baby was a precious gift, conceived out of love, not lust. The thought of ending its life was unbearable. It was all she had left of, and the only reminder of her love. How could she possibly destroy it with her own hands?

Rekha's expression turned ugly. "You'll do as I say. You're not going to ruin our family's reputation with this b*stard. Now, come with me."

Lakshmi felt a chill run down her spine. She knew she had to get away from Rekha, but her legs felt like lead. Rekha's grip on her arm was like a vice, pulling her towards the door.

"Please, I'll leave and go somewhere else. don't make me do this, please," Lakshmi begged, trying to reason with her.

Rekha's laughter was cold and mirthless. "You should have thought of that before you spread your legs for Vikram. Now, come. I don't have all day."

Lakshmi felt a wave of nausea wash over her. She knew she had to think fast, or risk losing everything.

Rekha's grip on Lakshmi's arm tightened, her fingers digging into her skin. "I know what you are planning," she hissed. "You can't keep this child."

Lakshmi struggled to free herself, panic surging through her veins, but Rekha's hold was unyielding. With frightening strength, she dragged Lakshmi out of the house and shoved her into the car, forcing her into the passenger seat.

As they sped toward the hospital, Lakshmi's mind raced with frantic thoughts of escape. She couldn't let Rekha do this. She couldn't let her force her to make this decision. She had to protect her baby.

When they arrived at the hospital, Rekha yanked Lakshmi from the car and dragged her toward the entrance. But Lakshmi wasn't going to give up without a fight. She pretended to stumble, using the distraction to break free from Rekha's grasp.

Heart hammering, Lakshmi sprinted as fast as she could, fear propelling her forward. She could hear Rekha shouting behind her, but she didn't dare look back.

Finally, after what felt like an eternity, Lakshmi reached a crowded street. She blended into the sea of people, trying to make herself invisible, her chest heaving as she caught her breath. She darted glances over her shoulder, making sure Rekha wasn't following.

For now, she was safe. But Lakshmi knew this peace wouldn't last long. She couldn't stay hidden forever. She had to figure out a way to protect herself—and her baby—from Rekha's wrath.

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Hey guys!!!

First off, a huge sorry for the late update. You know, the usual excuse—I was sooo busy with my internals. But now that they're finally over, you can expect regular updates—probably two or three per week (and hey, maybe even a surprise one if I'm feeling extra generous).

Now, onto the important stuff—the story. What do you guys think? Honestly, your thoughts mean the world to me and help me get a clearer idea of what I'm doing (or, you know, what I'm totally messing up). So, don't be shy—drop a comment. I'd love to hear from you.

Enjoy reading!!!

Bi Bi!!!