Loveless Marriage - My Second Wife Has A Baby

Chapter 3:

Ithal

"Come on, catch me if you can.."

We were running on the playground. Weekends were always so much fun as I got to spend time with my cousins.

"Slow down, guys.." Mini protested, stopping to catch her breath.

"Run fast, you tortoise.." I laughed and turned back to look at Mini and Navin who were far behind me. Nila stopped and quickly went back to Mini when she fell down on her knees, making me laugh even more. Navil had used that opportunity to run ahead of us. I gasped in surprise and ran after him.

"Navil, you cheater.."

"I'm not a cheater. Who asked you to stop running?" He remarked reaching near the endline. I began to chase after him. There was no way I was going to let him win the race. I was giggling and running that I didn't see the small hole that was dug in the ground.

Suddenly I found myself screaming, "Aahhh.."

I landed on something sharp that scraped my knees and made me cry. I saw my knees were bleeding.

"Ithu.."

"Ithu.."

Mini and my sister, Nila called for me but the hole was quite deep and they couldn't reach me.

"Can you get me out of here? I got hurt.." I said stretching my arms up. My brother joined them soon but he wasn't of any help either.

"We can't reach you but stay right there. We will get help.."

I wished Ela was there with us today. He would have taken me out of here without much struggle but he had his annual exams and didn't want to join us today. I cursed my luck.

"I am scared. Please don't leave me alone here.." I called out to them but they all already left.

I sat down and studied my bruised knee. I felt scared and lonely to be down there alone. As I looked around there were many red ants. What if there were snakes and scorpions too?

"Ithal.." I heard a familiar voice and my heart skipped several beats. I snapped up and saw Aadhi looking down at me with worry.

"Are you okay?"

"No.." I gazed at my knee. "I am hurt.."

"Can you try to stand up?"

I nodded and stood up.

"Good. Now stretch your arms up.."

I did as I was told.

"I am going to lift you up by your arms. Hold on tight, okay.." He instructed.

I held on to his hand tightly and thanked God for sending him for me.

He came for me. He was here for me. That thought alone made my insides twist into pleasant knots.

As he pulled me out of the hole, I found myself hugging him tightly. "Oh thank you so much. I thought I was going to die in there alone.

He laughed and rubbed my shaking arms comfortingly, "I have got you. You are safe now..."

****

As the dream ends, I open my eyes.

Why did I suddenly remember that memory from so long ago? We were all just kids back then but that particular memory is etched in my heart like a tattoo. But the sad thing is it's only a memory. I can have him only in my memory. I can never have him for myself in reality.

"Dr. Ithal, are you awake?" I heard my colleague, Dr. Aarthi ask me.

"Done with your duty?" You get up from the couch where I am resting. The previous night was a hectic one with a lot of emergency cases to deal with.

"Yeah.." She yawns and begins to walk to the bathroom where we all shower before going home. "Dr. Syed was looking for you.."

"Well, I'm up now. His shift must be over too, I will take from him now.." I don my white coat and hang my stethoscope around my neck as I make my way out for my early morning rounds.

After a few hours into my duty, I sigh feeling my back beginning to ache. We had an all-nighter and with only a few hours to rest in between, let me tell you, they aren't easy.

Thankfully my duty's over and I am about to leave for home when my phone rings in my coat pocket. Taking it out, I see it's my brother.

"Navil, I am coming ho.."

"Ithu, are you s-still at the hos-spital?" He speaks hurriedly with several stutters.

"Yes. What's wrong?"

"It's amma.." He breathes out. "She said she was having mild pain on the left side of her chest. She was sweating and appa and I were trying to take her to the hospital but before we could do it, she collapsed. I don't know what to do.."

My heart begins to thud abnormally and my hands begin to tremble but I calm myself down. She's got a heart attack but if I let him that, he will panic more. "Calm down, Navil. Is she conscious?"

"Yes, slightly.."

"Okay, there's aspirin in her drawer, the one next to her bed. Give one to her and ask her to swallow it with water. And try to bring her to the hospital as fast as you can."

"Okay.." I hear the shuffling and a lot of yelling in the background, most of which is my father's. He must be losing his mind to see my mom in that condition. I just pray to god to keep her safe. Our mom wasn't old enough to die of a heart attack.

While they brought my mother to the hospital where I worked, I made sure I gathered a team of doctors to treat her. The first thing I do when I see her is to check her pulse. It's still there but very weak.

As the doctors wheel her inside the emergency room, I go near my father and hug him.

"Is she going to die?" My dad asks softly and I pull back immediately.

"What? No, appa. I checked her pulse. She's fine.." I say unsurely.

"It is a heart attack, isn't it?"

I gaze down at his hands which I'm holding in mine. My silence in the answer to his question.

"I should have known. She was in so much stress.." He looks up at the ceiling with tears brimming in his eyes. My man whom I have never seen cry in my entire life is here shedding tears for my mom. Now to think about it, I wonder if the reason for all her stress is me.

"Appa, I'm going to check on her. Please stay strong okay? Navil.." My brother looks at me from his hands. He isn't crying but he looks miserable and scared. "Take care of appa.."

"I will.." He nods. "And, Ithu. Please keep us informed about Amma's health.."

"Sure.."

I watch my mother look so frail as she lies unmoving on the operation table. She's still so beautiful, there's no denying it.

"Doctor.." I call the chief. "Is she going to make it?"

I voice out my deepest fear.

"Of course, Dr. Ithal.." The fifty years plus man smiles at me. "It was a mild heart attack though. She's got to take her medicines regularly and keep her health in good condition. You know the protocol, young lady. I don't need to tell you anything.."

"Yes, Doctor.." I nod and step closer to her. She's attached to an oxygen mask. I caress her head softly and I find my eyes well up to see her like this.

The next time, I go out to the corridor, I see my uncle Nilay and his wife Roja sitting with my dad and Navil.

"Ithu, how's Nithi?" Dad jumps to his feet upon seeing me and everyone else crowd around us.

I try to bring a smile to my face, "She's okay now, appa. You can see her when they shift her to the ICU in a few more minutes.."

"Oh thank God.." He sighs and slumps down. I watch everyone's face soften with relief.

A few more minutes later, my mom was shifted to the ICU. Only my dad and I were allowed to see her. She's regained her consciousness but she is still under close watch. I sit on the couch and let my parents have privacy for a few minutes. My dad kept kissing her on her forehead telling her how scared he was. My mom simply smiles and tells him that she isn't going to leave him so soon which finally brings a smile to my dad's face. After telling her how much he loves her, he calls me near them.

"Amma.." I touch her face, "How are you feeling now?"

She gives me a weak smile, "I am better, sweetheart. How's Navil? My poor boy must be worried.."

"He is scared shitless.." I say, feeling bad for him that he couldn't come in to see mom with us. "Don't worry, amma. I will tell him that you are fine now and after you are shifted to the general ward, he can meet you.."

She nods, "Has my brother arrived?"

"Yes, he is outside.." My dad replies.

"I want to meet him, Kavin. I have something very important to talk to him. Can you please send him in? Please.." She tells him, almost begging.

"Can it wait for some time, Nithi? You are just out of danger.."

But she shakes her head in a big no, "I want to see him now.."

I watch my dad sigh and then look at me for approval, "Can we send him in?"

I nod and glance at my mom, "Yes, but promise you will make it quick, amma. You cannot stress yourself too much.."

"I won't.." She promises.

I walk out and tell my uncle to come in. Aunt Roja follows him too. Navil looks angry that my uncle is allowed in but not him. But I explained to him that it's something very important and right now, we cannot pressurize my mother in any way.

When go back in, I see my mom holding my uncle's hand in a tight clutch but she stops talking as soon as she sees me. "Ithu, can you be outside for a while?"

My dad says and I wonder what secret they are keeping from me. Bobbing my head in agreement, I leave the three and join my brother. "I was kicked out too.."

I observe his signature grin coming back on his face. "Now I am happy.." He jests and I slap his arm.

"What do you think they are talking?" I ask him curiously.

"I have no idea.."

For the next fifteen minutes, I sat there tapping my feet on the tiled floor restlessly.

I shoot up from the seat my uncle and aunty come out. They have tears in their eyes but they quickly hide behind their smiles as soon as they see me.

Aunt Roja hugs me and sniffs against my shoulder.

I don't understand a thing but I rub her back with my hand, "Athai (Aunty), Amma is going to be okay.."

"I know. She's the strongest woman I know. This is not about her." She pulls back and wipes her tears dry. "Go back inside. Your amma wants to talk with you.."

"Okayy.." I drawl as I look at my brother suspiciously who eyes me back with a similar expression before I walk back into the ICU.

"Ithu, come here.." My dad gets up from the chair near the bed, "Sit here.."

I take the seat feeling my heart pounding in my throat. "What is it?" I look between both my parents questioningly.

"Ithu, will you do something for me?" My mom asks, her voice sounding weaker than before.

"Anything, amma. What do you want me to do?" I say not giving much thought to it which I should have.

She hesitates for a while before continuing, "Will you marry Aadhi?"

For the next few seconds that pass, I stare at my mom as if she has lost her mind. "What?"

"You heard me, Ithu. Will you marry Aadhi?"

"Mom, what are you saying? Even if I agree to it, he would never.." I try to make her understand. "He's still not forgotten his wife.."

The last time I saw him was at Eegan's first birthday. Mini and Ela didn't want to celebrate it at first since it was not even a year since Priya's death but when we all convinced them that it wasn't fair for the little guy to miss his first birthday, they agreed to celebrate it even if it wasn't a grand occasion.

By the end of the party, Aadhi had come there too, looking nothing like how I remembered him. He had a thick beard covering his sharp jaws, his hair was unkempt, his eyes were red and sunken, he looked leaner than I last saw him and he stank of alcohol.

I couldn't stand the sight of him. It physically pained me to see him like that. I didn't dare to talk to him, not to even go near him.

And now our parents want me to get married to him. Is that what they were discussing earlier?

"But if he agrees to it, then will you?" My mom asks me with hopeful eyes.

"Mom.." I don't know what to say. I have given up the idea of marriage a long time back. "I don't want to marry again. I don't want to go through that pain again.."

"You won't, this time, Ithu. Aadhi's hurt just like you are and believe me both of you will become the balm for each other.." She spoke, taking my hand in her hold. "Please, Ithu. Your uncle and I always wanted you to get married. It didn't happen then. You both had to go through so much pain and suffering. But I think it's god's way of telling that you two finally belong with each other. Please think about about, Ithu. We only want you both to be happy with each other.."

"Mom.." I begin but she gives me no chance to speak.

"Do it for me, Ithu. Please. I don't want to die leaving you like this. I want to die in peace.."

"Mom.." I chide her, panicking. "You are not dying.."

"Maybe not today but someday I will.." My dad also holds her hand to make her stop. He can't hear her talking like that.

"Mom, this is emotional blackmailing.." I argue.

"Take it however you want but please do it for me, my dear daughter. Please.."

I close my eyes, "Fine. I will do it for you.."

I don't dare to think of a happy married life with Aadhi. Sadness and pain engulf me to think I will have to be once again married to a man who can never love me. Last time I was able to save my heart because I wasn't in love with my ex-husband but this time, though, I know my heart might get crushed in this marriage.

"Ithu.."