His Widow

Chapter - 9

She was bedding her bed when suddenly she heard her door opening and clicking immediately in a second hand her startled. She turned around in fear and her eyes widened looking at the intruder as fear gripped her heart. 

She was sure he went to the office but... she isn't sure if they will be watched.

”Maa. W-why are you here. If he knows--h-he will-punish".

Yamini hastily pulled the bolt securing the door and walked to her in quick steps.

"You think he will not punish us. Look at this".

She talked in a hushed tone and turned back taking off the veil from her head and exposing her back to the Aasha. Looking at her back Aasha gasped with a hand on her mouth as her wide eyes stared at her back.

There are whip marks on her back.

"H-he did this to you all"?

She asked in disbelief when Yamini put her veil back and turned to her daughter-in-law and nodded yes.

"Yes. He did this to us. Just because we ate food which wasn't allowed to us".

Her eyes beaded with tears as she grasped the information. It must have been a lot painful while being beaten. And that too for her age it wouldn't be even healing properly. She wondered if they were even taken to hospital after those brutal whippings.

"D-did you. Did you sent to the hospital then. They look so terrible".

"He didn't allow us. He ---

" Us? You mean. He beat you all"?

Her voice shook as she imagined all of them crying on the floor while he was whipping them ruthlessly. She can see how badly he had beaten them judged by the marks on her mother-in-law's back.

"Of course he did. I felt sick for a few days. But now we are okay. It is just the marks now".

"No. They are still looking painful. Are you using any medicine? Should I bring you any oint---

" Now it's not the time to talk about it".

She interrupted her with a roll of her eyes.

" I really have no time to talk with you for long. I must say this to you right now before we get caught. I need your dire help ".

" What is it, Mom". 

Yamini closed her eyes before taking a deep breath and exhaling it and then looking at Aasha she took her hands in hers and spoke.

" I need you to steal property papers from him".

Asha's hand slipped from hers as she shook her head in denial and stepped back.

"No".

She whispered to herself as shook her head.

"I-I c-can't. I-I H-he is too ruthless. I-if he knows, h-he will punish me. H-he touched me Mom. H-he will touch again. No. I can't".

Yamini gasped as she looked at her shocked.

" He touched you? You mean assaulting"?

Her tears streamed down as she looked away and nodded her head. The talk felt so unusual. Never she had talked to her mother-in-law this way. Never Yamini cared enough to ask her about her well being neither Aasha asked anything to Yamini as she was perfectly fine before he came. The talk felt so unreal.

Aasha saw her mother in law jaw tighten before she came back on the topic.

"This is why I'm saying. Let's free ourselves from him. He will continue to do this until we are still under him. We should free ourselves from him ".