BLOOMING LOVE FROM HATE

Chapter 17

Unless he was giving her instructions, Adhitya never spoke to Nithya. She turned her head to look at him and said in a low voice, "I didn't want to bother you, you're already busy with work and taking care of the baby." Adhitya glanced at her angrily and focused on the road.

After reaching home, her grandmother asked about the baby. Nithya informed her of everything the doctor had said and then left her room to rest. Adhitya left for his office after dropping Nithya off at home.

Nithya was exhausted and just wanted to ease her aching back, the pain was unbearable. She placed two pillows near the headboard of the bed and reclined against them, closing her eyes. Slowly, she drifted off to sleep. An hour later, she woke up with a start, scared that her mother-in-law would scold her for not cooking lunch and for sleeping. She hurried downstairs and saw her mother-in-law cutting vegetables at the dining table, her face set in anger. Nithya's grandmother was sitting on the couch, watching television. If her grandmother hadn't been in the hall, her mother-in-law would have definitely called her down to cook lunch, but with her grandmother's presence, she felt trapped.

Seeing Nithya come down, her grandmother asked, "Nithya, why did you come down? Go and take rest, you look very tired. Your mother-in-law will take care of the kitchen today." Nithya replied, "It's okay, Grandma. I'm fine now, I don't feel good just sitting down idly." Her grandmother sighed and turned her attention back to the TV. Nithya approached her mother-in-law, took the cutting board from her, and began her work.

Nithya was exhausted from cooking all day, and her back started to ache badly. Tomorrow was Friday, and she usually cleaned the kitchen and pooja room on Thursdays, but with her back pain, she just wanted to go to bed and rest. She feared that if she pushed herself any further, something could happen to her baby. She understood that her body needed rest.

Just as she was about to leave her room, her mother-in-law came to her and said, "Where are you going? Who will clean the kitchen and pooja room? You know tomorrow is Friday, right?"

"Yes, Ma, but my back is aching badly. I need to lie down. I'll wake up early and clean it before the pooja," Nithya replied.

"You're eating too much and sitting idly for so long-that's why your back is aching. Didn't the doctor tell you to exercise? Doing household chores is exercise too. I worked tirelessly during both my pregnancies, no one helped me. Now go clean the kitchen and pooja room!" she taunted.

Not having the energy to stand there, Nithya began to walk slowly back to her room. Seeing her walk away without saying anything offended her mother-in-law, who felt insulted and fumed with anger. She yelled at Nithya, "You ungrateful girl! Is this how you treat your mother-in-law? No wonder God has taken your parents from you!"

Nithya felt shattered by her words and burst into tears, unable to control her sobs.

Hearing the commotion, Adhitya came downstairs to see what was happening. Noticing Adhitya's arrival, his mother began to cry. Seeing his mother in tears, Adhitya rushed to her side and asked, "What happened, Ma?"

"See, Adhi, this girl! I'm not feeling well, so I came and asked her for some hot water, and you know what she said? She said, 'If you want, go get it yourself!'" his mother replied, feigning tears. "Oh God, why do you still keep me in this world? I don't want to be a burden to anyone, please take me soon!"

Adhitya's heart broke at the sight of his mother in such distress. He tried to console her, but she refused to listen and left for her room, still crying.

Adhitya glared at Nithya, and she trembled under his gaze. "No, believe me, I never said anything like that," she protested.

"So you're saying my mother is lying?" Adhitya asked furiously.

Nithya shook her head rapidly, denying it. He grabbed her wrist tightly and dragged her to his room, pushing her onto the bed. Nithya landed on the bed, instinctively covering her belly with both hands to protect the baby.

Adhitya locked the door and turned to her, his expression furious. He approached her slowly, bending down to her level and holding her face in his hand. Her lips pouted under the pressure he applied. Leaning closer, he said, "What, just because of the little care I'm giving you, you think you're the queen of this house? How dare you talk back to my mother? Listen carefully, just by seducing me and carrying my child doesn't change your position in this house. You will always be a maid here and to my baby. Don't even dare to touch my child after giving birth." With that, he left her and stormed out of the room.

Nithya felt completely shattered after hearing his words. She had hoped that her baby would bring her joy, but now that hope felt crushed. Her heart, soul, and body felt broken. She had nothing left in this world. Her last shred of patience was gone.

As these thoughts swirled in her mind, she drifted off to sleep. An hour later, Adhitya returned to find Nithya asleep. He stood by her side, noticing the dried tears on her cheeks and the imprints of his fingers on her face. Her hands were protectively covering her belly, as if shielding it from something. He gently lifted her and adjusted her position, then lay down on his side of the bed, turning off the light.

He turned to her side and felt a twinge of guilt for the harsh words he had used. But then he thought she deserved it for speaking to his mother that way, she needed to know her place. He placed his hand on her belly, closed his eyes, and fell asleep, unaware that he had broken her beyond repair.

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