Passion & Dilemma

52. Criminal

Prerna's POV

"You should've informed us, beta." My mother-in-law said through the other side of the phone and I looked down, feeling guilty for making her worry.

"I..." I panicked after hearing about my mother and rushed to hospital, not knowing what exactly happened to her. I almost got into an accident on my way and after seeing my mother, my brain stopped working and I cried until my blood pressure went down.

I wanted to tell her everything but the words got caught up in my throat.

"I'm sorry, Maa." I muttered, feeling exhausted after being awake for twenty six hours straight. I shifted in the hospital's couch and placed my elbow on the arm rest before plopping my hand on the palm.

I heard her sigh. I bit my lip nervously and glanced at Sarthak who was listening to the conversation while cutting fruits for both of us.

He had been exceptionally quiet after finding me in the staircase.

I wonder what has got stuck in his mind?

I always tried my best to never dissappoint my mother-in-law because I was greedy for maternal love through her. But her words told me how dissappointed she was in me and I did not like it one bit.

My hands fisted my thighs and I dug my nails into my skin through the clothes only to realise that I had clipped them.

"It's...okay, Prerna." Maa reassured half-heartedly, I knew she was still dissappointed. "I will come there in an hour to see Divya ji."

"No!" I screeched loudly, making Sarthak flinch slightly.

He placed the knife on his lips and then around the room, gesturing me to be quiet in the hospital.

"I mean, the visiting hours are in the evening so you cannot come before that. And anyway, she is fine."

I looked at my mother who was anything but fine.

I had never felt such pain as I did yesterday after seeing my mother’s miserable condition.

Not the humiliation of my engagement breaking off, not Jayesh’s physical abuse, not even finding out that Sarthak was a stalker was as devastating as this.

I had never felt so worthless, helpless and incapable. When my mother was fighting for her life every day because of that fucking monster, I should have been by her side.

But I had turned my back on her after my marriage, leaving her alone to handle and endure the monstrosities.

Every time I look at her, I could not help but shudder.

How can someone even do such a thing? Such brutality, against his own wife. My mother literally worshipped Jayesh and this was what he gave her in return.

Now, every time I see Sarthak I feel like no matter how twisted he was with his brain and actions, at least he did not harm me.

And thinking like that felt awkward because not harming your spouse is the lowest of the standards.

"There is no need to come here, Maa," I tried to sound confident and genuine. "Mom will be discharged tomorrow morning anyway."

"That's good. Take care of her and yourself." I nodded to her words as if she could see me.

"I will."

She hung up and I placed the phone aside before dropping my head back, and closing my eyes.

"You should get some sleep." Sarthak muttered, forwarding a piece of apple to my mouth.

I don't like apples.