The Friendzoned Husband

Chapter 31 - Dependent Wife?

Merry Christmas! 

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"I can't come and meet you. I know, I know. But you have to understand. It has only been a week since Vennela met with an accident. Wish you a very happy journey." Amar was talking to his friend on phone in a hushed voice so that Vennela won't wake up. What he didn't observe was Vennela was awake and listening to his conversation.

"Yes. She will take several months to recover. So, I have cancelled all my meetings to concentrate on her. I won't be going to office for two months." Amar was explaining the situation to his friend. Vennela was surprised to hear this from Amar. He never neglected his work.  

"Sacrifice? No, no. I won't call it a sacrifice. Or maybe it is. I don't know. It's something I have to do. When you have a dependent wife you have to change your lifestyle and focus on serving her..."

'Dependent Wife?' thought a distraught Vennela. 'Am I his dependent wife?' She never thought she would get associated with this word. The first word she always uses to describe herself is independent. She has always been an independent girl. She took pride in it. 

She lifted her bandaged head a few inches with great difficulty and looked at herself. Her right hand was heavily bandaged. There was a long cut on her throat. There were scratches all over her body. And then there was her left leg which earned her the tag 'dependent'. 

She tried to move her leg. It didn't move. She tried again without success. She summoned all her strength and will power to move it. 'Come on. Just an inch will do.' She pleaded. It didn't budge. She didn't have the strength anymore. She gave up. 'What if I won't be able to walk again? I will be confined to wheelchair.' 

For the first time in her life she felt powerless and vulnerable. She tried hard not to cry wondering why it happened to her.

"Hey! You woke up? Why didn't you call me?" Amar helped her drink water.

"You are here? Why didn't you go to office? No meetings?" She asked him.

"No. I don't have any meetings today. In fact there won't be any meetings for the coming two months because of festive season" said Amar.

"Oh! That's nice" said Vennela. 'Liar! He cancelled all the meetings.'

"Time for next injection. I'll call the nurse." Amar left. He returned with two nurses.

"We have to change her clothes. Please wait outside." One of the nurses told Amar. He obeyed.

They helped her change followed by two injections. She didn't flinch. She was half asleep. Her wounds were cleaned and dressed again. The nurses stayed there for a few minutes because they have been instructed by the senior doctor.

"The girl is lucky" said one of the nurses in a hushed voice. "Her husband is so caring. He always stays by her bedside."

"What's so great about that?" said the other nurse. "It has only been a week. If he is cares for her equally even after few months, then he is a good husband."

"Looks like he will" said the first nurse.

"You don't know men. They make promises in haste and regret later. It's only a matter of few weeks before he feels burdened by her responsibility. Men can't be devoted to wives. They can only expect service from women. They don't serve." The second nurse said bitterly.

"Fifteen minutes have passed. She is asleep. Let's leave." They left.

Vennela wondered how much she has to overhear in a single day. She tried to ignore the conversation. But she couldn't. 'Isn't this what aunt Shambhavi meant? She was right. He might deny it but the truth is, I am a burden to him.'