Always Only You

Part 22

~ Bhalla House ~

"What brings you to us?" Raman asked her

Lakshmi looked at Raman who now sat next to Ishita, then she looked at Ishita. Her voice was very soft, barely a whisper

"I am so sorry"

Raman and Ishita looked at each other questioningly. What did Lakshmi feel sorry for?

Lakshmi was still shaking all over. She looked at the boy sitting on her lap and Ishita understood , Lakshmi did not want to talk in the presence of the child.

"Raman, Please go to the room of the twins and bring something to play, toys for the boy"

Raman left, between Ishita and Lakshmi there was an embarrassing silence. No one of the women said a word or looked at each other.

Ishita just thought what Lakshmi wanted, why was she there? Where was Subu? Did he send her? But what did she feel sorry for?...... Was this a wrong game? What did Subu play? Did he and his mother use Lakshmi for their wrong game?

Ishita swore she would throw Lakshmi out of her house with pleasure, if that were the case. Did this dog think she and Raman were stupid and would not see through this ?! But Ishita did not want to rash to conclusions and she would listen to what Lakshmi had to say.

Lakshmi was nervous, she was shaking and her hands were wet. Her heart beat fast and her mouth was dry. She had a terrible headache and there was a knot in her stomach.

What had Subu  done? what had he done to this poor woman? It hurt her unspeakably when she thought of what Subu was capable of.

Raman came back with toys for the boy. Lakshmi got up with the boy and showed him the toys. After the child played with the toy and was distracted, Lakshmi sat down again.

"What brings you to us?" Raman asked her again

Lakshmi cleared her throat

"I'm sorry for what Subu did to you, I know ... I ... know what he did to you. My husband is a monster..."

"You know ...? what do you mean"?

Ishita was totally confused

"I know you did not lie, he did it and I'm ashamed ...... that I thought you were lying. I had suspected for a long time that Subu did it and today I asked him directly"

"You asked him?"

Lakshmi nodded......"Yes, I had asked his mother a few days ago, but she denied everything. Even Subu has denied it today, but when he had drunk enough and was totally drunk, he admitted it and told me everything "

Lakshmi rubbed her wet hands on her clothes and her voice trembled.

Ishita was shocked, here was Subu"s wife and told her that the monster has admitted it. Raman put a comforting arm around her shoulder.

"I've left him, I can not stay with a man who did something terrible to a woman"

Raman nodded understandingly

Ishita was speechless

"I want to go to Mumbai to my family. I'll get a divorce and I'll never see him again, even if it hurts, but I can not live with him anymore"

"When will you go to Mumbai?" Raman asked her

"I ran out of the house without any luggage or money. I will call my father to send me some money and then I will take the next possible flight to Mumbai with my son"