Ch-33
Saranya knew her mother would do something to her sister-in-law but never expected her mother would be this cruel. She wondered what her brother was doing.
Harish Chandra left the place deciding to not let Laya suffer anymore.
The maid said nothing but only pitied her. Everyone knows how hard it's for Laya to endure her hardships.
Laya just went back to her work after drinking some water. She continued with her work. After done, she started arranging the table.
Soon, Saranya and others came down. Laya served food for everyone.
"sister-in-law, I need Pongal!" Saranya said like a kid. Laya smiled as she served it.
Like a greedy cat, Saranya took a big scoop and ate it. But it's too hot that she felt her tongue burning. She hurriedly swallowed it while burning her throat in the process. Two tears rolled down from either of her eyes showing how hot the Pongal (sweet pudding) was. Laya hurriedly poured a glass of water and gave it to her.
"Slower," Laya said to her with genuine concern.
"You made her cry and now you are showing your fake concern to her! Huh?!" Maha Lakshmi yelled at her, making her flinch at her harsh words. She knew the familiar red hue in her eyes. She became more familiar with that color whenever she got beaten or done something that triggered her.
Maha Lakshmi took the hot sweet pudding bowl and forced it down the throat of Laya. Laya choked on the food. She felt her throat was burning due to the heat. Tears started spilling out of her eyes.
"Please… Mother-in-Law, I will be careful from next time. Leave me! AHHHH!!!!! NO!!!!! HELP!!!!!" she screamed at the top of her lungs when she was forced to eat more.
"MAHA!!! ENOUGH!! STOP IT!!" Harish Chandra yelled when he couldn't take it.
Saranya was too shocked to even respond. Maha Lakshmi was stunned at his outburst. Angered at his outburst she poured the remaining hot sweet pudding on Laya's body making her yell in pain.
"AHHHHH!!!!!!!!" her skin burned at the hot pudding. Soon… she fell unconscious.
That was the second she decided to not trust Rahul in her life. Soon… her eyes closed and the world turned dark and silent to her.
A week Later….
Laya felt her body being bound by something. She tried to move her hands but something held her in place.
She groaned in pain when she tried to move slightly. She stopped moving as she let the pain subside by itself. Laya tried to open her eyes but the sudden exposure to light made her close her eyes again. She slowly blinked her eyes and opened them slowly.
An unfamiliar white ceiling came into her view. Tilting her head, she looked around green curtains, medicines, IV drip came into her view. She knew she was in the hospital. She wondered what time it was. They were supposed to eat lunch but when she was in hospital she was worried that her mother-in-law would be angry and punish her. And her wait for Rahul's arrival was long gone. Her all hopes and everything she had for him was gone. He would never be there for her when she needed him the most.
Her maternal and paternal family would never care about her. And her husband… is a… big jerk.
She just hopes to escape this hell. Instead of taking care of his wife… he was taking care of his office. She had some expectations of him but they all turned into ashes. She doesn't want anyone to take care of her.
Her brother asked her to trust him… she trusted him. Now she would never trust him anymore. She wants to run away. She can't stay in the hole forever. And giving her mother-in-law's temper she knew she would never be able to escape her. She might even kill her for the sake of her properties in the future.
She tried to sit up but her body was limp. When she was about to move she heard some voices.
"When will she wake up, Doctor?" She heard a magnetic voice. She knew it must belong to her husband.
She sneered at him. Did he come now? Woah… he should have come after she was dead. In the past month… Neither he called her nor she called him. She closed her eyes and tried to concentrate on their conversation.
"Sir, you do understand what kind of position we were in. You can't ask us when she will wake up! Because she is in a deep shock. You should have known this when you abused her so brutally. Feel grateful that we didn't call the police.
"And she didn't even eat food for nearly three days. And how could you have the heart to abuse her? Such a poor girl. And looks like she is starved frequently. It's a wonder she held it for so long. If she is my daughter I would have gotten a divorce from you.
"As a doctor, it's my responsibility to give you the information. I don't know when she will wake up. It depends on her fears. Her body is too weak. After she wakes up…she needs good care!" with that the doctor's voice faded.
Rahul felt sad hearing the doctor's words. He turned his head to see his in-laws looking at him with anger. Even though they knew he wasn't responsible for her wounds… if he had taken her with him to Chennai she wouldn't be in this situation. Arjun and Abhinav were throwing glares like they wanted to kill him the next second. But for the sake of Laya… they held it back.
Laya opened her eyes in happiness. At least there was someone who pities her. Her parched throat made her throat burn. She tried to get up and reach the water glass beside her. But she couldn't reach it. She tried hard to do it. Finally, she was able to stretch her hand, but before she could hold the glass properly the glass slipped from her hands and broke into pieces producing the sound of glass being broken.
Hearing the sound of the glass being broken, everyone rushed inside the ward only to see Laya was struggling to get a glass of water.
"Laya… you are awake?!" Abhinav said in surprise.
He was so happy that he couldn't hide his smile.
"How are you feeling?" Arjun asked her.
"Deadly alive," she answered. She didn't even lift her head. She just glanced at them when they rushed inside but after that, she never looked at them.
Her answer enveloped a strange silence in the ward. Rahul felt devastated the moment he heard words. He thought her eyes would search for him but when she met him for a brief second they only consisted of disgust.
He is heartbroken at her actions. But he can't blame her for her actions. If only he took her with him… she wouldn't have gone through this.