Jwala:

We went to Agni's office. Agni started offering me and booking appointments for me for the next two days. I didn't say anything to him. I respected his every order, i.e., serving tea, sweeping his room and standing whole day. We returned home.

"Jwala, change your dress and shift your room," Agni said.

"What?"

"Wear sari or salwar kameez. I shouldn't find any of your belongings in my room. Talk help of maid if you need."

I nodded though I didn't understand the reason.

"My younger sister and brother are visiting me today. They will stay for three to four days here. I didn't want them to know about our relationship. You should look decent before them."

"Okay! If you want, I will leave to my hostel."

"No, you have no chance of escaping from me. I am going to introduce you as my fiancé to them. So, you must look homely. One more thing, keep your mouth shut for these days. If you talk anything rubbish or unnecessary stuff before them, I won't leave you even after four months. So keep yourself in control."

"Okay."

"One more thing, you will cook the food for them as long as they stay here. My siblings don't like food prepared by the maid. They are coming from the hostel and prefer home food."

"Fine," I said.

"Do you know cooking? Only once you prepared food for me and it was like your face," he said making me angry.

What does he mean? He had breakfast fully. Why is he talking like that?

"I know cooking. I don't think breakfast I prepared for you is tasteless," I said.

"I didn't talk like that. I said it was like your face. Why are you assuming that food is tasteless? Is your face ugly?" He grinned.

Idiot! I can never understand this Agni. The girl who marries him will become insane with his behaviour.

"Don't worry, you may be that lucky girl," Agni said.

I looked at him.

"Look, don't behave like this before them."

"I didn't get you."

"Telling out your inner feelings, and assuming as it’s your mind voice."

"Okay."

I shifted the room and changed my dress. I am getting ready, and I saw Agni staring at me.

"This dress had a great effect on you. You seem like wh*re in those short dresses I chose for you. Now, you are looking homely and beautiful," Agni praised me for the first time.

Before I feel happy, he returned to his originality.

"However, Baby don't forget that you are my sl*t. Keep in mind what you are."

Did he leave any chance to hurt me? I don't understand why he abuses me even if I didn't do anything wrong. I think he loves to pique me.

"Don't show your useless tears to them or I will make you shed blood instead of salty water droplets?" Agni said holding my jaws.

"Okay."

"Good! Go and prepare dinner. They may come at any time."

I went to the kitchen. I don't know what to prepare.

"Agni, what do they like to eat?"

He closed his eyes for some time. Is he angry?

"What do you like to eat?" Agni asked me.

"Wh.. At?"

"I mean anything you like, but it should be less spicy."

I prepared food for them. After some time Agni's siblings arrived. His sister and brother are twelve and fourteen years old.

"Brother, how are you?" They asked hugging him.

"I am fine, how are you both?"

"We are fantastic," they said happily and looked at me.

"Who is she?" His sister asked.

"Jwala come here," he said, and I went to him.

"She will become your bhabhi (sister-in-law) soon. Her name is Jwala, my fiancé," he said keeping his hand on my shoulder.

"Bhabhi, are you going to become our bhabhi?" They asked, and I looked at Agni.

Agni frowned at me.

"Yes, I.. Am.. Your bhabhi," I said.

"Anjana and Ved, go and get fresh up," he said to them.

"Jwala, come to my room."

I went to him. He closed the door.

"Are you insane? Can't you answer them properly? Look, they shouldn't get any doubt. Behave properly, Jwala."

He is shouting at me, and someone knocked on the door.

"Bhaiya (brother), where is bhabhi?" They shouted from outside.

"I will leave," I said, but he held my wrist pinning me to the wall.

"What Baby? Do you think you are my fiance? You are my sl*t. Don't leave unless I ask you to go" he said burying his head in my neck.

"Bhaiya, where is bhabhi?"

"See in her room Anjana," he said moving closer to me and kissing me.

"We saw there and in the kitchen. Jwala bhabhi is nowhere," Ved said.

"Bhaiya, we know she is with you. Send her out. It's wrong to stay together before marriage," he left me with their words.

"Go out," he said, and I settled my saree and opened the door.

"What do you want Anjana and Ved?" I said smiling at them.

"Bhabhi, we are hungry. Please prepare something for us."

"I already made dinner for you. Come let's go," I said.

Agni and his siblings sat around the dining table. I served food to them.

"Bhabhi, you too join us."

I looked at Agni.

"No Ved, she shouldn't eat with us. I mean she doesn't like to eat before I eat. She is very traditional and loves to follow age customs," he said.

I understood that he is not going to give me dinner. They completed their meal. I was cleaning dishes, and he came to me.

"Sweetheart, are you hungry?"

"No no, it's okay."

"But I want you to have food. Come to my room. I made special food arrangements for you which you are going to have from today," Agni smirked and left for his room.

I completed washing dishes and went to him. He closed the door and gave the plate to me. It was rice with chilli powder.

"Eat it, Baby. You will enjoy it," he said.

I kept two bites in my mouth with tears. For the third bite, I felt very spicy.

"Water," I asked.

He laughed.

"Eat two more bites, and I will give you water."

I took two more bites hardly and pleaded for water. Agni poured water from the top making me jump and cry again. He poured little water in my mouth and remaining on the floor. He laughed seeing my condition and pulled me to the bed. He undressed me and entered without considering my situation.

"I love when you become completely helpless. I love deciding everything that related to you. Now go to your room but don't take water or anything. I want you to suffer till morning jumping on the bed and clutching your stomach. If Anjana and Ved were not here, I would have used you till morning and would have enjoyed your tears and pain. But bad luck, I am unable to see it," Agni said.

I wore my dress and went to my room. I suffered the entire night. In the morning I prepared breakfast for them. However, I didn't take water or anything this time as I know he will kill me if I drink water without his permission. He looked at me and laughed. He allowed me to have breakfast and water. We went to the office. Today evening, he will send me to a client.

I worked for him and bore his words calmly. I did everything as he said. In the afternoon, I went to talk to him.

"Agni. I want.. To talk to you," I said slowly.

He looked at me.

"Go on," he said standing near his office table.

I sat on my knees holding his feet.

"Agni, please help me. I can't do that. I can't go to other men. It's better to kill me than to send me to them. Please Agni, I will do anything you say except this. I can't sleep with other men. Please, help me. I will bear any punishment for this," I requested crying.

He looked at me for some time.

"Get up, Jwala."

I got up and stood before him.

"From where did you get this courage to say no to me? I think I should teach you more."

"Agni, this is not my courage. I am begging you. I am begging for your mercy. Just put me in the place of your mom or sister and think."

He held my throat.

"Don't ever talk regarding my mom or sister. They never offer their body to save someone else."

“I am going to stop sending you to my clients. I did't book any appointments for you. Relax! It was a drama to scare you. However, you need to do something for accepting your request," Agni said.

"Tell me."

"You must work for my company day and night. I mean you should work on projects. If you don't succeed in doing our company win projects, I will send you to the clients again. If you fail even in one project, I will give you to them. I won't even hesitate to start a business with your body for making money if you fail in getting projects for our company."

"I agree."

"Ok but don't forget you will get your punishment for saying no to my words tonight. I will make you control your words and feelings. You will get what you deserve tonight," Agni said holding my throat tightening his grip.

My body shivered with his words. I don't know what else remained to torture me. He already used every way to torment me.

He laughed seeing my scary expressions.

"Don't worry; I am not going to do anything to you till my siblings are at my home. You can relax for these two to three days. After that, you will get your punishments at once. I pity you, Baby. I don't know how you will take all punishments of three days at once. I am sure you will do something that makes me mad in these three days. You can't live without making me angry and getting hit by me. You love to see my belt flying on you, am I right?" He laughed again.

He loves to hurt me. Though I didn't do anything, he will find something to punish me. I don't know why he is that angry with me all the time. I started working on the project. Days passed by so hard with his scolding and slaps. His siblings went off to the hostel, and he showed hell to me again. One month went off. One day I was working, and he called me to his cabin.

"You look very cute when you cry. You look beautiful when you are beside me naked in bed. You look fantastic when you plead me for a drop of water and jump to drink water when I pour from the top. Jwala, how it will be if we make our relationship permanent through marriage? I love to put you in order, see you scared of me and following whatever I say. I want you to be in my control forever begging and pleading for my mercy" he said looking at me.

"By the way Jwala, I approached your family for an alliance. They are almost positive towards the proposal. Once if they say ok, you will be under my control forever. Except your dressing and giving you to someone else, everything will be the same even after marriage. After marrying me, you will be locked in my room forever without giving you any freedom. What do you think about our wedding? Isn't it exciting to live as my sl*t forever? I will marry you but will treat you just as a sl*t."

His words and marriage proposal made me feel as if my head was spinning. Everything went blur before me. No, I don't want to marry him.

Jwala:

I opened my eyes and found Agni beside me with a worried expression on his face. Why is he worrying? Does he care for me? I looked around and recognised that I am in a hospital.

"What happened to her doctor? Is my Jwala weak?" He questioned staring at me.

My Jwala? I guess I will collapse again. When did I become his Jwala? Of course, I am weak. Does he have any doubt? He didn't give me proper rest or food for a month. My health destroyed due to his torture.

"No Mr Agni, she is pregnant," the doctor said.

What? Pregnant? How can I become pregnant? I told Agni that he should never impregnate me when I agreed to the contract.

"Oh, thank you, doctor," he said to the physician as if he is happy.

Is he happy? I think he should be angry or upset. Why is he happy? Is it his another plan to ruin my life?

"Shall I take her to the home?" he asked the doctor.

"Doctor, I want to abort the child," I said, and Agni glared at me.

"No doctor, we want our child. I will convince my fiance," he said to the doctor.

Fiance? I am not his fiance. Why is he deciding everything in my life? He is forcing me to accept his bullshit decisions. However, I choose to be calm. I didn't want to create nuisance in the hospital. Agni brought me to his home. Ved and Anjana came again for holidays. They hugged me as soon as we went back. Agni smiled at them.

"We will just come," he said to them.

"Come to my room, Jwala," Agni ordered me.

I went to his room.

"I want this child," he said firmly.

"I want to abort," I said stubbornly.

"Look Jwala; I will marry you. I won't say even a word to you. Please trust me. I want our child."

His child? When did I say it's his child? To Agni, I am a whore who sleeps with every man. How can he marry a slut like me and trust my Baby as his Baby? I don't know why but tears stopped forming in my eyes. Maybe my Baby wants me to be strong.

"How do you know that it's your child, Agni? You always call me a wh*re. How can a whore's Baby become your child?"

He closed his eyes clenching his fist. Why is he angry and upset? I just repeated what he said.

"I know it's our child. I trust you."

"Trust? Do you know the meaning of trust? After all, how can you trust me who is nothing but a slut to you?"

"Jwala, stop it. I didn't want to hear this shit from you," he said while an angry frown creased his forehead.

I am not scared of him anymore. I must make my feelings clear to him.

"Agni, I will bear any pain you give to me in these three months. But I can't marry you and don't want this child."

"Are you in love with anyone?" He asked suspiciously and looked away from me as if he didn't want to listen to my answer or expecting an answer that hurts him.

"No!" I replied.

My problem is not loving someone but hating him. When will he realise my hatred towards him?

"Okay, let's make a deal. I will give that orphanage now itself. I will transfer my whole property to your name. But I want our child. I won't even touch you after marriage. I want our Baby," he said as if this child is his life and he didn't want anything else other than his child.

"I want to abort the child," I said without changing my decision and anticipating his reaction.

"If you kill my child, I will kill your whole family, Jwala. Don't make me a murderer," he said pinning me to the wall and shouting at me.

I am right. I know this Agni never changes. I don't want to kill the child. But I don't want a person like Agni to come into this world again.

"Anyways you have to do anything I say in these three months. Okay fine, don't abort the child for these three months," he said with a smirk on his face.

"Okay," I said trying to understand his plan.

"Go and have your food. One more thing, don't wait for my permission. Eat anytime you feel hungry and drink whatever you want. But take care of the child for three months" he said and kissed my belly.

Does he have feelings and emotions? However, I don't want this child or life with this beast. I hate him.

"I want to prepare dinner," I said.

He nodded. I prepared a meal and served Agni, Ved, and Anjana.

"Sit Jwala, have food with us," Agni said making me stunned and speechless.

"Brother, you told us that sister in law loves to have food only after you eat, isn't it? Ved asked.

"Yes, but I don't want your sister in law to be hungry till then."

"I will eat later," I said.

"Really? Do you want to eat that special food prepared by me for you Baby" he said, and I gulped cursing Agni in my mind.

"Then sit quietly and have this food," he said holding my wrist and making me sit beside him.

I was about to have food, but Ved saw the injury to my hand which happened while cutting vegetables.

"Bhabhi, what happened to your hand?"

"Nothing Ved, it's a small injury."

"What happened to your hand, Jwala?" Agni asked looking threateningly at me.

I didn't reply.

"Tell me you sl...... " he said while his face turned red with anger but stopped seeing his siblings.

"While chopping vegetables, it happened," I said.

"Why were you so careless? I already warned you to be careful, don't you remember."

"Bhaiya, stop scolding bhabhi" Anjana pouted.

"Okay. Have your food now," Agni said.

"Bhaiya, how can bhabhi have food with an injured hand? Please feed her," Ved said.

"No no it's ok, I will use a spoon" before I complete my words, Agni kept food into my mouth giving me a shock.

Then he turned his chair towards me and fed me carefully. I coughed in between, and he gave water to me patting on my head slowly. I think I may get heartache seeing his behaviour. How can he act this much before his siblings? He used to hit me every day with a belt until I bleed and exhausted. Now, for a small injury, he is feeding me. Does he think that I will believe his action and marry him for the child? No way! He fed me. I had good food today. Thank God! I am cleaning dishes, and Agni came to me.

"Jwala, maids will clean them at morning. Your hand was injured, so leave them. Come to my room. I need to talk to you."

God, please tell him to stop this drama. My head was spinning due to his shocking behaviour. I went to him.

"Forget what happened till now. Marry me. I didn't mean I love you. I didn't expect you to love me. The only thing I want is for our child to grow up in a healthy environment and live a happy life with his/her parents."

I was happy and sad at the same time. I was pleased to know how much Agni loves our child but sad to know he never likes me.

"I can't marry you."

"Are you stupid? That child shares your blood too. How can you kill our child that harshly?" he shouted.

I was on the brink of tears. Agni cupped my face.

"Jwala, I am going to marry you at any cost. If you marry me by yourself, I will treat you as my wife and won't hurt you. If I marry you through force, your life will become hell as I will torture you more after delivery. You can't escape the marriage with me. Choose which life you want, a wife's happy life or sl*t's horrible life. The choice is yours, but you should remember that I will marry you anyway," he threatened me.

"I will give your child to you. Please leave me."

I said while tears were welling up from my eyes.

"I want a loving mother for my child. If I marry someone else, they may not treat my child lovingly. So, I want you to stay with me forever as my wife and a good mother to our child. Think well and decide. Now go to your room and take rest."

I went to my room and slept. Next day I got ready in a short dress as he ordered earlier. He looked at me once.

"Change your dress. Till now I thought to see you as a wh*re, but now you are a mother to my child. Go and wear something good as per your wish."

"My luggage is in the storeroom," I said.

"I bought sarees and dresses for you and arranged those in our wardrobe. Wear them; I am sure you will like them."

I went and opened the wardrobe. I found dresses and sarees. Every saree and dress was according to my taste. I loved them. I wore saree and went down. Agni stared at me for some time and averted his gaze without realising that I have noticed it already.

We went to the office. Fifteen days passed by and Agni didn't say even a word to me. He gave food and everything on time to me. He didn't touch me. He treated me so good. I wondered about his sudden change. How can a beast change quickly? However, I was unsure about his transformation.

I was working on a project and discussing with a male colleague. We were tired. We sat in my cabin and having lunch together sharing a friendly talk. I quickly get mingled with people. Moreover, this colleague was very talented and descent. I laughed at his joke about work and unfortunately my hand touched his hand without my intention. Just then I raised my head and noticed Agni observing us.

I am dead today, that's what my mind said to me.

Agni went to some meeting before an hour, and I felt free for some time. But, he returned and observed my friendliness with a guy. I am sure he will kill me. He signalled me to come to his cabin and went off.

"Eshwar, I will just come," I said to the colleague.

"But why? Have your food first."

"It's ok," I said and went to him.

I didn't find Agni in his cabin. I was about to go but felt a hand on my shoulder.

"Let's go home," Agni said.

I was in his room now standing in front of him with fear and expecting the worst that is going to happen to me.

"What are you doing with him, Baby?"

"It's just a friendly talk," I said.

He held my hand which touched Eeshwar's hand. Agni stroked every finger of mine.

"Is this the hand which touched him?"

"Agni, please I won't do it again."

"Baby, I didn't say anything to you these days as you are pregnant. But, I think I shouldn't behave well to you. You should always have a fear for me. You must remember my conditions kept for you. Now you are going to face punishment for forgetting your limits" he said and held my hand again.

Jwala:

He held my hand and kept another hand in his pocket to take something. I was sure that he would award me the worst punishment. I didn't understand the reason behind his anger at me whenever I talk to my best friend Aadarsh or any other guy.

Is Agni possessive towards me? Then why did he send me to clients? No, he is not possessive. He wanted to hurt me, and now he had a reason to do that. I blocked the vision of my Baby blue to prepare myself for the upcoming torture.

Instead of pain, I felt something slid over my finger. I opened my eyes. He smiled looking at me. It was the first time I saw his smile.

"He is very handsome when he smiles," said my heart.

No, I shouldn't fall for his charm. Inner beauty is more important than outer beauty. He might look great, but he is a demon. I should never forget it.

I looked at my hand to check what he did. He kept a ring with name "Agni" engraved on it. I didn't understand his intention.

"Don't be afraid of me. I won't let even a single scratch appear on your body until my Baby is in your womb. After your delivery, it depends on your behaviour" he said kissing my hand.

"This ring means that you are mine and only mine. Anyways remember from next time I shouldn't see you talking to any man except me. Be careful about that or I will forget that you are carrying my child" he warned me.

"Now let's talk about the punishment. If my kid is not in your womb, I would have made you starve for three days and would decorate your body beautifully with the strokes of my belt. Now I can't do that. Nonetheless, I will punish you. The punishment should be only to you but not to my Baby," he said and thought for a few minutes.

"Let's play a game."

"What?"

"From tomorrow let's act as husband and wife. You must take care of me, and arrange everything for me. Let me see what kind of a life partner you will be. Remember sweetheart; if you commit a mistake in acting like my wife, orphanage won't be your's as still our contract is on. This acting gives you a good experience to be a good wife after our marriage," he smirked.

"No, I can't do that," I said.

"Already you have done everything that a wife does. You gave pleasure to me. You are carrying my child. So I don't think it's that tough. However, I am not bothered by your opinion. From tomorrow you are going to lead a life of my wife. I will have more fun now," he said, and a haze of fear surrounded me.

"Go and take rest. I have no mood to go to the office now. So for today, there is no work for you" Agni said.

I slept in my room. I remembered Agni's behaviour after conceiving and before that.

I can't marry him or abort my child. How can I give a dignified life to my kid without marrying him? What if this child becomes as Agni who disrespects women and views them as a pleasure giving machines?

I can't trust Agni's sudden transmutation. He always insults and lacerates me. For him, I am not a human. I am just a machine which bears every torture. What can I do if he tortures me again after delivery? He loves his child but not me. I am not even expecting his love, but at least he should respect me and treat me as a human.

I don't think marriage works for us. It destroys my life more. What about my child? Agni is right; this is my Baby and sharing my blood too. I placed my hand on my womb thinking about my kid. I can't kill this child. At the same time, I can't marry a beast.

I cried till my eyes were swollen and drifted into sleep thinking about my helpless life. I opened my eyes feeling someone's touch. I found Agni kissing my forehead. He smiled at me. He sat on the bed beside me, and I moved away. Why did he come into my room after fifteen days? Is he going to take me harshly for talking to that colleague? No, I can't bear. My eyes filled with water drops.

"Hey, why are you crying? Are you suffering from a stomach ache or something? Are you fine? Why are you looking dull?" He said with genuine concern.

I was in intense shock. Does Agni worry about me? No no maybe for his child.

"I am fine," I said.

"Then?" Agni inquired.

"Why did you come into my room?" I asked.

"What? Come again. Which is your room? This is my house, Baby. I can come here anytime I wish. So, shut your mouth to save your body from bearing pain. Already you escaped punishment today as you are carrying my child," he said looking at me.

"I.. Amm.. Sorry."

"Ok fine, if you are scared of me imagining that I came to fulfil my need, you are wrong. I came to give you food," Agni said and gave food to me.

I looked at my mobile. It's dinner time. I slept for a long time.

"Have it. If you want anything to eat, you can inform maids or me."

I had my food. Agni took the plate.

"Now sleep calmly without straining your brain or heart. I promise you, Jwala; I won't hurt you. I won't touch you without your consent from now. Please at least for our child, marry me. Today, your parents called me saying next week I can come to see you. I think they will ask you to return home soon."

No, I should talk to my parents. But what can I say if they ask the reason for refusing Agni? In society, Agni had a good reputation. Only very few know his original character. Everyone thinks Agni is admirable and loves him. But I am the one who saw his cruelty. I hate him. I am sure after delivery; he will start his torture again.

"Jwala, I may not be a good person but not a bad guy too. I had my reasons to become like this. I have no respect towards women because my life got spoiled because of a woman."

"I am not interested to know your past. A woman might have spoiled your life, but you have no right to ruin my life. As you destroyed my life, do you mean I should hate every man?"

"Don't worry you will never get a chance to love or hate any man. Because either it's your hate or love, it belongs only to me," He said smirking.

My phone rang.

"I think it's your dad," he said.

He is right.

"Hello, Dad."

"How are you, Jwala?"

"I am fine, dad."

"Jwala, you got a good alliance. He is rich in heart and status. We know we are not suitable for him. But, he said he loved you seeing you in a college program. His name is Agni. We talked to him. We felt he is right for you.

We asked him to come to see you. You need to reach our village in the next week," my dad said.

"Dad, I want to study more. I didn't want to marry," I said, and Agni passed an angry look towards me.

"Jwala, you see him and talk to him. If you like him, only then we will settle the marriage. Otherwise, we won't force you. Don't worry; we respect your opinion," dad said.

"Ok dad, I will come," I said and disconnected the call.

"Jwala, you can study even after our marriage but after delivery. I won't stop you."

Why is he so stubborn to marry me? How can I break this marriage?

"I love someone else" I lied to make him cancel the wedding.