Shahrukh stepped into his house uneagerly. He felt so tired after a long day filming. He rubbed his face and twisted his neck slowly. He walked down the hall and the room in his house that looked dark. Arriving at the family room, he frowned in surprise when he saw the television on. He accelerated his steps. How surprised he was when he saw Kajol lying on the couch, sleeping soundly. Earlier on the phone he said that he would be home soon. But apparently there are few problems on the set that makes the recording of some of his scene delayed.
Shahrukh immediately turned off the television and approached his wife. He knelt before her, watching her innocent face as she slept peacefully. He looked around and noticing the clock in the wall. It's two o'clock in the morning. She must have fallen asleep exhausted from waiting for him. He felt so guilty.
Shahrukh stroked Kajol's hair gently then kissed her forehead. "I'm sorry." he said softly. He stood up and carried her in his arms then took her to their room.
Shahrukh laid his wife on the bed carefully. He adjusted her night gown then pulled a blanket over her body. Shahrukh smiled blandly while looking at his woman. He sighed then steps to his dressing room to change his clothes. After finishing he lay down beside Kajol. He wrapped his arms around her and closed his eyes. Not long afterwards he fell asleep.
~*~
"Shahrukh, Tanisha calls you." Pooja shouted from outside the set.
Shahrukh who was talking to Karan for prepare his scene immediately turned and chuckled. He approached Pooja and reached for his cellphone.
"Yes, it's me Shahrukh."
"Jeej, can you come to the hospital now ? Kajol didi is bleeding. Me, mumma and papa are here. I will text you the address of the hospital." said Tanisha.
Shahrukh is shocked. He can't believe what he had just heard. "I'll be there soon." he answered quickly then immediately hung up. He ran toward Karan with a tense face.
"What's wrong Shahrukh ? Something happened to your wife ?" Karan asked.
"Karan, I'm so sorry but I have to go. Kajol is bleeding."
Karan widened his eyes, surprised. "Go. When she's getting recover, please let me know."
Shahrukh nodded. He immediately ran away from the set to where his car was parked. He opened his car door in a hurry and told the driver to leave.
When he arrive at the hospital, he went straight to the emergency room. He sped up his steps and arrived there at the same time as Doctor Riya came out of the room. All eyes are on her.
"Doctor Riya, how is Kajol ? She's alright na ?" Shahrukh asked.
Riya looked at the people in front of her one by one. Their eyes is full of hope. But she couldn't hide the truth. "Shahrukh, Tanisha, Mr. and Mrs. Mukherji, please forgive me. Kajol is bleeding heavily and her womb isn't too strong. So-"
"What ?" urged Shomu, Kajol's father.
Riya sighed heavily. "Kajol is fine, but we can't save the baby. She miscarried."
Everyone who was there could only be silent. They are too shocked. Their hopes vanished. Riya invited them to look at Kajol then said good bye and leave them there. Tanuja and Tanisha decide to see Kajol. Shahrukh too, but when he stepped Shomu stopped him by holding his shoulder.
Shahrukh turned to his father-in-law. From the look in his eyes, the man harbored anger for him. "It's the second na, Shahrukh ?"
Shahrukh looked at Shomu with a pleading look. "Papa-"
"Twice Shahrukh !" Shomu lost his control. He pulled the collar of his son-in-law's shirt and looked at him sharply.
"I have entrusted her with you, but what do you do ? You made her miscarriage for the second time ! What kind of husband are you huh ?" said Shomu loudly. Shahrukh bowed his head. He knew Shomu's anger couldn't be tempered by him. He knew how much his father-in-law hated him.
"I have said many times, take care of your wife, take care of my daughter, take care of her and only her ! You still behave as if everything will be fine. You really don't care about her. You only care about your work until my daughter experiences this incident for the second time ! Which father doesn't hurt to see his daughter suffer ?"
Shahrukh was unable to lift his head. Tears gathered in the corner of his eyes. "Papa, I'm sorry-"
Shomu grinned and pulled Shahrukh's collar shirt tighter. "Sorry ? Is that all you can do ? After all this happened you just realized that you failed to protect her, is that so ?"
"I... I never knew this would happen. Pa, I'm also hurt. Kajol isn't only your daughter but also my wife."
Shomu raised his hand and cast a hard slap on Shahrukh's cheek. Shahrukh held his right cheek and looked at his father-in-law surprisedly.
"You really don't deserve to be my son-in-law. I'll bring Kajol back to my house."
Shahrukh shook his head tightly and clasped his hands together, staring at Shomu with a pleading look. "Papa, please don't take her away from my life. I can't live without her. I love her so much. Please don't take her away from me."
Shomu stepped away from him but he still begged. "Papa, please don't take her away. I need her. Papa..."
How much Shahrukh begged him, still Shomu didn't change his decision. Shahrukh was unable to bear the weight of his body. He fell down on the floor. He looked at Shomu's back who started walking away from him.
"You failed to protect her !"
"You don't deserve to be her husband !"
"You let her suffer !"
"You broke my hopes !"
"You failed ..."
"You .. failed .."
~*~
"Shahrukh, wake up!"
Shahrukh opened his eyes. In front of him, Kajol looked at him with worry. He immediately lifted his body and sat down. His breathing is irregular. He's sweating. After a few moments of silence, he realized that it was only a dream.
"Are you okay ?"
Shahrukh turns to Kajol and nods slowly. He still didn't believe that the incident would come back to him.
Kajol grabbed a glass of water from the nightstand table and handed it to Shahrukh. She rubbed his back gently and consoled him. Shahrukh tried to control his breathe and pauses to restore his consciousness.
"Nightmare ?" Kajol asked again.
"Papa.." that's all Shahrukh can say.
Kajol frowned. "You mean?"
Shahrukh turned to his wife. "Kajol, that incident... Six years ago..."
Kajol was surprised, but she still tried to calm down.
"Papa came to me, slapped me, and ... took you away." said Shahrukh. He took Kajol's hand and held it tightly.
"Kajol, I beg you don't leave me... Whatever happens... Don't go away from me. I need you... I..." Shahrukh couldn't finish his sentence. His heart was beating fast.
Kajol couldn't see her husband scared like that. She knew what happened six years ago was so painful for them. She pulled Shahrukh in her arms. "It was just a nightmare, Shahrukh. I promise to take care of this child. What have been happened in our past won't happen again. And I won't leave you no matter what happens."
Shahrukh nodded. He whispered 'thank you' to her. Kajol let go of her arms and cupped Shahrukh's face in her hand. "You don't look okay. I'll call Pooja that you can't come for the shoot today."
Shahrukh shakes his head. "Don't. I'm fine, really."
"Are you sure ?" Shahrukh nodded.
Kajol smiled. "Then get ready. I'll prepare your breakfast."
Shahrukh got up from his bed and walked into the bathroom. While Kajol just shook her head then went downstairs to prepare breakfast.
**
Kajol sat in the garden of Mannat while reading a book. She's wearing her favorite red glasses. Her husband has just left for work and her homework has been handled by her maid, so she can be more relaxed than before.
Her cellphone beside her ring several times. She put down the book and reached for her cellphone. It's Ajay calling. She thought for a few moments, then pressed the green button on her cellphone's screen hesitantly and pressed it to her ear.
"Hi, Kaj. We haven't talked for a long time." Ajay greeted with his distinctive voice.
"What do you want ?" Kajol asked briefly.
"How are you ?"
Kajol glared. "A few days ago you came to my house, right ? Do I look unwell ?"
Ajay chuckles from across the phone. "Seems that your pregnancy makes you more sensitive."
Kajol took off her glasses and leaned her back. "Ajay, please just say what you want. Don't waste my time."
"What's wrong with you ? What is my fault that you behaved so badly to me ?"
Kajol fell silent. She has no answer to that question.
"Even at that meeting you didn't say anything to me. Your husband continued to judge me but you just stay silent. Why, Kajol ?"
Kajol takes a deep breath. She couldn't say the reason behind it.
"I know you still have sympathy for me-"
"Don't be too confident."
"Then why did you stay silent throughout the meeting ? On the phone you talk very roughly at me but at that time you just stayed silent. Is it because you're afraid of your husband ?" Ajay paused for a moment, waiting for an answer from Kajol.
"You were actually surprised by my arrival, right ?"
"Ajay, why do you keep asking me about this ? What does that means to you ?" said Kajol.
"That means a lot to me, that you still care about me."
"I don't care about everything about you anymore. What for ?"
"Just admit it." Ajay insisted.
Kajol chuckled annoyed. "Just say what you want."
Ajay chuckles again. "All right. Listen, I just want to be your friend again."
"You've asked Shahrukh and he refused. Is that not enough ?"
"But-"
"What my husband has decided will also be my decision, Jay."
"I know you want the opposite, Kajol. Don't lie to yourself."
"What do you know about me ? Nothing."
"If that is true, you can't just be silent throughout the meeting. You are a talkative person. When you choose to be silent, it means you find something wrong. What do you find wrong ? Your husband's words ?"
Kajol fell silent again. She did find something wrong, in Shahrukh's words.
"I know you have a very noble heart. You can distinguish between sincere and non-genuine. That is proven when you choose Shahrukh over me. With that belief, I know that you can understand my intention to apologize to you and your husband. I believe you're a forgiving person. You're not a bad person, Kads."
There was no response from Kajol. She only listens to every word Ajay says.
"That's all I want to say. Thank you for listening to me. Give my regards to aunt Tanuja and your husband. May you all always be happy."
With that sentence Ajay hung up. Kajol pulls her cellphone and thinks of Ajay's words. The man really sincerely apologized. She was sure her heart wasn't wrong to decide.
"Who are you talking to ?" a man baritone voice came from behind her. Kajol turned and gasped when she saw a well-built man behind her. His eyes glared at her.
"You..."
~ TO BE CONTINUED ~