Merry Christmas! 

---***---

"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.'

---***---

"Amar, it's a party. Why aren't you dancing?" asked a man Vennela didn't recognize. "Sprained leg?"

"No. Bad fate." Amar pointed towards Vennela in a wheelchair.

"Go and dance with someone else. I don't mind." Vennela sounded apologetic about being in wheelchair.

"What's the use of dancing with someone else? The happiness only lasts for a moment. After that I have to get back to you. I'm stuck with you for life. All my friends are leading happy married lives. I'm being punished for no mistake of mine." 

"Amar! Stop blaming me. Don't you dare. It's not my fault." Vennela was in tears.

"Of course not. But that doesn't change the fact that you are a burden to me. I regret marrying you. I should have listened to my aunt. Let's get divorced."

Vennela woke up startled. She was sweating profusely. "Bad dream?" asked Amar. She didn't answer.

"Lunch time" Amar opened the lunch box.

"Not now" she said weakly.

"You have to eat regularly." Amar insisted.

"STOP IRRITATING ME. DON'T YOU UNDERSTAND? I DON'T WANT TO EAT." She shouted. Amar was scared. "Relax. I won't irritate you." 

She immediately felt guilty. "Sorry."

"I understand. You are frustrated. A good news for you. We are going home tomorrow." Amar announced.

"Take me to my grandfather's mansion. I wish to stay there for a few days" said Vennela.

"Why?" Amar was puzzled.

"Please. I want to be with my family." She lied. She decided to follow Shambhavi's advice and get separated from him.

"Sure. If it makes you feel happy, then let's stay there for a few days." Amar didn't suspect what Vennela was actually thinking.

---***---

"No offense. But, have you gone mad?" Amar didn't understand why Vennela wants to stay at her grandfather's mansion forever. She told him about her decision only after settling inside the house.

"You have to understand. This is for our own good." Vennela tried to stay strong.

"I don't see anything good in this." Amar tried to keep the bitterness in his voice minimum. "Why Vennela? Do you think I am not strong enough to serve you?"

"No" Vennela answered.

"Do you think I'm not devoted to you?" Amar asked gently.

"No"

"Then what's the issue?" 

"You are ruining your future because of me. I can't let that happen. I don't know if I'll ever walk again. I don't want to be a burden to you. I have been independent my entire life. Having to depend on you for everything is a huge blow to my self-respect" said Vennela. Everyone else tried to get out of the room to give the couple some privacy. But Vennela ordered them to stay.

"I don't understand. Only last week you told me we are inseparable. What happened now? I'm sure someone has brainwashed you into believing that this is correct. You would never say this." Amar was sure those were not Vennela's words.

"Amar we had few good moments. It was beautiful while it lasted. But it's over. We cannot live our lives full of regret. Instead of cursing ourselves for our decisions a few years later, let's get separated now. Please find a new wife for yourself. This is not a sacrifice. This is my desperate attempt to leave with dignity before you ask me to leave. I am an independent and practical woman. I don't want to be a burden to anyone." Vennela lowered her face. "Let's apply for divorce."

Amar looked at Vennela for a while. Then he laughed. Vennela frowned at his behavior. She expected him to be angry. But he was there laughing like an idiot. 'Did my decision affect his mental health? Has he gone mad?' She had bizarre thoughts.

"Nice speech, sweetheart. But the reasons you stated are silly. You? A burden? Do you even hear yourself? I think you need to rest. The medicines are showing their effect on you. You are so tired, you can't think straight. You will change your decision in a few days." Amar sat down on her bed, facing her.

"Amar, does this look like a joke to you? I'm serious." Vennela didn't understand why he wasn't taking her seriously. "I won't come."

Amar moved close to her. So dangerously close that he was just a few inches away from her face. He gestured for everyone else to leave. They left closing the door on their way. For the first time in her married life, she felt intimidated by him. His eyes were so intense that she had to close hers. 'What is he up to? Is he going to kiss me? Did I brush my teeth properly?' 

"Look at me, moonlight." He held her chin. She opened her eyes very slowly and looked at him.

"That's like a good girl. Now listen to me carefully. You are saying this because you are frustrated. That's it. You won't be able to stay away from me for long. I won't let you. You seem to forget who I am. I am Amar Pratap. Trust me when I tell you this. You don't even have to unpack. Keep your luggage packed and be ready. Your husband will come and take you home in three days. And that, my darling wife, is a promise." Amar smiled at Vennela.

He caressed her face affectionately and kissed her on the cheeks. She clutched his shirt very tightly. He waited patiently for her to release him. After she regained her composure, he helped her lie down on the bed, covered her with blanket and left.

---***---

"Three days? Why three days?" Anirudh asked Amar.

"Because I like that number."

"Why couldn't you like a larger number?How can we bring her back in three days? How to convince her?" Anirudh was pacing up and down. 

"Relax Anirudh. I'm sure there must be a way" said Amar. 

"This happened because of my mother. She was the one who had this stupid discussion with vadina. Now she is convinced that she doesn't deserve you." Anirudh was outraged.

"We need to teach a lesson to Shambhavi aunty. She has to understand that Vennela is not an object that can be thrown away." Amar looked at Anirudh, whose eyes reflected his own determination.

---***--- 

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