Chapter 58- Dead Body
Chapter 58- Dead Body
After two years
Devika's p.o.v
" Mamma, gib me toklate ( mamma, give me chocolate)...I wan tu et toklate ( I want to eat chocolate),"
Daksh said pulling my saree's edge.
I said checking the exam papers," I will give you chocolate. Just give mamma a few minutes. Go and
play with your siblings for some time".
" I dunt wnt tu pley...I wnt tu eet toklate ( I don't want to play. I want to eat chocolate)," He said sitting on
the table in front of me. He held my hands and stopped me from writing.
I smiled at him and pulled him on my lap. I pulled his soft chubby cheeks and said affectionately," If you
eat so much chocolate then you will have problems with your teeth. Don't eat chocolate too much".
He said nothing after hearing me because he is now busy playing with my key ring.
I kissed his chubby cheeks when I heard " Mamma" in unison.
I looked at the door and found my 3 small bunnies with their toys. They all ran towards me and hugged
me.
Devansh hugged my right hand, Dipti hugged my left hand and Drishti hugged my neck from behind.
I said smiling," Are you all done playing? hmm. Don't you want to play more?"
" Dipti has broken my car," Devansh complained.
Dipti said pouting," no, mamma. Drishti has broken it".
Drishti said lying on my shoulder," No, mamma. I didn't do anything".
I said with my fake angry voice," All of you sit in front of me on the couch right now".
They obliged my words and sat on the couch serially.
I said softly," Tomorrow we will go shopping and then I will buy cars for Devansh and Daksh, Barbie
dolls for Dipti and Drishti. Are you all happy now? Will you again fight?"I asked them with my fake rude
voice.
They all said in unison," No, mamma."
Saying that they all hugged my waist and I patted their small heads. My kids are my world. They are
the most precious jewels I have ever had. They are my strength.
My 4 small bunnies are now 2 years old and can talk, walk and even run. My 4 children have different
personalities.
Devansh is always an angry dominating little boy, Daksh is a mamma's boy who doesn't want to leave
me for a moment, Drishti is always busy playing with her dolls and Dipti is always busy drawing with
colours. But, one thing is common in them and that is they love me too much.
Well, I am now a self-dependent woman. I have completed my study and joined as a lecturer in a
college three months ago. I am earning well and enough to bear my children's expenses and my
sibling's expenses. I am living in my father's house which is now in my name. My life is going great with
my children and siblings. I always thank God for this life. For giving me my children and their love.
But, one thing that always bothers me is my mother's thinking. Where did she go? How is she? Is she
alive or not? Nobody knows.
" Mamma, lat's pley hite end sik ( Mamma, let's play hide and seek)," Daksh said nuzzling his nose on
my shoulder. That's when my trail of thoughts are cut.
My other 3 kids can pronounce every word smoothly, only my Daksh can not pronounce every word.
He needs more time to talk properly.
I am going to say no since I have many works to do. I have to submit the exam papers tomorrow after
checking them.
But, my children have started their tantrums to play with me. They want to play their favourite game
hide and seek. Looking at their innocent face I couldn't say no. I said playfully," Let's play, my little
bunnies". They screamed with joy after hearing me.
Then, I closed my eyes and started counting. I am sure my children have started hiding. After counting
for almost 50 I started searching for my children. I am calling them by their names and walking tiptoed.
I said smiling," Seems like Mamma's Devansh is behind the couch."
I heard Devansh's giggling. He always hides here.
I held him from behind and said excitedly," Gotcha...".
He giggled seeing me. I kissed him on his forehead.
Then, one by one I have found out my Drishti and Dipti from under the bed and behind the curtains.
But, I am not finding my Daksh. Where did he go!
I noticed that the main door is open and I know where has he gone. He is hiding in the garden. My little
Daksh likes to hide in the garden.
With a smiling face, I step my leg forward to go to the garden when someone entered my house having
Daksh on his lap. Seeing the person I become stiffed for some time.
After a few minutes, I composed myself and looked at the calendar panicking and it's October.
Because of busyness I almost forget that Abhinav is coming out of jail in October. And the person is
none other than Abhinav Agnihotri.
My smile got vanished from my face. I am now seeing the person with pure disgust and rage.
Daksh said smiling," Mamma, ha es saing that ha es mi papa ( Mamma, he is saying that he is my
papa)".
My other kids came forward and held my waist tightly. They are seeing him with curious and fearful
eyes. He is looking beastly as usual with his thick beard and now he has grown a moustache also. He
is looking more intimidating than before.
He said looking at my kids," Our kids have grown up so fast. You can't even imagine how much I have
missed them. I have spent my 2 years in the jail only looking at their photos which Arnav gave me".
Saying that he tried to touch my children when they all clutched my waist more tightly.
" Mamma, who is he? He is looking like Arnav uncle but scarier than Arnav uncle," Devansh asked me
going behind my waist.
I came out of my shocked state and snatched Daksh from his hold.
I made Daksh stand on his feet and ordered my children," Go to my bedroom right now and lock the
door. Don't come out until I call you."
They all ran towards my bedroom and locked the door. And now I looked at him with full rage.
He asked me smiling," how are you?"
I rolled my eyes and said sarcastically," I was fine. But, after seeing your disgusting face I think I will not
be fine anymore. By the way, how was your days in jail? I think the days were quite memorable for
you!"
Hearing my sarcastic words his whole face got clouded with sadness.
He lowered his head and said timidly," In these two years you never came to see me for once. You
didn't even let me see my children!. I have missed you and our children."
I am surprised by hearing his expectation. After ruining my life he expects me to meet him!! Doesn't he
have any brain.!!
" Why are you here? Can't you see me in peace?" I asked him sternly.
He said coming forward," Obviously, I am here to take you and my children with me. You are my wife."
His face turned in another direction because of the impact I gave him on his right cheek. I slapped him
hard. I saw him closing his eyes. I thought that he will get angry but he didn't say anything. He is now
rubbing the place to soothe the pain where my hand connected.
I snapped at him," Again call me your wife and I will pull out your tongue with my bare hand. Just
because you didn't sign the divorce paper doesn't mean that I am still your wife. I am not your wife
anymore."
" Devika, I am sorry. I am ashamed of myself for my wrongdoings towards you. Forgive me, please,"
He said holding my shoulder. I can see regret in his eyes.
I jerked off his hands from my shoulder and screamed," Sorry!! Are you that shameless! After ruining
me, you dare to come to my house. Just get lost from here. Seeing you I am feeling suffocated."
He tried to hold my hand when I flinched backwards and gave him a disgusted look.
He said lowering his head," Devika, I am sorry. I was always wrong. If I knew that you are also a victim
of your mother's schemes then I might have never hurt you."
No sooner had he taken the words, I slapped him again on his cheek and asked gritting my teeth,"
Does this line justifies your cruel act towards me? So, in your opinion, if I wasn't a victim of mother's
schemes then you did the right things with me.?"
" No, Devika. I understood my mistakes when you sent me to jail. I realised my love for you when you
sent me to jail. I thought to accept you wholeheartedly even you are Bhabani Gupta's daughter," He
said with too much regret.
I am fisting my palm and fuming in rage seeing him. I closed my eyes to suppress my anger.
Then he said pleading," Just give me a last chance to mend my mistakes. This time I will......."
" Chance! Last chance!! Tell me do you deserve a chance? Do you remember how many times I had
given you chances to make our marriage successful? How many times I told you that together we can
make our life better? But, every time you pushed me away showing your attitude," I asked him
grabbing his collar cutting his sentence in the middle.
He is now seeing the floor lowering his head. He said without making eye contact with me," Devika, I
admit that I was an asshole who treated you badly. I am sorry. Just forgive me for once".
" Have you ever thought about my feelings whenever you were beating me, raping me and humiliating
me in front of your whole family? Tell me, Mr Abhinav Agnihotri did you give me an ounce of love or
respect for once in our two years of married life? I asked him with my shaky voice.
I couldn't hold back my tears anymore and started crying.
I said hiccuping," whatever my mother had done with your family, it was not my fault. I wasn't even
aware that my mother hated me always. I was always innocent. Didn't my screaming reach at your ears
for once? Didn't my begging reach at your ears for once? "
Saying all this I am going to fall on the floor when he held me in his embrace. I am too much hurt
remembering those painful memories that I almost forget that he is holding me.
" Tell me devika, how do you want to punish me.? I will take your every punishment without uttering any
sound. I deserve to be punished. Whip me, beat me with sticks, do whatever you want to do. Just don't
tell me to leave you," He said with a broken voice.
This time I pushed him hard and he left me.
I said angrily," I am not a monster like you that I will beat you. Just get lost from here and never show
me your face. Lead your life and let me live my life peacefully."
He said almost crying," Devika, try to understand. I am sorry. Forgive me for once. Think about our
children. Don't they need their father? I can't live without you and our children."
" Why would they need a father like you? Hmm.! I am providing them with everything which they
deserve. I am enough for my children. They don't need you," I snapped at him.
This time he held my shoulder tightly and said with his vulnerable voice," I love our children and you. I
want to take care of you for the rest of my life. I will give you every happiness. I promise you."
" That person who made his wife his personal slut, that person who accused his wife of whoring
around, that person who checked his wife's unborn baby's DNA raising his finger on his wife's
character is promising to give happiness!!," I said mockingly freeing myself from his hold. He lowered
his head because of shame.
I am feeling like spitting on his face. He will give me happiness!! How can he thought that I will forgive
him!!
He is going to open his mouth when I held his wrist and dragged him to the main door. I threw him out
of my house and shut the door on his face. I started crying placing my palm on my face.
I fell on the floor and rested my back on the door when I heard his voice.
He said with a determined voice," I will not give up until I earn your forgiveness. I will not give up until I
take you and my children with me. Your place is with me in my house."
Author's p.o.v
Devika is devastated after seeing Abhinav. She was a little bit afraid thinking that Abhinav might snatch
her children from her. But, now she is not afraid anymore. She is determined that she will fight for her
children legally if he tries to snatch them from her.
Right now she is feeding her children with her own hands. Her children are seeing cartoon on the TV
and giggling.
" Mamma, who was that man who came a few hours ago? Is he our Papa?, Drishti asked Devika
curiously.
Devika said shoving another spoonful of food inside her mouth," No, he is nothing to you all. He is just
a bad man. Never talk with him if you see him again."
" mamma, He looks scary. He is so tall. He looks like a giant," Dipti said chewing her food.
Devika said taking a deep breath," Indeed he is scary." She remembers how Abhinav used to scare her
with his creepy talking and showing her torture devices.
Devansh asked Devika curiously," Mamma, why he looks like Arnav Uncle?"
" He is your Arnav uncle's brother," Devika replied.
This time Daksh said pouting," Mamma, hi es net a bed min. Hi sied thet hi lubs us. Hi gev me toklates.
( Mamma, he is not a bad man. He said that he loves us. He gave me chocolates).
Devika replied sternly," Never take anything from that scary man. If he again comes then don't even
open the door. Understood?"
They all nodded their head hearing their mother.
Devika doesn't want any of her kid to be close with Abhinav. She wants them only for herself.
Daksh is changing the channels on the TV when Devika heard a news.
The reporter is saying," Today at city gate police have found a dead body of a woman which was in
very bad condition. Someone had brutally killed the woman and hanged her on the city gate".
The news channel's camera is showing the dead body. The body was still hanging on the gate. The
body is really in bad condition. The woman was tortured mercilessly by whip slashing and then
someone has hanged her. A garland made of shoes is also hanging from the dead body's neck to
disgrace the body. The torturer has shaved the woman's head fully to disgrace her. And another
disturbing part is the woman's dead body was naked.
Unknowingly devika looked at the TV and the food plate fell from her hand on the floor seeing the body.
She recognises the face. It's none other than her mother. She screamed," Ma......."
After one hour
" Devika, I am suggesting you to not see the body," Apeksha said hesitantly.
Devika said without any expression," Let me see her," Her voice is unusually calm.
Apeksha understood that Devika is not going to listen to her. So, she removed the white clothing from
Bhabani's face.
Devika's eyes get watered seeing her mother's face. Her body started trembling seeing the brutality.
And the most disturbing part is someone has carved the word "Whore" on her mother's forehead.
Moreover, Bhabani's whole body is carved with various types of words like bitch, marriage breaker, slut
etc.
Apeksha said resting her hand on Devika's shoulder," She was starved for many days. She was
tortured by whip slashing and belt slashing for many days. She was tortured for a long period of time."
Devika is crying continuously. Apeksha is trying her best to console devika. Though Apeksha is a police
officer but she has never seen this type of dead body. She is also disturbed by the incident. She is also
feeling bad for Bhabani. After all Bhabani is her birth mother.
Apeksha is busy consoling Devika when Devika started saying with too much hate and hurtful voice," I
know who killed her. It's Abhinav Agnihotri. He killed her."
Apeksha said," We have no proof that he killed her or not. We can not just bla......"
Apeksha couldn't complete her sentence when Devika started yelling," He killed her. He is a murderer.
He killed my mother brutally."
Abhinav's p.o.v
" Bhai, it's been hours since you have eaten. Eat something," Avantika said holding the food plate in
front of me.
I said with a pissed off voice," Give me some time alone. I don't want to eat anything".
She tried to say something when I gave her a dangerous look and she immediately left the room.
Yesterday, I came out of jail. I wanted to see my children and Devika as soon as possible.
Then, I remembered that I have some unfinished business with Bhabani Gupta. And without wasting
any time I had finished my business with her.
Now, I am only thinking about how to make Devika understands that I love her. I am too guilty for
whatever I have done. The anger I have seen in her eyes was telling me that she will never forgive me.
She is so angry with me that she didn't even let me meet my children.
I am dying to meet my children. I am dying to hold them in my embrace.
I am thinking about how to gain Devika's forgiveness when Arnav entered my room.
Before I could tell him to leave me alone when he said with a satisfied voice," When that old bitch
struggled for air to breathe I felt satisfaction, bhai."
I didn't utter any sound. I am in too much tension for Devika and my children.
He said sitting in front of me," Bhai, just take your kids' custody from her. She will never return to you. "
" Just shut up. I would never do that. She loves my children. I want her and my children too," I said
pulling my hair. I am not understanding what I should do. ConTEent bel0ngs to Nôv(e)lD/rama(.)Org .
Arnav said worriedly," You will die one day having too much tension. Have you taken your medicine?"
I am going to say no when I heard Devika's voice.
She yelled loudly," where are you Abhinav Agnihotri? Come in front of me, you murderer."