What's her mistake ? - 32

As the screams continued, Dammu started writhing with pain on the hay. Her husband’s brother was totally at loss without knowing what to do. He sat next to Dammu, held her hand and tried to pacify her.

It was at that moment there was the sound of a jeep arriving. He told Dammu, “Your troubles are over. Just hold for some more time. We are going away from here and reaching the nearest hospital immediately”

Dammu asked who has come.

He replied. “I had told my friend to come as early as possible. He said he could come only by early morning. Looks like he has come early. It is good! We can reach the nearest hospital fast” and went out to meet the friend.

Dammu was still feeling the pain.

In came the friend along with Dammu’s husband’s younger brother. Both of them were trying to lift Dammu and take her to the jeep when it happened.

Stormed in two ladies. Dammu was wondering what was happening. They were carrying two lanterns in their hands. Dammu recognized both the ladies!

One was the ‘doctor’ who was checking her. The other one was the woman who was like her shadow during the whole of her stay in the haveli. Her husband’s first wife!

She took some water from her camel skin pouch and sprinkled it on Dammu’s face.

“How far do you think you could have gone? You came behind him?” there was disgust and anger in her voice.

Dammu was just able to blink.  The speed with which the events were happening, she almost forgot her pain.

“What did you think? You felt safe coming behind this person? This means you don’t know how to read people!” She said and sat on the hay spread next to Dammu’s head.

“He is the most lecherous person I have ever seen. When he found that I was not being even touched by my husband, that is his brother, he tried to take advantage of me. I had a tough time to keep him away from me. I had to resort to having bodyguards always just to be away from this person” She glared at the younger brother of her husband.

Dammu did not say anything. Somehow she had felt that some more words were expected from the first wife of her husband.

She was right! But this time the words were still more torturous.  “My dear Damayanti! You were his next target. When I refused to budge to his advances, he blatantly said, ‘You are useless. I will go to my brother’s second one. She is bold and will not hesitate to become by life partner. After all, my brother is dead!’ So my dear woman! You were ready to go with this man?” she disgustingly said.

Dammu could see her husband’s brother’s head down with shame. But suddenly the pain became unbearable and she screamed.

“I knew this! That is why I have come here with all the equipment” she said and called the other woman to help in holding Dammu properly for delivering the child.

Suddenly the whole place became tense. The two men were sent out.

Dammu was slowly losing consciousness.

She did not remember the next part. She was aware that there was a crying of a baby and some cruel laughter of the first wife of her husband.

When she again regained consciousness, she became aware of her surroundings. The pain had completely subsided. She felt very light.

She tried to sit up. She suddenly remembered that she was about to deliver a child. She looked wildly around for the child.

She was all alone in that place.