This is it. You can do it. It's not that hard.

So, what if you are going to see him after months? It's not like he'll accept you with open arms.

Remember everything he did to you. Or may be didn't do to you, like standing up and fighting for you.

With my shaking limbs, sweating palms and thundering heart, I entered the college my husband worked; the college I am going to work.

After the official formalities, I was assigned to a desk at a corner of the staff room in the main building. This block has the administration department and class rooms & labs for 1st year students since they share common subjects. The department blocks are for students from 2nd to 4th years.

Since I was assigned to 'C lab' which is a 1st year subject and my husband worked in the ECE department, we belong to different blocks.

It was nerve-wracking, yet relieving that we are not going to see each other much.

Amidst all this tension, I attended my 1st lab session assisting the first year EEE students. After writing thousands of lines of code in JAVA as a developer, the doubts they asked in 'C language' seemed very easy to me.

A two hour practical lab session and I was back at my desk, free to worry about my life.

I still don't know what I am supposed to do but I know I have to torture him to no extent, until he finally accepts his mistake; accept me.

But, is it that simple? Can I even do it?

With million doubts clouding my mind, I called Sindhu and felt strong again, hearing her words.

I don't want my daughter to suffer every day of her life just because her mother didn't have the guts to fight for her dad.

I can't let that happen.

As I was eating my food in silence, not knowing anyone in the staff room, I found a fifty-year old woman looking at me with a smile from the opposite desk.

"Are you new?" she asked me calmly.

I nodded making her say "I am Parvathi. I teach physics for the 1st years"

"C language. And I am – um- just an assistant in lab until next year starts" I replied timidly.

"Oh. That's what I was thinking. Why would they appoint a new teacher at the yearend? So, where are you from?"

Since I understood her, I am not offended by her straight question. It's almost May and classes would be ended, by this time every year. It's due to the Cyclone in Vizag, last October, the college had been shut down for a month and so term has been extended until late May.

I am lucky they even called me which is why I agreed to assist the professors in 'C lab'. It would've been too late if I had to wait until next term started.

The woman was gazing at me, eagerly waiting for my answer. And I knew I had to tell the truth. I need to let this out so that I can concentrate on my plan. Moreover, if I am going to stay here, I need someone's support.

And so, I told her everything about my life. How I was thrown out of my in-laws house, how I found out I was pregnant, how I needed a job and how my friends helped. I didn't say that my husband works here, though. As much as I wanted to torture him, I don't want to do that publicly.

"Your husband is an idiot for doing this to you" she said fiercely, looking very angry as if she's trying to control herself "And his mom.. What a bitch!!"

I gave a helpless smile as my thoughts wandered back to the way Vinay's mom treated me and how different Karthik's mother was. Karthik and Vinay had been both mama's boys but there is a huge difference between them and their mothers. If only Vinay had someone like Seetha, as his mom.

"Don't worry. Everything will be alright. Your kid is very lucky to have you as its mother" Parvathi's voice jolted me out of my past and I smiled nodding.

After she left to her next class, I strode off to the library as I had a free afternoon.

I searched for the prescribed book of the subject as I will be teaching it next term and sat down reading, once I found it.

It was his voice that ruined my concentration and I dropped my book onto my lap, in shock. He was talking to the librarian, with a book in his hand and I peered at him, in silence.

As if sensing that someone was observing him, he steered his head in my direction and his eyes widened in horror, seeing me.

Saying something to her, he walked to me while I sat gawping at him, not making any move.

"What are you doing here?" He said, looking perplexed and surprised as well.

"Isn't it obvious?" I said sharply "since I can't be a student"

"Oh" he said awkwardly before looking around to confirm no one's watching us "Er—can we go someplace private?"

I nodded slowly. Handing over the book to the librarian, I trotted beside him not saying a word until we finally reached a deserted place, at the back of the Mechanical department.

"Er—so, um have you arranged the money?"

We have met after so many weeks and this is what he asks me? If I was angry when I was talking to Sindhu about him, I am furious now.

"No. And I am not giving anything to you or your mother" I said hotly.

"What?" he said tensely, looking surprised by my answer.

"I said I am not giving a single rupee to either of you" I said, repeating each word carefully.

"You can't enter the house if you don't" he said slowly, looking sad.

"Then, it's a good thing I am not planning to return" I replied stiffly "Definitely not for cleaning, mopping, washing and cooking"

He groaned "What about us?"

"There was never us. And why are you pretending like you care? You were getting ready to marry another woman"

"I didn't agree. It was mom---"

"Good for you guys. If I get to know that you are trying to ruin another girl's life, warn your dear mom that she will find herself behind bars in no time"

"You w-won't do that" he stuttered, as if he's scared I'd try something like that.

"Of course I will." I snarled, making him gape at me in shock.

"Are you done? I can't stand here wasting my time" I said fiercely and found him, gazing at my stomach with a frown.

Since I was wearing my saree below my belly button, my stomach wasn't looking flat like it normally did and I understood he was having doubts.

"Aren't you telling me something?" he said, looking skeptical.

"It's exactly what you think it is" I said firmly.

"What?" he yelled, looking astonished "Why the hell didn't you tell me?"

"What am I supposed to say?" I spat at him "What difference will it make?"

"I have a right to know"

"You had a right to protect me; which you failed, remember?" I said coldly making him flinch.

"You can't say that---"

"You forgot our marriage vows; something so sacred. How can I expect you to stand up for your daughter when you can't stand up for your wife! Who knows, you can even tell me to abort if it's a girl child because your mom said so"

"I am not that evil" he said hoarsely.

"Keep saying that to yourself" I spat bitterly and he looked pained hearing me.

Good for him. He deserves that. After months of pain and heart ache I endured, this is nothing.

"I accept that I haven't been a good husband trying to be a good son. But, that's what we are used to; at my home. I told you that, already"

"Why are you even telling me this? It's not like I am begging you to take me back. Tell your emotional story to someone who cares"

"And you don't care about me?" he asked painfully.

It broke my heart seeing him like that. I felt a gnawing pain in my chest seeing him vulnerable. But, this is not the time to back out. I know that much.

"After you acted like you didn't care all those months and the way you stood transfixed seeing your mom throw me out of your house while I begged not to! You still expect me to care about you?" I yelled at him, as tears streamed on to my cheeks.

"You didn't care if I reached my parents' house safely!! You didn't care what happened to me, where I had been; all these weeks. And you have the nerve to ask me that I don't care about you?"

That did it. He looked like he deserved everything. His face contorted to that of pain as he gaped at me.

It killed me seeing him like that, but every word I said was true. Never had a day passed without me hoping he would come back for me, hoping he'd find me.

But, everything was in vain.

"If you really want me back, tell your mother and father that I am carrying your daughter. We will see what they'll decide for you since you obviously don't have the capability to think" I said in a much calmer tone.

"And?" he said promptly, not at all offended by my words.

"We'll see if they'll accept me without the money. If not---"

"Will you comeback if they agree?" he asked hopefully.

"I will think about it" I replied wearily, walking away from him.

I have no doubt what their answer is going to be. If he thinks, he can convince them, then he is either mad or stupid or both.

---

Thank you for voting. Do not forget to Vote, Comment and Share.

I am so sorry for the late update. I couldn't just write 'He is in..' until two days ago. I don't know why but I am not getting new ideas without spoiling the plot.

Adding to that, I read a Harry Potter fan fiction recently and realized how much I missed HP. I started reading it again.

So, hopefully I get new ideas for 'He is in' and write new chapters for the two stories while also reading HP.

Have a great weekend folks..

- JANAKI S