Aarthi is hesitant, and she can't think of anything else. She wanted to call Sharath and wanted to talk to him. This has been on her mind ever since he called her. She had been looking for the perfect time to call him but whatever she thinks, Vijay's warning stops her from doing so.

But today, she's alone and she wants to do the unthinkable. If Vijay got to know that she'd met with Sharath, she doesn't know what would be her fate.

Grabbing all her courage, she called Sharath and he picked up the call only when it's about to go off.

"Hey, Aarthi?" he asked in a low-doubtful voice.
"Yes, I am. How are you Sharath?" She tried to sound cheerful but in the back of her mind, she feels like Vijay is watching her.
"I am good, how are you? Are you alright?" he asks.
"Yes, I am fine," she said but she's not sure of it.

"Where are you? Are you at home? Is Vijay with you?" he questions.
"I am outside and I'm alone,"

"That's good. I have been trying to reach out to you but you don't know how hard that is,"

"You should have come to my home with your mother," I suggested.

Vijay wouldn't say anything if he brings his mother along with him, that's what Aarthi thought.

"No, my mother won't come there," he said.
"It's understandable," Aarthi said. When last time, Aarthi saw her, she let out her frustration on that woman. She knew her aunt won't see her face ever again.
"Are you sure Vijay isn't with you?" he asked.

"Yes, why are you asking?"
"Don't take me wrong for saying this but I don't want him to hear our conversation,"
"I know. Vijay's not here, I came to the hospital for a check-up," she said.
"Oh, how's your health?" he asked.
Aarthi answered that her health is all fine, and the doctor she's consulting. Sharath seemed to care for her and strangely, Aarthi felt calm. It's been so long that she hears such sympathetic words from others. Vijay gives her comfort but at the same time, he acts erratically, showing off all his weird sides and turns her crazy just like him.

"Vijay looks after me well," she said.

"Really? You don't have to lie to me," Vijay asked.

"I am not lying, he looks after me well and makes sure that I eat properly," she said.
Sharath must have sensed the difference in her tone and again questioned, "Are you happy?" he asks.
"Yes," she answered but the truth only she knows.
"Why do you ask such a question?" she frowns.

"I just want to know. I have known you for a long time, Aarthi. This isn't the way you talk and I'm worried about you,"

Aarthi rolled her eyes, "What is this all about, Sharath? I want to know," Aarthi asked.
"I'm worried about you because of Vijay," he said.
"Why?" Aarthi panicked.
"It's not something that we can talk on the phone," he said, "Shall we meet?"
Aarthi didn't answer him for quite some time and wondered what sort of problem she's getting into. She can't sit ideally and think that everything is fine in her life when it's so weird.

"I can't meet you now," she said. If it's not a serious matter, Sharath won't persuade her.
"Yes, I know,"

"What about next week?"
"It's not easy for me to meet you, Sharath," she said, "Can't you say it on the phone?"
"No, I can't," he said, "It's about Vijay. You have to know the truth,"
"What truth?" I'm confused to hear that. I know Vijay isn't honest with me but what are the other things that he has hidden from me. How it's going to affect me. I feel dizzy to even think that.
"Aarthi, I should meet you and tell you everything in person,"
"You're not understanding my situation, Sharath,"

"I know your situation, that's the reason I want to meet you in person," he said.
"I'll think about it,"
"Are you afraid of Vijay?"
"Yes, I am. He hates if I talk to you or to anyone,"

"Is he controlling you, abusing you? Tell me, Aarthi, so that I can help," Sharath asked, which frightened me. I thought no one will know what's happening inside the closed walls of their home, somehow, Sharath is aware of that.
"Sharath, do you realize what kind of question you're asking?"

"It's simple Aarthi, just say yes or no," he asked.

"No," I lied.
Sharath didn't say anything for quite some time.

"You're fooling yourself, Aarthi," Sharath said.

That time her name was called by the nurse. "I've to go, Sharath. I'll call you later," she said.
"Okay, call me, if you want to meet me," he said and ended the call.

Aarthi went inside the doctor's room. After knowing that her baby is fine, Aarthi came out and brought some medicines that her doctor prescribed. She has a lot of money on her bag which she has no use for. It's not enough for her to run off and start her life anew.

Vijay will never let that amount of money in my hands. He's cautious that I only have the right amount of money to buy what I want.
I deleted the call history before calling Vijay. He came there after five minutes just as Aarthi thought.
"Get inside," he opened the door for her.

She got in and placed the report in the back seat.
Vijay started the car instead of attacking her with questions which were kind of surprising to Aarthi. She stared at him for quite some time before speaking up because he expects her to speak to him before he does. Even though she wants silence, Aarthi said, "Doctor said our baby is fine,"

"I know; she says that all the time," Vijay said. When Vijay didn't turn the car to the hotel, she asked, "Are we going home?"

"Yes,"

"Why? You don't have any work there?"
"No," he said.
It's strange that he's giving one word answers. she started to panic thinking he'd found out that I talked to Sharath. Oh my god! What I'm going to do. Her anxiety reflected on her face.
"Why aren't you talking to me?" she asked and he turned to her.

"Let me drive. This isn't the time to chitchat," he said, which made her frown. He used to quarrel a lot while driving and now he's talking about rules. She wanted to say this but she remained silent.
Aarthi remained quiet until they got home. The first thing Vijay did after coming in was taking her phone and checking the call history, message box and giving it back to her.

"Didn't you call anyone?"

"I called you," she answered.
"Don't think you're smart, I'm smarter than you," he said.

She frowns to hear that. "I never said that," she said and walked past him.
He held her hand and stopped her from getting away from him.
"I didn't call anyone except you. Why can't you trust me?"
Aarthi gave him a tired look, she didn't have the strength to argue with him so she hugged him all of a sudden. Her grip was strong and Vijay's face heats up to feel her breath on neck.

He couldn't hold back and hugged her back.

"Why are you silent today? I told you, I didn't call anyone," she whispered, "Can't you trust me?"

"I trust you," Vijay said and started to kiss her face, neck. It took her a year to realize what would convince him. Her kiss and touch can make him listen to her.

It's only for a few matters like this but not for everything. If he's too angry, he won't let her touch him. It's so hard to understand Vijay and so far she only knows this.

She kissed his lips passionately and then looked in his eyes.

"Why are you doing this to me?" He asked and looked down at his zipper.

Aarthi didn't pay attention to that, making love is the last thing on her mind. She slipped from his grip and walked to the kitchen.

"I'm hungry," She said and went to prepare dinner.

Vijay followed her, he's slightly getting suspicious of her which he does all the time.

"I have another check-up this week," she said.

"Another check-up, what for?" He asked.

"They wanted to scan me, the laboratory was busy today so they asked me to come next week," Aarthi lied.

"Sure, you can go," He agreed but his eyes were staring at her skeptically.

"I have to go, it's an important scan that I need to take on the fifth month, you can ask the doctor if you want," Aarthi sounded so confident which convinced Vijay. Compared to the other days, she looks a little brighter today. He thought maybe the doctor's word must be the reason. She was so stressed earlier but now she looks fine. Vijay wants to see this more than anything. But the truth is, doing something little courageous gives her the satisfaction. 

"Okay, I will drop you at the hospital," he said, walking to the stairs.

Aarthi smiled after a long time. She wishes everything should go well.