Chapter 10

Michael

We both sat silently as the car ran on the busy streets of San Francisco. The way to the hospital seemed like it never ended. Our destination wasn't far yet I felt like I was in the car for hours suffocating from inside. I wasn't able to hold the ghost tears that slipped out of my eyes and down the cheeks. I was silently praying for Pearl's well being. Mom's words were ringing in my ear like an alarm. I just can't afford to lose her. I love her so much if anything happened to her then I will never be able to forgive myself. Within a few minutes We reached the hospital and I ran to the ward assigned to her.

My heart skipped a beat when I saw Mom, who was crying uncontrollably and Jennifer's mother was trying to console her, whereas dad was just sitting on the bench without any emotion. His eyes were moist and I can guarantee that there is going to be a storm in his heart.

"Mom how is Pearl?" I whispered.

Mom slowly raised her puffy eyes. The moment she saw, she ran towards me and started crying by keeping her head on my chest.

"Mom please don't cry like this. Nothing will happen to Pearl. We both know that she is a fighter. She will definitely conquer the situation." I patted her head.

"How can she do this Michael? She didn't even for once think about us before taking this step. Where did I go wrong in raising her?" Mom looked at me.

"Mom please calm down! if you will cry like this then who will look after Pearl. She needs you the most and I know nothing will happen to her." Jennifer places her arm around mom's shoulder.

"Will you please just shut up Jennifer!" Mom jerked her hand away.

Mom please not her at least!

" It's only because of your beloved brother that my daughter has landed here. She loved him so much and he was having an extra marital affair behind her back. When my poor baby came to know about this she was not able to take this heartbreak and she tried to attempt a suicide." Mom shouted at her.

Shock overtook me. I was feeling numerous emotions. I could not inhale. I was taken off guard, not comprehending what I have heard.

" Mom I know whatever happened with Pearl was wrong and you don't worry. I will talk with Joseph and try to clear the things between them. " Jennifer said.

" Wow! Do you still think that there is something left to mend?" Mom asked her sarcastically

"Yes mom! Their relationship. We can't let them ruin it like this." Jennifer replied to her in a soft tone.

"Really Jennifer? You tell me one thing. what will you do if one day you come to know that Michael is cheating you behind your back. How will you mend your broken relationship? You know what Jenny, the only one who knows the pain is the one who bleeds. You and your family can only console me. Just think once what will you do if something like this happens to you." Mom looked at her disgustingly whereas Jennifer looked down.

My breath got stuck in my throat, not able to process her words.

" Mrs. Patterson I know whatever Joseph did is wrong and we all have complete sympathy with Pearl. She is just like a daughter to me. But please don't drag Jennifer in this." Her mother jumped in the heated conversation.

"Wow! Look who is-"

"Mom please don't start it here. I know you are angry with Joseph, me and everyone but please Pearl needs us right now and I think nothing more than that matters right now." Jennifer pleaded.

"Jennifer is right. We all should pray for Pearl's safety. Nothing is more important than that." Thankfully dad supported her, and that was enough to calm down mom.

I just looked at dad gratefully while he nodded at me. We then shifted our attention towards the doctor, who exited from her ward.

"The patient is out of danger now. But she still feels mentally disturbed. You people need to be very careful around her. If she can do it once, then she can do it again also and it's not every time your luck will favor you." He said.

My heart fell to my feet as his words hit me. I closed my eyes, holding back the tears that threatened to fall. Opening my eyes and I looked at Jennifer.

" I need to make an urgent call. You stay here with mom." I said hoping that my voice wouldn't crack and immediately left the hospital premises.

I walked towards the empty bench, placed outside. I slowly descended to the bench, placing a hand on my mouth to muffle the sounds of my cries. The second I placed my back against the bench, I let out a few sobs, letting out all the emotions I held inside the hospital.

Pearl has always been an apple to everyone's eyes and today when I heard about her, it felt like someone had stabbed me in the chest. Is it my karma returning to me through my sister? and when mom confronted Jenny about her reaction while discovering some of my affairs, I felt the ground slipping beneath me.

Mom was right! There is no difference between me and Joseph.

If someone like Pearl, who is so strong and bold, can take a disastrous step like this, then about Jenny? She is so emotional, so naive. What if she too did something like this?

No!

I will never be able to forgive myself if something happened to her.

Jennifer

It's been awhile since Mike left to make that so called urgent call.

Who are you fooling Mike?

I know that was just an excuse to escape from here, so that you can gather yourself to be strong for your sister and family.

I love my man for a reason.

But then it's been quite long since he left. I think I should look for him. Maybe he needs me with him.

I walked outside the premises of the hospital as I saw him leaving and looked around, only to find him seated nearby on a bench. I slowly walked towards and my heart broke seeing him so vulnerable. I gently placed my hand on his shoulder

He looked up at me and immediately wiped off his tears and cleared his throat.

Typical men!

"What are you doing here Jennifer ? You should be there inside with everyone." He said, fixing his eyes to the ground.

I shook my head and sat beside him and lifted his face towards me.

"You can hide your tears from others but not from me. I know you Mike. You don't need to put an act in front of me. I know you love her a lot and her condition has shooked you from within. Sometimes it's okay to let go of your emotions, otherwise you will suffocate yourself." I caress his face.

" Jennifer what would I have done if something had happened to her?I love her very much Jennifer. Why did she do something like this? Her hurt was justified, but instead of doing this, she should have come to me. I would have talked to Joseph and tried to mend her broken marriage but I think I failed her as a brother." Saying this he broke down into tears.

I couldn't help but get teary eyed seeing him like this. I wrapped my arms around and started stroking his hair.

"You can't be weak Mike. You can't lose hope. You have to take a stand for your sister. You can't let someone snatch away her happiness. You can't let Joseph go so easily. We need to teach him a lesson, and trust me if you failed to do so, then you will be a disappointment as a brother." I looked directly in his eyes.

He looked at me shockingly and parted from my arms.

" He is your brother Jenny and you want me to teach him a lesson. I know you love your brother a lot, so why do you want to make him suffer?" He questioned.

I shook my head at his silly question and grabbed his palm and squeezed it lightly.

"Yes I love him a lot but not more than belief in the sacred bonds. Mike all these relationships are made in heaven, and by cheating your spouse or breaking her heart, is a direct insult to that almighty." I said.

"You are doing this for me right? Because of me you are ready to go against your own brother." He said as another tears slipped out of his eyes, which I quickly wiped off.

"I wish I could say so. But Mike I am doing this for myself. Pearl is his wife and your sister, but before that she is a woman, and if being a woman, I can't support another woman, then it's a shame on me. I can't let him insult her love and this marriage. My self respect doesn't allow me that. So yes I will stand by your side, but not as your wife, but a woman, standing for another woman." I said determinedly.