After returning to her in-laws' house, Merry had started living the same life again.
Work from morning to evening, tolerating everything without any complaint, and listening to new taunts every day.
But this time her silence was not like before.
This time a strange understanding had developed inside her... as if she was watching everything, understanding everything, but the time to speak had not come yet.
The very next morning, Merry's health suddenly deteriorated.
Her head felt heavy, her body was aching, and she had a high fever.
She was just sitting slowly taking support of the wall when a woman's eyes fell on her.
"Arey, what happened to her?"
The other one immediately said, "Seems like she is acting... this is her new way to escape work."
Merry remained silent.
Today she didn't even have the strength to speak.
But after just a few moments, suddenly everyone's behavior started changing.
"Arey no, she should be taken to the doctor," one said.
"Yes yes, hurry up... what if something serious happens?" the other supported.
Merry could not understand —
*The people who were taunting her till yesterday, why so much concern today?*
But she didn't say anything.
She silently went to the doctor with them.
The atmosphere of the clinic was calm.
Merry was taken inside.
But before that, her in-laws had already secretly talked to the doctor.
"Madam, please check properly... somewhere her stomach... I mean..."
He couldn't complete his sentence, but the doctor understood.
"Don't worry, I will check," the doctor said with a slight smile.
Merry was made to sit on the bed.
Her checkup started.
Some tests were done... some basic questions were asked.
And then after some time the doctor gave a direct answer —
From the next day the same routine started again.
Waking up in the morning...
Doing all the housework...
And listening to taunts in between.
"She is difficult to improve..."
"Don't know which house she came from..."
New words, new arrows every day.
Merry heard everything...
But didn't answer.
As if now she was collecting something inside her —
*An answer, which one day everyone will get.*
One evening, the atmosphere of the house was a little different.
Merry's husband came home late...
And this time he was drunk.
His walk was unsteady, eyes were red.
As soon as Merry saw him, her heart filled up.
"What state have you made of yourself?"
She asked angrily.
Husband laughed,
"What do you care? You do your work..."
But today Merry did not stay quiet.
"You come drunk every day, and tell me to stay quiet?"
"I am your wife, not a servant!"
Hearing this, her husband got angry.
"You have started talking too much!"
And without thinking...
*He raised his hand on Merry.*
One hard slap.
Merry was shaken for a moment.
Everything spun before her eyes.
The biggest pain was not of that slap...
But of the fact that —
*Everyone from the house was standing there... and laughing.*
No one stepped forward.
No one stopped him.
Some people were even smiling among themselves...
As if they were enjoying it.
Tears came to Merry's eyes.
But this time they were not of weakness.
That night Merry decided something.
*"Not anymore..."*
She wiped her tears, and silently went to sleep.
But now there was no fear in her eyes...
*Only a fire.*
A fire, which was going to burn and change everything.