Chapter 33

After sending that message, I threw my phone on the bed. All of it started to sink in, and I realized what I had done.

I let my emotions take over for a moment and it made me weak vulnerable and stupid.

Why the hell did I do that? I asked myself. It was like my hands functioned in automatic mode. Oh God... I am going crazy!

I sat on the bed, supporting my head between my hands as if it would help stop my head from spinning.

I took my phone again, thinking of sending a message like, Sorry, wrong number or wrong text sent to the wrong person.

Arghh...I am the dumbest person in the world.

Frustrated, I threw my phone away and slumped onto my bed, spreading my hands out on both sides.

Closing my eyes, I started thinking about how to fix this, because obviously, I didn't want to meet him. Mostly because I was afraid of my feelings.

But then suddenly my mind skipped to something else. He appeared in front of my eyes... My husband. His eyes welled with tears.

The image was carved inside my soul as if it were the punishment for hurting him. A lone tear escaped from my eyes.

I didn't deserve his love, and everything I did to him clearly showed that I could never make him happy.

My phone blared with a new message which brought me back to this world.

Abhi: Thank you so much, Aadhi. So where do you want to meet?

Aadhi: What the hell do you want?"

Abhi: I want you, Aadhi. I want you back.

Aadhi: Are you crazy?

Abhi: Yes... I am crazy about you. Is it so wrong?

Aadhi: I am married now you idiot.

Abhi: I think you should try that again. I don't believe you.

Aadhi: I don't care what you believe. I am not a liar like someone.

Abhi: Yeah, I deserve that. But I am not going to stand down until I get you back.

Aadhi: What about Ananya?

Abhi: You know what? We can talk later. By the way Can you please send me the address where you want to meet? See ya.

I rolled my eyes. Straight to business. No apologies or anything. I couldn't hide my anger anymore. At first, I felt like killing him, but something tugged inside me after hearing that he wanted me back.

I know I sounded jealous about Ananya, but I couldn't stop wondering. And just like that, he dodged my question and left after he got what he wanted. I felt used.

I sent the location of the coffee shop near my home. We decided to meet in two days. I threw myself on the couch, sighing.

What have I gotten myself into?

I know this all seems wrong from the third-person point of view. I still had those tiny, lingering feelings for him and that is why I had to do this.

My relationship with him ended without me having closure. I needed to resolve this to take the next step in my life.

I didn't know what would happen when I met him. I might drown in my own feelings and give in to him. I was so scared that I didn't trust myself in this circumstance.

My emotions were all over the place, and I couldn't pinpoint exactly what I was feeling or whom I had feelings for. Everything was so confusing.

But I knew I couldn't run away from this any longer. I needed to decide at this point and for that, I needed to meet him. I needed to do this.

This was so cruel. All my life, everything I desired was taken away from me. Happiness in my life was like a short poem, it ended before even I started to enjoy it.

***

It was after midnight. My husband hadn't arrived yet. I hadn't eaten all day, and I couldn't sleep with all the thoughts in my head either.

But I eventually dozed off to sleep without even knowing when.

When I woke up in the morning, he was still not home. But when I looked around, I saw the clothes that he wore yesterday and it looked like someone made coffee in the kitchen.

I realized that he did come home but unfortunately, he decided to act like a ghost. Well, let's see how long this continues.

For the next two days, he kept this as his routine. I didn't even get a glimpse of him. He came home after I fell asleep, and he went out before I woke up.

I was an early riser, and I had no idea how early he was leaving. I badly missed him, but I guessed this was how it would be from now on.

That unfortunate day came and thankfully I didn't receive any more messages from Abhi while waiting for it. Those were the most peaceful two days I had had for quite some time.

I was meeting him that evening, and I was so anxious. My hands were chill and clammy.

Things kept slipping away from my hand and I didn't know if it was because of my carelessness or because my hands kept shaking.

There was also this weird nauseating feeling in my stomach that made me want to throw up.

Two hours before I was to leave to meet him, I sat on the couch and stared at the clock as if I could stop time with my mind. This day was passing too fast for my liking

I heard familiar voices at the entrance, and I stood up to see what was happening. My husband entered first, followed by Harsha and Nija.

I was shocked to see him. He looked tired and there was mild swelling and puffiness under his eyes. I could see that he hadn't shaved for about two days. His appearance was pathetic and woeful.

I didn't realize that I was staring at him until Harsha called me and asked, "Aadhi, are you okay?"

"Y-yeah...I am okay," I said, composing myself and forcing a smile without taking my eyes off my husband.

He went inside the room hurriedly and started packing his clothes. I looked at Harsha, confused. He looked at where I looked before and understood what I was thinking.

"Oh, we are going on a business trip," he said nonchalantly.

"Oh." That is all I said, trying not to sound disappointed.

"Aadhi, I need to ask you something... Come on." He grabbed my hand and guided me outside.

When we were outside, he was about to say something when Bharathi entered. She saw him holding my wrist and her eyebrows knotted together in confusion.

"Hey, Bharathi, I didn't know you were coming," I said, smiling at her.

Before she could say something, Harsha pulled me away and dragged me upstairs.

Somewhere along the way, I told Bharathi to get inside and that I would be back in a minute.

Once he confirmed that we were alone, he asked, "Are you two fighting?"

I understood what he meant but I still pretended that I didn't get it.

"I mean you and Abhi. Are you two on the outs?" he asked again.

"Why?" That was all I could get out of my mouth after hearing him enquire about that.

"You didn't know that we were going on a business trip and, weirdest of all, he never came with us for any business trips this long."

"How long?"

"One week but it may extend."

"Okay...but what did you mean he never went with you?"

I didn't get why Harsha was behaving like this. It was just one week and didn't businessmen go on trips?

"You don't know, do you?" he asked me with a meaningful look.

"Don't know what?"

"He never left his home this long, even before your marriage. He doesn't like staying out and leaving his family alone. Nija and I have taken care of the overseas projects until now.

But today he suddenly wants to go on that business trip with us and he didn't even tell you about it."

Now I understood what was happening. Tears started rolling down. It hurt to know that he didn't want to be near me.

"Hey, Aadhi, what's wrong?" Harsha asked me, grabbing my shoulders. He looks puzzled.

"Yeah... We haven't talked for a while, but it feels like ages," I said in a groggy voice, wiping my tears away.

"Yeah, I figured as much. I don't know what it is but let's figure this out when we come back, okay?" He consoled me by hugging me sideways.

We went down, but I saw Bharathi running away from us like she didn't want to be seen. Weird, but I didn't have time to think about it.

I was about to enter the kitchen when Nija called me. He was coming out of our room. He must have been helping him with his packing. He held out my phone in his hand.

"It's been ringing for a while, and Abhi told me to give it to you."

"Thank you." I smiled gently and looked down to check who it was. There were some messages shown on the notifications which made me choke on my own saliva.

Abhi: I love you, Aadhi.

Abhi: I can't wait to see you in an hour.

Shoot...he must have seen those messages. Why? Why does this keep happening to me?

I went to the doorway to see them off. Harsha and Nija said their goodbyes, but he didn't even look at me.

He hugged his sister, who was standing beside me, and said his goodbyes. Harsha looked at me meaningfully. I don't think Nija noticed anything.

Everyone climbed into the car, and I was looking at him without blinking, expecting that at least he would throw me a sideways glance.

When he was about to start the car, he looked at Bharathi and smiled at her. Before looking away, for a split second his gaze met mine.

It was just for a second, but it told me everything that I wanted. His goodbyes, his hurt, his anger...everything. And then he drove away.

In that very brief moment, I felt joy. I felt that the clouds of doubts were no longer obscuring my serene mind. I knew what I had to tell Abhi in that meeting.