Ekansh:
It's been two weeks since we got married. And not even for once, we had shared the bed. This is the first time and instead of feeling strange, I feel good to wake up beside her.
It was 6 a.m., and she was still asleep. Though I hadn't spoken with her for the past few days, I did observe that she is a morning person.
I was about to wake her but the call on my mobile stopped me. It was from Anthra.
I walked back to my room and answered her call.
"Ekansh Razdan. Come to the apartment and take everything you gifted me." She bragged in anger.
"What happened now?" I asked her and pinched the bridge of my nose.
"You lied to me," I heard her sniffle. "Why, Ekansh, why did you lie that you had an emergency? Where were you last night? Stop making me a fool of me. I am tired now. You know me; I can't leave without you. But still... You keep hurting me."
The way she felt helpless, hurt me.
"I..."I tried to give a reason, but nothing came out. I am confused by my life, and I have nothing to explain to her.
"I was moving on but you gave me hope that everything will get back together. You played with me, with my life and feelings. I feel like hating myself. I feel like I am worthless shit..."
"Anthra stop it. There's nothing like that. Ruhi had an accident and I had to be with her."
She chuckled with hurt, "My mom warned me that whatever I am to you, your priority will be your wife."
"She needed me, Anthra... I had to be with her!"
There was a moment of silence from her. "Even I need you, Ekansh. Don't you see, I feel like killing myself," she announced and I recalled the day of three years ago. The day she confessed her love, I rejected her as I had no feelings for her. And in depression, she cut her wrist. That incident traumatized me and in that fear, I started dating her.
"You will not do anything like that. Did you get me?" I warned her.
"Then give me an assurance that you love me not her..." she yelled. "File divorce!"
I recalled Ruhi's words. Even she wants it. Then why should I delay and make things difficult between us?
"Ok," I whispered.
"After the hospital, we will go to a divorce lawyer."
"Ok. Anthra!"
"I am sorry, I doubted you.'
"Anybody would have done that if they were in your place." I reasoned with her.
After I hung up the call, I sat still on my bed. I lay down and closed my eyes. Memories of the moments I shared with Ruhi flooded my mind. Her words, actions, and gestures were starting to enchant and enthral me.
I went to take a shower and once again remembered the moments from last night. Every moment was wonderful, but in the end, it will all come to an end soon. After our divorce, everything will be over. However, she will always hold a special place in my heart. Ruhi, you are the sweetest soul I have ever met. Maybe I am not that good for a person that you will not be with me for the rest of my life.
While putting my shirt on, I reflected on the only thing I captured of her body. She looked amazing in a white lace bra. Her breasts emerged so soft, like rasgullas.
After I was done I knocked on her door. When no response came from the other side I pushed open the door and found it to be empty.
When I reached the dining table, I saw her sipping chai in silence and going through the newspaper. Ok. She still reads newspapers like our grandpa's. Of course, she had grown up under her Dadu's shadows. It's quite common to expect a few of his habits in her.
I cleared my throat. She lifted her gaze and made my day with a refreshing smile. She did look like a freshly ripped fruit. So fresh...
Wait! This Rayan boy. I have to deal with him and try to keep him away from Ruhi.
"Did Gurpreet help you to get dressed?"
"Yes!" She replied softly. Then she called her, "Gurpreet get breakfast for us."
After breakfast, I drove us to the hospital. I dropped her behind the library so that nobody would doubt us. I decided to live my days with her with fun and happiness.
Ruhi:
"How is your hand, now?" Saniya asked, opening my lunch box and giving it to me. But Avinash had his eyes on it.
"Your cook is amazing," he complimented.
"You can have some?" I offered. He took it with a pleasing look on his face and emptied half of Kadi Chawal on his plate. "Anyone wants some?" I asked and everyone nodded.
Except for Rayan everyone had some, cause he was not on the table. My eyes now and then wandered to the door, expecting Ekansh and her to step inside.
"I am here, baby!" Rayan announced and sat on the empty chair beside me. He smiled and then complimented, "You look like a freshly baked muffin."
"Hash! Rayan give off, she will not come into your flirts." Saniya scolded him and offered her pizza to me.
Manoj offered me his Allu Paratha. I liked this sharing and eating things. "Where were you by the way?" He asked Rayan.
"I am so exhausted, I dunno what happened to Dr Ekansh, he gave me tasks back to back in OPD today."
"Dr. Ekansh. He never showed interest in juniors till now then why now?" Avinash pried.
"I have no idea." He shrugged his shoulders and gazed back at me. "I feel powerless but if I eat Ruhi, maybe I will get some energy in me." I choked on my food and glared at him.
"Rayan, I love my husband." I hadn't expected that to come from my mouth. "I mean, I want to be loyal to him."
"And his loyalty doesn't matter to you?" He questioned me back taking me off guard.
"I realised that I was giving up so easily, so, I decided not to leave him. But make that third wheel to back off," I transmitted my heart words to them.
Avinash patted my shoulder. "I am so proud of you girl!"
"Even I," Manoj and Saniya added.
"What if, he rejects you, Ruhi? It will crush you." Rayan put his point of view. I didn't think about it. "I only meant to say don't give your heart completely to him. Love makes people helpless... I don't want you to feel weak." I stared at him. Saniya cleared her throat.
"Tu kabse philosophy bol Raha hai," she teased him.
From when did you start saying philosophy?
Immediately he leaned forward, his face an inch away from hers, "Kabhi Mohobath ki rah mei guzar ke dekho, Saniya Sahibe. Sab samaj mei ajayega apko," he muttered against her face, taking us off-guard,
We all now stared in shock at Rayan. Sanya was dumbstruck and was glued to her position. He chuckled, then turning towards me he articulated, "But if he breaks your heart, you know my number, right? Just give me a call. I will be available at your service, mam!"
"You will not give up?" I asked.
"Akhri dum thak koshish karthe rahinge,"
"I will keep trying until the last breath." For some reason, I felt his words were for Sanya rather than for me. Yet, I giggled at his words. My eyes fell on the entrance and I saw Ekansh staring at me... I mean glaring at me.
I received his call, so I excused myself from them and moved out of the cafe.
As I answered his call, he bragged at me, "Seems like you are enjoying his flirting so much, Ruhi?"
I giggled and with a teasing tone, I mocked him, "Dr. Ekansh Razdan, are you jealous?"
"Huh! Why would I be?" There was a gross disdain on his face.
"Rayan said to me that you have kept him too busy to come. Should I assume this as your grudge?'
"We had a lot of OPD today and I needed help."
I giggled and changed the topic, "Did you have lunch?"
"No. What was he flirting with you?"
"Is it any of your business?" I teased him and stared at him, he stood against a tree in the garden and I stood far away opposite to him. And we were staring at each other. It appeared like a little affair between Ruhi and Ekansh.
"Dadaji ku bataye ki apka kisi ke sath chakar chal Raha hai?"
Should I say to Sajjan Grandpa that you are having an affair with someone? He probed, raising a right brow at me.
"Maa ko bataye kya, ki ap apni biwi ku chodh kar kisi aur se Ishq Lada rahe ho. Waise kab milaoge app hume unse?"
"Should I say to Maa that you are in love with another woman? Tell me when are you going to introduce me to her?"
He paused for a moment and I stared at him. He was gawking at me from there, His face was tensed as if the cat got his tongue. "Why do you want to meet her?" I can feel fright in his voice.
"To say that we kissed passionately once." I smiled, trying to ease the situation and it just worsened and his next words tied my tongue.
"She will die, and I don't want her to know it." The way he said, it proves that he loves her so much.
I recalled Rayan's words: What if, he rejects you, Ruhi? It will crush you.
I brightened my face with a broad smile. "Don't worry, I was just pulling your leg." I said and soon changed the topic, "When will we have the class today?"
"After 5."
"Ok. I should go back, bye." I cut the call and we just stared at each other for a few minutes. Hearing his concern towards her is debilitating my decision to never let him go. I sighed and turned my back towards him.
When I returned to the cafeteria, my new friends gave me a weird look. I took my bag from the table and inquired, "What's wrong with you all?" My eyes roamed at each person sitting around the table.
Saniya sighed. Her expression was painful and her words flabbergasted me. "You didn't have to hide it?"
"What?" I asked, quite confused.
"While I was keeping your box in your bag, we saw this..." she showed me my ID card, in which my full name was Ruhi Ekansh Razdan.
This time, I released a sigh and sat down. She grabbed my hand and squeezed it for once. "That's why you broke down last afternoon. You couldn't handle them having lunch together." I glanced at her and nodded my head.
"They are together for 3 years, it seems." Avinash addressed, his voice was full of concern.
"I know. He already said to me." I announced to them.
"Ruhi, don't waste your time with him," as expected Rayan said what I didn't want to hear.
"I understand that you are concerned about me. But we changed. Our feelings changed for each other and I want to give us a try instead of letting him go easily." I expressed.
Manoj sighed, "You are so strong. If I were you, I wouldn't have handled it this maturely."
"Guys keep this within yourselves."
"We will. Don't worry." They assured me but Rayan laughed, "Does he know that I flirt with you," I nodded my head, and he chuckled once again, "That's why he tortured me, today. Seems like he doesn't like me in your surroundings."
I agreed, responding, "he doesn't."
"Then let's make him jealous. Let's see if he has feelings for you or not," He said and I thought it to be an excellent plan.
Ekansh:
I tried to finish my work soon so that I would be available for Ruhi to take the class. But before the clock struck 5, Anthra stepped inside.
"Shall we leave?" She asked placing her handbag on the desk.
"Where?" I asked, unsure.
"To divorce lawyer, Ekansh. I hardly got an appointment and we can't miss it." My heart dropped. The whole day I was smiling like a loon recalling the evening we spent together. The way Ruhi scolded me to stop torturing her, was so funny.
I stared at her. "Anthra, I... Think..."
She chuckled, "You changed your mind, didn't you?" She grabbed my hand. "Is my love less than hers?" I stayed silent. "I rejected all the suitors my mama selected for me, only for you, Ekansh. If you want to reject me, for her then I will leave you. Maybe even this world." She whispered the last line and my heart sank.
"Don't say that!' I warned her. "tell me what you want?"
Author:
Ekansh was quiet when the lawyer asked the name of his wife. He couldn't believe that he had come to file a divorce. But Ruhi's words replayed in his head again and again. She doesn't want him. But what about his opinion?
He doesn't want to hurt Anthra but it doesn't mean he wants to divorce Ruhi. If he even attempts to explain things to Anthra she will kill herself.
"Do you want me to post the papers to your address?" The lawyer asked and once again Anthra replied on his behalf. "Yes, on Ruhi Razdan's name."
"Papers will be ready in a week." He announced and only Anthra seemed to be happy.
They left the office after that. Ekansh felt lonely to see his wedding ending, eventually. This is not in words but in action.
While they approached their car, Anthra received a call from her mother. She excused herself, walked away from him and answered the call.
"How did it go, did he file the divorce?" Her mother asked.
Anthra smirked, "Yes Mom. That emotional freak Ekansh buys my lie of committing suicide so easily."
She laughed. "Continue the same. We only want a divorce. Once it is over. Marry him," she said, advising her.
"Of course. Mom. Even if his family disagree with us. We can demand money after the divorce."
Her mother laughed. "I got the necklace. It's excellent. How much is it?"
"6 lakhs, mom. And today, I am gonna ask him for the handbag you wanted to buy."
She once glanced at Ekansh who still seemed to be occupied in his thoughts. She could sniff the uncertainty in Ekansh's attitude. For three years, she tried her best to keep this real. She pretended to be head over heels for him. The only thing she wasn't aware of was this wedding, which Ekansh and Ruhi's family had fixed. When she thought everything would come to an end, she started to blackmail him.  "
"Love you, Anthra. But keep acting like a lovesick, girl. And ask that lawyer to hasten his work."
"Yes, mom." After she cut the call she walked back to Ekansh.
But Ekansh's mind was in a daze. When he lifted his gaze, expecting it to be Ruhi, he found Anthra in front of him.