Knowing their story

Avishek's POV

Seema surprised me today. She was always so calm and composed, like nothing can shake her off, but looking at her gripping my arm for dear life during the movie made me realize she had her own fears, own emotions that she keeps locked in. I peek at her from the corner of my eye to see her glancing at my scratches. I smile at the memory.

We reached the house and Vikram went back after dropping Ru. I don't know why she keeps insisting on driving with him. It's inconvenient and extra work for Vikram but he does it anyway. All of us disappeared into our room after dinner.

I was in the bed scrolling through my phone when Seema came to the room.

"Here" she thrust an ointment towards me.

"Really, it's fine. I don't need that." I said putting my phone aside.

"Still, just put it on" she insisted.

I sighed, but took the ointment, applied it and showed it to her, "There, all done."

She inspected it, nodded her head and went to her side of the bed.

I shook my head at her stubbornness and turned off the light. After few moments, I sensed her moving. She was a restless sleeper, always moving in her sleep. Finally, after what felt like hours, she stopped moving, indicating she had fallen asleep. Thank God.

I opened my eyes to see morning light starting to creep in into the room. I was never an early riser, but my body woke up earlier than before these days. Must be the old age. I stretched my arms and turned towards the side, only to bump into something.

I went absolutely still. I look down at Seema who seemed to be clutching the hem of my shirt.

What the –

This had never happened before. We both avoided each other so much, its like our body, even unconscious, got the memo. My eyes roamed around her. She was crouching in a fetal position, like she was trying to hide, her hand fisting my shirt.

Was she scared? Oh, was she scared because of the movie yesterday?

For the first time in my life, I took time to take her in. Her hair, as usual, as in low ponytail, few strands escaping to frame her face, her cheeks, mushed against the pillow, her lips jutted, almost like pouting. As my eyes roamed around her face, something stirred in my chest. Almost like, a longing. Before the thought freaked me out, she started to stir. I closed my eyes and loosened my body to make it seem like I was still asleep. I didn't want to face the awkwardness.

Few moments later, I heard her whispering, "shit, shit, shit".

I almost smiled. I'd never heard her curse.

I opened my eyes when I heard the door close. I looked at it for a long time, trying to rub away the feeling I felt earlier.

I finally got up, freshened up and went downstairs for breakfast. Both Ru and Seema were there, talking. I got tea without asking for it, but it seemed like Seema was ignoring me. All breakfast, I tried to catch her eye, but she once didn't look at me.

Damn it, I was acting like a teenage boy whose crush ignored him. I shrugged off the feeling and went to get ready for office.

Ruchika's POV

Never in my wildest dream, had I imagined acting as a matchmaker between Avishek and his wife. When I came in this house, I was grateful to Seema. She let a stranger stay at her house without even questioning me once. It was when Avishek told me that Seema knew about his past, I started having doubts. No woman would bear her husband being close to his past. I started observing those two. They were so formal with each other. Like they were housemates who lived together. When I met Vikram at Avishek's office, I learned that he had been with Avishek since college.

I decided to ask him about them. On the way back home on our movie night, I purposely, went with Vikram. I was contemplating on how to ask him when he spoke.

"Now, tell me what you want to say."

I looked at him, surprised.

"How do you know I want to say something?" I asked him.

"It might have been years since we've been out of touch, but if you are anything like the old Ru, I know you want to say something. Your reasoning of wanting to talk more to me was suspicious." He said smirking.

"Okay, fine, yes, I wanted to ask you something." I said.

He waved his hand to say go ahead.

"What's their story?" I cut to the chase.

"Whose?" he asked confused.

"Avishek and Seema's." I said.

He looked at me and stayed quiet.

"Why do you ask?" he said finally.

"What?" I ask dumbfounded.

"Why do you want to know their story? It's simple, like everyone else's. They got married, had kids, the usual." He said looking ahead.

"Don't lie to me. I know something is wrong." I said, crossing my arms.

"I don't know why you think something is wrong between them, everything is fine" he said, but the way he clutched the steering wheel didn't go unnoticed.

I narrowed my eyes at him. Why was he not answering me? It almost felt like he was protecting them, from me.

"Yah!" I yell at him. "Do you think I am asking this to come between them?" I ask gritting my teeth.

He glanced at me and pulled over the car.

He let out a long sigh.

"Well?" I ask still furious he would even think that.

"I know why you are here. Avishek already told me. But don't blame me for trying to protect my friend when his ex comes back, asking about his story." He shrugged off like he didn't insult me just now.

"I can't believe you think that low of me." I spit out, trying to shrug off the hurt.

"I'm sorry. You are right. I should not think of you like that. But they already have a complicated life, I just got a little protective." He apologized, looking at me.

"You know about them, don't you? Tell me, please." I plead, "he was my best friend too, you know, I would never do anything to ruin him."

He scoffed and shook his head at me. "I'm sorry to say, but you already did."

I jerked back at his words.

"What do you mean?"

"It's not your fault. I shouldn't have worded it like that" he apologized once again and stayed quiet for a long time. "You already know, why they had to get married, don't you?"

I nodded my head.

"They got married, pressured by the family, but they never became a husband and wife. They had kids, again pressured by the family, but still, never became a husband and wife. Avishek could never move on from you and I don't know why Seema agreed to this. I know for a fact that Avishek had asked her to refuse the proposal as he could never love her, but she still agreed. I guess, she had her own reasons." He got quiet, which I was thankful for, I needed to process what I'd just heard.

"Years passed, life went on, but they still were strangers. They act like everything is fine in front of the family. I know this, only because, he doesn't act in front of me and I know about his past." He continued, "I don't think he is still in love with you. That's not possible, it's been years since you two separated. But I guess, they got so used to the way they were living, he never had any urge to move on, to start a new chapter. As an outsider who knew the story, I think they both got comfortable with giving each other space and not expecting anything from the other. They focused on their family so much, that they didn't want to focus on their relationship."

I sat there, dumbfounded. I didn't know what to say. It's not like I didn't miss him when we got separated, but after he got married, I focused myself on work to forget about him, and the after my own wedding, I fell for my husband.

I felt guilty that I moved on so easily while he was living like a stranger with his own wife. I thought of Seema, how she accepted me in her house so easily. She was never once rude to me, or never gave me a slightest hint to get out from her house. What was her reason of agreeing to his loveless marriage?

"Ru" I head Vikram speaking.

"I don't know what to say." I say, dazed.

He sighed, and asked "why did you ask me about them anyway?"

"I felt something was off between them. You know, Seema never once asked me about Avishek or my husband, she just let me be, let me heal in her house. And Avishek, we talked about everything, but he never once talked about Seema. And whenever I asked about her, he just changed the subject. I started having doubts. When I heard you were with him all along, I wanted to ask you" I said, suddenly tired.

"Well, I don't think anything can happen now. If something were to happen between them, it would have already happened. They've lived together all their life taking care of the family, I don't think they will do anything to change their relationship now." He said.

"No. This happened because of me. I will fix this." I determined, "I will mend their relationship."

He looked at me surprised, "what will you do?"

"I don't know yet, but I won't go back until I change their relationship. You'll help me, won't you?" I asked because I did need his help.

"Of course. He is my best friend; I want him to be happy." He said.

He started the car again, while I promised to myself. I will help them find the happiness they had been missing, I will help them face the love, they had been running away from.

Hi Guys. God, this week went on forever.

Anyway, I kind of like Ruchika. Don't you?

That was all for today. Please leave a comment and vote if you liked the story.