Chapter 31

Back to the present...

I had been looking at the phone screen for hours. I know who sent that message, but part of me couldn't believe that it was him. There was also a slight chance that someone was playing with me.

Maybe Nikitha... No, she wouldn't play with me like this. Maybe Ananya... Yeah, she might be the one, but how did she get my number?

I decided to find out who it was and sent back a message.

Who is this? I waited for a reply.

'Your heart knows me.' A reply came and I knew for sure it was him. It also sounded a little cheesy.

I decided not to continue this nonsense anymore and switched off my phone.

I heard my husband entering the house. I was looking at the doorway expecting him to enter the room, but I was disappointed.

I went out to see what he was doing. I found him lying down on the couch, closing his eyes.

I knew he was doing this to give me some time alone. But it hurt. The thought that he was staying away and avoiding me hurt.

I decided not to do anything about it and went to bed. I needed this time alone to think and sort out my thoughts.

I couldn't help but think that this was all my fault. I thought about the things that happened between us. I knew he liked me, and I didn't do anything about it. In fact, I kind of led him on.

It was my fault that the relationship came to this. I could have avoided this if only I had denied the attraction toward him.

I dozed off, thinking I had no idea where my life would go from here.

In the morning, like every day, I refreshed myself and went to the kitchen to make coffee for him. By the time I brought his coffee, he was getting ready for work.

I walked toward our room with the coffee and stopped at the doorway. Suddenly, a thought came to mind.

I know that I was at fault for this disaster in our life since I didn't keep him at a distance.

Everything happened because I started letting him get closer to me. So maybe I will try to correct my mistakes from now on.

It hurt to imagine him staying away from me. So maybe if I stayed away from him instead, it might hurt less.

I sipped the coffee myself and made my way to the couch. I was watching TV when he came out.

"Aadhi, I am hungry. Just bring me the coffee if you haven't finished cooking. I am running very late," he said in a hurry, searching for something.

I sat there like I didn't hear him and continued sipping my coffee. I kept my posture cool, but my stomach was churning in anxiety.

I saw him from the corner of my eye. He stopped his search and looked at me, confused. I expected him to yell or ask me again, but he went to the kitchen in silence.

I was so curious about his behaviour. I went to the kitchen to see what he was doing, acting as if I went there just to wash my coffee cup.

I went in casually and observed him discreetly while washing my cup.

He was trying to make coffee. I thought he added too much coffee powder and it was going to taste bitter. I wanted to warn him but stayed silent.

After everything, he tried to filter the coffee, but he forgot to use the cloth to lift the vessel.

He dropped the pot down and spilt the coffee everywhere on the floor. I guess he even burned his leg as well as his fingers.

I looked at him with shock and concern. He was blowing his fingers in pain.

I was about to take his hands in mine, but I stopped and pulled my hand back before he saw me.

It was hard for me to drag my legs out of there, acting like I didn't care. I know how he must have looked at me when I left.

My eyes welled up in tears to think of how I was abandoning him. I forced myself to not turn around and run back to help him.

I know I was acting like a bitch but this was the only way. The best way. If I kept doing things like this, he would hate me and it would be easier for him to let me go in the future.

I saw him rushing out after changing his clothes. It pained me to think that he left with an empty stomach. He also didn't do anything about the burns on his fingers and legs.

He must have felt terrible without having someone to care for him. All these years his mother never let him work on an empty stomach.

She always insisted on having breakfast, saying that it was the most important meal of the day.

But I sent him out without giving him food. I wished his mother was around to take care of him.

She would have cursed me if she saw the burns on his hands and legs. She was so fond of him that it brought her more pain to see him in pain than herself.

If it hurt me this much, then think about how a mother feels for her son.

I wanted to do something. I felt really bad about all the things I did that day. I called Harsha. Maybe he could help.

"Hey, Aadhi." He sounded cheerful.

"Hey, Harsha, do you have a minute?" I hesitated. I was not sure about this.

"Yep, What's up?"

"Um... Can you buy something for him to eat?"

"You mean your husband?" He sounded surprised.

"Yeah, him and oh, also, I think he burned his fingers and legs, so get him some ointment."

"He burned his limbs? How?" he asked, concerned.

"He spilled his coffee all over him," I lied.

"Oh, okay. I thought he literally held his hands in a fire."

"No, idiot, who does that?" I said, chuckling.

"Aadhi, I got to go now...but I will do what I can. He usually doesn't like to eat outside in the morning."

"Okay, Harsha. Thank you."

I ended the call in relief since Harsha didn't ask more questions.

I was also disappointed. He was going to stay hungry all morning, and that was all my fault. I hit myself in my head for being such a rude, heartless, thoughtless moron.

I called Harsha again in the afternoon to check if he had his lunch at least. I was restless and couldn't stay at peace without knowing that he had something to eat.

He didn't eat his lunch since he was too busy in meetings. That was a casual thing for them, but I was worried to death since he hadn't eaten since the morning and I was the reason.

Weirdly I didn't have an appetite either and didn't eat all day. My stomach was empty, but my chest felt heavy like a big stone was filling it.

I couldn't go on like this. This hurt me more than him.