You and I, plus 2 years of marriage!

It is over…?

{2}

‘Really? Did she sign it?’ asked Karthik raising his eyebrows. Bhuvan calmly bit into his sandwich and nodded at him. His friend let out a sigh and ate a spoonful of fried rice.

‘What is so surprising? I know that she too wants divorce as much as me,’ said Bhuvan chewing his food.

‘I am still not convinced with your decision. You should have given some more time for your relationship. If you both sit and talk, maybe—’

‘What is there to talk? I have had enough of being her husband. There is nothing left between us in this marriage. It is only adding more problems in my life. I want some peace,’ he said gruffly.

‘And you are going to find peace by divorcing Uttara. Do you really think that you will be happy after leaving her forever?’

‘Maybe. But certainly, I won’t be so miserable!’

Karthik did not argue more with his friend. He knew that it was too late for a reconciliation between the husband and wife. Although he sincerely wished for Bhuvan’s happiness, he was certain that he would not find it through a divorce.

‘Anyway it’s your life and your decision. I am not the right person to advise you,’ he said with a shrug.

‘Exactly! Karthi, you should not be advising me because you are still a bachelor. Yet I can give you a really valuable advice, don’t ever get married,’ said Bhuvan shaking his head.

‘Well, I am not taking your stupid and unsolicited advice,’ he said smiling.

‘I really envy your bachelorhood. I wish—’

Bhuvan’s sentence was cut short by his ringing mobile phone. He frowned looking at the unknown number being displayed on the screen.

‘I hope it’s not that moron,’ he muttered referring to his manager. Karthik’s smile broadened hearing his words.

‘Hello…yes, Bhuvan here. What? When did it happen?...... Where is she now?..... Alright, thank you.’

His forehead was creased with worry when he placed his phone on the table. Karthik was startled by his expression.

‘What is the matter, Bhuvan? Who was it?’

‘A man named Rajesh. Uttara met with an accident and he has admitted her in the hospital,’ he said flatly.

‘Oh my God! How is she now? Is she hurt severely?’

‘He did not give much details, but urged me to go there immediately.’

‘Then, what are you waiting for? Let’s go now!’ insisted a concerned Karthik. Bhuvan rubbed his forehead picked up his phone.

‘I will inform her parents. They will go and do the needful. I will finish my work and go.’

‘What rubbish! We still don’t know her condition and her parents will surely panic if informed about the accident. You should go to her right away,’ he said firmly.

‘Why should I? We are getting divorced very soon,’ said Bhuvan in frustration.

‘Don’t forget that she is still your wife and therefore your responsibility.’

Bhuvan still did not make a move and hesitated for a few moments.

Why should I go? Maybe it’s not that serious. I should call her parents.

Seeing his friend deliberate, Karthik glared at him with impatience.

‘She needs you now, Bhuvan. She is that woman whom you once loved.’

Even though that love no longer existed in his heart, Karthik’s words made an impact on him. They both rushed to the hospital. Uttara was being treated in the ICU. Bhuvan met Rajesh in the corridor and thanked him for his help.

‘She was riding her scooter, when she suddenly hit a small stone on the uneven road. She lost balance and fell down. Her head hit the median and she became unconscious. I did my best to get her to the hospital as soon as possible,’ narrated Rajesh.

‘Thank you very much, Sir,’ repeated Bhuvan.

‘The doctors are treating her wounds now. They have not yet come out. I would have stayed longer, but I have to get back to work soon,’ he said apologetically.

‘You have already done so much for us. You please carry on.’

Rajesh squeezed Bhuvan’s shoulder reassuring.

‘Don’t worry, she will be fine. The doctors will do their best.’

Bhuvan nodded his head and Rajesh took leave from him. A neurosurgeon walked towards the ICU. Before going inside he briefly spoke to Bhuvan and assured him that he would do his best. Bhuvan informed his parents and hers about the accident. They arrived within the next hour and inquired about her anxiously. They were completely unaware of the discord between the couple. They both wanted to keep their parents away from the decision which was going to leave a lasting impact on them. After some time the doctor walked out of the ICU.

‘She has injured her head and lost some blood. The cut on her head is deep and we need to do a small procedure to remove the damaged tissues. Her other wounds are superficial and will be healed soon. We need your consent for the procedure,’ said the experienced neurosurgeon in a detached tone.

‘She will be fine, right? Is it something really dangerous?’ asked Naresh, her concerned father.

‘A head injury is always a matter of concern. We hope that she will be completely normal after this procedure. But there are also chances that there might be some troubling consequences. She might lose her memory or in some rare cases even speech. Yet our first priority is to save her life.’

Leela, Uttara’s mother shed some silent tears. Kusuma tried to console her even when she her own voice was shaky after hearing about the plight of her daughter-in-law. Bhuvan stood there with an expressionless face listening to the doctor. He was neither anxious nor unperturbed. The nurse brought a paper which needed a signature.

‘Take the signature from her husband,’ said the doctor and gestured at Bhuvan. The nurse promptly handed it to him.

Do I have the right to sign this? He could have taken the signature from her father. Would he have asked me to do it if he knew that we were going to be divorced shortly?

Quietly he signed the paper and gave it to her. The doctor once again went back to treating his patient. The elders sat down waiting anxiously for the recovery of their girl. But Bhuvan stood there unable choose an emotion for the situation. The woman with whom he wanted to snap all ties was lying unconscious in the hospital and probably even battling for her life. What should he do?

Our marriage is heading for a divorce. I no longer want her in my life. We both want to break our relationship. I don’t love her anymore. Should I worry about her? I only want her out of my life but not in this way. 

Strangely, a sense of guilt cropped up in his mind. 

                                            To be continued...