You and I, plus 2 years of marriage!

Two Strangers… One Lockdown!

{7}

I closed the door of my room and tried to focus on the work at hand. Barely any noise from outside could reach me. I had not paid attention to the time when my phone began to ring. My mother’s number flashed on the screen and I took a deep breath before answering the call.

‘Hi ma.’

‘Hi Sharu, what are you doing?’

‘I am still working, ma.’

‘Still working? It is already 6 PM!’ she said displeased.

‘Ma… I don’t work in any government organization that I can finish work by 5.30 PM every day. I have to work as long as there is work. And usually, work simply never ends…’ I said rolling my eyes.

‘Hmmm… anyway, I hope you are fine staying with Atharva. Do you have any problem?’

‘You are asking me, now? Well, you should have asked me yesterday before letting papa talk me into this.’

I could hear my mom letting out a long-drawn breath. She was the one who was always caught in the crossfire between my father and me.

‘We did not know anyone else in Bengaluru and how could we let you stay alone in that unknown city under these circumstances? Anyway, it was you father’s decision and you know that I cannot stop him.’

‘Of course. How are you doing and how is the situation there?’

‘We have not ventured out today. We already have groceries but maybe tomorrow, we will ask Ram to buy some vegetables from the market.’

‘Okay, please take care and use the mask that I had bought for you in case you have to go out. By the way, is papa near you?’ I asked apprehensively.

‘Yes, just a minute,’ she said and handed the phone to my father.

‘Hi papa.’

‘Hi Sharu, how are you beta?

‘I am doing fine. Please take care of your health and do not go outside unless it is absolutely necessary.’

‘Yeah, okay. You too take care.’

‘Sure, papa. I will call you again tomorrow. Bye, papa.’

‘Bye, Sharu,’ he said and disconnected the call.

My father was very well aware that I was angry with him. And when we are angry, we simply stick to the basic conversation avoiding any topic which would add fuel to our disagreement. Outsiders might not even get a whiff of the storm raging between us. Although, I will grudgingly admit that almost all the time, my father’s decisions for me have been right. Even if I don’t agree with him at that moment. I continued working for some more time but I did not venture out of the room even after my work for the day was over. I had no intention of interacting with either Atharva or his lady friend.

Around 8.30 PM, I heard a soft knock on the door. When I opened the door, he was there but she was not to be found anywhere near him.

‘The dinner is ready. In case you are done with your work, we can eat.’

‘Yeah, sure,’ I said and closed the door behind me.

‘Has your friend left?’ I asked looking around.

‘Eka left an hour ago. She had to go and prepare dinner at home,’ he said laying the plates.

‘How does she travel during the lockdown? It must be really hard…’

‘Well, she does not have to travel to come here. She lives on the 6^th floor in the same building,’ he said shrugging.

I would have been better off without knowing that she lived so close to him. No wonder, she visited him today and stayed for so long. Would she visit him every day? Who lives with her in her house? I was curious to know but the time was just not right to ask him anything. The dinner was dal and rice with some Lays potato chips. It was nothing great on taste but then I was indeed hungry and I ate more than what I intended to eat. We dropped the plates in the wash basin and somehow my guilt was too much to let me go without offering to help him clean. Maybe because my stomach was grateful to him for not letting me starve since last night.

‘Shall I help you?’ I asked hesitantly.

He looked confused for a moment and then shook his head.

‘No, thank you. It is not much of work, I can manage,’ he said and started washing the vessels.

I did not stand there any longer, it was awkward. I filled the water bottle and then kept it on the bed-side table in the room. I went out into the balcony and sat down on the swing. I really liked that swing and made a mental note to buy something similar for my home in Mumbai. I could not see the moon in the sky but there were a few stars twinkling. Cool breeze blew over me and suddenly I caught a whiff of fresh jasmine. I had not noticed in the afternoon, but there was a jasmine plant near the bougainvillea creepers. The flowers had just bloomed and they smelled heavenly. I was really tempted to pluck one and smell it more but had to stop myself when I heard the balcony door open again. Atharva walked on to the balcony in a plain T-shirt and track pants. He had changed the messy t-shirt which was covered with paint in the afternoon. He was standing with his back facing me.

‘The jasmine flowers smell really good,’ I commented trying to strike a conversation.

‘Yes. I love coming here at night because that is when the flowers begin to bloom and you can really smell their freshness.’

We stayed that way for a few more minutes. There was something that I wanted to ask him now.

‘Atharva, can I ask you something?’ I said slowly.

He turned around and fixed his gaze on me.

‘Sure, go ahead.’

‘Why did you agree to let me stay in your house?’

He let out a long-drawn breath and ran his fingers through his hair. He looked younger with ruffled hair. I did contemplate asking him to sit next to me on the swing but then removed the thought from my mind, the very next moment.

‘I already told you that I was doing this for your father. He did not compel me to do it, I could have refused and he would have understood. But I could not bring myself to let you struggle alone during this lockdown, given that you had to vacate the hotel room by next day. Also, for a long time, I was considering meeting you, but I could never muster the courage to contact you,’ he said stuffing his hands into his pockets.

Now, this was shocking to me. Why would he want to meet me? My heart began to race.

‘Why did you want to meet me?’

‘To apologize.’

I sucked in my breath. This was completely unexpected. I had no clue how to respond to his words. I stayed quiet and he paced in the balcony a couple of times. Then he stopped and sat down on the terrace, crossing his legs.

‘I thought a lot about that day. The memory of that unfortunate day still keeps haunting me. Sharini, I am sorry. I am sorry that I hurt you. I am extremely sorry for slapping you,’ he said earnestly.

Regret and guilt were blazing in his eyes. A tear slipped down my eye. I didn’t know if I could ever forgive him for slapping me. It was unforgiveable. No husband ever had the right to physically abuse his wife and that was what made me walk out on him. I was the one to initiate divorce proceedings.

‘Atharva, I can’t-’

‘Sharini, you don’t have to say anything. I am not expecting forgiveness from you. I am ashamed of myself that I ever raised my hand on a woman.’

I swallowed hard hearing his words. He was indeed repenting for his mistake. Yet it would never take back that moment from us. I still shudder when the memory of that incident pops on my mind out of nowhere. I had seen him at his worst and it can never be erased from my mind.

‘But you could have told this when we met at court during the divorce proceedings. Why wait for over two years to apologize?’ I asked wiping away my lone tear.

‘I kept defending my act for a long time and never realized that it was wrong. And then, I met Ekaparnika… she changed everything.’

The way he uttered her name, brought goose bumps on my arms. His voice was dripping with respect and admiration for her.

Who is this Ekaparnika? Why does Atharva hold her in such high regard?

To be continued...