Love Short Story – Why Now?
Photo credit: rollingroscoe from morguefile.com
“For heaven’s sake Meera, I am a 38 year old man. I don’t need to give an explanation for bl*ody everything!” shouted Anant, as he wore his tie.
All I could do was to stare at his reflection in the mirror. He left in haste, picking up his apple from the fruit bowl. I got back to my routine house-wife chores. This happened every alternate day. They say that spouses start resembling each other after few years of marriage. But no one mentions that the thoughts start differing at a faster speed. I arranged the desk, our once upon a time common work desk, when an envelope slipped out of nowhere. ‘P&C’ it stated, in bold.
Dear Alex,
I love you, always have , and always will. I still remember the first day I met you.
An image forms in my mind. A tall, grey eyed man in his mid-thirties. That was 5 years back. He greeted me with a wide grin and a firm handshake. There was something about this man. His eyes were a mystery to me. A mystery I wanted to unravel. He had come with Prerna, Anant’s work buddy. I continued reading.
You entered my life like the fragrance of fresh lilies. Your handshake, made a chill of excitement run down my spine. For the moment I had forgotten the fact that I was married to someone. From the very moment I exchanged my first words with you, I knew you were the one I had been waiting for. I never felt that way throughout my 7 years of marriage. And then I was overjoyed to know the fact that you were joining our company.
I left work 3 years ago, when Anant felt I should look after the house. I used to work in the same company. All thanks to Prerna, who played cupid in our case. I wish she had not done the needful.
And then the most beautiful day of my life came. I couldn’t be less thankful to Prerna, who coaxed me to help you look for a house, in Mumbai. It is still the most memorable day of my life. You spent a whole day with me. How you cracked jokes on the Indian advertisements and how you made me smile every other minute. You were awestruck by Mumbai’s beauty, and I was awestruck by your presence around me. I am a camera shy person, but that day, I wanted to get photographed by you. I loved it when you held my hand while crossing the roads. And then, as we found the perfect home for you, you hugged me with happiness. And that’s where, in your arms, forever I wanted to be. I don’t exactly remember what went though your mind, but you kissed me. We made love for the first time, in ‘our’ new abode. You told me you loved me. And there was no ending to our togetherness.
My vision was blurred by tears. Soon they trickled down my cheeks. Unhappy marriages are not worth dragging along. I couldn’t be a mother, ever. I had suggested adoption to Anant, but he had refused. It wasn’t like we had been really happy before the reality dawned upon us about my infertility. It had always been about ego clashes, fights and profanities after getting drunk, and what not. Even our immediate people were aware of this. I have always been a bad actor. I could never play the trophy wife Anant wanted me to be despite of all that was going between us.
And then yesterday you told me you were leaving, forever. I want us to last. I want to spend my life with you. But you have made your mind, and there isn’t much I can do about that. But I hope that I see you soon. I hope that you come back and take me away to your world, to ‘our’ world.
I love you Alex,
Anant.
Tears were still rolling from my eyes. But I no longer felt any pain. I felt like a bird who had been in an unlocked cage for years. I rose from the bed and looked up from the letter. Anant was staring at me with mouth wide open.
“Meera, I am so sorry. Give me a chance to explain,” he said.
“Why now?” is all I could manage.
__END__
