Page 112 of Love after Marriage

Deepak heard this and came to Roshni, holding her around her shoulder. “Roshni, why did you have to do so much walking? You know you’re not healed completely. Please don’t overdo it!”

Roshni pulled his hand away from her shoulder. “I’m okay, Deepak. I just need to rest,” she said.

“Sheetal, I will wake up early and have a shower before you leave. Will you please help me? I might need some help getting dressed,” Roshni asked Sheetal.

Sheetal looked very subtly at Deepak. “Certainly, Roshni, just let me know, and I can help you.” She left Deepak and Roshni alone and went to her room.

Deepak was curious and turned to face Roshni. “Roshni, you know I am here if you need any help.”

His voice was very authentic, and he meant what he said. Roshni looked at him and nodded in agreement. He could help her with other activities; however, she could not imagine accepting his help with her dresses. She kept Deepak at a distance!

Deepak helped Roshni to the bed and brought milk and medicines for her. After she was comfortable, he tucked the blanket under her and brought his laptop and settled next to her on the bed.

“Deepak, you don’t have to go to bed this early with me,” she said.

“I know, I’m not sleeping yet. I have to attend to some e-mails, and then I’ll sleep.”

He moved closer to Roshni and tucked a stray lock of hair behind her ear and very caringly ran his hands gently over her hair. Both of them stared at each other.

“Roshni, you look really tired, please sleep,” he said.

Roshni nodded and closed her eyes.

He went back to reading his e-mails, and Roshni dozed off slowly. Deepak turned towards her, and with a newfound determination in his eyes, he quietly whispered, “Roshni, I only hope I will be able to convince you that I love you and I want you back in my life. I am incomplete without you. It doesn’t matter how long it takes, but I am here and will not leave until you go with me to the US.”

His eyes were moist. The past flashed in front of him, and then this accident…he could not control his emotions. He bent forward and kissed her forehead and repeated, “Roshni, you belong to me and me only. I will win you back. This is my promise.”

He shut off his laptop and lay next to her, staring at her, and gradually fell asleep.

~ ~ ~

The next morning Roshni woke up and, without disturbing Deepak, used her crutches to slowly walk to the bathroom. It took her ages to walk such a short distance. She leaned the crutches against the wall in the bathroom and supported herself by leaning on the countertop and brushed her teeth. Then she slowly limped to the tub and took a shower. She struggled putting on her clothes, but was unable to brush her hair or hook her bra. Limping slowly, she walked to the kitchen area to fix chai.

Sheetal was up and almost ready to leave for work when she saw Roshni. Roshni came to Sheetal and whispered in her ear to help her with the bra hook at the back. Sheetal helped her and asked her to sit at the table, talking to her while she prepared chai and breakfast. A few minutes later Deepak joined them. Sheetal packed some fruits and snacks for lunch and left for work, leaving Deepak and Roshni alone at home.

Roshni made an attempt to get up, being very careful.

“Roshni, what are you doing?” Deepak asked and held her hand so she could not get up.

“I’m getting ready to clean the table, and then I’ll wash the dishes,” she responded.

Roshni had walked more and stressed her foot and arm the previous day. She had to take a painkiller to relieve the pain. Deepak was perturbed to hear Roshni. He pulled a chair out and sat next to her. “Why don’t you rest? Sit there near the TV and watch some shows or movies. Talk to me and keep me company, and I will do the work,” he said.

Roshni was exhausted after the little walking she’d done that morning. She was missing Aunty, and above all, this – Deepak in her proximity. All this did not sit well with her. “Deepak, please leave me alone. Why are you here in the first place?” she said brusquely.

Deepak was taken aback at this question being asked again, and he already knew what was coming next. He placed his arm around her shoulder. “What do you mean, Roshni? How can I leave you alone?”

She angrily shrugged him off. “Deepak, you know well what I am referring to. Why did you come here? You know as well as I do – our relationship does not exist. Why all this pretense of a caring husband and…and I am really tired of telling you the same thing again and again. Don’t you understand?”

“Understand what?”

Frustrated, she said, “Oh my god, Deepak, please…our relationship is over. What are you trying to accomplish? You cannot take me for granted anymore. Please stop bothering me. I have already accepted that all is over between us, and you should accept it and move on.”

Deepak was raging with anger. He moved a step closer. “Roshni, I keep trying to tell you – you are my wife. I love you, and it is my responsibility to take care of you.”

“What? Love me! Is this some kind of joke? Love me!” She continued, “Why? Why do you want to take care of me?”

“Roshni, I’m tired of hearing you say ‘our relationship is over’. Now you listen to me,” he said with a raised voice.

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