"Ishaan, what's going on? Why do you always shut me out?"
"Ruchika, how many times do we need to have this conversation? I don't want to talk about it. Just leave me alone."
"That is what I have done for almost 4 months now. Why have you still not accepted me as your wife? What do you want me to do to finally be accepted by you? All you do is lock yourself up in the spare bedroom. You don't even sleep in the same room as me. Why? What have I done to receive such harsh treatment from you?" Ruchika's voice kept increasing after every word and by the end she was practically yelling at Ishaan.
"Its not your fault Ruchika. It's just—"
"It's just what huh? There is another girl in your life right? I knew it. I knew you were having an affair. Is that why you lock yourself up in that room? To talk to her? " Ruchika was yelling at the top of her lungs. She didn't look hurt, just angry and that confused Ishaan.
"What... No!"
"Then what is it? Why are you so cold to me? Answer me! Why are you—"
"I'm gay damn it." Ishaan cut her off mid-sentence.
Ruchika just stood there in the middle of the room gaping at Ishaan. Ishaan looked at the floor as if it was the most interesting thing in the world.
"Oh" came Ruchika's voice. "Why didn't you tell me? Do your parents know?" Ruchika asked softly.
Ishaan jerked his head when he heard the softness in her voice.
"I...er...Th—" Ishaan stammered.
"Come on. Lets sit and talk, okay?"
Ishaan hesitantly complied and sat next to Ruchika on the sofa.
"Why are you so calm?" He questioned.
"Because I think you must be already going through a lot and me yelling about it won't help. I'm sorry for shouting at you before. I was just frustrated. So, does anyone know about this?"
"My parents, my partn— ex-partner and his parents."
"So your parents forced you into this wedding?"
Ishaan nodded. There was no point at hiding now. He told her about everything that happened in the past few months.
"So you telling me that you haven't talked to your boyfriend in over four months?"
Ishaan nodded again. Tears welled up his eyes at the reminder but he forced them back. He was done crying.
"Call him."
YOU ARE READING
His Sunflower🌻
Short Story"I refuse to let you do this." "Why, Papa?" "What do you mean why?! I won't let you spoil the name of our family. Wake up Ishaan and be a man." "But loving a man doesn't make me any less of a man Papa." -
