Guilty Pleasures

49

"Love hurts: yet hating requires a different level of hurt to fuel it. But when the lines cross rationality is lost and all that remains is the hurt from both..."

Pallavi had forced herself up even earlier than she had the pervious morning greeting Amma with a smile and pressing a gentle kiss to her forehead. There in her step lay a slight spring to it: a lightness in her aura that had been amiss for months; and even if her smile was not a fraction of what it used to be, the solemn nature threaded to her lips gave her this mature yet sophisticated look.

She seemed to radiate peace; as if she had temporarily forsaken her issues; allowing them to fall into and endless abyss; however fellow readers that was far from the truth.

Pallavi Rao; was not running from her problems or pushing them away into an abyss where she could simply ignore them; however after finding a key to ignite her revenge into a never ending Tandav of destruction gave her the sense of peace she had been looking for. Peace at the sight of the man she claimed to love's fall.

She was clouded by nothing but that; and the Pallavi Deshmukh that she retained at her core was triumphantly staring at her path to victory: her path to avenging the ones she loved more than herself; more than life; because they were the very reason to her existence; the reason that her breath still passed through her body.

She was quick to eat her breakfast hoping once more to avoid her husband after their heated confrontation the previous day; and so she had deliberately woken earlier to avoid him.

Luck today however was not on her side; her husbands defeaning footfalls resonating against the marble floor work.

She cursed under her breath in Marathi; her eyes dancing over his suit clad form as he took his seat besides her; signalling Reddy to bring forth his protein shake.
Their eyes had crashed into each other's; like the sea meeting the shoreline in an eclipse; and something seemed to pass between the two.

She was the first to rip her gaze away; whilst his had raked over his wife's form; a sigh escaping his lips as he opened the lid to his laptop; checking the array of emails that lay awaiting his attention.

Pallavi had haphazardly allowed her eyes to wonder over to Jaya Rao who was looking at them in interest.

"Pallavi child what time will you be coming home today so that I can cook accordingly."

But before she could respond; her husband had beat her too it.

"Amma we won't be eating at home. I must attend an evening party tonight for one of my partners Mr Khera." The one they had signed a contract with yesterday Pallavi recalled.

"It's mandatory that I go—."

"But I don't need to so I'll be home by 6 Aunty—"

"If my presence is mandatory that means yours is also required wife." He bit in; the two meeting.

"Pallavi go. It will be an outing for you too. Your first public appearance as husband and wife: it's required to ensure that appearances are kept bacha regardless of  what happens behind closed doors."

Pallavi hesitantly nodded; her eyes moving away from both her husband and mother-in-law as she mentally berated her fate as her husband stood to leave after a quick glance down to his watch.

"Are you coming Pallavi ?" He turned to ask.

"I'll come myself." He looked towards his mother at her answer.

"Pallavi."

"Raghav I do not have the patience to sit in an enclosed space with you for more than five minutes. I will end up killing you and myself simultaneously. Just go."