Guilty Pleasures

55

"Pain is a funny thing: it creeps up on you in an unfathomable way; taking you hostage silently: killing mercilessly..."

Pallavi sat leaning in the comfort of the leather seat perched in her room; her eyes staring into an oblivion as she allowed her mind to delve into the comings that had transpired in the day; and as she sat in the depths of darkness a light knock on the door seemed to pull her out of the depths of those very thoughts her eyes travelling as she looked towards the source; her husband standing at her doorstep with his robe perhaps purposely left open to reveal the trail of abs she has kissed up on far too many occasion.

She was harsh in the way she ripped away her gaze and when she heard the sigh that escaped him, her hands began to fiddle with each other, until finally a light gasp escaped her when he crouched down in front of her, pulling her hands into his own warm and callous ones.

He had studied her diligently. Attempting to find the crux of the matter in the eyes that never lied to him, but watching the way they seemed to scurry back and forth from his sights: he received no answer.

"What's wrong?"

She heaved a sigh: and began to think what was right: but instead she extracted her hands from his, whilst his gaze seemed to be fixed on it.

"I'm sorry. For earlier..." he began; and Pallavi Raghav Rao could not believe her ears.

She shook her head with ominous tone in itself.

"I do not want your apology for words you clearly meant."

"My anger—-"

"Shouldn't be used as an excuse to pass of your comments."

He heaved a sigh.

"I'm sorry."

"Oh you will be Raghav."

And with this sense of finality threaded into her words: she had moved to stand up gliding past him in hopes to avoid anything more; for her mind was already pent up with frustration and confusion at the possible theories she had begun to conclude.

But the soft grip that had halted her; had caused her eyes to close to encapsulate this type of pain that you could only feel: not describe.

His name was at the tip of her tongue yet a harsh almost ragged breath had escaped her instead and as he stood she knew she was now trapped amongst the threads of her own heart.

"What happened today?" He asked; and her posture tensed at the question, knowing exactly what he was referencing too and yet she pushed herself to feign ignorance.

"A lot happened today, is there anything specific that you mean?"

"Stop trying to be smart and answer the damn question."

She turned to face him; pulling her arm from his grip and crossing her arms across her chest, a clear sign to Raghav that his wife was now going to play the offence to escape the dagger that his question clearly was.

"I have nothing to say."

"Who was on call then?"

"I told you it was a wrong number." She hissed out vehemently.

"The way the colour drained from your face was proof that it wasn't Pallavi. So i will ask you once more calmly and I advise that you take the fucking hint. Who was it?"

She fixed him with a look that seemed to mirror one of his own; and he seemed to shudder at the way he seemed to rub off on her these days for the passivity she had now begun to exhibit was alarmingly like his own.