The Sound of the Heart ( On Hold)

6

" why don't you try to pursuade him for a vacation?" Shehnaaz was contemplating ways to bridge the gap between  Shradha and her husband.

" you think I haven't tried that! " Shradha scoffed, yet non chalant, puffing in her cigarette. They were back to their weekend tryst. Secret meeting if friends that was not so secret after all.

Sidharth , he never had a problem with his wife's friends . Not that she had many, but the seldom occasions and plans she would indulge into with her colleges at the university, he had never really objected. Give him food on time and keep the house swanky clean, spic and span, and he is happy.

Sidharth was a demanding man when ur came to his desires and wishes. Rest, he never interfered with his wife's life. She was free to do as she wished.

A little too free! She would wonder at occasional moments.

Shehnaaz was straining two cup of tea for themselves. This weekend, they were chilling out at her place. She turned to look at her friend at her nonchalance. Wasn't she being a little too dispassionate about her marriage and husband!  She supposed. Yet, hasn't she herself been quite similar to how her friend was being now. Laid-back and unemotional of her own marriage. When had she taken the pain to out forward her own desires and wishes into her own relationship! The possibility of a tussle always kept her at bay from putting forward her view points and inputs into her own marriage, she had always accept d whatever Sidharth had to give with open arms.

But now, with Shraddha as a mirror, reflecting her own uninteresting relationship, Shehnaaz felt the voidness into her own marriage that had started to feel empty to her.

Empty! They lacked emotions!

" You did! " She asked, settling herself down to the soft couch. Shradha sighed, nodding in affirmation. She did didn't she! Had tried every measure to make her marriage work. It just wasn't turning out the way she wanted. Or the way every woman would want!

She took a long puff of the burnt out cigarette, crashing it on the ashtray. Eyes closed, she leaned against the backrest of the couch. Defeated. Shradha felt defeated. Aware of the negligent husband she had for herself. Love doesn't always secure the future action of a man. Or a woman . No one knows what propels the change of the heart of a man. Shradha's husband was one such man. She herself was unaware what changed his heart within such a short span of time.

Some marriages, they just fail to overcome the hurdles that comes with time! Lacking the gusto and the determination to make it work. Make two people work. Love, it would always fall short to this determination!

" Try harder, " Shehnaaz implored,  her heart in a denial to let go of a pious bond as marriage so easily, specially one that started with love. Unlike hers! She whispered to herself.

It was tough to accept to her that love could diffuse over time. Shradha's marriage was so not like hers! She and Sidharth hardly had any emotional bonding to start with, she surmised. Yet, her own heart thudding with a propounded enforcement she wasn't  aware till date. What was happening to her!

" I did sweetheart.  I have tried everything over the years. We just drifted away!" Shradha shrugged, so nonchalant. Unaffected. Shehnaaz felt that bother her a little. Was marriage that easily  dispensible! She wondered.

" You are so casual about it Shradha.  I don't see an effort from your side. You just don't wanna try?" Shehnaaz asserted back, a little  irritated yes. The lack of zeal from her friend to save her marriage,  she felt. Why? They were in love weren't they! Where did it vanish to!

" He's  just not worth my time and effort Shehnaaz. I know you wish well for me, magar kuch log is effort k layak nahi hote hai and apparently my husband is one of them." She added further, stating her own marriage. Without an ounce of knowledge of the collateral damage her denial was causing to her friend's conjugal life indirectly.