Distance Between Us

Chapter 8

Its been a month since their marriage. One evening Sheela and Rajesh sat beside each other drinking lemon tea prepared by Rajesh.

"Its good," Sheela said taking a sip and savoring the taste of the drink by closing her eyes. Rajesh smiled at her.

“So, I wanted to ask you something," Sheela started  saying, moving her finger around the edge of her cup.

"What is it Sheela? You can ask me anything," Rajesh said frowning seeing her nervousness.

"Did you have any girlfriend. You know before...,"

Rajesh laughed loudly keeping his cup on the table.

"Hey I am asking you some serious question here. I am not making any jokes," She said pressing her lips. She wanted to ask him this for some time now. It was his past. But she wanted to know. They have been talking and knowing about each other but the topic about past relationships never came because she was hesitant about it. Now she was opening up to him more and he reciprocated the same.

"It is funny. You should have asked me way before marrying me," He said after he stopped laughing.

She sighed and said, "yeah I asked you if you have anyone you like and you said no. It was enough information to marry you. I did not think much about the past then. But now I want to know. Only if you want to tell me,"

"OK..OK..it is not a big deal but I did have one girlfriend in college," he said running his hands through his hair.

Sheela held her breath. Rajesh smiled and took her empty cup from her hand and kept on the table and held her hands. Sheela was dying with suspense. She knew he was delaying saying further purposefully.

Rajesh smiled seeing her serious face.

"She was beautiful girl. Most beautiful girl I have ever seen. Everyone called her beauty. Her hair was long as river. Her eyes were big like  balls,"

Sheela's frown deepened. What was he talking about? She saw the small twitch at the corner of his lips and know he was making fun of her.

"Rajesh," she said and tried freeing her hands from him to leave. Rajesh laughed. He was having fun teasing her. He held her hand again and said,

"OK ..OK...now the real story. I was mostly into studies in the college. I never gave much importance to have a girlfriend. When any girl tried to approach me I would move far away and they would give up. I was happy with my friends and studies. Then in final year my classmate came to me. Her name was Preethi. She said she liked me. I was surprised. She was my lab partner along with Jagdeesh. She was a good friend. Not very close as, I kept my distance from girls. And when she asked me out I thought way not. It was last year and she seemed pretty decent girl and we started dating."

"So, why did you guys broke up? Is it a sad story?"  She asked worried.

He ticked her nose and Sheela made a face at him. He smiled and asked

"Who said we broke up?" He raised his both eyebrows at her and she narrowed her eyes and him. Rajesh laughed and continued,

"Don't worry it is not tragic story. atleast not on her part. First two weeks were ok. We would go out to some coffee shop or restaurant on weekends and spent more time together in college. The troubles started in the third week,"

"What happened?" Sheela asked. She looked so cute listening to him with focus and all worried for him Rajesh thought.

"She became demanding. She said we should go out daily. That too to fancy places. She wanted gifts for no reason. She did not like it when I spent time with Jagdeesh. I had to lift her call every time otherwise she would not talk to me for days. I had to reply instantly to her messages or she would get suspicious. She would glare at me if I talk to any girl. It got worse every passing day. I could not study properly as she would call me or text me constantly."