• Second Chances •

44. Mera Sheher

"How is the coffee?"

Priya didn't have to look back to see who it was. Neither did his sudden voice startle her. Off late, she had gotten surprisingly familiar with his slightly weird ways. She always remained prepared to tackle him.

From the corner of her eyes, she saw him lean over the parapet too. With the gentle sea breeze caressing their faces and the setting sun's light shining upon them, Priya grinned looking at the horizon. 

"It's perfect." 

"Great!" Ram kept his cup on the parapet and started to fold his shirt sleeves. 

"So," Priya took a sip and turned to look at her husband. "How was your day?" 

Her tone was normal. Priya was trying. Aditya had told her about Shubham and Ram's fight in the office out of his own frustration and yes it had disturbed her. Ram really couldn't last any longer if Shubham kept belittling him like that all the time. She knew and she had seen that Ram was breaking at his seams. 

But she didn't want to make Ram anxious yet again. Or upset. She wanted to talk with Ram about the whole Shubham situation but in a way where he would listen to her and then understand. 

"It was okay..." Ram shrugged, not meeting her eyes.  

Priya smiled knowingly. The man couldn't lie to save his life. It was all very new for her. But she was also learning to take each individual differently and not judge them on the basis of their wealth and gender. 

Knowing Ram, coming to like him had changed a lot for her. And she was thankful for that. 

Sighing, Priya gazed at the sea. She felt peaceful. Growing up in bustling Mumbai, she never knew it could be peaceful too. She had only hated its traffic, the crowd and the zillion infrastructure issues. But now, she was seeing its beauty too. This was also courtesy of Ram. One could argue that from where she was standing, everything looked beautiful. But it wasn't so much about the money Ram had or his status in society. It was also because of who he was. He had calmed her down. 

She couldn't help but say, "I still can't believe that I am now staying in front of the sea now."

Ram chuckled. "Well. I still can't believe that I have a wife who can't believe that she is staying in front of the sea now."

Priya looked at him. The sunlight had made his already light eyes even more beautiful. They sparkled like the shimmering sea in front of her. 

She had to smile again. "Well, life surprises us. Isn't it?"

"It does!" Ram smiled. He took a sip of his coffee and closed his eyes. "You know, I never thought that I would get here. I just feel so calm...how do I even explain it?"

Priya stared at him in part awe and part softness. She wondered how was he saying exactly what she was feeling. How was he voicing her thoughts? 

"It feels like...like..." Ram tried to frame his thoughts. 

Priya swallowed hard. But she spoke slowly, "It feels like there is still darkness. But there are a million fireflies on the horizon. And they are easing up the darkness. There is light in a very unconventional way. It no longer feels haunted. It actually has started to feel pleasant. It feels like the rainstorm has passed and the worst is behind me."

Ram's eyes were open now. He also could only stare at her. An ever-so-gentle smile came on his face.

"And that's why I lo..." Ram stopped abruptly and bit his tongue. He awkwardly looked into his cup and completed, "I like you."