"What are you doing up so early?" Rajiv asked in horror.
"Drinking tea", she replied, looking purposefully nonchalant.
"When did you get home?" he asked her.
"11:30. What were you doing?" she asked.
"I.. I just went for a walk", he replied.
"Pretty short walk until the annex", she replied, sipping the tea.
Rajiv had no idea what to reply.
"But you were definitely burning a lot of her calories", she said.
'Well, that was done for', thought Rajiv. He took a cup from the cupboard and poured the rest of the tea in the saucepan into his cup and sat down.
"What do you want to know?" he asked her.
"Rajiv, I know that you were never interested in me. But it kind of hurts that when I put in the effort to know you and the kids, you have ignored me. Then a woman just shows up and you are having sex with her, when clearly you do not sleep around! I shouldn't be offended by it and neither should I compare, but still I am curious; what was wrong with me that you chose her?" she asked him.
"Nothing is wrong with you. I am just madly in love with her", he said.
"Then that settles it. I will leave when there is light". She was about to leave and Rajiv went up to her.
"I am sorry, Indrani" he said, eyes full of remorse.
"Why? Just like I can't force you to fall in love with me, you can't help falling in love with her. I just wished you would have told me before I had emotionally invested in this", she replied.
"I told you, I told everyone about whom I loved, but all of you ignored me", he said.
"Wait! What?" she asked.
"Bye, Indrani", he said and left the room without clearing her confusion.
Unknown to both of them, when Rajiv had made his way to the annex, Ravi had got up for a drink of water. He went to the window to sip it in peace, when he saw his father enter the annex. He was stunned, but quickly went back to sleep so as not to wake up Abhi and Kiran.
The next morning at the dinner table, Gomati was looking upset.
"What's the matter, Achamma?" asked Ravi who joined the others at the table.
"Your Indrani aunty left in the morning. She has rescinded the marriage alliance", said Gomati.
There was a stunned silence at the table.
"Rajiv, is there something that you have to say to me?" she asked Rajiv.
Rajiv who had just taken the plate for eating breakfast kept it back, got his suitcase and left.
Gomati burst into tears and Kiran and Padmanabhan tried to comfort her.
"Its OK Achamma, Achan never liked Indrani aunty in that way", said Kiran.
"I just wanted your father to be settled before Ravi got married", said a sobbing Gomati.
"He is already settled, Gomati. Why are you so worried about him getting married?" asked Padmanabhan.
"Its all because of..." she stopped talking, even Padmanabhan looked uncomfortable.
"Our mother? She is the reason that Achan is not getting married. If you regret Achan marrying our mother, then you regret having us also", said Abhi and got up and left with his bag. He was followed by Ravi and Kiran.
YOU ARE READING
Secret wife
Romance"Why are you looking nervous?" Rajiv asked her. "Nothing", Leena replied. "Then why are you moving away from me?" he asked as she matched his steps and walked backward whenever he took a step towards her. "Nothing", she said and came to a halt with...
