Incomplete Love

His Routine

Author's POV:

Arjun Reddy lay sprawled on the terrace, his face flushed from a night of heavy drinking. The early morning sun peeked over the horizon, its light filtering through the haze of his stupor. A faint rustling sound disturbed the silence as the neighbor, an elderly woman, approached, her face etched with annoyance.

She reached down and yanked her nighty off Arjun, which had been carelessly covering him as a makeshift blanket. "Shameless fellow!" she muttered under her breath. Arjun stirred, blinking groggily as she hurried away, casting a disgusted look over her shoulder.

Still half-asleep, Arjun reached for the bottle beside him, uncapping it with shaky hands. He stumbled toward the water tank, plunged the bottle into the water, and then took a long gulp of the watered-down alcohol. He wiped his mouth with the back of his hand and staggered downstairs.

Inside the house, Ishita was already awake and rushing to get ready for work. She wore a simple yet elegant saree, her movements brisk as she packed her bag. Hearing Arjun's uneven steps, she glanced toward the doorway. Her eyes immediately filled with a mix of frustration and concern.

"Arjun, where were you all night?" she asked sharply, though her voice held an undertone of worry.

Arjun leaned against the doorframe, his eyes glazed over. "Terrace," he muttered, shrugging.

"Drunk again," Ishita said with a sigh, shaking her head. She looked at the clock and then back at him, clearly in a hurry but unable to leave without trying to talk sense into him. "You need to stop doing this to yourself, Arjun. You can't keep living like this."

Arjun's eyes flickered for a moment, but he said nothing, his face expressionless. He started walking past her, headed toward the bathroom.

"Arjun, I made breakfast," she called after him, her voice softening as she gestured toward the dining table, where a plate of idli and sambar sat untouched. "At least eat something before you-"

"Not hungry," Arjun cut her off, his voice flat.

"You're not even trying," Ishita replied, a hint of desperation creeping into her tone. "You ignore me, you ignore everything. Is this how it's going to be every day now?"

Arjun paused at the threshold of the bathroom, turning slightly to look at her. His eyes, red and distant, met hers for a brief moment. "You don't get it, Ishita," he said, his voice low but sharp, before disappearing into the bathroom and slamming the door behind him.

Ishita stood still, her hands trembling slightly as she clutched her bag. She closed her eyes for a second, taking a deep breath. She didn't have the energy for another argument this morning. She glanced at the plate on the table, untouched and cold, a reflection of their strained relationship.

"Fine, Arjun," she whispered to herself, picking up her things. "If you won't eat, at least take care of yourself."

She hurried out the door, but the weight of their unresolved tension lingered in the air like a shadow.

As Arjun heard the front door click shut, he emerged from the bathroom, rubbing his face. He glanced at the untouched breakfast, his expression unreadable, before reaching for the bottle again.

Here's an extended version of the scene where Arjun gets a call from his patient's fiancée, adding more dialogue to emphasize his internal conflict and the escalating tension.

After Ishita left for work, the house grew eerily quiet. Arjun slumped on the couch, the alcohol still in his system numbing his senses. His phone buzzed on the coffee table, vibrating insistently. He glanced at the screen-an unfamiliar number.

Reluctantly, he answered. "Hello?"

"Dr. Arjun?" The voice on the other end was soft but had a certain urgency. It was a woman-he recognized the voice. One of his patient's fiancées.

"Yeah. What is it?" Arjun muttered, rubbing his temple.

"Can you come over? It's important... I need to talk to you." There was a pause. "Please. It's about... us."

Arjun's eyes narrowed slightly. "Us?"

"Just come," she said, her voice dropping to a whisper before hanging up abruptly.

Arjun stared at the phone for a few seconds, feeling the familiar swirl of chaos in his chest. He knew it was a bad idea, but part of him didn't care. With a groan, he pushed himself off the couch, grabbed his jacket, and left the house.

---

Scene: The Fiancée's Apartment

Arjun arrived at her apartment door, his mind cloudy with alcohol and his own frustrations. The door swung open as soon as he knocked, and there she was-dressed in a fitted blouse and jeans, her eyes scanning him nervously.

"Come in," she whispered, stepping aside.

Arjun entered the dimly lit apartment, tension hanging in the air between them. He leaned against the wall, his hands stuffed into his pockets. "So, what's this about?" he asked casually, though his gaze was sharper than usual.

She bit her lip, stepping closer to him. "I... I don't know why I called you," she admitted, her voice trembling slightly. "I just... ever since I met you, I can't stop thinking about you. I know it's wrong, but..."

Arjun didn't say anything, but he could feel the pull between them. His mind was clouded, emotions simmering under the surface. Without thinking, he reached out, brushing a lock of hair from her face.

"Are you sure about this?" he asked quietly, though his voice was laced with temptation.

She nodded, stepping closer until there was barely any space between them. "I shouldn't... but I want to."

For a moment, Arjun's mind went blank. His hands slid to her waist, pulling her close. Their faces were inches apart, and the room buzzed with an electric tension.

But just as he leaned in, the sound of the doorbell cut through the moment, sharp and jarring. They both froze.

"Who's that?" Arjun muttered, stepping back.

Her face went pale. "It's him... my fiancé. He wasn't supposed to be back yet!" She started to panic, pulling away from Arjun.

Arjun's expression darkened, his frustration and anger bubbling up. "You called me here for this?" His voice was low, dangerous.

"I didn't think he'd-" she stammered, backing up toward the door.

"Open the door, I know you're inside!" her fiancé's voice called from the hallway, knocking loudly.

Arjun grabbed her by the arm, his grip firm but not painful. His eyes were wild with anger, the alcohol amplifying every dark thought. "You think this is a joke?" he hissed, his voice cold. "Do you know what could happen if he sees me here?"

Her eyes widened in fear. "Arjun, please, I didn't mean for this-"

"Shut up," he snapped, his grip tightening briefly before he let go, realizing what he was doing. He stepped back, blinking hard, the weight of the situation crashing down on him.

What the hell am I doing? he thought, horrified at himself.

The doorbell rang again, louder this time. The fiancé was getting impatient.

Arjun ran a hand through his hair, backing away from her. "I shouldn't have come here," he muttered, his voice thick with regret. "This... this was a mistake."

Without another word, he turned on his heel and stormed out of the apartment, leaving the fiancée frozen in place, eyes wide with panic. He brushed past the fiancé at the entrance, barely noticing him.

Outside, Arjun walked quickly down the street, his head swimming with anger and confusion. His hands shook as he lit a cigarette, taking a long drag, trying to calm the storm inside him.

"What the hell is happening to me?" he whispered to himself, his frustration boiling over. The guilt, the shame, the hollowness-it all pressed down on him, suffocating.

Hi, guys...

First chapter, how's it?