Anatomy of Love (Complete)

Chapter 36

Rishab opened the door and got inside. He waited for her to follow. When she didn't, he looked back, “Do you need a printed invitation to come inside?”
She looked up at him and followed him inside. Rishab put his keys in the bowl beside the door.

He stood there for a moment and then said, “Your room, I mean the one you used to live in, is clean. The sheets are fresh as well. There's food in the refrigerator, you can warm it up if you want to eat. The keys are in here.”
He pointed to the bowl.

Khushi looked at him and stayed quiet. He walked past her.
“I know you think I am stubborn and that's why I didn't return home. But that's not the truth. Honestly I had not really thought about it until today.”
Rishab looked back at her.

She continued, “All the way I kept thinking about what you said. My father loves me then why didn't I go back to him. I used to believe that I was angry with him as he never had time for me. I left home to punish him, make him realize that he has neglected me to run his business. But that wasn't the only reason why I left home.”

“I couldn't go back even after our relationship got better. I never really gave it a thought until today. I realised, I always wanted to leave that house. I never felt like home there.”
Rishab asked, “You lived your whole life there then why so?”

“Hai na? I too asked the same question and got my answers. Since I was a little girl I have seen my parents fight. There were nights when I used to hide inside the wardrobe and even fall asleep there because they were so loud. As I grew up these fights became regular. I never saw them together. Dad was never there and Mummy was just present physically. She then started going out. Perhaps she met someone. I was always in a constant fear of  losing them and it soon came true. Ek din, mummy chali gai chod ke hume. She didn't meet me. She didn't care to take me with her. She called me and gave excuses that she didn't know where she was going so she didn't want me to suffer. She lied that Papa didn't allow her to.. I believe that's a lie. She was a mother, couldn't she fight for me?”

Rishab could see tears in her eyes. He lowered his head and took a deep breath.
She continued, “Papa got busy with his work and mummy got married. I hated her so I didn't go with her when she asked me to. I hated him so I didn't talk to him whenever I saw him. All I was left with was my loneliness and that huge mansion. I wanted to leave. I asked Papa to let me go to Dehradun boarding school, he said no. He didn't let me go to Delhi to do my MBBS. Tumhe kabhi koi ghar nahi mila, tum bahar hi bade huye. Main bahar nikalna chahti thi par mujhe jane nahi diya Papa ne.”

She looked at him, “When I got out, I felt relieved. Tumhare saath, I could breathe again. I found my real home, here in this apartment with you. I never want to go back again.”
Her words made him flinch a little.

She continued, “Yes, my father loves me and he cares for me. But that house has only bad memories. I don't want to go back. I just can't..”
Rishab stood still, his hands crossed, eyes glued at her while she sobbed silently.

“I am.. sorry.” She said, wiping off her tears.
“Don't be. It's good that you have got it out. You will feel better now. Don't think so much. It's late. Take some rest. Good night.”
He gave her a faint smile and went inside.

Rishab closed the door and stood there leaning on it. He had never thought about her life, her issues. It was always about his problems. She too came from a broken home. She must have been through some trauma as well. But neither did she talk about it nor has he asked her.

He realised something and sighed. Her trauma perhaps was the reason that she was never ready to get married and start a family. He had taken therapy but he still suffers from anxiety. While no one had paid any attention to her. Her issues were never addressed. There must be wounds that never healed and no one even cared to look for them.