TISHNAGI

CHAPTER 28: NAINA

He's really gone.

How did it come to this so quickly? We had so many dreams, plans for the future, and now all of that feels shattered because of one argument.

I'm sitting here in this quiet house, surrounded by reminders of him, of us. His coat is still hanging by the door, his favorite mug on the kitchen counter. Everywhere I look, there's something that makes my heart ache. I can't believe he didn't even give me a chance to explain my side. He just stormed out, leaving me with all these questions and no answers.

I'm so tired. Tired of always fighting to be heard, tired of battling my own battles. Marriage was supposed to be a partnership, wasn't it? We were supposed to face things together. But right now, it feels like I'm completely alone. How could he not see that? How could he not see that I needed him to stay, to talk, to listen?

Our argument keeps replaying in my mind. His angry words, my desperate attempts to make him understand. It all spiraled so quickly, and before I knew it, he was gone. Did he ever really believe in us? Or was this just too much for him from the start?

I can't stop the tears. I'm sad, yes, but it's more than that. It's this deep, hollow feeling of loss and confusion. How could he think that leaving was the answer? Didn't our vows mean anything? I thought love was about weathering storms together, not walking away at the first sign of trouble.

I don't know what to do now. I feel paralyzed by the weight of his absence, by the fear that maybe he won't come back. I keep hoping he'll walk through the door, that he'll realize he made a mistake. But what if he doesn't? What if this is really the end of us?

All I wanted was to be heard, to be understood. But now, all I feel is this crushing loneliness. I need him to understand how much this is hurting me. I need him to come back, to listen, to let us try again. Because I don't know how to move forward from this, how to mend my heart when the person I need the most is the one who broke it.

He told everyone he was going on a business trip. That's the story he gave to our family. "Just a quick trip," he said. "I'll be back before you know it." But I knew better. It wasn't business that took him away. It was our argument, the one he couldn't handle. The one he refused to talk about.

I could see through his excuse, but I didn't say anything. What was the point? No one else knew what had happened behind closed doors. Except maybe Yash. He didn't say anything, but I could tell he suspected the truth. There was a look in his eyes, a certain knowing silence.

But for now, Yash is keeping quiet. He hasn't confronted me or asked any probing questions. And for that, I'm grateful. The last thing I need right now is more pressure, more judgment. It's a small relief in the midst of this turmoil.

I'm just trying to keep it together, to not fall apart completely. I go through the motions, pretending everything is normal, while inside, I'm crumbling. Knowing Yash might be aware of what's really going on makes me uneasy, but at the same time, it's a comfort. At least someone knows, even if they're not saying anything.

I just hope this silence lasts. I don't know if I have the strength to handle any more confrontations. Right now, I just need time to think, to figure out what comes next. Maybe, when he comes back from his so-called business trip, we can finally talk. Maybe then he'll listen. Until then, I just have to hold on, take things one day at a time, and hope that somehow, things will get better.

-

I stood by the railing, the cool night air brushing against my skin. Lost in my thoughts, I didn't notice someone approaching until they were right beside me.

"Kya tum theek ho?" Yash's voice broke through my reverie.

(Are you alright?)

I scoffed, taking a deep breath before turning to face him. "How convenient for you to ask that, right?"

He sighed, his eyes searching my face. "I know you both had a fight."

Of course, he knew. He was the main reason for it. The silence between us was thick, charged with unspoken words.

"If you hadn't... if you hadn't applied turmeric on my cheeks, if you had just stayed away from me... from us, none of this would have happened," I finally said, my voice trembling with a mixture of anger and sorrow.

Yash looked down, his expression pained but silent, letting me continue.

"He saw it, you know. The mark you left. It wasn't just about the turmeric; it was everything. The way you looked at me, the way you were always there, too close. He felt threatened, and I tried to reassure him, but he wouldn't listen. And now... now he's gone."

Yash remained silent, his presence a stark reminder of the turmoil inside me. I continued, my words spilling out in a rush. "I tried so hard to make him understand, but all he could see was you. Every time you got too close, every time you were too familiar, it pushed him further away. And now I don't know if he'll ever come back."

I wiped my tears, feeling a mix of frustration and sadness. "Why did you have to do that, Yash? Why couldn't you just stay away?"

He reached out as if to comfort me, but I stepped back, shaking my head. "No, Yash. Just... don't. I need to figure this out on my own. I need to fix what's broken, if I even can."

He nodded, his face etched with regret. As he walked away, I turned back to the railing, staring out into the night. The weight of his silence was almost as heavy as the emptiness left by my husband's departure.

And for now, I could only wait...wait for him to come back.

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HALLOO!
DID Y'ALL MISS ME?!
I didn't know how to write this chapter, expressing sadness isn't my cup of tea.

But I tried my best, I hope y'all would like this chapter.

Vote and comment!!