What Lies Beneath

Chapter 23

The doors of the ward of hospital slide open, revealing an old man lying on the bed breathing at the mercy of machines, unconscious.

His heart was being monitored, his pulse merely kept itself to normal as Misha shivered watching her grandpa in this state, fighting for his life.

She was here after the wedding procession was over, to see him for the last time before she sets off to another city. And it was a scenario she never wanted to see her grandparents in. Standing by the doors, breaking down into tears and unable to control what's going wrong.

Courageously she came in and sat on the stool beside the bed. Carefully taking his hand into hers, she brought it near her head and leaned on it while closing her eyes.

"I wish you could see me like this grandpa." She paused briefly, blinking. "It's over... your concerns are all over. I'm finally married, in a house you have always dreamt of, in a family dad always wanted. All the misery has gone grandpa... I'm moving out with a- hope so loving husband. You have nothing to worry about me now."

She looked at him with admiration. "Please be okay. I'll be okay in return too. I promise I'll be happy as you wished... just please... get well soon."

She wiped the tear that rolled down her eye and smiled at the elder. "I have to go now... to start a new life. Bless me grandpa... to live happily ever after..."

"It's not just one, but another promise that I have broken." –Misha

___

"Let's get divorced."

Ishaan's brows frowned, trying to confirm if she actually meant what she's saying.

"If I'm the one bounding you from your life and freedom, then let's stop it. I'll let you go, I will- give you divorce Ishaan. Just as you wish."

A tear silently fell from her eye.

"I just need one thing from you in exchange."

Ishaan remained silent, staring at her with blank eyes.

"Sixty days... give me sixty days and I'll sign the papers first myself.

Just then... till just then... please... let me live in peace. I know why you are doing this, I understand your reason behind all of this but have you ever tried to understand mine? You're not the only one hurting in this marriage Ishaan... and it won't restrict up to me but my grandparents again, they'll be hurt again when they'll hear about this but don't worry. That won't stop me from making it real this time.

Just let my grandpa recover first, then I'll leave you... I PROMISE."

Misha emphasized the last word while gritting her teeth, knowing how much she meant it this time.

Ain't no way in any case she'd failed this one because this time, she felt it from every fiber of her body.

Marrying him under conditions was one thing, but divorcing him on her own was something different, much stronger than ever.

___

It's been days now since Misha has been silent to everyone. She's doing everything though, attending office, eating breakfast, dining with family, even sleeping in the same room with him as well.

It was just her heart who didn't know what exactly it was making her feel like.

It was roaming calm for sometime before getting anxious really quick out of nowhere. It made her fall into bewilderment about her own decisions of divorcing him, ever since that night.