𝐏𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐥𝐬 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐦𝐢𝐬𝐞𝐬

Chapter 5

Chapter 5

The knock on the door followed by the sound of jingling of the door knob was enough for Meher to guess that it was her husband on the other side. He was opening the door with a set of duplicate keys.

She had made a point to lock the door before she slipped into the covers after she got rid of the heavy saree and her jewelleries. She had tried her best to slip into a slumber but the noises in her head were relentless today.

Her mother's soft cotton saree, that she normally saved to wear on bad days, didn't seem to bring her comfort too. Just like her relationship.

Her imaginations were too stimulating and the injuries in her relationship were too raw. No tears seemed to come out of her eyes today.

Meher wasn't sad or angry or disappointed anymore. She had accepted her fate a long time ago to be sad anymore.

Today, for a change, she was determined.

"Meher?" She heard her husband call out her name. They had been sharing a room for five years now and yet she can count the number of times he had called out her name on her hands.

She hummed in reply. She really didn't want to look at him at the moment. Not because she was hurt or angry. But because she would really break if he portrays any signs of refusal. Or even worse, disgust.

"Are you okay?" Atharv asked as he stood at the other side of the bed. The room was dark now and the faint light of the moon illuminated the room.

"Do you remember what you promised me on our first night?" Meher asked. She really felt bad to manipulate and exploit the promise he had entrusted her with.

"What?" Atharv whispered.

"You promised me you'll fulfill all my needs. All my social obligations. All my wishes. Everything except... Love?" She made sure her voice was even. Yet, the mention of 'love' made her words quiver.

"Yes. I did." Atharv gulped as his heart picked up erroneous speed. He knew it was a moment of epitome. He could feel whatever she would demand would change the dynamic of the relationship.

For the first time over the period of years, his wife would ask him of something. Yet, he was scared if he'll be able to give her whatever she demands.

"I know what I want." Meher whispered out.

Being nervous about her demand would be an understatement of the century for Meher. Her heart threatened to pound out of her chest.

"What do you want?" Atharv asked.

"A baby." Meher finally got the words out.

Atharv's eyes widened. He was expecting her to say that she wanted to seperate from his family. Or that she wanted divorce. Or jewels. Or a career.

A baby? He did not expect it.

But he couldn't forecast his emotions. Judging by the quivering of Meher's words, he knew she wasn't in the right state of mind.

Atharv calmly took a seat at the end of the bed. The bed he had been sharing with his wife for years now.

Meher felt the dip in the bed. She wondered if he he was so traumatized that he had to take a seat.

"Aarav informed me about what happened downstairs in the afternoon." Atharv began calmly. He tried his best to suppress his inner turmoil.

"Is this all about the afternoon?" He asked Meher.

"No." Meher replied, rather sternly. Her toes curled inside the blanket.

"Why now?" He asked her.

She could read between the lines. He wasn't enquiring about the time. He was asking her about why she didn't ask for a child a year back or two or three?

"Because it's eating me up now." Meher replied in whisper.

"What's eating you up?" Atharv asked.

"The loneliness. Absence of love. I have no body I could call 'mine'."

Unbeknownst, a tear slipped her eyes and onto her pillow. The pillow who had witnessed her husband's tears when he was separated from the love of his life. The pillow who had witnessed the tears of her shattered dreams too.

"I am an orphan, Atharv. I don't have parents. To an end, I don't even have a.. a husband too." She let out.

"I am surrounded by my husband's family. Your mother. Your father. Your brother. His wife. Everything is yours that you let me love." Meher pointed out. "And I love them with all my might."

"They love me too. I have no doubt. But they don't love me for me. They love me because I am your wife." Meher's words were heavier. She felt like she had just gulped a stone.

"If I ever.." she paused to sob. " If we ever seperate, I'll be left with no one. No amount of the alimony will heal me then, Atharv." She finally disclosed her biggest insecurity.

Atharv remained silent. He had no idea his wife had been burdened with so much in her heart. At such a young age.

"I-I am not asking you to be an ideal father. I won't  even expect you to accept the child. I just want you to give me one." Meher cried out.

Atharv took a huge sigh as he put his head in his hands. He felt guilty and remorseful all at once.

He knew what she wanted. His wife was practically crying for him to have sex with her just once to have a baby.

But how could he?

The doubt that she was just emotional and hurt and that she might regret her words later clouded his mind too. He wasn't sure if this was really what she wanted. So, he chose to go for the worst option possible.

"I- I don't know, Meher." Atharv let out.

"I don't think I can. Not now." He breathed out.

Meher felt her heart breaking all over again. And this time, her heart wanted to hate her husband with all her might. She didn't know if she'll be able to forgive him for denying her the rights to be a mother, too.

"Also, I want you to sleep on your demand, Meher."

"I'll sleep in the guest room, tonight." Atharv declared and went out of the room.

A huge heart wrenching sob was heard by Atharv as soon as he closed the door behind him.

He bee-lined towards the guest room. His steps felt heavier.

He just knew he won't be able to sleep tonight.

Thank you for reading! Please comment on the chapters as it would help me to gain more audience :)