The night was quiet, the silence between them weighted with unspoken words and long-buried hurts. After their tense exchange earlier, Arjun and Naina found themselves in the living room, both hesitant yet unwilling to part without addressing the thick layer of unresolved emotions hanging between them.
Arjun took a deep breath, his gaze fixed on the floor as he struggled to find the right words. “Naina… I know we’ve both drifted apart over the years. I didn’t realize how much until recently. But if there’s even a chance for us to… to fix things, I want to try. I just… I don’t know where to start.”
Naina’s eyes softened, a flicker of vulnerability appearing as she listened to the rare openness in his tone. She took a seat across from him, clasping her hands together as she gathered her thoughts. “Arjun, I’m not even sure where to start either. Somewhere along the way, we both stopped trying. I kept waiting for you to notice me, to care… and when that never happened, I learned to live with the silence.”
Arjun’s heart twisted painfully at her words. How had he missed this? He’d been so focused on his work, his own ambitions, that he had allowed the love they once shared to fade. “I’m sorry, Naina. I never wanted you to feel that way.”
Naina shook her head, her expression sad but resolute. “Apologies are easy, Arjun. But that doesn’t erase the years of feeling invisible, of trying to reach out and being met with indifference.”
Her words struck him with a clarity that left him reeling. “Naina, I know I’ve been distant, but… I didn’t mean to hurt you.”
She let out a soft, humorless laugh, looking down at her clasped hands. “Intentions don’t always change things, Arjun. Sometimes the way you made me feel… it was worse than just being neglected. It felt like I was competing with a ghost of what we used to be, a shadow that I could never bring back no matter how much I tried.”
There was a long pause, her words settling in the air. The quiet of the night seemed to amplify every emotion, each heartbeat in the room loud and deliberate. Arjun leaned forward, his face softened with regret. “I took you for granted, Naina. And I hate myself for it. I thought you’d always be there, silently supporting me. I never realized how much that silence was costing you.”
She gave him a long look, her eyes filled with memories—both good and bad. “I tried to tell you, Arjun. For years, I tried to tell you, but somewhere along the line, I stopped, because it felt pointless.”
The sadness in her voice was almost unbearable, and Arjun’s heart ached with the weight of all the lost time. He reached for her hand, his grip gentle, almost hesitant. “Tell me now, Naina. Tell me everything. I want to understand, truly.”
Naina looked at their hands, the rare gesture catching her by surprise. She took a shaky breath, finally opening up in a way she hadn’t allowed herself to for a long time. “When we first married, Arjun, I thought we were going to build a life together, a partnership. But somewhere along the way, it became more about you—your goals, your career. And I kept supporting you, thinking one day you’d turn around and acknowledge that I was still here, right beside you. But you never did.”
Her voice wavered, the pain of years past slipping through. Arjun’s gaze remained fixed on her, remorse flooding his features. “I never wanted that, Naina. I… I was just so caught up in what I thought success looked like, I didn’t realize I was failing you.”
Naina let out a small sigh, squeezing his hand before looking away. “I suppose it’s partly my fault too. I let myself fade into the background, hoping you’d notice me, rather than demanding my place in your life.”
Arjun shook his head. “No, Naina. It’s not on you. You deserved better. I should have been more attentive, more present. I see that now. I can’t change the past, but I want to make things right… if you’ll let me.”
Naina’s gaze softened, her resolve wavering as she studied his face. “Arjun, I’ve spent so many years convincing myself that I didn’t need you to care, that I was fine on my own. But the truth is… I do want you to care. I just don’t know if I can trust that this isn’t just a fleeting realization for you.”
The vulnerability in her voice was heartbreaking, and Arjun’s grip tightened around her hand. “Naina, I don’t blame you for being hesitant. But I promise you, this isn’t just a fleeting realization. I know I have a long way to go to earn your trust again, but I want to do it, whatever it takes.”
A faint smile appeared on her lips, though it was tinged with sadness. “I want to believe you, Arjun. But it’s hard to let go of all the hurt I’ve held onto for so long.”
He nodded, understanding the weight of her words. “You don’t have to let it go, not all at once. Just… let me show you. I’ll be here, as long as it takes.”
They sat in silence for a moment, the rawness of their conversation settling between them. It was a fragile, tentative beginning, but for the first time in years, Naina felt a glimmer of hope. Perhaps, just perhaps, they could find a way to rebuild the life they had once dreamed of.
Finally, she spoke, her voice soft. “I’m willing to try, Arjun. But I need you to understand—it won’t be easy. The road back is long, and I need you to be patient with me.”
He looked at her, a small smile breaking through his serious expression. “I’m not going anywhere, Naina. Not this time.”
The sincerity in his voice stirred something within her, a hesitant flicker of the love she thought had long faded. For the first time in a long while, Naina allowed herself to believe that perhaps they could find their way back to each other.
YOU ARE READING
Beneath the Surface ( Completed )
RomanceIn their mid-40s, Naina and Arjun have built a seemingly perfect life together with two teenage kids and a comfortable home. But behind closed doors, their marriage is filled with unspoken tensions, old regrets, and an emotional distance that has le...
