Unwanted

Chapter 34

Archit

"Nothing...just wanted to check on you." I said.

"If you are done checking then please leave Archit." Priyodorshini said.
"Why do you still cry for Rahul?" I asked, "Can't you just move on from him?" I asked not caring how insensitive I sounded at that moment, saying that line infront of a wife who was moaning her dead husband.
"What did you say?" She asked wiping her tears off.

I took a step back as Priyodorshini stood up.
"I asked what you just said out loud?"  She asked, she sounded menacing.
"Why do you....still cry for Rahul?" I mumbled, almost on the verge of a mental breakdown.
Suddenly I felt my left cheek sting. Priyodorshini had slapped me.
I touched my cheek.
"You bastard!" She said grabbing my collar and shaking me violently.
"YOU! ARE ASKING ABOUT WHY I CRY FOR MY HUSBAND!" She shouted at me.
"Am I not your husband too?" I asked.
Priyodorshini froze. For a moment there was an uncomfortable silence between us.
"Am I not your husband now?" I asked.
Again, no answer came from my 'Ardhangini'.
"Am I not your husband?" I asked again.
"Don't you think I feel sad when I see you crying?" I asked.
Priyodorshini just stared at me.
"What? Are you going to answer it or no-"
"No." She mumbled.
"You are not my husband. Atleast to me...." She said.
"What?" I raised an eyebrow.
"You are only an immature troubled boy whose father got me married to him cause he didnot trust his son with his business." She said.
I looked down at her, into her eyes.

"Archit ever since that fiasco where your 'photos' got leaked..your father has stopped seeing you as his son." Priyodorshini admitted.
"He sees you as a liability, not an asset."
I stepped back.
"He needed someone to keep you in check."
Really?
"He needed someone to earn for you." She wiped her tears.
"He needed someone to look after his business." She looked away.

"And that someone....was me."

"Fuck my father!" I said feeling embarassed.
Did he really view me as nothing but an unwanted burden?
Did he really trust me so little?
Priyodorshini widened her eyes.
"Archit that man is your father!" She said. "Show some respect towards your father!"
"No. Bitch." I said letting my words flow nonstop. I didnot even know what I was saying, I just knew that I was going to regret this later.
"Archit!"
"Priyodorshini!" I shouted back.
Priyodorshini was too stunned to speak.
"How dare you shout at me?" She asked. Her expression was that of betrayal.
"Weren't you shouting at me just a few minutes ago..?" I asked mockingly.
"Archit!" She said.
"What? Don't have any counter point so you just keep saying my name?" I said.
"For someone who claims to hate me, you sure do say my name a lot." I said. "Someone whom you don't even claim as your husband." I threw my arms in the air.

"You know what?" I bit back my tears.
"Continue being miserable." I said and left.

●●●●●●

"Yes ofcourse I am irritated cause of earlier!" I said.
"Calm down Archit." Priyodorshini muttered and looked away.
"Look...why don't you try to move on.." I suggested.
"It is very easy for you to say that as you have never mourned the loss of a partner." Priyodorshini answered back.
I stood there, silent for a moment, she was right, I had never mourned the loss of a partner.
"Do you know how hard it is to see the love of your life, lying on the hospital bed, on the verge of his death?" Priyodorshini said fighting back tears, I could feel it.
"Sorry for that." I muttered.

"Ofcourse you are sorry, you are always sorry, you are just a naive little boy who has no idea about the world or anything, dressed up like a young adult." Priyodorshini said, a tear rolled down her cheek.
"That was uncalled for!" I muttered.
"Our whole relationship was uncalled for!" She said.
"Then why don't you divorce me?" I asked.
Priyodorshini paused for a minute, she thought about something deeply before answering, "No."
"Why? You hate me. I hate you. The feeling is mutual!" I said.
"The feeling isn't mutual Archit..." Priyodorshini said.
I paused.
"Why?" I asked.
Priyodorshini stared at me. "You won't get it Archit. You just won't."
Saying that, Priyodorshini turned to her heels and walked away.
"Khecho mashi." I muttered under my breath.
[Translation: Stingy Aunty]

●●●●●●●

"Priyodorshini ebarer program ta kintu jakiye korte hobe." Baba said to Priyodorshini while having his dinner.
[Translation:Priyodorshini we have to make the program exciting this year.]
Priyodorshini nodded while chewing on the roti and roasted egg plant.
I chewed on my palak paneer.
"Eat up baby." Priyodorshini said to Priyangshu.
"By the way Archit, prothom jamai sasthi kemon gelo?" Baba asked me.
[Translation: By the way Archit, how did your first Jamai Sasthi go?]
I choked on my roti and coughed a bit.
"Drink up Archit." Priyangshu said passing me the glass of water.
I smiled at him. "Thanks baby."
"Great baba." I answered.

Baba was planning on celebrating Priyodorshini and my wedding anniversary next year. It was close now. Just in March.
He wanted to keep it grand this time.  Earlier this year, on our first wedding anniversary, Priyodorshini didnot want any celebrations. That was why Baba was so adamant on celebrating our second year together.

"Don't you think celebrating two years with a party and... banquet stuff...would be....weird?" I asked Baba.
"Nobody cares whether it is the first or the tenth,..." Baba paused, "Besides you both didnot let me throw a party this year." He added with a hint of sadness in his voice.
I

frowned.
"I don't want to though.." I said.
Party meant socialisation again, people again, dealing with them again. I hated that.
"Nonesense!" Said Baba.
"I want it this time." Priyodorshini said.
"Our company is also completing 25 years." She added.
"We have a good opportunity to throw a party for your anniversary and the completion of 25 years of Payal's." She said.

I want to announce that I am taking a break cause of some personal issues, sorry. I'll try to come back soon