An Estranged Wife

Chapter 3- The Unsaid- Part 1

Ego isn't a mere destroyer of you but the cause of destruction of everyone around you; Sameer never really understood the depth of the words, but today he emphasized the clarity of them sitting under the tree in front of Pari's house.

It has been a few hours since she left for school, cutting off their conversation in the middle while curious to talk to her he couldn't leave.

Authority to order her, he had at one time, now he had nothing to even ask her to stay and complete their talks for she had more important work than him while the only task he had was to make up to her in some way or just attain her one smile to live the rest of his life.

He didn't have the guts to face his in-laws, thus forcing him to take shelter under the tree as he waited for her to return.

Parched, and starved for more than six hours now, his gaze hasn't moved from the road hoping for his wife to appear any moment. What a game of fate it was that once he hadn't valued her but now he was learning to wait for her patiently like she always waited for him.

The truth was he purposely didn't return home by doing over time while he knew she would return no matter what. She was one responsible woman, who knew how to handle the mess as well as the job she was assigned while he only knew how to run away.

He ran away mostly from her, and her responsibilities because he didn't want to give power to a woman over him. How wrong the belief seemed now because now when he knew the real Pari, he understood she would have shared his burdens, not loaded him with her baggage.

Sighing, he stood up and leaned his back on the giant tree to only wince as the hardness of the tree hurt his back and he immediately stepped away from it. Realizations of the countless number of times, he had twisted her arms and raised his hand on her once again occupied his mind, and considering it as the punishment from nature, he again leaned back on the tree allowing the edges of the trunk to hurt his back as much as they could.

Neither did he winced, nor he showed any signs of pain, he stayed like a dead corpse recalling how she always did what he asked her to.

His eyes shut on their own as a tear began to leak from the corner of his eye but before he could accept the solitude of the night, a voice interrupted him.

"What are you doing here?"

Sameer opened his eyes to find Pari standing with a blank look. She looked dead beat tired and he had the sudden urge to hide her in his arms for once and take away all the stress from her.

"Waiting for you." She frowned hearing his reply but as she scanned at the way he was leaning against the tree to support himself, she held his wrist authoritatively pulling him out from further hurting himself.

"What do you think you're doing? By doing these stunts do you really think I'd start loving you again? You were sick and you're sick Sameer. Just get lost." She yelled giving him a disgusted look at his audacity to lure her into forgiving him.

She started to leave only to be held by him at her wrist.

"Don't go, Please." He begged helplessly.

"I'm not trying to make you forgive me. I'm only trying to feel the pain I've given you." He said leaving her wrist.

Infuriated by him, she turned around and accused, "When I wanted you, then you were not there. Now, what do you want to prove by all this? Do you really think you hold any more chance, Sameer Malhotra?"

"And if you think that your sob stories are going to move me into believing you, then let me tell you that they won't. Your wife might feel empathy for you, but a rape victim is never going to empathize with you. Get that in your thick skull." She added in finality and giving him one final glance, she marched inside her home leaving him standing there defeated.