Lovesick the Series :

8 - The Affair

Mick returned to his room as soon as Ohm fell asleep. Slowly and with great hesitation, he knocked on the door of their room. Mary sleepily opened the door and banged it shut again on his face. He was startled. He called out 3 times. She didn't respond. He walked down to the lobby with a confused mind. He fell asleep on the sofa within seconds.

Mick woke up to find a very busy lobby with guests streaming in. There was a crowd of teenage girls at the entrance with their placards that read We love you NOH! We love you OHM! Nohm fans, indeed! He slowly walked to the lift bay. He was going to try his luck getting into his own room. When the door opened, Noh, Ohm and their manager along with few other staff startled Mick. He stepped aside for the entourage. Noh and Ohm noticed him and Noh smiled at Mick. Ohm walked out last and grabbed Mick's wrist and pulled him back in. Mick was startled, so was Noh who realized Ohm's sudden disappearance from his side.

'Mick, you disappeared again this morning - I panicked. Where did you go?'

Mick rolled his eyes and turned away. 'Ohm, I need time. If that's not too much to ask. I really need time to think it over. Besides, there is Mary...' he suddenly realized he had forgotten to push the 11th floor button.

Ohm didn't want more excuses, no matter how valid they were. 'Mick, this is my private number. I need you to call me when you sort things out with Mary. OK? Promise me you will call. And don't change your number. I can't afford to lose you again Mick.' With that, he kissed Mick again. Mick pushed Ohm away! He wasn't someone you could just grab and kiss. Ohm let Mick have his way and stood a feet apart to give him space. There was silence again, till the lift chimed that they had reached the 11th floor. Mick hurried out. Ohm was left to his thoughts alone till Noh rang him up. 

'&^%%@Ohm, where the hell are you? Do I have to come up to haul your ass down?' Noh always had a way to bring him back to reality. It was music to his ears, sometimes.

'Sorry Noh, am on way down right now. Will be there in 2 minutes'

'We are going to miss our flight at this rate and you know we've got our schedule jam-packed... ' Ohm let Noh continue with the ranting as he hung up.

In the van, Noh continued with the ranting directed at Ohm. Ohm would usually fire back but this time, he was unusually silent. Noh gave up after a while trying to distract his friend. He loved Ohm like a brother and though he saw the light at the end of the tunnel with the discovery of Mick, he was still a little skeptical about how this was going to pan out for him. He wondered about Mick.

Mick didn't knock this time. He yelled and fist-pounded the door. Mary opened the door. She had dressed up, added extra layer of make up to remove all traces of her swollen eyes and cheeks. She was ready to leave the hotel and go back home. Her 6th anniversary had failed miserably and Mick was to blame. Mick stood in front of Mary as he closed the door. He slowly hugged her. The hug said, 'I am sorry. I am guilty. I am the one who ruined it all. Thank you Mary. Thank you for putting up with me.' He couldn't voice them all so he simply hugged her. Mary was stiff cold in that embrace. She would usually warm up to him, but not this time. Mary's breath was shallow. In their six years of marriage, this is the first time Mary felt let down. 

She pushed him away gently and asked, 'Are you having an affair?' 

Mick didn't know how to react but he answered, 'I am afraid so Mary. This is probably our last anniversary together.'

'Who is it Mick?' she asked in the same monotone? There was no tinge of surprise or disappointment.

'Someone I knew back from my high school days,' Mick replied with all honesty. 

'I haven't met any of your friends from your school days, so I probably have never met her.'

Mick didn't correct her. He just hmmmped his response. They left the hotel and drove back to their city in silence. Once they reached home, they got busy with their usual post holiday routine - laundry, opening the windows, cleaning and dusting. 

When they sat down for lunch, Mary wanted to know what would their next course of action be? Mick said he hadn't given it a thought but said he'd like to close their chapter before the year end. There were tons of things to consider before parting ways. His parents, her parents, the town people, the house they owned and Mary too.

That night, as he lay in the guest room, he heard her sob. He never loved her, but had grown to care for Mary. None of this was her fault. It was all his. If only he had the strength to say to No to his parents 6 years ago, they would never be in this predicament. His mind played on. Do I love Ohm enough to leave Mary? It was a night fling. It was heat of the moment and these moments pass. I have compromised 6 years of my life, trying to love a woman but at the end, it was Ohm who rekindled all that fire in me.