2 Sides

Palomi and Sushant were not really involved in the party. They were in their own world after they stepped to the balcony.
Sushant asked, "Why did you want me to come along with you?"
Palomi didn't know how to answer that. She let out a deep breath and said, "I don't know. Honestly, its because I never connect with someone so early and so easily. I take time to know people and vice - versa. But when I was with you last night, I thought that you knew me really well. I felt light after talking to you. And I hate parties. So I thought, maybe, you know."
Palomi looked outside while Sushant looked at her with a smile. He said, "Many of my close friends have told me the same thing. That I understand people pretty well. Its just a quality maybe? But I'm glad you like talking to me."
Palomi looked at him and smiled.
Sushant interjected, "As weird as it sounds, I'm an introvert myself. I have very few close friends. Even I take time to connect but maybe it was because it was you. You know the person who you want to connect with also depends whether you can connect faster or not."
Palomi made a confused expression and said, "Little awkward but I got it."

***

Kabir and Daniel were not talking to each other. Daniel went off to bed while Kabir was in the living room, thinking about his faults and his share of mistakes.
He was ashamed of himself. He called Palomi.

***

Palomi saw Kabir's call, but she hung up. Sushant saw that and said, "Maybe you should talk to him and sought it out rather than having misunderstandings."
Palomi clicked her tongue and said, "I can't think rationally. And I don't want to end up fucking things so bad that I can't handle it."

***

Kabir was tensed and angry. He knew that Palomi was not answering his calls. He felt like going to Mumbai and talking to her. He felt like telling her everything. He could not hide things from her.
He started crying. After crying he realized that crying was what Palomi would do. He felt that crying was a side - effect of being with her and living his whole life with her.
He texted Palomi saying,
'Hey Palomi. I know you're not in the mood to talk to me but I need to talk to you urgently. I know you're mad at me and you're mad at yourself but please. Please. Please give me an opportunity to express myself. Please.
Apart from that, I hope you're doing better than me right now. Please don't ignore me. And please answer my calls.'
Kabir felt weird and he didn't want to sound desperate. But he couldn't help it.

***

Palomi received Kabir's message and she mentally face palmed. She showed it to Sushant who quietly read it and looked at her.
She said, "I really don't know what to do with this man."
"Palomi. Talk to him."
Palomi shouted, "What! No! No way! I can't talk to him."
"See Palomi. You need to think from his perspective. Maybe he wants to tell you something really important. Or he wants to express himself since you know him better than anyone else."
Palomi looked unhappy and displeased.
Sushant said, "There are always 2 sides to every story, every conflict, every situation and every relationship for that matter. Both sides are important. Now imagine a house which has only 3 walls. Can you live in that house? No. The house isn't complete without the 4th wall. Your relationships will never be complete or successful if you don't understand what the other person is trying to convey. Are you understanding what I'm saying?"
A tear dropped from Palomi's eye. She whispered, "I hate it when you make sense."

***

Kabir called Palomi once again. Palomi took time to answer the phone but she did.
Kabir was still in tears. He said, "Palomi."
Palomi sighed and whispered, "Hello."
There was an awkward silence on the line. Kabir didn't know where to start from.
Palomi mustered the courage to speak and she said, "I think you wanted to say something."
Kabir said, "Yes. I wanted to tell you something. Something really important. Palomi please don't get mad, okay?"
"Okay. Tell me."
"I'm sorry for being a jerk. I don't want to hurt you. But, I cheated on you."
Palomi started crying. She didn't say anything.
Kabir said, "Pallo please don't cry. Please."
Palomi screamed, "So? You expect me to laugh? Kabir we have been in a relationship for 12 years, 8 months and 17 days."
Sushant's eyes widened. Even though he pretended not to listen to their conversation, he ended up listening to them.
Kabir couldn't believe Palomi. He shouted, "Fuck your memory and fuck your brain!"
Both of them were crying. Palomi said, "Then why did you come back to me? Why did you lie to me? If you really didn't love me, you could've told me."
Kabir said sarcastically, "And you would have been okay with me being in love with someone else."
"But I wouldn't have been as sad, mad and angry as I am right now. And not telling me earlier doesn't justify your behaviour."
Again there was an awkward silence between them.
Kabir said softly, "I know I've hurt you and I want to apologize."
"You know what, I don't care. Now that we have broken up and we're trying to move on in life, I don't even want to know if you were cheating on me or you were cheating on someone else by staying with me. I. Don't. Fucking. Care!"
Palomi hung up the phone. She couldn't feel herself. Her stomach started aching and her body went numb. She almost lost balance when Sushant came to hold her. He made her sit on the chair nearby and went inside the living room to get her a glass of water.

***

Kabir tried calling her again. But he gave up. He felt dejected and he hated himself that minute.
Daniel came to the living room after hearing Kabir shouting over the phone. He saw him crying and felt like hugging him but he was scarred from inside too.