Bittersweet

-30-

A nice song is playing on the television, Sathya was cooking dinner for everyone. Today she was making Raghu's favorite vegetable pulao and potato fry because today was his birthday. Sathya entirely forgot that in the morning but while going on the bus she remembered. But she didn't wish him on the phone and just prayed to God that all his worries should fade away as soon as how they came in their life.

She bought groceries while coming back home in the evening and started preparing the dish. Raghu was not in the home and she hoped he will come back. After all, she can do only this to him.

The last fight thought her something that it's fate playing in their life. If she didn't come with Madhav maybe Raghu would have come to the bus stop. Since he was waiting for her at the entrance.

What he said is unforgivable and that will never go out of Sathya's heart but she loves him deeply. She made the greatest promise in her life that she will stay with him. He has no one either for Sathya. Even if he falls sick no one will look after him except her. Sathya can't break this bond because she doesn't know how to do it.

Sathya's mom went to the nearby temple, Sanjay didn't go with her and stayed with his mom. He was naughty and never sits in a place. Nowadays looking after him is a big task for Sathya and his mom.

"Amma,"

"Amma!" Sanjay shouted from the living room.

Sathya came out to see him standing on the edge of the table he climbed there using the chair, she was shocked and warned him not to move but Sanjay came closer to the edge. And Sathya ran and took him before he could fall. But in that, she hit her stomach on the edge of the dining table. But it didn't pain her much at that time.

"You should not climb on the table, Sanju, okay or else Amma will beat you," Sathya warned sweetly. He didn't care about her warning and jumped from her lap. He started to play with his toys.

Sathya's mom came back home after attending the evening prayers in the nearby temple, all her wish is for Sathya and Raghu's happiness what else she wants right now. Until she lives in this world she wants to see her daughter's happy face.

Raghu didn't come back even after 10 pm. Sathya had dinner and waited for him in the living room. She isn't going to reconcile with him or talk to him. But she's anxious about his life, he's reckless these days, it's okay for Sathya even if he didn't care about her but he has to take care of himself and she's afraid whether something might happen to him.

For whatever he has done, she has this thought to leave him but that's not easy as it sounds. So many reasons have tied her legs, hands, mouth, ears and her eyes. It's not easy to break a bond that is built for all these years. She thought if she breaks it, it will totally break her life. She's afraid to do it.

Sanjay is there, he wants his dad when he grew up and she has seen in this society where a single mother is seen nothing but a slut. So she has come to the conclusion that living a life like this is better than living a life like that.

Time reached 11 pm, her mom and Sanjay have slept already; Sathya was still waiting for him thinking about her life and her stomach has mildly started to pain. That time, someone knocked on the door. Sathya opened the door to see Raghu.

As usual, he is drunk and was dancing in the effect of alcohol. She gave way for him to go and seeing his stability Sathya held arms after locking the door. She took him to the bedroom. He's awake and blankly watched Sathya. He gripped her hand when she was about to leave him.

The room was dark but she could see he's looking at her. He pulled her close and Sathya sat beside him. He didn't say and laid hugging her. His legs and hands wrapped on her frame. Placing his face against her neck Raghu started crying.