Deciphering His Love

37 | The One With The Reunion

Madhav limps towards Shree. She was wearing a pink cardigan with a pair of black sweatpants. Her shoulder length hair was left loose.

He stopped when he was one step away from her. After so many months of agony, he was close to his wife.

She was standing still, looking at him fixedly. She stared at him the way she used to when she first saw him in the middle of the road—mesmerized and overwhelmed by his handsomeness and his very size.

He wipes a drop of tear from his eyes and smiles, his heart light and leaping in joy. He was running his cold fingers over her face, remembering the features. Shree gasps as he runs his shivering fingers from her face to her arms.

He takes two more steps forward, coming close until they are only a few centimeters apart. He looks at her adoringly before embracing her in a flash.

"I love you! I love you! I love you so much!" he cries amidst his tears and feels her arms begin to wrap around him in response. She fit snuggly into his arms even after gaining some weight. She smells of the same sandal scent and her hair smells of fresh honey. "Chellam, I am so sorry for being awful to you. I am so so sorry."

He said against the unshed tears that collected in his eyes as he relished their warm embrace.

Shree breaks away to answer the phone in her hand.

"Hi Olivera. I'm fine, there's nothing to worry about. I'll be coming up in a few minutes." Shree says and cuts the call.

Shree looks up at Madhav.

"I can't believe you actually came." Shree says as he caresses her hand. "I can't believe you found me."

"It wasn't easy." Madhav says. "Especially in this weather."

"You look terrible. Why aren't you wearing a coat?" Shree asks. "You must be freezing."

"I am cold and starving but nothing precedes this feeling." He says holding her hand. "I finally found you."

"You look awful- you really need a warm meal and a bath." Shree says softly. "Let me take you up to my apartment."

"I thought you would be in the campus hostel." Madhav says as he walks into the elevator with Shree. "Why did you leave?"

"Uh-um-because I needed space." She says pressing the button to the 3rd floor. "This is a nice spacious place to live in. Three bedrooms and three bathrooms, also a lovely balcony overlooking the quiet neighborhood."

"The rent must be-"

"It is high but it's all worth it. I can afford it with the business I'm running." Shree says as the elevator opens in the third floor. She walks in and Madhav follows.

"It looks quite cozy and comfortable." Madhav says as he looks at the apartment. There was a black couch along with an antique armchair widespread on the grey cotton carpet that rested on the tiled floor. In the middle of the living room was a big undecorated Christmas tree, the decorations were lying on a big cardboard box on the wooden six-seater dining table close to it. The apartment thermostat was set to a slightly warm temperature.

Olivera looks up from the couch.

"Madhav, this is Olivera Jiménez. She's my friend, roommate, and business partner. Oli, this is Madhav, he's -"

"The husband?" Olivera asks standing up. Shree nods. "It's good you finally showed up, but you look so dreadful!"

"I've been having an unlucky turn of events." Madhav says. "Finding my way back to Shree is the only good thing that has happened to me today."