Prologue
Aaravi's P.O.V
I was sitting on the balcony, in my small apartment. My left hand was over my swelled belly, and in my other hand, there was a coffee mug.
It has been five months since our separation, and he could not contact me, because I changed my phone number and blocked him. But, he doesn't know my biggest secret yet. Which is, I am pregnant with his child. I got to know this after I came here
I always wanted to tell him, but never made up the courage to face him again. I am six months pregnant. After that night, I left the city and shifted to Dehradun. Well, everything changed. I thought that I had a man I loved. He loved me like nothing else. But, I couldn't keep all to myself.
It has already been five months and I am six months pregnañt. I don't know how will I face him. I just left after leaving a letter and divorce papers. I flew here overnight. I did not contact anyone. Just left. I came here, and found this job. After working for mostly a week I found out that I am pregnant. I thought of returning home, returning back to him. But, I didn't want to appear selfish and shameless in front of everyone. Especially him.
Things are difficult to handle on my own, but I still manage somehow. I am currently working at the Fortis Hospital in Dehradun. Soon I will take my paid maternity leave. It is becoming very difficult day by day for me to survive in this city, especially the cold, because I don't like the cold weather at all. But yet I chose this place because, I know that they will not be able to find me.
After the divorce, I fled away to this city from Kolkata because, I didn't want to face my family and relatives. Every word they said to me still stung me.
"You are so irresponsible!"
"You are a bad omen to the family!"
"She ate way her own mother during birth, soon she will be the cause of her father's death!"
"No one will marry you with this face of yours!"
My aunt always cursed me, when my father and uncle were not there. I even tried to tell him all this. But, he didn't believe me, and slapped me for falsely accusing an elder.
After that day I never said anything to my father, because I knew he won't believe me. I always had keep my grades up, because once I got less marks in mathematics, the teacher insulted him in front of everyone. He came home and thrashed me with belt. I could not sit straight for three days. So, I studied hard. My father wanted me study medical. But, I wanted to study literature. He did not allow me. So he, settled for management. He said it was better than studying literature and writing a book.
I never talked with any boys. I was admitted to a girl's school. Then, even when I wanted to go to a co-education for my higher secondary, he scolded me, and said that I will get distracted. He did not allow me to go there, and hence, I was admitted to a girl's school again.
In college also, there was a fixed for me to return home. I should return home within 7:00 maximum. If crossed that, then he said that he will discontinue my college, and marry me off. One day I ran a little late, because of the rain, he slapped me three times, and then he was discussing my marriage with the family members. I had to cry and touch his feet for not fixing the marriage. I never ran late again. Even if it was raining heavily, I traveled in the tain and always informed someone on the phone before hand. None of my friends were allowed in my home. Whenever, there was a plan, I had to go to their place. I also started giving tutions near our house, for my pocket money. Because, my father cut off my pocket money after the rain incident.
It is raining right now. Everytime, I watch the rain from my balcony, I am reminded of our first kiss. It was three years ago. I was so naive then, I thought thought that he loved me, that he will sacrifice everything for me. I was soo wrong. Everything had changed in the past six months in my life. It turned upside down.
Sometimes, I really miss my home, my family and my beloved city of joy - Kolkata. I was born and brought up there. Ever since I was little, I never wanted to get married. I saw my aunt, my own mother, that how much they had to endure. Therefore I never wanted to get married. I always thought that I would get stuck in loveless marriage like my mother, who ultimately died.
But, he changed me, my mindset. He made me believe that I could be a happily married woman. Everytime I see myself in the mirror, I think that, if he knew that I was pregnant, would we still be together? Would everything be like it always was.
Flashback *3years ago*
I am humming a bengali song, a rabindra sangit- moloyo batashe. It is raining outside, and I am standing in the balcony watching the rain.
Suddenly, two pair of hands embrace me from behind. He keeps his chin on my right shoulder. "Ekta gaan shonao na!" (Please sing a song for me!)
I am a bit surprised by his request, he never asked me this before. "Ki gaan shunbe?" (Which song do you want to listen to?)
"Rabindra Sangeet ofcourse, the one you were humming right now."
I start singing the song, tapping my fingers along with the rhythm of the song. He is also tapping one of his fingers on my waist.
After I finish my song, he says, "I wanted to ask you something for a while." "Say it", I say.
"Can I kiss you?"
He turns me to him. Looks me in the eye, and asks the same question again. I don't know how to react to that. My cheeks heat up immediately. I am blushing tremendously. I can see his cheeks had turned pink, maybe he is blushing too.
"Yes", I say, the sound almost inaudible.
His face comes closer to my mouth. Then, his lips are on mine. There is no movement. Then, he releases my lips. Our eyes meet briefly. Then his lips crash down on mine. The kiss turns deep. He sucks on my lower lip
I moan in his mouth, his mouth is consuming every sound.
Then, we both come up for air. Then again our lips arepressed against each other. My back hits the balcony rail. Drenching my hair and back. The cold water makes me gasp. He takes this opportunity to plunge his tongue in my mouth.
"You are intoxicating!"
He continues to kiss me for which almost felt forever.
A phone call disturbs us. It was his call. His mother called. He went inside to talk to him. I never thought that our first kiss would happen today and that also like this.
I kept tracing my lips, I shivered by the feeling. It made me feel something different. He came back and said that we needed to leave quickly, as my father had demanded to bring me home.
*Flashback ends*
I am brought to reality by text, I don't check who is it. When I notice that
The rain has stopped...
I glance at the clock, and it's 7:30 in the evening already. Oh shoot! I have to prepare the dinner, as my house helper is on leave. This pregnancy makes it even more difficult. I sometimes imagine, if my mother was here, none of this would have happened.
I go to the kitchen, and wash the veggies, and start chopping them. I keep it simple, as I am not feeling very well today. Suddenly, there's a knock on my door. I am surprised, as no one usually visits me. I slowly proceed to the door. This time there is another knock, a louder one.
As I open the door, it almost makes me fall on the ground. I really didn't expect this. Not him. I blink a few times, making sure I am seeing right. Even after that he still there.
It is none other than Siddharth Roy, my ex-husband.
His eyes first land on my face, then on my belly. Which obviously showed I was pregnant, then it was back at my face.
“Won't you invite me in?“
I was soo shocked, I forgot that, how much this voice affected me. I stepped aside, indicating him to come inside. I close the door slowly. I still have not spoken a single word. I am bewildered to see him. This was the last thing on my mind. I expected him to say something, or well freak out for not calling him for help.
“May I sit?" he asked.
"Yes, let me bring you some water."
I handed him a glass of water.
After finishing half a glass, he asked,
"Is this why you left me? Is the baby mine?"
"Or were you having an affair, so you wanted a divorce?"
"I was not having an affair, and didn't know I was pregnant at the time"
"So, why did you not contact me?"
"Are you here to question me?"
"No, I am shifting to Dehradun."
My world shattered into pieces.
