A D V I K

My head was hanging low, due to the slap that I never deserved, and a voice echoed in the room- it was him- Mahindra, laughing.

But soon another sound followed in the room, and it was too loud and sharp, like a slap.

I looked up and found Ritika breathing heavily in rage, and her hands were now around his collar, and then her sharp voice entered the room that I had never heard, "Dare to touch him again, and you won't be here."

But soon the room changed, and his hands were in the air, and he spoke," Who the hell are you?" And his hands were about to touch Ritika, but I grabbed them and spoke," Careful, she is my wife."

My breath is heavy, and anger builds inside me. How dare he?

"Oh!" was all he managed.

"And I am resigning." The words that I always repeated in my head were now voiced down, but they weren't how I imagined, soft or in a sad tone, but with anger, rage and hatred.

With that, I left his hands and held Ritika's and left the place.

***

As we entered the room, she held my hands and made me sit on the couch, looking so angry.

"Riti-"

"Stop. Advik. I don't wanna hear anything now." She whispered with that she went to the kitchen.

But my phone vibrated, and I looked, it was rheya.

I picked it up, "Yes, rheya?"

"Jiju, dii is not answering my calls. Tell her not to worry about me as I am staying with Vihaan today."

"Okay, rheya. I will inform her and take care." I spoke and declined the call and then my eyes met hers, she was coming towards me with an icepack in her hand. My heart warmed and a smile pulled on my face.

"Stop smiling, idiot," she muttered, gently pressing the ice pack to my cheek.

The cool water touched my skin sending a shiver down my spine.

"Rheya called. She informed me that she won't be coming as she is staying with Vihaan, and she called me because you were not picking up." I spoke in one breath cause god knows when she would shut me up.

I am scared of my wife.

Especially after that slap.

I looked at her. She only nodded, her brows still drawn together, faint lines forming on her forehead.

But before I could confront her, she spoke," I need time now. I am going outside."

And with that, she left.

Making my heart clench.

A melancholy feeling settled inside me leaving me with only thoughts, thoughts that haunts you.

 I played Sailor on my phone and let myself sink into the darkness.

My hands found the hairs and I clenched them in between my fingers, fuck everything.

I didn't know how long I sat there- motionless, empty- until the suffocation became unbearable.

I needed to be outside. 

Somewhere I could breathe.

 And only one place could bring me the peace- one that she introduced.

***

I walked down the path where she took me in the first date, told me it was her favorite place. I sighed but my breath hitched when I saw her there- sitting.

As if sensing my presence, she turned around and her eyes met mine.

And everything stilled.

Her eyes no longer were of hollowness or anger but a pain, a hurt.

"Sorry-"

"Come." One simple word that gave me my breath back.

I slowly moved towards her sat beside her. And for minutes neither of spoke and lost us to the beauty of the lake. 

A deep silence was between us.

Until her soft yet hurtful voice entered my ears," You know Advik, I trust you with everything. I tell you my problems not because I want to burden you but because I know you will listen to me and hold my hands."

"No one wants their loved ones to feel the burden of their problems, but we still tell, why? Because it hurts less. It shows that you aren't alone. And it's okay to be held by someone."

I looked down feeling a deep ache inside my chest, "Ritika-"

"Advik, you could have just told me." She spoke her eyes now met mine.

They were not of anger but pain, hurtful.

"I would have been worried but not burdened. I would have held your hands do not try to show you the path or tell you to leave the job cause that's your decision."

"I am sorry, Ritika. I didn't know it would be this serious."

She looked at me, asking for the explanation, so this time I gave her.

The truth.

"I joined this company around one year before- in starting everything was good, I felt that I got the best working environment until the boss- I mean that asshole came. We were in good terms until one day I told him my views and corrected him on the presentation, from that day it offended him and then like that he kept scolding me, shouting at me, giving me the extra work, and everything."

"He constantly compared me to Mahindra. And somehow, it reminded me of my childhood- of how my dad used to compare me to Vihaan."
I swallowed hard. "It hurt. Working there."

"Ritika, I hate that place. I really-" Tears spilled from my eyes before I could finish. She moved closer instantly, pulling me into her arms.

My head rested against her chest, one of her hands on my back, the other gently caressing my hair.

"Advik. My boy. I am so proud of you, my baby, I really am. For never giving up and still being the kindest guy. I love you so much." She spoke her head rested on mine.

I squeezed my eyes shut, warmth spreading through me at her words.

"And I am proud of you that, now you resigned and this time, let's build your dreams. Cause you deserve to live a happy life."

And now that everything was out, my heart felt less heavy and my mind was almost empty.

It felt good.

It felt warm.

Just like the home.

A/N

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