“Stop behaving like a kid, Saanvi. Aur aisa nhi hai ki mai time nhi spend krta tumhare saath. Raat saath hote hai na hum. Zaruri hai kya ki jo ek din mujhe free mila hai mai usme bhi bhagam bhaag kru?”

(It’s not like I do not spend time with you. We are together at night. Is it necessary to run around the one day that get an off?)

Saanvi’s pout deepened and she moved closer to him. She cupped his cheeks and whispered.

“Gussa kyu kr rhe ho? I was just saying.”

(Why are you getting angry?)

She started leaning in but before she could kiss him, he moved back and pretended to be busy with some work. Saanvi felt rejected and looked at the floor. 

“Kuch hua hai kya Tanmay? Bhut dino se dekh rhi hu. Ukhde ukhde lag rhe ho. Maine kuch kia kya?”

(Did something happen Tanmay? I have been observing since a lot of days. You seem distant. Did I do something?)

“Kya hoga, Saanvi? Kuch nhi hua hai. I’m just…busy and tired.”

(What would happen Saanvi? Nothing.)

He said and she bit her lip. 

“When are you not? Kaam mai bhi krti hu Tanmay. But tum kuch jyada hi busy ho. Pehle toh nhi the. Pehle toh hectic schedule ke baad bhi time nikaal lete the. Kabhi kabhi toh mujhe lagta hai…tumhe koi aur mil gyi.”

(I also work Tanmau. But you are too busy. You weren’t before. Earlier you took out time even when the schedule was hectic. Sometimes I feel like…you’ve found someone else.)

She joked but when he didn’t say anything she looked up at him. He looked at her slowly and said very seriously.

“Aur agar mai kahu ki aisa hi hai toh?”

(And what I say that it is the truth?)

At first, she paused. She blinked, not able to comprehend what he said. But then his words registered and she thought that he was teasing her. She chuckled and kissed his cheek before whispering naughtily.

“Toh mai kahungi ‘Nice joke, Tanmay’.”

(Then I will say ‘Nice joke, Tanmay’.)

With that she left the room. But his comment and expression stayed with her all day. Somewhere in her heart, a fear developed. Why did he say that with so much seriousness? But she had known Tanmay since her college days. They have been together for more than 10 years now. 

He would not betray her like that. He loved her. It was just that he was busy right now. 

Tanmay had started staying out even more. Saanvi felt his absence even when he was with her. She didn’t know how to talk to him. He didn’t feel like the man she knew and married. 

And it was a month later, she got to know why. The doorbell to their home rang and Saanvi went to check it. A woman of about her age or probably a few years younger than her stood at the door.

“Yes? How may I help you?”

Saanvi asked and the woman said urgently.

“Is this Tanmay Srivastava’s place?”

“Yes. It is. Aap kaun?”

(Who are you?)

“I…I am his…friend. Aap please unhe bula dengi. I need to talk to him urgently.”

(Can you please call him.)

Saanvi frowned but welcomed her inside. 

“Aap yaha baithiye. I’ll call him. What’s your name by the way?”

(Please sit here.)

“You tell him that Tanishka is here.”

Saanvi nodded, the nagging feeling back in her heart. Tanmay was sprawled on the bed scrolling through his phone casually.

“Tanmay…there’s someone outside. Koi Tanishka aayi hai. Keh rhi hai tumse zaruri baat krni hai.”

(Someone named Tanishka is here. She is saying that wants to talk to you urgently.)

She had never seen Tanmay rush out so fast. He was out within an eye blink. Saanvi blinked in surprise and followed behind. She saw Tanmay hold the woman’s hand and drag her outside. She peeked out from the window and saw the two talking in the garden. 

The woman said something that paused Tanmay. He looked at her in disbelief and then smiled widely before pulling her into his arms. Saanvi felt her heart drop to her stomach and she averted her eyes.

Her mother-in-law and sister-in-law had also joined in the meanwhile.

“Ye kaun hai Tinnu ke saath?”

(Who is the girl with Tinnu?)

His mother asked and Saanvi answered her question with a lot of difficulty. Her heart was beating wildly in her chest. Tanmay had still not left the woman and was holding her in his arms.

He held the woman’s hand and brought her inside with both of their faces carrying matching smiles.

“Tinnu? Kya hai ye sab? Kaun hai ye ladki?”

(What is all this? Who is this girl?)

His mother asked and Tanmay smiled wide.

“Ye Tanishka hai maa. The girl I love.”

(She is Tanishka, mom.)

Saanvi’s breath hitched and all his past behaviour, his comments and coming home late at nights made sense.

“Kya matlab hai iss baat ka? Shaadi shuda hai tu.”

(What do you mean by this? You are married.)

Tanmay’s eyes darted towards Saanvi for a fleeting second before he turned back to his mother and said.

“I don’t love her anymore.”

“K-kya matlab hai tumhara? Mazak hai ye koi? Koi aaj kal ka rishta nhi hai hamara. 10 saal ka rishta hai Tanmay. Tum aise ek din achanak aake kahoge ki koi aur pasand hai…aur mai maan jaaungi?”

(W-what do you mean? Is this some joke? Our relationship is not new. We have been in a relationship since 10 years. You will suddenly say that you like someone else…and I will believe it?)

She said and Tanmay chuckled.

“Koi aur option nhi hai tumhare paas. I love Tanishka and I will get married to her soon.”

(You don’t have any other option.)

Saanvi’s lips quivered as she tried hard to control her tears.

“Aisa kya mil gaya tumhe usme jo mujhe bhul gye tum? How could you Tanmay? Girlfriend nhi hu tumhari…ki aaj mann bhar gaya toh breakup kr lia. Biwi hu. Shaadi kri hai humne. Tum…tum aise kaise…”

(What did you get with her that you forgot me? How could you Tanmay? I am not your girlfriend…that you breakup if got bored. I am your wife. We got married. You…how could you…)

She broke down and held his arm while looking into his eyes for answers. But what he said next, broke her completely.

“Tanishka ne mujhe wo dia hai jo tum chah kr bhi nhi de skti. Do saal ho gye hume try krte huye. Ek bacha nhi de paayi tum mujhe. 6 mahine pehle mila hu mai Tanishka se. And she’s pregnant with my baby.”

(Tanishka gave me what you cannot give me even if you want. It’s been two years since we’re trying. You could not give me one child. I met Tanishka 6 months back. And she’s pregnant with my baby.)

Saanvi fell to her knees. She felt completely drained out of energy. His words kept ringing in her ears. 

Ek bacha nhi de paayi tum mujhe.

(You could not give me one child.)

She’s pregnant with my baby. 

Pregnant…

With my baby.

Do saal ho gye hume try krte huye.

(It’s been two years since we’re trying.)

Ek bacha nhi de paayi tum mujhe.

(You could not give me one child.)

She got up and walked towards her room, no, his room, aimlessly. She packed whatever stuff she could manage in one suitcase and moved out of the room without a word. She left her nuptial chain on the dressing table and wiped off her vermillion.

“Divorce papers mai bhijwa dungi. Tumhe tension lene ki zarurat nhi hai. Tum apne baap banne pr dhyan do.”

(I will send the divorce papers. You don’t have to worry. You focus on becoming a father.)

With that she moved out of the house and reached the NGO. She entered the spare room and when she was finally alone, she fell to her knees and sobbed.