FAMILY

Vansh's POV

When I got home that night as Riddhima served dinner, I held her hand and said, "I've got something to tell you." She sat down and ate quietly. Again, I've observed the hurt in her eyes. Suddenly I didn't know how to open my mouth. But I had to let her know what I was thinking.

"I want a divorce." I raised the topic calmly.

She didn't seem to be annoyed by my words, instead, she asked me softly, "why?"

I had avoided her question. This made her angry and she threw away the plate and shouted at me, "you are not a man!"

That night, we didn't talk to each other.

She was weeping. I knew she wanted to find out what had happened to our marriage. But I could hardly give her a satisfactory answer; I can't just tell her that I had lost my heart to Ragini. I didn't love her anymore. I just pitied her!

With a deep sense of guilt, I drafted a divorce agreement which stated that she could own our house, our car, and 40% stake in my company.

She glanced at it and then tore it into pieces.

The woman who had spent ten years of her life with me had become a stranger. I felt sorry for her wasted time, resources and energy but I could not take back what I had said for I loved Ragini so dearly.

Finally, she cried loudly in front of me, which was what I had expected to see. To me, her cry was actually a kind of release. The idea of divorce which had obsessed me for several weeks seemed to be firmer and clearer now.

The next day, I came back home very late and found Riddhima writing something at the table.

I didn't have supper and went straight to sleep and fell asleep very fast because I was tired after having an eventful day with Ragini.

When I woke up, Riddhima was still there at the table, writing. I just did not care so I turned over and went to sleep again.

In the morning, she presented her divorce conditions.

She didn't want anything from me but needed a month's notice before the divorce. She requested that in that one month, we both try to live as normal a life as possible. Her reason for these conditions was simple. Our children, Bhavya and Daksh had their exams in a month's time, and she didn't want to disrupt them with our broken marriage.

This was agreeable to me.

But she had something more, she asked me to recall how I had carried her into out bridal room on our wedding day. She has requested that every day for the month's duration I carry her out of our bedroom to the front door ever morning. I thought she was going crazy. Just to make our last days together bearable I accepted her odd request.

I told Ragini about my Riddhima's divorce conditions. She laughed loudly and thought it was absurd. "No matter what tricks she applies, she has to face the divorce", she said scornfully.

My wife and I hadn't had any contact since my divorce intention was explicitly expressed.

So, when I carried her out on the first day, we both appeared clumsy.

Our children clapped behind us, "Papa is holding mumma in his arms." His words brought me a sense of pain.

From the bedroom to the sitting room, then to the door, I walked over ten meters with her in my arms. She closed her eyes and said softly, "Don't tell them about the divorce."

I nodded, feeling somewhat upset. I put her down outside the door. She went to wait for the driver to work. I drove alone to the office.

On the second day, both of us acted much more easily. She leaned on my chest. I could smell the fragrance of her blouse. I realized that I hadn't looked at this woman carefully for a long time.

I realized she was not young anymore. There were fine wrinkles on her face, her hair was graying! Our marriage had taken its toll on her. For a minute I wondered what I had done to her.

On the fourth day, when I lifted her up, I felt a sense of intimacy returning. This was the woman who had given ten years of her life to me.

On the fifth and sixth day, I realized that our sense of intimacy was growing again.

I didn't tell Ragini about this.

It became easier to carry her as the month slipped by. Perhaps, the everyday workout made me stronger.

One morning, she was choosing what to wear. She tried on quite a few dresses but could not find a suitable one. Then she sighed, "All my dresses have grown bigger."

I suddenly realized that she had grown so thin, that was the reason why I could carry her more easily. Suddenly it hit me. She had buried so much pain and bitterness in her heart. Subconsciously I reached out and touched her head.

Daksh came in at the moment and said, "Papa, it's time to carry maa out."

For him, seeing his father carrying his mother out had become an essential part of his life. Riddhima gestured to Daksh come closer and hugged him tightly.

I turned my face away because I was afraid, I might change my mind at this last-minute.

I then held her in my arms, walking from the bedroom, through the sitting room, to the hallway. Her hand surrounded my neck softly and naturally. I held her body tightly, it was just like our wedding day.

But she is being much lighter made me sad.

On the last day, when I held her in my arms, I could hardly move a step. Bhavya and Daksh had gone to school. I held her tightly and said, "I hadn't noticed that our life lacked intimacy."

I drove to the office and jumped out of the car swiftly without locking the door. I was afraid any delay would make me change my mind.

I walked upstairs. Ragini had opened the door and I said to her, "Sorry, Ragini, I do not want the divorce anymore."

She looked at me, astonished, and then touched my forehead. "Do you have a fever?", she asked.

I moved her hand off my head. "Sorry, Ragini", I said, "I won't divorce. My marriage life was boring probably because she and I didn't value the details of our lives, not because we didn't love each other anymore. Now I realize that since I carried her into my home on our wedding day, I am supposed to hold her until death does us apart."

Ragini seemed to suddenly wake up. She gave me a loud slap and then slammed the door and burst into tears. I walked downstairs and drove away.

At the floral shop on the way, I ordered a bouquet of flowers for Riddhima. The salesgirl asked me what to write on the card.

I smiled and wrote, "I'll carry you out every morning until death does us apart."

That evening I arrived home, flowers in my hands, a smile on my face, I run upstairs, only to find my Riddhima sitting on the bed – smiling at me.

"So, Vansh gives me the papers, where do I have to sign?"

No no..... this is what I don't want, well not now and never.......

Taking big steps towards her, I sat on both my knees in front of her and said, "Riddhima you have always been the most important and precious person, until my brain has stopped working properly and whatever I felt was right, I kept doing it! But the reality was complete opposite of it, in pretext of thinking whatever I was doing was right, I knowingly or unknowingly started hurting you, the children!! I would have gone to another extent if you won't have stopped me.

I'm really sorry, I really am! Our relationship of more than 10 years I had broken it in just months.....I really love you Riddhima! For you being always there for me, and i always acting as a jerk couldn't see that....I was so clouded with all the other thoughts that I couldn't see the reality!!

Please forgive me Riddhima....don't leave me! I love you and am ready to bear any of your punishment..............."

I don't know what I was thinking that I took such a drastic step and spoiled our relation...I don't feel like meeting Riddhima's eyes.

But when I did, I can see her smiling. What happened to her?

Is she leaving me! No no, I can't let it happen...

Thinking of it I stood up like a wind, and then felt Riddhima hugging me...

"I'm so happy Vansh...you have no idea. I loved you, love you and will always love you!!"

Her eyes always mesmerized me, and now thinking of all the other things I did, am 'GUILTY'

Breaking my trance, we're the hooting and shouting I could hear..

"Yeah yeah.....this is the most romantic confession.....yehhh", said Bhavya, who knew she'll find it romantic.

"I have made the video and now I'll show it to everyone", exclaimed Daksh.

"What? No, give it to me right away Daksh", I said moving towards him.

"No papa, I want to make other jealous!", saying so they ran away and Riddhima and I are following them.

The small details are of your lives are what really matter in a relationship.

Children you say make your life more entertaining.....mischievous Bhavya and Daksh!

And wife you say, are your life partner who'll always be there to bring you to the right path, even without your knowledge!

And that's what Riddhima did.....Cleaver she!!