The Golden Envelope

Today was their tenth wedding anniversary celebration. Sunita was busy with checking the last-minute preparations for the party while Ashish was dressing up their 6-year-old son Aditya in a beautiful black suit. It was an extravagant party. All the rich and famous people in the town were present at this party. Ashish was a big business tycoon. Ashish called Sunita to introduce her to his special guest. When he introduced her to Mihir, she was shocked. She was seeing him after ten years. Sunita excused herself and ran to her room.

She opened the cupboard and took out a golden envelope. Tears filled her eyes as she stared at the golden envelope. Someone knocked on the door. Wiping her tears, she kept the envelope on the bed and rushed to the door. Aditya was waiting for her at the door. They returned back to the party. Throughout the party, Sunita ignored Mihir. After the guests left, Ashish went to his room to change his clothes while Sunita was putting Aditya to bed. 

Ashish saw the golden envelope. He took out the letter from the envelope. The letter said:

“Dear Sunita,

I have shared the best time of my life with you. I love you very much. Ashish belongs to a wealthy family so he is your family’s first choice. I don’t have a stable job and may not be able to give you the life that you deserve. Yet there will be no one in the world who loves you like me. We have spent the best times of our lives together. I am leaving for Delhi for a big photography assignment. If you love me then come to the airport tonight. We may not have a big house but together we can build a home. I am enclosing the picture of our daughter with this letter. Her name is Prerna as she has inspired me to do something worthwhile in life. If not for me, at least come for her.

We will be waiting for you at the airport.

Yours forever,

Mihir”

Ashish was shocked. When Sunita saw her daughter’s picture in his hand, she was speechless. This was her biggest secret that was hidden in the closet all these years. And now it was out. She apologized to Ashish. Ashish asked her whether she loved him. Sunita replied that he was the only man she truly loved. He told her not to worry as long as she was loyal to him after marriage. Everyone has a past but what matters is the present.

Sunita was relieved. Only she knew that there was another secret hidden in the space of her heart which no one knew about. She secretly still loved Mihir. Prerna was the girl she was sponsoring for her scholarship, so they would live in the same city. Some secrets are better kept hidden otherwise they can destroy the most important relationships.