At first, I was hesitant to speak to her, not wanting to give her the wrong idea. But she approached me with a warm smile, and we started chatting about her brother's kind nature.
The conversation effortlessly flowed from there to our personal lives, and I discovered that her life is a thrilling adventure filled with humour and wit.
Her ability to crack humorous jokes had me laughing in no time, and I found myself enjoying her company more than I expected.
"Enough for the night; let's go in," she said, and we strolled into the house together.
While we walked, I asked, "Have you had dinner yet?"
"Not yet. I haven't even had a chance to bathe."
I nodded. "Well, I could use some freshening up too. We can have dinner together."
We then parted ways, each heading to our respective rooms. I entered mine and saw my wife engrossed in drawing, her pencil scratching against the paper.
I didn't disturb her; instead, I made my way to the bathroom to wash up and change into something comfortable.
After a refreshing bath, I appeared feeling revitalised, ready to spend the evening with Divya.
"Though you may not recognise our marriage, I still honour my commitment to it, at least until our divorce is finalized. I beg you to be mindful of your actions, just as I remain loyal. You cannot pursue another relationship while still being bound to me. I expect the same commitment from you that I have given to this union." Her eyes remained fixed on her artwork as she spoke at a quiet volume.
I laughed, shaking my head. "I've made it clear; I consider myself a single man."
I turned to leave, but her words stopped me in my tracks.
"But you're not," she said. "That's the truth. You are a married man, no matter how much you try to deny it."
"If it bothers you so much, I'm giving you the freedom to also search for a relationship if you wish before the divorce. As for it, the paperwork is being processed. Soon, everything will be finalised, and we can both move on with our lives." I said, my voice calm, before I walked away.
When I entered the dining room, I found Divya already seated, a warm smile on her face.
"Finally, you're here," she said, gesturing for me to take a seat.
I did, and she handed me a plate, her eyes sparkling.
"I'm starving," she giggled, placing a second plate in front of herself. The aroma of the food wafted up, making my stomach growl quietly.
"The food earlier was incredible!" she exclaimed, serving herself and then me. As she took her first bite, her eyes closed in euphoria while she savoured each bite.
"Mmm...this is amazing!" She moaned in delight, her fork hovering in mid-air as she relished the taste.
"Your chef is a culinary genius, a virtuoso, a magician! They're not just cooking; they're creating wonders! They have a gift, seriously. They should be working in a five-star hotel, not just cooking for you. They're wasting their talent!" She continued to eat, her enthusiasm for the food evident in every bite.
"This is a unique knowledge unlike any other, a true gastronomic revelation!" Her words were punctuated by sighs of pleasure.
I forced a smile, quietly admitting in my head that, indeed, my wife can cook perfectly. But I keep avoiding eating because I don't want to get used to it since she will be leaving soon.
I began to eat, savouring the flavours in silence.
The room became filled with the sound of our contented munching.
"I'm feeling sleepy now," she said, sipping the last of her water and exhaling satisfyingly.
"Goodnight." She rose from her seat, leaned in, and gently kissed my cheek.
I remained still, taken aback by the tender gesture, as she smiled and headed upstairs.
I grinned with happiness, feeling like a man who had just won a lottery.
I rose from my seat, feeling unexplainable satisfaction, and headed back to the bedroom.
However, my wife went out of the room just as I entered, her eyes cast down, avoiding mine.
I shrugged, unfazed, and climbed into bed, my heart still illumined with the warmth of Divya's kiss.
••••
It was morning.
The instant the sun rose over the horizon, I went outside, eagerly waiting for her to come for her morning jog.
She appeared, her face lighting up with a radiant smile as her eyes met mine. Her expression transformed from a slight seriousness to a warm sheen, like a sunrise bursting over the landscape, illuminating everything in its path.
"What brings you out here?" she asked after reaching me.
"I'm trying to lose a few pounds," I replied with a chuckle. "I thought I'd join you for a jog and get some exercise."
She giggled and shook her head, her ponytail bouncing with the motion. "Well, let's get this over with then," she heckled, taking off in a speedy jog.
I followed suit, and my breathing laboured as I struggled to keep up.
"So, tell me," I panted, "is there someone special in your life right now?" I asked, my curiosity getting the better of me.
She glanced over at me, a smile playing on her lips, as she replied,
"Someone special, like?" she asked.
"A boyfriend?" I replied, unapologetically curious.
Her giggle was music to my ears.
"Oh, no. I'm single," she confirmed, her response sending a thrill of joy through me.
As we jogged, I couldn't keep up with her pace, and so I stopped, struggling to keep my breath. But my eyes remained fixed on her, my gaze following her like a magnet.
From afar, I watched, transfixed, as she ran with the grace of a deer, her movements fluid and effortless. The sunlight danced across her face, brightening her features, and I was yet again struck by her beauty, my heart pounding in my chest like a drum.
Time seemed to stand still as I stood there, mesmerised by the vision of her, my soul longing to be closer, to be with her, to be one with her.
••••
A month has passed.
I can't help but feel drawn to Divya more and more each day. She's always on my mind. I can't stop thinking about her.
Her birthday is coming up tomorrow. I've decided to take a chance and tell her how I feel. If she feels the same way, I'm thinking about taking our relationship to the next level—I will propose marriage.
As for my wife, we've stopped speaking since the day she asked me to remain loyal until our divorce was finalised.
The divorce papers are now ready, and I plan to hand them over to her tonight when I get home, marking the end of our marriage and a new beginning for me.
I walked into my bedroom with the divorce papers in my hand.
My wife was on the floor, holding a pen in hand, while being lost in thought as she wrote in her diary.
"The divorce papers are ready," I announced, my voice breaking the silence.
I watched her hand freeze, and she looked up at me.
"Let's sign them and submit them to the court," I said, my tone straightforward yet gentle.
She nodded, a faint, sorrowful smile playing on her lips, while she immediately wiped away the tear that had escaped her eye.
"Let's do it," she whispered. "Let's end it tonight." Though she tried to sound strong, the anguish in her tone was visible.
I raised an eyebrow, my heart refusing to melt as it already belonged to another—Divya.
I couldn't wait to end this chapter and start another with her.
I took out a pen from my pocket and signed on without any guilt where my signature was needed, then passed it on to her.
As her eyes scanned the documents, her voice trembled as she spoke. "Do you recall what you told me on our wedding night?" She asked, her words laced with pain.
"You said I was a darkness, a curse, a harbinger of misfortune and suffering. That I was a shadow that brought only sorrow and misery." Her voice dropped to a whisper as she signed the papers, the scratch of her pen echoing through the silence.
"You called me the darkest, most miserable night, one that brings only suffering and pain."
"Let's forget the past and move on," I said sincerely. "I wish you a beautiful life from now on."
She laughed with a sorrowful, mirthless sound. "I just want to set the record straight," she said, her eyes locking with mine while they welled up with tears.
"I wasn't the darkness you made me out to be. I didn't bring suffering into your life. In fact, look at where you were when we met—you had nothing. And look at you now. I may not have been the sunshine you needed, but I was never the darkness you claimed."
"You're right," I admitted, my voice heavy with regret. "I apologise for all that I said. I'm truly sorry."
She cut me off in a cold tone. "I already told you, I'll never forgive, nor will I forget. Keep your apologies to yourself."
She then rose from the floor, her movements stiff, as she started gathering her belongings from the cupboard.
"You can stay until the court approves the divorce, or at least until tomorrow morning," I offered out of guilt for the hurtful words I had spoken on our wedding night.
I know it was wrong, but my anger got the better of me then.
"Do you think I lack self-respect?" She turned to me, her eyes flashing with anger.
"I won't spend another moment in this house. I know you've been planning to propose to Divya. Why then should I stay in a place where I'm no longer wanted?"
"What?" Vidya's voice burst from the doorway, her eyes wide with shock.
"What did you just say?" She stared at me as if I had just uttered the most unthinkable words.
"Planning to propose to me?" She repeated it, her tone incredulous, as if the very idea was absurd.
Meanwhile, my ex-wife continued to pack quietly.
"This was not how I planned for it, but..." I fumbled over my words, trying to explain, but she cut me off, her voice rising in anger.
"Do you have feelings for me? How could you?" she exclaimed, her eyes blazing with rage.
I tried to organise myself. "I mean, yes, I do have feelings for you, but I was planning to confess in a more appropriate manner, not like this," I said, stuttering under her intense gaze.
However, her expression only darkened.
"I saw my brother in you," she said, her words piercing my heart like a dagger, leaving me stunned and speechless.
"I gave you the love and respect I had for him. How could you betray that trust?"
I shook my head. "I thought..." I began, but she cut me off again.
"You thought what? That I'd fall for you? I never saw you as anything more than a brother figure. I'm sorry, but you don't possess any qualities that I find attractive. We can never be together, and now you've managed to ruin the one good thing we had—our sibling bond."
"Goodbye," my ex-wife said, her voice barely above a whisper, as she gazed at me. She turned and walked out, her luggage in hand.
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