"He forgot the wedding anniversary once again, San. Sometimes I wonder if any of this means anything to him or not. He has not even called me once in the last three days and replies in monosyllables whenever I drop some messages to check upon him. He just has no time. I wish the olden days were back," mused Mohini, sipping the exotic wine from her beautifully carved glass, playing their wedding photos on the projector whose control she held, unlike her emotions that day.
"Can you stop drinking that wine, Mohini? No matter how many we hide or control, you find a way to smuggle them to yourself, isn't it?" reprimanded Sandeep, sighing deeply in disappointment.
"Love is like an intoxication, San. So is this exquisite drink. I am trying to compensate for the loss of one intoxication by the other. Next time you try to stop this addiction of mine, try to buy some time for Adhrit for me as a replacement, it would work perfectly," she added, walking up to the screen and running her dainty fingers on the image of their smiling faces.
"Sometimes I think you are deranged in this love of yours! Till how long are you going to complain, talk whimsically about your longing for him? When do you plan to take the decision of either accepting your fate or moving on from him?" questioned Sandeep, running his fingers through his hair.
"Why did you fall in love with me?" she asked, not turning towards him.
"What? How is relevant in this situation?" he said, his voice slightly shivering, and his tone hurried.
"You knew that I was married, in love with my husband. Then why did you fall in love with me when there was no chance with me?" she asked once again, this time turning to face him.
"It was not about chance, it just happened, Mohini. And staying beside you is what I need, more than your reciprocation of my love. But there is also hope in my heart, that if not in this world, maybe in some other dimension we are together and that reflects sometime in this world too," he replied.
"That hope is the biggest bane of my life, Sandeep. As a lover, staying beside me is enough for you and the same is for me. I want my love to be by my side and the hope does not let my love give up but as a wife, I seek the same love and support from my husband as I lend to him. if I was just a lover, life would not have been so complicated, Sandeep, but I am Mohini Thakkar, daughter of Kanika Mehra, who died in the hope of finding love, daughter of Vinod Thakkar for whom marriage was just a burden and wife of Adhrit Solanki to whom expectations are equivalent to curse. Amidst balancing these facets, I have forgotten who I truly am."
There was something about her tear-stricken face and gleam of determination in her eyes that made him get pulled towards her like never before. It was a blur when their lips met, and they only realized when Mohini pulled apart.
"Sandeep! This is wrong," she warned, maintaining distance from her friend.
"Someone who knows about the angst of love would surely understand the ache of unrequited love. Please be my cure and who knows, it can cure your agony too," he offered, cupping her chin affectionately as he looked straight into her eyes with sincerity.
Her conscience warned her of the sin she was going to commit but rightly as she had said, she had forgotten whom she truly was.
"How I wish I had experienced love at least once in my life, even by crooked ways. At least, I would not die today in a regret that I was unloved throughout my life..."
Kanika's words rang in Mohini's ears like never before and the pain she experienced in the company of pain of loneliness for the next three days haunted her once again. The unfulfilled wish of her mother, the prospect that she might find a cure for her agony and take away the possibility of burdening her love with the curse of expectations pushed her to the tainted step of infidelity.
Her loosened grip on his biceps became strengthened as she moved into his embrace, taking a deep breath as she took the most regretful mistake of her life.
Inhibitions and clothes lay forgotten as the two lost lovers found solace in each other and unknown to the storm awaiting them.
It was the day of their wedding anniversary and Adhrit had brought it upon himself to surprise his dear wife. He had purposefully planned for the trip before their anniversary and lied to his wife that he would not be able to make it on the exact date so that he could surprise her by arriving early.
He opened the main door with the spare key with him and walked in as soundlessly as possible. His security incharges had conveyed that Mohini had not gone out and was inside the home. He hoped that she would like his gift. He had gotten sapphire tinted crystals in a chain, engraved with their initials and the date of their wedding.
He walked stealthily towards their room and opened the door with the biggest grin on his face.
The visual that greeted him ensured that his grin would fade away and the crystal chain would drop to the ground to shatter just like his dreams and his heart.
His wife Mohini was in the throes of passion with another man, in their own bedroom, on their own marital bed and on the day of their wedding anniversary. There could not be a more gruesome way to get more familiar with the reality that his wife cheated on him.
He was always aware of her lascivious nature but to greet it in the way he had, he thought that there could never be a worse pain than he endured in that one instant.
His presence alerted Mohini, who instantly tried to cover herself and her illegitimate lover. His conscience mocked over him as the visual unfolded. She was hiding herself from him, her husband. He was the one to push her into passionate moans myriads of times and she decided it was necessary to hide from his eyes and not the one whom she was busy romancing.
"Adhrit..."
"Not a word, Mohini. I was here to surprise you for our anniversary, but you clearly have other plans in your mind and had given me the biggest surprise I could ever get. Enjoy your time, Mohini and sorry for trespassing in my own bedroom," he spat as he turned around and pushed the door closed.
He did not wait for Mohini to come out of the room. That sight had burned into his mind and he did not want to see her lover again. Her lover was not a person he recognized or rather he did not want to recognize, and he wondered if he was a call boy or her serial lover.
He knocked over a few expensive vases to vent his pent-up frustration. Years of love, years of dedication, years of loyalty, what did it fetch him? He was ready to take her share of pain, her share of sorrows, her share of debts to ensure her happiness and what did he get in return?
"It's all over, Sandeep! Why did I have to do this? Adhrit will never forgive me for this!" wailed Mohini, but it all fell on deaf ears. Her tears rolled onto the ground to crash like her dreams, much like her husband's, a few moments ago.
Betrayal.
The one emotion which had the power to destroy everything of his. Mohini had demolished the dam of patience which was waiting to burst since years. She ensured that she powers his hatred enough to overpower his love for her.
He wondered if he had done anything in the present life or the past one to condemn him to a fate of loveless life. Then he realized he had been loved, probably in the most intense and passionate way possible.
There was one woman who loved him beyond everything. Alas, he had molded his destiny in a way he could only grieve about in the present, thanks to his darling wife. The memory of Mohini made fury and vengeance rush through his veins. Being the warm-blooded male that he is, he let his heart guide him through the tempestuous situation.
Little did he know that the moment which he considered to be the worst moment of his life would soon not be the worst because he let himself create a present in which he would create worser moments, for both himself and the woman who loved him beyond everything.
Neysa's Flat, A tired and exhausted Neysa pulled herself to her feet to open the door as she listened to the doorbell being rung impatiently. She wondered who could arrive at her doorstep at that hour, considering that she was not expecting anyone to come over.
The sight which befell on her fatigued eyes ensured that she would feel rejuvenated and blissful. Standing in front of her, on the other side of the threshold, was the man who had stolen her heart: Adhrit Solanki.
But soon her features faded into worry as she noticed his paced breaths and rugged appearance. He surely did not seem calm and seemed to be extremely troubled.
"Adhrit! To what do I owe this pleasure? How may I help you?" she asked as she moved aside to allow him into her haven.
"I am ready to fulfill your condition, Neysa. Will you accept my proposition?" he demanded; his eyes red with feelings she craved to know but she knew that she would not be in a position to question.
Every word enunciated by him seemed to bring in waves of multiple emotions. The Third time he had used her given name. Third time he had pushed her into shock, into numbness. Her teenage fantasies were going to turn true, but her present warned her about her future. Would she be able to part with her child with Adhrit? Ever?
"Adhrit, are you sure? What made you agree to this? You seemed to be repulsed by the very idea of this, then why?" she questioned, knowing well that she would not receive any answers.
"Just tell me if you are ready or not, Nisha. I am not ready to answer your questions, but I really, really need this. Please," he pleaded, his eyes still red and his breaths still staggered.
Neysa took in a deep breath. She knew that it was not the time to analyze the situation as she would prefer to. Her love demanded something from her, and she would give it away, even if it sought the very soul from her.
"I was, am and will be yours, Adhrit. I am ready."
Inhibitions were shed along with clothes. He was marking her body just as he had marked her soul. Unbeknownst to him, he was letting her mark his soul which had been craving for love since long. That night, two lovers had found their solace in each others' arms. Alas, the union did not seem to be long enough to quench their thirst.