The night was silent and dark.

Arohi and Neil were lying on their bed, facing opposite directions. Arohi started at the stars, trying to seek solace while Neil stared at the plain wall in front of him. It was the only wall in their room which was plain, there was no furniture in front of it, no decorations, no photo frames, nothing. Even the colour was white.

The wall looked so lonely among all the other ones.

'But what if the wall likes staying alone, Neil? Just like you, just like how you want to go and stay in Mumbai, all alone. You want to go there even if Chipkali is not going with you' a small part of his brain questioned.

"I don't like staying alone" Neil mouthed the words.

He got up, resting his back on the headboard.

"I know you're awake, Chipkali" he whispered softly and Arohi turned to face him.

"Meri neend udaa ke khud kyun jaage ho?" (Why are you awake after ruining my sleep?) Arohi asked, her annoyance taking over her hurt. Neil's lips curved slightly as he lied down again, facing her.

"Chipkali, maine kaha tha na? humara rishta bohot gehra hai, agar tumhe neend nahi aayi, toh mujhe kaisi aayegi?" (I had told you Arohi, our connection is very deep. How will I sleep when you're awake?) he said, and Arohi closed her eyes, as she saw the night when Neil had said that, and she smiled.

"Chipkali, please chalo na Mumbai" (Arohi, let's go to Mumbai, please) he whispered and Arohi opened her eyes.

"Theek hai, Neil. Chalo Mumbai, I am ready to go anywhere you tell me. Tum mujhe nark leke jaana chahte ho na, toh bhi chalungi. Par tumhe mujhe iss decision ke peeche ka actual reason batao" (Okay Neil. Let's go to Mumbai, I am ready to go anywhere you tell me. You can take me to hell, too; I'll come along with you. But you have to tell me the actual reason behind this decision) she said.

"Money" he replied, and Arohi smiled, again, but this time the smile didn't reach her eyes.

"Chamgadar apni chipkali se jhoot kabse bolne laga?" (When did the bat start lying to his lizard?) she asked, her lips still curved in a smile.

"Aaru" Arohi cut him off.

"Neil, I know you're hurting. I know you're sad, but I need to know why." She said, cupping his face.

"It's stupid" he clicked his tongue, looking away.

"Don't say that, just tell me, please" she begged, a couple of tears collecting in her eyes.

"I can't live in the same house as Harshwardhan Birla Sir. It sounds silly, but I haven't overcome my childhood. Somehow, every single time I see him, it's like sprinkling salt on the scars I got in my childhood. I can't look at his face. I can't. It hurts. It angers me. It angers me that I haven't put the past behind me. Everyone around me has been scarred in the last, you, Abhi bhaiyya, bhabhi, Maa- but all of you have put the past behind you, you all are happy. And I am not. I mean, I am happy, but not a single day goes without relieving the painful memories of my life. I want to move ahead in my life, I want to be truly happy, and I-I can't do it here. I just can't. Not around him"

"I am so sorry that you feel this way Neil, why didn't you say anything to me before?" Arohi asked, guiltily.

Neil stayed mum. What could he say? He was scared of talking about his feelings with his...wife?

Arohi looked at him intently. She stared at him for complete ten minutes, while he stared at the ceiling. 'Neil had to discover himself. He hasn't yet found out who Neil actually was.' Arohi thought to herself.

"Arohi, let's go to Mumbai." He said.

"No" she denied.

"But you said yes moments ago"

"I did, but Neil...I think, you should go to Mumbai alone" Arohi said, not able to believe the words she uttered.

"What are you talking about? How will I live without you?" He asked.

"Neil, when I first said no, you told me that you were going to go, whether I tag along or not, right? I am sure you can go without me"

"Arohi, I said it in anger" he replied.

"But I am saying no after thinking about it" she replied.

"Neil, you need space. Before medical college started, you were continuously trying to make a position in this house, in your dad's heart. After we met, you have been living for me, for prioritising me. Now, you have the opportunity to prioritise yourself, Neil" Arohi said, something she had realised in the last ten minutes.

Since a specific day in Delhi, she had been selfish. Selfish for him. She tried to let go of him once, but that brought them closer. He needed space, he needed it to be true to his own self. He needed to do this on his own. He was ready to go to Mumbai without her, which was an indication of how desperately he needed to get away from all this.

Neil didn't want to confess it out loud, but the tiniest corner of his heart knew that Arohi was being honest.

"There'll be a lot of distance between us" he said.

"They say distance increases love" Arohi replied, with twinkling eyes, and Neil kissed her.

Arohi looked at the stars

"Mumma-Papa, did I do the right thing?" She asked, but didn't get a response.

"Everyone's upset by me and Neil's decision. I don't want to be away from him, but..he needs this. I know. I am just scared...scared of being away. The Neil I met in Delhi, was also trying to find himself, was trying to be alone and heal his inner child, but more than that, he just needed someone to lean on. Just like me. Between becoming a doctor, and our relationship and his family problems, he didn't get time for himself. I want to give it to him, but I am scared. What if he doesn't need me afterwards? What if this distance actually separates us?" Arohi ranted, her heart rate was higher than seventy, for sure. Just then, her phone rang.

Neil. It was  her chamgadar's call.

"Arohi, I reached Mumbai. Bohot traffic hai yaha!" (Arohi, I reached Mumbai. There's a lot of traffic here" Neil started talking, and Arohi smiled, the conversation and the night ahead, both were long.

Hey!

I understand that many of you don't agree with the reasons that Neil went to Mumbai, alone.

And every decision has three probable consequences;
1) it was a grave mistake
2) not a grave mistake, but not the best decision made
3) best decision ever!

Vote and comment, it motivates me to write❤️