s i x
to be loved

Sara breathed out as they stepped into the house. She felt a sense of calm wash over her as she came back to her abode. Away from the chaos of the hospital, back in her safe space.

She sat on the sofa, her eyes following her husband walk into his room. He hasn't talked to me.

Virat and Anushka had departed right away from the hospital. As the other three had driven to the hospital with their car, Shubman and Sara went back home by a taxi. He hadn't spared her a glance even as they sat on the backseat of the sedan.

He seemed anxious, audibly exhaling and moving his leg almost constantly.

"Shubman," she called him out. "You haven't talked to me since we met," she softly said.

"What do you mean? We talked," he replied. "About the insurance,"

"You didn't even ask me if I was okay when we met," she said.

What, Sara? Why would you say that? Where did that come from?

"Were you the one hurt? No," he rudely said.

"That's a little rude," she quickly defended herself.

"Whatever," he muttered under his breath, walking away.

"Shubman!" She interjected stopping him. "What is wro-

"I'll tell you what's wrong Sara!" He snapped, turning around "I came back home, and my wife- my wife who told me that she would be at home all day, was not home. Do you know what I went through, Sara? No, you don't!" His voice was loud but shaky, betraying his firm demeanour.

"I-

"NO, let me talk," he cut her off. "I was here, in this very house, seeing an abandoned laptop on the sofa, no note, no message. No one knew where you were! NO ONE," his voice thundered and she helplessly sighed.

"Shubman, I under-

"You don't," his voice sounded defeated. "I didn't know where you were, heck, I did not know how you were. I was in this same place, on the same sofa," he said, pointing at Sara who was standing just near the sofa, her knee touching the edge of the seat. "And I was helpless, Sara. Fucking helpless, I did not know if you were okay," he said, stressing on each and every word.

"Jaan nikal gayi thi meri," (I was scared to death) his voice was barely a whisper, a tear slipping away.

"I don't care, I know we lead separate lives according to you," he said, finally locking eyes with her. "Tum beewee ho meri Sara, and I cannot stand the thought of you being in pain. And even if you want to disappear, tell me and disappear," (You are my wife Sara, and I cannot stand the thought of you being in pain) his voice trembled.

Sara felt speechless as she looked at him. No, it wasn't anger, it was sheer vulnerability and fear. But before she could reply her phone rung loudly, cutting the tension in the room. He sighed, walking back to his room.

It was Rohit and Ritika's phone call. Ritika sounded relieved, talking to her lovingly while Rohit was a little stern, scolding her. As she hung up, she noticed her messages. Hardik, Ishan, Aditi, Alisha, Abhishek, Yashaswi had flooded her with texts. She gulped, a few tears escaping her eyes.

She looked up from her phone, to walk back to her room, but was surprised as she saw her husband walk back.

"Shubman?" Her voice was a soft whisper, but he stayed silent, engulfing her in a bone-crushing hug instead.

"Just give me a moment," he pleaded and she remained quiet. "I'm sorry, just...you're okay," he whispered again, his grip on her firm but gentle. Sara relaxed in his embrace, letting him comfort her and comforting him.

She wrapped her arms around his waist tightly, and suddenly everything felt right. She sunk into the warmth of his embrace, because she knew everything had changed.

They weren't the people they were when they met. Entwined in each other's lives because of an arranged marriage, who shared a pretence relationship under public scrutiny, obliged to be present in each other's lives.

Obligations don't hold onto each other like the world would end if there was even a millimetre of distance between them.

"I'm here," she said, trying to reassure her anxious husband.

"You're here," he repeated, his voice barely a whisper.

🪷

Later in the night, Sara laid in her bed, replaying the events of the day. It wasn't just Shubman, but the way everyone had rallied around her, caring for her, had tugged at her heartstrings. Even in their anger and annoyance, she witnessed pure love and care.

To be loved is to be worried for.

Sobs escaped her mouth as she realised that she wasn't used to it. Today made her recollect a painful memory from the past.

Sara stood in a building, seeking resort as the city had been struck by intense rains. She was hungry, alone, her clothes dripping wet and she had sneezed a few times. There were a few people resorting to the shelter like her, stranded because of the precipitation.

But the reason of Sara's woes were something else entirely. No one knew she was stranded. Not that she wanted help, she was okay in the basement.

Alisha was out of town, her other friends were at their workplaces. But her parents were at home, and they had not called Sara despite her not being home three hours after her work ended. It stung. Especially when almost everyone around was constantly talking on call, assuring their loved ones that they were well and good.

A few tears rolled down her face and she felt pathetic. Pathetic for expecting anyone to care. As the rain subsided, she quickly got into a shared taxi, reaching her house.

When her mom opened the door, instead of a warm smile she was welcomed with a look of suspicion.

"Weren't you supposed to come late today? You had to help out in the office," Mrinal asked and Sara sighed.

"That was on the weekend. Does the weekend start on Thursday for the Tendulkar family?" She asked, annoyed as she marched to the kitchen to fetch herself some water. Her mother settled down on the sofa, immersing herself back to the soap opera she was watching.

"So you're home late," Atul sternly said. "What were you doing?"

"I can't believe this," she muttered under her breath, scoffing. "I was stranded. Couldn't go anywhere because of the rains!" She told them.

"Oh," Mrinal said.

"Where were you stranded?"

"In the basement of a building!"

"Were you alone?"

"YES, I always have been alone!" Sara shouted, going to her room, tears freely falling.

No one cares.

🪷

Sara got out of bed, her face now a shade of pink after crying. The doorknob felt cold as she twisted it and opened the door. She walked to the kitchen lazily, but to her surprise Shubman was already loitering around the refrigerator.

"Shubman?" She called him out and he was startled at the sudden sound. He turned, his face still in shock.

"Oh hey, it's you," he affirmed.

"Yeah, it's me. What are you doing?"

"Uh, I wanted vanilla ice cream. I feel a little nauseous and uh...vanilla is supposed to help acidity," he mumbled and she sighed.

"I see,"

He opened the fridge, bringing out the ice cream tub.

"Not sleepy?" He asked, keeping the box on the table. She shook her head, pulling out two spoons from the stand kept on the dining table.

"Hey," he softly started as he served the ice cream in the bowls. "I'm sorry for being so upset and angry and everything, I was just...no. I shouldn't try and justify it, I'm just...really sorry," he sincerely said and she slightly smiled.

"It's okay," her reply as genuine. "At least you cared enough," she muttered under her breath which went unheard by him.

"Will you forgive me if I give you some of my ice cream?" He asked, raising his eyebrow.

"You don't-

"Uhm come on, I can't bribe forgiveness?" His voice held a teasing tone.

"Cheesecake perhaps, I could make some pasta?" He added.

"Add an Audi and we're done here," she replied, her voice cheery.

"Done deal," He said and her eyes widened.

"Shut up," she rolled her eyes. "You know I was joking,"

"Oh come, let's shake hands on this deal, Sara," he urged her, as he giggles intensified.

"Okay, deal. Lose the Audi and deal pakki,"

And with this fake deal, the real deal they made a year ago started losing its realness.

A/N: I was blackmailed into posting this today. Enjoy.