Few days later :

Ajay and Renuka were having dinner. Renuka was chewing food absentmindedly, when her thoughts were broken by Ajay.

"Renuka"

"Yes, what happened?"

"Have you ever thought of living a lavish life?"

"Why do you ask?"

"Just like that. I want to know."

"Well, who doesn't dream of living a lavish life?"

"The ones who say that money isn't everything."

"If I have a hundred problems, ninety among them are related to money. Having enough money will make my life much easier. So I'm not among the ones who spew nonsense like that. What about you?"

"I wouldn't have asked you that question if I didn't dream of a lavish life."

"It must be really nice to have lots of money. The rich people can afford to live in big houses where everyone gets a separate room. They can eat whatever they want. They can also wear whatever they want."

"Is that what you want? A big house, good food and dresses?"

"At present, I want to sleep without having to worry about the debts that I have to repay. Even if it is only for a night. I want to repay my debts and free myself of this as soon as possible. So that, I can spend my salary on myself and on you."

"On me? How would you spend your salary on me? I am curious."

"I would get gifts for you and buy groceries so that I can cook nice meals."

"That's sweet."

"You asked so many questions to me but you didn't say a single word about what you think. Now tell me, what do you want?"

"I want to get rich, so rich that I can afford whatever I want. I want to earn a name for myself."

"Dreams are always so beautiful, aren't they?"

"One day, our dreams will also come true."

"Hope so."

Renuka closed her eyes. "Hope so," that is what she had said to Ajay. "How will our dreams come true? We hardly manage our expenses with the little amount of money that we get," she thought.

Ajay stared at the ceiling while thinking about something. He was not the kind of person who would accept defeat so easily. He did not know what the future had for him. But he wanted to try his best. He thought, "I will be on the top one day."

Next day:

Renuka was returning home when her phone rang. She looked at the screen and sighed. It was one of the creditors.

"Hello, Balwant Bhau."

"Hello, Renuka. How are you?"

"I am fine. What about you?"

"I am fine too."

"What is the matter, Bhau?"

"I heard that you got your salary today."

"Yes, that is true. But how did you get to know about that?"

"Money-lending is a dirty business. People like to take money, but they don't like to return it. This business teaches you many things, Renuka. But you don't have to worry about these things. I have my own ways through which I get information."

"But Bhau, I can't repay the whole amount now."

"Oh my dear! You don't have to repay the whole amount today. You just have to repay some part of the amount along with this month's interest. And you are going home, right?"

"Yes"

"No need to go home now. Come and pay the money. Sit with me, have a cup of tea and then go home."

"As you say."

"Very good."

The same night :

Renuka returned home. She was exhausted. She walked towards the bedroom and threw herself on the bed. Ajay, who was sitting in the drawing room, came to the bedroom to find his wife lying on the bed. He shook her but Renuka shrugged him off. "Don't disturb me," she said.

Ajay caressed her head and kissed her earlobe. Then, he stood up and switched on the fan. He said to her, "I will cook dinner. Take some rest." Saying this, he walked out of the room.

An hour later, Ajay returned only to find his wife in the same position. He said, "Renu, go and freshen up. We will talk after dinner. Come on."

Renuka got up from the bed and kept her bag in the almirah. She took a saree from there and started changing her clothes lazily.

She arrived at the kitchen after freshening up. Ajay had already served food on her plate. He had cooked potato bhaji, dal and chapati.

She sat down and started eating the food silently. Ajay looked at his wife's face. Her eyes were swollen and her nose was red. He concluded that she had been crying. He waited till she had finished her food.

"What is the matter? Will you not share it with me?"

"That man...Balwant...he is a cunt!"

"Balwant? What did he do?"

"He contacted someone from our bank and got to know that I received my salary today. Then, he called me and asked me to pay this month's interest and a part of the debt today itself."

"And then?"

"I paid him the money. What else could I do? He took away more than half of my salary."

Renuka broke down into tears. Seeing this, Ajay hugged her and kissed her forehead. He said, "Don't cry. Everything will be fine."

"Why does it always happen to me?"

"Renuka, calm down."

"How can I calm down, Ajay? Tell me!"

"Renuka..."

"I never get to do anything for myself. Whenever I think about buying something for myself, something like this happens. The same thing happens every single time."

"What did you want to buy? Tell me. I will get it for you."

"It is not about you, Ajay. It is about me. I am tired of living for others. I want to do something for myself."

Ajay hugged his crying wife and took her to the bedroom. She kept crying in his arms and fell asleep when she got exhausted. Ajay looked outside through the open window and sighed. He was still holding his wife. Even though they had been living together for more than a month, he hardly understood her. He figured out that Renuka's problem was not poverty, but the fear of it. Renuka looked strong but she was scared of almost every difficulty.

Ajay may not understand his wife, but he loved her. He wanted to see her happy. Earlier, it was his dream to achieve something big and earn a name for himself. But after living with Renuka, he found another reason to do so. He wanted to provide everything to his wife. She was his wife and he felt that, she did not deserve to weep for such things.

"If only I was rich, my wife would not have cried like this," he said to himself.