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This chap is affectionately dedicated to -
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"Eventually you hit that point where you're no longer interested in convincing people that how you feel and who you are is valid and decide that as long as you know your truth and what works for you, that's what matters......................"
 

Vatsal woke up the next morning with a throbbing headache and a dull pain in his neck, the result of having slept in an uncomfortable position. The room was dimly lit, the curtains drawn to keep out the harsh morning light. He rubbed his eyes, trying to piece together the fragments of the previous night.

As the haze of sleep and alcohol began to clear, he realized he had no clear memory of his conversation with Shubhita. He recalled bits and pieces, snippets of a harsh exchange, but the details were lost in a fog of intoxication. He groaned, knowing he had likely said things he would regret.

Vatsal glanced at his phone, noticing a few messages from his usual texters. His head pounded with each passing second as he attempted to sit up, wincing at the stiffness in his neck. He reached for a glass of water on the table, taking slow sips to ease his dehydration.

The guilt started to creep in as he tried to remember the conversation with Shubhita. He couldn’t remember everything, but he knew he had been cruel. There was a heaviness in his chest as he thought about his words, and he felt a pang of shame. He didn’t want to be that person, but the pressure from everything – his father, his work, and his own insecurities often pushed him to the edge.

Dragging himself off the mattress, he stumbled to the bathroom, splashing cold water on his face in an attempt to wake up fully. The reflection staring back at him in the mirror looked as tired and defeated as he felt. He had been harsh with Shubhita, he knew that much. He just didn’t know how to make it right. He didn’t have enough courage to call her first thing in the morning.

As he got ready for the day, Vatsal’s thoughts drifted to the newsroom. His job at the news channel was both demanding and unrelenting. The previous day had been particularly rough, with disagreements with the broadcasting committee over content choices and editorial direction. The stress from work compounded his frustrations at home, creating a vicious cycle he struggled to break.

By the time he reached the office, he was already running late. His colleagues greeted him with concerned looks, noting his dishevelled appearance and the dark circles under his eyes. He forced a smile, muttering something about a rough night.

The day dragged on, each task feeling more burdensome than the last. Vatsal found it hard to focus, his mind continually drifting back to the conversation with Shubhita. He wanted to call her, to apologize, but he wasn’t sure where to begin. Every time he picked up his phone, he hesitated, the words he needed to say escaping him.

At lunch, he sat alone, picking at his food. His thoughts were a jumble of regret and frustration. He thought about Shubhita, her attempts to fit into his family, and the harsh words he had thrown at her. He knew he had to make it right, but he felt paralyzed by his own guilt and insecurity.

When the workday finally ended, Vatsal returned to his apartment, feeling no more resolved than he had in the morning. The emptiness of his room echoed his internal struggle. He sat down on a chair, staring at his phone, willing himself to make the call.

With a deep breath, he dialled Shubhita’s number, hoping she would answer. As the phone rang, he braced himself for whatever conversation lay ahead, knowing that he needed to face the consequences of his actions and make amends.

_

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_

Shubhita’s sleep had been fitful, haunted by the echo of Vatsal’s harsh words from the night before. When she finally opened her eyes, it was well past her usual waking time. Her head felt heavy, her body ached, and a feverish chill ran through her. She tried to sit up, but the effort seemed monumental. Just as she contemplated the day ahead, a knock at the door startled her.

“Shubhi? Are you awake?” Jeevika’s voice called from the other side.

With a sigh, Shubhita managed to pull herself out of bed and stagger to the door. When she opened it, she found Jeevika standing there with a steaming cup of tea and some cookies on a tray.

“I brought you some tea,” Jeevika said, her tone cautious. “I noticed you weren’t up and ready for school.”

Shubhita took the tray wordlessly, the warmth from the cup radiating through her cold fingers. She felt too exhausted to muster a polite response, and the betrayal she felt from the previous day only deepened her silence.

Jeevika stepped inside, her eyes filled with concern. “You don’t look well. Can I check your temperature?” Without waiting for a reply, she gently placed the back of her hand on Shubhita’s forehead.

“You’re burning up, Shubhi. You should rest. You can’t go to school like this,” Jeevika said softly, a hint of genuine worry in her voice.

“I know,” Shubhita replied, her voice hoarse. “I just… I didn’t wake up in time.”

Jeevika’s face softened. “It’s okay. You need to take care of yourself. I was worried when I didn’t see you. It’s not like you to miss school.”

Shubhita simply nodded, her throat tight with unshed tears. She felt a pang of gratitude mixed with resentment. Despite the concern, she couldn’t forget Jeevika’s betrayal, the way she had sided with her mother-in-law and refused on noticing her call.

“I’ll leave you to rest,” Jeevika said, sensing the tension. “Call me if you need anything.”

Shubhita watched her leave, feeling a mix of emotions. She took a sip of the tea, hoping it would ease her aching body. The rest of the day stretched out before her, a daunting prospect. She didn’t want to think about him or his words anymore.

She spent most of the day in bed, too weak to move around much. Her fever made her drowsy, and she drifted in and out of restless sleep. The house was quiet, an unusual calm that only accentuated her loneliness. Her mind wandered back to her parents and her younger brother, remembering the warmth and unconditional love of her home. She missed their laughter, their comforting words, and the sense of belonging she had always taken for granted.

Every time she tried to think about the future, her thoughts were clouded by the weight of her current predicament. The argument with her mother-in-law, Vatsal’s harsh words, and the growing sense of isolation made it hard to see a way forward.

In the late afternoon, she managed to get up and move to the balcony, hoping a change of scenery might lift her spirits. She curled up on the swing, wrapping herself in a shawl. She thought about calling Vatsal, hoping for an apology or some words of comfort, but the memory of their last conversation made her hesitate. She didn’t want to face more useless, hurtful words.

As the evening drew on, Shubhita felt her fever subside a little, though the aches in her body remained. She managed to eat a little, forcing herself to keep her strength up. The house began to stir with the return of her in-laws, and she steeled herself for any interactions that might come.

When Vatsal finally called later that night, she didn’t know what to expect. Would he remember their conversation? Would he even care?

She experienced mixture of hope and dread. But somehow, she couldn’t bracelet herself for whatever was to come. She didn’t answer it.

Once... Twice... Thrice... Seven times in total.

Vatsal had spent quite some time in attempting to reach Shubhita, but each unanswered call deepened his anxiety and guilt. He needed to check on her, to ensure she was alright, but every effort ended in disappointment.

Just as he was about to give up, his phone lit up with a surprise video call from his elder brother, Vishal. He sighed. Then answered it with hesitation, anticipating a casual chat.

To his surprise, the screen filled with the excited faces of his niece Kuhu and nephew Krish.

“Chachu!” Krish exclaimed, her eyes shining. “Look at our new toys! Dadaji got them for us!”

Vatsal managed a smile, though his mind was still somewhere else. “Wow, those toys look amazing!”

Krish proudly displayed a shiny toy car. “Look, Chachu! This car is super fast!”

“That’s awesome!” Vatsal replied, trying to focus on the conversation despite his concerns. “You both must be having a blast with your new toys. Yes, Kuhu?”

Kuhu nodded enthusiastically. “Yes, Chachu!”

“Good! Did you guys show them to your building friends?” Vatsal inquired, pouring a glass of water for himself.

“Yes, I showed them to everyone—Riya, Saumya, Nishi, Ron, Dadi and even Chachi!”

Vatsal’s heart sank slightly on the mention, he put the glass down. “Oh, you showed them to her too? What did she say?”

Kuhu hesitated for a moment. “Well, I tried to, but Chachi just smiled and then started coughing. She couldn’t really play. She’s not feeling well that’s why.”

A wave of worry washed over Vatsal, but he kept his voice steady. “Oh!”

Kuhu then quickly changed the subject to show him her new Barbie doll. “Look at my new Barbie, Chachu! Isn’t she pretty?”

“She’s beautiful, Kuhu,” Vatsal replied, masking his growing concern for Shubhita with a smile. He wanted to ask more but knew it wouldn’t be appropriate with Vishal and Jeevika likely within earshot.

As expected, Vishal’s voice came through from the background. “Vatsal, the kids have been dying to show you their new toys.”

“It’s good to see that Mr Kashyap is at least soft for these two.” Vatsal responded, trying to sound composed. “You must all be having a great time.”

“He’s our Dad, Vasu.” Vishal stared at the screen, earning an eye-roll from Vatsal at his words.

_

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_

After ending the call with plans for a future visit, Vatsal set his phone down, his mind racing. He knew he needed to reach out to Shubhita, to find out how she was truly feeling. Kuhu’s mention of her illness only intensified his guilt and worry. He had to make things right, but he also needed to approach the situation carefully, given the delicate circumstances at home as informed by Vishal.

As he pondered his next move, his phone buzzed again. This time, it was a text message from his father.

Need to discuss something important. Come home this weekend.

Ok!

Vatsal stared at his phone, a mix of dread and determination settling in. The weekend couldn’t come soon enough, and he knew whatever awaited him at home would change everything.

He then decided to distract himself with some work that had piled up during the week, occasionally glancing at his phone, willing it to ring with a message or call from someone.

As the night deepened, he found himself unable to concentrate. The silence of his apartment felt suffocating, amplifying his loneliness and guilt.

Unable to bear it any longer, Vatsal finally dialled Shubhita’s number again. This time, instead of ringing endlessly, it went straight to voicemail. He sighed heavily, debating whether to leave a message. After a moment’s hesitation, he spoke into the phone, “Shubhita, it’s me. I just wanted to check in on you... Well, Kuhu mentioned you weren’t feeling well... Kindly call me back when you can. I’m worri... Umm! Take care of yourself. Good night.”

With that, he hung up, feeling both relieved to have reached out and anxious about what might come next.

The next morning, Vatsal woke up early with a sense of anticipation. He checked his phone immediately, hoping for a response from Shubhita. There was none. Disappointed yet not entirely surprised, he got ready for work, his mind already occupied with thoughts of the upcoming weekend.

The weekend loomed ahead, promising answers but also potentially more complications.

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This is it for now. Hope you liked it. I am sorry for the mistakes.

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