Mornings are sunshine and so was today. The woman who was sitting there had her curtains of the French window open. With her hands on her thighs, her eyes were closed taking easy yet deep breaths.

When a small timer had rung, she opened her hair and let it flow across her shoulders. Opening her eyes, she looked at the serene and calm atmosphere in front of her eyes with sunlight thriving to come out of the clouds.. 

Getting up, she stretched herself towards  before she went towards her closet. Picking up a few clothes for herself, she entered the bathroom and opened herself. Bare yet naked.. In and out. Her whole life was transparent and so was her body. Everything was flowing. The water from the shower head trickled down her dusky skin and brown strands of hair.

A different smell arose from her hair and body. A smell she had loved.. A lemony mint smell which made her close her eyes as she let out a shaky breath. Lathering the soap mechanically, she felt different once she could smell rose and lavender in the air..

When she closed the shower head, she wrapped herself in a towel before she looked at herself at the mirror. Her neck had a few red marks. She grazed her fingers above them and stretched her neck a bit to look how deep those were, just like the miry depths of the ocean. Just on the surface but the unseen depth was mysterious.

As she came out of the room, she saw a steaming cup of something.. Coffee or tea. Yeah, it was a routine after their time. She smiled before reading the note which was stuck to the glass..

"Wasn't meant but felt it would be good yet I couldn't help."

Wearing her spectacles from the table, she discarded the note and checked her phone which was kept for charging.. Her pictures were all over the online news. Rumours around... Sometimes, she wished to remain anonymous..  How good it would be to be away from all social media attraction, rumours and myths! Just a desire that was miles away.

She wanted to bask in the truth and its side-effects. A place which was shady and dark where only open-minded people entered! It was a  place she loved the most yet her life was meant to be weaved with lies, lust, love and a few ashes..

Keeping her phone aside, she took the cup and smelled the elachi which sang through the cup. Walking downstairs, she saw her man with a towel around his neck with a black sweatshirt and sweat pant.. He looked devilishly hot..

"Hey.." Maya called out with a smile while he looked at her and winked..

"Hi.. Looking great.. Ready to go for work?"

"Nope. I really wish to stay insideeee.." She stretched her sentence lazily while Rohit quipped," Jenny is becoming quite lazy with her works.."

"She certainly is..." Jennifer replied as she sipped her tea.

"So plans for today?" Jennifer asked radiating heat to her palms and face while Rohit shrugged his shoulders before he closed the pan with a lid and took his coffee mug.. Leaning against the counter opposite to Jennifer, he said," Work and function.. Nothing else.."

Rohit had indeed seen the marks he had bestowed on her yesterday night since she hadnt concealed it and if he had to remove his sweat shirt, she would have seen her little crescents as she called them..

"The breakfast is ready.." Rohit announced as he checked on the curry which looked delicious while Jennifer said," I don't feel like having. Just a bit sick down the throat.. Anyway, I have to leave.."

"Okay Jenny.." Rohit said while she walked away. Picking a plate, he served himself with the curry and two pieces of bread. After a few minutes, Rohit saw her leave while she was on a call. Yet her fingers didn't miss a chance to say a 'Bye' to him. 

As Rohit finished his breakfast, he went upstairs and entered his bedroom which was quite messy. The bedsheets were scattered and the smell of the bed made him lazy as he sat on the bed after picking his phone from the pocket. Soon, he fell backwards and snuggled into the sheets. If it wasn't for his eyes which saw the clock, he wouldn't have got up and opened his closet. As he opened the closet, he saw their photo frame.

He smiled before taking it and settling on the bed. The smile lingered a little long with the smell of the bedsheets but it all faded away when his phone rang with a name he didn't want to see yet had to see.

"Wifey"

....

"Please get these works done and my afternoon schedule is clear right?" Jennifer asked her personal assistant, Raya as she closed the file and handed it over to her as she heard a 'yes' from Raya. 

"Is the schedule cleared for the next few months?" Maya asked with her fingers crossed  below her chin while Raya knit her eyebrows and said," No Ma'am. But, you didn't mention it."

"Didn't I send it to you or are you in the mood of the so-called 'Valentine's day' (she quoted it in the air)? Check your emails timely. I am warning you (with her finger pointed)."

"Yes Ma'am.." Raya answered with her head bowed down while she informed," Ma'am, we lost the deal with the Paris customers even after several negotiations.."

Jennifer just nodded and rubbed her finger against her forehead. These months had been quiet stressful for her. She would jump onto people and her anger and frustration knew no limits when she was with her rival.

"Ma'am, your dress for the function is ready."

'Thats great.  Come, we'll take a look on it.." Maya's mind had diverted but she knew it wouldn't be able to divert so much because the dress was something of her..

"Simple yet great.."

She ran her fingers through the fabric. It was one of her favorite designs. It was simple but it took time to give out this order due to a reason only she and Rohit knew.. She wanted to wear it for a special day and today was that special day.

.......

Rohit was leaning against the chair with his back against the leather bossy chair. His eyes had been glued to the screen since the time he had stepped into his office and he was tired to even think about attending an award function in the evening. So many people, lights and action! It had been a few months he had been in this limelight! Ofh!

As he loosened his tie, he averted his gaze outside the window. The rush in Mumbai city on a Monday was something unexplainable  but when he got a request to grant permission today, he understood what the day was. It was 14th of February or rather, a Valentine's day. 

A small flash of memory touched his mind remembering him getting married to his wife three years back on the same day. Shrugging off his unwanted thoughts, he focused back on the design which was half-sketched. It was sketched for Jenny..

....

The evening saw high and mighty of Mumbai in the Fashion Gala Awards which was held every year. This year was no exception except for the new entrants into the field of fashion, passion and mission.

Most of them had worn different shades of red which was expected but Rohit chose a different colour for the different day. His 'wife' didn't accompany him much to his pleasure and much to the media's displeasure. As Rohit stepped out of the car, the lights had flashed on him and he gave a killer look at the camera before proceeding towards the event hall.  They needed a bait and his divorce was one of the hottest topic in the Fashion world rather than new designers and trends..

As he proceeded to thw hall, he saw Jennifer all set in a black saree. She was looking ethereal in the black saree which was accompanied by a choker and gold studs. Picking up a glass of booze, he sat on the chair waiting to pick up a conversation with someone. To his luck, his fellow designer yet a small rival sat opposite him and picked up a conversation.. 

The conversation seemed to go in a good way until I was asked about my wife. I simply smiled and replied," She is doing good." 

Soon enough, I took the courage to go up to Jennifer in public. She was standing there holding onto her clutch. 

"Hey.." I said and she smiled as noticed me.

"All good?" Rohit asked to which she nodded. Soon a few cameras flashed on them and a reporter asked," Sir and Ma'am, why are you separating if you both are in love? There are so many conspiracy theories around you.. Which one of them is true?"

"Me and Rohit is separating due to our personal matters and issues and you can decide which conspiracy theory to choose.."

"We have better works than these and...."

Before she could reply anymore, the announcement had come up," Please proceed towards the event hall and take your seats. We are about to start the Gala.."

"Ma'am, one more question please.."

Jennifer gave a short, cut reply, " No.." and was about to leave when they surrounded both of them. She was trying to escape the questiones which agonised and made her breathless. An official moved the reporters and lead her the way. She looked back at once to see Rohit instructing a person as he pointed towards her..

Yes, it was Rohit itself..

As Jennifer sat on the chair assigned to her, she thanked the official while he blinked his eyes before leaving her in a calm state.

The Gala had started but she couldn't help notice Rohit who was sitting opposite. The question of 'Why?' surrounded both of them during their divorce news more than their marriage. Even through the reporters had settled down as they had been restricted to the farther side of the stage, she knew that if they caught a chance, she would be hurled down. She was fed up with the accusations but she didn't speak. 

People assumed that she didn't want to have a kid or even had an affair with other men other than Rohit but none of them knew that they were together from the last six months as per the court rules. They never knew that she had been on their bed yesterday, in his arms, entwined to his body one last time. They never knew the real reasons behind the seperation of them.

Sometimes, it was so crazy to think that sex solves everything. One night of union but that is what happened yesterday too. Yet, did their opinions change?

Somewhere, the court rules had made both of them friends to some extent after long days of fight and mental tortures.  When they started the Valentine's day with how couples would normally do, they never knew what followed would be the confrontation and questions they had kept for pending..

Last night.... 

As Rohit finished up the last round, he settled himself beside her. Pulling her up against his arms, he felt her heavy breaths against his skin.. It took a few minutes for her to settle her laboured breath before she asked in a sultry, breathy voice," Why did we do this? Was it so addictive, Rohit?"

"Afterall, its Lust Jenny. It's strong and we both wanted a final goodbye. Instead of cutting a cake or doing something really bad, isn't this a better way to end everything and begin something new?"

There was a pin-drop silence in the room before Jennifer had decided to get up and move away.. It was finally over! Why wait?

"Why did we file our divorce in the first place?" Rohit asked in a slurred tone when her elbows were stretched on the bed. It made her lay down and cover herself with the duvet as she looked at the black ceiling above her," Differences in opinions, you getting more opportunities, ego, hatred, unable to concentrate on work, the toxicity we refused to see in each other during our dating phase."

"Do you think these three months have changed things?" Rohit asked turning towards her. When she was about to speak, she let out a moan as he had kissed the sides of her neck and asked," Can't we live together once more? Try it out?"

She turned her body towards him, put her right leg across his frame and cupped his face. Looking into his eyes, she expressed,

" This is just a daze, Rohit. Sex is not a promise to set everything right. We will pick up a fight the next day. How had we adjusted before filing a petition? Those six months? Fight, lust, fight repeat..."

"It's true that we we have found companionship and even have elicit a friendship but we aren't ourselves when we are together except for this (she said looking at themselves).."

As Rohit wrapped his arm around her, she continued with a film of tear when he saw the same emotions in his as well," I hate to live like that Rohit and even the choices I made were never good for you. Since the parts of my decision will repeat before your eyes and ears, it's better we part our ways."

"Sorry Jenny.." Jennifer kissed his neck before he pulled her closer. As soon as she felt his soft breath, she plucked his hand from her body and wore the shirt she had left on the floor before leaving him on the bed. 

....

The Gala was over but the questions kept on surrounding both of them. No one wrote a post supporting or accusing each other. They let the rumours be. Maybe maturity was something.. It was difficult to part but if it was more difficult to hold together, the former was better. The difficulty in parting will decrease over time, once they move on.

Sometimes, leaving the hand which was held is better because both the oppressed and oppressor are suffering, maybe equally..

Loosening his tie, Rohit walked to his balcony.. He was finally back home from Jennifer's house after six long months despite visits in between. Tomorrow, they had to go back to the court so that they could be pronounced 'Divorcees'.

As he stood there, he felt angry yet tears brimmed his eyes and before it started to realise it, they streaming down.

Courtesy: Memories..

Every single memory where he had hurt her and even when she had hurt her, resurfaced his mind. Their patterns did the talking at times. He knew that they were so many things after this divorce and he needed to prioritise things and set himself up..

Not for a new relation, but for a new life. He might stumble on someone but if there was someone ready to come to his life, he needed to give all of him instead of the busy schedules, scolding and taunts he had given Jennifer.. 

As he sat on the ledge of the small space which seperated him between his house and the backyard, he closed his eyes as he desired to see soothing memory of theirs. She had given him a lesson but he wasn't any less either.. 

.....

Jennifer shifted her sides as she couldn't get a proper sleep. Her fights with her till-tomorrow husband kept on resurfacing her mind. They had grown as friends during these 6 months of courtship after having an initial four months of complete bitterness..

It was the time to move on and she decided to take the break she wanted for a few months, trying to invest and correct herself. Today was the best day to start again! The Valentine's day! A day to love yourself and give yourself everything before teaching yourself to acclimatise with someone else..

But there was something she hid from Rohit all these months. That secret had changed her behavioral patterns which was indeed a +1 to her account of faults. 

Did she regret not telling him? Maybe yes, maybe no.. 

Now was the perfect time to refine and redefine myself, but how? Only my body and mind knows how to accept, adjust and reset myself for the next few months. Its going to be difficult to live without someone who has been with you for five-six years but its better off without the same person when both of them were bitter.

Satisfying herself, she closed her eyes for a new Serene starting after a Goodbye.

- How was it? 

I just wanted to write something, pst and check if my skills are there.. So, do you want a second shot of this? An after Divorce part?