Harsh And Divine

Chapter 13

"What are you thinking, beta!" Vidhushi's mother asked her daughter as they silently ate the idlis given by Advith for supper.
{Beta means Child}

Vidhushi looked at her mother. How could she tell her that she was thinking of another man?

"Nothing. Just...work." She lied.

"My daughter has started lying to me, huh!" Her mother playfully asked.

"No, mumma! It's just...someone said something to me and....it hurt me." Vidhushi confessed recalling when Advith promised that he would forget her. But, isn't that what she wanted. Then why was she feeling sad?

"I thought my child never bothered over what others think or say about her! Isn't that your mantra for life?"

"I know. But this person....he wasn't being selfish. He said for my own good."

"That's....new!"

Before her mother could ask her any more questions, she quickly changed the topic.

"Do you like the idlis?" She asked while savouring the taste of the delicious sambhar. Advith was right when he said that she hadn't tasted the original flavour as of now.

"Yes. Your friend is a really good cook! I will send some laddus (sweets) for your friend. Okay?"

"Sure. That would be nice." She answered remembering that we must never give an empty utensil to anyone.

While washing the dishes, she thoroughly cleaned Advith's tiffin. And like a radio channel, her mind replayed their dialogue. In the end, she got so frustrated that she slammed the tap by a plate by mistake.

'What's the matter with me!' She asked herself, confused by her own emotions.

She shook her head vigorously and imagined herself turning on the intelligent mode. She had to calm herself down. No thinking means no problem. She told herself.

At night, Vidhushi picked up Kunal's incoming call in the very second ring. He was back in Goa yesterday itself.

"Hi, wifey!" Kunal said seductively as he sang laying on his bed, missing her presence deeply.

"Hi, Kunal. And we are not married yet." She spoke tiredly.

Kunal ignored her comment as he asked her about her wellbeing.

"How are you?"

"Good." She answered not caring to ask for his. He would be good anyway.

"How's your work going?" He asked sensing that she wasn't in a good mood.

"Good." She answered not wanting to talk to him....or anyone.

"What happened, Vidhu?" He asked, not able to hold his curiosity anymore. She was his love and he couldn't see her upset.

"Nothing happened, Kunal. I am just tired. Can we talk tomorrow?" She asked politely.

Kunal sighed. He understood that she won't tell him anything. And that hurt him. He wanted her to be as comfortable with him as he was with her. But, she always stepped back whenever he took a step towards her.

"Okay. Good night." He sighed wondering when she would 'love-talk' with him.

Vidhushi lazily threw her phone on the bed and laid on the bed.

Don't think of Advith. Don't, don't, don't.

She kept on telling herself and lulled herself to sleep. Only, she slept after a very long time.
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