Ashutosh:
I hugged Rudrani and consoled her. Rudrani stopped crying and sat on bed hugging her knees. She composed herself after sometime.
"Ashu, if you are ready to keep your anger aside, I will share my feelings," Rudrani said.
"Tell me," I said looking at her.
"Ashu, I agree with your words. A couple shouldn't have any secrets between them. Husband and wife should be honest to each other. I am sorry for pretending as if I was in the camp. I was scared to say that I stayed at Sanjay's home because I felt you may doubt me. Ashu, I didn't do anything wrong," I stopped her before she completes.
"Look Rudrani, I never stoop so low where I doubt my wife's character. I never have such doubts on you but the thing that you lied to me hurt me the most," I said honestly.
I trust her completely but why did she lie to me? Infact I would allow her to meet her friend if she says that she is going to meet her friend Sanjay or whoever it is. I don't trust Sanjay but I trust my wife. She never cheats me and I am sure about it.
Rudrani held both my hands.
"I am sorry, I won't do it again. Please forgive me," Rudrani said and I found sincerity in her eyes.
"It's okay," I agreed immediately.
"Ashu, I know you have every right to know about me but you have no right to know about the details of my friends. I hid it from you because it's Sanjay's personal issue. If it's related to me I would have told you immediately but as it's related to my friend, I can't share it with you. I respect privacy of my friends and I can't share it with anyone including my husband. I am sorry," Rudrani said.
I smiled but this time it is with anger or frustration. I really didn't know how am I being this patient. Is Rudrani testing my patience or does she want to break this relationship?
"Rudrani, if that's the case, I too can hide about Artika from you. Everything in which you are involved matters to me. Just get this into your mind or I have no problem in forcing these things into your mind in my way," I said.
"You are rude," Rudrani said averting her gaze away from me.
"Good night, Rudrani," I said as the conversation was led to fight again which I wanted to avoid at any cost.
In the morning, Rudrani got ready to go out.
"Rudrani, wait," I said and she stopped.
"As you said yesterday, I can know about you and you have no objection to reveal your details to me, isn't it?"
"Yes, Ashu," she said.
"Ok so now tell where are you going and at what time will you return home?"
Rudrani looked at me for sometime and then answered.
"I am going to our hospital. I will return after the shift, may be by 2:30 pm."
"Okay, you must be here by that time and if you get any other work, you must inform me. Otherwise you will be punished," I said seriously.
I can't agree with logics all the time. Rudrani lying to me for Sanjay is not a small thing for me. Till she learns not to hide anything from me, I will be strict to her.
"Punishment? I didn't understand, Ashu. I am not a kid. How can you punish me? It doesn't make any sense to me," Rudrani said.
"I am your husband," I said.
"So what? You are my husband but it doesn't mean you have right to punish me."
I love her courage. She takes stand for herself. She is not naive to give in so easily.
"If you want to stay as my wife, you are going to accept my rules," I said acting seriousness.
"Okay," she said without looking at me.
Oh my God, my tigress accepted my rules for me. I placed a kiss on her forehead.
"This is your Ashu. He will be the same forever for you. I love you," I said and hugged her.
She smiled hugging me back.
"Ashu, I won't hurt you again. I know you love me a lot," Rudrani said.
"I trust you, baby. I am sorry for making you lose your charm for one month," I apologized.
"It's okay, let's forget it, Ashu," Rudrani said with a smile.
Rudrani left to the hospital and I went aft 12 pm as mom asked me to visit hospital once regarding a case file. I took the case file and went to my Rudrani's cabin. I thought to open the door but stopped where I am listening her words with Sanjay.
"No Sanjay, I think it's high time for divorce. If I can't adjust in the relationship, taking divorce is the only option. Atleast then a girl can live life of her own dreams. I don't understand why a girl should always adjust in the relationship and why not a boy? It's ridiculous," Rudrani said.
Divorce? But I said it in anger. I can't accept this. Why is Rudrani this stubborn? Pain and anger occupied my heart. I never asked her to sacrifice her dreams. Infact, I was planning to send her abroad after MBBS for specialization as cradiothoracic surgeon. I already talked to mom and dad that Rudrani wants to work in villages and we are planning to construct a hospital in a village with all facilities for patients to surprise her. Didn't I adjust for her? Many times, I adjusted for her.
"Rudrani, your decision and advises will be right all the time but this time it is about breaking relationship. Once if we break it, we can't fix it though we feel we did wrong. If you ask me, I always suggest compromise and adjustments are better than breaking relationships and staying alone. Divorce is the last resort when husband is not a human and when wife has a threat to her life from husband. We can't opt for divorce for every small misunderstanding or dispute, we should at least try to settle it and if it doesn't work can stay separately for sometime without divorce. Sometimes, distance make one to realise the worth of that relationship and we too will understand the value of that person in our life. Even if that too didn't work, then as all options were closed can go for divorce.
Except to divide married couple, in any other relationship we don't have this thing called divorce. Maybe that's why though we go away from parents, siblings or friends for time being, one day we reunite with them. This divorce separates a couple forever and though they realise their mistake one day, they hesitate to become one again after divorce," Sanjay said to Rudrani.
Is Sanjay a good person? Is he against our divorce? Doesn't he love my Rudrani? Then what is that bothering Rudrani? Why does she want divorce from me?
I went to my home and gave case file to mom. Rudrani came at 4 pm to the home. She came to our room.
"Wait, what is the time now?" I asked.
"4 pm!"
"You said you will come by 2:30 pm but you were late. May I know why were you late today to home?"
"Ashu, what is this? I just returned to home and you are interrogating me. It's unfair," Rudrani said.
"Really? Should I show you what is unfair?" I asked her.
Rudrani looked at me with confusion, anger and a bit of fear. I moved towards her. She took steps backward and stopped hitting the wall. I caged her between my hands smirking.
"Ashu, leave me, please. If you hurt me, I won't spare you," Rudrani warned.
"Today I will do whatever I want and you can't escape. Let me see what will you do," I said huskily.
"Do you want divorce? I know how to stop you from divorcing me. After today, I hope you won't think about divorce," I said inhaling deeply under her neck making her shiver.