Rudrani:
"But, if I was forced to choose between my life and relationship with you, I choose the relationship with you because I feel I am dead without you," Ashu said making me shocked and shed tears.
"Ashu, I....," I tried to speak, but Ashu didn't give any chance to me.
"From today, you have no place in my heart. You can stay in Sanjay's home and can return if you want. But, I will leave abroad as per my decision, and you will be no more in my life," Ashu said seriously.
I closed my eyes with tears. We went to our home and Ashu said everything to mom and dad.
"Rudrani, what is this? I have always treated you as my daughter. Even now as a mother, I am asking you. What do you want to stay in Sanjay's home? Tell us the reason, and we will help you too. Without knowing the reason, we can't send our daughter alone to a stranger's home. Sanjay may be your friend but a stranger to us," mom asked me.
"I can't reveal the personal life of my friend. I am sorry, mom," I replied.
Ashu looked at me with frustration.
"Rudrani, think once again. We don't think breaking your marriage for a friend is a right decision. We trust you, and we are sure you won't take a wrong decision. So tell us or at least to Ashu the reason and I am sure, Ashu will understand you," dad said.
"I am sorry, dad," I replied.
"Enough mom and dad, I think she already decided to leave us. Now let her go," Ashu said.
I went and packed my luggage. I was about to go but stopped seeing Ashu. I bent my head with tears. Why can't Ashu understand the reason behind my decision?
"Rudrani, this is your last chance. Think again. If you leave, we can never be a couple again. I hope I have given true love to you. Now for the last time, I am asking you- choose between Sanjay and me," Ashu said looking into my eyes.
I can't stop myself anymore. I hugged Ashu tightly.
"Ashu, can't you trust me? Can't you think that your Rudrani will do anything for a reason?"
"Trust? Don't you think I trusted you through all previous acts of mine?"
"Ashu, please," I tried to request him.
"Just answer me, What do you decide?"
"I can't let my friend die and regret later," I said, and Ashu broke the hug.
"If that's your final decision, then be ready to receive the divorce papers soon. Leave now," Ashu said.
I didn't understand how to convince Ashu. I remembered all the moments I shared with Ashu. I am sorry, Ashu. I am really sorry. I can't control my tears anymore. As a doctor, my decision was right because the life of the patient is doctor's priority. But, as a wife, I failed because, for a wife, the only priority should be her husband.
"Ashu, shall I ask you something?"
Ashu looked at me and nodded.
"Why did you ask me never to return to you if I leave now? Is it because that I didn't respect your words or are you doubting me or for society?"
"I don't have any necessity to answer you," Ashu said clenching his fist.
"Usually if we don't have an answer, we will get angry. I know Ashu; you want to leave your wife for society. You are worried about the opinion of this society as what will they think if your wife stays in her male friend's home for few months. Ashu, would you be this angry if that friend is female? Does gender make a difference in the love and care we show to a friend?"
"Just leave before I lose my patience, Rudrani. When Artika was unwell, and as I shouted at you, you were angry with me for many days and asked for divorce too. Why? Don't you remember these logics at that time? Before blaming me, put yourself in my place. Have you ever given me a chance to understand you? Have you tried anytime to understand me? I asked to leave not for society. I asked you to leave for your mysterious and untruthful behavior. If it's not me and any other husband would have slapped you the moment you were arrested in a police raid, but as I trust you, I didn't say even a word against you. I don't have any need to prove my love because now I am telling you that you don't deserve my love. Just don't show your face again to me. Thank you for understanding me so well in all these months," Ashu shouted at me.
Am I wrong? But I just want to heal my friend. If I didn't go, Sanjay might kill himself. If I go, Ashu may be angry with me, but he will be alive. I have a chance to convince him later, but if I didn't go now, I might not get a chance to save my friend ever. I can't forgive myself if Sanjay kills himself. I am the only one with whom he shared all his secrets. I promised Sanjay that I would never let his secret come out. How can I break the promise given to my friend for my life? I can't do it. A friend shares their secrets with a friend and not even with his/her family trusting that that friend would never leak that matter to anyone. I can't break that trust of my friend.
I moved from there with tears in my eyes but hearing Ashu's voice, I stopped.
"Rudrani, are you going to come back or is this the end?"
I was shocked for a minute and turned towards him.
"Ashu," I tried to speak.
"I didn't mean I will forgive you, but I didn't want to regret later. If really you have a valid reason and if I am wrong, then I don't want to be sorry at that time. One more thing, even if you return, I can't say whether I will stay here or will leave to abroad. It depends on your behavior. I am not worried about this society," Ashu said and I ran to him and hugged him.
Ashu didn't react, but I am happy that he will allow me to come back to him. I hope this time I will win him back.
"I love you, Ashu," I said.
Maybe I am the only one who confesses in wrong time, but I really mean it. Even if it's my parents, they would have never allowed me back after taking such a decision.
"You can leave now, and within two months you must be back without any excuses and reasons, Rudrani. If not, you will miss me forever."
I nodded wiping my tears. Now, I didn't want to go leaving Ashu. Maybe it's happiness or love towards my husband who understood the situation and gave me a chance without breaking the relationship. I hugged Ashu for some more time without moving until I felt I can go.
I broke the hug.
"Thank you so much, Ashu. I will call you every day," I said.
"No need. These two months, there will be no contacts between us."
"But why?"
"There's no need to give you the reasons, at least for now," Ashu said.
I nodded, and Ashu said his decision to mom and dad to which they didn't object. I have never seen a family who values and tries to understand daughter-in-law to this extent. I am lucky but will this luck stay ever? Till now I never tried to mingle with my family or did anything to show my love towards my husband or family due to my insecurities and mistrust. After two months, when I return I will do anything to gain trust and love of this family and especially my husband. I left my house and family to save a life, whether it's wrong or right. Right as a doctor but wrong as a wife and daughter-in-law.