An abortion, few fractured ribs and some legal shit to home.

After our office, it was planned to crash at Naina's place. It's Friday and no one really wants to wake up under the same roof. I, on the other hand, was excited about spending time with her.

Everybody eventually knew about us and were aware of what we had - unnoticed gazes, casual touches that'll send shivers through my body and the eye contact that spoke it all.
I was in a happy place just being around her.

This Friday was no different. Soon after we reached her place, she took me separately and started to argue yet again.
"Why don't you see someone. You do know this current sexy pepper look will soon look only old!" she said.
I smirked at her 'sexy' remark. She realized she slipped a word enough for me to pull her leg.  I always enjoyed this - she thought of me as sexy; how she always wanted me to be in love.
I said, "Find me someone who'll love me more than you do". and started to head back to the living room to join others.


Naina's 10th wedding anniversary was near and as always she was not excited about it but thanks to social media and undying relatives, it was brought out that evening. From where it all started...
She was sipping her fav glass of wine when Aarthi casually mentioned, "So... what plans?"
Naina: "Hmmm...?"
Aarthi: "Your wedding anniversary girl!"

There was a slight amount of awkwardness. Everyone slowly turned towards me and I didn't raise my head. The plain glass of water looked pretty interesting at this point in time.

Naina didn't reply and I slowly walked out to the next room.

Naina followed me. She asked, "When will you start seeing someone?"
I looked at her with amazement.

She had coloured her grey hairs - red burgundy streaks made her look like wildfire. Her slightly squint eyes were always perfect enough to look into my soul. Her wrinkles were her real tattoos. The one I actually liked.
I said... "Can I have some tea?"
"You stopped having tea 4 years back! Stupid way to stop me smoke". She failed to look angry. She knew I love tea, especially with her.
I said, "At least you reduced - or maybe in front of me. I can live with that".



She sighed. "You're making it all very difficult for me." You moved into my city, managed to get a job at the same office. I know you helped me here and may have saved my ass one or few times but its difficult. Do you think people can't see the way you look at me? The way you're around me. The way you're closed to any relationship... The way... the way... she stuttered and stopped.

I asked, "The way what?"
She said, "The way you carried me to the hospital when I fainted!"
I couldn't keep my cool and raised my voice. "Why in the world you aborted!?"

She started to weep. I can take a bullet for her but couldn't see her cry.

I hugged her and whispered as part of my routine, "I'll always love my home - you're my home." and left her to recover.

I returned to the gang who now were busy chatting about work, cribbing about family and movies.

Naina walked back into the room, trying hard to keep her composure and look fine.
I thought to myself: here I am ready to move mountains for my love while she stands in front of me - feeling helpless and mostly, unloved.

I took a leave to use the restroom and had barely made it to the seat when I heard a lot of sound from the living room. I rushed to see HIM waiting outside the restroom.
The awkwardness was surreal. I had always imagined this introduction to be awkward but this was painful.
Can't blame some other human for my grief. We all were victims of time and place. Wrong place at the right time.
I couldn't, rather didn't greet him. Left to the hall to gather my stuff and leave.

Everyone in the room knew how much I loved and craved for Naina that I am sure no one would have stepped in to stop me if there was even a blood-bath. I wish Naina knew too.
Just when everyone expected to break havoc I started to leave. Just then, he joined us in the room and made the heroic announcement. "Guys I have a surprise for my wife! I bought her tickets to her fav place."
Before he could finish, I whispered to myself, "Hope at least he knows it is Bali..." and he said "... Bali".

I was relieved and in pain - a great amount of pain.

Naina didn't say anything. She was silent; enough to make it loud - that she wasn't really happy. She could never fake. My honest lady love.

Without bidding bye to anyone, I headed down from her house on the 13 floor. In the lift, I was thinking... "I left my country, my people, my career, my LIFE to be with her and give her what she really wants. A loving home."
"How does a week-long trip to someplace compare with a life in a loving home...? Wow... what a life!

It's been 3 weeks since that night. The night he wrongly touched her for the last time - the scar he caused her is still afresh in my heart and soul.
My knuckles do hurt with the fracture I caused to his ribs. He shouldn't have hurt her again.
I didn't touch her this time - she wasn't pregnant. The last abortion had left her weak and incapable to conceive again.
The abortion he forced her to take.

The abortion that killed our baby - my baby.

Aarthi's timid call helped me reach on time and rescue her.

Naina is recovering now. She's back where she always belonged - in my arms. I was back home too. A home for only us.
So what if we can't have a child - I anyways called her with our daughter's name, if we were ever destined to have one.

It took us an abortion, few fractured rib and some legal hassle to finally unite as one.

She was always my everything - my life, my love and my home.

The bar

Dim lights, empty glasses with rocks in them, melting away with different topics... 
I hear these words, "So, three rejections? That must hurt bro!"

One of them noticed the smirk on my face from the opposite end of the bar. 

"You think this is funny?"

"Any sorta hurt is bad. I think the guilt of not been able to love back true love is far more hurtful...."

The smirk didn't annoy anymore. The old scotch wasn't strong anymore. 

The stranger was long gone. We both were scrolling through our mobiles for those forgotten contacts. 
The bar, the stranger... started a chain reaction of beautiful thoughts and long-lost memories.

The REAL reason why women are sluts.

The reason why we remember some incidents forever is because we have a strong emotion attached to it. This is why I'll never forget why women are such sluts!

I am a fourth generation wooden toymaker. Hailing from a toymaker community, it was an obvious choice for trade.

Things aren't that great in this trade anymore--from the lack of skills to stiff competition from the mass produced China-made toys. People prefer cheaper plastic toys that come in so many varieties.

After a frustrating turn of bad sales near the city bus-stand where I usually sell my toys, I decided to call it a day. Tired and hungry, I boarded the evening bus to my town. By now, the discomfort of hunger overtook the pain in my tired shoulders and feet.

The bus started about an hour late. With nothing to look ahead for, I closed my eyes to rest and sleep. Few minutes in the journey, I felt something brushing on my face. I opened my eyes to see a colorful piece of cloth, gliding in the air while touching my face. It was from the dress the girl sitting in front of me. I didn't object initially. Moved it away a couple of times but it'll always glide back in.


Already filled with frustration from the disappointing day, I called the girl, "Hello! (with aggression) Can you please correct your dress, it's touching my face." Listening to this, she turned around along with few more nearby passengers.

Source

I couldn't believe my eyes, she was way more beautiful than any doll I had ever made or saw. She was a delight to look at. Bright flawless skin, dark long hair with the right amount of curls, thick eyebrows to compliment those fish shaped eyes. Her eyelashes blinked... and my heart skipped.

A low mesmerising voice, almost as a whisper, murmured, "I'm so sorry". She tugged her dress. That was one of the most memorable short conversation I ever had in my life. It started a chain reaction in my mind:
'Who in the world is she?
'Is she from my town?'
'How can I talk to her again?'
'Was it really this beautiful goddess' dress touching my face?'
I hit my head in anguish for the way I spoke to her; leaving no scope for me to have any further conversation.

The bus stopped for a break, so did my run of luck. With a heavy heart, I got out the bus. With every sip of hot tea, I was still hoping to somehow turn my luck and get her to talk to me.
Will she ever talk to me? With this question, I started to walk back towards the bus. The gloomy sky and gentle breeze added to the romance.

Source

At this moment something magical happened, she looked at me and smiled from her window. I turned to see if it is indeed me or someone behind me she smiled at; looking at this, she smiled again. I couldn't believe if it is really happening? I got inside the bus while trying to maintain eye contact.

The bus started, but my mind stopped. I was trying to understand what had just happened. Am I dreaming, is it really the goddess that smiled at me? Whatever it maybe, it gave me a wicked courage. I could get her, is what my mind was telling me.
Without any more delay, I started making small advances. I extended my leg until it was the closest to her without touching her. Without waiting any further, I made the minimal contact with her leg. They say some touch make you realize how you are supposed to feel. This touch gave me such feel. I could feel the shiver down my spine. With every passing stop, I was getting bolder.

She didn't stop me. She didn't hesitate. I think I even saw her smiling. She probably was enjoying all this. So much for the goddess. What a slut!

I was about to reach my destination. She was still in her seat. The way she was sitting, I am sure she was travelling beyond my stop or was she enjoying what I was doing it to her and decided to travel further. What a slut!

The conductor yelled my destination.  Disturbing the sensual tension I was enjoying. Darn! I had to leave. Thinking of how bad a day I had to the pleasure I had with this beautiful slut.

You know how you want to feel anything one more time when you know it is your absolute last time? I made a plan--drop a coin, while lifting it, touch her leg. A skilled man's hands are his other pair of eyes.

Source

I dropped a coin near her leg and swiftly bent to pick it up. While picking the coin, I caressed her leg. Somehow it wasn't that pleasurable. It wasn't anything close to a soft and slender leg I expected her to have. There wasn't anything sensual about it. I couldn't enjoy it. Before anyone could notice, I got up, walked down the bus and stared at the girl.

She again passed a brief to smile and turned away. Only this time, it wasn't sluttish, it was divine. She had no legs but had a great smile.

The bus started to move and so did my tears....