The End?

 Heer glanced at the figure beside her as she packed in some clothes into the trolley. If Heer hadn’t glanced at the silhouette of the woman sitting beside her, staring blankly at the curtains that swayed gently in the wind, she could have well felt she was alone in the master bedroom. Clearing her throat twice she spoke softly,
“Jija?” She tried again in vain “Jija?”
“I don’t want to go.” Her voice was clear as Heer stared at her face. 
“But Jija everyone wants your well-being that’s why…” she stopped at the stone-cold stare. 
“I want a divorce.” Heer froze as she heard someone at the threshold. Jaivanta had stopped as she stared at the expressionless face of the decision-maker.

Heer looked up first at Jaivanta and then back at Ajabdeh's hard-to-read face. Jaivanta came in like she hadn't heard what was told. With a gentle smile, she placed her hand on Ajabdeh's head and Sajja brought in her dinner.
"Heer. Why don't you stay the night here? With her? You two can talk a bit." Heer nodded at her. "But don't be up too late. Ajabdeh needs to rest. They have to leave for Bijoliya tomorrow."
"I… I need to talk to Pratap." Ajabdeh got up as Heer and Jaivanta felt alarmed.
"Jija. Where are you going? I will call Dadabhai here."
"Yes, he must be working," Jaivanta said as she walked past her in urgency, her steps a little out of balance. "Ajabdeh?"

Ajabdeh stumbled at the threshold of the study room prompting Pratap to look up from the carpet at her, anxiously. He was quick to wipe away his tears and walked up to her. 
"Why are you here?" He asked supporting her figure by placing his hands firmly on her shoulder and upper arm. 
"I need to talk to you." She looked up at him like her eyes were void. Heer came right behind her and managed to call her out. "Jija you need to have some food."
"I want to talk first." She snapped. 
"It's okay." Pratap held out his hand reassuringly. "Heer, get her food here. I will make sure she eats. And we can talk."
Heer looked helpless. "Dadabhai…"
"Go on Heer." He spoke as he helped Ajabdeh to an accent chair nearby. 

Pratap pulled another chair closer and held the plate of food in his left hand, and the spoon in his right. Pouring a bit of the hot Dal over the rice he stirred it and held the morsel near her lips. She looked up at him. Her eyes hurt. 
“I want a divorce.” He looked up at her words. He could hear Sajja and Heer gasp outside the door. 
“Okay.” He said very nonchalantly “Eat the food first.”
“I am serious.” She pushed away the spoon back onto the plate. He sighed. 
“Okay.” He said very calmly. “We will talk of it later.”
“NO!” Ajabdeh’s voice was louder than usual. “We will talk NOW. In fact, there is nothing to talk of. I made up my mind.” She prompted him to place the plate down on the table and hold her hands. She shrugged them off.
“Ajabdeh…” He had a voice of reason. It was soft and firm.
“Where were you?” She retorted looking up at him, her eyes moist. “Where were you when I was held in there alone?”
“You weren’t… you needed to be in the hospital.” He looked up at her.
“Really? And where were you when I needed you? At work?” Her tone was of accusation. 

The truth was she had been in and out of consciousness for the first few days. Every time she opened her eyes, her hands searched for him, and she tried to speak out his name but she couldn’t. All she saw was the nurse. He had been there though. On the bench of the waiting lounge day in and day out hoping and praying. When she regained her consciousness, at last, he had no strength to face her. By then the doctor had informed him she could never have a child. It somehow tormented him as their conversations came fleeting back to his memory. Her dreams of making their child a good human being. Her dreams of holding their hand, seeing them walk and calling her Ranima. Somehow every time she looked at Pratap with hope, he died a little inside. He just couldn’t afford to lose his composure that day. 

So yes, she had reasons for her grievances only her reasons had no answers from him. He had kept his distance ever since she got better. She had Sajja, Heer and Jaivanta around her. She talked to them about other things. She smiled even at Rukaiya and Jalal when they visited. But every time he was around he saw her smile fade. He saw her face pale and teary. It was as though his existence reminded her of the pain he had somehow caused her. Was that the reason she was asking for a divorce? He looked up at her and remembered the doctor’s words. She was not thinking rationally. She was depressed. She needed his patience and care more than at any time now. He had promised to never leave her side.

“And where were you?” He asked a taken-aback Ajabdeh. “We were looking everywhere for you that day.” She inhaled.
“Don’t act like you care.” She looked away. “All you care for is yourself.” He closed his eyes at her words and opened them as she stood up. “I just came here to tell you my decision.”
“And may I know the reason for it?” He asked calmly again.
“It is simple Mr Singh.” She had a melancholy smile on her face as she looked up at him. “The Sisodiyas marry for heirs. I am not capable of giving you one. So, separate from me, move on and find someone who can help you save your clan’s name. I think your mother will want that too.” She walked to the threshold “I do remember it was a marriage of convenience.”
“Oh, five years later, you don’t let me forget that so tha
nk you.” Pratap snapped. She had left the room by then. 

In an impulse to take out his anger, he banged his fist against the wooden side table. The lamp on it landed on the ground and broke. He wanted to scream. He wanted to shout. He wanted to let her know she was not some Baby making machine he had purchased by contract and upon whose malfunction he could replace it. He didn’t even think of starting a family. It was all her idea. He inhaled and sank back on the chair. How easily she accused him of things, knowing how he was for five years.
“You are not in your senses Ajabdeh.” He said aloud “The pain has numbed your senses."

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