Estranged | ✓

XXIX. a misunderstanding

anupamaa :

He barely ate.
I saw it.

He looked like lightning had struck him, constantly fidgeting, his finger tapping continuously on the table while he forced a smile.

And I couldn't make sense of it.

"It's bedtime! Yayy!", Pakhi said hopping off her seat after I finally wiped her face off.

I noticed how he didn't even look at her, he looked lost now.
Heartbroken and lost.
I drew in a deep breath.

"Papa? Let's go home.", Toshu said as he snapped out.
"Yes..", he mumbled softly as he pushed back his chair and stood up.
He sounded depressed.

"Umm.. why? Toshu, you can sleep here with your siblings. I'll get your clothes tomorrow morning and you can be off to school.", I said as Toshu's face lit up in an instant.
He glanced up at his father, who stood very still.
"Papa?"
"Ha... Sleep here. I'll just go.", Vanraj ji said before pushing back his chair and striding out of the apartment without another word.

Nevertheless,
I took the kids to their bedroom, (Toshu squeezing in between Samar and Pakhi as happy as ever) and they fell asleep.

I sat back at the table.
Dancing all day was definitely one tiring job, but not tiring enough for me to take a break.
My boss, the owner of the Academy absolutely loved my dedication.

I sat back for moments before I finally stood up and got out of my apartment.

Mister Shah's strange behaviour was stuck in my head.

I was about to press the doorbell when I noticed the door was just ajar, not locked.
I slowly opened it and walked in.

There was silence.
I could here the sound of my own slippers and nothing else.

"I thought you wouldn't come."

I was startled by his voice, but I couldn't see him.
I slowly walked down to the balcony.
He stood there, his back towards me.

"What has happened?", I asked softly.
He did not turn, he just stood in silence.

"You have found a new love?"
His voice was tender, it was hurt, broken.
But it made no sense to me.

"What love? I-I don't know what you are talking about.", I said as I walked down to him.
He was looking straight.

"I think you just have acidity and you're not feeling well—"

"WHAT?! Are you...", He was about to say something disrespectful but he minced his words with great effort.

He just exhaled sharply.

"Otherwise why would to talk this way? Don't worry.. I'll get some ENO—"

"Anupamaa!", He snapped.
Momentarily I saw the old him, but that vanished as soon as it had come, he drew in a deep breath,
"I am doing just fine. Good night."

He stated.

"No. It's not good night unless you clear the reason behind your misbehaviour.", I stated plainly.

He smiled, his tragic smile, as he nodded.
His voice was sounding heavy, his eyes, I couldn't see them clearly.

I knew something was off.

"If you want to leave me, you can. But just tell me before you do. I have watched someone I loved get married once, I really don't want to see it again so—"

"One minute.", I said, because I heard only what mattered to me,
"You.. love me?"
"I thought I told you—"
"No.. I thought it was because I am the mother of your children.", I stated, taken aback, "I mean you are comparing me with Rittika, who you loved romantically.. and.."

He looked at me, perplexed.

"You really don't know me.", He said simply.
"At least answer..", I said softly, but he turned around and walked down to the bed.

"Good night.", He said.

How extremely annoying.

"Why can't you talk clearly?!", I said a little louder.
He turned, in the dim lights of the room, I saw his eyes.
They looked bloodshot.

"Because I don't want to talk.
Anymore."

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