18th February 2017

There was something within him, a pain in Madhav's voice. Shree looked into his eyes, and the pain, the hurt reflect in his black eyes. Pain and hurt has been dwelling in those dark eyes for three consecutive days.

"Madhav, are you still angry?" Shree says softly, holding his arm as he comes back to the room after having dinner.

He seamlessly pulls his arm away from her hold.

"Madhav! I'm sorry!" She says as he walks to the balcony. "Please say something! You haven't spoken to me at all since that day!"

The silence was poisonous to them, in that void the shallowness of their conversation was laid bare. What used to be an animated effervescent banter had become an utterly vapid moment of silence. Silence was deadly in its nothingness. Silence clung to them like a venomous cloud that would choke the life out of them. Silence seeped into their every pore, like a poison slowly paralyzing them from either speech or movement.

"Do you hate me?" Shree asks after standing in silence for an hour.

"You know I can't stop loving you." He murmurs as he stands in the balcony feeling the soft winds of the night breeze past him. "But I'm hurt."

"Madhav, I didn't mean to-" She says but he stops her.

"I don't want to talk to you." He says and walks back inside, sitting on the bed.

"Madhav, please-" She pleads sitting down beside him, looking at his eyes.

"Shree darling?" Yashoda calls as she knocks on the door.

"Yes?" Shree asks, opening the door.

"Sorry to disturb you but have you finished packing, darling?" She asks.

"Uhm-uhm y-y-yeah. I'm done!" Shree stammers nervously. She finally remembers that her things are yet to be packed. The two American Tourister suitcases which Madhav got for her are lying empty in her walk-in-closet. There was so much to pack, and she had to do it soon, for there was only two days before she left for London. All her things, most of them were brought newly, were all around the room. The new laptop RK got for her was inside Madhav's cupboard. The bag that had her black and pink hooded-winter jacket was lying on the Barcalounger along with two boxes of new Skechers shoes.

"That's great! Now go get some sleep." She says and walks away.

Shree locks the door.

"You haven't packed yet?" Madhav asks as he notices Shree walk into the walk-in-closet. "Do you even realize that you are going to London the day after tomorrow?"

She opens the suitcase, starts pulling out a few tee-shirts and haphazardly starts to stuff it in. He holds her arm.

"What are you doing? This way you will be able to pack only quarter dozen tee-shirts! Let me pack it for you. Go sort out your shoes and your makeup." He says annoyed and spills out the clothes she crammed into the suitcase. "You are so lazy, dependent and unorganized! Thank goodness the university took care of your student visa and the other formalities. I can't imagine how messy your hostel room would look like- no less than Shyaam's messy room."

He patiently folds her clothes and looks at her. Her eyes were moist with a smile on her face.

After packing, Shree goes to sleep. Madhav walks downstairs to the living room and sees Yashoda seated on the sofa.

"I thought you were asleep." She says looking at him. "Come sit."

He sits beside her, sighing.

"What's wrong?"

"What do you mean?" Madhav asks nervously. "I'm alright."

"I noticed a void between you and Shree during dinner." She says concerned.

"Shree accused me of cheating. I'm hurt and angry."

"Oh dear! When was this?"

"A few days ago. Around the 14th, I guess?" He says. "I can't believe she accused me of something so grave. Me? Cheat on her? That will never happen!"

"Look, Madhav. You need to look at this from her perspective too! Shree is- well, are you forgetting that her first boyfriend cheated on her with that girl-"

"Sarah."

"Yes, Sarah. She probably would have thought bad of herself after she found out about that. There was that incident where she was nearly molested by a person whom she befriended at work. She would have probably found it difficult to trust a man fully. But she fully trusted in you. You need to understand that even a slight clue or a gesture can convince her that someone is on the road of betraying her. I don't blame her for assuming the worst of you-"

"But she accused me!" He exclaimed loud. "How-how can she even think that I'd betray her."

"I understand, but she regrets her actions now. Forgive her, that's what's best for both of you."

"I'll try to." He scoffs.

"When? After she leaves for London? After either of you can no longer love the other?"

"That will never happen. My love for Shree can never ever reduce." He says.

"If you love her then why are you doing this to her? You love her and you put her through this-this SUFFERING! I can't understand!" Yashoda sighs. "She has realized her mistake and she's asking forgiveness from you. Let go of your adamance and forgive her. You are punishing yourself as well as her. This will ruin your marriage."

* * * * *

20th February 2017

Shree worriedly calls Madhav a few hours before the flight. He had been declining almost all her calls.

"Where is baava?" Devi asks as she looks around her, admiring the children who try to help their parents push the luggage trolleys.

"Didn't he say he'd come here straightaway from work?" Says Shyaam as he notices a few beautiful air hostesses walk straight past him. Devi looks at him, smirking with an eyebrow raised at him.

"He should be here by now, right? It's almost 10 PM." RK wonders, taking his phone and calls Madhav's office. "Come on, you stubborn little baby, pick up! Pick up! Pick- Shree speak to him."

Shree quickly took the phone from him, with shaking hands. "Hello Madhav. Where are you?"

"I'm at my office." He says as he looks at the framed picture of her on his table. He picks it up and runs his finger down the soft curves of her cheek.

"I'll be boarding my flight in a few hours." Shree says. "Don't you want to see me for one last time?"

"I don't think so." He says closing his eyes with the photo frame pressed to his chest, eyes glistening with tears.

"Are-are you sure?" Shree asks trying to fight the tears from rolling over down her eyes. "I have to tell you something very important. It's urgent, Madhav."

"I'm sure. Take care." He says and ends the call.

Shree returns the phone to RK and sighs.

"What is that urgent thing you wanted to tell him?" Lakshmi asks concerned, holding Shree's arm.

"I'm pregnant." Shree whispers. "I'm on my second week. I found out in the morning."

"That's-that's amazing. Oh! I am so happy for you!" Lakshmi says hugging Shree.

"This is- this is wonderful!" Yashoda exclaims in happiness. "God, I wish you weren't going to London right now. It breaks my heart to know that you'll be pregnant and alone in an unknown city."

"It's okay Ma, I can manage." Shree says smiling. "I want to follow my dreams and I want to proceed with this pregnancy. It can be difficult to raise a baby while doing a degree, but I'm sure I can do this."

"You have our support, Shree." RK says. "If you say you want the degree as well as the baby, then we will do all what we can to support you. You aren't alone. I'll send some money, every month. Your mother or Yashoda will be visiting you every month. I can hire a nurse to look after the baby after the birth. My point is, you won't be alone, dear. Don't worry."

"My only worry is that I can't tell Madhav before I leave."

"You can tell him the day he puts he decides to put his stubbornness aside and starts to talk to you." Yashoda exclaims. 

To be continued....

This is where everything changes. This is the turning point for everyone and everything is bound to change from here. Also, prepare yourself to meet Shree and Madhav's baby- another important main character.

Stay in touch! I'll see you in London with Chapter 34!

Glossary

Baava- (Telugu) Brother in law

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Also let me know what you think of the following through your comments

-What will happen next?

-Will Shree be able to manage everything in a new city?