From that day, Sameer's behavior towards Adhika drastically changed. He was always not around and every time she initiated she talk to him about it, he gives a flimsy excuse or snaps at her.

Adhika could not help but wonder what went wrong. Just when she thought she had finally gained her husband's love, they grew farther apart.

Adhika did not realize she had tears running down her cheeks, until Sameer questioned her.

"Are you alright?"

She wiped her tears before raising her head to look at him.

Just like every morning, he was already donned in his work attire. He stopped fixing his tie and fixated his gaze in mine. "Are you alright?" He repeated his question.

Wordlessly, she nodded.

"I'm off to work then." With that said, he picked up his briefcase and walked through the door.

Fresh tears welled up in Adhika's eyes. Sameer's coldness towards her was killing her slowly. The fact that he saw her crying but didn't bother to try to find out if she was really alright like she claimed, shattered her heart. It was all too much for her to take.

•

In the evening, although Adhika knew he wouldn't touch the food she made, she still went ahead and set the table.

She was seated in the living room when he walked in.

"Hi." He mumbled and was about to walk away.

"I made dinner for you," she rushed out the words. "Welcome home." The last part emerged almost as a whisper.

"I am not hungry," he responded.

Typically, Adhika would have allowed him have his way, but she was starting to get really fed up with his display of bipolar disorder. She wanted to know where she went wrong and apologize for it. It was disheartening living like strangerd with her husband in her matrimonial home. "What is wrong with you?" She questioned, standing daringly in front of him.

"What?"

"I want to know what is wrong with you," she repeated. "Since last week, you've been treating me worst than a stranger. I tried not to question you about it because I felt you would come around but your attitude towards me keeps getting worse by the day." Tears glistened in her eyes. "I thought we've passed this stage. I thought everything would finally fall into place when you apologized to me and promised not to hurt me anymore."

Sameer remained silent for a while; his gaze not wavering from nagging woman in front of him.

"If there's anything I have done, I apologize for it. I don't like it when you treat me this way."

"What do you mean by your last statement?" He furrowed his brows. "Do I treat you in a bad way?"

"Yes!" She yelled, although she didn't mean to. At that point, she was exasperated. "You do." She continued in a subdued voice.

"Because I don't want to eat the food you prepared?" He chuckled humorlessly. "Is that it? Do you expect me to eat even when I'm not hungry?"

"Every day," she furiously wiped her tears and blinked severally, fighting back tears. "I ensure to cook dinner for you, I clean for you, I tolerate your mood swings and you don't see me complaining about you barely spending any time with me. I don't complain because I try myself to understand the nature of your job. The least you can do is not give me an attitude every time!"

"Where is all these coming from?" He dropped his suitcase on the couch. "So suddenly?"

"I have been quiet doesn't mean I'm stupid. I'm not. The last time we planned a date, you stood me up and worse, you didn't even deem it fit to give me any explanation and I let it slide. I did that not because I'm a stupid lady who doesn't know what she's doing, but because I made myself believe you wouldn't do that to me intentionally. I convinced myself that something must have come up and that was enough for me."

"Look, Adhika," he massaged his forehead. "I had a busy day at the office today. I don't have time for this nonsense," he gently pushed her out of his way and walked away.

Adhika swallowed a painful lump in her throat and allowed her tears flow freely.

She was tired of pretending that things would turn out fine for them someday.

There seemed to be no hope for their relationship.

Adhika wasn't the type of give up on relationships, but then and there, she decided she wasn't going to keep fighting for them anymore. Not because she didn't love him anymore. She decided to leave him because she was making him unhappy. Perhaps he would be happy having her out of his life for good.

Although it was a tough decision for her, she had to do it for his happiness.

•

"I just home. I can't just leav—" Sameer abruptly cut himself off when Adhika walked in.

By the look of sadness in her eyes, it was obvious to Sameer that his wife overheard him speaking to someone over the phone.

"They want me to return to the office, but I told them I can't because I just got home and you wouldn't l—"

"It's okay," she cut him off. "You can go ahead. I'm not going to be around when you return anyway."

His brows twitched. "What do you mean?"

"I'm leaving," she replied. "I'm going home...and this time, for good."

"What?"

"I'm sorry, I know I promised to try to make this work, but it seems impossible. I have tried everything to make us work but it just isn't happening. Each time I try, I end up embarrassing myself. It really hurts me to see you this sad all because of me. I think it's about time I give you the freedom to be with or to do whatever you want to do."

"I'm sorry," he hung his head in shame. "I'm sorry for the way I've been treating you for the past few days. Believe me, you've done nothing wrong to me. In fact, you've been the best wife anyone could ask for. I just have something I really need to sort out and it's been messing with my head..."

"If you're having a problem, you know you can always share it with me."

"I want to, and I will, but not right now."

"You don't have to anymore," Adhika shook her head."I won't be around then."

"Is this what you really want? Even though I have apologized?"

"You always do that," she cried. "And then you go back to treating me like I'm nothing to you. I can't deal with this anymore." She turned to leave, but was stopped by Sameer wrapping his arms around her from behind.

"Please don't go," he muttered in her ear. "Stay."

His voice, coupled with the closeness of their bodies sent tingles down Adhika's spine.

She attempted to wiggle herself out of his hold, but he only tightened his arms around her and drew her even closer to humself. "If you leave, I'm going to be lonely."

Lonely?

Adhika wanted to tell him that it was exactly the way she had been feeling even though he returned to her every night. He was around, yet it felt like he wasn't.

He made her feel like a visitor in her home.

"Is that the reason you want me to stay? Because you'd be lonely?" Adhika hummed, still trying to get him to let her go.

His hold around her tightened; his head resting in the crook of her neck. "You're important to me."

Adhika shook her head. In as much as she wanted to believe his words, she knew it wasn't true. Had she been important to him, she would have known even without him having to say or prove it.

"One more chance is all I'm asking for."

"I'm afraid I can't give that to you. It really hurts to do this, but I'm doing it for the sake of the both of us. You deserve happiness. I deserve happiness too."

"And you think leaving me will make me happy? Is this really what you think?"

"You left me with no other choice," she wiped her tears. With all the strength she could muster, she pushed him away and turned around. "No matter what you say, I refuse to stay in this house for a minute longer."

Sameer, seeing that her mind was already made up and he didn't want her to leave, he smashed his lips on hers and began to kiss her in a slow, hesitant manner.

When he pulled back, he looked into her eyes, as if searching for permission.

All traces of resistance flew through the window as she stared into the ocean-like eyes that made her fall helplessly in love.

Taking the initiative, Adhika stood on her toes and wrapped her arms around his neck, then continued from where he left off.

Sameer pulled back and joined his forehead with hers. "I'm sorry...please stay."

Adhika nodded. "But please," she beseeched. "don't make me regret this."

"I won't."

•

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Sorry, this book has been on hold for a long time, but not anymore 🥰

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