"People demand freedom of speech as a compensation for the freedom of thought which they seldom use." 

― Søren Kierkegaard

Chapter 14:

   It had been a week since they came to the US, and things seemed to be surprisingly looking up. Riya was quite touchy on the morning of her first day here, but after that she was being much nicer to him. In fact, nicer than she was on their first date.

   Every day in the morning, Madhan was always the first to rise. He never made coffee for her since she doesn't drink coffee. Instead, he would keep a cup of milk ready for her, whenever she woke up. And while he was reading the newspaper, she would make a small but delicious breakfast. 

   He was surprised that she could cook so well, despite her saying she didn't know how to cook. She insists that since HIS own cooking was horrible, he found hers tasty. But Madhan knew better. He was a Master Chef. That is why he is so fat.

   He would leave for work, and when he came back, Riya was either watching TV or reading a book. Then that evening, they would order from outside, and talk about their day.

   His marriage was one that was so different. Every single thing he did, he had to think twice, because he was so afraid it would break. He felt like their marriage was on a string, and one snap would chop it off.

   There was one thing he never failed to notice.

   And that was how Riya was sad all the time.

   Even though she was so much nicer to him, she seemed to be sad all the time.

   Madhan even questioned her about it, and she said it was because she missed her family. But he didn't think that was all. There had to be something else to it too. He was so sure of it, since Riya spoke to her parents twice a day, for two hours each. That should cheer her up a lot, shouldn't it?

   Riya looked at the clock. It was three o clock. About the same time she had first come from the US. She didn't know whether to be happy that she made it alive this week, or sad that she had many million weeks of this left.

   She wasn't happy, or blissful or sad. She was just normal. Neutral. She felt absolutely nothing. This wasn't how she wanted to feel. Now that she come to think of it, she really did want to fall in love with Madhan. This was her life after all. Like Aakash said, she had to find a way to move on. To get happiness. For herself. Not for anyone else.

   She did her job as a daughter very faithfully. Now it was her turn for happiness. But how would she get it, if she felt zero attraction for her husband? Maybe if he were slimmer, and pimple-free, she might actually feel something.

   That does make her appear shallow, but come on. Who was anyone to judge. She loved someone so deeply. It takes more than just sweetness to heal her heart. But she knew one thing for certain. She wasn't going to tell Madhan about Aakash. He would leave her instantly. And where would she go in this world?

   Riya took out her diary and wrote about what she felt just now. Feeling a bit better, she left it open on her desk and went to the closet to take out her swimsuit.

   After a light shower, she covered herself with a towel and headed for the swimming pool.

   Madhan had wrapped up his work for the day. He gathered up his belongings, bid Jack a good weekend and headed home.

   He was quite excited to share his news with Riya. He had just been promoted to Assistant Director, and that was why he was given an early break.

   To celebrate, he wanted to take Riya on a mountain road trip, knowing that she would really appreciate it.

   He impatiently knocked the door, and waited for five minutes before he used his own spare key to unlock the door.

   "Riya," he called out, quite worriedly. He looked in the kitchen, his room, the dining hall, and then finally her room. He didn't see any sign of motion, but saw an open journal.

   Curiosity overpowered him, and he found himself sitting in her chair, holding her diary.

   He went to the beginning and started reading it.

   It was dated two days before he got her picture. She must have gotten it before him, he thought.

Dear Diary,

My mother wants me married already. But how can I? When I'm already in love with someone else who is so perfect? It's not fair. I'd agreed to marry whomever she wanted, but she could have given me more time.

Riya

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Dear Diary,

Aakash just told me that he's getting married too. My world came crashing down, again. I guess this is it, isn't it. We are absolutely over. But it hurts so much. I'm getting dehydrated due to the amount of water I lose due to crying.

Riya

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Dear Diary,

So today was the day I met my future husband. The nerve he has to actually come so late. I had to wait for a fricking three hours. But I do have to admit, he's a nice person. Really sweet. But I'm not sure I'll ever be able to love him.

Riya

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Dear Diary,

I'm engaged and it's the worst feeling ever.

Riya

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Dear Diary,

I know I'm being so cold and heartless towards Madhan, but I can't get myself to be nice to him. It feels like I'm cheating on Aakash.

Riya

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Dear Diary,

I just found out I had to move to the US. It never struck me at all, but I just can't move away from everything I've been born and brought up with. Why do girls always have to move? Why can't men be the one who sacrifice? And they say men are superior? How so? When women are the ones who have to deal with everything to make the men APPEAR superior.

Riya

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Dear Diary,

I'm getting married tomorrow. And I'm not looking forward to it at all.

Riya

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Dear Diary,

Aakash spoke to me about moving on. About trying to get my own happiness now. He spoke really good words, but it's going to be so hard to move on.

Riya

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Dear Diary,

I'm married, and I feel like I've attended my own funeral.

Riya

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Dear Diary,

I've officially moved. Madhan was just so sweet. He took me to Taco Bell. Can't believe he actually remembered!

Riya

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Dear Diary,

Maybe if he slimmed down a bit I might actually feel attracted to him. But if he can wait for me to fall in love with him, I don't mind if he stays the same. But I don't want to get children already. His mother has already put so much pressure on me.

Riya

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Dear Diary,

HE CAN NEVER KNOW ABOUT AAKASH. OTHERWISE HE WILL LEAVE ME. WHERE WILL I GO THEN?

Riya

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   Madhan closed the book. A few pages were damp from the tears he had just shed. Riya really has sacrificed everything. On one hand it made him feel for her. On the other hand, it made him very angry.

   Didn't he deserve a wife who could love him? He didn't even mind that Riya had a boyfriend. But how could she have hid such a big thing from him? For Chrissake, he would have even tried to get the two married.

   Now more than being upset, he was absolutely furious. He heard the door click and looked up.

   Riya was standing behind the door, looking smoking hot, with her wet hair and swimsuit.

   But nothing clouded him from his anger.

   Riya was shocked to find Madhan sitting on her chair in her room.

   But something was amiss. Why was he so red, and shivering?

   And then everything seemed to make sense. He was holding her diary.

  Now, she didn't care what mistake she made, but the fact that Madhan read her diary.

  "HOW COULD YOU," Riya screamed, and ran towards Madhan to snatch the diary out of his hands.

   Madhan, not even slightly impressed, merely got up and held it high up in his hands.

   Riya was jumping desperately trying to reach him, but she was too short. She hit him as hard as she could on his hand and asked him to get out of her room.

  "My room you mean," Madhan said, coldly.

   Riya stopped attacking him, and fell down to the floor, crying.

   Madhan's anger faltered a bit, as he saw her cry. He had never seen anyone look so miserable. But what she did was absolutely unforgivable.

   "Why didn't you tell me about him," he asked her, quite unmercifully.

   When she didn't reply, he shouted a bit more. "WHY?"

   Riya whimpered. Madhan never showed this side of him before. But how was she to know? She had known him only for a month and a half.

   "Did you two have sex?" he spat.

   Riya was tight-lipped.

   "And that's why you decided lie to me, so that I would never know about your dirty work, and marry you? Which you successfully did? Good work, Riya. You are worse than a serial villain."

   "No. We didn't have sex."

   Madhan narrowed his eyes at her. "Then what's there to hide? Why didn't you tell me about it before?"

   "I don't have to explain myself."

   "You bloody sure do, Riya. Might I make it clear, that I am the victim here. Not you? You are absolutely incapable of loving me now. I deserve someone who can actually love me."

   "Maybe if you weren't so fat, you would have been in a love marriage yourself."

   "Shut up, you witch. Now I get it. I totally get it now."

   "What do you get?" Riya asked, standing up, and wiping her tears with the back of her palm.

   "That you married me for my money."

   "I'm not so cheap, you BAD MAN," Riya screamed.

   "THEN WHY DID YOU LIE?" Madhan shouted.

   "My mother said you were a good person. I knew I would jinx my chances of getting married to you if you knew about Aakash," Riya said, quietly.

   "Fine. Then why did you plot to take revenge on me? By brushing in front of me, and making eggs when you know I hate it and drinking from the container."

   "Because you touched my suitcase."

   "A simple request would have taught me a lesson. You don't always have to go around punishing everyone, Riya, for a simple mistake they do. You could say, please don't do this, and I will listen."

  "Get out of my room," Riya shouted again.

  Madhan walked out, shutting the door so hard that one of the hinges broke.

   The doorbell rang, and Madhan went to get it.

Phew!! That was a lot of Drama :P You have a little insight in Riya's feelings, and Madhan was justified in his anger.

Now that the truth is out, what do you think will happen?! ;) Hope you liked the chapter! Please vote and comment! :)