'She is suffering from Persistent Depressive disorder. She must have gone through some kimd of utter depression for long and not to forget she just tried to suicide by drowning herself. May I ask you for how long you guys have been married!'

Doctor declares the hidden truth. Here sitting in cabin of a doctor who is announcing that his wife has been depression patient for long comes as nothing new. Sujal had this idea that sooner or later she was going down. But this soon.....

Sujal is astonished.

'Almost six months.' He replies. Trying to remember how these six months have been. Somewhere salty...somewhere completely brackish. Not at all pleasant. But there was a sense of peace. Small and momentary but it was present in this relation.. and this led to him assume that everything was good and somewhere reasonable. But The way he had to see Naina tonight...and bring her to hospital in emergency and the fit she threw.....He has to believe that somewhere nothing was alright. The sham was still on amd facade they played was doing nothing good to both of them.

'Hmm. Have you ever raised your hand on her? Like domestic violence? Or any kind of mutilating behaviour in bed? Have you ever forced her to sleep with you?'

He shifts discomfortably in his seat. This is Naina they are talking about. Infact question should be if he has ever been domestically violated. That slap! Actually those slaps....damn! They hurt. Even today.  And what does this doctor think of him! Is he insane? Or he thinks of him(Sujal) to be insane? Godd..

he sure gets Sujal on edge with his nonsense questions...

'Look. We are married for six months and whenever we..we did it, it was consensual. And sorry i cant prove you that.'

'Look Mr. Grewal! Dont be rude. I am asking you some questions. Its your wife we are talking about. She has been depressive for long. Have you any idea when a person tries to suicide! At least you yourself should be aware of seriousness of depression.'

He nods..

'Mrs. Grewal has been taking some pills. And they were being taken or regular basis without any advise or supervision of a doctor. This is severe. She can become suicidal and we cant do a thing if no step being taken now. So are you guys happy in your marriage?'

Sujal keeps mum. Happiness in a sham marriage! It is like they are searching an oasis in desert. And Sujal has very well idea of absence of that oasis. How can they be happy when she was surrounded by her brother' ghost. And he...he himself kept going back Kashish...giving her chance to stamp his self respect over and over. How can he make her happy! This marriage never existed. Let alone be existence of happiness!

'Your silence gave me answers I was seeking. I know..now a days marriages are brittle. But young man. You have married her. You must be thinking something. Now whats so bad in trying until one of you gives up! Did you ever tried to make her breakfast in bed? Or did you ever tried to kiss her good night! She is a woman for god' sake. And they are fragile you accept it or not. They return double what you give them. So whats bad in trying!'

Sujal has nothing to tell. The only thing he gave Naina was orgasm. But yes she returned favour...double or in same amount he had no idea for he never got to know intensity of her orgasm. She was always crying in pleasure in the end. But he could count his share of pleasure. It increased every time she was under him and riding him. Damn! She was awesome.

Suddenly it strikes him that he is in front of a doctor.he composes his thoughts.

'Problems always occur in newly married couples. Some people marry in haste without having an idea what is waiting ahead. And some people...they marry for fun. But relation is relation. It is like a sapling.you need to care and look after. You need to water it every day so that when it develops into a tree it gives you that shade which keeps you away from all heat and sun.'

He keeps on listening what doctor tells him. And in the end..a humble request...

'Medicine wont do good until you tend her emotionally. As far my guess goes she has been depressive for around two years...And now if not being taken care of, she will succumb to it. I hope you at least have that much care for her to not let her die.'

Sujal nods but suddenly has this urge of slapping Naina. This doctor has no idea how of an idiot that woman is. She is insane..machine..she knows nothing about peace and relief. She knows only one thing...gets wasted or work harder than ever. What will he do when he comes to know that this depressive woman never slept for four days in row. Her eyes had dark circles of size of Greenland. How can someone help her when she herself chooses not to have peace! Everything was going normal but she being crazy could not deal with normal. Sujal had no problem in returning home and finding a cranky Naina.. a hot make out...sometimes.. a fight they had over some petty issues.or mindblowing sex. Sometimes he made pasta for her though she did point out that he could have done better. But at least the life was going smooth....

He picks half conscious Naina and takes her back home. Whole ride je wonders what made her run away. She was having good time with him. They were acting like two normal people and it had been so good. No drama in life. No complicity but then one morning he finds out that he is alone in room. He presumes she must be gone to HQ but for two days she doesn't return and then the fact tha she is utterly workaholic crosses his mind. Third day he is panicked but he keeps quiet. That night he could not take it any longer. He searched her. And finally found her next day itself  with her head drowned in water and body completely disshelved and she looked as if she was broken in shambles...Sight was so strange. Never he thought naina would be like This. Or worse he would find her like this..

He had been surprised. He felt so bad when he saw Naina so lifeless and distorted. This Naina...who once jumped at him...who once stood to whatever curveball life threw to her was now lying here so pathetically....

He took her to hospital at once and there it took doctors to three hours to control her. She hasn't eaten food, never slept and she was completely out of control. She was give sedative and soon she passed out. It was when Sujal was called in office of doctor who had observed her. The immediate actions he called for..

Sujal sighs. Naina is mystery to him still. He works on her daily little by little but she keeps on getting complex. Everyday. He wonders..and is actually astonished beyond words what happened to her suddenly. She suddenly left everything and ran away..why?

He takes her to her bed...and covers her with comforter...wondering what exactly he will ask her when she gets up..

Suddenly....Suddenly he sees her...A vulnerable Naina..who is lying silently. A turmoil goes inside her daily but on outside she is calm and composed.

He sits by her side. He can not ask her anything because there is nothing to ask. The way naina never questioned his obsession with kashish. He has no question for her sudden downfall for he had been sliding same way...somewhere after her.

Like some other day...he has to think of this marriage and the damage it is doing. Marrying a stranger....and then starting a physical relationship with her somewhere was not good idea. They havr come a long way. Only thing he got to know about her was about her temper issues. Her stubborn behaviour. What can be expected to know in three months! Sujal lies next to her wondering what next step he should take. What exactly he should do to make things less poisonous? To let her go... or to let her consume in this fire along him??

His fingers brush themselves against her pale cold skin. A lingering kiss he unknowingly places on her head. It sure is damaged and complex and painful.