Her stomach grumbled. She turned and twisted in the bed.

Groaning, she got up and made her way to kitchen. Checked for leftovers in fridge and found the biggest slice of the party's cake, mushroom chillies , fillings for the Bombay and Mexican sandwich, and Manchurian all wrapped up and stuffed in hurry.

She smiled while taking the cake put and yelped next second seeing the stillhoute of a man. Turns out, it was only her husband leaning against the countertop, with a cup of green tea in his hands, still in 3 piece-suit neatly tucked in, in a manner that highlighted his stressed, but firm, broad shoulders even in dim lights, with an air so pure of unadulterated arrogance that serves him right as the topmost criminal lawyer in the country even when he, Mr. Workaholic with capital W,  chooses to take a rest.

" When did you come ? " She asks him, the clock on wall pointed at 4.

He loosened his tie, shrugging. " Just some moments ago." Then his gaze moved from weary face to her body, slowing down at the curve of her breasts behind the baby blue silk camisole and the yellow and pink star printed cotton shorts which she ridiculously pulls up to her waist . The ones she always wears behind the privacy of "her room". He gulped wondering if it was the alcohol speaking or she still retained that spark that always drew him in like moth to a flame, even after an almost fucking decade, even when they had separated rooms 3 years ago.

He felt bloody drawn in to her, even when she had left his side and preferred to sleep on his precious days.

" Why so late?" She asked with coldness that made one overlook the fact that she still cared- about him, his dreams, and his health, despite knowing the obvious answer.

" Work." His response was clipped.

She grinded her jaw, then scoffed unable to hold her tounge back," At 4 in the morning, right ? When people are getting up for the next day , Mr Lawyer Mahashay comes back from work. What's the need to throw a lavish party , when you can't take one break from work ! "

He finished his tea in one go, slapped the teacup with such a ferocity on the countertop that it startled Shreya."Goddamit!" He growled," What the hell is your problem? What the hell is your bloody problem , Shreya? Is it today's party?-" She flinched but he didn't stop, " or is it my work? Don't you know what it takes to be at top? Don't you bloody know that this is what brings the bread on our tables ?"

She glared at him icily, " What do you mean by that Saaransh? I also am a working professional? I too contribute at our table."

" Oh please," he scoffed and totally got rid of that damned piece of tie." We both know that we can't even pay for our home loan with your salary. And that from past 5 years you couldn't even get a single promotion."

She held-in her tears and snapped back, " Oh yeah ? Then let me remind you that I don't have to Lick the businessmen's shoes and kiss ministers arses for the next big shot all day and night long !"

" Are you even making sense right now? Put your sociological skills to good use and do some research in the market ," He remarked," maybe then you'll find out that I don't go to them, they come to me."

"That's cause your minions do all the dirty work for you. I've lived enough with you to know who comes to whom and why ? " She retorted sharply.

" If you know so much, then don't you know I am doing all of this for you, for us" his tone took a softer turn, for he was tired fighting with her day and again," so we can complete all our dreams in this lifetime."

"Oh please Saaransh, " She whispered, her own voice faltering, "Don't make false promises that you can't even keep."

"False promises? All of this..... " He smiled bitterly, wanting to shake her shoulders, to make her see, what he still didn't knew. Maybe the fact that he had alarms ringing thrice in phone, remainders that she comes first and foremost, maybe the papers of the new rental property,  or simply the fact that it hurt him to stay away from her despite being under same roof, anything - "it's a false promise for you ?"

" Are these not false promises?" She asked. Tears freely falling from her eyes now. Everytime she saw him, it was a reminder of yet another failure, that despite doing everything that she could, giving all that she has to provide , she can't ask him for one that she truly wants. That's his time. And she knows he'll rather prefer to go through one more casefile rather than sit idly with her doing nothing. " We both know you're doing this to satiate your ego,your thirst for power, your unstoppable greed. Don't name it on us."

" All this hardwork, those late nights. You seriously think it's for my ego ? You know," He shook his head and chuckled ruefully, "Forget it....."

"Okay then. Tell me," she crossed her arms, taking two small steps closer to him,"if there's an emergency at work and home at same time, who would you choose?"

" What the hell is this blasphemy. " He grunted, taking two steps back.

She chuckled wryly, " Can't answer ?"

He hook his head, gulped and stared at her for beats too long.

She took his silence, his hesitancy as an answer itself , didn't believing in the sincerity of his answer for even one second. " It's work that keeps our homes running, but I'll be choosing you for you're the most important person in my life."

I'd always choose you. He made a silent promise to himself, despite his judgement being clouded by anger and sorrow.

" You've said it many times. But your actions are very different. Always." She stated , her voice broken.

" Wh- What...Why are you it as there is something that happened in my absence, huh?" He spoke and her tear strained eyes looked up to glare at him. With a venomous intent of hitting him tight across the face till it hurt him, but stopped herself only because he didn't knew what had had happened to her in his absence.

Who had done it and how many times. She's been hiding it well until and she'd be damned if she didn't take that to grave. She stopped bothering him with petty matters long ago. And it wasn't like he would be doing something. You had to be bothered about your partner and you need to look up from case files for minute to spare some care. He had none.

Nonetheless he continued," Are you upset because I didn't feed you cake at party?" He heaved a resigned sigh,"Is that why you're doing this ?"

Her nostrils flared , he got the answer and thus chuckled at her silliness. At the incredulity of whole situation and how silly they had been. And he decided to make it up the very next day indeed. A black forest cake with nutella jar on side will be perfect.

She slapped the plate of cake on counter and scorned,"you know what, you want understand! You're better off working till 4 in the morning until you die, I don't care! Goodnight. "

And before he can react, she climbed up the stairs and slammed the door of her room shut loudly. Sleep long gone, she opened her laptop and got to working. Hell bent on getting the next big promotion only to throw it straight at his  handsome arrogant face.

His nostrils flared, he removed his coat indignantly and kicked the hardwood cabinet. The pain shooting up his legs was nothing compared to bitter acid churning in his stomach due to their fight as he worked around to make his black coffee.

He too, got to work again. His target was to settle the building rental system and get it signed by the tenants so he can bring it home by the anniversary so she can leave her meagre job behind and get  started with her dream work.

The Anniversary.

And then it struck to him, they fought again in the week of their marriage anniversary.

Just like always.

>>>○♡○<<<

Phew, that was intense.

A/N :

Do you think there's still hope for them, or has too much damage been done?
Please comment. And vote.