The Crossing Lines

The meetings with Swapnika became more frequent as the days passed. We'd catch up over coffee, sometimes with the kids, sometimes just the two of us. I was careful, though, not wanting to send the wrong message, especially to Swapna. At the same time, I knew I needed to meet her husband, Srikanth, to understand the full scope of what was happening. But every attempt to meet him was met with the same frustrating response: he was out of the country on business.

Despite the challenges, I noticed that Swapnika seemed happier when we spent time together. There was a noticeable change in her, a sense of relief, even if just for a few moments. I introduced her son, Karthik, to Swapna, and the two became fast friends. Their laughter was a welcome sound, providing a brief respite from the tension that had been building.

One evening, I received a call from Swapnika. Her voice was shaky, and I could sense the urgency. "Arjun, can you come over? It's urgent."

I didn't hesitate. "I'll be there soon," I replied, grabbing my keys and heading out the door.

When I arrived at her parents' house, I could immediately tell something was wrong. The house was in disarray—furniture overturned, broken glass on the floor. Swapnika was standing in the living room, clearly shaken.

"He came back," she said quietly, her voice filled with anxiety. "Srikanth came back this morning."

I looked around, taking in the scene. "Did he do all this?"

She nodded, her eyes tired and red. "He was angry, Arjun. I don't even know what set him off. He just... lost control. My parents took Karthik to calm him down."

"Where is he now?" I asked, trying to stay composed.

"He left, but he's still in the city," she replied. "I don't know what to do."

I could feel my frustration building, but I knew I had to keep it in check. "We need to handle this carefully. I need to meet him, Swapnika. I need to talk to him."

She looked at me, uncertain. "Do you think that will help?"

"I don't know," I admitted. "But I have to try. We can't let this continue."

She sighed, looking away. "I'm just scared, Arjun."

"I understand," I said, trying to reassure her. "We'll figure this out. But first, let's make sure you and Karthik are safe."

As I stood there, taking in the damage Srikanth had caused, I felt the familiar rise of anger—the beast inside me, eager to take control, to end this problem once and for all. For a brief moment, I wanted nothing more than to close him off, to remove him from Swapnika's life permanently. I knew I had the means to do it; I could have ended this the moment I learned about her situation.

But then I looked at Swapnika, standing there, vulnerable and scared, and I forced myself to push those thoughts aside. This wasn't about quick fixes. She had been the one to teach me patience, back in those early days when I was still learning how to navigate the complexities of life. I didn't want to solve this problem the way I had handled others before. Not with her involved.

I took a deep breath, forcing the beast back down. This situation needed a different approach—one that involved care, thought, and respect for the person who had once meant so much to me.

With the help of one of the IT techs in my company, I managed to track down Srikanth's location. It wasn't easy, but by the time I had his whereabouts, it was already night. I realized with a start that I hadn't picked up Swapna from school. I quickly made my way home, feeling the weight of the day's events pressing down on me.

When I walked through the door, Swapna was waiting for me. She looked up at me, her eyes full of concern. "Why didn't you come to pick me up from school?" she asked, her tone gentle but probing.

I didn't want to disclose everything to her, so I kept...