It was just another routine day for Sarita. Wake up in the morning, instruct the cook and the servants about what to do. Serve breakfast to husband. Kiss him as he leaves for work. Paint in her workshop for the rest of the day to consume her time. Have lunch alone with the television blaring about the animosities among the leading political party rulers. And where there were water shortage problems. Where the lack of coordination and responsibilities of the traffic police had caused a gruesome accident with loss of lives altogether. And welcome Arjun with another kiss when he came back home, have dinner with him, talk and retire to the bedroom. Sometimes make love before falling asleep. And sometimes directly fall asleep. And along with all of this to accompany her personally, was a
feeling of emptiness, that had been with her for so long that she almost considered it a part of her existence. Except for the times when the void within her engulfed her and she didn’t feel whether life was worth the try or not.

Today was one such day. She laid down on the bed hoping never to have to get up, when Arjun turned over and kissed her forehead and whispered “Wake up love, the cook is waiting for your instructions.” And she did. She got up because she didn’t want Arjun to think there was something wrong with her, to realize that she wasn’t returning his selfless love exactly as she was supposed to. No, she wasn’t cheating on him, she never had, neither was she misusing his money or anything like that. But still there was a major part of her subconsciousness that just screamed and filled her system with guilt every time she looked at her husband and interpreted the look in his eyes which depicted nothing but love and adoration. Maybe it was the void within her which she knew Arjun would never be able to fulfill, even though he was her husband. It wasn’t that Sarita didn’t know the reason why she felt this emptiness, she just wasn’t ready to accept it yet, even after 8 years. She didn’t think she would ever be able to. So, she just had to go about life incorporating the void into her existence just as she had incorporated HIM.

̅ “Amla di aaj aloo ke parathe aur gobhi ki saabzi bana dena subhe ko, lunch ka baad mein batati hoon.”
̅ “Jee memsaab”.

Sarita was sitting in the balcony with Arjun and sipping her morning coffee, thinking about nothing in particular,
when Arjun said, “Jaan, don’t you know think we are missing someone, whom we should welcome in our family
now?” Even though she knew what Arjun meant she asked, “Whom are you talking about?”

“Sarita, I am asking that shouldn’t we start a family now; I mean its already been four years since we got married
na?”

This was supposed to feel good, this conservation about having a child, becoming a mother was supposed to be relieving, especially when you’re married and already thirty. But she felt devastated, scared, forced and horrified. Why? She had no answer. Did she not love Arjun? Yes, she did. Didn’t she want to be a mother? Yes, she did. Was Arjun not her husband? Yes, he was. Then why this hesitation? Why did she feel like she would be hurting and demeaning someone if she had a child with her husband? She was so lost in these thoughts that; she had forgotten Arjun was patiently waiting for an answer. There must’ve been something in her expression that he just patted her shoulder and said “Hey I’m not going to force you or anything, okay? Just think about it hmmm?” “Ummm Arjun
could you give me a week to think about it?” “A week? Okay, fine.”
.........*.....................*.....................*..................*...........*......

Driving along the road Mohit was thinking about the succesfull meeting he had with the client. When all of a sudden his eyes went to the picture of him and his one and only love of life. It had been eight years since their relationship had ended. He hadn't moved on. He didn't even intend to do so.

It was his fault, that they got separated. He didn't deserve her. All these thoughts brought about innumerous high tide waves of guilt to wash the shores of his sub-conciousness. It shouted with every wave, "You're to blame,...