I was hurt. I was forgotten. I was replaced. The relationship was strained, or strange. He forgot me, I forgave him. Every night. He was a stranger now. I didn’t recall, or remember him. His feelings changed. His habits changed. Even his smell was strange. Lying in one bed. With him. Without emotions. It was heartless, ruthless and cruel. Love was disgraced that night. I was disgraced. With most courage and least self-esteem, I tried to put a hand on his shoulder. He shuddered. So did my heart. I pulled myself back, rolled into a corner of the bed and cried for an entire night. Cried slowly, softly, but loud enough to be heard by someone who was lying barely three feet away from me. But he didn’t utter a word. That piercing silence wounding my heart. Once again. The entire night passed by in the repercussions of the communication-gap that had replaced the love between us since past six months.
‘Who is she?’ I asked him in a neatly written note, shamelessly placing it on the breakfast table the next morning.
He walked out of the shower with a towel wrapped around his waist. His bare chest no more intrigued me. His wet, slithery body, had no effect on me. I wanted answers. He sat in the chair, just as he was. Looked at the breakfast I made, that loveless platter full of questions, adorned with a note written with shaky hands. He tried to speak something, but choked on his own words. I didn’t force him either. He got up, tore the note apart. I stood there, still demanding an answer. The air between us was intense, suffocating. One moment more, and I could die, but he would still choose silence over anything.
He stormed out of the room after dressing up hastily. Lightening the air. Saving me so that he could kill me in his own ways. I lost control of my body, my legs shaking uncontrollably, and I sat down beside the chair, following the routine I had since last six months. I could neither be with him, nor leave him. Looking at what I had become, disgusted with my own self, sick inside, I cried…
Comments (15)
Mazhar
July 31, 2015
Excellent story. I liked the diction, the way it has been told. Especially short….very very short sentences which are very powerful. It is in simple English. Even a person like me who has never gone to English medium school was able to read and enjoy it. I found only one word difficult meaning of which I checked in dictionary: “slithery”.
Am going to read other stories too. Keep writing.
Mehek
July 31, 2015
Thanks Mazhar 🙂 It’s a delight for me to have a compliment from you!
Muddassir Hussain Ahmad
January 14, 2016
Either you’ve to sacrifice or to have your own dream thinking beyond the cage what world will say or people will comment. Should take your stand for what satisfies you.
Mehek
January 15, 2016
Exactly! 🙂
UMANG
January 14, 2016
Short but deep. i really liked it.
Mehek
January 15, 2016
Thanks! 🙂
Vishu
February 4, 2016
Hey Mahek! Excellent website and stories . I always have loved short.stories and u made it happen open ended though but good ones !! And I love the chemistry between u and ur childhood frnd who dedicated this site for you. Everyone wants to have that kind of friend like d one u have.keep it up!!!xoxoxo
Mehek
February 5, 2016
Thanks Vishu 🙂 BTW, the name is ‘Mehek’…
Prerna Talwar
January 6, 2017
Well written Mam. Love the way you describe in short sentences. really admirable. Anyone could easily get addicted to your writing.
Mehek
January 14, 2017
Thanks a lot Prerna! 🙂
Dr.Shallender Kaushal
April 15, 2017
Wow…loved it.
Surjit Mohanty
June 22, 2017
There is a typing error. It’s choked on his *own words , not ‘on words’. I think so
Mehek
June 29, 2017
Thank you so much for reading it so carefully! 🙂 I’ve corrected that…
Sarkar
February 9, 2018
Please, its not the men always. A girl was dating me for few years(3 approx). I am a broke final year student who is preparing for govt jobs now. You al know how hard the entrance are. As I was broke she was dating another guy who was earning 9 lakh.pa with five years experience. I was done with relationships when I came to know this from her roommates. Later that rich guy dumped her now she wants me back and is writing poems daily. But once the trust is broken its the final nails on the coffin. I have lost faith in relationships. Shalom
Mehek
February 10, 2018
Sorry to hear about that! However, the post I have written does NOT in any way, generalize men. It is rather a story of a dead person, whose woman still awaits him. It does NOT in any sentence or phrase, depicts that men leave or are unfaithful to their partners.