N O O R

"I want you to live your life now. I am setting you free." I handed him the divorce papers, hoping he would be happy to restart his life. I was stupid to come out with this option so late. 

Better late than never.

I was not crying anymore and was waiting for him to react or say something. But his face scrunched into something, like life was drained out of him.

"Vyom." I placed my palm over his hand which seemed to make him present in the moment. 

"Sign it," I urged, and in return he looked at me with shock written on his face which confused me. Isn't this what he also wanted—to be free from this claustrophobic sham of our marriage?

He looked at the papers in his hand, reading them carefully while I busied myself to arrange the pen for him. I had already signed every single page.

But before I could give him the pen, he tore the papers right in front of me. 

Anger. Embarrassment. Fear. I was surprised to see all these emotions on his face.

Without sparing another glance at me, he left the room. Flabbergasted, I followed him. 

"Vyom." I grabbed his arm. "Why did you do that?" I couldn't control the pitch of my voice which was reverberating in the silent night. 

"Can't you see?" There was something painful laced in his tone and I had no heart to take this as No. It's been so long since I found a purpose. I could not think otherwise and wouldn't let anyone come in between even if it's him.

My fingers trembled against his sleeve, but I held firm. 

I was blinded by only one motive that is to set ourselves free from this bond and Vyom needs to understand that this pain is temporary, but relief is permanent. The walls I've built around myself aren't just to keep him out, but to keep me from falling back into the agony I once was drowned in. 

He stopped at my touch and now cupped my cheek. Paralyzed by his close proximity, I didn't let my gaze waver from his, and all the blood drained from my cheeks as the next moment I felt his lips on mine momentarily, with his arms tightening around my waist. Before I recovered from what just happened, he murmured, "I am not letting you go ever." against my lips again seizing mine with his. 

I was stunned. Vyom was kissing me and instead of pushing him away, I was matching his pace. All the thoughts that led to this moment had whooshed away and the only thing that my mind was concentrating on was the softness of his lips and warmth of his breath fanning on my skin. It felt like my body had a mind of its own. His palm lying on my shoulder cupped my cheek as he tilted his head deepening the kiss and my skin rippled in goosebumps as he pulled me closer leaving no distance between our frames. It was the moment when his hand scooted inside my top near my midriff that broke my trance.

Getting grip on myself, I palmed his chest and pushed him with all my might. Not having the courage to face this sudden turn of events, I ran back to my room without sparing another glance at him.

Closing the door and making sure it was locked, I couldn't help but let tears slip from my eyes. I couldn't believe this happened. How come I have not thought of this. My gaze wandered at the scattered pieces of divorce papers. When I thought I could finally be free, how had I forgotten this could be a possibility? Does he love me? The idea of love is not something I am ready to entertain. But how could he? Wasn't he in love with her?

--

Flashback —

"Boo." I was laughing, clutching my stomach. This nerdy friend of mine could be so stupid sometimes. "Leave it na. The exam is day after tomorrow."

Vyom gave me an unbelieving look, but what caught my attention was the red rose he was slipping into his bag.

"Is that for me?" I asked, and before I could snatch it away—

"Have you seen your face?" He pinched my nose, making me yelp.

"My nerdy has become a love bird," I teased as I caught his gaze looking at a bunch of girls sitting at the table beside ours, specifically at someone.

"Tell her na." He shook his head.

"It's nothing like that."

"You know Pranav's sister is her classmate." I persuaded him again, but he gave me a no-nonsense look before grabbing his backpack.

"You know, right. That asshole is the last thing I want to involve." I stomped on his foot for being so crude when it came to Pranav. The boy I loved.

--

Present —

Pranav, the tick of my life. Whether I want it or not, everything will end with him. This is the curse I have to live with alone and Vyom has already done more than enough. The emotional involvement with me will burn him and I already had done enough damage. This needs to end.

I traced the torn edges of the divorce papers with my fingertips. Six months of marriage reduced to confetti on our bedroom floor. I should have known Vyom wouldn't make this easy. He never did, even back in college when we were just friends. Always fighting for what he believed in, always seeing more in me than I saw in myself.

But he didn't know the whole truth. Nobody did. Nor does he need to know about it.

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