Page 104 of Mrs. Rathore

And all I could think was: What if I had never gotten involved?

They were supposed to be celebrating their six-month wedding anniversary right now. They were meant to be together, planning a future, sharing stories under the same roof. Instead, Ira was on a six-month medical leave, and I was sitting here stealing her place, writing letters meant for someone else.

I had one month left. After that, Ira would return to duty, and I'd have no excuse to write to Aryan anymore.

I told myself I would stop. That I'd stop pretending. That I'd stop waiting for his letters like they meant something.

But the truth was, I didn't even know why I was still doing this...

If I didn't care.

If I truly didn't give a damn.

Why was my heart beating like this?

______

Chapter 41

AVNI

I wrote him back with my next letter.

Dear Aryan,

Your letter really made me smile. I imagine you falling off that broken bench, and it's still funny!

You're right, we did keep going back to that bench. And no, I don't think we liked the bench itself. Maybe it was because we believed we could fix anything wobbly as long as we helped each other and had a good stone. Sometimes, I miss that simple hope.

Your letter felt like we were picking up a conversation we never finished. The kind where we just remember things, without needing to solve anything. I'm happy we're not holding onto anything heavy, just sharing thoughts easily.

It's weird. How the past seems nicer over time. You and I weren't perfect, but we were genuine. And that means more now than it did back then. It's peaceful to know we meant something to each other once, and that we can still write like this, without any pressure.

I definitely laughed at your "five-star meal" comment. You've really grown! I wish I could say I'm a better cook, but you'd still be safer eating military rations than my food.

Anyway, thank you for writing, for remembering, and for replying so honestly and kindly. I'm glad you kept my letter in your journal. Just so you know, yours is inside a book I haven't finished reading. Your words somehow felt like the ending I needed.

Take care of yourself out there. Keep laughing, even when it's tough. And if you ever find yourself near a familiar place with a crooked bench, sit down and think of me.

Always a friend,

Ira

_______

This was Aryan’s fifth and maybe final letter since Ira had gone back to work. I couldn't think of any reason to write to him again because he was bound to find out the truth eventually. It was time to stop pretending to be Ira.

I knew there would be consequences later, but it had been worth the risk. At least now I knew how Aryan had been doing for the past five months.

I read his letter happily, going over it again and again as if it were a hidden treasure.

With a sigh, I carefully folded the letter and put it back in the drawer with the others. I decided to write him one last shortnote. I'd say Ira was doing great and would be busy until his letter arrived. He wouldn't know the difference.

“Wow! You look amazing!” Kavya exclaimed as she bounced into the room, her usual big smile brightening her face. She pulled me into a tight hug. “Aryan makes you more beautiful, you know.”

“You’re crazy,” I said, pulling back and looking at her. Her face sparkled with makeup, and her lips were painted a deep pink that matched the dress she was wearing for Noor’s wedding.

Yes, Noor Siddiqui, my best friend, was getting married. It was an arranged marriage, but still a love story. She was marrying her childhood sweetheart, the boy next door. Her family was rich, so the wedding was a huge event with hundreds of guests. I still couldn’t believe she was getting married so soon. Among the three of us, Kavya had always been the one who dreamed of weddings first. I, on the other hand, had never really thought about settling down.