Page 143 of Mrs. Rathore

Last time, I patiently waited one whole year. But this time, I wondered if I could ever live without him, even for a single second. I wanted to move with him wherever he was going. I wished I could confess how much I was in love with him, how much it hurt when he kept ignoring me like that.

He usually left early in the morning and returned late at night. He hardly slept, barely ate. I didn’t even know where he was eating since he wasn’t home most of the time. He took off last weekend, but he chose to spend it with the soldiers.

I had just told him the next day that I was terminating my pregnancy, even though it was killing me from the inside. I couldn’t give up on my dream.

I caressed my flat tummy and wondered how much it had grown inside, even though my stomach looked unchanged. Still, I couldn’t brush aside the thought that I had life inside me.

I was cooking food when the doorbell rang. I frowned. It was seven in the evening, and I wasn’t expecting Aryan this early, as he hadn’t been home early in the past two weeks.

I opened the door and was surprised to see him standing there in his olive uniform. He looked tired but still so heartbreakingly handsome. He gave me a small smile and walked inside.

“You’re home early?” I asked him.

“Not expecting me?” he frowned, setting his cap on the table and sinking into the sofa. “Is dinner ready? I’m hungry today.”

“Yes… yes…” I smiled faintly and rushed to the kitchen, quickly starting to serve him. He went into the room to change and returned a few minutes later. Hope flickered inside me when Aryan sat at the dining table and started eating dinner, just like we used to. Seeing him eat made me realize how hungry I actually was, and I quietly joined him at the table.

“How’s your dance practice going?” he asked softly while drinking water.

“It’s good,” I replied. “How’s your duty?”

Aryan cleared his throat and hesitated for a second. “I’ve been promoted. I’m Major Aryan now,” he said, offering a tiny smile.

I paused, staring at him, stunned. “Wow!” I stood up and gave him a warm hug. “That’s great news! Have you informed the family yet?”

“Not yet. You were the first one,” he said without hugging me back.

I quickly stepped away, rejected and disheartened.

“Oh.” I sat down in my chair, quietly resuming my meal. We didn’t talk after that. I pushed the food down my throat, oneheavy bite at a time. Aryan remained cold; he had only put on a thin layer of warmth for appearance.

After dinner, Aryan sat in the living room with a few papers.

“Avni…” he called softly and gestured toward the seat across from him, not beside him. He made sure to keep as much space between us as possible.

I sat down. He placed an envelope in front of me.

“What is it? Promotion order?” I inquired.

He shook his head. “Divorce papers,” he announced. His eyes didn’t leave mine. “You gave these to me six months ago. I just signed them. They just need your signature.”

I swallowed hard, my hand freezing mid-air as I looked into his calm, detached expression.

He felt nothing.

Nothing at all?

When I had handed him those divorce papers six months ago, I had seen the panic in his eyes. The heartbreak. The fight. But today… his eyes were hollow and empty.

Like an officer ordering his soldier to resign from their duty.

“Aryan, please…” I pleaded, tears springing into my eyes. I couldn’t let him go. I had never thought of letting this man go. I loved him, and he just rejected me.

I reached out for his hand, but he quickly brushed me away.

“Let’s not divorce,” I whispered.

Aryan looked into my eyes, wiping my tears with his thumb. “I think we should go for it… because it’s the best for both of us.”