Page 30 of That Same Old Love

It has been two weeks since Ananya left Sidhu to come and stay with her brother. At first she was too torn up and simply focused all her energy in finishing up her books or added some more blog posts. She didn’t answer phone calls or talk to anyone.

Then later after a week, she began to receive calls. Mostly from her concerned friends and family. Her mother-in-law had also called to bemoan the fact that people have started to spread rumors that she and Sidhu were getting a divorce.

She had been avoiding calls from Sidhu since she wanted a proper break from him and to rethink their relationship. Srishti had been visiting her regularly from the past few days, and told her that she and papa missed mummy a lot, and to please come back home.

She was annoyed at the emotional blackmail from Srishti thinking that Sidhu must have put her up to it. So she answered Sidhu’s call on her second week.

“Yes, your mother called me several times, telling me that people have started to gossip that I left you,” she told him when he asked her if she was talking to anyone on the phone.

Sidhu sounded annoyed. “I don’t care for people’s gossip. I want my wife back with me. And Srishti misses you badly too.”

“She is already spending some time with me and can visit me anytime,” Ananya stated.

There was silence on the phone.

“What about me? Can I visit you anytime, too?” Sidhu asked her huskily.

She shivered, recognizing his voice from during their intimate times. It was very hard during the nights, missing his closeness and his touch, but she tried very hard to stick to her resolution.

“No Sidhu. I still feel that you have unresolved feelings for Mahi that is stopping you from loving me the way I want you to. Maybe… you should seek her out and see if you love her still. I-I won’t stand in your way if you want to make it official.

In this day and age, everyone will understand,” she whispered to him.

There was silence on the phone and then, “Are you saying that I should start an affair with Mahi to see if I love her? And that you will be willing to give me a green signal for cheating on you and then possibly give your blessings if I marry her?” he asked her coldly.

She broke into a sob. “I don’t know. But maybe that’s for the best,” she said.

“You are a fool!” he shouted before hanging up on her.