Flashback:
She entered my room after knocking on the door. Without saying anything, I switched on the night lamp.
The bedroom features a full range of modern wardrobes with mirrored doors and can comfortably fit a king-sized bed with side tables. Next to it is a laundry room and a bathroom. The furnishings are cream in hue and all of the furniture is teak. Off-white paint was used on the walls.
I was sitting in my bed, a pillow in my lap, relaxed.
In her face, I recognized a quandary. I raised my eyebrows to inquire, but she didn't seem to notice. I looked at the clock and saw that it was almost midnight, only two minutes away.
"You are not getting any sleep?" I asked her straight.
She shook her head rapidly in a No, as she always did when she returned from her thoughts. She extended the ice cream box, as though remembering why she'd come. I curled my legs to make room for her as she looked around for a place to sit.
"Shahrul ji-"
"Shahrul"
"Shall we have ice cream and talk?" she suggested, disregarding my words. "It'll meltdown," she added.
I wasn't prepared to ask, even though I knew she wanted to talk about something else.
"Okay wait, I will go and take one for me"
She extended it again, "We will share this"
"But you don't share with others"
"I can share with my friends"
I knew why she was there, but I chose to be oblivious and responded with sarcasm, "But since they aren't here, go there and share it with them." To get out of bed, I set the pillow aside.
On the bed, she kept the ice cream box and spoons. "I'm extremely sorry for hurting you," she murmured, cupping her ears in apologies.
"Don't worry. I'm used to this. I was alone always, that's my mistake I expected from you."
Her face frowned, "Now I'm here, I will be there for you"
I wish that were true, but I knew she was only trying to be nice. "If you're here to convince me, don't waste your time; I'm not mad at you, and I'm well aware that I have no rights over you. Go to bed. Sleep now. Good night," I said.
Her displeasure was obvious in her tone as she asked, "So you're not going to share this ice cream with me?"
I shook my head in denial.
"Fine. Then I won't eat ice-cream hereafter"
I smirked.
"You don't know about me. That's alright. Happy Friendship Day," she wished as she extended her hand.
"Good night," I said politely, disregarding her wish.
She was enraged, and after turning off the light, she exited the room.
Her words 'I will be there for you' kept me up for an hour, but eventually, I dozed off. I became thirsty and awoke in the middle of the night. I spotted the same ice cream box in the freezer, indicating that she was in a bad mood.
I entered the study area, which she also used as her personal space. I had my suspicions about her sleeping, so I turned out the light and locked the door, but remained silently inside. She sat up after five minutes, as predicted. When I turned on the light and she was startled to see me.
"So you didn't sleep the whole night? It's four'o clock already."
"I slept"
As I stared at her, she mocked me, "You have decided not to be my friend. Then leave it to me; I'm capable of taking care of myself."
"Wait. Wait. What exactly is going on here? I was furious with you. right? Because now you had turned the matter on its head."
"You keep on saying you have no one, am I a joke to you? We agreed on being best friends after marriage"
"Do friends hide things from each other or lie?"
"Yes, if it's for good. And that's not even a big lie, I just lied that I had food when I didn't"
"For two days straight? If you think that's fine, then I'm not gonna eat for one week"
She realized and accepted her defeat, "I was wrong"
"It's not about whether I have rights or not; I've never questioned about your whereabouts. Your repeated statement, 'I can take care of myself,' is just your rhetoric; you don't actually do it. You feel outraged when your buddies don't have food, yet you expect me to be unconcerned about your food or health. Doesn't this imply that you don't regard me as a friend?"
"Sorry, I understood my mistake now. I won't repeat it" she extended her hands again, "Friends?"
I moved out, oblivious to the fact that she was going to murder me as I did it again. I returned with a spoon and a box of ice cream.
"Do I still have the offer for sharing? Or not?"
"You can have everything for yourself now"
"If you want me to accept your friendship proposal, then you have to share this ice cream with me"
"That's cheating and blackmail Shahrul ji"
"You do it. I heard Nazia say that you are pro in that."
She laughed, "Yes, I'm pro max"
"So sharing?"
When she accepted so quickly and we were enjoying ice cream together, I was astonished.
In the morning, I came to the kitchen and stood near her.
"You need anything?"
"Close your eyes and extend your hand"
She drew her right hand out and closed her eyes. I made her wear the bracelet I had purchased; the size was just right for her, neither too big nor too small.
She opened her eyes, "What's this?"
"Today is friendship day, you can consider this as friendship band if you wish"
"But this is a bracelet, and something is written on it" she took a closer look, "Hitler" she stared at me.
"Read that right. It's My Hitler"
She checked again, 'My' is written above 'H'
"This is a one-of-a-kind bracelet made for you. You are both my wife and greatest friend. However, I wanted to express something personal, so I chose the word 'Hitler.' I put 'My' since you are Hitler exclusively for me. That is a habit I picked up from you."
"Seriously! It is nice to add 'My', right?" she asked enthusiastically.
When I told her it was white gold and not silver, she wanted to take it off, but I stopped her by grabbing her hand and saying, "It is our relationship band. Please don't try to take it away until and unless you're certain that all of our ties and bonds have been severed. You can take this away when there is nothing between us, even in your thoughts."
********************************
'Did she remove that?' the entire scene flashed in a fraction of a second. I examine her face; she appears astonished or stunned, but I am unable to decipher her emotion.
'You've been waiting for this moment for years. Go hug her. She has returned to the fold. Look at her; she's not a just a part of your imagination; she's right in front of you. Give her a warm embrace. Keep her close. Don't ever let her go away. What are you thinking? What exactly are you waiting for?' my heart is screaming to me.
"From uniq designs?" Eventually, ignoring the cries, I ask her a serious question.
I invite her to come in and sit as she nods in assent.
'See, she isn't here for me,' I whisper to my heart, my disappointment hidden behind my serious face.
"Where is Mrs. Risha Sinha? She was supposed to come here today."
"She has some personal issues, so I am going to handle this project. She had already mailed you about the changes early in the morning."
"And you are?"
"I am the chief designer of Uniq designs."
"Okay. It is not my concern who manages the project; all I care about is that the project is completed correctly and without issues."
She nods.
"Your food and accommodation will be provided by our firm.
Simply fill out and sign this contract," I say as I hand over the documents I've prepared ahead of time.
"No thanks. I will take care of my food and accommodation. I will just fill out and sign this."
I state sternly, "You are here to complete my project, and it is my responsibility to provide food and lodging. I was taught not to abdicate my responsibilities by someone. You have the option to leave if you do not wish to accept the facilities that we provide. I'm sure I'll be able to locate a different firm and designer." "
For a few seconds, her eyes are riveted on me, and I can tell she is distressed by my rude behavior.
"Fine. I will accept everything provided by your company. Now can I just fill out Shahrul ji-" she stops herself.
"Mr. Shahrul. Be professional."
Her annoyance is palpable, "Sorry Mr. Shahrul."
She passes me the document after filling it out, I cut out the 'r' of 'Mrs' before her name.
She interrupts angrily, "What are you doing Mr. Shahrul? I'm Mrs"
"Of?"
She can't say anything.
"People don't use Mrs after divorce, right Ms. Farhat?"
"Were you planning on bringing me back here?"
I laugh at her, "Don't be silly. This is what happens when you watch too many Indian dramas. Do you think I didn't have anything else to do than plot to get you back?"
I repeat the words that she once told me, "It's not right to chase behind the one who intended to leave - Someone told me this" I say looking straight into her eyes.
She loses her confidence to speak and simply signs the document. When I open my key drawer, the first thing that catches my eye is my apartment key. I hand over the keys to my guesthouse to her.
"This is the key of my guesthouse; our driver will drive you right away." You can take today off and return to work tomorrow. For pickups and drops, you can coordinate with the driver."
"Guesthouse key? I'm not sure what I'm meant to do with a whole house. For me, a single room will suffice."
"You have the option of using the entire house or just a single room."
I finish all of my work early in the evening and head to my apartment. It's been more than three years since I visited my apartment.
My brain warns, 'Going there now is a bad idea.'
My heart tells me, 'Don't listen to him; just go up.'