He cheated on me. Was it only once?
He said he had dated four girls apart from me. When was it? Was it before we got together? Or was it after that?
My heart ached.
"I did not ask you the details, Anurag. Please stop."
"Megha, I was just telling you everything-"
"You are telling me everything when I fucking asked you? You cheated on me and came back like nothing happened?"
"Megha, I--"
"Please stop. I will talk to you later. I need some sleep now." With that, I hung up the call.
If you know this feeling of betrayal from a loved one, and then they are pretending like it is not a big deal and you are the one who is overreacting, you know what it feels like.
I still had a few hours traveling, so why waste it? It was almost dawn, The sky was lighting up, and the scenery was turning more visible, and I did not know when I fell asleep.
I reached back to the hostel, and there were my roommates waiting for me. They really cared about me, why greet them with a sad face? I plastered on a smile and hugged them both.
After getting done with the chores, I lay down on my bed trying to sleep but all I could think about was what I heard last night. The words kept ringing in my ear and when I could not take it anymore as I dialed his number.
"When did you date the other three of them?"
After hesitating and trying to emotionally manipulate me for a while, eventually he gave in. He had to because there was no way I would let this slide, I could deal with all he does, except for cheating on me.
"One was before meeting you, one was in 2018, the one I told you about was about a year after that in 2019, and the last one was in 2020."
"Specify the dates please, months at least."
When he did, it was exactly what I wished does not happen.
Back in 2018, he and I had a random argument out of nowhere, and he cut all ties and ghosted me saying 'Look, I found a solution' and then blocking me. I cried and wailed for him to come back, did everything I could just so I can hear from him once, but no use. It was when he was with the other girl.
But in early 2019, I called him up once and he picked up, it was his birthday, and he recognized my voice instantly despite the unknown caller ID. I was happy but I did not forget how he behaved, unknown of the fact that there was someone else, I was upset he left me without any reason.
But he seemed to be guilty of what happened and insisted we talk more. Oh stupid me, I agreed.
He said he wanted to make things right, but how could I forgive him? I declined.
Thank God I did, because a few days later, he disappeared again. That was when he just claimed that there was a third girl he dated. One day, he said he is sorry for leaving without an explanation and that it was just work stress and another day, he was with someone else. To quote, "With the girl he 'touched'!". He cheated twice.
What did I do to deserve this?
The girl he dated in 2020 had a different story, but quite similar.
After breaking up with Deepali in 2019, Anurag pursued me again in May 2020, but I was tired of him ghosting me, avoiding me, and then coming back as if nothing happened, trust me I was so tired of everything.
I loved him, but there was no way I would let that happen again. I rejected his wish to be together once again. A few days later, his text popped up while I was taking a stroll outside.
"Hey. Have a piece of good news for you!"
"What is it? Are you getting married?" I replied, half annoyed because him texting me shamelessly like nothing happened a few days ago.
"Quite close. Guess again."
I left the text on seen.
"Okay let me bring in the spoiler, I 'accepted' someone's proposal."
I remember the tight feeling in my chest, feeling like I could not breathe, and staring at his text.
Is this the same guy who said he was sorry, not once but multiple times and he said he is with someone else, just like that? Was it that easy?"
"Hello? Megha?" his voice snapped me back to reality.