Part 15 : Terms and Conditions

A white finish in all rooms with some green on lawn made the house look attractive, with four rooms and plenty of space , it was too big for just Kunal and Siddhi

Kunal: How do you like the place?

Siddhi: Too big for two

Kunal: mm, come in find yourself a good room

Siddhi: Before that, i need few promises from you

Kunal(chuckles): oh, you are already on the vow part, arent you?(Siddhi gave a stare back as answer)

Siddhi: You will give me a mutual divorce at the end of 6 months, and no one should know about this, us!

Kunal: Should I write it down in a stamp paper and sign it for you?

Siddhi: Mr.Kunal Chopra is a keeper of his words, so i guess a word would do.

Kunal: Then you have my word Mrs.Siddhi Chopra, Kunal chopra will sign a mutual divorce at the end of 6 months if  you wish so. Are we good?

Siddhi: yes, and don't expect me to be your maid

Kunal: I agree to all your terms and conditions madam, now please go and rest in one of the rooms because you will have a very busy day at your office. we'll meet at dinner

At dinner...

Kunal(knocks her door): Siddhi! Siddhi!

Siddhi(opens): Kya hua?

Kunal: Dinner?

Siddhi: I thought you liked eating alone

Kunal: Yes, I used to... maybe not anymore

They both sit opposite to each other

Kunal: How is the pasta?

Siddhi:  Do you want me to compliment the food you just served?

Kunal: You know what, strike that down. Tell me about Shilpa, how is she?

Siddhi: Well she literally stopped her wedding waiting for your arrival, "my jiju will be here anytime..."  , why did you do that to her? I was your wife, you had all priveledge to hurt me, but what did she do? She ... was looking upon you Kunal

Kunal: I thought if i came down there it would be awkward for you

Siddhi: You do you always assume on others behalf? For once why dont you ask them how they feel about it?

Kunal:  Because its difficult Siddhi, I wish i did certain things the other way, I wish I didnt let some people just leave, I wish I could have said something else, I wish I could say Sorry to others, to you again and again but (Kunal's phone rings)

Siddhi: Your phone, someone is calling

Kunal(looks at the screen and puts it on silence): Its Seema, dont mind her.

Siddhi: It could be something important for them, dont assume others

Kunal: Okey, let me tell you the truth. After what I did to you, Seema stopped talking to me, and the call might be from Anouki or Ishani.

Siddhi: So what, even Anouki, Ishani wants their chachu right..

Kunal: I'll call them (calls Seema and puts it on loudspeaker)

Kunal: Oh my babies, did you two miss chachu?  And Chachu has a surprise for you, go get your chocolates from your respective bags...

Seema: mm.... bhaiya, I called you

Kunal:  Seema!, sub teek hai?

Seema: You came here for Anand's enagement and left without meeting me?

Kunal: I thought you were mad at me

Seema: I am still mad at you for what you did with Siddhi, but I miss my Kunal bhaiya too. You think that we are punishing you by not talking to you, but we endure the same pain as you bhaiya. We miss you, I miss you, my children miss their chachu and this house yearns for you.

Kunal: I want to make things right Seema (looks at Siddhi)

Seema: Sitting far away wont make things go away or make it right bhaiya, you have to face it weather you like it or not

Kunal: I am facing it Seema (looks at Siddhi), just that you dont see it

Seema: I dont know what you are talking about bhaiya, but for once talk to Siddhi, she might forgive you bhaiya (Siddhi walks away from the phone)

Kunal: i will call you again tomorrow Seema, bye (cuts the call)

the clock struck 6 30 am when Siddi woke-up, she didnt want to be late for her first day at new office. She wanted to grab a cup of coffee before she could start her day. To her surprise Kunal was already there

Siddi: aap? this early?

Kunal: I thought of making breakfast today, mm just thinking on what to do for breakfast..

Siddhi(looks at him in a sympathetic way, moves to make a coffee for her) : Kunal, be yourself.... this whatever you are trying to do is not you, and for what are you doing this for? Am I the new girl that you are hitting? no... I was your wife for an year and I know what you do and dont. And all this,  this is not you. More than me you will get fed up of this...act

Kunal: You know what, you are right Siddhi. I am not that person i'm trying to be, and i'm already tired of it, see you understand me very well.

Siddhi: That is why i am saying lets stop this here, Kunal despite what you did to me in the past, I don't want to do it to you at the end of 6 months. I want you to move forward in life leaving my chapter behind, it would be the best for both of us Kunal

Kunal: hey..I dont like long speeches but you certainly excel in it, ain't you?

Siddhi: You never listen to me, don't you?

Kunal: aye, this is how I am. Now stop arguing and put that effort on your cases today.

Kunal and Siddhi spent the rest of the day apart from each others presence at office,  they tried to keep the professionalism at work. They retired to their respective rooms engulfed with nothing but tiredness.

It was 9 pm when Kunal realized that having a stomach could be a problem, so he moved to kitchen to cook something for him, but not so surprisingly he found Mrs.Siddhi Chopra there...

Kunal: What are you doing here Siddhi

Siddhi: I am trying to save myself from another bowl of pasta

Kunal: hey, I make the best pasta in the house

Siddhi: Agreed, but the problem is we cant survive on pasta Mr.Chopra.

Kunal: So whats on todays menu?

Siddhi: Roti and Dal Chawal

Kunal: aye btw you are volunteering for this cooking, i didnt ask you to cook so dont say i made you my maid... (Siddhi continues her cooking without giving kunal a shit)

They sat on a wooden bench on the terrace, the early summer night sky gave a full view of stars, the moon was lighting to some extend, yet Kunal and Siddhi were still finding words to begin with...

Siddhi: I'm sorry (Kunal is rather surprised) for what Kapil bhaiya did the other day

Kunal:  oh, that one. I think kapil was still generous enough to leave me with a single slap, In his place i cant imagine what I could do

Siddhi: Why do you always present you as the complicated person Kunal, I dont get what you are trying to resolve here

Kunal: Oh that.... that question i would rather keep it for another occasion but you brought up an interesting topic, Why do you think im a complicated person Siddhi? Who else can answer this better than you...

Siddhi: Yeah afterall I was your wife.... But let me answer you.... You are the rudest person i know, you are not ready to share your emotions nor willing to listen to others, your way of showing love is not easy to understand even for closer ones

Kunal: But you understand it right Siddhi? that i love some people in my life and it includes you...

Siddhi(sad smile):  Ofcourse I know

Kunal: And Siddhi deep down I know you have those feelings for me

Siddhi(tears flow down): those feelings were called Love Kunal, and yes I still have them for you, just for you. Did you do all this drama to hear this?      I love you Kunal, I love you and i have uttered those words shamelessly more than once to you.     Really ? didnt you know that when I was ready to kiss you in the middle of the street? Or when I ... i really dont want to do this Kunal

Kunal: Siddhi, I love you... all these days, now and forever ( siddhi starts laughing)

Siddhi: I was in love with you Kunal, with your anger, with your akadoo, with your selflessnes, but you are just habituated to me.     Life with me is easy for you, but for me its difficult, its not easy to handle you yet I chose to be with you.... that is love Kunal. The very fact that you doing all this far away from Anand shows how you are escaping from the problem.

Kunal: Do you want me to propose you before Anand

Siddhi: that would be foolish of me, I still am his friend and I wont do anything to hurt his feelings.  But I want you to treat me as you wife  before him not as his fiance.

Kunal: Siddhi..(cuts in)

Siddhi: you know what exactly im talking about kunal, and lets stop here... I dont think its a good time to talk about the past. I'll go rest.

That night was little longer for Kunal, given the fact that he had to digest all the truth spitted by Siddhi

It was 7 30 am when Siddhi walked into the hall, she heard Kunal speaking to someone on phone or rather on loudspeaker mode.

Kunal: I need those kisses

Children: mumma chachu...

Kunal: All the best for you exams

Children: You should take us there if we get good marks right?

Kunal: Ofcourse, you will meet me once you get good marks, now go write the exam!! ( ends the call)

Siddhi enters with a smile on her face

Siddhi: If there is one thing that you are good at other than your job, its being their chachu...

Kunal: yeah, im good with kids and maybe that i why I was good with Shilpa too, being around with her gives me a innocent kid vibe

Siddhi: For some reason I always though that you would be good father (chuckles)

Kunal: I still can be, you know ( Siddhi gives him a stare)

Siddhi: So you do know how to flirt, well something that I didnt find in the one year of our so called marriage.

Kunal : Well we could debate all day here, but I guess we have a job too

Siddhi: I have to visit a client so I will leave later...

It was 11 30 am when Siddhi finally decided to leave, she was making sure that the stove was off when the bell rang. A man in mid 30's was at the door.

Siddhi : Hi,

Person: So, we have a new issue this time...

Siddhi: excuse me?

Person: Oh , sorry I was talking to myself..

Siddhi(wierd): Do I know you?

Person: No, but I do know the person who stays here, Mr.Kunal Chopra.  I'm Doctor Athreya.

Siddhi: He is actually out for work, Should I give him a call if its urgent?

Doctor: No, but can I get a coffee (Siddhi is little suspicious). Oh btw here is my card, just in case if you want to verify, im quite famous

Siddhi: Please come in..

Doctor: And you must be...?

Siddhi: I am his ...(thinks over if she can call her his wife or should she refrain).mm..

Doctor: Oh thats fine, its understandable

Siddhi: Understandable?

Doctor: You see its Tuesday today and Kunal meets me every week but since last few weeks he hasnt showed up.

Siddhi: He should have been busy with something, not sure... not sure what he did...

Doctor: oh, its fine... its understandable

Siddhi(not sure): okey!! 

Doctor:  So you dont plan to leave??

Siddhi: What, Why should I leave?

Doctor: isnt the work done?

Siddhi: My work? Im yet to meet my clients. Again how can I help you? Is there any legal stuff that Kunal helps you with?

Doctor: legal stuff? Im his doctor, I'm helping him overcome depression. Btw why am I telling this to you? Last time I checked he told me no alcohol or woman, i guess my patient is lying

Siddhi: What is he seeing a doctor, wait did you call me a call girl...

Doctor: I'm sorry to offend, can you help me find the right word .... for the same profession..

Siddhi: I am his WIFE...

Doctor: oh your are Siddhi Chopra, wow my bad. Im sorry Mrs. Chopra or Ms.Siddhi... uff whats wrong with me today

Siddhi: Whats wrong with Kunal

Doctor: Nothing wrong, I think he is punishing him for what he did to you, he beleives that he dumped you, which is slightly true but another fact is everyone else did the same to him. And he thinks that he deserves all of that and more, so his guilt has moved him away from family, the place he loved growing up, the job he loved doing 24*7.... all these are his ways of punishing him

Siddhi:  How should ..(cuts in)

Doctor: there is nothing we can do, he will over come his fears, his guilt the moment he faces his problem

Siddhi: Which is?

Doctor: The same problem that you think you and Kunal had in the relationship. So I guess Mrs.Chopra I wont be seeing my favourite guy anymore.

Siddhi: thank you doctor