I sat there on the bed still with the garland around my neck. My forehead which was empty before now filled with vermillion. And my neck which had only a chain gifted by my parents now had even a mangalsutra.
I was exhausted and lost in my own thoughts when I heard the door open, and looked in that direction. My eyes met his. I could see that he was tired too. After all today was a roller-coaster of events.
Soon, he looked away, grabbed a pillow from the bed and went to sleep on the floor. I saw him arrange bed and settle himself.
"Maddy... Thank you..." He looked at me but didn't say anything. "I'm... I'm sorry. You know why I did it. I-- I couldn't think of anything else at that moment and..." I couldn't look at him anymore as my eyes filled with tears and I looked down. "I-- I'm sorry" I managed to say between my tears.
I felt his hand on my shoulder and looked up at him. I could see a mixture of emotions in his eyes.
"Koyal.. You don't need to be sorry. I understand.. I know why you did all this so... so it's okay" I burried my face into his chest and cried silently and he consoled me.
When I changed and came out to see that Maddy had already fallen asleep. As the moonlight fell on his face from the window, I could see his face slightly tensed and tired.
I went and took a blanket from the closet and covered him as he slightly shivered at the cool breeze. I went and lay on the bed thinking of all the ups and downs going on in our life.
The 50
Seher Hone Ko Hai
