Dohraha: Tale of Crossroads:Update&Note Pg 22 6/9 - Page 10

Distances, Pretense, and Disclosure

Khanak Armaan Malik stood over the metallic conventional oven propping in casserole platters and foiled up marshmallow pudding in Pyrex bowls. She hadn't planned out such an elaborate lunch but her culinary skills seem to have a mind of their own once they started creating in the Kitchen. Her father-in-law, Yash Malik will be coming over for lunch just like he always does on Sunday afternoons so she is certain that her efforts won't be in vain.

"Hey…you are up early?"

"No…I am always up by eight…"

"On Sundays…?"

"Hmm…breakfast…?"

"Just some juice...I'll get it…thanks." Armaan walks up to the fridge and she finally glances up at him. He is surely coming back from his usual morning run judging by his sporty clothing and running shoes.

She keeps her concentration on her cooking and he moves to the breakfast table with his beverage. It's strange how she didn't give much thought to his ignorance of her morning routine on the weekends. Five days a week they'd carry on their lives as if they didn't exist for one another, but it was the weekend that made sure to remind them of this reality.

"Khanak…?"

"Yeah…?"

"Did you love someone else before Dad had us married like this…?"

The abruptness in his query startles her and her hands halt their movement on the cutting board.

"Wha..what…?"

"Just between you and me…did you have someone else in your life…?"

"No…no…Why are you asking this…?"

"I don't know…I might feel a little better if I had a reason to blame for…"

There is quietness from her side as he walks up to the kitchen sink and places his empty glass in it.

"Stop...please…" She had called out to him in a pleading tone as his steps distanced him from her.

He turns with uncertainty, she walks up to him leaving the cutting board and the contents on it behind…her eyes look up in to his…

"You're my husband…I am married to you..."

"You're my wife…but you're married to my name…in these last six months you have proven that in every way possible…" He jerks her petite frame away ruthlessly and walks off like he has many times before this.

………………….

Shaantanu Sachdev is out picking up a few things from the grocery store with his little Munchkin. He enjoys having his little on pick out the cereal of her choice and argue with him over the veggies she doesn't like eating.

"Darya why don't daddy pick out the veggies for you…"

"No…Darya piccckkks…"

"And then when Daadi Maa makes them…Darya eats…"

"Yes Daddy…Daadi Maa is the bhessstt…"

"Yup sweetheart she is…let's get those carrots…"

"Daddy…?"

"Hmm…?"

"When is Maama comin baak…?"

For a moment Shaantanu's hand let go of the bag of carrots he had gripped from the stand but then just as the moment ticks on his senses too are back to where they should be. He turns to his daughter placing the bag of carrots in the grocery cart.

"Don't know Munchkin…let's get something from the bakery… doughnuts or scones?"

…………….

Flashback… 2 weeks ago…

"You missed Darya's appointment Raina…"

"I had work issues…"

"You seem to have a lot of those lately…"

"Shaan please…don't…"

"She was asking for you…she needed you there…"

"You were there…"

"I was but she needed you…asked for you…"

"I've talked to her…she isn't as mad as you…"

"You're damn right she isn't! But I will be…"

"She told me her teacher was there…she had someone with her…"

"She was only there because you weren't…why is our daughter seeking comfort in someone else Raina…?"

"Right…but you have made it clear that just how much she is "ours" and not just "yours"." Raina stood up to face him, taking this argument further.

"Don't you dare…" He warned her sternly.

"I don't understand what the deal is Shaan…are you mad because I wasn't there or are you mad because I am no longer in support of the way you have dominated our daughter…"

"She is just a child…what do you not get..!"

"I am your wife and her mother…what do you not get…"

"What does that mean…?"

"You damn well know what that means…You will not get your way with her…with your mother's traditions and your insistence on encouraging everything that she decides for our daughter…it's not fair to me…!"

"When was the last time you took a day off to spend some time with your daughter?"

"My work is my priority…you know that…"

"And my daughter is mine…"

"That's right…your daughter…your mother! Your way…!"

"Stop yelling Raina…"

"I will if that's what I have to do to get heard… I am sick of this Shaan…you consider me your wife yet the distance between us…ever since Darya...I just can't… it's too much…you are affectionate with her but with me…you're cold…"

"Grow out of the romantic notions Raina…I have always been like this…since the start…I never promised anything that I haven't given you…"

"We haven't slept together in months…why?"

"You really shouldn't be asking me that…"

"Oh! Is that about Robert…" Raina scoffs as he turns away from her.

"No, not all…the damn fact that you still have the nerve to say his name like this…it's not about Robert at all…!" He walked out their bedroom enraged at everything…at what he had become…at the turmoil that he had been burned with…and at his existence.

...

P.S: I know i made your girlies wait so long for the update...My exams came up and all my concentration got focused on it...i feel really bad...even with my summer internship, i will try my best to update more regularly...i am extremely sorry for the wait. Please excuse my tardiness... By the way i showed a short time leap in this update so about six months since Khanak arrived and about five months since she became Darya's teacher in her pre-school...hope it wasn't too confusing. Also Raina hasn't left the family or anything, she is just out of the country for her work stuff.