It had been 10 months since Soumya left the Birla house, and although at the time, Suhani believed this would bring her and Yuvraj closer together, it hadn't yet. She began to doubt if she would ever be able to find true happiness married to Yuvraj. After 2 years of being married to this man, Suhani felt like she knew him and didn't at the same time. Her husband's moods were unpredictable as always. One moment he would be following her around the house trying to get her attention and another he would be giving her the silent treatment due to some petty argument that had occurred between them.
And after almost 2 years, Yuvraj still hadn't brought himself to be intimate with Suhani and she stopped making excuses for him. If she was being honest with herself, it didn't seem like intimacy was something she would ever be able to experience in this life. She consoled herself by continually reminding herself that at least Yuvraj wasn't abusive or having extramarital affairs. Suhani knew that their relationship was at a stage where she could perhaps ask Yuvraj if they could try it, but she felt that it would be more meaningful if Yuvraj himself made the first move. She didn't want to force him.
Interrupting her thoughts, Yuvraj came strolling into their room, where Suhani was browsing on her laptop.
"Suhani, kahin bahar chalte hai na?"
"Kahan?" asked Suhani, not lifting her eyes from her laptop screen.
"Yaad hai jab hum art exhibition ke liye gaye thai last year?"
Suhani tried not to react. Of course she remembered that day. Soumya was still living with them at that point. Yuvraj had bought her a painting - the painting that Suhani wanted. Whatever happened to that painting? Must be in storage. She looked up at Yuvraj.
He continued, "Vo... Aman Kumar ka exhibition hai na, isliye main sochra tha ki you know, we should check it out."
"Accha." So Yuvraj's favorite painter was displaying his works at the exhibition? What would I do there? thought Suhani to herself. "Tum ...chalejao na? Mun nahin karra humara"
Yuvraj sat down next to her. "What are you even going to do at home? Cook and clean? Hang out with Menka? Chalo mere saath. That's final!"
Suhani laughed softly to herself. After all this time, Yuvraj still acted like a stereotypical husband sometimes, even though she knew the reality was far removed from this contrived display of emotion.
"Fine. I'll go with you."
Yuvraj smiled a bit to himself and went outside. Suhani went into the bathroom and started to get dressed.
The car ride was long, but uneventful. Yuvraj's car, which had first seemed quirky and lovable to Suhani, had become more and more of a nuisance to her. It hiccupped and trudged its way through the streets until finally they had arrived at the art exhibition.
As they started to make their way across the street, Yuvraj grabbed Suhani's hand, and Suhani pulled it away. She couldn't even bear holding his hand anymore. It caused a deep sort of pain in her heart, reminding her that the man she loves and is attracted to can't even get himself to be intimate with her.
"Don't be stupid, Suhani" Yuvraj quipped, grabbing her hand one more time. Suhani relented this time, taking a deep breath as she did so.
As they walked in, Suhani noticed how many more people there were than last year. It seemed that they were clustered in one corner of the large gallery room.
"What do you think is going on there, Suhani?" Yuvraj said, pointing to the crowded corner of the room.
"Pata nahin." Suhani looked down, pulling her hand away from Yuvraj's once again. She really wasn't in the mood to play the role of "Happy Married Wife" today. Yuvraj seemed unfazed.
"Accha. Mujhe bank ko jaana hai. It's right next door. Agar tumko kuch pasand aaye to tum mujhe phone kardena"
And just like that, Yuvraj had abandoned her once again. Suhani sighed, as she started to make her way around the room. She had worn a dark blue suit today and had put a new lipstick on. It was a lovely reddish-brown shade. Bhavna had given it to her before she had left for Dubai with her husband, along with some other makeup. She said it would make her look even more beautiful than she already was. Oh Bhavna di. If only you knew that makeup makes no difference to me... or him, thought Suhani.
Suhani was inching closer to the crowd now. "I wonder what they're all looking at" thought Suhani out loud.
"You," answered a deep, male voice from behind her.
Suhani startled, turning around quickly. It was the locally famous painter Aman Kumar.
"Oh, I'm so sorry. I didn't mean to frighten you," said Aman apologetically, as he walked towards Suhani.
"Oh hello Kumar saab. I'm okay." She looked at him. Aman was dressed sharply, in a kurta pajama and a muted red vest. He seemed thinner than how she remembered him. "We had met last year, didn't we?" asked Suhani.
Aman looked wistful. "Yes, we did. You even took home one of my paintings if I recall correctly." He chuckled warmly to himself, but Suhani cringed, being reminded of Soumya's betrayal again.
"Ha, yes. You have a good memory," answered Suhani. She forced herself to smile.
Suhani paused, then asked, "What do you mean, Kumar saab, that they're looking at me?" asked Suhani, pointing to the crowd huddled in the corner.
Aman smiled. "Don't you want to see for yourself?" Aman led Suhani through the crowd, who cleared a pathway once they saw Mr. Kumar coming.
As the crowd cleared, Suhani finally saw what they were all looking at. Before her eyes, there was a painting - the most beautiful painting Suhani had ever laid her eyes upon. She felt as if she were in the presence of a masterpiece. Hues of blue, purple, red, and green danced across the canvas like locks of hair and on the right hand side was the etching of a familiar face. It was a lovely face - big eyes, a dainty, upturned nose, and regal cheekbones...Suhani was no big art enthusiast, but she knew this was beautiful. She involuntarily let out a gasp as she finally recognized the face. She looked down at the title of the piece: "Suhagan." She now saw the sindur and mangalsutra adorning the figure in the painting.
The artist laughed good-naturedly. "It's you, Mrs. Birla."
Suhani stopped dead in her tracks. She turned to Mr. Kumar, but was speechless.
"Don't be alarmed, Mrs. Birla, please," Aman assured her, as Suhani's face grew hot. "Since that day I met you I couldn't get you or your lovely face out of my mind. I'm an artist and I know beauty when I see it. I just had to paint you." But Suhani was already moving towards the gallery doors.
Where is Yuvraj!? Suhani thought angrily to herself. Suhani started to walk further away. Before she knew it, she was at the doors of the gallery.
"Mrs. Birla, please!"
She could hear Mr. Kumar behind her. She ran out the doors and onto the sidewalk.
She felt like she had just had the wind knocked out of her. It felt hard to breathe. What had just happened? Why did she feel so affected by this?
"Suhani?" asked Yuvraj, seeing his wife panting outside the gallery. "Tum teekh to ho na?"
Suhani looked up at her husband., "Hume ghar le chalo, Yuvraj. Hume ghar le chalo." As hot tears started rolling down her face, she grabbed Yuvraaj's collar and pulled herself close to him.
Yuvraj pulled her away and looked at her. "Kya... hua kya hai, Suhani? Mujhe batao to sahi"
---------END OF PART 1----------
