Hiraeth

35

HER heart crushed into an uncountable number of fragments, watch the woman in front of her crying in immense pain over her loss. Although her whimpers were dying with time, Sitara couldn't ignore the hollowness in her eyes which were nothing but a reflection to her soul. 

She felt like a culprit. She could feel her own hands being coloured in blood after hearing her gut wrenching cries. To learn that they had a baby daughter just a few months before was saddening. Two lives were affected forever only because the man chose to work for her. 

"I..I can't do this, Adi. I can't even look her in the eye, you please give this to her from my end." She took in some air, adjusting the dupatta on her head that was almost on the verge of slipping behind.

She felt so cruel and shallow, standing there with some hoard of sympathy and money when she was the reason behind the untimely and horrifying demise of her husband. 

"Okay, but stay here. We'll leave together, don't go alone." He cautiously spoke, leaving her hand from his hold as her entire body shook in petrification and grief. The cold and mournful walls of that house was giving her shivers. 

It had been a week since that incident had happened and she was slowly coming to terms with it but now, every little trigger and wound was raw again. It was like travelling back in time to that very same day. 

Her phone rang in her purse again and she knew it was her husband. She had come here without informing him and even though some time had passed, he still forbade her from leaving the house. It was suffocating her as well but more than that, there was this guilt pelting up in her chest. She wanted to be freed of it by visiting that man's wife and baby but unfortunately, her sufferings only increased. 

"I'm alright, Aditya is with me. We're leaving in some time." She talked in a hushed tone, standing in the corner of her small kitchen that overlooked the drawing room where everyone was. 

"I told you in the morning, you can't just decide these things on your own." He scolded her without a second thought. 

"Are you home?" She softly asked, hearing the faint noises of the children in the background and prayed that it hadn't been very long since he had come. She had been away all afternoon and even now when the evening was slowly getting dark, there was no sign of her return. 

"Yes." His response was curt, never giving her away much like always. It was upto her to guess and hold her breath for the worst. 

"Okay, I'm coming as well. Fifteen minutes more." She sighed, watching her manager walk towards her after talking to the woman for a while and handing her that cheque. 

She told him that her husband was furious and she had to leave at this instant. He decided to drop her home as it was better than calling a cab or a driver again. When they finally got down from the stairs of that old building complex, the harrowing darkness outside only surrounded her with a certain fear. 

"My car would be safer." He said, earning a small nod from her. She could have called Rehaan too since he was home, but there was a fear that lingered in the back of her mind. She didn't want to put him at any degree of risk. 

"Thank you." She sighed, settling down and reached out for the seatbelt. Her mind circled around a lot of thoughts, especially about her reaching home late. She had really tried to not create much conflicts with him lately, but this was going to be inevitable. 

"I won't be in town for a couple of days, my husband's cousin is getting married." She informed and he nodded, as if he was already familiar with that piece of information. 

"If there is something going on the office, please let me know. I'd anyways be free most of the time." She sighed, practically imagining herself sulking in a hotel room the whole time as mingling with her in laws was nothing short than a nightmare for her.