After a long time, I woke up with peaceful mind. I stretched my body, still in bed and looked at Avishek beside me. He didn't know, but his words had restored my peace of mind twice, 2 days in a row. All this time, I was under the impression that Ruchika was going to divorce her husband, but yesterday what Avishek said, cleared my doubts. Ruchika was just trying to clear her muddy thoughts so that she could start anew with her husband. That meant, no matter how much my family liked her, she wasn't going to take my place.

His conversation with Ruchika yesterday surprised me. He was very calm and unbothered while telling her to talk with her husband. I thought he'd be disturbed by seeing his loved one go back to someone else, but he was strangely unbothered. 

He was still asleep, so,  took my time, looking at him. This man was my husband, but he lived like my housemate, we didn't talk much, but he had now twice cleared up my insecurities without knowing. A smile spread on my face thinking our recent conversation. It wouldn't seem much to others, but to us, it was a big deal.

I was so lost in my thought; I didn't even notice him opening his eyes. After few seconds, it registered on my mind that he was awake, and he was looking at me looking at him like a creep, smiling.

I shot out of the bed stumbling on my blanket.

"Good morning." I greeted and ran to the bathroom like I was on fire.

Idiot, idiot. I chanted looking at the mirror.

I relived my embarrassment for few more minutes before doing my business and came out of the bathroom. I avoided looking at him and hightailed to the bedroom door. I let out the sigh of relief and leaned on the counter when I entered the kitchen.

"What are you doing?" I shrieked at Ruchika's voice.

"Don't scare me like that", I turned towards her trying to calm my heart.

"Sorry" she laughed.

Strangely, her presence didn't bother me today. Maybe it was because I knew she was here because she genuinely wanted to find the missing part of herself, maybe it was because I knew she wasn't here to take my place, maybe because of unbothered Avishek telling her to sort things out with her husband.

Whatever the reason was, I was glad. I was tired with the constant back and forth with my mind.

Avishek came into the room yawning. I turned to make tea for all of us.

"Good morning" she greeted him.

"Morning" he greeted back and settled on the chair. He was in my peripheral vision and I could not face him because I was still embarrassed.

"Will you come with me for shopping today?" Ruchika asked.

Shopping and Avishek, I wanted to scoff. That man would rather clean the whole house than go to shopping.

There was a silence in the kitchen before it hit me, she was asking me.

I looked towards her, "me?" I asked.

"Who else am I going to ask? This guy?" she pointed her thumb towards him and scoffed.

"I wouldn't go even if you did ask" he said, sleep still coating his voice.

"I wouldn't ask you anyway. Please, I have to buy some stuff and I don't want to shop alone", she pleaded.

If she had asked me this yesterday, I would not think twice before saying no. Today though, I was a bit hesitant. But I gave in looking at her face, "Okay."

"Thank you." she smiled at me.

So, we head out after I finished all my work. I was never much of a shopper anyway. I buy what I need and go home straight. But Ruchika, my God, this woman, she wanted to visit every store, every place, look at everything.

"Oh my God, just choose one. It looks the same to me." I said, looking at her debating between two pink tops.

She gasped like I said something scandalous. "How dare you? Take that back."

"No", I grinned at her.

Unpredictably, I was having fun. Despite her being indecisive over everything, I was having a great time. It almost felt like, I had a friend. Which was ridiculous because she was my husband's ex. I should be jealous of her. And I was, but I didn't have any problem with her like I did a day ago.

"Okay I'm all done. What did you buy?" she asked at the counter.

"Nothing. I don't need anything right now." I said.

"I've never met a woman like you." she said in awe. "How can you not buy anything after shopping all day?" she asked.

"I would if I had to buy something. I just don't need to buy anything right now." I shrugged.

"Nope, that won't do." she concluded and dragged me to the next shop after paying for her clothes.

"Ruchika, come on. I don't need anything. Besides, it's late. We have to go come." Avishek would be home soon, but I didn't say that.

"Nonsense, it's not late. I want to buy you a gift. For letting me be a bother to you and Avishek." She said.

"Ruchika, really, it's no bother." I said. 

And really, for the first time since I met her, I genuinely meant it.

She shook her head and continued looking at the clothes.

"I know you know about me and Avishek." She said suddenly.

I stopped and stared at her.

"I don't know if I could do what you did if I was in your place. I wanted to say this to you before, but I didn't have courage. And I know you don't like me very much. I think it's today, for the first time, you have genuinely smiled at me." she said, still not looking at me.

What can I say to that? I felt a little ashamed for making her feel unwelcomed as I know what it feels to be a bother to people.

"And it's fine. You should be angry at me and Avishek but I'm really glad you aren't anymore. Or are you?" she asked looking at me.

"No, not anymore" I said honestly.

She visibly slumped. And let a huge sigh of relief.

"You have no idea how big of a rock you've lifted from my chest. I wanted to talk to you, but I was afraid you'd kick me out of the house. I got selfish. I'm sorry" she apologized.

"There's no need. It's fine." I waved off her apology, "I know what it feels like when you have no place to go. It's really fine. And I'm sorry I made you feel unwelcomed."

She looked at me like I just confessed a crime.

"Why are you apologizing? I'm the one who should be sorry." She placed her shopping bags on the floor and held my hand, "Seema, I didn't come back for Avishek, if that's what you are thinking. I'm really not. I love my husband. I just didn't have any where else to go and I didn't want to be alone." She said, and maybe it was because all my doubts had been cleared, I knew she was sincere.

"I know." I smiled at her. "And it's fine. Really." I said, really meaning it.

Her eyes welled up and I panicked.

"Please don't cry." I said, panicking.

She hugged me with full force and said, "You are really nice. I'm glad Avishek married you."

Well, I don't know about that. It was very awkward for me.

I pulled away from her hug and said, "where is my gift then?"

She laughed, wiped away her tears and started searching for my gift.

As I watched her, I realized, she is not a bad person. She was just a little lost. And sometimes, you have parts of yourself, you don't want to show people, no matter how close you are with them. She didn't want to show her weak self to her husband, so she ran away, to better herself, so that she can get back what she lost.

Her love. Her husband. Her life. 

What do you think? Can Seema and Ruchika can be friends?

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