I am slowly getting used to be in the same house with him. We both developed a routine. We will go to the hospital together, I will get down near the hospital so that no one sees us and then he will pick me up where he dropped me and we will come home together.

Then I would spend some time with dadu and his family, where as he will go to his father’s study to work on the hospital administration. It's almost become a ritual for us to study together before sleeping.

He gets me coffee sometimes when we are studying. I don’t know how to tell him that i don’t drink coffee. I mean I thought that was a one time thing. I never even in my wildest dreams imagined that I will marry him. Now I lost the timing and I am stuck with coffee for an year. I can't even throw it now since he will be sitting in front of me.

Sharanya is still MIA. Her mobile is still switched off. I don’t know what will happen when she comes back. I am scared to even think about it.

Sometimes I feel like i am cheating her by staying with him in his house. He seems fine with it.

Did he forget her so easily?

Or is he just suffering alone?

I know everyone says that it is her decision to leave and to not worry. But I can’t help wondering what will happen in the future.

My thoughts were interrupted by Sid. Me, Sid, Karthik and Arjun sir are all in the apartment since we both have back to back surgeries, we came to freshen up and to get a short nap only to see Sid and Karthik here. Those two are practically living in the apartment since we both are not here.

So now I am talking with Sid in the living room. He and Karthik went to the kitchen to get something to drink.

“So?” Sid started as soon as they left.

I know what he is asking. He is worse than neighbourhood aunties.

“So what?” i countered him.

He gave me a look.

“What is there to say. You know how i feel about this. We are getting along fine. No fights. I can even say that we became friends” i told him.

“That’s it? Friends?” he asked me.

“Sid, don’t irritate me. You know this relationship has no future. This is the maximum point we can reach in this relation. Please don’t make it awkward between us. We both have to work together.” I told him seriously.

Just then they both entered the living room holding coffee.

Yes. I still didn’t told him that i don’t drink coffee.

Karthik gave a cup to Sid while Arjun sir gave to me. Sid looked at me as if i spouted two heads.

“Since when do you drink coffee?” he asked me before i can sign him to shut up.

“You don’t drink coffee?” Arjun sir asked me surprisingly.

I opened my mouth to answer but Sid beat me to it.

“She hates coffee, tea and milk. She is buttermilk batch"

I never wanted to kill him this much.

“You never told me" Arjun sir told me with a small voice.

“Sir...I-"

“Sir....you call him sir?” this time it is Karthik.

Uff....what do i do with these two idiots?

“You both are married. Stop calling him sir. What will your children think if their mom called their dad sir?” Karthik continued.

I glared at him while Arjun sir asked him to shut up.

Just then his phone rang and he went to his room to attend it.

I threw the cushions on the couch at both of them once he left.

“Don’t you guys know when to shut your mouths?” I scolded them.

“Anyone will ask the same questions Anu. I only gave you a reality check" Karthik supported himself.

“Anyways our shifts will start in half an hour. We will leave. Don’t regret later Anu. He is a gem", Karthik told me and they both left for the hospital.

When did these two become bff?

God. Just now we both are getting comfortable and these two made it more difficult for us.

It’s been more than twenty minutes since he went into the room but he still didn’t get back. Just then the food we ordered was delivered and I went to call him hesitantly.

I knocked his door and entered the room to see him fiddling with his phone.

“Sir, food is delivered", I informed him. He looked at me, nodded and followed me to the dining room.

We both arranged the food and the utensils and started to eat without speaking a word.

It was like before, there is an awkwardness in the air. I can guess that he is upset but i don’t understand why.

I mean me not telling him all these days that I don’t drink coffee is not a big deal. I don’t know why he is upset over that.

I cleared my throat and started giving him an explanation.

“Sir...”

He looked at me and gave me an questioning look.

“I am sorry, sir. I should have told you before that I don’t drink coffee. The first time you gave it to me, it was an uncomfortable situation and I don’t want to make unnecessary fuss about a coffee when there were more important things to discuss. And after that I lost my timing and couldn’t tell you"

He let out a long breath.

“Ananya, it’s just a coffee. Why would it be a fuss if you told me that you don’t like it? It was okay before our marrigae. But now, you had many opportunities to tell me. Why would you force yourself to do things you don’t like for your lifetime? I thought we are progressing somewhere. I thought at least we are friends. But i am wrong. That’s okay. It’s not a big deal” he told me curtly and resumed eating.

What just happened?

What does he mean?

And why is he making a big deal out of coffee as if i betrayed him?

“You must think that I am making a big deal about coffee. It’s not about coffee. It’s about you telling me freely what you want to do or not. If you can’t even tell me your opinion on a simple thing as coffee, do you think we can live together?”, he told me as if he read my mind.

“Since it came to this, let me tell you honestly. Do you really think that our mothers will let us get a divorce? Did you think we had a choice to say no when they asked us to live together? Did you think we had a choice to work in different shifts? Just like these things we won’t have a choice to get a divorce. I am sure you too know that already” He told me.

“I know we don’t have any relationship. Heck, I think you don’t even consider this a marriage, but the truth is we are married and if we are to spend our lives together, I want you to at least consider me a friend and be open with me and to voice your opinion. I don’t want to hear your opinions from others. That’s all I am asking", saying this he left to his bedroom.

I just sat there with my mouth open.

I know what he told was absolutely right. I know our parents especially our mothers will never allow us to get a divorce. I am sure they will blackmail us too. I know that there is an eighty percent chance that we have to be together for a lifetime.

I know I sound like a broken record and that I mentioned it many times, so don’t beat with your chappal for what I am about to say.

But, despite that, I couldn’t even think about having a future with him. May be because I know that the moment I chose to accept this relationship, I will lose my sister.

I let out a huge sigh.

This is the first time he is throwing a tantrum. He never did that. He just accepted whatever I said.

These past days with him made me realise that he is a nice, genuine and honest person behind his devil’s mask.

No one deserves to be left behind on their marriage day, especially him. These past few days with him made me realise that he does not deserve this. He needs a person to cherish the life they have with him. Not me, who resents being married to him.

I don’t want him to be stuck between two sisters. He deserves a peaceful life.

So, I decided. No matter what happens, I will get a divorce as soon as possible and free him from this toxic relationship between the sisters. He will get what he wants; a peaceful life and I will get my sister.

It will be a win-win situation for both of us.

Right?

************