I was screaming. My whole body was trembling as I felt arms around me shaking me. I was clawing at the hand as I trembled and screamed.

"Sanjana, hey it's just a nightmare, wake up, you're safe, open your eyes please," a voice called out for me.

"Sanjana, please," the desperate voice called and I opened my eyes, breathing heavily. Moist eyes stared back at me.

"Oh thank fuck," he whispered as he closed his eyes and dropped his hands to his side.

The reality sunk in and I gasped. I looked at the ticking clock on the wall and my eyes widened when I realised it was 3 in the morning. I was still tired from the reception.

"I'm--I'm sorry,"

"Stop saying sorry," he said, he was breathing heavily and his own hands were trembling.

"I didn't mean to terrify you," I whispered.

"You didn't, I'm sorry I'm just overreacting a little I think," he said as he clasped his hands together.

"You're not overreacting, I must have been screaming a lot," I said, tears welling in my eyes as I placed a hand on his.

"You were and you were thrashing in the bed and I was so scared because you wouldn't open your eyes," he said.

I shuddered as I closed my eyes, a lone tear escaping my left eye. The images played in my mind and I immediately opened my eyes.

"I'll--I'll just take some medicine," I said as I got up and walk towards my bag.

I found the blue table and gulped it down before walking over to the bed, my head was pounding and my whole body was aching with each step.

"D-do you want me to be near you, hold your hand or something? Just in case..."

"No, I've already ruined your sleep and I'll sleep peacefully now with the help of that medicine," I said.

"Okay, well just hug a pillow and sleep, it may help with your anxiety," he said and I stared at me as he walked towards the sofa.

I laid down on the bed, my arms around a pillow as I closed my eyes and let sleep overcome me.

°

"Mom, pass me the sandwich please," Sunil said as he took a sip of orange juice.

"Mom I'll do that you sit down," I said as I got up and passed him the sandwich.

"Sanjana, pass me the pancakes please," Rohan asked.

"Yeah," I said as I passed the pancakes, all the while avoiding eye contact.

I was embarrassed. I couldn't help but be embarrassed. Yesterday, he'd seen me at my worst moments twice and I couldn't help with the embarrassment.

He must have noticed it because he let out an exasperated breath before eating the pancakes.

I rushed to my room and got ready for work and as I took my car keys, Rohan stopped me.

"Come on I'll drive you, saves fuel," he said and I nodded as I followed him to the car.

"Sanjana,"

"Hmm?"

"Look at me," he said as he turned to me, we were stuck in the traffic and this man just found the perfect timing.

"Yeah?" I said as I looked at me.

"You don't need to be embarrassed okay?"

"I'm not--"

"Well then why aren't you looking at me? Why are you ignoring my presence?" He asked.

"I'm not ignoring you,"

"Yeah? And I'm a donkey right?" He said as he rolled his eyes.

"I'm--"

"You don't ever need to be embarrassed, we're married and you can lean on me sometimes okay? Sometimes because I know you're stubborn and don't like asking for help," he said seriously.

"I--yeah I'll keep that in my mind," I murmured as focused on the road ahead.

"I know it's difficult, I know it'll take time for you to adjust to leaning on someone who isn't your mother, father or Sonia, but I just want you to know that I'll be I'll always be there for you and I will never ever judge you,"

"Okay," I said, too awkward to say anything else.

He pulled into the parking lot of the office building and we rode the elevator in silence. The only time we spoke was when we were outside his office.

"Come around lunch, I'll give you the main file that we'll be working on for the next week okay?"

"Yeah," I said.

As soon as I sat on the chair, the phone to my office started ringing.

"Sanjana here,"

"We have a couple here, will you be able to meet with them?" Lilly asked.

"Yeah send them in," I said and hung up. I cleared my throat and wiped my clammy hands on my trousers as the young couple walked in.

"Hello Mr. And Mrs." I trailed off.

"Das, Mr. And Mrs. Das," the man said.

"Welcome and tell us how may we help you?" I said as they settled down.

"Urmm... We want to file for a divorce," the lady said.

"We? She wants to file for a divorce, we've not even been married for six months and she doesn't want to live with me anymore, she says she doesn't love me anymore,"

"Oh really? Then why are you here? I didn't ask for you to accompany me!"

"Haha, look at you, if I hadn't accompanied you, you would have cursed me and not that I ha e accompanied you, you are cursing me, my goodness you're unbelievable!"

"I'm unbelievabl--"

I cleared my throat and they stared at me, both of them blushing.

"I'm sorry ma'am, sometimes my husband can be a bit of a torture,"

"Your husband? Me? Wah! And you're the most easy going woman now aren't you?"

"Of course I am! I'm not looking forward to fight with you every now and then!"

"Okay shut up!" I said a little too loudly, a little to informally.

"I don't give a flying duck if I come off as informal but you guys know what? You guys need a freaking couples therapy okay? Because you guys have been married for what six months? And what that's it? You fell out of love, just like that, and no I'm not judging you at all, but guess what I'm not here to entertain you both with this non-sense, so why don't you guys try a couples therapy yeah? And then maybe we'll talk some time later if things still don't work out,"

"Uh y-yeah," the lady said, her eyes wide as she stared at me.

"Then guys please, I don't really mean to be informal or rude but give this one more shot okay? Then if things don't work, we'll talk the next time okay? And if you guys still want to move ahead with a divorce, I'll file for it,"

"No! We'll try a couples therapy, I don't want to divorce her," the man said and I smiled.

"Okay," I said and they both got up, thanked me and left. As soon as they were out I groaned.

"Fucking dimwits! Don't even understand the true value of marriage,"

°

"Come in," I heard Rohan's voice and I opened the door and walked in.

"Okay so here is the file, she was a victim of domestic abuse, sexual abuse of all kinds and she was brutally murdered, the men who committed this heinous crime are in jail at the moment,"

I shuddered as I went through the file. She was not only raped by her husband but also by his friends and on regular basis.

"Such bastards still exists,"

"Yeah they do and I know with your expertise we'll be able to bring her justice," he said, his voice all too heavy and I noted that there was something personal in that tone when he talked about bringing justice to her.

"I'll do my best to analyse and give me all the proof, I'll work it out within two days and bring it back to you,"

"Thank you," he said as he handed me the file.

"What had happened with that couple that had come?" Rohan asked as I got up and heat crept up my neck and cheeks.

"I lost my cool, in sorry for that but they were asking for a divorce because she apparently fell out of love and then they went on bickering in my office,"

He chuckled and shook his head.

"Those couples honestly need a couples therapy," he said.

"And that was exactly what I suggested, and if things still don't work out between then then they are most welcomed to come and file for a divorce," I said.

After that I went inside my office and started working on that file.

______________________________

Hey guys, here's your update.