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Deepak and Roshni finished their dinner, and Deepak asked Sanjay and Neelima if they wanted to join them for dessert. The waiter came along and picked up the plates and cleaned the table. Roshni was glad Deepak initiated this, and she smiled at Deepak and thanked him with a gesture.
Except for Roshni, who only wanted chai, they ordered ras malai. Deepak was concerned because Roshni had not eaten well. Sanjay and Neelima were puzzled why Roshni did not want any dessert.
“Roshni, c’mon yaar, how come you are not interested in ras malai?” asked Sanjay.
Roshni smiled and insisted that she was good with just chai.
Deepak looked at Roshni and turned to Sanjay and Neelima. “Yeah, she ordered a plain meal, only rotis and dal.”
“Roshni, are you all right?” Neelima asked, being a little concerned.
Roshni nodded her head, indicating she was fine. She hadn’t seen Sanjay and Neelima for a long time so she had several questions for them. “So, Sanjay and Neelima, where do you live now? Which company are you working for? Do your parents still live in Mumbai?” She sighed. “It has been so long; we were so bad not to keep in touch. I am equally responsible.”
The waiter brought the dessert and chai, and as they ate, Sanjay and Neelima gave the details to Roshni and Deepak. Sanjay lived in Delhi but wanted to move to Mumbai to live closer to his parents. He had applied for a few jobs but wanted to explore other places after he went back. Deepak suggested to Roshni that she could explore any opportunities for Sanjay at her firm, and she nodded. She gave her work e-mail address to Sanjay, and Deepak did not delay a bit to note down this address.
They talked for some time, and Neelima and Sanjay decided to leave. Neelima wanted to use the restroom, and Roshni accompanied her.
Sanjay watched Roshni leave, then took a deep breath and turned to Deepak. “Deepak, I met you only a few minutes ago, but I would like to say something.”
Deepak nodded his head, asking him to continue.
“You are a very lucky man to have married Roshni. She is a wonderful person and has a great heart, very kind and compassionate.” He stopped and looked at Deepak. “You know, Deepak, there were so many boys who flirted with her, but she was one girl who always had her head on her shoulders, well dressed and composed. Everybody respected her, both boys and girls. Her company was something everybody looked forward to.” He sighed. “And please take care of her.”
Deepak raised his head and smiled. He was pleased to hear this praise of Roshni. Of course, he knew very little about her, so he made no comments but acknowledged Sanjay’s remarks. Their relationship was strained; Roshni was uncomfortable around him. He had noticed that she never introduced him as her husband to Sanjay and Neelima. She certainly had some reservations.
Roshni reminded Sanjay to send her his résumé, and both couples took their leave, promising to keep in touch with each other.
Chapter 6
Roshni’s Decision to end relationship with Deepak
Roshni and Deepak were back in the room, tired from all the day’s events. Both changed into their night dress and relaxed. Deepak flipped through some channels on TV and started to watch a movie.
Roshni stood near the door. “Deepak, I would like to talk to you.”
Deepak turned off the TV and faced her. “Sure, what is it?”
Roshni moved closer to him and sat in a chair across from Deepak. He noticed this and suspected that this was serious, and he made himself fully available to her.
“Have you thought about our future, I mean our relationship?” she asked him.
Deepak knew he had to address this question sooner or later but had no answer for Roshni. “I have been thinking, but…why do you ask this question?”
“Since our conversation on the wedding night, I have thought about it and made some decisions. I wanted to discuss them with you.”
Deepak became nervous. He had an intuition that this conversation may not be pleasant, but he was astonished. She made decisions! He was amazed at her composure; she was so calm. “Did you want to talk about it now?”
Roshni nodded her head. “Yes, I may not find this opportunity again to talk to you alone, so…”
Deepak asked her to proceed.
Roshni sighed. “Regarding our relationship…marriage, both of us are grown-ups, mature, and educated to make wise decisions.”
There was some hesitation, but she continued, “Deepak, you are not comfortable with the idea of arranged marriage because you believe there is no compatibility between husband and wife, and…you are not ready to accept me, a stranger, as your wife! You also mentioned that you liked a girl in America. So…respecting your views, you should pursue what you think is right, and I believe we should separate.”
Deepak felt struck by lightning! He was startled and certainly never expected this from Roshni at this time. “What?” he exclaimed.
“If we continued this relationship with your ideas regarding marriage, you would always feel pressured and forced into making decisions like you were with our marriage, and…and our relationship will never succeed, we will never be happy. So in the best interest – of our relationship, I mean – I don’t think we should continue as husband and wife.”
