Chapter 6: The Last Goodbye

He was used to my silence on the phone and chuckled to himself.

“Priya, you’re really too cute.”

I heard the sound of ice cubes clinking in his glass. “I told you, it’s all just an act.”

“So,” he sounded cheerful, “let’s keep up the act. Come with me to the Family Court for the divorce certificate tomorrow?”

I held the phone. My palms were sweaty. “Priya, don’t worry, it’s just—”

“Okay,” I said.

He laughed, the sound sharp. “Arrey~~~”

There was a burst of jeering from the other end.

I hung up. Sent him the time on WhatsApp.

My fingers moved fast, not giving myself time to regret. The next day, I got up early.

I made chai, the steam curling as I absently stirred, lost in thought. An old Bollywood song crackled on the radio, grounding me in routine. I packed my bag, double-checked my documents. Rohan was late as usual.

Probably because of Ananya, there was a shallow bite mark at the corner of his mouth.

He pretended nothing was there. I pretended not to see.

We slipped into our old roles, neither daring to acknowledge the awkward truth. The process was even smoother than last time. It took less than five minutes.

I stared at the red booklet in my hand—the one that once meant forever, now just a document.

“Priya, I’ll give you a surprise tomorrow.”

Rohan lightly kicked my calf. Like schoolchildren under the desk, he grinned. I put away the divorce certificate.

“Rohan, are you free tonight?”

I looked at him. “There’s something I want to talk to you about.”

Rohan was stunned. Since we got married, I’d always called him ‘husband.’ The next moment, he curved those smiling eyes and flicked the red booklet in his hand: “All right.”