Chapter 7: Storms and Revelations

No matter how Rohan was this past year, I don’t want to deny the Rohan of the past.

I’m grateful for his companionship over the years, grateful for the care he once gave me. I remembered his hand in mine during childhood fevers, his laughter echoing through the old neighbourhood. So, I never intended to leave without saying goodbye.

But it rained that night. Thunder and lightning. Mumbai rain came in waves, hammering the windows, lightning splitting the sky. The power flickered, and I remembered how Mummy used to tell me to count between the thunderclaps to calm my nerves.

That car accident happened on such a stormy night.

I forced myself to wait for Rohan, body trembling. I was even a bit worried that when he arrived, out of habit from all these years, I’d break down the walls I’d built over the past month and throw myself into his arms, sobbing.

But he didn’t come.

He called me. When I answered, there was a lot of noise on the other end. Bollywood music blared in the background, mixed with drunken laughter.

“What redemption? What rubbish.”

“I was fed up with her all those years. If my mom hadn’t forced me, I wouldn’t have bothered.”

“Marriage? Guess why we got married so early?”

“Wasn’t it because she wouldn’t let me touch her?”

“I’m just curious, doesn’t she get aphasia when she’s emotional? What about in bed? Can she even make a sound? Hahaha.”

Rumble——

As if, on this stormy night, something inside me was torn apart again.

The thunder outside matched the storm within. I wanted to hide. I didn’t want anyone to see me like this.

But where could I hide? Everywhere, there was rain, there was thunder. Everywhere, there was ridicule.

Just then, Kabir called.

“Priya?”

His voice was always so calm. It made all the noise vanish instantly.

“Are you crying?”

I wanted to say no. But I couldn’t make a sound. Tears seemed to answer for me, pouring out.

“Wait for me.”

He was still so calm. “I’ll come pick you up.”

My breath slowed. In that moment, I felt safer than I had in years.