Meera!

It was a pleasant morning. Birds chirping and the dew on the grass seemed so beautiful. Meera came out of her empty bedroom, with terror on her face. The decision’s been made. And she will abide by that. With short steps, she proceeded to the kitchen and grabbed the sharpest knife. For one long moment, she stared at the knife in her hand and then thought “Oh! Just be done with it”.

She cut her palm with one severe sharp blow of the knife and in a matter of seconds, blood started oozing out. The pain was excruciating and her eyes welled up with tears. She threw the knife and then started screaming for help, immediately regretting the decision. She called her minion Chotu, who is just 11 years old, the son of the car driver. Chotu’s family worked at Meera’s guest house and is trustworthy to her family too. And when Meera came to the guest house with her Anant to rekindle their relationship, Chotu became her ally in all those little plans that were made and executed to get the couple together. Their work hand-in-hand made them friends. But today, it was altogether a different case. She didn't bother sharing her plan with him and made the deadly move.

Chotu came running towards her to know what’s wrong with his Didi at that hour of morning. Seeing the blood dripping hand of his beloved Didi, he immediately understood that Anant should be summoned for the first-aid who is busy repairing his SUV and donning the hat of a mechanic for once.

On hearing the news, Anant took to his feet. Meanwhile the delusional Meera saw images that flashed from her past. She and Anant promised themselves of devoting time to each other, the good times during their stay at the guest house and the night before when they quarreled which is the sole reason she cut herself. After the fight, the quick phone calls made by Anant scared her, making her think that he’s leaving her the next day. Fearful that she might lose him again, Meera trusted the knife to save the relationship.

Anant was frantically running into the kitchen where everything was a clutter. At the corner, he saw her seated on the floor, with eyes closed in pain and hand held tightly with her dress which made little effort in stopping the never-ending blood flow. Berserk with anger and all those unnerving emotions, he shouted at her for not being careful and questioned her intentions. He quickly grabbed the first-aid kit from the drawing room and started dressing her hand. Meanwhile, Meera enjoyed the sight and was satisfied with the proof her drastic situation yielded. Proof that Anant loved her, more or less the same way she loved him. Though the wound was painful, she endured the pain with ease and watching his anguish, she regretted her quick decision once again, only this time, attributing to the pain of her beloved.

But there was a strange peacefulness in her eyes which were half-closed, and lips with a semi-curve to the north. Her peaceful countenance angered Anant even more. Controlling the strong urge to slap her tight, he asks her, "Why the hell Meera? Why would you do this?" 

He knew Meera for too long and also understood that it wasn't a mere accident, for she is not among those who fumble with cutlery. She wouldn't resort to self-punishment unless something has shaken her up; but what puzzled him was the reason. The words that came out of her mouth perplexed him.

“ Because I Love You!"
Anant was taken aback with her reason. His incredulous expression yielded more explanation from his lady.

"You were planning to go away again. I had to do something to stop you. I couldn't think of more plausible thing than this”.

 Six months back, Anant left Meera one morning without notice. She woke up to an empty bedroom and silenced house. They fought for petty things and he was more of a workaholic who needed private space and did things all by himself. And when it came to Meera, she always wanted a family and got used to be looked after. Anant, vexed up with the petty issues from Meera, leaves her one morning. When they were at the verge of breaking up, their friends convinced them into resuming their relationship and hence the idea of spending some ‘quality time together’ in the guest house.

Meera continued her explanation to the short tempered Anant. “You weren't talking to me, and the past few days have been awkward between us. It was like we were strangers and I could see the past repeat itself. On top of that, I heard you talking with someone about ‘road journey’ and ‘leaving as early as possible’.

“Whoa Whoa! Slow down!! Easy dear.”, assured Anant.

“ I wasn't going anywhere. I wasn't mad at you, and I sure as hell not planning to revive the past. That phone call was nothing. It was just to give directions to someone about something important and I didn't know my phone call would bring up such a travesty!”

Now Meera was giving all-business-and-no-crap look to him and started interrogating him about the mystery of ‘giving directions to someone’. Meanwhile the doorbell rang and Chotu went to receive the visitor. 

Anant stared hard into her face without answering, and the air between them became tensed.

 “Didi! Courier!!”, called Chotu.

 Not blinking her eyes and still staring, she asked who sent it.

Chotu's interrogative face broke into a smile and called out " Its from Anant Jiju".

Anant embraced her and said those were the tickets to Norway, the place she always wanted to visit, and he was confirming with the travel agent about the itinerary last night. He held her tightly and whispered into her ears “Happy Anniversary My Dear Rebellious Lovely Wife!"

Meera, the melodramatic queen, suddenly felt ecstatic about how the situation changed. She was relieved that Anant was planning a surprise for her and she mistook it for something else. Suddenly something occurred to her. The Pain.

“Oh no! So this was all a fiasco! I really shouldn't have cut my palm” she exclaimed.

Anant retorted to her “I planned to make this anniversary memorable. And here you are, destroying every chance of that happening. Lets get you to the hospital”.

She didn't budge.Anant playfully and with full authority lifted her up in his hands, cradling her while she rested her head on his warm chest and closed her eyes, forgetting herself in his arms as the couple slowly proceeded towards the SUV for the hospital.

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