Second Chance: Chapter 3: Unspoken Emotions

 Chapter 3 - 

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Upon reaching home, neither Karthik nor Kavya took the initiative to discuss the topic that had caused their morning discord. The silence between them was filled with unspoken words, each hoping the other would take the first step towards resolution. 

Karthik's mind had conflicting thoughts – part of him wanted to address the situation immediately, while another part hesitated, fearing the potential escalation of emotions. As the day progressed, he made a conscious decision to ignore the situation brewing between them. 

He believed in the power of time, thinking that perhaps a day of space and reflection would soften the edges of her emotions. He immersed himself in IPL Match, and a part of him held onto the hope that the tension between them would resolve on its own.

As Kavya's day unfolded, a storm of emotions raged within her. The hurt that had accumulated over the years bore down on her heart, amplifying the pain from their morning argument. 

Watching Karthik carry on with his usual routine as though nothing had happened only deepened her stress. The weight of sadness lingered, leaving her questioning how Karthik could seem so unaffected by the strain in their relationship. Didn't he realize the gravity of their situation?

The silence between them grew louder with each passing hour, highlighting the need for honest communication and resolution.

As the night unfolded and the IPL match wrapped up, Karthik flopped onto the bed, unaware of the emotional storm brewing in Kavya's heart. Her emotions had reached a boiling point, and she couldn't hold back any longer.

"Karthik," she began, her tone with a hurt, "this morning, I poured my emotions out to you. Did you even hear what I was trying to say?"

"I was worried that if I brought it up, things would escalate," he explained cautiously. "I didn't want to make things worse."

"That's the problem, Karthik," she shot back, her voice rising. "You always avoid the tough conversations. You can't just brush aside my feelings like they don't matter!"

Defensive, he responded, "Why didn't you just tell me you needed to talk?"

"You said you would discuss it after reaching home. You should have started," she retorted, her voice tinged with hurt.

"Kavya, I can't read your mind. Fine, I didn't start the conversation. So what? You could have initiated," his frustration seeped into his words. "We fight over trivial things every day."

"Trivial? You make those trivial things complicated by ignoring every single thing!"

"Dear', you are making things complicated. Why can't you keep our life simple?" he accused, his tone reflecting his own frustration.

"I've always tried to sort things out, but you never supported!" Her voice quivered with emotion. "You have been avoiding talking about our problems and ignoring the underlying issues because you are so busy with your business and life, and now the gap is tearing us apart."

"Can you explain what's the real issue between us, for heaven's sake?" Karthik demanded, his tone bordering on desperation.

"There is no love between us, Karthik," Kavya confessed, her voice barely above a whisper. Her words hung heavily in the air, suffocating the room with their honesty.

"You are just imagining things," Karthik shot back, his tone defensive. "We can't always be like we were when we got married."

"I'm not saying we should go back to how we were when we got married," she clarified, her voice softer now. "But I can't shake the feeling that love is no longer there."

"Stop with the GVM movies fantasies, Kavya," his irritation was evident in his voice. 

"I'm not expecting fantasies," she responded her voice tinged with sadness. "All I need are basic things, simple gestures that shows you care and love."

"Hey, not showing love? Wait, then what about last week? We made love!" His voice wavered, his attempt to rationalize their connection.

"Not last week, Karthik. It was 20 days ago," she responded, her voice weighted with the emotional distance between them.

"God...Will you keep track of every little detail now? So what if it was 20 days ago? Does that change everything?" His words were sharp.

"But Karthik, it's not just about physical intimacy," She replied softly, her voice tinged with sadness. "It's about the emotional connection we have been missing."

The argument reached its peak as Karthik's frustration spilled over. He reached for the fridge, grabbed a cold beer, and took a long sip while sinking into the sofa.

"You just want to move on, don't you? Fine. Here's what you can do - wait for our son to come back from his school trip, then tell him your decision. Convince him and just leave us, for heaven's sake." His words echoed through the room with the heaviness of their argument.

On hearing this, Kavya couldn't hold back the flood of tears and rushed into the bedroom. She didn't want him to acknowledge moving on, but rather to sort out their issues.

Karthik lay on the sofa, the gentle breeze from the balcony whispering through his hair. The soft glow of the moonlight illuminated the photo adorned on the wall, casting a nostalgic aura in the room. He rose from the sofa and approached the photo, his fingers tracing Kavya's face with tenderness. Despite fifteen years of marriage, he realized he hadn't paused to reflect on it often.

"Individuals don't remain the same as they were when we got married. We are constantly evolving every few years due to circumstances, and that's what makes us beautiful," Karthik mused to himself, pondering the complexity of relationships.

"If someone claims they have never faced a fight like this, I won't believe it. The beauty of a relationship lies in our ability to navigate these storms and forge ahead. It's how we handle challenges together that shapes the strength and depth of our bond," he acknowledged, sighing at his own shortcomings.

"Maybe I have failed in giving Kavya the love she expects. When she touches my ego, I'm quick to retaliate. But that doesn't mean I don't love her. It's just the nature of me and my egos," he admitted, understanding the complexities of human emotions.

"I know I should go and convince her, but I am afraid she will bring up everything from the beginning again," he mused aloud, frustration evident in his tone. "It feels like walking on eggshells. Kavya, my dear, why are you making our life so complicated?"

Gazing deeply at the photo, he tenderly kissed it, a flood of memories rushing back, including their very first kiss.

Second Chance: Chapter 2 - Suicide Point, Unexpected Beginnings

 Chapter 2 - Suicide Point Unexpected Beginnings

Click here to Previous Chapter 1 

Karthik's bike roared to life as Kavya settled in behind, her expression concealed. Determined to decipher her mood, he adjusted his mirror, craving a glimpse of her face. His thoughts wandered, grappling with the haunting question, "Wasn't there anything about me worth fighting for in our relationship?"

The red traffic light interrupted his reverie, prompting a journey back in time, fifteen years back. "They say marriages are made in heaven," he murmured, "but ours... it was dawned at Suicide Point."

⏳  

Our story unfolds at Suicide Point, a picturesque spot in Yercaud, a hill station where our families organized an annual trip each year. I vividly remember those days; fresh out of college, we eagerly awaited our final semester results. 

Since childhood, my heart held a deep affection for Kavya that endured through the years. However, despite knowing me since birth, she never seemed to reciprocate any profound friendship towards me.

Pausing for coffee near the scenic suicide spot, savoring the chill weather, Kavya ordered a coffee for herself, and I pretended to be unsure about whether I wanted tea or coffee.

I asked her if I could taste her coffee to help me decide and without waiting for her answer, I took a sip from her cup and exclaimed, "Hmm, Lovely! I will have coffee too".

Her response was quick with a smirk, "No, no, you keep this one. It's a saliva blend now. I will get a fresh one."

Before her new coffee arrived, her father approached, burdening me with the family business responsibilities.

"Karthik, studies are done. Join us and learn the business", he urged.

Our families had been business friends for decades, my father chimed in, "Take over in six months. We deserve a break!"

Feeling annoyed with the business discussions, I muttered to myself, "Oh gosh... There it is again, the business talk."

I excused myself under the pretext of checking our car's security, "Wait, Dad! I'm not sure if I locked our car. Let me go check real quick!"

Before leaving, I wanted to take Kavya with me. "Hey Kavya, want to join me?" I asked hopefully.

She smiled gently and declined, "I'm tired, Karthik."

Persisting, I added, "Just a short stroll. Trust me, It will refresh you."

She hesitated for a moment, then relented with a nod, "Alright, let's go"

As we walked, she quizzed, "Our car's that way, why are we going the other way?"

"I just needed a moment away, with you by my side," I teased, a playful wink adding a touch of mischief to my words.

Caught off guard, she playfully remarked, "Nice try," her eyes gleaming mischievously as she added, "Not sneaking for a smoke break, are you?"

"No, no, just needed some fresh air," I reassured exhaling a misty breath to emphasize my point. I chimed in, "That discussion was suffocating."

Her soft voice advised, "If you don't want to get into business, tell them upfront."

The chill embrace of the weather and the misty ambiance draped us, accompanied by the scent of roasting corn nearby. We instinctively rubbed our hands together, seeking warmth in the cold. But in a fleeting moment, the mist disappeared, revealing the picturesque scene before us.

Spotting a stunning viewpoint, Kavya posed, urging me to capture the beauty. Ah, the days of limited film rolls and no instant retakes!

As her hair danced in the wind, I couldn't resist the urge to make a slight adjustment for the photo. Not wanting to miss the chance of getting closer to her, I gently moved closer, savoring the scent of her hair as I reached out to arrange it.

With careful movements, I smoothed out the strands, relishing the softness and texture of each one as I helped her gather them. The intimate moment allowed me to appreciate her beauty close, and I found myself lost in her.

"Hey, go and click the photo quickly before the mist returns!" Kavya exclaimed.

With precision, I meticulously captured her in just one picture, freezing that beautiful moment in time.  

Reflecting on the past, I realize how fortunate we were not to have the instant review and retake feature on our smartphones back then. Nowadays, she would probably ask for a thousand shots until my phone battery died just to get that flawless picture.

As I carefully placed the camera back into its pouch, a fortune teller with a rattle-drum approached us.

With confidence, the fortune teller declared, "Your future bride is here!"

Kavya playfully scanned the crowd, pretending to search for my destined bride. The fortune teller pointed at her, affirming, "She's the one."

She chuckled softly, shaking her head. "Meee?, marry him? That's a good one! But, He is more like my 'bro-daddy' type. I can't image my life with him"

"Bro type, huh? Why do you girls always corner us with bro types?" he countered, glancing at Kavya. Looking at the fortune teller, he added, "Well, marrying her? That's definitely not on my wishlist; can't even imagine us twinning in matching outfits!"

"Whoa, slow down there" But just as Kavya was about to continue, the fortune teller interrupted with a shake of his rattle-drum, creating a loud noise. "The signs are clear; you two have already started arguing. It's like the first requirement of a marriage"

"Hey, why are we arguing? He is just babbling some random stuff to squeeze some extra cash, thinking we are a couple who will feel happy about it."

The fortune teller, irked by my comment, stated firmly, "I have been doing this for over 30 years. And mark my words, you will return here with her" he pointed at Kavya, "after your wedding."

The unexpected prediction took us by surprise, and our parents overheard our conversation. This idea registered in the back of their minds as a seed of possibility. Throughout the trip, they discussed envisioning our future together, and before our trip had even concluded, our engagement date was finalized.

It seemed that the idea of marrying Kavya to me had been brewing in their minds for some time, and the palm reader's prediction simply ignited that spark.

And so, our journey as a couple began at Suicide Point, where we experienced a blend of breathtaking highs and daunting lows, much like the ups and downs of relationships.

⏳ 

As the traffic light switched to green, a cacophony of car horns filled the air, snapping me back to reality. Kavya's urging to move forward echoed in my ears and I zoomed the bike.

To be continued...