He was in a deep confusion before he doze off to sleep but when he sensed her nearer to his side, he went all awake, he could feel her presence and unfortunately her hesitance too. Before he could confront her, she left the place. The same incident happened to them before. She didn't speak to him normally after his 5 days sudden trip to Silicon valley, it was a last-minute plan also she was not well at that moment, and he could only get an opportunity to speak with her before the flight that too for five minutes. 

"Baby! Try to understand, I know you're not well, but please spare me this time."  He said he didn't have any control over his choice of words as he was in hurry and also tensed for the upcoming meeting that going to decide the future of the company he started with his friends. 

"Spare you... I am in pain, Shivaay. I need you, I completely understand the situation, but please don't use this kind of words and hurt me more." She said in a sobbing tone, He immediately felt guilty for talking like that to her. 

"Sweetheart, I am sorry. I was in hurry and also tensed. You know right, what will happen if this deal gets finalized, our whole life will change for good, remember your dream of having a penthouse, everything will come true, and we will become the happiest couple living on this earth." He said imagining his beautiful life with her. 

"I told you then, I didn't want anything, but you to live happily. I love you more than you could ever imagine." She said, a smile appeared on his face and the tension he had regarding the meeting faded away. In a second, the meeting which was going to happen in a few hours became less important to him than his wife who was talking with him. 

"Love you too, baby!" He said and desperately wanted to kiss her then. If he left home, he would have convinced her or even taken her on his trip but everything got arranged out of a sudden, and he had to go directly from his office. 

"And don't think about me, I think it's a normal period pain but It's aching a lot. I called Gauri, she said she's on her way, she's bringing some medicines, I hope I will be good after taking a nap."  Anika replied, he could feel pain in her words, last time when she got her period, he spent most of the time in his lap, and he was there for her every craving to every call. But now, unfortunately, he's away from her. 

"Okay, baby! Just a few days of pain, just five days, I will be back," He said. 

"Okay." She replied in a low tone. 

"Okay tell me what shall I bring you from California." He asked and tried to divert her from the pain she was in. 

"You, I just want you, to come back soon." She said, he knew she was not being clingy, but it was her first time leaving her family and staying in a completely different country and different culture, and he could feel her. 

"I told you, I will buy some kinky stuff so that you could use it when you are missing me, but you want the real me, I can't do anything about it." He changed the topic and mentioned to her his interest in trying experiments during their intercourse but she will always give him a shocking gaze and pull him out of the bed, even if he didn't cross the limit after that. 

"Stop it. You don't have shame, have you recognized that?" She asked chuckling. 

"No. Definitely not with you, there's nothing left to hide anything from you." He replied and calmed himself that she finally became normal. 

"Also you can't do this to me during this time." She replied and then, he heard a calling bell. 

"Okay baby. I am disconnecting the call. Don't forget to eat, and please no junk food, I will come back and take you to Mcdonald's. You are not allowed to eat junk and spoil your health in my absence. Got it?" He asked her. 

"Yes, got it!"  She assured and he disconnected the call. 

He had no idea how he and his friends get that busy after going there, their deal got approved on the first day of the meeting itself which they didn't expect, his mind clearly understood his priority then, whatever it is, everything comes after his wife and her happiness because that he felt little tensed and the meeting went so smoothly. Due to that, he couldn't get any time to check on her, not even having time to send her texts. When he finally reached her, he saw her taking nap too, at noon which was weird. She woke up as soon as she heard him, he tried to talk with her, but she just responded monosyllabically. Out of a sudden, he felt so distanced from her. 

"Anika. Let's go to Mcdonald's. challo."  He asked her getting ready when he sensed she was not really in the mood to do anything. She didn't deny it but got ready, she was silent even when he asked for the order but he ordered her cheeseburgers with fried chicken which was her favorite thing to order, but there was no josh in her words. But she picked out the chicken from the burger and had it. It was shocking.

"What happened why did you take the chicken away?" He asked. 

"I don't have the mood to eat it."  She replied bluntly. 

"I didn't come home after 5 days to see this Anika, I know something troubling you, can you please share it with me?" He held her palms. Tears crossed her eyes. 

"These five days... I miss my family... My dad, my mom, my sister, everyone... I badly want to go back..." She replied, she took those words so carefully, she knew he couldn't travel with her as he have a lot of commitments, also he couldn't think of sending her alone as he became dependent on her presence. Over then, tears crossed her eyes. He couldn't take it, that's it, he took his phone and booked the first ticket to India the next day. 

"I booked your ticket, Anika. You're leaving tomorrow, let's go back home and pack." He said and got up from the place. 

"You?" She asked him. 

"I have commitments, Anika. I have to be here." He said to her, and he knew she was done with the food, she walked along with him. They were silent till they reach their apartment. When she initiated the talk, he remained silent and took the large-sized suitcase and kept it on their table, and started to pack her stuff. 

"It's a direct flight to newyork to Delhi, and I booked another flight to Mumbai, call me when you reach." He said and started folding her clothes and keeping them in the suitcase. 

"Also tell me when you want to come back. I will book the tickets, please don't ask your father or he may think that I am not even worth booking return tickets for you."  He said and continued packing while she stayed silent. 

"Won't you ask me the reason?" She finally asked him. 

"I know the reason, Anika. You're in pain and I was not there to take care of you, and I heard from you how your father stayed with you day and night during this time, but you have to understand, your father got settled when he stayed with you day and night, but sorry darling, I didn't come that way, not even close, if I don't go to the office for one day, It may even get worse and make me restart everything from the scratch. Before getting into any misconception, you have to talk with your mother, about whether he stayed with her during this time, I am not complaining, Anu. It's completely normal to miss your family, but did you think about me? You're my only family after my dad who didn't even attend my call when I need him." He said. He knew he was rude but when she said she missed her family not include him in her family, he felt too hurt, and that was his outcome. But she stayed silent looking at him with teary eyes. 

"I packed your bags, I hope if I missed anything, you are having your father choose you the best." He said and took the extra blanket from the cupboard and moved towards the drawing room. 

"But you have to understand this Anika. You have your mom, sister, and father for you, but I have only you with me as my everything." He said and left the place. He felt so difficult to sleep on the couch which was not even for his height, his back started to ache when he lay in the same position for a long time. While then, he heard her footsteps, and he immediately stopped moving. Before he could think anything, he felt a kiss on his forehead her fingers grazed his face and she kissed his cheek too. His chest felt light. 

"I am sorry!" She said and he opened his eyes to see her. Her eyes became red but she widened her arms for a hug, he pulled her to the couch and wrapped her inside his blanket, and hugged her tightly. She buried her face in his shoulder while he buried his hands inside her top, he threw his leg and pulled her further closer. 

"I am sorry too... But things didn't work in this way, baby" He said and kissed her shoulder. 

"Hmmm." She replied. 

"Are the tickets refundable?" She asked him. His heart was delighted to hear that. 

"You are not going?" He asked without breaking the hug. 

"No, not without you, let's go together whenever you get time." She whispered in his ears.

"I love you, baby," He said and broke the hug a little just to kiss her. 

"I love you too..." She said when he broke the kiss. 

He found her inside the washroom, he decided to wait, he didn't know what to ask her, but he understood one thing, she still loves him, and something was stopping her. He desperately wanted to know the reason, it was not for one month or two, but she stayed away for four years, and now she wanted to get separated legally from him. If she insists, he will definitely give him a divorce, but before that he wanted what went wrong between them. It has been a long time, but she didn't come out, but he heard a splashing water sound. He got scared, he immediately tried to knock on the door, but it got opened instead, she didn't lock the door. 

"Anu," he called her but only to see her inside the shower with her dress leaning on the glass door. He couldn't stop him from yearning for her, he could clearly see her helpless state. He decided, whatever it is, he will never leave her drowning in sorrow. He went towards her and hugged them from the back, her body stiffened in shock, but he didn't leave her, he continued to say sorry to her, even if she slaps him, he was ready for it if it reduces the pain she was suffering, but the opposite happened, she held his face and kissed him. He didn't respond as he was scared that would place her under the wrong assumption that he miss their intimacy which was not true. She held him tightly and kissed her but he neither held her tight nor kissed her back with his full intensity. But suddenly, she broke the kiss and ran off from the place, but he was still there. He immediately started to miss her, he knew that kiss didn't happen naturally but it was the outcome of the fight she was fighting inside. And he vowed, he won't let her suffer longer. 

***