Single's Day

Raghav rushed towards her as she was seated reading newspaper while sipping her tea. She was almost ready to leave for her dance classes. Raghav reached her, handed her a rose & wished her with three words. Radhika was delighted with this wonderful moments gifted to her on Valentine’s Day. She had never expected such a beautiful moment. She took him in her arms, gave him a tight hug & planted him a warm kiss. She greeted him back “Love you too Raghav”.

She got engaged to Pradeep. He was a nice looking Financial Advisor. Her parents were quite happy & proud of their to-be son in law. Radhika was equally excited to get married to him although she never thought of arranged marriage. But Pradeep was a decent looking guy with a muscular build. He was everything that a girl would like to have in her better half. Radhika was an abstemious but very beautiful girl. She was exactly the partner any guy would want to have in his life. Her fair complexion, her dark beautiful eyes & her pink lips would mesmerize anyone. She was a perfect blend of simplicity & exquisiteness.

It had been just over two years since both of them got married. The first eight-nine months were just perfect for this married couple. Radhika was very happy in her marriage with Pradeep. He was loving, caring and a perfect husband. She was swollen with pride to have him in her life. She decided to give her hundred percent to prove herself a perfect wife. She loved him, & she realized. She would do everything to make him happy. She would cook a new recipe every weekend for him; they would go out for Films or dinner or organize some peaceful romantic nights-out driving on the highway, with soft romantic music, thus spending more & more time with each other to strengthen their relationship.

It had been just over a year of their marriage when Pradeep hit her for the first time. He came home late at around 3:30 a.m. & was badly drunk. The only crime she committed was being caring & possessive of him. She was extremely worried & concerned of any mishaps. When he finally banged the door at that odd hour, she was unsure of what to do. She had no courage to open the door as she felt that there might be some bad news knocking. When she finally opened the door, she found him struggling to stand straight. His breath ruined with alcohol teased her nostrils. She helped him inside, took his baggage & inquired of him being late. He said nothing; his senses didn’t support him to speak. He threw a ghastly glance. Tears rolled out on her soft pink cheeks as she struggled to fight her emotions. She asked him if she should get him dinner. He opened his mouth for the first time, not speaking but shouting. He told her to get her face out of his sight. He abused as if she was the one who had been home late, drunk & not replying to his calls. His eyes were red, with alcohol or anger or both of them. He cursed her, abused her & made her responsible for the misfortune of all his life. “You are not just a bitch, you are a whore, a fucking whore”, he said.

  She couldn’t understand what had gone wrong. She was unsure of his conduct. She could not believe what she heard. All the words that Pradeep spoke were still pondering in her heart. She reached him, still calm, with tears flowing endlessly. She tried to ease him, to caress him. “I am sorry Pradeep, I never wanted to hurt you. But please let me know what had I done. I never wanted to offend you, you know…..” Her touch sparked his senses; he pushed them apart & charged at her with a tight slap on her face. Her face turned pale. The force threw her on the floor. She cried, she yelled but he didn’t listen. He rushed to his room & locked the room at his back. She remained there on the cold floor weeping the entire night. But there was nobody to wipe her tears.

The next morning, he found her still lying on the floor. Her cheeks were still wet & her eyes red, sleep deprived. He caressed her & said sorry for the last night. He told her that he is facing financial crisis but he will overcome from it soon. He assured her that such incident would never occur again.

Their lives returned to the normal pace it was at earlier. For the next three months, he would return home well on time, and would spend time with her. The only change was that outings didn’t happen as they did earlier. Then one night, the same confrontation that had occurred few months back repeated. This time he charged her even more brutally. Two months later, again. This time he even accused her to be a curse in his life. He made her responsible for all that was happening in his life.

It was for the fifth or sixth time; she didn’t remember exactly, he attempted to smack her. It was enough, she had determined. She would not let him charge her anymore. He was badly drunk that night. He had tormented her badly in past few months; mentally, physically & emotionally. She would not bear it anymore, she decided. She saw him doing his fist, all set to strike her jaw. Before he could actually hit her, she slammed him tightly on the right, another on the left. He was in awe, the liquor in his veins evaporated into the thin air. He deserved it, he has got his due.

It had been six years since; she is living happily with Raghav. Both of them love each other more than anything else on this Planet earth. He is the reason & motive for each of her breath. She started a dance class a year & a half after she left Pradeep. She was five months pregnant then. The dance classes make her a good deal of money to earn her living & to cater to the needs of Raghav.

Raghav is five years old now. Both of them are living a happy & peaceful life. It was a Valentine’s day, when Raghav gifted her a rose & said those three wonderful words “LOVE YOU MAA”