Journey of a woman

Vibha and Rohan - three years later

Rating: Suitable for all ages


Chapter 1

Rohan’s Office party was taking place at the taj mahal hotel in Mumbai. Some of the most important and influence people in India were attending, from politicians, economists, lawyers. This was probably the fifth event related to Rohan’s work that Vibha was attending. They had been happily married for three years now.
She started University soon after their unplanned marriage in Benares and her graduation as a fashion designer was almost complete. She was known between her husband’s colleagues as a lovely person and everyone enjoyed her presence.
Rohan loved his wife very much. He was still stunned with his own attitude in Benares when he proposed to her, Knowing that they barely knew each other, but he was thankful everyday for having her next to him and to be a prisoner of her “spell”, like he used to joke with her.
People were gathering in small groups in tables where, previously, they had dinner or standing while they talked. A small band had been hired and a few couples were dancing at the rhythm of the soft music. Rohan held Vibha’s waist while they were dancing and smiling at each other. She gave him a light kiss on his lips and said:
-“I love you!”
-“I love you too, baby!”
She laid her head against his chest and they continued dancing tightly.
The music ended and the dancing couples started to disperse through the room.
-“Natasha! Wow, it’s been a long time. Didn’t expect to see you here.”
Vibha felt her heart skip a beat and her nails almost craved Rohan’s hand skin when she heard this words. The voice was too familiar. She and Rohan turned to see Mr Sigh (?) , through whom they had met in the plane to Switzerland.
-“So, you decided to access the services of our PR manager…” – he said to Rohan.
Vibha wished to disappear, her embarrassment was visible.
-“Mr Sigh , this is my wife Mrs Vibhavary Verma. – said Rohan with a confident, strong voice.
Mr Sigh ‘s face expression was of total shock, surprise and curiosity. He looked from Rohan to Vibha, and from her to Rohan again.
-“So, you quit the business, huh?” – he said to Vibha.
-“My wife is a respectful woman and she should and will be treated like that” – Rohan cut, with his voice tone a little raised.
The surprise, the excess of drinks he had taken and the sense of opportunity to take revenge on some recent business Rohan had prejudice, all came together for him to say something he would never say under normal conditions:
-“What respect? You married a slut!” –he said loudly, in a clear provoking tone, looking directly into Rohan’s eyes.
Rohan’s reaction was automatic; he punched Mr Sigh in the face, who responded with another punch in Rohan’s stomach. They were starting a fight. Vibha felt a shiver going through her spine when she heard the word slut and saw Rohan’s reaction:
-“Stop! Stop it!” – she and other people got between them, trying to separate them.
She was feeling extremely embarrassed, people were looking at them, they couldn’t have done a scene like that in such a place. What would Rohan’s colleagues think? Would he be tainted and prejudiced after that? Of course he would…and she was the reason, she was guilty of all that. She felt people’s gazes like burns. She got out of the room and went to the reception. She asked for her coat and purse and left a note for her husband.
Rohan put himself together, gaining control again. His colleagues let him go. Everyone was looking and commenting what they had just seen and heard.
-“What happened, Rohan?” – asked one of his colleagues.
-“Where’s Vibha?” – was his response.
Someone said something about her leaving the room a few moments before.
The receptionist told him she had left and gave him her note.




Chapter 2

Vibha entered her old apartment. Although she was living with Rohan and his grandmother at their house, she had decided to keep her own place. It had been months since the last time she had entered there.Her past had never been an issue since the day they had married. She frequently thought she was living a fairy tale, Rohan couldn’t be real. She was very cautious at first, always scared that one day her past would speak louder, but now she was too comfortable with her life. Nevertheless, from nowhere her past came into their lives again, she felt extremely guilty and scared. Scared of what would happen between her and Rohan…this last thought left her sick, she ran into the bathroom and threw up everything she had eaten.


The next day :

“I’m sorry, I’m so sorry. I know this was my entire fault. I need some time alone. I’ll be at my apartment.” Rohan reread the note.
He noticed that the rumors about his fight and his wife had reached everyone in his office. Except they were more than rumors, they were true…
“For me, you’re the Ganges herself”, he remembered, and now he was feeling ashamed of Vibha. Seeing her through other people’s eyes made him feel disgusted. Imagining Mr Sigh touching Vibha, as well as so many other men was increasing his despise and jealously for her.


Vibha was sick all morning and kept throwing up. She had noticed small changes, but it was all coming together now. She bought some pregnancy tests at lunch time from her classes at college, and they came back all positive.
She felt her womb, while she imagined herself as a mother and smiled. She thought of Rohan as she was regretting her attitude the night before. He stood by her, he defended her, and she cowardly left. They had to talk and clear things up and she had to tell him about the baby.


Later...

She stepped out of the house, crying. Emotions had taken over her. His face, his anger, his words, the disgust in his eyes… She could have faced and took that from anybody, but not from him. Every word he said hit her like a stab. She heard his shouts, she saw his rage and she didn’t utter a word. He finished and she left. Was this the end?
Before reaching the gate she stopped, something was wrong, she felt dizzy. She massaged her forehead, took a deep breath and stepped out of the gate into the street.


Rohan followed her with his eyes through the window. He was angry and rage was still running through his veins. In the middle he said things he didn’t felt just to hurt her, to unload everything on her, all the comments, all the rumors, all the looks. Maybe he had went a bit too far.
-“Sir!” –said a nervous voice.
-“Yes?” – Rohan responded to his grandmother’s gatekeeper.
-“It’s Mrs Vibha, please come quickly!” – he answered as he disappeared through the corridor.Rohan’s anger suddenly stopped and was replaced by a pain in his heart. He ran after the other man and when he reached the street he saw her, a few meters away laying on the ground with people surrounding her.
-“Baby?!” – he called, giving her light taps in her cheek – “What happened? Baby, wake up!” – he said with a worried and shaking voice.
The sound of an ambulance was approaching. She was still reaction less.


The doctor appeared.-“How is she, sir? What happened? What does she have?” – Rohan asked worried.
-“Well, she is ok now. She hit her head when she fainted, and we aren’t sure if her vomits are just derived from the pregnancy or if she has some more serious head trauma. We will keep her in observation tonight, but she can go home tomorrow. She said she had had a discussion before the faint and we believe that that’s what caused it. She can’t go through strong emotions during these months.You may see her now, if you want.”



Chapter 3

He was caught by her eyes as soon as he entered the room. He could see she was hurt, her eyes were like a mirror to her soul.He sat next to her in the bed and she automatically stepped a little from him.
-“Since when do you know?” – he started.
-“I found out this morning.” – she said, not looking at him.
-“Baby, I’m sorry! I was out of line, I didn’t mean what I said…” – he continued while he grabbed her hand.
She released her hand and went to the bathroom. He heard her, and then the flush. After a while she got out.
-“Are you ok?”
She returned to the bed without looking at him. With a pain in her heart, she said:
-“I need to rest. Please leave.”
-“Baby, I…”
-“Leave!” – She repeated, now with a louder and stronger voice.

Rohan sat in the hospital corridor. He replayed their discussion in his head. He couldn’t blame her; she had all the reasons to never want to see him again. He knew she was an escort before marrying her, she never hide it from him, and he had no right to throw that to her face now. Vibha wasn’t the kind of person who keeps resents. One didn’t even have to apologize, it was enough just showing regret and it would all be good again in seconds. This was a first in three years. He had clearly gone too far.
-“Brother? You look worried, I thought the doctor said Vibha was ok now…?!” – asked Rohan’s younger brother, interrupting his thoughts.
-“Oh, hi! Yes, she is. You can go inside if you want.”

Vibha was fighting hard with herself to control her emotions when sunshine entered her room:
-“Didi?”Vibha gave Chutki and Vivaan a big smile.
-“Hey sweeties!” – she exclaimed.
They both realized something was wrong between Vibha and Rohan as soon as they looked into her eyes.They talked for a while and they congratulated her for the baby. She smiled but looked even more sad.
-“Didi, is everything ok between you and Rohan? – She asked.
Vibha’s eyes filled with tears but she didn’t say anything. She hugged Chutki and waited until they left the room to allow the tears to shed.

It was night when Michelle appeared. How they had let her in and how she had known Vibha was in the hospital was a mystery.
-“Sweetie, I don’t know exactly what happened, but it isn’t hard for me to imagine, from what I was told. I guess how you must be feeling, but the truth is that you have two choices and what I want to tell you is this: Don’t let the shadows of your past ruin the life and the dream you built. Fight for what you achieved and make it work!”

Michelle hugged Vibha and watched her past through the gate and into the house before driving away.Vibha walked into the room darkened by the night and saw him standing in the balcony. He turned when they were just a few meters from each other and saw her.
-“Vibha…?” – he said with surprise and stepped in her direction.
Their eyes met and hers filled with tears again. The pregnancy was leaving her too emotional, she thought. She hugged him tightly. He hugged her back and said to her ear:
- “I’m sorry…”
-“I’m sorry too…”
He held a hand to support her face and said:
-“I love you…”
She lifted her hand to his face and caressed his cheek. And she kissed him.

Find the rest of the story at my other blog: http://historiasdamorgaine.blogspot.com/2009/06/vibha-and-rohan-three-years-later-1.html