Returning home, I felt completely worn out, collapsing onto the couch and staring blankly into the distance. After getting married, I hadn't returned to work. Arjun's mother often reminded me of how hard Arjun worked and insisted that I should strive to be the ideal housewife.
So, I painstakingly learned many skills just to take good care of Arjun. At first, Arjun would say he felt incredibly fortunate to have such a dedicated wife, and that he was completely satisfied.
But as time went on, everything seemed to become expected—for both him and me. He grew accustomed to my care, and I got used to caring for him.
We don't have any children. I had myself checked, and there were no issues on my end. I wanted Arjun to get checked as well, but he dismissed the idea, perhaps out of male pride. He was so sure there was nothing wrong with him, and I couldn't understand his confidence.
Without children, I treated Arjun as if he were a child, caring for him diligently. But as the saying goes, a child loves their mother unconditionally, whereas a husband might start to see his wife as past her prime. That’s the difference.
"If we ever had kids, they'd be embarrassed by you. In our social circles, you're the only wife who seems to have no standout qualities," Arjun criticized me without mercy.
I remained silent and ignored him. He knew full well that I was never one to fuss over my appearance, even before we got married. Yet, he still chose to say such hurtful things.
Late at night, when Arjun claimed he had work obligations and didn't come home, thoughts of divorce would flood my mind. Marriage is supposed to be a partnership, and if it’s not working, maybe it's better to go our separate ways. But Arjun refused to divorce, and to convince me to stay, he even brought my mom into the mix as a mediator.
As a husband, he knew exactly how to manipulate me. My mom depended on my support, and I depended on Arjun's. It felt like I was trapped, unable to escape.
The living room lights suddenly flicked on. Arjun walked in, "Why are you zoning out on the couch? I texted you on WhatsApp to say I was coming home, and you didn't reply. Did you make the spiced honey cake I asked for? I'm really tired today and wanted some. Did you get around to it?"
He continued to rant. My mind was elsewhere. Arjun was growing irritated and was about to criticize me further when he suddenly stopped, noticing my expression.
