Chapter 5: The Homecoming

The city blurred outside my window—billboards faded, paan stains under the flyover, street dogs rummaging through rubbish. My head throbbed. When I opened the door, Sneha was brushing her teeth in a faded nightdress. The bathroom light flickered. She dropped her toothbrush, startled.

Her nightdress couldn’t hide the bruises and hickeys. She tugged her dupatta up, hands shaking as she adjusted her neckline. She forced a laugh. "I got hurt working out these days, it hurts. Honey, touch it."

She tried to grab my hand, but I flinched away. A wave of nausea hit me. "Gandi hai tu," I spat out, unable to hold back. Her eyes filled with tears, toothpaste foaming at the corners of her mouth.

"Honey, what did you say?" Her voice was small, breaking. In the past, I’d have done anything to stop her tears, but now I just found her revolting.

Too tired to argue, I grabbed my clothes and rushed into the bathroom. The sticky tiles clung to my feet, the leaky tap echoing my own unraveling. I stared at my haunted reflection. No soap could wash away the betrayal.

She hovered outside, concern on her face, reaching for my cheek. "Honey, you’ve lost so much weight. I’ll make you something good to eat."

I raised my eyebrows. "Oh? You’ll be with me all day today?"

She hesitated, adjusting her mangalsutra, her eyes darting. "I have an appointment with a girlfriend this afternoon. I’ll see if I can cancel. In my heart, nothing is more important than you."

I pushed her out, my silence speaking volumes. My phone buzzed—same old excuse from the alt account. "Bhaiya, I’m not feeling well today. Can we reschedule?"