Changing Relationships
This is my first post, any recommendation would be appreciated.
Sanjay insisted on seeing me off at the train station, I was glad Sapna did not accompany him, her presence would make this more uncomfortable. Uncomfortable, this word probably best describes our situation. The train arrived and I settled in my seat, we could not think of anything to say to each other, I decided to crack a joke “You take care of Sapna and don’t let go of her no matter what…….even on your deathbed.” He just nodded and managed a smile.
Sanjay insisted on seeing me off at the train station, I was glad Sapna did not accompany him, her presence would make this more uncomfortable. Uncomfortable, this word probably best describes our situation. The train arrived and I settled in my seat, we could not think of anything to say to each other, I decided to crack a joke “You take care of Sapna and don’t let go of her no matter what…….even on your deathbed.” He just nodded and managed a smile.
Sapna and I got married three years ago, I always felt that she deserved someone better, she was a free spirited woman who was happy all the time while I was someone who had grown old too quickly. To her credit she never once complained about anything, my income was limited but she managed the money well. It hurt me to see a girl from a wealthy family live a simple life.
We lived in my ancestral home, money was tight and we had a hard time making ends meet. Someone suggested that I rent out a room or a portion of the house to get additional income. The house was too big for the two of us and I could use extra cash so we rented a room out. Sanjay rented the room, I was a bit hesitant to rent to a bachelor but one week with him and I was convinced that he is the best choice. Sanjay moved here on a job assignment. Initially our interaction with each other was limited but very quickly he became a member of the family.
Soon he started coming over for dinner and after dinner we would sit by the porch and talk. Sanjay could sense that I was in a bind financially and he helped out a lot, every once in a while he would bring in groceries, pay off the milkman, buy things for my wife. He was shy though, his shyness could easily be mistaken for aloofness and that is probably why he was still single. I felt bad when he helped us out but he would explain “You are like an elder brother to me, in this town I have a house that I can call my own and I have a brother and a bhabhi, my family is complete. It is only fair that I help you out a bit, you should always be able to count on family”.
Sapna would tease him at times and ask him to get married but he would just blush and say “Bhabhi who would give their daughter to an ordinary looking man working in a remote place, besides who knows how my wife would be, we are living in peace, she may break this peace”. I did notice that he looked at Sapna with respect most of the times but at times he would look at her differently. Days and months passed by and our bond just grew stronger, unfortunately nothing lasts forever and our life and relationship changed forever.
It started with a bad cough and after some time I started noticing blood in my cough, I knew that was not a good sign. When Sanjay found out he spent money like water on getting me treated but visit to specialists and several tests confirmed that I had Tuberculosis. In the city this may be a disease that is easily treatable but here in the village this is still considered a deadly disease. Sanjay offered to take me to the city but I declined, he continued buying medicine for me, I started missing work and my income went down even more but he did not let us feel the pinch.
My situation worsened and one night I couldn’t help but think of the inevitable, I was not sad or mad at my plight nor did I fear death but I felt bad for Sapna. The delicate flower that she was will wither without me, she had no formal training and she would not be able to find decent employment anywhere and the society is not kind to single women. The only person I could think of was Sanjay. I talked to Sapna
“I have a huge favor to ask, will you do something for me?”
She smiled “Do you even have to ask? Just tell me and I will do it”
“I want you to marry Sanjay”
“What!!! What kind of sick joke is this, he is like a brother to me”
“Listen I know how you feel but this is time to be realistic, I am not getting better and my days are numbered, I can think of no one else but Sanjay to take care of you once I am gone”
“Please don’t say that, you will get better”
“We both know that the possibility of this is slim, we have to think rationally here, if you agree I will convince Sanjay”
“But I am a married woman”
“I know, I want to see you two married before I die, I will divorce you so that you can legally remarry. Please consider this as my last wish”
It took a lot of convincing and she finally agreed, I was able to convince Sanjay as well. The legal formalities were taken care of and I was probably the first one on earth who was happy to see his ex-wife get married. Marriage however is one thing and starting a relationship is another, due to my illness we stayed the same, I started living in the guest room while Sanjay moved in my bedroom. I could tell that they were uncomfortable, it is not easy to change relations overnight, they felt uneasy with each and the situation worsened when I was around. I just prayed for a quick death so as to make life easy for these two but God had other plans.
My situation slowly got better, I felt good, I regained some of the lost weight, Sanjay and Sapna were happy with my progress but I knew this was not a good sign. I knew that while I was around they would not start their married life. Besides, I am human too, I don’t know if I had enough strength to live forever with these two. I secretly wanted my wife back but I knew that it was selfish on my part to wish that.
One day I decided to move away, the Doctor who helped me informed me of a position of house helper for his brother’s house in Dubai. He was kind enough to obtain a visa and ticket for me and I figured that my moving away was the best thing to do for all of us.
Sanjay and Sapna did try to convince me to change my mind but deep inside even they knew this was for the best. It is strange how relationships change, my wife is my bhabhi now, but I have no regrets, I did what I considered was the best solution then, in this every changing world and relationships it does not pay to second guess the choices our heart made.
I know it will take some time but eventually Sanjay and Sapna will get to know each other well and they will be happy with each other.
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