The Other Woman

         The bags were packed and she was waiting for her cab. She was finally going on a vacation. She knew she had to get out of the house, had to move on with her life but after her mother expired everyday became a struggle for her. So, when Pratiyush suggested that they should go out for the weekend she agreed readily. Yes, the vacation was for just a weekend. Due to many restrictions Zoya couldn't expect a full fledged vacation from Pratiyush. However, she knew that the two days would also be blissful and would provide her the much needed calm and peace.

            Even though she wasn't feeling her best still she was excited. After her mother's death it was for the first time that she was going out of her home otherwise life had reduced to going to office and coming back. She felt alone all the time. Not like that earlier she wasn't alone but then she had the liberty of having her mother at a phone call. Now with that thing taken from her, she was in perpetual darkness. It at times felt to her as if she was running in a dark tunnel. Only the end point of the tunnel couldn't be seen. Nevertheless, what motivated her to keep running was a faint light that she could see. Pratiyush.

            Zoya had always loved two people madly. Her mother and Pratiyush and now with her mother gone she needed Pratiyush more than ever. It wasn't like that he wasn't there for her but she just needed him more. After a lot of begging and teary eyed messages, he had finally agreed to take Zoya on a vacation. Zoya had always been an independent woman. A multitasker always knew what she wanted out of life, a go-getter. In other words, a woman who other girls envied and men wanted. It was true too. Don't know what was it about Zoya but she was never short of attention from opposite sex. At the age of 33 too, she had admirers and she was too embarrassed to accept it. Nevertheless, like any hopeless romantic she just wanted one and it was Pratiyush. Did she get him? This was the question she hasn't been able to answer till now. Pratiyush loved her but in his own weird way. And that's not all... she was the other woman.

            Meeting Pratiyush was a chance and staying with him was a choice that Zoya had made a long ago. It was liking at first that got matured into crush that later on became love. After trying her hand in numerous professions, Zoya knew it was writing that had her heart and soul. Her mother though did try to voice her concerns when Zoya declared that she would be moving to another city to become Editor in a company but in the end, she also came around. Zoya met Pratiyush and from then onwards she was doomed. You know the feeling wherein you rise and fall in love daily. That was what their relationship was all about. She fell daily only ending up loving him more.

            Pratiyush was an amazing guy. Almost mirror image of Zoya. He was self driven, highly ambitious, loved travelling and most importantly loved experimenting with himself in order to become a better version. The only compartment in which they were poles apart was the emotional department. Zoya, unlike him wanted and even mouthed every emotion she was going through. Be it happiness, anger, sadness, frustration; she voiced everything. Pratiyush just kept everything in him. Probably that's the reason that even though they had shared 11 years of their life together, still he had just told her only once that he loved her. Whereas Zoya celebrated her love with Pratiyush everyday. At times through messages, at times over calls. But, since her mother has expired, she somehow stopped telling it. Stopped saying it. It wasn't that she didn't love him anymore. But, she was scared. Of what? Losing him? Unexpectedly? It was this fear that was somehow eating her alive. She did try to voice it to Pratiyush, but emotions were something he didn’t understand and never reciprocated. So, she was all alone in dealing with the insecurities.

            You must be wondering what did it mean that Zoya was the other woman. No; Pratiyush was neither married nor was he cheating on her. This was something Zoya could vouch for. For Zoya, her priorities started with her mother and Pratiyush on the same front and then her career and other things. With Pratiyush his priorities were his passions, dreams and yes Zoya too. But, Zoya always came on 4th or 5th slot. This troubled Zoya. That's the reason she called herself 'The Other Woman'.

            She knew Pratiyush wasn't at fault. It wasn't necessary that your relationship is always your priority and moreover Zoya knew that he had flaws. Had she been wishing for a perfect relationship, she could have left him but she didn't. So, she had no right to blame him. But the fact was that Zoya was hurting and she had no idea how to deal with it. Everyday had become a struggle for him. The work she used to love had reduced itself to a mere job. She was merely passing her days. The zeal, enthusiasm had gone for a dip. And all she could see as her last reserve was Pratiyush. So, the relationship that was started with least expectations had grown into a massive expectation hub. It was becoming bone of contempt between them. And like two adamant individuals, both of them were fighting with and for each other but not trying to come to a solution.

            Even though Zoya had every day a new thing to look forward to, but her mother's disappearance has left her with such a void that she couldn't fill. Her biggest regret is that she wasn't there with her during her last days. Even though she had talked to her mother few hours before her demise but she wanted to be physically present there. This was the biggest guilt that Zoya was dealing with. She left her ailing mother. She left her mother to pursue her dreams. She couldn't tell this to her family as they won't be able to help her out. She wanted to tell this to Pratiyush and wanted him to understand, but then how could you make somebody understand emotions unless and until he is ready to act empathetic. 

            Time was running out. He was late again. On any other day she wouldn't have been so disappointed had Pratiyush once again chosen his work over her but this time she wanted him to chose her. This time instead of sympathy and bickering jokes she wanted him to hold her hand, walk with her while she cried and poured her heart out. She looked at her phone. No trace of him. No message, no call. Keeping aside her disappointment, she called him up.

            "Where are you?" she asked without any formality. Her voice was laden with disappointment as if Zoya already knew that once again he had chosen his work.

            "There is this thing came up and it will be very good for my start up. So, at the nick of the time I had to attend this event. Can I talk to you later?"

            Zoya disconnected the phone. Tears welled in her eyes. Her first instinct was to kick things around her and call him again and with teary voice scold him for abandoning her again. She looked at the tickets in her hand. She wanted to go. She needed to go. This time not for her own self but for her mother. She had once promised her mother that she would go to Goa with her. She ran back to her apartment. Unlocked it and quickly stuffed the photo frame in her bag. She called the cab and left for her vacation with her mother.

            Zoya was walking mindlessly on the beach. The vacation was different from what she had expected. Pratiyush must have found out by now that Zoya had left for Goa. He may have called or messaged but Zoya had turned off her phone. After a long walk, Zoya sat down on the shore. She remembered her solo trip with her mother to Dubai. They both had utmost fun. They used to get up early n the morning, hog on breakfast as typical Punjabis, roam around aimlessly, talk, gossip and then at night Zoya used to sleep next to her mother hugging her tightly as if she was trying to make sure that she won't leave her in between. Tears prickled down her cheeks. She touched her kada that belonged to her mother. She had been wearing it since she left. It felt as if she was with Zoya. A young girl brushed past her, running curiously towards the sea. Behind her was her scared mother, wanting her to have every experience but at the same time save her from any discomfort. Zoya realised she would never feel that again. The sun was finally setting. People started leaving slowly but Zoya sat there only. Just like the day, her sun had also set. She didn't know if the sun will ever rise again or not.

            Pratiyush didn't call her that night. He knew Zoya was angry and with his new found intelligence he decided to sleep over the issue and let Zoya become fine. The next day, he got a letter from Zoya in which she had mentioned that she was going to Goa alone. She had poured her heart out by telling him how badly she needed him right now during her crisis and how he was unavailable. After reading the letter fully, Pratiyush busied himself in making his start up a success. The letter occasionally made fluttering noise and the only words visible on it were 'The Other Woman.'