|Eshan| I looked down at the sleeping face of my wife in my arms. I had not voiced my fears after watching the movie. I had the same lingering fear as hers. I also knew that I would find her to never let go away from me. As I watched her troubled face even in her sleep as if some thoughts were bothering her, I firmed the resolve of staying beside her, in every situation. I failed her once, but I would never let it happen again. I was not good at storytelling, and I realized exactly how bad I was at it. I ended up telling her about funny incidents in my life, many of them involved my friends. I carefully evaded mentioning Sahil. I did not want her to think about him. His scornful words still rang in my ears. I did not even want to think about it. Innaya fell asleep very soon, she was tired emotionally. It was not that hard to guess from the day's happenings. She had not yet talked about why she was on the brink of a panic attack after watching our fight. My mobile flashed, indicating the arrival of a new message. After confirming that I would not wake up Innaya, I turned on my back and reached for my mobile. As I unlocked the mobile, I saw it was close to four in the morning. I did not feel sleepy though. It had everything to do with the tranquil six hours of sleep I got in the afternoon. Sliding my thumb over the screen, I opened to the message I received. ::> "What's the matter with Innaya?" I read the contents of Ayush's message. My eyes narrowed as I thought about why Ayush would ask about Innaya at the odd hours. I'd made it clear that I would meet and explain later, then what was the emergency? ::> "Are you still awake?" There popped another message from him before I could decide to reply him back. 'I should really turn off the read receipts and change account settings.' I thought. "Stop lying and stop hiding, will you?" Instantly he responded, making me speechless. I was just joking. Did he seriously have to make it sound like I was the bad guy? :: "Why are you still awake?" I asked him. ::> "Because of you." "WHAT THE HELL!" ::> "I'm very much straight. Even if in the future my preferences were to change, I won't fancy you." ::> "Where the hell are you?" ::> "Why aren't you replying, damn it!!!! Come here, I promise not to kill you." ::> "????????????????????????" By the time I finished going through Ayush's angry rant, I stifled an urge to laugh aloud. Ayush was very pissed, and it was very much visible from his back to back messages. ::>"Why you want to know about Innaya?" I typed with my right hand as my left hand was busy in caressing Innaya's hair. There was no point in stretching the pointless chatting. I wanted to know his intention. ::> "I'm worried about her. That day also she was scared like this because of Sahil. Arjun didn't tell us anything, and drove us out of your house." What the hell! They were at my place. 'Sahil. It's you again. What was I supposed to do with him? Why did you want to ruin our friendship?' I stared off at the distance, trying to curb my rising temper. "Your wife is a gold-digger. She just wants you to handle her family business and make a profit for her." "It's her tactic. She already has a lover." "She is just one of those opportunist women out there, who are behind you. Bloody bit—" I could not help the killing intent I was feeling as I recollected Sahil's words. I had decided to not remember them for then I could not help but want to find him and teach him a lesson for badmouthing my wife. He had no right to insult her. ::> "Don't think about his words." Another message from him popped up. I turned angrier after going through it. Ayush was saying I shouldn't think about it but he could not bring himself to do it. Otherwise, why would he message me? ::> "Are you sure you aren't thinking about it? DON'T PREACH WHAT YOU DON'T PRACTICE. OTHERWISE, YOU ARE A HYPOCRITE." I replied back. My temper getting a worst out of. Innaya stirred beside me as if sensing my unstable emotions. I switched off my mobile and kept it aside. I lied properly on my back as I pulled her soft body in my arms, trying to calm myself down for her sake. I pressed a feather-light kiss on her forehead and just stayed there. Ayush unknowingly had evoked the ebbing anger from my mind. Actually, I knew, he was looking out for Innaya. Except for Sahil, all my friends loved Innaya and they looked after her as their own. There had to be something seriously wrong with Sahil's head. I had a limit to my tolerance and I was no longer going to entertain Sahil's absurd behavior. After the words he used for Innaya, chances of our friendship surviving were very slim. In my life, I placed equal importance on every relationship, and I would treasure and cherish them with all that I have got. The only exception being Innaya, she was my better half and her position in my heart was unrivaled. If I could not even spare myself for hurting her, then who was Sahil? I punished myself with two months of separation from her because I could not face her. I willingly suffered all the loneliness. No one had any say on my actions. How could he accuse Innaya? It was my decision, Innaya should not have been held accountable for it. I caressed her smooth skin with the back of my palm. 'I'm sorry. You have suffered because of me. I promise I won't let you suffer anymore. I'll be always there with you.' I promised in my heart. As if hearing my unsaid words, Innaya's expression settled, and her lips curved in a small smile.