The Hollow She Left Behind

He stood rooted to the spot as he watched her leave the house, carrying everything she owned. As the door closed, the silence that followed broke him. Her voice from their earlier outburst still echoed in his ears.

“Do you even realize how it feels to hear your own sister say you’re not enough for the man you love? Or to hear your husband suggest, even jokingly, that someone else would be better?

 “I asked only for some love, Vineet. For some respect. Is it too much to ask for?”

 “You can insult your wife, but you can’t face a loss, right? Am I a toy to play with, Vineet?”

 “You laughed along with my sister, confirming that you believe the same — that you need a better wife than I am. How could you, Vineet?

 “Is it so easy for you? To push me out?”

 “Answer me! You had the audacity to insult me in front of clients. But you can’t answer me when I am questioning you, why?”

He clutched his ears as if trying to stop the words that now pierced through his heart. He plopped down onto the couch, tears falling from his eyes. His wife had walked out, leaving him all alone.  And it was all due to him. He had hurt her in ways she hadn’t thought. He had said words that she never imagined coming from him. He demeaned her in front of clients, portrayed her as the controlling woman in his life and at last, out of frustration he said that she doesn’t have a good sense of humour and that marrying her was his mistake. To fan the fire, her real sister said that he deserves someone better and he had laughed it off. And there, her heart broke. 

He thought it had all ended with her departure — little did he know, his destruction had just begun, and he had earned it through his own words.

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