Adultery Priya Didi

[shailu4ever]

 
Monday Morning – Phone Calls
 

The pale light of Monday morning seeped into flat 205, but Ravi hadn’t stirred yet. He lay on the couch, arms crossed over his chest, staring blankly at the ceiling. The silence felt heavier after the long, quiet Sunday, filled with thoughts he could not share with anyone. 

Messages from Neetu and Sirisha still blinked unread on his phone. He didn’t move to reply; his mind wasn’t in a position to respond to anything now.
 
The phone buzzed sharply, cutting through the quiet. He reached for it lazily, expecting another unread message. But the screen showed a new name: Vamsi.
 
“Ravi,” Vamsi’s voice was calm, measured, but there was a subtle weight of sadness underneath. “I heard from Amit about his father… I just wanted to tell you I’m really sorry. It must be hard.”
 
Ravi swallowed, the words catching somewhere in his throat. “Yeah… it’s, It’s difficult.” His voice sounded small, even to him.
 
Vamsi continued, “I wanted to ask… could you come over for lunch? I won’t be there myself; I have a few things I need to take care of, but I thought it might be good for you to eat something with the girls. They’ll be around. I don’t want you to eat alone.”
 
Ravi hesitated. The idea of leaving flat 205, of facing conversation, of being expected to smile or respond… it all felt heavy. “Uh… sure, I’ll come,” he managed finally, his voice flat.
 
The call ended, leaving him staring at the phone.
 
Not even a minute passed before it buzzed again. Neetu’s name flashed across the screen.
 
“Ravi!” she said the moment he answered, her voice tinged with cheer but slightly anxious. “I am sorry… I heard about Amit’s father.”
 
Ravi replied quietly, “Thank you.”
 
Neetu continued, “Vamsi also felt bad and he wanted you to come here for lunch. I wanted to make sure you’ll come. It’ll be nice, come on!”
 
Ravi felt a pang of discomfort. He could imagine the room: Neetu bustling, Sirisha watching him carefully, subtle glances and quiet judgments he wasn’t ready for. Yet he also knew he couldn’t refuse. He managed a quiet, “Okay… I’ll be there.”
 
The calls left him in a strange limbo, obliged to go, yet unable to fully engage. His thoughts drifted, as they had all morning, back to Priya Didi. He wondered what she would think if she knew how distant, how distracted he already felt. 

The weight of her absence pressed down, and he realized he would carry it with him, even through lunch.
 
He got up slowly, moving mechanically to prepare himself. 

The apartment felt too quiet, too empty, each step echoing like a reminder of all that had shifted over the past two days. And yet, the city beyond the windows went on, unaware, indifferent, like life itself refused to pause for grief, guilt, or longing.
 
 

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