First Anniversary

                                    

                                          

In Kolkata 
Sona: 
I stirred reluctantly from my slumber as the alarm on my phone blared. The past few days have been consumed by long hours at work that I barely got time to relax and spend time with my family. I've finished the final pitch for our new investors yesterday and the deal is almost done. So, I decided to take leave today and get some rest. I grabbed my phone to text my team but I froze when I noticed the date. It's September 30th – the day I got married to Dev. 
Tears welled up my eyes, making everything around me fade into blur. It's our first anniversary and we are no longer together. Who could've imagined this to happen? Why did our love story end so soon? I thought we'd have a happy ending but I was wrong. There was probably  no happily ever after in our story. That's it! It's over- all I have left are memories of us, now tainted with bitterness. I shoved my phone on the side table and buried myself under the blanket. The pain in my heart felt unbearable I tried my best to silence the thoughts in my mind, but they kept echoing endlessly. All the promises we had made, all the trips that we had planned, all the happy memories we created together, haunting me. It wasn't long before my tears became soft, shaky sobs.
 The knock at the door compelled me to gather my composure. Quickly brushing away my tears, I opened the door warily. Maa handed me my morning coffee with her radiating smile which made me reciprocate it. It's not something she usually does. Maybe she's started a new routine of bringing me coffee in bed because I'm pregnant. 
We both sat there in silence, sipping our coffees and looking out the window. But it was a silence heavy with tension. Impatiently I asked "Maa do you want to say something?" 
She took a deep breath before starting to speak.  "Shona I know what today is, and I also know that you are not okay." She paused noticing my gestures of denial. "Shona now don't act as if you don't know what I'm talking about. Beta, it's your first wedding anniversary, and I know being in this situation right now is very difficult. But you are my strong girl! You've handled yourself really well and taken responsibilities for your family. I'm really proud of you for that. But Shona, being strong doesn't mean you can't cry or feel heartbroken. It's okay! You can talk to me about it. You told me that I'm a very cool mother and I'm like your friend right. So, won't you share your feelings with me?"
The tears I tired to suppress, finally flowed as I crumbled into her embrace. I talked amidst muffled cries "Maa It's my f-fir- first anniversary but– D-Dev is not with me anymore. He is no longer my husband. He is no longer my friend he is n-no-one to me maa. The main reason why all the problems started was because of my medical condition. But I'm pregnant now and he's not with me to be happy about this. In fact, he doesn't even know about this and it's killing me. How can I celebrate the new life growing inside me when the person I loved the most is no longer with me?  and he doesn't even know about this. He has all the rights on our child. I wanted to tell him the news the same day but I couldn't maa. I just couldn't talk to him or bring myself to send him a message. And What makes me more worried is that Dev doesn't even have a friend to share his feelings with. I was his only friend and I'm out of his life now. There's no one for him maa! I failed as a wife and I failed as a daughter!! Because of me you and baba had to face so many things. You both were disrespected and insulted all because of me!  I'm really sorry I let you down. I'm r-e--really s-s-sorry maa" 
I cried uncontrollably while she patiently listened and comforted me. 
Once my sobs subsided, she took my hands in hers and gave them a reassuring squeeze 
"You haven't let us down beta. You have always made us proud. Don't say that you've failed as a daughter! Beta, you've been the best daughter and the best sister. I sincerely mean it. And soon, you will be a mother. Trust me, you're going to be a wonderful one!"