21 Chapter 21

It's the deception that counts. While we do think our romantic relationships are what they seem to be, the truth is that it doesn't always work that way. We want a relationship based on honesty and openness, but deceit is an essential element, especially when it comes to matters of love and romance. Romantic partners, or married couples watch each other for a long time and they know how each other will react in various types of situations. The most important need of a human is to be understood; frustrations arise when someone close to you doesn't understand you. Although telling the truth and being understood is very important in a relationship, deception is also inevitably needed.

Stella was banking on that deception. Her weapon was her secrecy and the lies she had so meticulously built around Rohan. She could visualize the abundance of opportunities with Rohan where she needed to deceive him. And now with Sneha in the picture, she had to deceive her too. Creating and showing this kind of intimacy with Rohan was the foundation leading to important future rewards.

Before Sneha's eyes welled up with tears, she grabbed the plates and took them to the kitchen to wash. She was in no mood to be with Rohan and this was the best excuse she could think of. She heard Rohan closing the bedroom door and thought he might have gone to take his afternoon nap. She immersed herself in cleaning the utensils.

Rohan was disturbed. He knew the repercussions of this incident and wanted to discuss it with Sneha but was too embarrassed to talk to her. He was thinking how to confront her but his mind was troubled by his thoughts. He imagined he was chasing a shadow again and as soon as he would get near it, the shadow would disappear.

He hadn't realized he was dreaming and woke up startled only to find Sneha wasn't in bed and went to find her. He didn't see her anywhere in the apartment and started panicking. 'Where has she gone? Has she left me?

She should have given me the chance to explain.' He looked down with worry, 'Where will she go alone at this hour? It is already nine o'clock, how can she be so irresponsible?

He looked back up with hope, 'What's her mobile number?' and he felt foolish, 'How could I be so dumb as to never get it? With a sense of failure, he wished, 'Please Sneha, be safe.'

His head was pounding fiercely with different thoughts racing through his mind. As soon as he decided to search for her in the nearby locality and was getting ready to step out, he heard the soft jingle of her door keys. He knew it was Sneha and was so relieved he ended up getting annoyed. He stomped into the main room to scold her but after one look, his anger melted away.

"Where did you go? You should have at least left a note… I got worried," he said quietly.

Sneha didn't say a word; she didn't want to speak to him. She just went to the bedroom, changed her dress and went to lie down; she was just too stressed. Her body ached, her muscles were cramped, and she didn't want to lift a finger, she had made her decision.

Rohan followed her in and also didn't say much. He wanted her to rest and decided to speak to her when she felt better. He went and sat on the bed and this time didn't pretend to read a novel. He sat there and kept gazing at Sneha…his beautiful wife who was fast asleep.