In the lives of Mr. & Mrs. Saxena Sequel to The Love Game Season 3 Episode: 7

Dreaming of better days

She saw her reflection in the mirror

Worried was not her face

But she found the light in her soul diminished

“Carry on,” she heard herself say

Now scared was her reflection as she turned around with zeal and zest

“Jahnvi, are you there? Listen to me.” Dr. Tripti repeated herself with concern over how Jahnvi would react. Now Jahnvi was completely in a state of awareness. She was scared to death for her well being but with immense strength she replied, “Dr, I hear you. Yes, I am here. I am really scared for myself right now, but I want to hear your advice as to what I should do now.”

“Okay, so when Prantik said you hate stability, it shook you completely and brought back memories of the depression you faced in his absence. Lately, you’ve gone back to being how you were without him for over a year. You get intimidated by stability. When Prantik wasn’t paying attention again, you became insecure and that’s when you started feeling lonely again. This is completely normal. There is nothing wrong with the way you’ve been feeling. But now you have to come to terms with the fact that since you are afraid to come to terms with the meaning of the term stability, you have to face it right on, in fact. Challenge your relationship with Prantik without backing out or caving in a shell. If the stability is without him spending so much time with you then come to terms with regularity in marriage.”

“I get what you’re saying doctor. Let me internalize the situation and get back to you tomorrow.” Jahnvi replied firmly. “And just one more thing, has Prantik gotten in touch with you about me recently?”

Dr. Tripti didn’t want to give away client confidentiality, but she knew it was important for Jahnvi to know her husband was aware of her state of mind lately. “Yes. He called to inquire about how you’ve been doing recently.”

Jahnvi fencing on rage, replied calmly. She said, “Thank you Dr. Let me call you back. And I’ll be fine so don’t worry about me. Thank you.”

Jahnvi was furious with her husband! Why did he call Dr. Tripti without telling her? She didn’t want his pity! So that’s why off late he’d been coming home early and last night’s dinner that she thought was a going away feather in a book was actually him pitying her! He didn’t even confront her about their situation they were going through!

Jahnvi counted hundred silently with OM mantra playing on the stereo in the room. She had a quick shower. It was 4 pm. Got dressed in casual joggers and a loose T-shirt, knotted her hair in a bun and called out to Neetu, “Neetu, get me a cup of tea please.”

While her tea was getting ready, she sat at her favorite spot on the couch in the living room. She then had some tea and didn’t give in to her craving for a smoke. She wasn’t a smoker and one thing she immediately knew after talking to Dr, was that she was no damsel in distress. She wouldn’t let her past interfere with her present. She was a different person now. She was married and had a blessed life.

Stretching on the sofa, she introspected her situation. It had always worked for her. She thought, “Okay Jahnvi, you’re in shock. Okay wait. You were in a state of shock until now. Now you know that you can’t come to terms with stability or regularity of any sort. But wait, you only got that disruptive feeling in the absence of Prantik spending time with you. You love him a lot so you always want to spend time with him. But that’s not possible. He has a full-fledged career unlike your chilled out job for the last seven years of writing daintily from home. So you have a lot of free time for yourself. He doesn’t. How life was headed couple of weeks ago was stability for Prantik. Maybe he thought they had matured. You didn’t think that way. You wanted his time. But that’s not always possible. So now accept this truth bomb and get back on your feet!”

Jahnvi was calm now but she laid back on the couch for some more time idly and then it came to her. She had a hunch about something so she brought her phone out and pinged this guy called Sid.

Hey Sid, sup!

Prantik was busy navigating between conference calls and meetings with the board of directors of the company. They were looking to attract stakes from bigger shareholders to invest in better software provisions for app building for junior employees. He just hung up on Raylon who asked him to look over the figures in the proposal once again when his phone pinged. It was Jahnvi. He stopped work and replied calmly, “Hey doll, sup. I’m kinda busy at work should I ping you later?”

Jahnvi was now so close to being sure about her hunch she used a trick. She said, “Sure Sid. But I have been thinking something.”

All antennas up, Prantik promptly replied without thinking, “Oh my God!”

And then Jahnvi knew that Sid was in fact her husband! It was his patent reaction to whenever she told him something was on her mind.

She said furiously but calmly, “Welcome to Tinder Prantik. See you at home.”

Prantik read the ping at once and he knew he had music to face at home. Resignedly, but with dedication, he first completed his work and at 7:30 pm, he left from office to return home. He dreaded the scene that would take place at home in an hour.

Prantik returned home and saw Jahnvi sitting upright on the couch. All eyes on him. Neetu was so scared with the angry vibrations at home, she literally ran into her room after answering the door.

“You’re on Tinder!” Jahnvi said furiously.

Prantik had had just about enough of his wife’s tantrums. He said evenly, “You’re on Tinder!”

Jahnvi felt her guard down and fumbled a little with no excuse of being on Tinder. She said, “Well, well I was on Tinder because you were busy neglecting our marriage.”

Prantik bargained some time and said angrily, “So that gave you motive to talk to guys randomly?”

Jahnvi was caught between the devil and the deep sea and said calmly, “You obviously checked my phone to find out what I was up to lately. Why so sneaky, husband?”  

Prantik hadn’t even changed into anything comfortable. He didn’t know how to avert this argument. He was worried about Jahn’s health but at the same time he was responsible for sneaking into her phone. He said without thinking, “Because I was scared for you. I was scared you were acting hastily lately.”

“And that was because of whom?” Jahnvi asked challenging her husband.

“Jahn listen, let’s not fight. Let me explain.” Prantik moved towards his wife and with a swift dive, he picked her up and took her to their room.

 

 

In the Lives of Mr. & Mrs. Saxena Sequel to The Love Game Season 3 Episode: 5

 

After three days

Sid: Hi

Jahnvi: Hey

Sid: What’s happening?

Jahnvi: Just chilling. Smoking a cigarette. No one’s at home so I can sneak one right now.

Sid: I see. Your profile says you’re married. Why are you on Tinder?

Jahnvi: Yes, I am married. But something happened a few weeks ago and then I don’t know, I just got back on Tinder and have been chatting with random people ever since.

Sid: Does your husband know you’re on Tinder?

Jahnvi: No way. I don’t want to hurt him. Besides, he wouldn’t care even if he knew. He’s always busy since a year or more.

Sid: Why? Why do you think he won’t care if he comes to know you’re on Tinder? Doesn’t he love you?

Jahnvi: He does. We love each other a lot. But he has become very monotonous. It’s just work, eat, sleep for him. He doesn’t spend time with me anymore.

Sid: I see. So are you here to have a fling or an affair or something?

Jahnvi: Lol! No way! Just to chat randomly, throughout the day, with people that don’t know me. You see, when that happens, it’s another level of excitement in talking to them. And you don’t even need to include them in any way in your life so there’s no question of commitment or stability.

Sid: Acha. Do you love your husband?

Jahnvi: Yes. He’s my boo forever. It’s just that I’m going through a certain change in life right now after my husband said I hate stability. Honestly, it had never occurred to me that I hate stability. But after he mentioned it as a matter of fact in an argument, something strange happened to me and now I am here. I was just missing my husband lately. All I wanted was to have him for me but he’s always busy so ya.

Sid: Get it. Cool, so have you finished smoking?

Jahnvi: Yea. You seem to be very interested in my marital life by the way ha Sid.

Sid: Lol! Anyway, gotta go. Cacha later.

Prantik had completely panicked after finding out his wife was on Tinder! He thought she was cheating on him. But he couldn’t understand why! He decided to find out. It was a risk, but he had to do this. He made a fake profile with the name Sid on Tinder, paid gold membership for it and found Jahnvi on his list. He swiped right immediately. He then just waited for the match to happen. He wouldn’t be able to do much if Jahnvi didn’t swipe right on him. But he got lucky that day in the evening.

Prantik was in office. It had been two weeks since his argument with his wife and he was rendered literally useless with work. Thank God, he was at a position in office to schedule meetings when he felt like. Most of the days, he’d just think about what Jahnvi must be doing on Tinder, who she must be talking to and what!

So when he got a notification from Tinder that Jahnvi and Sid was a match, he clapped his hands and decided to find out what his wife had been thinking. What the hell was going on in her head! After this conversation with her, he just wanted to die. All she wanted was his time! And he had completely neglected her because of work.  Jahn didn’t want to cheat on him or anything, she didn’t even know she was in a state of shock, she just didn’t want to come to terms with the term ‘Stability’ and so she was distracting herself from reality by chatting randomly on Tinder. But, she had started smoking again! “Okay Prantik, this is serious! Jahn can’t go back!” Prantik said out loud behind closed doors of his cabin.

Jahnvi on the other hand was still in her night robe, lighting another cigarette, listening to music, swiping right on another potential match. Resting in bed, she was now completely over the fact that she was wasting days without writing or doing anything productive for that matter. This Tinder chatting was helping her cope with the fact that Prantik wasn’t spending time with her. And then she typed a “Hi” to a match who was interested in hiking.

Neetu had returned back from the market and honestly she was very worried about the lady of the house. She tentatively knocked her madam’s door. Neetu had seen what was happening between her boss and madam lately and she was concerned. Besides, madam didn’t seem like her usual self. “Yes Neetu?” “Madam, What to cook today?” “Anything you like. Okay now bye.” Neetu then called her boss. “Saab madam kamre se bhar hi nahi nikli hain aaj. I am worried. Khaana toh woh roz recommend karti hain but aaj kal jo mujhe pakaana ho.”

Prantik answered Neetu’s call immediately and heard what she had to say. He then said, “Madam ko disturb mat karna. Thanks Neetu.”

Prantik then called Dr. Tripti. After a few rings Dr. replied. She said, “Hi Prantik. How is Jahnvi now?”

Prantik, “Umm Dr. that’s why I called. You told me a few days ago to call you the next day after our conversation on Jahn’s suggestive shock state but I was really disturbed by the turn of events overnight that I wasn’t in a state of mind to call you.”

Dr. Tripti, “What happened?”

Prantik: She got back on Tinder. I made a fake profile and talked to her. She is basically hiding behind Tinder to face reality. Besides, this began when I wasn’t able to spend time with her. Now she’s just in our room all day and chatting to escape me, us. And Dr, she has started smoking again.

Dr Tripti: Prantik, hear me out – Jahnvi is in a state of shock. She is repeating the same lifestyle she had without you. She finds peace in being lost right now. Please spend time with her and confront her about how you both feel. If that happens, she will come back. But that won’t be a permanent solution since you have work commitments for life and there will be days even months you again won’t be able to spend time with her. She somehow needs to understand on her own, with your love and care that you’re there for her and this is a successful marriage and yes, stability is sometimes monotonous. She needs to understand that external excitement is temporary.

Prantik felt completely dejected but said, “Roger that Doc. Thank you.”

It was 6 pm. Prantik promptly left work on time and at 8:30pm he was home. He was low but managed to put up a high spirit when Neetu answered the door. She motioned to him that madam was in the bedroom. He smiled and walked towards their room. He knocked. “Yes Neetu?” “Jahn open up, it’s me.”

Jahnvi flew from the bed and ran to unlatch the door. She was genuinely happy to have her husband home so early. Happily, still in her night robe, she said, “Boo you’re home early! Isn’t that awesome?”

Prantik took Jahn in his arms and they both fell on the bed. Sitting on top of her husband she nuzzled him in the neck. Prantik was getting turned on. “Now’s not the time,” Prantik thought sadly and turned sideways. Jahn fell on her right ride and with one hand supporting her head, faced him. He said, “Babe, about the vacation, we’re having one this year. Don’t worry about anything. I was just getting back at you the other day.” Jahnvi thought of her plan, ready to execute in two months and said evasively, “Umm cool.”

She then shifted on her side of the bed and was on her phone again. She messaged Sid. Prantik’s phone buzzed that minute. He grabbed the phone and sitting on the same bed as his wife, resting his head on the head stand, he replied, “Hi. What’s up Jahnvi.”

Jahnvi felt a little strange that minute talking to this guy called Sid. She noticed boo who was, she was sure, planning his work schedule for the next day on his phone calendar. A little assured, she messaged Sid back, “Nothing much. Getting bored.”

Prantik looked at Jahnvi and then replied, “ Oh okay, what do you wanna do?”

Jahnvi: I will do something in two months. Until then I’ll just chill I guess.

Now Prantik panicked again. He replied, “Oh really what’s on your mind?”

Jahnvi: I am running away to the US to write a book without telling my husband. Serves him right!

Prantik laughed out loud. Jahnvi looked at him suspiciously. After all she knew Prantik and he was capable of a lot of Jhols. But it didn’t occur to her that her husband was Sid so she continued to chat with him.

Sid: Oh so you’re gonna be gone for how long?

Jahnvi: A year or six months mostly. Depends, I need to be by myself and take a vacation without boo so ya. I need to know if we work out even with my absence in his busy life.

Prantik wanted to reach her side of the bed and grab her and kiss her so bad. His Jahn was such a kid! But she was getting worried about his wife’s escape to the US without telling him. How would Jahn stay alone? Was her trip well planned? Had she booked a safe AirBNB for herself?

Sid: That sounds like an adventure. Have fun!

With that Prantik logged out and thought out loud, “What goes around comes around.” He deserted Jahn a few years ago and now she was going to desert him. He would call their travel agent and get all the details about Jahn’s travel plans from him tomorrow. He had to make sure his wife's adventure was well planned and most of all safe. 

He got up from the bed and said lovingly, “Jahn, it’s just 10 pm, you wanna go out to dinner right now?”

Jahnvi jumped from the bed happily and said, “Yes boo, yes! Sushi okay?” Jahn then hung onto Prantik in his arms and stared at him with pure love before she got dressed to have a night out with boo after so long!