When Love Paused

16th May 2026

"When did this happen?" cried Ankita to a terrified Ankit. When he turned, he saw a never-before-seen version of her wife.
Eyes blood red, as if blood flows out of them instead of tears, those tired eyes hadn't slept for months.

"Where is all that love, Ankit? The one that you promised me when you proposed to me? This definitely was the life I signed up for, neither is it the one you planned for both of us. Then? Where are we? Where is love? What are we chasing? And for whom? At what cost?" The train of words and thoughts did not stop for Ankita.

He felt helpless. Because he himself did not realise when the responsibilities and daily chores took over the love, he paused and stole time to think about what Ankita just expressed. And, she was not totally wrong.

Forgetting birthdays and anniversaries, missing family functions and get-togethers, not being able to keep up with the typical in-laws' expectations, not making their first morning tea, not being able to cook authentic home-cooked meals for them, any of this was not new for them, although it was not formally communicated. But everyone in the family had an idea about Ankita, her passion towards her work, which she never compromised, come what may. She wrapped up and cracked a collaborative project with a big brand before she reached her wedding venue. And today, they both were sharing the bench of the family court, divided by separation papers.



Before they entered the room to hear the final verdict, Ankita, the stubborn and deeply in love girl, asked her partner, "Did we damage it beyond repair?" And Ankit, who occasionally stole eyes and looked around to avoid witnessing the pain in the eyes of the love of his life, even tougher for him to remember that he was the reason for it. "I don't know", he replied, running his palms cluelessly. "I have seen my parents fight, but I never saw them quit. And I am willing to give this relationship a second chance. That's what families are for, right? If we keep cutting relations, we will all be left alone. Can we try to work on it together? I will divide my passion towards my venture, you reduce your expectations of me, let us meet in the middle of the bridge, and cross the rest of it together. No daily fights, just little adjustments and compromises every day, what say?"
Ankit was speechless; only the grip of his embrace was a hint of his reply to her. In the next moment, pieces of the signed documents were flying in the air, diluted in the love that the couple had grown in building for years.

This post is a part of The 'Fam Jam Blog Hop' hosted by Sukaina Majeed and Manali Desai under #EveryConversationMatters.