Piya and Piyush were happily married and settled. They were young, had a wonderful apartment, had a lovely baby, and had supportive parents. They were the role models for so many others. People envied them, for their friendly spirit and their fat paycheck.

Do you want to know more? Hang on.

Let's enter Piya’s mind for the time being.

Another Monday Morning: Piya gets up in the morning, and the first thought that strikes her is, Oh No, another monday, another week to drag on, and those loads of deliveries at office. I need to make five credit card payments this week. Why did I ever think of taking more than two credit cards? And God! just think of Piyush, he always ends up having no money. He is always borrowing from me. I am treated like a porter, loads of weight to carry all day long. Why did I ever marry Piyush. He is the most irresponsible man I have ever seen in my life.

All day long Piya continued cursing Piyush. This was a day when she relived her memories. How much she loved Piyush she thought: those carefree days, when they were still studying. She used to adore Piyush. Piyush loved her in his own way. He was not predictable, he displayed his emotions selectively. He had strong family ties and kept on nagging Piya whether she could adjust with her immediate and extended family. Piya used to get frustrated with his nagging. Piyush also had asked for a minimum of five years before he could even think of marrying. Again not a positive point for Piya. They were of the same age, and waiting for five long years would mean she would eventually marry in her late twenties. Piya knew she would wait and had to convince her parents. She was confident that they would surely understand. Days passed, Piyush's behaviour clouded her mind on numerous occasions. Piya fought internally and her love for Piyush eroded her doubts. She shared all her feelings with Piyush, he always listened intently and never judged her comments. Piyush was like a sponge soaking away everything.

Piya completed her professional course and started her career. Piyush was still struggling with his studies. Patience, which was all he needed from Piya. And piya kept on waiting. Piyush got a job and gradually settled down. Piya was happy for him, after all, Piyush never thought of anybody other than Piya. And just when Piya was happy that things were working out another major blow came along. Piyush wanted another 1-2 years before he could marry. Piya could not wait any longer; another 1-2 years meant another round of chiding from her parents. Besides, she did not find any logic behind Piyush's reasoning. He had a decent job, had a salary enough to meet their needs. Piya was even ready to leave her job to join him. Then what was keeping him back. After much heated debates, they finally married.

People commented on how lucky the couple was! Everything was so perfect. Piya questioned herself, is she really happy? Yes, she was, and the next moment, she had a nagging feeling. Is Piyush happy? He seems to be, but he never answers directly to my questions. There is no point asking him about his feelings. He is so detached. Think about it, he did not even stood beside me during the photo session. People had to literally drag him for a photo, and he never came and asked me whether I would care for a drink or some food. Ok, his relatives were there, but I married him, not his relatives. And what about the few days that they were together, before he left the city for his job. Oh yes, he was stationed outside their hometown. Piya would join him later because he was waiting for the family quarter. He hardly ever sat and talked to Piya. He was shy, but he had every right to talk to his wife. Why would somebody bother to think negatively about that? And think of the honeymoon, he nodded off beside Piya in the bus or the car and Piya kept watching the beautiful scenes of Nainital, alone. Piyush even missed the wild boar and deers at the Corbett National Park. The vibrations of a car or bus made him sleepy and he smiled sheepishly when Piya complanined. Piya waited for a hug, for a sweet kiss, for a romantic word. Piyush never cared to understand her. Piya understood, she knew Piyush loved her; he was just not demonstrative enough. He would eventually change. Nothing has changed, a baby, a change of career, a wonderful apartment, everything has happened. People come and take Piya's suggestion. They are awed with the kind of chemistry she shares with her husband. She is so frank and independent. And she always speaks so positively about her husband. Yes, Piya lies, with innovative tales of how her husband loves her, how thoughtful he is, how he automatically understands her needs and gifts her with the diamond ring or the expensive suit that she had craved for and thought of not buying. Piya bought them herself; Piyush hates shopping and seldom accompanies her.

Piya thought pensively, what makes her stay together with Piyush. She still loves her. There is a vacant feeling in her heart, an abysmal aching, which only Piyush can feel up. Nothing will change, she knows yet she waits. Besides what about their child, she should not miss growing up without a father.

Piyush, he is difficult to understand. But, let us try and understand him.

I love Piya, why should I shout from rooftops to let her know that. She is a romantic and I am hardcore practical. Besides, I have done everything to appease her. This decision of buying another apartment was because of Piya. She can leave independently, away from all the interference and bugging of my mother. I love my mother, she is alone, yet I made this decision. Piya never seems to appreciate me. She has a negative comment about everything I do. Just the other day, I wanted to buy her something for her birthday. She likes surprises, and I could never understand what she wanted. So I always try to take her to buy her a gift. OK, it is always not possible to accompany her on her shopping sprees. But let me tell you, she is a good and practical shopper. She ends up having the best deals, good quality shirts and trousers for me. Her taste is refined and elegant. Oh, let me tell you about that event. I took her to a jewellery shop and she liked a bangle. The bangle was 50% over my budget. And I didn't have a credit card. I could not buy her the bangle. She offered her card but my pride did not allow me to use her card. She came out of the shop and complained bitterly. Why do you have to do such things if you don't have the money. The salesman knows me so well and I wonder what he would be thinking. The next day, on her birthday, I wanted to surprise her, and went directly to her office and gifted her an expensive saree. Do you know the saree cost 14000 rupees, and Piya just hated the colour and the design? She made me change the saree and accompanied me so that I don't make another blunder. Well ok, I know she wears a saree once in a bluemoon, but why can't she be happy with my gifts. She thought that buying such a costly saree was a total waste of money, she would have preferred a jewellery, and she thinks it is a good investment. She complains that I don't share my feelings with her. I go and praise her qualities to every single person I can think of. I admire her patience and her love for me. How she has changed me into a better and more confident person. But I despise her anger and frustration. Her anger blows out sometimes and I fail to control her. She is so successful in her career. Do you know she earns more than me, but she has never complained? She has always smoothed away my worries and difficulties. Just the other day she paid my LIC premium and my credit card bills. She complains that I am not careful about my money. I will be, when I will earn more. She makes all the investment decisions, then why should I bother. She likes to take responsibilities and then she complains. It is difficult to understand her. She also told me the other day that we need to meet a marriage counselor. Why do we need a stranger to solve our problems?

A third person?

Perhaps this emotional tug of war goes between each and every couple. But something more happened with Piya and Piyush.

One day, Piya received some forwarded messages from a person. On further investigation she realised that Piyush has developed friendship with a colleague of the opposite sex. They talk to each other often. The mails are mostly Piyush's mails to the girl. He has expressed his love for her through the mails. But he has also acknowledged that he loves his wife and will never leave her. But with her, he is more comfortable, than he is with his wife.

Piya was shocked. Her world was shattered. Why would Piyush want to love somebody else? What did she do to alienate him? She has always loved him, and she has never thought of another person in her life.

Piya immediately met Piyush. She told him everything, but Piyush vehemently denied of all such mails. He just had a hi-hello relation with the girl. She needed his help for a job for his boyfriend. And he has never set his eyes on the mails that Piya showed him. Piya was confused and very much in pain. She did not know what to do?

Piya wants to save her relation; Piyush also is trying to adjust to Piya's demand. The mails and his relation with his colleague are still unexplained. Piya has given him one last chance. Do you think their relation will survive? Do you think that Piyush is honest and speaking the truth? Do you think Piya can forgive Piyush and continue with the relation?