Constipated Love

By Vandana Panchal

Marriage is a partnership without any profit or loss. There is an invisible division of work in marriage, depending upon the gender.



Aadya and Ishan, a married couple. Both are working but only one is getting paid. The other one is not getting paid and no appreciation. Until one day, Aadya demands money for each and every work she does. How does this one step change their life? How is their relationship is affected when Aadya pays Ishan for sex? How do they survive with and without each other at the same time?

An uncommon story of a common couple.

• Language: English
• Publisher: BlueRose Publishers
• Release date: Sep 24, 2021
• ISBN: 9789354724817

Book preview

1

It was almost eleven o’clock at night. After winding up daily chores, Aadya laid down in her bed. Her tired body wanted to doze off as soon as possible but her tired mind was not allowing her to do so. She laid down on bed, watching the speed of the fan and went off to sleep in two minutes.

Just then a hand came and held her from the shoulder. Aadya was too deep in her sleep to be woken up by anyone.

Aadya. She was not fully woken up but she can hear her name in a slow tone. Aadya. She took the hand and wrapped it around her waist. Ishan, please not today. Let me sleep. She said half in her sleep, half in her senses.

Where is my underwear? She tried to slowly turn around as she heard that whisper.

Where is my underwear? Ishan asked her by holding her waist.

What? She took Ishan’s hand from her waist and freed herself from his hand’s grip.

Ishan, it' eleven yaar. All your underwear is in your wardrobe drawer. Aadya said with an irritated tone. She wanted to scream but she could not as her son Somil was sleeping beside her.

But red underwear is not there. Ishan told her by showing all the other five underwear he had in his hand.

Why, what’s wrong with these? She asked angrily.

I am wearing red track pants so I want my red underwear. Ishan said with seriousness.

Are you Spiderman! Going out to save someone’s life. Aadya’s tone was very irritated now.

No, I am superman married to superwoman. Ishan said to please her.

I am tired Ishan, let me sleep. Tomorrow I will search for your undies. Better you sleep without wearing one. Aadya said carelessly.

What, you know na, how much I am particular about my undies. And why are you not keeping them in one place? Always I have to search for them. Now Ishan’s tone was going up.

Hey Bhagwan Finally Aadya woke up and got up from her bed.

She searched for Ishan’s red underwear in his drawer and then in another drawer. She found red underwear and threw it on Ishan’s face.

Go and stuff your mouth with this. Aadya muttered.

What Ishan could not hear her properly.

I said wear it on your track pants and fly like Spiderman. Aadya went and sat on bed. She switched off the night lamp.

Once Somil will get married I am going to give this man divorce. She said to herself.

2

Aadya waved bye and threw flying kisses at Somil as his school bus was going near the exit gate of her complex. She came back home and sat on a sofa in a completely relaxed mood. After all, she had got up at 5:30 in the morning and her body needed a break. She took a newspaper and as she turned the second page of the newspaper, she saw an article with a tagline.

‘How do you know when your marriage is falling apart.’

She saw a couple’s photo below that tagline with their backs towards each other and faces full of agony, bitterness and anger. Then she saw her own photo kept on the dining table.

Aadya and Ishan posing in the same posture. The only difference was their expression.

They were laughing, enjoying themselves and looked very much in love in that photo. She took that photo in her hand and kept looking at it for some more time. Then she took a deep breath and kept that photo on the dining table. Sarcasm flashed on her face as she kept looking at that photo.

Her mobile rang.

Hi Tanvi.

Hi Aadya, coming to the gym?

Yes yes, I will be there in 5 minutes.

She took her yoga bag, napkin and water bottle. As she was entering the gym center’s staircase, she saw Malini playing with her son. Aadya went towards Malini and they exchanged smiles.

Hi Ritesh, give me one kiss. Aadya said as she bent forward to receive a kiss from Malini’s 3-year-old son.

Malini looked as if she was taken aback. She picked up her child and rushed towards the gym' child care center.

Aadya stood there wondering what she had done wrong! She went inside the gym room.

Tanvi was already there lifting very heavy weights.

Wow, 40 kg Aadya said, looking at the weight and admiring it. Aadya started her warm up exercises.

In between, the same time Aadya’s two neighbours entered. Aadya exchanged a very cold smile with them and she continued doing her warm up exercises.

As her neighbors were going away, she heard them giggling and saying, Saw her legs, no waxing. We can tie braids.

Aadya heard this and looked at her legs. She can see sparse hair here and there on her legs. Their comment made her so angry that she went towards them.

She pointed towards her underarm and private parts and said, I have hair here too. Do you want to tie braids? Both ladies were taken aback by the sudden blow from Aadya. They just kept mum and quietly went off. Tanvi came rushing towards Aadya.

Are you okay? She asked concernedly. Aadya said nothing and kept looking down.

Tanvi held Aadya’s hand and they went into the changing room. What’s wrong? Tanvi asked.

Nothing yaar. Aadya said while taking a sip from her water bottle.

Then why did you react like that? You know, how are they! Tanvi said as she was pointing towards Aadya’s neighbors.

I think my tolerance level is going down.

Sit, tell me exactly what happened? They both sat on a bench.

I am frustrated. Look, I am sitting at home, not working. My mind is preoccupied with cooking, cleaning and dusting. I can’t think beyond that. I was topper in my college. I can’t be sitting like this. I should get some life. Like others, I even want to go out and work, party with my friends. But I am stuck at home. Look at my legs, I don’t even have time to wax them. I think they were right. I should tie braids on my legs. Aadya broke down and tears rolled down from her eyes.

Aadya come on, babe. You are so strong. Don’t cry. It’s just a matter of time. Once Somil is big enough you will definitely be back to your work. Tanvi said as she held Aadya’s hand.

But right now I am feeling useless. Aadya said.

Yes it' quite obvious, I mean see how this goes. It’s not just you Aadya, we all go through this. We marry, we have kids. Everyone takes a break. I took and then once everything was in place I got back to my work. Of course even at that time I felt depressed, angry and useless but then that’s part of life. Once you start working again everything will fall into its place. Tanvi said.

But Tanvi, the desire to do something, the zeal to achieve something is gone. My go and get it, attitude is gone. If today, I could have not left my job then I would have done much better than Ishan. See this man, they all have it so easy. They get a wife, kids, job, promotion all without compromising on things. Aadya said.

Wait, wait, wait who told you this? Once you go to the corporate world you will come to know how people slog their ass there. It’s not easy at all. After all, work is work. Tanvi said firmly.

Yes, but at the end of their work at least they get appreciation, promotion and money. And my job is thankless, whatever I do, everything is thankless. Aadya said blankly.

I never thought you would be thinking that way Aadya. Tanvi fixed her eyes into Aadya’s eyes. You are nurturing a life and that’s Somil. Aadya’s eyes twinkled and she kept listening to her. There is no other work bigger or greater than nurturing a life. You bring one life into this world. To give care and attention to your child, you should feel lucky that at least you are able to do it wholeheartedly. See many women, they don’t have a choice. They are made to leave their children and do their work. You should feel lucky that at least you don’t have the need to go out and earn. You are there for your son. You saw his first walk, his first talk. These moments are priceless. Only a few get a chance to witness them and you are the one who got it. Are you still feeling useless!

Aadya kept on looking at Tanvi. After a few moments of silence, her face widened with a smile.

No, not now. I am feeling better now. Tanvi’s words had a great impact on Aadya’s mind. She was feeling as light as a feather after talking to Tanvi.

I have to make a move now. I have a new case of divorce. Tanvi said while packing her gym bag.

Wow, enjoy. Aadya paused. Will you fight for me Tanvi?

I hope you never be in that situation. Tanvi said and waved bye.

Really, I should! Aadya looked at Tanvi going away.

3

Aadya tried to keep it completely silent. She controlled her breathing rhythm. Her breath stopped for few seconds when she lifted Somil’s head from her hand and kept it on a pillow. She cushioned Somil’s back with more pillow just to make him believe that his mother is sleeping besides him.

Aadya’s bedroom was half dark and half-lighted with little street light coming from the road. She laid down on the bed and aimlessly watched at the ceiling. For more than five minutes she kept looking at the ceiling and then she closed her eyes.

She felt relaxed. Her overworked body and mind were craving for some relaxation. Whole day endlessly doing daily chores has taken its toll on her body, her brain, her beauty and her thoughts.

She desperately wanted to sleep but her mind warned her not to do so as there was some pending work to be done in the kitchen. She tried to keep her eyes open but somehow, she dozed off.

Doorbell rang. Aadya was in deep sleep. Again the doorbell rang. Someone has shaken her up vigorously, her mind woke her up. She tried to get up as quickly as possible, to avoid one more irritating doorbell which could wake Somil from his sleep.

Don’t you have keys? In her mind unconsciously she actually wanted to scream, IDIOT, don’t you have a brain?

Ishan was standing in front of the door and without giving any answer he entered the house. Aadya locked the safety door and she slowly shut the main door.

Ishan came into the living room. He sat on the sofa. As he was just about to keep his laptop bag on the center table, he stopped. He ran his index finger on the center table glass. Then he looked at the dirt on his finger. Then he made a heart shape with an arrow passing through it on the thin layer of dust on glass. His half smile said a thousand words.

Aadya saw that and without saying anything she came with a dusting cloth and gave dusting cloth to Ishan. Ishan stood there holding the dusting cloth. Ishan looked at her questionably as his expression was saying, Really, I mean really you want me to do this!

Manju didn’t come today? he asked.

She comes every day. Aadya replied calmly.

I think she forgot to clean this table. Ishan said while cleaning the center table with dusting cloth.

Dusting is not her job. She charges extra money to do dusting.

So? Ishan was still in search of a justified answer.

I did dusting in the morning. Maybe dust came from the construction site opposite our house. Full day breaking work is going on, so maybe. Aadya was too tired to give any more justification. She wanted to go and sleep as quickly as possible. She was too tired to have any more arguments with Ishan.

Somil slept? Ishan asked while removing his shoes.

Yes. Aadya said.

Ishan went to Somil’s room. Somil was sleeping. Ishan bent down and tried to give a peck on his cheek. Suddenly mosquito came out from Somil’s hair.

Ishan took a newspaper to kill that mosquito but he was unable to see it in the dim light so he switched on the main light of the room.

What are you doing! Are you nuts? Aadya asked irritatingly.

Phatak…. One mosquito.

Phatak…. second mosquito.

Phatak…. Third mosquito.

Blood came oozing out from the third big fat mosquito whose size doubled by drinking gallons of blood. Ishan thought there would be more mosquitoes hiding in the room so he kept flapping newspapers at the window and curtain. And while flapping the newspaper he acted like Nana Patekar and said Ek machhar, ek machhar sala aadmi ko hijda bana deta hai.

Aur pagal bhi bana deta hai. Aadya looked at Ishan surprisingly. This was not the time to enact like a movie star. She didn’t find this situation funny at all. Though Ishan did that to improve her mood. As Aadya was just about to switch off the main light of the bedroom Ishan stopped her by his hand’s gesture.

Suddenly Ishan saw Somil’s dirty feet. Somil come, your feet are so dirty. We will wash them. They are spoiling the bedsheet. Ishan said.

Aadya was in shock. For the past two hours she was trying to put Somil to sleep and now when he is sleeping peacefully Ishan wants to wake him. She cannot believe that’s happening. Aadya came running towards Ishan and stopped him from lifting Somil from the bed.

See his feet are so dirty! Ishan said pointing towards Somil’s feet.

So what? Aadya said carelessly.

So what Aadya! you could have made him clean his feet before sleeping. Ishan said.

He was very sleepy. Aadya said firmly. I forgot. I mean I didn’t see his dirty feet. Aadya wanted to close this discussion.

Now you saw, so ask Somil to get up and wash his feet. Ishan demanded.

You are behaving like psycho Ishan! Somu is deep into his sleep. He can wash his feet tomorrow morning. Aadya said firmly.

No, this is not done. It is not discipline. Ishan said.

Ishan, have you put your socks in the washing machine? No…. So when you are not doing things properly, how can you expect others to do it! Aadya gave a little push to Ishan from behind, Ishan go from here and let him sleep. Don’t behave like a devil.

Waah, psycho, devil… Now do my naming ceremony.

Aadya was not saying anything.

You are spoiling him. Ishan shook his head.

Okay, then. Let it be. Aadya said.

Ishan was not believing that his wife finds it okay to spoil the child.

Do whatever you want to do. He went out of the bedroom and Aadya switched off the bedroom lights.

Ishan went and sat on the dining table. Aadya came with a plate. She placed four idlis, a bowl of sambar and chutney on his plate.

This is breakfast or dinner? How many times have I told you I don’t like idlis for dinner? Ishan was pouring his frustration of dirty feet on