"Do you ever feel the need to think before you speak?"
As soon as Swapnil threw open the door to Sameer's cabin, Sameer knew he was going to have to do a lot of explaining.
"I'm the one who doesn't think? You should understand something - you should've told me everything before Meera did. Hearing it from you would've made all the difference," Sameer fired back.
"You got married, and you didn't think that was important enough to tell me? You kissed her, and even that didn't seem worth sharing? What's next? You'll have kids and not think it's worth mentioning either?"
"You're dragging this too far! Nothing happened between us the way she's making it sound!" Swapnil snapped.
"And how do you know she told me anything?" Sameer asked sharply.
"Because I know you well. But I'm beginning to understand her too now. I'm sure she must have twisted things before telling you."
"And even if she did?" Sameer challenged. "Do you think I'd blindly believe her? I know you too, Swapnil."
"And yeah - sorry, for that thing it slipped out of my mouth. But even that's your fault. If you had just told me everything from the beginning, none of this would've happened."
"If I had told you, things would've gotten worse. Do you really believe I married her out of my own will?"
"I know you didn't marry her by choice," Sameer said, his voice calm but firm. "No matter what Meera claims, I told you - I know you. I got the truth out of her myself."
Swapnil froze for a second. He moved to the seat across from Sameer and sat down.
"She really told you everything?"
"Yes. Everything. All that happened over there. Sure, at first she hesitated. But eventually, I got it all out of her," Sameer replied.
Swapnil leaned forward, eyes searching Sameer's face. "Then tell me - why did she agree to the marriage?"
"To save her life," Sameer said. "Just like you did. And who doesn't value their life? If I were in her place, I'd have done the same - even if it meant going through with a second marriage. In fact…" he nodded to himself, "I would have done it."
"That's not what I'm talking about." Swapnil's irritation was evident. "I know the Andaman wedding happened to save our lives. But I gave you one job - to find out why she wants to stay in this relationship. She's trying to bind me to her. I even asked her directly, and she threw some emotional crap at me and trapped me right there. But I'm sure - there's more behind this marriage than what she's letting on."
"What kind of emotional stuff?" Sameer asked, intrigued.
"Answer my question first," Swapnil replied curtly.
"She didn't try any emotional tricks with me. Heck, she didn't even tell me about the kiss - that part I just learned from you." Sameer gave him a pointed look. Swapnil exhaled and turned his head away, knowing full well he was about to get an earful about that.
"Yes, I tried asking her in the beginning why she wants to hold on to the marriage, but she changed the subject. And then when she told me about the Andaman incident, I completely forgot to press further." Sameer ran a hand through his hair, exasperated with himself.
"Oh great," Swapnil scoffed. "So the one thing I asked you to do - you didn't - and you had every other conversation around it."
"I said I'm sorry!" Sameer threw up his hands. "And again - if you had just told me everything from the start, none of this would have spiraled like it did."
He paused, then softened. "But listen… Meera's a good girl. And if she said anything emotional to you, I'm sure she meant it. I think you're overthinking her actions. Maybe even misunderstanding her."
"I'm not misunderstanding her," Swapnil said, his voice heavy. "But something feels off. Yes, what she said to me might be true - but I don't trust it completely. She didn't tell me the whole truth. Only half of it."
He looked Sameer in the eye. "The way she seems innocent…"
"Is more than innocent?" Sameer interjected with a smirk.
"She's not as innocent as she appears," Swapnil said coldly. "She knows how to handle herself. She doesn't need you, me, or even her father to manage her life. I just want the real truth. And I'll get it out of her, no matter what. I won't be at peace until then."
Sameer sat back, falling deep into thought.
Could Swapnil be right? He might be… or maybe not. Meera did seem innocent - but it was true that she could take care of herself. She was efficient at work, which is why she had survived in Swapnil's department. She'd figured out how to deal with his temper - even when she made mistakes.
And Swapnil - Sameer had noticed the changes in him too. For the first time, someone was actually getting under his skin.
Why was Meera so carefree, so unpredictable - like a puzzle that Swapnil just couldn't solve?
Then, Sameer looked at him and asked,
"Can I ask you something?"
Swapnil nodded.
"Why do you think about her so much? If you don't want to stay married, then just end it. It's not like she's blackmailing you or forcing you to stay. Why get so tangled in someone you don't even want to be with?"