The confidential letters

"Marrying you was my biggest mistake." Sandeep wanted to close the argument with his fiery sentence as he was already getting late for office. Shilpa did not allow that to happen," Oh yes! Definitely! Was it I who proposed YOU?" she said in a harsh tone. Sandeep briskly pulled his bag from sofa and rushed out without even bothering to answer her.
This did not happen just today. It had become the routine for them. A deserted Shilpa felt lonely and shattered. She could not even contact her parents because they were already annoyed at her love marriage. Sandeep was no happy either. Everyday he would return home with a 'somehow repaired' mood but situation turned adverse.
When the struggling 'present' becomes insecure, the alluring 'past' provides refuge. Thus, after Sandeep was gone Shilpa sailed herself into the memories of college. She admired a guy in her college life but never told this to anyone, not even Sandeep. He was so caring and gracious. As the thoughts began to hypnotise her she picked up her phone, opened her mail account and began typing ...................a mail to him.
"Dear Sandeep..."
Shocked? No! He was no namesake of her husband, he was her husband himself. Sandeep had changed a lot and this was creating all problems. He had began forgetting anniversaries, gifts, shopping, movies etc. But that was not the real problem. The real problem lay in the weakening connection that was evident through not reciprocating a smile, not hearing the unsaid, not looking into eyes with intense affection and many more.
She thought that she would complaint the old Sandeep about the new Sandeep and thus wrote forward.
"Dear Sandeep,
Hope you are fine.Three years ago, I heard of you getting married and had thought never to write to you then, but the hell like situation of my married life has compelled me to take this step. I had liked your simple nature and graceful behaviour always. You were handsome too. I always wished if I could spend all my life with you. I mean.... I mean.... I liked you.... I mean... Are you getting what I m trying to say?" Shilpa could not control the overflowing nostalgia,"But I know that you must be very satisfied with your life as you could marry the girl you loved, you proposed.
My life on the other hand has become a hell. No! Not because of domestic violence but because of unbearable silence. The charm has been lost. He comes home with hefty arrears of work and has no time for a few minutes chat even. He does not even look at me with affection, forget about compliments.
This mail is not for any wrong purpose. I just wanted a little advice from you as to how can I get this fixed. You are free not to reply to this mail. But if you reply I will be happy to get into contact with you as a good friend, just a friend.

Yours......"
Here she stopped for a moment and her mind went mischievous.
" I won't write my name. Let us see what reply he sends. Will he even reply?" she thought. And thus the text was copied to a freshly made mail account, the id of which was carefully planned not to indicate name of any girl and sent.
The subject of the mail said,"A confidential letter".
Sandeep was at home when he received the mail, obviously because, Shipa sent it then. The Subject was catchy-"Confidential". He took some time off from work to read the mail. Shilpa was stealthily watching his expressions. His expressions included a doubtful eyebrow followed by a millimeter smile followed by unswallowable gulp and finally a long stoic face. After thinking for a few minutes he began typing something. Shilpa was happy but jealous. With every letter typed, her curiosity increased but she controlled her urge to peep into his laptop. As he got up and went, she thought he has sent the mail and began refreshing her newly created mail screen to get Sandeep's mail but in vain. Meanwhile, Sandeep came back and began typing again. He had gone just to answer a call, nature's call. Shilpa sat quietly again engaging herself in household chores but she was restless.
She made her mind that she would not send him anymore mails when he is at home. It had become so hard for her to hide her expressions that she went to the garden to avoid Sandeep's eyes. But damn it! Moments later she realized that she had forgotten her phone inside. She ran as if Sandeep was just going to dissect her phone, but controlling her speed she walked in a casual gait before Sandeep, picked up her phone and went again to the garden. Thank God! No mail had arrived yet. Few seconds later the small green light blinked in the buzzing phone. Mail had reached- an awaited unwanted mail.
But she swiped off the mail and thought to check it later when Sandeep is not around.
Finally, next day in the morning she could check it. The mail read-
"Hello.....,
Sorry I just could not recognize who you are but your mail makes me feel that you really know me. So, nice hearing from you after so long.
The news of your charmless married life was disappointing. At most what I can do for you is to tell you how my one is so charming. Hope this helps in mending yours.
See, the credit of my married life being so beautiful goes only to my wife. Although it was I who proposed her, she never makes me feel this."
Shilpa was stuck. Each alternate day she would once say, "Did you not know me when you proposed me? Why complaining now?" But he had written something very different. Well,  she continued reading,
"I am the same kind of person as your husband but she handles everything so beautifully. When I come home, she greets me with a big fresh smile on her innocent face. She waits for me to have her lunch so that we get a meal together. Only after lunch, she puts up her neccessities and demands or even complaints. After my nap, I engage myself in arrears of work but she, who did not even have a nap, is always around me to help me in need. We have very less conversation, thanks to my boss who loads their best employees with tonnes of work, but she takes utmost care that every piece of conversation is my energy booster avoiding a single trace of anger. Look friend, a good couple is not the one that doesn't fight,  rather the one that doesn't allow a quarrel to destroy the charm in their life. In my whole life, if I have done even one good work, it is marrying her."
Shilpa was in tears.
"Liar" she thought.
"But so sweet. It was I who unnecessarily created the ruckus everytime. I would take care from today. Hope he understands my feelings. He will. He is so true at heart."
That day, Shilpa felt so light that no amount of work could tire her. She changed the decor for a fresh feeling, readied herself in a pink cream shiphon patiyala.
The door bell rang. Shilpa ran and opened the door with a wide smile. The driver stood just before her," Madam. Sir has said he will be late at office today. You may have your lunch." Shilpa was gravely disappointed but now she had learnt to see the good in all adversities.
"So much work he has to do. But it was so good of him to remember telling me to have lunch on time. So sweet hubby." She thought and asked the driver to wait. She went in brought a pen and paper and wrote down a message and handed it to the driver to give to Sandeep. At the driver's wierd and questioning face she said,"Actually my phone is switched off so I can't send him a text message." Well, that was not the case. She just wanted to try something different.
The driver went and gave it to Sandeep who was still in the car outside his house. Sandeep read it.
"I really am going to kill your boss if I get him. Hehe.... Anyways, I will have my lunch on correct time and my correct time is the time when I am with you. Don't worry I won't lose weight if I fast for few hours. Get your work done. I will be waiting sweetheart. Love you."
Sandeep could not wait more. His wife was far more important than his petty prank.
He ran in finding the door still open and said shouting," I am very hungry Madam. Will I get something to eat." Shilpa came running out of the kitchen, surprised and clung to him. "Where were you?...hmm?" she asked with a naughty frown.
"In your heart" he answered. Both laughed.
"Why this new decor. Something special?" asked Sandeep.
"Hmm. Today is our proposal anniversary." said Shilpa smilingly. Unable to remember Sandeep just nodded in a yes. Shilpa knew that he did not remember because she had lied but she was very happy and excited as well that her secret improvised plan had worked well. She thought that she would never tell Sandeep that it was she who sent the mail. Little did she know that she was late in taking the phone back to garden that day.
That day, after she went to the garden Sandeep sent the mail and Shipa's mobile buzzed to notify mail.
"This can't just be a coincidence" he thought," Oh My God! Did I sent it mistakingly to Shilpa. She is already angry. She would think I'm in some aff....." He ran to delete the mistakingly sent mail from her mobile, but to his surprise the secret unfolded before him. He was happy that his ever quarreling wife loves him still. Still he deleted the mail to sent it again after she takes away her phone, which she would definitely do. " If she wants to keep it a secret, let it remain a secret." he had thought.
That evening, Sandeep and Shilpa sat on the terrace with two big coffee mugs and....... Sandeep's arrears of work.

For all those sweet and inquisitive readers who have a doubt that Sandeep might have changed the matter before sending it to Shilpa, I, as the author, give the assurance that he did not.😇😂