When my wife lay down on my chest while we were sleeping at night, I told her with considerable annoyance,
—"After working all day, I can't even get a peaceful night's sleep because of you."
—"But you know I can't sleep unless I'm in your arms."
–"You don't have to act so innocent! I can't find any peace in anything I do because of you."
–"Fine, but I'll still sleep in your arms."
"Can't you give me freedom even by dying? I can't tolerate this daily torment anymore! Can anyone sleep with such a burden on their chest?"
"I only sleep on your chest at night; I don't bother you at any other time."
"I've never seen such a shameless girl like you."
"My head is hurting, please rub my forehead a little."
Saying this, she took my hand and placed it on her forehead. Even after telling her a thousand times and even resorting to physical force, I haven't been able to change this habit of hers. You must be wondering why I get so annoyed when my wife sleeps on my chest! The truth is, I don't like her anymore. I'm in a relationship with another girl. But I can't tell Mita anything. Mita is my wife's name. I've rarely seen such a shameless girl. Because of her, I can't talk to Kanika much at night. As soon as I come to bed, she clings to me.
।
।
It felt like something very hot was touching my body. I put my hand on Mita's forehead and realized her body was unusually hot; she probably had a fever. Who doesn't like something warm on a cold winter night? I kept my hand pressed against her forehead, not to alleviate her discomfort, but rather hoping that my hand, which had been outside the blanket for so long, would warm up instantly.
I woke up at eight in the morning and saw Mita sleeping on my chest. Touching her, I realized her body was much hotter than it had been during the night. I called out to her several times, but she didn't respond. When I tried to move her from my chest, I noticed she was holding me quite tightly. Still, I went to freshen up. But Mita's condition was steadily worsening, so I took her to the hospital.
The doctor said: "Her condition is very serious; she needs to be admitted to the ICU immediately." But I couldn't spend that much money on her, so I admitted her to the general women's ward.
I went to the office and started chatting with Konika. That girl doesn't seem to understand anything without me. Konika is my office colleague. Her smiling face is bound to attract any man. That's why I've come to her.
The whole day went quite well. In the evening, I came home, freshened up, and went to the dining table. But today, there was nothing cooked on the table that I liked. Mita used to make my favorite light meal every evening. Then she would even feed me with her own hands. After I started a relationship with Konika, one day I told her, "You don't need to feed me anymore. Or are you trying to feed me poison?" Since then, I haven't seen her feed me again. She would just cook and arrange the food on the table.
Today, Mita isn't here, so no one has prepared anything. I went to bed and started talking to Konika. But I don't feel like talking to her right now. I haven't checked on Mita all day. I wonder if she has regained consciousness? Or is she no longer alive? No, no, what am I thinking? It would be better for me and Konika if she were dead. But I can't calm my mind. My stomach is also reminding me that it needs food. But I don't feel like going out now. I absentmindedly said,
—"Mita, are you going to keep me hungry tonight? You're really useless. You didn't even give me lunch today."
Suddenly, I remembered that Mita is in the hospital. Why didn't I check on her? I should go to the hospital in the morning to see how she is! Let me go to sleep now.
But I couldn't find any peace lying down. I couldn't fall asleep at all. Is this happening because Mita isn't here? Maybe I can't sleep without someone beside me. I've developed a bad habit. As the night progressed, I thought about Mita more and more, and my hunger also increased.
I tossed and turned for some time but couldn't sleep. I got up and went to the refrigerator to see if there was any food. I saw two shrimp and last night's curry, along with rice. I took the food and sat down at the table to eat. Suddenly, I remembered that Mita hadn't eaten last night. I had seen her cooking four shrimp. It's good, now I can eat. But I couldn't swallow it. Before, when shrimp was cooked, Mita would sit beside me and meow, meaning she wanted me to feed her. Shrimp was her favorite food.
I put the food down and went inside the room. Suddenly, I felt like someone was lying on my chest, but there was no one there. I really wanted to see Mita. I took out my phone, but there were no pictures of Mita on it. Konika had deleted everything.
I wasn't feeling well, so I headed towards the hospital on my motorbike. I wanted to go and see her. But when I got to the hospital, I learned that they wouldn't let any men into the women's ward at this late hour. Having no other option, I went to the doctor to inquire about her condition.
—"What is the condition of the girl who was admitted this morning?"
—"Her condition is very serious. Her body isn't responding. She can't even tolerate the IV fluids. If she's not kept in the ICU, something bad could happen at any moment."
—"Then arrange for her to be admitted to the ICU."
—"Sorry sir, there are no vacant beds in the ICU right now. You'll have to look elsewhere. There was one bed available, but it was booked this afternoon."
Without saying anything to the doctor, I left. There were no other good hospitals in the city. Taking her elsewhere would take a lot of time and cost a lot of money. I returned home.
But back home, I started thinking about Mita even more. I didn't have money during Konika's birthday. I was very worried, and Mita gave me her necklace and ten thousand taka in cash, saying, "I don't have that much money. You need twenty thousand taka. This might be enough. Don't worry."
I looked at her for a moment. She smiled and said, "It hurts me a lot when you're worried. I don't need these things, you take them." Since the necklace was a gift from her mother, I didn't sell it. I gave it to Konika. I felt tears welling up in the corners of my eyes. Today, after a long time, I'm remembering all the moments I spent with Mita. There was no lack of love in our relationship. Then why did so much distance grow between us? Mita protected me with all her heart, so why did I hurt Mita?
Every day, when I returned from the office, Mita would hug me. One day I told her, "If you want physical intimacy, go into prostitution, but don't bother me so much." From that day onwards, Mita stopped hugging me. The only thing I haven't been able to change, despite trying everything, is her sleeping on my chest at night. She says she can't fall asleep unless she sleeps on my chest. I used to tell her the same thing—that I couldn't sleep unless she slept on my chest. Today I understand that I wasn't lying back then. It's three o'clock in the morning, and I still haven't been able to fall asleep.
As soon as morning broke, I went to the hospital. Today I will put Mita in the ICU, if not here, then somewhere else. I can't spend even one night without Mita. I will apologize for everything I've done. I won't hurt her anymore.
At the hospital, I learned that a girl had died last night. No, it can't be Mita. Mita promised me she wouldn't leave me. She can't live without me. Mita will surely keep her promise. But Mita's lifeless body proved me wrong.
She was sleeping so innocently. I hugged her very tightly. I don't remember the last time I hugged her. I brought my face close to hers and started saying,
— You used to say you can't live without me, so how will you live from today? You know, last night I couldn't sleep without you; I can't sleep without this sack on my body. Who will cook my favorite food for me every day? Who will protect me so much?
I won't hurt you anymore. Look, I'm hugging you and promising that I won't break my word again. You know how I was without you last night. I couldn't even eat! Won't you feed me with your own hands? This time I won't say that you want to kill me by mixing poison. Please say something. I'm very hungry; I didn't eat last night, you know. Your beloved is hungry, and how can you be sleeping so peacefully?
Before, every night my chest would be wet with her tears, but I wouldn't say anything. I wouldn't wipe her tears. Today, her chest is wet with my tears, but she is sleeping silently. Will I really never get her back?