His Wife (A Contract Marriage Story) by Heer Mangtani

Chapter 63

Time doesn’t heal. That saying is a lie.

Being surrounded by people doesn’t make grief better. It isn’t a distraction, not if you really love the person you lost. Not when you’ve lost the only remaining member of your family to cancer. Not when you’re contemplating every decision you made wondering if you were wrong to leave him alone after you got married.

When I was in the city after I just got married, I missed him. But it didn’t consume me because I knew he was alive and well and surrounded by people who loved him and I visited him often too.

Now, it consumed me.

He was dead.

“Sophia, sweetheart.” Leila placed her hand on my shoulder, pulling me out of my thoughts. I blinked away the tears before turning back to look at Gabriel’s grandmother, who had been staying here with me since the past six days. Six days.

That’s how long it had been since I lost him.

1 gulped the lump away. “Yes?”

“Are you okay?” She asked. “You’re lost in your thoughts again.”

“Just thinking about him,” I murmur, a breathy whisper.

“I think about him a lot too.” There was sympathy in her eyes I didn’t want, because that’s how every eye in this town eyed me when I stood beside my husband and watched my grandfather’s coffin being buried into the ground in a spot he had picked out not long after he found out he had cancer.

I nodded, trying to smile and fail.

Six days had felt like six months, and they would have been six years if not for Gabriel. He held my hand so tight through every moment because the second he left me, I felt like I would collapse.

The first two days. I couldn’t eat. I would throw up everything I had.

“He was a good man, Sophia. And he raised a good girl.” Her hand reached out to me, and this time I managed to pull a smile even as fake as it was. I and Alister are always here for you. We are your family, okay?”

I nod, the smiling inching forward a little.

“Is there anything he would like us to do? I know he wasn’t very religious, but he spoke very passionately about a few charities. We have made donations there in his name, but if there’s anything else….” her voice fades.

I shook my head. “You’ve done so much. Thank you.”

“Nonsense. Family doesn’t thank each other, and that’s what we are, right?”

1 nod. My grandfather wasn’t very religious, he believed in Jesus in his heart, but that was about it. Nonetheless, we had a prayer meet, a ceremony in the church and the priest did all the necessities. I’ve been going to the church every day, lighting up a candle, but leaving my town and going back to the city doesn’t feel right just yet.

I wasn’t ready to say goodbye to this house, even though I knew would have the keys and I could visit any time. It just would never feel the same as it did earlier, and I wasn’t ready to face that.

the coward’s way, and stayed here after everything was done. And because I did, so did Gabriel, and even his grandparents stayed back. They had known my grandfather for a long time after

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Chapter 63

day he saw him

So had L

read out Grandpa’s will. There are a few documents I have to sign tomorrow, but except that, there’s nothing holding me back

work, but I and Gabriel are here for as long as you want to stay. I like it

her. “I should

and smiles back as I head upstairs and to my room. Gabriel had been

yelled, his eyes flickering to me at the entrance, “You know what? Don’t piss

in long strides. His hands held my shoulders, rubbing

nod. T’m fine,

He glares.

his will to me today. It’s finally settling

chest, engulfing me in his arms.

inherited a house in London,” I tell

know you had a house

we were planning to shift and he was paying mortgage till he died. My Grandpa didn’t understand much of this stuff and I was too young to understand it, but I guess my Dad must’ve done something, because it still got paid off. It’s weird that Grandpa never mentioned this to

you would

a problem, isn’t it?” I look up at

little kiss on my lips and then pulls away. “I

his t-shirt. “I missed

kisses me again and I moan quietly,

I remind him.

e into his arms.

to one side and kissing my neck, and removing the trousers I was wearing as his hand wraps around my

was the first time in the last four days that I had forgotten my grief,

bed, me because I was tired from the less food I had been eating and all the energy that I

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can go home if you want,

leaving

alone, because Leila would

sighs, “Let’s go home. I know you want to mourn but everything in this house is making you

need to sign what the lawyer sends tomorrow. I think… I

we’ll go

missing out on work,

kisses my forehead. “More

my lips, and I didn’t have to tell myself to smile.

“I know you’re in middle of an important deal. I won’t be alone. I’ll call Alice over

to pay their respects.” He groans, And, I’m not leaving without you. What’s Alice going

I slapped his forearm.