Running Out of Time

Shards of the flower vase scattered on the floor, and she yelled in agony. She was basically a widow in her own home, which was distressing. She wondered how she would cope for a day, two days, a week, and weeks. She was fed up with living this way and looked for her next object of attack when she heard the hurried footsteps heading her way.

In one minute, she was standing face-to-face with Kapil. The man was stunned as his gaze travelled from her messy hair to the mess at her feet.

"Are you okay, Ritu?' he asked as he rushed beside her.

Her mascara was smeared, and she struggled to catch her breath. "I'm fine," she managed to say. Her face was red with anger, and she stomped inside to get cleaning materials to pack up the broken vase.

"Are you sure you're okay?" Kapil asked when she returned.

She gave him a huge smile. "I'm wonderful. I thought you were at work."

"Oh, I didn't tell you. I've been given a week's break." He said and moved to the kitchen. He returned with a glass of