The thorns of marriage

The Thorns of Marriage

Chapter One: The Picture-Perfect Beginning

Aisha and Rohan had a love story that made people believe in fate. Their wedding was a grand affair, filled with laughter, promises, and whispered dreams of forever. They had met in the most unexpected way—Aisha had spilled coffee on Rohan at a bookstore, and in that chaotic moment, something had clicked.

Their first few years of marriage were blissful. They traveled, built a home filled with love, and found joy in the smallest things. Rohan loved how Aisha scrunched her nose when she was deep in thought. Aisha adored the way Rohan always reached for her hand, even in his sleep.

But love, as they would soon realize, is never just about the highs. It is also about weathering the storms.

Chapter Two: The Cracks Begin to Show

The shift was subtle at first. It wasn’t one big fight but a collection of small, seemingly insignificant moments.

Rohan’s long work hours turned into late nights. At first, Aisha understood—he was chasing his dreams. But as the months dragged on, she found herself eating dinner alone more often than not. The conversations that once flowed so easily became strained, limited to polite questions and one-word answers.

On the nights he did come home early, Rohan was exhausted. He barely noticed how Aisha had redecorated their living room, how she had tried a new recipe, or how she had been feeling lonely. She told herself it was just a phase, that every marriage had its rough patches.

Until one night, when she finally voiced her frustration.

“You’re never here, Rohan. It’s like I’m married to a ghost.”

He sighed, rubbing his temples. “Aisha, I’m working hard for us. For our future. Why can’t you see that?”

“Because I need you in the present.” Her voice broke.

He didn’t have an answer for that.

Chapter Three: The Distance Grows

Over time, resentment grew like ivy between them, creeping into the corners of their marriage. Aisha stopped waiting for him at the dinner table. Rohan stopped telling her about his day.

And then, there were the fights.

Some were small, like forgotten anniversaries and missed date nights. Others were brutal, leaving wounds that took weeks to heal.

“You don’t appreciate anything I do,” Rohan snapped one night.

Aisha scoffed. “What is there to appreciate? I feel like I’m in this marriage alone.”

“You knew who I was when you married me.”

“And you knew that I needed more than just your paycheck!”

Silence. Heavy and suffocating.

That night, Rohan slept on the couch.

Chapter Four: The Breaking Point

The final straw came unexpectedly.

Aisha had been feeling off for weeks—dizzy spells, exhaustion, a strange heaviness in her chest. One evening, while grocery shopping, she collapsed. By the time she opened her eyes, she was in a hospital bed.

“You have severe stress-related anemia,” the doctor told her. “Your body is exhausted.”

When Rohan arrived, panic written all over his face, she felt a strange detachment.

“You should have told me,” he said, gripping her hand.

A bitter smile tugged at her lips. “Would you have noticed if I did?”

For the first time in a long time, she saw guilt in his eyes. But guilt wasn’t love. And it wasn’t enough.

When she was discharged, she packed a bag.

“I think we need space,” she said quietly.

Rohan stood still, as if he had expected this but never believed it would happen. “Aisha, please.”

But it was too late.

Chapter Five: The Thorns and the Healing

Aisha moved in with her sister for a while. She focused on herself—her health, her happiness, the parts of her she had lost while waiting for a love that had grown distant. She took long walks, started painting again, and found comfort in solitude.

Rohan, meanwhile, sat in an empty apartment filled with memories of the woman he had taken for granted. He thought about the moments he had brushed aside, the times he had made her feel invisible. For the first time in years, he wasn’t just working—he was reflecting.

Weeks turned into months. They spoke occasionally, tentatively, like strangers trying to find common ground.

Then, one evening, Aisha received a message from him:

"Meet me at the bookstore where it all started?"

Her heart hesitated before she typed back, "Okay."

Chapter Six: Love, Rebuilt

Rohan was already there when she arrived, holding two cups of coffee.

“I know I messed up,” he began. “I forgot that love isn’t just about providing—it’s about presence. And I