ATTACHED NoStrings

byAnkurR.Gupta

Seema's day began with the familiar symphony of sleepless nights, crying twins, the sticky chaos of diaper changes, and the frantic scramble to get breakfast on the table. Motherhood had put her career on hold, a temporary pause that felt like an eternity.

Meanwhile, Rohan, her husband, once her rock, seemed distant, lost in the demands of work and the overwhelming changes at home He'd come home late and collapse on the bed, muttering, "Long day " It felt like she was raising three children, not two

It's been eight months since they had Twins, and life has become a whirlpool, leaving no time for each other Whatever little time they had, they discussed kids, chores, and bills, ending in disagreements All this was drifting them apart and leaving Seema desperately lonely and frustrated

One such day, she came across a digital chatting app called No Strings Attached, where she could vent her heart to strangers without being judged She impulsively downloaded the app and created a TiredMOM profile but didn't use it

It became a digital ghost until the day the chaos reached a fever pitch, and she desperately needed an outlet With a weary thumb, she opened the app and logged in Her fingers flew across the keyboard, typing a question that had been burning in her mind: "What's it REALLY like being a parent?"

Almost instantly, a reply appeared, and the username CRUSHED was glowing on the screen. "It's like being a zookeeper…" CRUSHED typed, a laughing emoji appearing through the words, " … except the animals are smaller, louder, and demand snacks every five minutes."

Seema burst into loud laughter. "Finally, someone understood," she murmured. An instant spark ignited between the two, and they messaged back and forth, sharing the joys and frustrations of parenthood Their words were a comforting balm on the raw edges of their days Gradually, their friendship moved to sharing their personal lives, where they discussed their respective spouses being indifferent since they had kids

One particularly grueling evening, Seema felt lonely after wrestling the toddlers into bed Rohan had gone out for an official dinner Pouring her heart to CRUSHED, she typed, "It's like he doesn't even see me anymore We're like ships passing at night, living parallel lives in the same house "

"I understand," CRUSHED responded. Then, after a short pause, he writes back, "Have you tried… you know… a date night? After the little ones are asleep….Hmmm…maybe… Light some candles, play music, and pretend you're in your 20s again."

"Sounds nice," she typed, "But it feels impossible with kids "

"Nothing's impossible," CRUSHED replied "Just takes a little planning Besides, you deserve it "

Have you tried this with your spouse? She responded quickly

"Nope my one is always in a swollen mood nagging me for small things " As he typed the words, a frown creased his brow as he recalled the morning's argument

"Poor thing She must be exhausted and frustrated " Write back, TiredMOM "I'm sailing in the same boat so I can understand her bickering Huh Why don't you take some load off with daily chores and give her some rest ?"

Her words resonated with him He could picture his wife's tired frame working relentlessly with the Twins "Hmmm yeah maybe you are right I miss how my wife and I used to be," he confessed "We'd spend hours just sharing our thoughts and dreams Now, it's just logistics 'Did you get diapers?' 'Who's doing the laundry?' It's killing me." He typed and sighed as he remembered their laughter and the companionship that had once defined their relationship.

"Me too," typed back TiredMOM. "I wish we could find our way back to that."

It was Sunday morning.

Seema woke with a start, glancing at the clock. "Oh, shit! It's 9:00 a.m.!" she exclaimed, leaping out of bed. She rushed into the living room and stopped short, a look of surprise washing over her face The twins were happily sitting with Rohan, munching on cereal and eggs Rohan had cooked breakfast! Though the kitchen was a mess, a warm smile spread across her face

"Oh It's been ages since you cooked me breakfast," she said, her voice soft and appreciative She leaned in and gave him a quick peck on the cheek, which caught him by surprise

The whole day felt like a fresh breeze to both of them

A few days later, Seema followed CRUSHED advice after the kids were finally asleep at night She lit some candles, played soft music, and poured two glasses of wine

When Rohan walked into the living room, he was taken aback "What's all this?" he asked, a confused look on his face

"A date," she said, smiling "Remember those?" She picked up one of the wine glasses and held it to him He took the glass, his fingers brushing hers for a moment They spent the evening talking about them other than work and the kids They laughed, shared memories, and reconnected in a way they hadn't in a long time It felt like they were rediscovering each other, the spark between them reigniting with each shared glance and quiet laugh

"Oh, it was magical," typed Seema and sent a thanks emoji to CRUSHED

"Your suggestions, too, worked " writes CRUSHED, "I saw her smiling after a long time " They laughed and shared stories that lightened their moods as the conversation flowed.

A few days later, Rohan placed a hastily scribbled note on a kitchen counter: "Thinking of you." That evening, Seema took extra care with her appearance. She put on a dress Rohan liked and cooked his favorite curry. While the children's demands made a truly peaceful dinner impossible, her efforts didn't go unnoticed Rohan watched her with appreciative eyes

The following morning, Seema walked into the kitchen and stopped dead "Oh!" she gasped as she saw a beautiful bouquet of lilies carefully placed in the vase on her Kitchen Counter "Surprise," he mumbled "These are beautiful," Seema said, burying her nose in the fragrant blooms and turning to give him a quick kiss on the cheek

The next day, both Seema and CRUSHED logged onto the chat app

"The flowers were a hit," CRUSHED typed "Thanks for the advice " He recalled what TiredMOM had written to her about his wife: "Maybe she just needs a little appreciation A small gesture, flowers, or even just taking something off her plate can make a huge difference " He had mentally noted the advice and followed it

"You're welcome," Seema replied "I'm glad it worked I tried a movie date this time and it came out nice We are learning to spend time with each other with the Twins tagging in our arms." She typed in a laughter emoji to represent her feelings.

"Awesome," CRUSHED typed, though he felt strange as the TiredMOM date sounded very similar to the night he had with Seema

TiredMOM typed "You know, you remind me a lot of my husband "

"Oh really? How so?" his fingers fumbling on the keyboard,

She replied, "You both have the same terrible sense of humor, and you both seem to need reminding about simple things, like buying flowers for your wife! And you both seem to think a quick grunt constitutes a meaningful conversation!"

At this point, Rohan burst out laughing, dropping his phone on the sofa Hearing the noise from the other room, Seema came in to see what was happening She picked up his phone and read the chat log. Her eyes widened in disbelief. She scrolled back, seeing his earlier messages about his "nagging" wife. A slow smile spread across her face. She has been suspecting this. "So, it's you…" she said, her voice laced with amusement, "Mr. CRUSHED …...and thinks his wife is a nag?"

Rohan, still chuckling, held his hands up in mock surrender "Guilty " He then admitted that he'd downloaded the app out of sheer frustration, desperate to vent about work and family pressures

"But in my defense," he added, reaching for her hand, "you were right I needed a reminder And your advice was spot on both sets of it "

Seema playfully swatted his arm. "So, you were complaining about me to… me?"

"It sounds ridiculous when you put it like that," Rohan admitted, pulling her close. "But honestly, talking to TiredMOM… helped me see things differently. I realized how much I missed talking to you."

Seema leaned into him, a warmth spreading through her that she hadn't felt in a long time "Me too," she whispered

Just then, the house was filled with the twins' wails They looked at each other and burst out laughing, the tension of the past eight months melting away They knew life wouldn't be the same with the children, but they were learning to find a balance together

It was a bizarre scenario: At the ChatApp no strings attached they tied the loose end of their relationship strings to make their bond even more substantial for this new phase of their lives

It said that love finds its way aptly, even in unexpected circumstances

Ankur R Gupta - Ankur R Gupta is a multifaceted individual with a passion for storytelling and a deep understanding of human psychology

As an author, writer, and cybercrime intervention officer, her articles and stories delve into the complexities of human emotions, relationships, and the pursuit of personal well-being

Through her captivating narratives, she invites readers to embark on a journey of introspection and self-discovery

In addition to her writing pursuits, Ankur is an avid traveler She is particularly drawn to historical and adventurous destinations, where she immerses herself in diverse cultures, traditions, and histories These experiences serve as a wellspring of inspiration for her work, adding depth and authenticity to her stories and articles.