Ilakiya couldn't resist the urge to take a peek at the folders, titled with various labels such as taxation, household expenses, insurance, and others. But one particular folder caught her attention - "Medical bills/record". She couldn't help but feel curious as she opened the folder, finding several invoices and test result slips inside.
"What is this?", she thought to herself as she scanned through the documents. She noticed that Suresh's blood pressure levels were alarmingly high in one of the test results.
"Why did he not tell me about this?", Ilakiya thought as she felt a knot in her stomach. She checked the next document, but she didn't quite understand the tests performed or how to interpret the results. It was from the urology department of UMMC, a medical center that specialized in treating urinary and reproductive system disorders.
"What is going on with him?", she thought to herself as she felt a mix of worry and confusion. She knew she had to confront him about it when he returned home, and find out what was really going on.
Suresh returned home later than usual that evening, and Ilakiya could tell from the smell of alcohol on his breath that he had been drinking. He tried to hide it, but Ilakiya knew him too well. His mom was sitting in the living room enjoying her daily dose of soap opera. Ilakiya was sitting on the other sofa with her feet up on the seat, sipping a hot cup of coffee in the chilly evening. Suresh greeted them both with a nod and a mumbled hello before making his way straight to his room.
Ilakiya didn't want to confront him while he was in this state, but she knew she couldn't wait any longer. She decided to give him some time to freshen up before addressing the issue. As he took a shower and changed into fresh clothes in the bedroom, Ilakiya prepared dinner for both of them.
When Suresh came out of the bedroom, Ilakiya greeted him with a warm smile and asked, "How was your day, dear? Dinner's ready."
Suresh grumbled a response, clearly not in the mood for conversation. Ilakiya didn't push it and instead, they sat down to eat in silence.
After they finished their meal, Ilakiya couldn't hold back any longer. She gently put her hand on his arm and said, "Suresh, we need to talk. I found some medical records on your shelf earlier today and I'm worried about you. What's going on? Why didn't you tell me about your high blood pressure?"
Suresh sighed and looked away, clearly uncomfortable with the conversation. He mumbled, "It's nothing, Ilakiya. I'll take care of it. Let's just drop it."
Ilakiya knew he was trying to brush it off, but she wouldn't let him. She insisted, "No, Suresh. I'm your wife, and I care about you. You can't just ignore your health like this. We need to get to the bottom of this and make sure you get the help you need."
Her words however, only served to anger Suresh. He slammed his fist on the table and shouted at her, "Mind your own business! I'm healthy and well. You don't need to poke your nose in unwanted businesses."
Ilakiya felt hurt and insulted by his response. She raised her voice and retorted, "If not me, then who else is going to care for you? Your mom isn't going to be around forever. I'm your wife for God's sake." Suresh's reply was a cold and dismissive, "Ilakiya, shut up. I'm just trying to have some peace and some dinner."
The commotion between the couple caught the attention of Suresh's mother Meera, who rushed to the dinner table, her face etched with concern. "What's wrong? What's happening here?" she asked, looking from Ilakiya to Suresh. Suresh, visibly upset, replied with a calmer tone, "It's nothing, ma. Just a small disagreement. Can a man not even have some peace at home?"
Meera could sense the tension between the couple and defended Ilakiya. "What are you talking about, Suresh? Ilakiya is your wife, she cares for you. You should be grateful for her concern." Suresh retorted, his voice rising, "It's not like I'm having an affair elsewhere, ma. Can't you see she's just being overbearing?"
Meera's face hardened at her son's words, "Suresh, stop right there. What are you talking about? Ilakiya is your wife and she cares for you. You should be appreciative of her care."
But Suresh was not in the mood to listen, "Then, she should stop behaving like a lawyer once she sets foot at home." Ilakiya's eyes welled up upon hearing this. She was hurt by his words.
Meera noticed Ilakiya's tears and immediately rushed to her side, "Ilakiya, what's wrong? What happened?" Ilakiya told her about the medical records she found in Suresh's shelf and her concern for his health.
Meera was shocked, "Is it true, Suresh?" she asked, turning to her son.
Suresh shifted uneasily in his seat, "Mom, it's not that bad. I'm fine," he replied, avoiding Ilakiya's gaze.
"What about the urologist report?," Ilakiya pressed, her voice trembling with emotion.
Meera, not understanding the significance, asked, "What does an urologist do?"
Ilakiya explained that a urologist deals with problems related to the reproductive system organs. With tears flowing down her face, she tried to connect the dots with Suresh's behavior of sexually ignoring her despite her efforts to excite him. Suresh kept quiet, not knowing how to respond.
Ilakiya finally confessed, "Ma, I'm still a virgin till date even after being married for six months." Meera was shocked, her mouth hanging open in disbelief. Ilakiya's voice trembled with emotion as she spoke, "I don't understand why he's been doing this. I've been trying to be a good wife, but it feels like he doesn't care about me."
Meera was shocked and saddened by the revelation. All this time, she had thought Ilakiya was the one incapable of conceiving. She turned to Suresh, her voice trembling with anger and disappointment, "What is the meaning of this, Suresh? Are you doubting Ilakiya?"
Suresh shook his head, his voice low and filled with shame, "No, ma. It's not that."
Meera's voice grew louder, "Then what's wrong? Are you in love with someone else? Why aren't you touching your wife?"
Suresh's face twisted in anger and frustration, "No! It's not that! I'm the one who can't satisfy her!" He yelled, throwing his plate on the floor with such force that it shattered into a thousand pieces.
Ilakiya and Meera both froze in shock, their eyes fixed on Suresh as he stood up, his voice breaking, "I have erectile dysfunction. I can't satisfy Ilakiya sexually."
Ilakiya was still reeling from one shock after another. There was a moment of silence as they all processed the revelation. Ilakiya's heart ached for Suresh and the pain he must have been feeling. Meera's eyes filled with tears, knowing the struggles her son must have gone through, keeping this secret to himself.
Suresh hung his head in shame, feeling guilty for not being able to fulfill his role as a husband and for causing Ilakiya pain and disappointment. Ilakiya finally spoke, her voice filled with understanding and compassion, "Suresh, it's okay. We'll get through this together. We'll get you the help you need and we'll work on our relationship".
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