Basically, we’re like every other regular couple. The only difference being that he’s married to someone else!

We first met as colleagues, about a decade ago. 

We were part of the same team, working under the same snooty boss. As bitching sessions got more frequent and coffee breaks became routine, we didn’t even realise when we became friends. 

We never felt any attraction for each other. Or, maybe we did but never gave it much thought. He was dating someone and I was in a relationship too. 

Some years passed and we moved to different organisations. But we stayed in touch and would spend a lot of time chatting on phone.

One day, he told me about his wedding plans. He’d proposed to his girlfriend of five years. I’d just broken up with my boyfriend. We decided to celebrate!

But what started as a ‘few drinks’ turned into a shot too many. 

Next thing we knew, we were making out in his car. I didn’t resist and he didn’t seem to mind. The sex was great – I had no idea we were so sexually compatible! 

He did marry his girlfriend though.

I never asked him to marry me because I wasn’t sure what I felt for him. He never told me he loved me either. But we would hook up often. It made no sense to stop just because he was going to marry someone else. 

But things changed after his marriage. 

Suddenly, I started feeling jealous. He’d sleep with me but go back home to his wife. I was the ‘other’ woman, hidden behind curtains and closed doors. 

I’d finally understood that I was in love with him. But wasn’t it too late?

Even he was a man divided. Caught between the woman he’d married and the woman he loved, he was living a dual life. 

But he couldn’t have left his wife – he wanted to but knew that society wouldn’t forgive him. And I didn’t want to put him through that ordeal either. 

It’s been four years since and he’s still married to his wife and still in love with me. 

We’ve made peace with our situation and accepted our unusual circumstances. We know we may never get married and that’s fine. We’re in love and happy in each other’s company. Marriage won’t and can’t change anything!

But I’m the ‘other’ woman, right? I’m not his wife, the future mother to his kids, the one who’ll hold his hand when he’s old, right? 

Well, I’m the woman he loves, the one he wants to be with, his soulmate. Just because I’m not the one he married, doesn’t make me any less important!

I don’t expect anyone to believe that what we share is actually true love. Not every relationship is meant for society’s understanding and approval. Not every relationship leads to marriage and babies. 

We’re happy where we are. Together, in love and at peace! 

Sometimes, two people don’t get married even though they’re in love. But it doesn’t mean they should let go of their love, right?