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All for Love?

Warning: 18+ (Adultery, explicit)
She stepped into his apartment turning the lock as silently as she could. They share keys now, as it’s been a decade since that fateful day her life changed and the talks of marriage have already started in the two families. She has heard from a common friend that he was back from his business trip yesterday and wondered why he hadn’t called her since. It was already afternoon. Maybe he wanted to surprise her again at her office desk with a gift from Singapore, the place of his official visit. So she decided to go to his house in the afternoon and surprise him instead. His parents are off on a vacation and it’s the best plan to meet at his place after not seeing him for a month. She stealthily made her way towards the bedroom door.

It was half closed and his giggle could be heard from the corridor. Who was he talking to in such a jolly mood? Maybe some client again. He’s been on the phone all the time ever since he got the promotion. His job had been hard and they haven’t met for days. The thoughts of marriage made her happy because that way he will be with her at the end of each day…  Coming back to reality from her lost trail of thoughts she pushed the bedroom door with a smile… and her heart stopped….
 He was in his richly furnished bedroom, inside the expensive linen they had brought together but not alone. She met this girl at his promotion party. He is the one who introduced them and offered to bring them drinks. She gave an unconscious cry out of shock and they stopped their cuddling to look at her shocked. He sat up with wide eyes and her vision blurred … she ran towards the main door and heard him call out her name. Never had his voice sounded so cheap to her ears before…
She got into the first cab she found on the streets and headed home switching off her cell phone.

The next day she switched it on in the office and it rang… it was her best friend. She picked it up, hoping she wouldn't cry…
"Hello?"
"He called me."
"So, you heard…"
"I told you this will happen. I told you ... and you are at fault over this..." She heard her snap.
"What? You are blaming me?? Being a girl you are blaming me?" She sounded shocked.
"Look, Guys stray... it is your duty to keep him interested." She couldn't believe her ears.
" Listen... I..." She tried hard not to choke on her tears.
" Now forgive him... your wedding is fixed and your parents... think of them..." She sounded reasonable. "Otherwise the families will face humiliation."
She felt disgusted at the words and disconnected the call abruptly. Her head started spinning like there was an unbearable load on her shoulders.

She ran to the ladies' room hoping the tears won’t fall before she reached a cubicle away from public eyes… the voice was ringing in her ears “...forgive him... think of them”. She cried out loud. Was she a failure in keeping him interested? Is that why he cheated on her love? Did these years mean nothing to him?
Her phone rang again. Without looking at the name she picked it up.
Huge mistake. It was him.
"Hello."
"….. Uh…. Its… it’s me… look I…"
"F**k off!!"
"You can’t blame me!! I am not alone at fault...You didn't want a physical relationship before marriage so I... looked for it elsewhere."
She disconnected the call without hearing him out.

He called again but she switched off the phone. When she switched it on again after reaching home she got a message from him. It said “Look am really sorry for what I said in the heat of the moment am sorry for what I did and I want you back. I know sorry is not enough but I also see us together in a healthy marriage and our families are involved. Come back”
She wondered with a sarcastic smile. Does he even know what a healthy marriage means? One who can’t maintain a healthy relationship…?

Somebody was knocking at the door. She wiped away her tears and sat up in her bed “Come in!”
It was her mother.
"Look  Dad went shopping for your fiance and his family" She sounded happy.
"But why Mom?" She frowned.
"Silly girl, they are coming back tomorrow and we are going for dinner at their place" She shrugged "Hadn't he told you?" She shook her head silently. What could she say now? Was it too late?
"His mother called this afternoon. The final talks of your marriage will be done tomorrow…"
She looked at her mother’s eyes beaming with joy.
-     " We are very happy. You chose the right boy. This is the moment we waited for all our lives and it’s finally here." Her mother cupped her face and spoke.
She hugged her mother tight controlling back her tears.  The message repeated itself in her mind “Healthy marriage… come back.”

She could not sleep all night. It seemed like the longest night of her life. She opened her laptop hoping to get some work done. There they were. Two happy faces. A perfect couple in her wallpaper. She logged into a social networking site. Typed “Sandra D'Souza”. That’s that girl’s name as far as she remembered. There she was. With her husband. In the perfect family portrait. With their parents and siblings. She sighed. Only if he knew his perfect world has crushed like hers.

It was 6 A.M. She took up the phone and dialled his number with a sad heart. “Don’t cry” she murmured to herself. Thank god it's voice mail.
She left a message. “We are going to your home to talk about our so-called healthy marriage. Our families are not going to know”… she disconnected the phone as tears came back…

She has chosen her dream life with him over every odd. She loved him and that’s all that mattered. She was ready to be his bride and face the odds. She stared at herself in the mirror. It looked like she was sick for days, those bags under her sleep-deprived eyes and her face looked dull. She sighed.
"Can I do this?" She asked herself "Wake up every day knowing..." She stared at her own reflection.
"No! No! NO!" She shook her head. Going to the washroom she splashed water on her face and took a deep breath. 
Walking to the breakfast table, she sat down in front of her parents.
"We need to talk." Her voice made them frown.
"What's wrong?" Her dad asked worriedly.
"I can't do this. I can't marry him. He... I can't let go of my self-respect..."
"What happened?" Her mother rushed to hug her as she cried.
"I love him, I do. But I love myself a bit more. I love my respect a bit more." And that day, wiping away the tears, her parents smiled proudly knowing they had raised their child right.






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Comments

  1. ANTASHTuesday, June 17, 2014

    Awesome one...Truly splendid work
    Mesmerized..!!!

    ReplyDelete
  2. SuranyaTuesday, June 17, 2014

    thank u so much....

    ReplyDelete
  3. Yajna93Tuesday, June 17, 2014

    inquisitive 2 know how da short story ended !!!!!!!!!


    anywayz, reationship cheaters, though can't b legally criminalized, but must b at least counselled, by Central Govt. empowered councils/boards/commissions/committees/federations(whatever) 2 instill those HUMANE virtues in them & eradicate da Vices & deceit from their heart n minds

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. SuranyaTuesday, June 17, 2014

      Thats the beauty of a short story... some things are better left untold :)

      Delete
    2. Yajna93Tuesday, June 24, 2014

      yeah, datz true az well


      completion sometymz take da sheen away from a story & unstated threads/outcomes &/or inexplicable cause/background/logic/rationale adds dat extra INTEREST & curiosity & propels|empowers intelligent readers 2 unhesitantly go 4 dat all important personal ANALYSIS(logical reasoning---oriented rational scientific, of course) &/or prophecy/conclusion/storyending ------------- these things usher in more n more logical pro--reasoning scientific rational RESEARCH & thus encourage more n more positive excercize of da GREAT human brain

      Delete

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