Skip to main content

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.






Labels:

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

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

His Wife

" Where is the Kesar, Rama? And the Kalash?" Ajabde looked visibly displeased at the daasi who ran. " They are at the fort gates and nothing is ready yet!" She exclaimed. She was clad in a red Jora and the jewellery she had inherited as the first Kunwarani of the crown prince. Little Amar ran down the hallway towards his mother. " Maa sa Maa sa... who is coming with Daajiraj?" His innocent question made her heart sink. " Bhanwar Ji." Sajja Bai called out to him. " Come here I will tell you." Amar rushed to his Majhli Dadisa. " Ajabde." She turned at Jaivanta Bai's call. "They are here." " M... My Aarti thali..." Ajabde looked lost like never before. Jaivanta Bai held her stone-cold hands, making her stop. She patted her head and gave her a hug. The hug gave her the comfort she was looking for as her racing heart calmed down. Jaivanta Bai left her alone with her thaal. " Maa sa!" Amar exclaimed
Post a Comment
Read More

Chapter One: Masquerades

“Reginald Dyer is yet to apologise for the incident which was criticised worldwide. Punjab is on high alert.” The transistor in the living room broke with the morning news. “On other news the League of Nations…” Meera wiped the already clean surface of the showcase for the second time while listening to it. One of the servants came around and switched the channel to a station where a Raga played. Meera tip-toed up to the transistor and looked around before lowering the volume. She was standing outside the door of the Magistrate’s home office, clad in a saree borrowed from Nimai’s mother, who worked at her Pishima’s house. “I need it for my maid back where I work.” Meera lied with a straight face. Nimai’s mother did not care; she was getting Didimoni’s beautiful blue Jamdani instead of her tattered clothes; she would not think twice about this unharming exchange. Meera tried to listen. The gardener sang outside, tending to the flowerbeds as his scissors snipped the bushes back to shape
Post a Comment
Read More

She Left...

The war was over and so were the hopes of regaining Chittor. The Battle at Haldighati had robbed the Rana of all his wealth, and brave men, and bruised him for life. Trying to match up to Akbar or rather Raja Man Singh's army with one-third its strength had cost his bravery dearly. He had lost his friend and companion. He had brushed past death. The only good thing that this war ensured was that Akbar accepted that he cannot have Mewar. His army retreated and left the country in peace after almost two decades and seventeen wars. This war gave something else too. Kunwar Shakti came to help his brother in his time of need. He lived up to his brother's expectations of being loyal to his family. A heavy-hearted Rana Pratap Singh was overseeing the construction work on his lost friend's memorial right where he died, trying to save his master. The Bronze statue of the life-like Chetak stood tall but was no match for the void Chetak has left behind. He was lost in his thoughts as
5 comments
Read More

Protibimbo: Characters

Before Indian Independence Movement gained its prominence and momentum in the year 1930 across Bengal with the weaponry loot by Surya Sen, attacks across the offices of British Raj in Bengal by Bengal Volunteers, Jugantar Dol and other prominent anarchists, and Binoy-Badal-Dinesh stormed into Writers' Building, the 1920s were a built up to the movement when several large and small scale anarchist groups worked underground to strike the system of British Governance. It was a time when Indians realised that conferences did not bring independence to colonies, they had to pick up arms against the British Imperialists. This story is fictional. But in its core, every character represents several hundred unnamed heroes and sheroes of our freedom struggle whose names do not appear in the pages of history. " Protibimbo " meaning reflection is a story that reflects on relationships, freedom, sacrifice and battles fought within the society of that time. Characters: Abhaya: 15-year-o
Post a Comment
Read More

Destiny

The war was almost won.  A few of Marwar’s soldiers were left on the field along with Rao Maldeo Singh Rathore, their king and leader.  He was thinking of retreating at the end of this day. As his sword clashed with one of the opponent generals as he eyed the opponent King now open and prone to attack. A little hope flickered in his mind as his eyes instructed his closest aide.  The opponent was quite in a winning situation thanks to their new Senapati. He was just 16 yet his bravery and valour reflected his blood and upbringing. He mesmerised the opponents and even Rao Maldeo with his clever war strategies and sword skills. As Maldeo’s aide swung his sword at a taken aback Udai Singh, someone’s sword defended it as his body acted like a shield for the king. He killed the man in one go. “ Ranaji are you okay?” “ Haan Raoji.” He nodded gratefully.  By half the day, the Marwar army had retreated as the air filled with “ Jai Mewar! Jai Eklingji!” From the triumphant soldiers. Rana Udai Si
1 comment
Read More

Towards You

Kunwar Pratap and Ajabde were friends. He didn't feel awkward sharing his plans and thoughts with her anymore. She was more than happy to advise him on everything. She was happy he listened to her advice before taking or discarding them, be it on what to wear to Padmavati's Sagai or how to befriend the revolting Bhils. He loved the way Ajabde always used metaphors from Puranas and Ramayanas to explain the toughest things so easily. She expressed herself so well, so easily that it amazed him.   The Afghans were now led by Mehmood Shah. They have made secret territories in the forests and waited to attack. Rawatji and his spies had confirmed the news and Udai Singh had warned Mehmood Shah to withdraw his troops from Mewar in vain. Now, it was time they declared war. Mehmood Shah had limited resources in Mewar. And his spies clearly suggested that in no way could he win, especially with Kunwar Pratap leading his troops. He was having second thoughts about the war. One of his aides
6 comments
Read More

Struggle of Thoughts

Kunwar Pratap and Ajabde had both by the first week known each other's schedules well and they made sure that their timings didn't clash, be it in the puja Ghar, dressing room or elsewhere. They tried to stay out of each other's way as much as possible, giving each other the space they needed. Ajabde had learned that Kunwar Pratap preferred cold sharbat and desserts over steaming hot food, he liked to wake up with the first bird's call at dawn, he didn't like any disturbances at work or at the Dangal Sthal, and he loved his mother the most. Kunwar Pratap had learned that she was intelligent enough to decipher unsaid words between the lines of any novel, epic or book she read. She was very much into spending most of her time reading or sewing and when outside he always spotted her in the garden tending to flowers with his sisters. What he saw was how similar her lifestyle was to his mother's in a very weird way. She liked things simple, preferred to make her own
6 comments
Read More

To Protect You

Kunwar Pratap was in court with Rana Udai Singh. The Mughals were conquering a huge part of the north courtesy of Bairam Khan and Mewar on their routes to the ports of Gujarat. " Dajiraj we need to secure the roads leading to Agra and also towards the west. The attack-prone areas should always be under surveillance." " Yes Ranaji. Baojiraj is right." Rawatji agreed.   In the Rani Mahal, everyone was preparing for a grand lunch. Ajabde was making a sweet dish for the princes and princesses and in a hurry, she forgot to add the Kesar and Badam on top. As she served the smaller princes including Kunwar Jagmal, Dheerbai came to inspect her eldest son's food. " What is this? Who made this? Kokoiaji?" She stormed to the kitchen with a bowl of sweet dishes.   " Kunwaranisa did." Came a scary answer, from Veer Bai. " Ajabde Baisa." Her words let out a silent gasp from the lesser queens who stood witness. Calm and composed, Ajabde walked up
Post a Comment
Read More

My Everything

Kunwar Pratap stormed into the Mahal at Gogunda. Happy faces of the chieftains and soldiers welcomed him as Rao Ramrakh and Rawatji stopped the ongoing Raj tilak. A visibly scared Kunwar Jagmal looked clueless at a visibly angry Kunwar Pratap. Rani Dheerbai Bhattiyani hadn't expected this son of Mewar to show up that too twenty-one days after his father's death. He was not informed as per Dheerbai's instructions. She looked at Rawat Ji. He must have gone to Raoji at Bijolia. No one except them knew where Kunwar Pratap was staying. It was for the safety of his family. " What are you doing Chotima?" A disappointed voice came. She could stoop down so low? " We were about to inform you..." She spoke up in her defence. " When Dheerbai ji?" Maharani Jaivanta Bai, clad in white entered the hall as people bowed before her. " After your son's coronation?" " I did nothing Badima I swear!" A low voice came from Jagmal. " Maha
Post a Comment
Read More

Soul Meet: Anticipated Encounter

  This post is a part of the series "Soul Meet" so if you have not read previous posts kindly read it  here. Ajabdeh submitted her paper and shut her laptop down for the weekend. Her home desk had pictures on the walls. Pictures he had clicked of her on every trip they took together. Across the country. Sometimes planned, sometimes unplanned. Long distance was tough, but in between the struggle of constantly being active on their phones to keep in touch with calls, texts, emails and video calls there was a sense of individuality, identity and liberty in it that she enjoyed. Now and then they would meet at a spot in between somewhere and go on trips. Hike to mountains, laze at beaches and try adventure sports. Everything she experienced in the past year was ticked off her bucket list. Each memory now sat glued to her desk wall, in pictures he clicked. He was a good photographer and she: his muse. She was surprised when he called the previous day saying he would be coming to se
Post a Comment
Read More