Mithra

Somebody’s Wife   {1} Life changes in fraction of a second. I have seen it, but today was nothing like what I had experienced before.  I stretched out on the couch yawning and paused the movie on the TV. Looking at my phone, I realised that it was 7.15pm. The living-room was dark as usual. The curtains were always closed except for a few minutes in the morning. The world outside was soaked in light and fireworks. I had forced myself to take a holiday, not to enjoy Diwali but to avoid seeing the display of happiness. I did not hate happiness, I did not love it either. My job was not the reason for my loneliness, it was just an excuse. The noise of fireworks tore through the deafening silence in my home. Sometimes the silence was so overbearing that noise of any kind was a welcome change. I splashed cold water on my face and looked into the mirror. A pair of expressionless eyes gazing back at me. They were always the same. Opening the fridge, I found a half empty Peps...

The hardest smile of my life … It was the hardest smile of my life! I stood rooted to the spot with the uneasy smile pasted on my face. At the door you turned around to wave at me for one last time before abandoning me to the cruel cage of time. When will I see you again? It could be days, months or years… I waved back at you without batting an eyelid. It was my last chance to gaze into those sharp eyes. The uncertainty and pain in your eyes betrayed the smile on your face. Yes, smile! That was all we could do from letting those traitor tears stream down our eyes. Crying was a luxury that we could not afford. You had a flight to catch and time waited for none. Certainly the check-in time punctuality would put even the most precise Swiss watch to shame! I turned around and walked away the moment you were out of sight. The smile was washed away with the tears kissing my cheeks. You were not coming back, at least not anytime soon. Once again my days would be spent...

CHASTE GANGES   {16} Ronav was surprised to see Nithyayuvani sitting in the living room. ‘Hey, you are early today. When did you come?’ he asked kissing her forehead. He was heading towards the bedroom when she called out to him. ‘We have to talk,’ she said looking straight into his eyes. ‘Sure, let me freshen up. I will be back.’ ‘Ron, this is important,’ she said in a strained voice. His eyes widened with surprise. ‘Are you pregnant?’ ‘Yeah, with Brad Pitt’s twins!’ came her instant reply. ‘No wonder, Angelina Jolie is divorcing him!’ he said guffawing at her. She rolled her eyes and let out a long drawn breath. Pulling a chair he sat in front of her. ‘Tell me Nithya, what is it?’ She swallowed hard and gazed down on the floor. ‘Ronav, please don’t be angry with me for hiding this truth from you for so long. Most of all, please don’t hate me,’ she beseeched. Taking her hand in his, he squeezed it in assurance. It meant more than wo...

CHASTE GANGES   {15} Nihal stepped into the living room with much hesitation. His younger sister Nilanjali watching TV and he let out a long drawn breath, trying to figure out how to begin a conversation with her. Tonight his parents were out to attend a relative’s wedding reception and he seized the opportunity to speak to her. She had been cold towards him and avoided him in solitude ever since she knew the truth about him. He gingerly sat down on the sofa a little away from her. Immediately she stood up to leave but he quickly held her arm. ‘Let me go,’ she protested trying to free her hand. But she never looked up at him. ‘Nilu please listen to me! Please don’t go,’ he begged her helplessly. She pulled her hand out of his grip but did not go away. She slumped on the sofa with a flushed face. ‘What do you want to say?’ she almost barked. Nihal went down on his knees before her and took her hands in his. ‘I am sorry… I am sorry for hurting you.’ His vo...