AUTHOR'S POV
Chhavi stood frozen on the cold marble floor, struggling to absorb everything that had unfolded in the last hour- an hour that had changed her life, entirely. In an instant, her perspective on everything shifted. The power that truth and lies held was overwhelming.
Her head began to spin. It was all too much to bear.
Whom should she turn to? Whom could she trust?
What if the clips were fabricated? What if someone was trying to sabotage her family life or tarnish her husband's reputation?
No matter how hard she tried to justify the situation to herself, the images from the clips kept flashing in her mind- her husband...making out with another woman. It send chills down her spine making her feel terribly disgusted.
Moreover, the justification her mother-in-law provided! It ruined her. Suddenly, she felt like she didn't recognize the people she had spent years trying to please, trying to climb into their good books. But all she ever received were taunts, disregard, and now, this justification.
A part of her soul withered when that old woman accused her of being the reason her husband was sleeping with another woman. She wasn't providing enough!
How could she be blamed for this? How could they dismiss her pain so easily?
Her heart ached as if it were being shredded to pieces, inflicting a slow, pathetic pain in every pore of her existence.
What sin have I committed, God! Why me?!
She welled internally as tears continued falling since time unknown.
Suddenly, she felt a pair of hands embrace her from behind. The sensation was familiar but this time, instead of warmth, she felt disgust. Utter disgust!
She felt his hot breath fanning on the crook of her neck as he cooed in the tone that used to bring her comfort. Not anymore! Now, it only fueled the fire of hatred brewing within her.
He acted as if nothing was wrong, as if she were fussing over trivial matters.
How could he just walk in...like...like this isn't happening? Like he wasn't the one who had shattered everything? Shattered me!
That was it!
She forcefully turned around while his hands were still intact around her and with all her might, strengthen by her anger, pushed him off herself.
He fell on the bed with a thud, shock washing over his face as eyes bulged out at her furiousness.
"You shameless cheater! How dare you touch me?" Her voice was a harsh whisper of pain but the fire behind her words blazed bright. "Never touch me with those filthy hands of yours! Never! Ever!"
Her heart raced as she felt the adrenaline surge through her veins. The more she looked at his face, the more she felt the betrayal sting her like a fresh wound not ready to heal at an easy cost.
They both silently looked at each other for some minutes. her havy breathes were the only ones echoing in the pin- drop silent room fuel by her enrage. Her heavy breaths echoed in the pin-drop silent room, fueled by her rage. Flared nostrils and red watery eyes reflected her disappointment, making Vinesh nervous. But he wasn't the type to back down.
I know how to handle her.
"Chhavi, my love, what makes you think I could cheat on you? For god sake, we've a daughter. We're a family. I love you with my heart and soul, babe. Why're you accusing me of cheating, love."
He implored standing up back on his feet trying to hug her again but she wasn't ready to let it go so easily. She pushed him away and straightaway marched to her dressing table.
She picked up the sleek device and threw it on the bed. Folding her hands in front of her chest, she spoke.
"What is this then?? You think I'm a fool?!"
He snatched the device and turned it on without waiting for an instance.
As he watched the video, she closely observed his reaction.
Her heart skipped a beat when she saw him tear up, his lips trembling as he looked at her with a heartbroken gaze.
She was unconsciously begging the Universe to undo the events that had unfolded today without warning. No matter what, she wanted this to be fake and fabricated!
When she saw the disheartenment on his face, a ray of hope surged through her. But it was quickly buried when he began speaking.
"Babe, this is not me. You can't even see my face! Someone's playing games. Tell me, who sent this to you?"
His overconfidence shattered the last ounce of calmness in her. That statement- he was practically calling her insane!
"I've loved you for ten years, Vinesh. You think I'd have not recognised you by your back? Please don't insult my love and intellgence like this. Please!"
A woman in love with a man for ten years can feel his presence without even needing to look around.
How could she not recognize her own husband, just by looking at his back? Moreover, the clip didn't just show his back in certain phases. It showed his face too! And he was acting as if she was being delusional!
At this point, Chhavi didn't know what made her more furious- her husband's infidelity or his audacity to underestimate her intelligence, despite knowing she's a former mathematics professor.
Tears spilled down his eyes, travelling all the way down his cheeks and neck.
"You love me since ten years yet don't trust me. This is what love means to you, Chhavi? Have you ever loved me for real, Chhavi? I can never ever even think of cheating on you, love. It's you I cherish, and will cherish throughout my life."
She stood there, speechless. The grave shock etched on her face deepened as she watched him walk away from the room, brushing off his tears.
Her body felt frozen, yet her mind raced, screaming a million things all at once.
She crashed onto the cold floor. The intensity of the situation bore down on her.
The room spun around her, but Chhavi forced herself to ponder over the situation. Her mind drifted to the early years of their marriage, to the happy family they had built together. The warmth of those memories, the little moments of joy and contentment- they once seemed so real, so full of promise. But right now, every part of that family they had curated felt like a mirage. Something that, just an hour ago, had looked so blissful, so perfect, now felt barren and desolate, crumbling as she inched closer to the painful reality.
The entire afternoon, she wondered what went wrong from her side? Which stone did she leave unturned that she had to face this? She had entirely devoted her mind and soul to the betterment of the family, to her husband and to his parent's welfare. And this is what she gets in return. Appreciation was something she never expected in this 'seemingly' perfect household but she didn't even expect betrayal too!
The entire afternoon, Chhavi wondered what had gone wrong on her part. What had she missed? Which stone had she left unturned that led her to face this betrayal? She had devoted her mind, heart, and soul to the betterment of the family- to her husband, to his parents, always putting their welfare above her own. She never asked for appreciation; it was something she had stopped expecting in this 'seemingly' perfect household. But betrayal? That was something she never saw coming, not after all the sacrifices and compromises she had made.
Nobody came to console her. Her in-laws didn't bother to check on her, didn't ask if she was okay, or even question what was really going on. They couldn't have cared less. In fact, they were more furious over the humiliation she had caused their son in front of others than about the fact that he was bedding another woman. The betrayal of their son's actions seemed irrelevant to them; it was her confrontation that they found unforgivable.
But soon, the sound of her husband's car engine roar to life echoing in her ears, snapping her from her daze. Her eyes instinctively traveled to the clock hanging on the wall of the bedroom.
Five o'clock!
She stared at it blankly at the ticking hands.
Now it's up to you.
Her mind drifted to the text from the unknown source.
Her hands trembled as she clutched her phone, reopening the chat room and staring at the cryptic text that left her on hanging.
But the moment she heard the sound of the engine fade slowly, something inside her snapped. Her pulse quickened and before she could second-guess her instincts, she dashed out of the room, racing down the stairs in a frenzy.
She rushed out of the bungalow and landed on the heated pavement bare foot. But she didn't care of the burn it was causing to her bare feet. It was as though the universe was conspiring with her- just as she stumbled onto the road, a taxi screeched to a halt in front of her. Its headlights pierced the early evening gloom.
Without thinking, Chhavi yanked open the door and slid inside, settling herself and her disheveled saree on the back seat.
In ragging breaths she commanded.
"Follow that car! The white one."
The driver didn't respond to her. He just glanced at her through the rearview mirror, his grey orbs spiking Chhavi's panic for a moment.
Will he refuse!
She opened her mouth to insist again, but before she could, he shifted the car into gear.
The tires screeched slightly as he pulled into the road.
The silence in the taxi would have felt suffocating for a normal rider but Chhavi's eyes remained glued to the road ahead, searching for the familiar taillights of her husband's car disappearing into the distance.
"Please... faster."
She whispered with urgency.
As time passed and they crossed lane after lane, Chhavi's heart sank with every turn. She realized that the route was not the one to Vinesh's office but to another colony of the city. But her eyes widened in shock as the taxi headed toward a narrow lane. It was the same address the unknown sender had shared with her earlier.
Her mind reeled.
What if this is a trap? Maybe, that person is all set to kill her when she reaches there.
Her heart pounded with fear.
An array of thoughts struck her like a bolt of lightning. She suddenly realized how vulnerable she was- barefoot, disoriented and alone. Her husband had no idea she's here. He wouldn't be able to save her even if he wanted to.
What if those clips were fabricated? Maybe, the unknown person has some other intentions!
Maybe, I should ask the driver to take a U- turn. Aahana is at home. She has tuition classes today! I've to clean the lawn. Its totally rummaged...the unwashed dishes, dinner....I've to prepare the dinner.
Stop it, Chhavi! How many lies will you tell yourself? How many excuses will you give to yourself? How many justifications will you give to change the truth that's right in front of you?
Her inner voice screamed, snapping her back into reality.
Will you pretend as if everything is alright? Did this man you love ever truly care for you? Did he ever really love you, even for a moment? Did his parents ever appreciate you? Did they ever praise you, even once?
She was stunned by the clarity that emerged from the chaos; one single slap of betrayal had forced her to confront the countless missteps she'd been ignoring for a decade.
It was time to stop running from the reality that had been glaring at her all along and she had been ignoring forever.
Her mind kept circling back to the undeniable fact: HER HUSBAND WITH ANOTHER WOMAN. FOR TIME UNKNOWN.
Suddenly, the taxi came to a halt, jolting Chhavi from her spiraling thoughts. She glanced out the window and saw an array of buildings laid out in front of her, the streets bustling with a crowd celebrating Holi. Laughter and cheers filled the air, the vibrant colors flew through the sky but none of that warmth reached her heart.
She hesitated for a moment, gripping the seat tightly. Taking a deep breath, she pushed open the door and stepped out onto the pavement, her bare feet feeling the hot concrete beneath her.
The sun seeped down, washing the sky with oranges and violets that reflected off the tall apartments standing on either side of her. It should have been a day of celebration but for Chhavi, it was the day of revelation which she never prepared herself for.
The driver's eyes met hers in the rearview mirror, but he offered no words of reassurance- something she was craving desperately. Just a blank stare that sent another wave of unease coursing through her. With the sounds of laughter and music ringing in her ears, she stood there for a moment, trying to gather her thoughts, her heart sending electrifying impulses through her veins and arteries but as soon as she saw Vinesh walk through the crowd, her feet got a mind of their own.
She ran into the mass, clutching onto her saree, which was no longer smooth or pressed like it had been in the morning but wrinkled and crumpled, reflecting her disheveled state of mind.
As she moved through the crowd, the bright colors of Holi danced around her, yet she felt like a ghost wandering through a world alive with joy. Laughter echoed and splashes of color flew through the air but all she could focus on was where her husband was heading to. But due to the brimming crowd towering over her, she lost his sight.
Chhavi's mind was a storm of confusion and heartbreak.
Where did he get lost?
She hurriedly pushed through the cluster of people dancing and wandering around in bliss. She had to find him. She had to know if it was the same woman he was visiting.
But suddenly, she felt a strong tug on her arm, dragging her to one side of the lane. Panic surged through her as she wriggled to get out of his hold.
This is a trap! He's here! He'll kill me! Vinesh, please come to me!
The colourful dust decorating the air made it difficult for her to see who was it.
"Ahh! Leave me!"
She shouted wincing in pain.
She struggled to free her arm with the help of her other hand, but it was all in vain.
Before she could catch a glimpse of the person, he slammed a piece of paper and a blue rose into her palm and vanished into thin air.
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