It was
already late. She checked her watch and wiped her almost drenched fore head
with the not so yellow handkerchief. ‘Delhi
heat is killing’. Impatiently tapping her feet on the car mat, she was about to
curse God, Time, her maid, her inlaws and him for her problems when she saw Sonu
coming out of the school main door. Sonu,
looked delighted to see his mother. It was Saturday and he was much
excited about the trip to the Nehru Zoological Park.. Archana did not know how
to tell Sonu that there was a change in the plan.
‘Where is Raghu?’
‘Haven’t I
told you a hundred times not to use someone’s first name. It is bad manners to
do so. Say Raghu Uncle. Raghu Uncle has some work in office and so he will not
be able to come with us.’
‘Momma, I
call Ankit, Pintu and Maina by their
first names so why not Raghu. He is my bestest-est friend. I won’t go without him!’
It was hard
to explain to Sonu the reason that Raghu will not come with them to anywhere
anymore. After what happened on her Birthday at the restaurant that day she
decided to end their relationship or as it the people had it termed it – an affair.
4 years had passed since
Prashant had left her and got married with Anjali.
She had
balanced the responsibility of a single mother and a working woman for the past
4 years without showing stressed brow or a tearful eye. Everyone had
sympathized with her. Her parents were supportive and life was going fine at
all ends except..
She had buried
her pain, her rejection, the loss and betrayal by a man who had claimed to love
her and live with her all his life. She worked hard to secure Sonu’s
future. But deep down she knew there
was something missing. A hand to caress her shoulder when she returned from
office tired and exhausted. Someone who would support and love her. A person to
share her happiness and joys with. The night saw the day when Raghu
arrived in her life. A new colleague at work and a helping friend after office.
He would pick up Sonu from school and help her with the home shopping sometime.
The friendship grew and grew into love.
But how could
the laws that guard a good wife, mother and a daughter in law pass her getting
married again despite the fact that it was Prashant who had betrayed her and
was now happily married to another woman. There were rumors and they weren’t good
in any way. It crumbled her belief of living happily and respectfully after
marrying Raghu. Sonu was her son and would always be.
The laws of Infidelity just applied to her – she was a woman. They hadn’t stopped
Prashant
and will never stop any other Prashant …
Raghu would
soon be in Shimla overlooking the Mall road branch of the bank where he had
been transferred and she would be back to her single mother life.
She remembers his words: ‘There will
be no one who wants to keep you happier than you want to keep yourself. It’s
time to think about your own life and happiness.. ‘
