Contd from : You mean it’s a clue?- Part 3
“They did. But there was nothing more beyond the trail. It opened on to the wide road in the east and that’s where the footsteps finished,” Rajlakshmi duly explained.
* * *
Early next day it was business as usual in the house. The road in the east was forgotten along with the strand of hair in the hustle bustle packing tiffins and reading newspapers.
“Will it be okay if I stay back at home today?” and amidst this came Devyani’s weak voice in the kitchen.
Her mother did not turn afraid her desolate expression might communicate her fears. She only nodded in response, indicating it was alright.
* * *
Rajlakshmi was fifteen and married. Her life though did not take a bad turn up until her husband lost his job in a few months. She was forced to return to the village. It was more of a sense of disgrace rather than the loss of city’s luxury, which made life hell for her.
“But will he return or not?” her father’s soft nudges didn’t help either.
“Well it is only a break. He is also being paid for this time,” she resorted to lying as an alternate to save face.
And of course the repercussions in her marriage were far deeper. Now not only was she not pretty and uneducated but also a curse.
“My life was just fine before you came along. I think if I were to dump you right now the job, happiness my mental peace all will come walking back,” almost every night she heard this.
And in response she only gave a slight nod with her back towards him. Afraid her tears too will be disrespected and then she would have nothing left to preserve.
* * *
“Rajlakshmi,” her husband was apparently going early to work and hence the thundered call.
She ran out of the kitchen with tiffin in one hand and his watch, shoes in the other.
“If you are not able to manage then tell me. I will get you a maid,” the words themselves perhaps formed a helpful suggestion but the tone accompanying them indicated them to be far from encouraging.
She shook her head in negative, this time not raising her head afraid the anger in the eyes would get communicated.
And in one quick pull, he took the tiffin, shoes and watch and left.
* * *
“But there must be something you could figure out,” she overheard her husband ask the policeman.
“Just that the murderer might have been a woman,” he replied in a hushed voice.
contd. at She is very strange-Part 5
* * *
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I’ve never thought if using my blog and one of the month long challenges I do to push through my fiction writing! What an interesting idea. I will have to give this one some thought! !!
I hope you do Carrie and keep us in loop. We would love to read it!
lovely writing. I look forward to reading more!
Thanks Fiona 🙂
Oh!! a woman?? Wow…this is getting murkier… 🙂
Wait for more my love 😀
1 thing i m definitely gonna do every weekend now is read your write ups of the week together…your story telling is really powerful Richa…:)
Thanks Vaisakhi looking forward to it 🙂
who’s the woman? who’s the woman!! 🙂
Wait and watch or rather read 😀
Great post. Never thought of using blog for fiction
Thanks Karin. And here I think of nothing else 😀
Luv how u hv interwined their household life with urder ystery. Did they hv anything to do with it?
Wait and watch or rather read my love 😀 😀 *mean smile*
Only thing I hate about these one month stories are the Waiting part :/
Don’t say that! That is the fun (or at least for me) 😀
Oh a woman!!! Wonder what led them to think that! And who! I am so getting into this story. Amazing and riveting♥
Thanks Kathy 🙂 I am happy you are enjoying this 🙂
Oh a new twist – a woman!! Gets more interesting by the day.
A lot of things yet to come….:-)
Oh My God!! Who could that be? And how did they come to that conclusion? Next part…. soon pls 🙂
Next part here madame 😀 This is why I love live comments, lets me know if the story is going fine or not….
I feel this kind of a rush when I read a Sidney Sheldon or I will go one up and say that this is better Richa. Sometimes suspense is really killing and it is killing me now.
Thanks a lot 🙂 That’s a huge compliment 🙂
Hey!!! Good going so far and love the way u build the suspense with so much deft. I wish one of ur novellas is made into the short film..the previous one Mumbai walla:0
I wish that too Vishal!!
Now. who’s she???
Find out soon!