Yesterday was a different day.
She had been walking down the road planning her day ahead when she suddenly stopped to remember the events of last twenty four hours. He had come down to meet her at work. They had always held a special status for each other. From work friends to part time lovers to now married to different people, there was almost nothing they didn’t know or share with one another.
He had moved cities and now countries but the string that connected them remained intact. Between phone calls and facebook messages they had found time to update each other.
She smiled to herself. The madness they had exchanged over the cups of coffee had suddenly recreated that era gone by.
“If only he had had the courage to speak to his parents about us,” a thought that haunted Shikha still. Not that she was not happy with her present life. But then somewhere the regret of not spending her life with Puneet had remained.
It was almost as if nothing had changed. She was still wanting to see him after work. Continuously checking messages for updates and of course looking for some sign in social media to indicate he was thinking of her as well.
“Why some evenings can never fade” at New Delhi railway station. His facebook status confirmed two things. He was leaving town as promised and yes still thinking of her.
* * *
Whatever it was, his life would have been different. If only he had the strength to confront his mother.
Not that Sujata had not been a great life partner all these years. But perhaps he never wanted great he wanted Shikha. Flawed, impulsive, childish and most importantly all his.
It was almost as if nothing had changed. He was still holding himself back for another day in the city only to meet her again for dinner.
* * *
It is an office party. She had no other choice but to lie to Mahesh. Meeting Puneet once was acceptable but for another evening would have meant some raised eyebrows in the house.
His message had surprised her but at the same time flown down some sweet love memories of yesteryear.
* * *
When dinner flew into drinks and drinks into stories they could never judge. But having overstepped deadlines from each spouse’s they decided to call it a night. They had almost agreed to part ways when a sudden gust of emotion engulfed them in an embrace. And then the kiss.
It was as if nothing had changed.
And just then the two phones rang. Duty beckoned them to return home.
* * *
Today the story is not complete. It isn’t the sort of thing I usually do. But some events or conversations around have led me to write this. I want to know in times of such things, is cheating a way of liberating oneself from bonds or shackles of marriage? Or perhaps only a break from boredom and nothing serious?
Should Puneet and Shikha treat this as a casual encounter or a serious surge of dormant love?
View encouraged!
hmm.. I feel they are treading on dangerous territory.. one never knows what might happen.
If they are not unhappy in their current lives.. are they strong enough to stay just friends?
Dangerous territory it is..
Agree with Pixie. A slip-up how so ever small can cause bigger troubles. May be Puneet and Shikha are missing something in their current relationships. People when in happy and good relationships do not cheat, despite the temptations!
Of course often what we miss we try to discover outside our lives and often in someone else’s..
Cheating isn’t an answer to anything and cannot be justified. They still have that spark because they know it can be reciprocated. And it a “one-time-thing” comes without strings attached unlike a marriage. In my opinion, they aren’t unhappy and hence won’t be happy with each other either because then they will linger to their current life.
Yes Prateek so perhaps the thought that spark remains on both sides is what drives them..
I agree with Pixie. Emotional affairs are affairs. They are playing with fire.
That they are Alana..
Life ain’t simple and people are even more complex. And relationships especially marriage and friendship are not at all understandable from outside. So I would say I don’t know and let the writer in me explore the depths of the situations and people in them through my imagination without any judgement 🙂
That is what I would also do. Writers somehow let words find better answers..
Whoa! They are surfing dangerous tides! But I agree with Beloome! Each relationship is unique… so it can be anything, based on the characters, their lives – let them live whichever way they wish – who are we to judge?
That is true as well. Who are we to judge?
I will agree more with beloome and rajrupa…life aint simple and mostly it happens in a space somewhere between right and wrong. It all finally comes down to what is important to you in this life.. your decisions will flow naturally. And as rajrupa said who are we to judge
Yes it does. And whether one asks the right questions in life as well..
If you are interested enough in someone other than your spouse, you might need to take a serious look at your relationship. Is it worth hurting your spouse over? If the thought of that doesn’t bother you, then maybe you shouldn’t be married! (Just my opinion!)
But then if the thought of that hurts you as well as force you to continue out of guilt then what?
If their feeling for each other is stronger than their spouses, it’s better and moral to divorce than cheat. I feel cheating can never be justified. Be it out of boredom or guilt. It’s a total destruction of love and trust.
But sometimes it is the only way now…
Oh btw I loved the narration.
Glad you liked it 🙂
I strongly feel that if Puneet had the strength to confront her mother and to support his love, this day would not be there.
But that is past and hence should be over no?
On the contrary if he had got his girl then, the amount of longing & excitement that he still has for her would not have remained..
That I agree upto an extent..
Are there any easy answers? 😀
I am hoping there aren’t..
I think both of them should embrace the reality, however hard they might have to fight for that with their respective families and friends…it they are emotionally attached strongly they should have the courage to face the consequence….
I agree with you Maniparna..
No easy answers to this one. I wouldnt be judgemental about them.
But without being judgmental what would you say could happen?
What happened next. Tell me! NOW!
haha you tell me what happened according to you?
No matter how much they got swayed away by their glorious past and its memories I think they both should accept the reality and should respect the bond they are currently in. Cheating is a strict “NO”. It isn’t a passing affair, it’s marriage we are talking about.