Disclaimer: The characters in this novella are purely fictional. Any resemblance to anyone living or dead is purely coincidental.
It was when the first rays of the sun fell on Kiran’s face that he woke up. He was still on the rocking chair in his bedroom. Kiran was not sure as to when he fell asleep, the previous night, looking at Swati sleeping and his mind wandering into the events of the past.
He rubbed his eyes and squinted to ward off the excess light hitting is eyes and strained to see the big wall clock. It was only 6:30 am. He could sleep for another 30 minutes. Then, slowly, his eyes moved to the bed. Swati was not there.
The bathroom door in their bedroom was closed. Kiran heard the water flowing and guessed that Swati was having a bath. His head was pounding due to the lack of proper sleep. He closed his eyes.
Kiran could not sleep. His mind wandered through uncharted territories in regards to what Vicky saw. He did not want any ill thoughts festering his mind and decided to talk to Swati, for he knew that it was never good to bottle-up emotions and thoughts, particularly the bad ones.
When the bathroom door opened and Swati came out, she seemed very normal. It did not look like she realized how rude she had been the previous night with Ammu.
Swati had draped herself a nice baby blue cotton saree, which was well starched and ironed. The crevasses of the pleats were very sharp and neatly tucked. She looked just like how one would imagine a “professor to be” – so elegant – the very reason why he fell in love with her.
‘Swati, I want to talk to you’
‘About what?’ She shot out innocently.
Kiran was doubtful if she was really naive and did not know what happened the previous evening? Even if she did not know that Vicky saw her with a stranger, holding hands, how could she forget her rude behaviour towards Ammu?
‘About what happened yesterday,’ Kiran started.
‘Oh dear, I’m so sorry. I’m in a hurry. Can we chat in the evening? Please….’
‘Hmmmm….’
‘Moreover, I have asked a couple of my students to come in early today for an additional class, as they had doubts in the lesson. So, I need to go’, Swati said calmly.
‘But, I need to talk’, Kiran said.
‘Anything, in the evening please’, Swati was pleading.
Before Kiran could say anything, Swati dashed out of their bedroom and to the dining.
Ammu was already in the kitchen preparing breakfast for everyone. Lunch for everyone was also almost ready.
‘Good Morning Swati, the idly’s would be ready in a couple of minutes. I have also made fresh coconut chutney’, Ammu told Swati.
‘Oh no, I don’t need any breakfast. I will eat outside’
‘How about lunch? Fresh food is almost ready’
‘That’s ok, I will eat outside’
‘Is everything okay? I’m noticing that you are eating out most of the days’
‘Yeah, yeah. All good. I’m in a rush. I’m leaving now’. Swati rushed past the kitchen door, without giving Ammu a chance to speak further.
Swati behaved as if nothing had happened the previous evening. Her being with a stranger was something that only Vicky and now Kiran knew. But, her rude behaviour with Ammu – how could she just behave as if nothing happened? Kiran was surprised. The more he thought about that the more frustrated and confused he was.
The time was only 7:15 am. Kiran brushed and had a quick shower. He went to the dining room to have his breakfast.
‘Kiran, did Swati say anything at all? What happened?’
‘No Amma! She didn’t say anything. In fact she behaved as if everything was normal. As if nothing happened. She just got ready and left home ‘
‘Maybe she was just upset about something and showed her anger on us. After all whom else can she share her frustration with? If she is fine today, do not talk about what happened yesterday evening with her’
‘Okay Amma’.
‘What’s done cannot be undone and there is no use in you bringing it all up once again. After all, you should understand that she has left her parents and have come over here to live with you. So please be kind to her’
‘Yes Amma’
Kiran thought to himself ‘Poor Amma she doesn’t know all that is happening between us and certainly not what Vicky has witnessed’.
‘What happened? You seem to be in deep thought.’ Ammu snapped Kiran back to reality.
‘Oh no, nothing. Let me get going now.’ Saying that, Kiran took his lunch box and neatly arranged it in the plastic lunch box holder and went outside where he had parked his Yamaha.
‘Bye Amma, see you in the evening’. Kiran kick started his Yamaha and was on his way to his work.
His mind was very foggy. While on the way to his work, at one of the newly formed MNC near Sangeet Theatre, Secunderabad, his mind wandered back to the events of the wedding and, his first night with Swati, as man and wife.
Kiran maneuvered his Yamaha mechanically, as a robot, through the streets of Hyderabad and Secunderabad, the twin cities connected via the Tank Bund, the bridge by the Hussein Sagar lake…
Once Again…???!!! Chapter 4: the Deliberation
to continue…
Awaiting to read the next chapter… 😊😊😊