short story series. Maya.

Maya’s Woes.

       It was a lazy afternoon. Maya was sitting in her balcony with a cup of coffee. Alone, thoughtful, feeling bit low.  Her children had gone to a neighbor’s house to play with their kids. It had been quite a few months since Maya had started having these feeling of loneliness and depression.  Maybe because she had noticed the change in her husband’s strange behavior.  He appeared to be lost in his own thoughts now and then. Not interacting with her as he previously did. He was absent minded and detached most of the time. Initially, she overlooked it, considering it to be a workload or some distraction in the office, as he had said that his new boss was quite a pain in the neck. Sudhir had been working in that office since five years but he had never faced such hard times, he said. Maya did not want to disturb him further and so kept mum. Compromising over every situation and overlooking his faults.

     But now things seemed to be going from bad to worse. Sudhir had been to several business trips, which were not arranged by his firm. Maya came to know about them later. When she questioned Sudhir, he tactfully lied to her and tried to convince her somehow. Day by day his attitude towards his children also became indifferent and hostile. He would get angry and shout at them over trivial matters. He worked late hours and returned home only after 9 pm. Dinner would be a silent affair, with children already in bed.  Maya’s queries would irritate him. She was getting impatient now with these regular escapades and Sudhir’s attitude.

     What could it be?  Was he harassed by his boss? Was Sudhir under some financial crisis? Was he hiding something from her? Was she over reacting and imagining things? Did he have some health problem? Maya’s mind was playing havoc. She just could not come to any conclusion. That evening she decided to talk straight to Sudhir about it, come what may. She needed to sort this out. It was affecting her health and mental peace and the children were also under pressure.  She could not let this go on any further, living in a cold, indifferent environment at home, day after day.

      Luckily, that afternoon, Sudhir’s friend Sanjay dropped in to their house as it was a holiday. He had always been his closest friend and confidante. They always shared their joys and sorrows with each other. Maya was surprised to know that Sanjay had not met Sudhir since about a year.  That he had just returned a week ago from Dubai, where he stayed for more than eight months working on a project. His Mumbai firm had sent him there. They were in touch on phone for a short chat and that was it. Whereas Sudhir had been continuously telling Maya on numerous occasions that he was going out or partying with Sanjay.  So Maya talked over to Sanjay, informing him about all that was going on in her home and between her and Sudhir.

‘Who is his new boss?’ she asked Sanjay.                                                                                                                                                     ‘Oh! It is Neha madam, from Bengaluru. She is very intelligent and good looking and demanding as well. She is a spoilt brat. I had heard about some of her passing affairs when I was here.  She had just taken over Sudhir’s firm as his boss.  But since I was abroad I am out of touch with my group and am trying to make up for it now.   I do not know much about her proceedings.’ Sanjay said honestly.    ‘By the way where has Sudhir gone today?’  he asked.                                          ‘As if he is to tell me the truth. He said he had some office work and off he went.’  pat came Maya’s reply.

 Sanjay please call him right now and just inquire where he is.’  She said in a disturbed tone.                                                                                                                   Sanjay called Sudhir but he did not receive the call. Sanjay immediately dialed another number of Sudhir’s office secretary just to inquire his whereabouts. He was an old acquaintance of Sanjay and was glad to hear from Sanjay after a long time. They had a friendly chat for about ten minutes, during which he mentioned about the hottest news in his office. The most happening affair between his boss and Sudhir. Sanjay went cold. He immediately ended the conversation. Maya was watching him closely. She noticed the sudden change in Sanjay’s expressions.                                       ‘What is it Sanjay? Could you get any information? Where is Sudhir?” her questions shot out one after the other.             Sanjay was hesitant. Maya could guess something fishy.                                   

‘For God’s sake Sanjay speak up, is everything Ok with Sudhir? Has something happened to him, anything wrong?

She was getting on her nerves now, bit jittery. She went on, ‘Sudhir looked upset since few months. I am worried please tell me Sanjay. Who was on the phone? What did you hear that made you go pale in the face?’ her questions were running haywire. She was losing her temper, but Sanjay could not speak up, as he himself was in a shock. He had never thought Sudhir to be the straying type of person, that too with two beautiful kids. His thoughts went back and forth to the days they had spent together.                                                                                

‘Sanjay!!  Please speak up I am asking you something. Where are you lost? What is it?’

‘It is Neha.’ He said.

‘Who Neha?  Who is she? What about her? I am asking you to inquire about Sudhir.’ She said disappointed.                              ‘It is about Neha and Sudhir,’ he was hesitant as he spoke. ‘They are out together, the…, the…, his…, Neha’s secretary told me.’ Sudhir was fumbling for words. Maya went cold for a minute, she stood speechless. Then suddenly she said,

‘What the hell is going on between my husband and that bitch?’ Maya’s patience was at its lowest ebb and she was ready to burst.

Sanjay knew she was serious. ‘Look, Maya. There is nothing going on between the two of them. Just a little bit of healthy flirting, I’d say.’

‘Flirting? Healthy flirting? Really Sanjay…….’ She rolled her eyes in disgust. ‘That’s what you men call it? There is nothing healthy about flirting, Sanjay, not for a married man.                                                                                                                                  Healthy flirting is a term introduced by perverted men who want to lend legitimacy to their extramarital dalliances. Flirting invariably has a sexual connotation to it.’ She got up from her seat and walked around the room gesticulating and muttering something to herself. Suddenly she stopped, turned back, looked at Sanjay and asked, ‘Did my husband sleep with her? You are his friend. Did he ever tell you anything about it?’

‘Maya, Maya, please calm down. I told you I was abroad since many months. We just had formal chats. How would I know anything at all unless he tells me about it?’  He was trying his best to calm her down.   

 ‘If it was a healthy flirting as you say, he need not lie to me. If it was a healthy relationship they need not go out alone every weekends and every holiday with the excuse of office work. I knew, I knew something was going on at the back of his mind, I could sense it. He was hiding something from me. He was not his real self with us at all.’ Maya went on.

Just then the doorbell rang. She opened the door and in walked Sudhir and Neha hand in hand, in a happy mood.

How could he! Sanjay thought, but kept quiet.

Maya was aghast, glaring at them. Sudhir brushed passed her and entered the room with Neha. Maya felt a daze, but immediately controlled herself and came to her senses.

‘What the hell is going on? Who is she and how dare you walk in with her like this in front of me? ‘

Sudhir and Maya exchanged sweet glances, smiled, unabashed, as if nothing had mattered at all.                                                                 ‘Maya, she is my new boss,’ he paused then continued, ‘My new boss at the office and at home as well.’                                              ‘What do you mean? Mind you, get the hell out of here you shameless bitch.’ Maya was furious.                                                   Sudhir’s attitude changed suddenly, glaring at Maya he said, ‘You better mind your language. She is my new business and live-in partner. We have decided to stay together forever. At the office and home as well. Isn’t it dear Neha? That is why I have brought her here.’ Neha gave him that enchanting look and a graceful nod.

 Maya could not believe her ears. She sat down on the sofa. Sudhir went on, ‘I am fed up of you and your children.’

‘My children?  Are they not your children as well?’ Maya could not say anything further, she felt choked.                                         ‘You all are a continuous nuisance to me, I have decided I cannot stay with you all anymore. I need peace and freedom.’

Maya’s world was collapsing before her eyes. Sanjay was in a fix. He was cursing the moment he came to meet Sudhir. He could not speak to either of them. He did not know what to do.   

 Sudhir continued, ‘I have brought Neha with me to sort things out. I am fed up of playing games with you all. I want to get this sorted. Now you decide how you are going to deal with this. Are you ready to leave the house with the kids or should I leave and go to Neha’s house. Because very shortly I am going to file a divorce. I don’t want any further delays from you.’

Sanjay was standing in the corner. Is it Sudhir speaking?  Was he out of his mind? What about his children, did he not think about their future?  How can he be so ruthless? Questions were welling up in his mind. The past year had brought about a drastic change in Sudhir, he thought.

Maya got up from the sofa in anger and pulled Neha out of the chair.                                                                                             ‘How dare you come to my home? Get out right now. This is my home and I will not leave it. This is the home of my two children and they are not going anywhere, not for their father’s foolishness.’  Looking at Sudhir she went on,’ yes, a fool. You are a fool to ignore your own family and run after this bitch. You have forgotten that you are a father of two children. Shame on you.  If you do not want to stay with me then better get out of here. I will manage my life and take good care of my children. We don’t need any help or sympathy from you.’ She said furiously.

Sudhir was taken aback. Never had he seen Maya in this form. Never had she spoken in this way. Her outburst shocked him. He had considered her to be a meek, submissive weakling, living in fear. He had always victimized her with his dominant and rigid ways.

‘Out you go with her right now.’ Maya’s voice brought him to his senses.                                                                                                      She looked at Sanjay and said, ‘Do you see this! I told you there can never be a healthy flirting for a married man. It is his shameless affair with this shameless lady that had caused all the tension and problems in my life since last few months. And you were trying to justify his behavior. Do you have anything to say now?’  Sanjay had nothing to say.

Sudhir and Neha were dumbfounded. They had come over with a different planning.                                                        Neha had thought that Maya being a submissive housewife, would fall prey to her husband’s orders and get scared and leave the home. She would not have the courage to face the situation. That she would fear losing her husband and would agree to whatever he said. And that she would easily be able to live in with Sudhir. 

Sudhir felt that he had fooled and cheated Maya several times and that she was dumb. She had never known any of his escapades. She was just a foolish housewife, lost in her home and children. That she had no idea about anything else.

But to their astonishment, the dices fell on the wrong side.                                                                                                                          Maya said,’ Don’t you think that I am a dumb housewife. That I do not know what you have been doing behind my back. That I am unaware of your silly affairs, and that I am a fool. I knew about your flirtations but kept quiet thinking that it was not anything so serious. Thinking that there was no point in abusing and confronting in front of the children. It would set a bad example for them. Thinking that you would improve your ways and stop all that, and be a responsible husband and father some day. That you would value our relationship. But, NO. You are not of the changing types. It was my mistake that I trusted you, and kept on hoping for a better future and a happy family. But I was so wrong, I don’t need you anymore in my life.’ She went on, tears rolling down her pretty cheeks.

 The confrontations and accusations went on. Sanjay quietly left his best friend’s house, assuring himself never to visit them again. Hearing the voices till he reached the end of the corridor, he entered the lift on the tenth floor of Crystal towers, at Kemp’s corner.

Later that month, he got the news of divorce filed by Sudhir. And by the end of the year, Neha had kicked him out of her flat. He was fired from his job as well and was now living in a cheap hostel nearby searching for a decent job and accomodation. He had tried to patch up with his wife. But Maya had been adamant and did not want to tolerate such a person who never valued relationships, who was a selfish and self centered. Though she was a simple housewife, she knew very well that the world may change, lifestyles change but some people never change.

And Sudhir was one of them. A rigid stone in the arid desert.