Why did you do that?!..... Anitha thought with deep pain in her heart. Mine was a closed chapter, why did you end up with me, Vijay?! You are so good in every thing, attitude, perception towards life, kindness, helping tendency, very young and energetic with a caring heart, you deserve a wonderful future... but you spoiled it by joining with mine... I can't even understand myself what I am thinking about you.... Anitha was in full of self pity.
Before marriage it was all good. The sharing, caring, the time spent together, there was a line in between, but still it was so beautiful.... Anitha remembered how Parvati aunty's daughter Swetha always chased him to make him as her boyfriend, how he used to search places to hide from her whenever she enter the house... All the happy days gone now... The easiness between them was gone... now a days there's always a tension hanging like a curtain in between them...'those eyes of him' which brings a chill down her spine, she can't even make an eye contact casually, that expectation in his eyes which she can't fulfill... that's killing her...he deserves much more delightful life... that was denied all because of her....yes.. she is ruining his happiness...Anitha was totally frustrated....
She desperately want to sort out this... she pressed her 'temples' with her hand. She actually likes Vijay... she liked being together with him... for his character nobody could ever be able to hate him...but that doesn't mean...' her thought was interrupted by the ring tone which was coming from the hall. It was Vijay's cell phone. She was sitting in her bed after returning from office without even changing her clothes. She was totally lost in thoughts, haven't noticed Vijay's arrival.
He came here for evening break nearly after a month. When last time he was here, both of them were struggling with the pipe, she remembered. On that day, he was gone abruptly without a word, actually she was telling him to inform the plumber for changing the tap, then she realized she was only talking to air.
After that it became very rare to see him. No evening breaks, coming only in late nights after she was gone to sleep, only to leave early morning even before she wakes up.. the reason he told was busy with work, tough time in business. And today he is here...
Anitha went near to the phone, it was on charger, the sound of water from washroom informed, he is inside for refreshing. By the time, it started ringing for second time, an unknown number flashed in display. After a short hesitation, she picked up the call.
"Is it 'Arun enterprises' MD Vijay sir?!" A guy was asking on the other side. Without even waiting for reply, he was telling, "sir, I am Prasath, I met you last week in your office, you assured me that you will pay my semester fees..." Meanwhile Vijay has come, anitha handed his phone to him. She started preparing the snack while he was talking through the phone.
After finishing it, he made another call to his office, and was telling, " Ya..Kumar, note this, the boy's name is Prasath, EEE department first year in SN college of engineering, confirm that and transfer the semester fees amount to the college account" he cut the call.
Anitha was watching him with folded arms, "it's much appreciable that you are helping a poor guy for his studies" she said proudly.
"It was started by Arun sir, he was helping me, and like that I was helping someone, that's all", he shrugged his shoulders simply.
"If he is here, he will adore you, you are much more dedicated to him..but..."she stopped in mid sentence as though thinking whether to tell or not. He was watching her in silence to come out on her own. Finally she made up her mind and continued, " but I don't think he would appreciate your decision on..... taking 'his property' for your own use..." She let out the breath she was holding on. It's a bit harsh, but that's the way it came out, she regretted and bite her lip hard.
He still watching her in silence as though he was trying to study her thoughts. But he already understood what she was trying to say. The words hit him directly, but he didn't show anything in his face.
"No, you are wrong, cause he was the one who asked me to take that decision.." he replied nonchalantly.
"What are you telling..?!" Anitha was shocked to the core, only air was coming out of her mouth not words. She placed her hand on the chest to somewhat reduce the pain she felt at her heart. He brought a glass of water and placed it in front of her, gestured her to sit down and drink it. She drank the water, sat down and pacified herself to hear further from him.
He glanced her once and started saying that, " once I told him, I wanted to repay him for his enormous help, he said, ' no need, even then if you want to show your gratitude, then I will ask you one thing, please take care of anitha after my life, cause she has no one in this world except me, and also she is so innocent and delicate, I can't imagine how she will tackle this cruel world all alone without me..I don't know about my children who are yet to born, so I am asking you... where ever you are and what ever you will be doing, please take care of her, that's the only thing I wanted from you...'
Tears already started falling from her eyes like a Cascade, she was looking at the tumbler without blinking. After a sigh, Vijay continued, "I don't know why he said that...but he said that... as though he knew his fate... it's true...I promised him and now.... I am keeping my promise", he said firmly and left the place as he doesn't have strength to see her uncontrollable sobbing afterwards.
*******
To be continued...
