Swati was at home that day. She had taken a leave from her office citing bad health; however she just wanted to stay at home and had made up her bad health story. Vishal was yet to return. She wondered what took him so long. However she did not call him to ask about his whereabouts. It seemed as if she did not care.The weather outside was humid. Even though the fan was at its top speed a few drops of sweat came onto her forehead. Wiping them she went to the kitchen to get something to eat. Just as she returned she heard a car halt outside. Going to the balcony she saw Vishal had arrived. “If
only my father had not married me to him...” she said. He waved at her but she went inside. After a few minutes he came up and opening the door entered the house. “Are those for me?” said Swati, pointing to the bouquet he held in his hands. A big smile came onto his face for he heard her voice after three days. The two had not been talking recently. “Yes”, Vishal brimmed with smile. Taking the bouquet from him she kept it on the table. “You did not like them? They are your favourite right?” asked Vishal. “They are...thank you”, replied Swati without any emotion. He could not understand what had happened to her. She had been behaving so strangely.
“You know what happened at the office today?” said Vishal. “No...tell me”, replied Swati. Just as he was about to begin her phone rang. Picking it up she w
ent to the balcony while he waited for her to come back. He could hear her laughing. Even though it was not for him, the sound of her laughter brought a smile onto his face. Fifteen minutes had passed by but she was still on the phone. Vishal went in to freshen up and change. As he returned, he saw Swati was sitting on the couch. “Who was it?” he asked. “An office colleague”, replied Swati. “So I was saying...” he began but cutting him short Swati said, “Not now Vishal...I don’t want to get bored.” Not saying anything he went back to his room. She did not ask him for any snacks or a cup of tea. Swati sat in the drawing room busy with her phone. Vishal came from behind and hugged her lightly. “I love you Swati”, he said. Vishal had been feeling very lonely. For the past 3 days he had stored so much of his thoughts in himself...he wanted to let it all out. He had only her. Swati tried to break away but Vishal hugged her. “Vishal please go!” she shouted and broke the hug. He was shocked and stood there. Swati got up from the couch.
“Don’t you understand? I do not want your gifts or your hugs. I do not love you! Is that clear? Just because my father married me to you as he thought you will take care of me doesn’t mean
I too will accept you”, she said in her same loud voice. Vishal stood there with tears in his eyes like a kid who was being scolded by the teacher. “Look at yourself”, she continued, “What sort of a match are you with me? How can you be so dumb Vishal? You know why I stayed at home today? Karan had come over.” At this line, he looked at her face blankly. “He made me realize that you don’t deserve me. He is the one who will take care of me in every way. And by that I mean EVERY WAY!! When was the last time we were in bed together?” Vishal had wanted to hear her voice but he had never expected these words to come out of her mouth. “Did you...
?” asked Vishal in tears. “Yes! I had sex with him. All you care about is making me smile and bringing gifts. What about my desires? What about what I want?” “Is this all you want?” he said. To this Swati remained quiet. Vishal went inside. She could hear him sobbing but she had said what she wanted to. Maybe she had said too much? Maybe she should have just talked to him about this calmly? The telephone started to ring. She went to pick it up but just as she was about to pick the receiver, Swati felt something sharp pierce her back. She let out a cry of pain. A hand covered her mouth as the sharp thing was taken out of her. Swati turned to see Vishal standing there with a knife. Shooting a cold look at her he said, “You shouldn’t have” and pushed the knife into her stomach. Swati was in tears. Blood was running out. Her mouth was not covered but she could not say anything. She sank to the floor on her knees with the knife still in her stomach. Vishal bend down to her level and took out the knife slowly causing her more pain. He pushed her causing her to lie flat on the floor. He kept murmuring, “You shouldn’t have”. Caressing her face, Vishal kissed her as he tore the wound with his fingers. Swati grimaced in pain. After some time she stopped moving. Realising it Vishal got up. The floor was covered in blood and so where his hands. He had just murdered his wife....
