INNOCENT DIVORCEE
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INNOCENT DIVORCEE
Misery Memoir
(Short Story)
A bitter smile forced way on Rakesh's lips as he once again looked at the mail on his computer. Amused as he was, could not stop laughing as he glanced at the mail before him. Leaving the mail open, Rakesh laid back to rest into his chair. Slowly slipping into the past, which he detested the most and thought had by now forgotten. It was while he was posted in a remote township of Rajasthan a few months after his marriage to Lalita. Theirs was arranged marriage and she came from a far related family. Rakesh had selected her after rejecting a few girls. He saw Lalita in a dingy room of her relative at Pahar ganj, Delhi. She looked gorgeous and the way she carried herself that day, she quite fitted with the image he carried in his mind of his, would be.
After a few months, away from home Rakesh was beset with health problems. Besides
Rakesh also had some problem with the neighbor resulting in the scuffle. The neighbor was related to a local baddie called Billu who will often visit him. Rakesh being ill all this time, had to cope with the dual tension.. Later Rakesh was bed ridden due to jaundice for over a month. Lolita, felt bore, being home all the time attending to him. Rakesh started feeling guilty for her boredom. Meanwhile Lalita had taken membership of a local library in the colony; she will dress up in the evenings to go to exchange the books from the library shop. This to some extent relieved Manoj of his guilt. As he saw that Lalita was taking care of herself. While he was up, it was decided Manoj will be visiting the head office at Delhi, to make effort for his transfer from there on health ground. While Rakesh was to leave for Delhi, the tension started mounting. He could feel as if some wrong was going to happen. Billu was seen more often in the vicinity and some times with threatening posture. Utterly confused, Weak of long illness and mired in health worries. He feared that the crooked neighbor with the help of his goon relative was up to create some problem or play mischief in his absence. His office was also quite near and his neighbor was also well connected with some of junior staff members and was part of the office politics. So Rakesh apprised Lalita of his anxieties and warned her not to go out or do anything silly, while he was away. He was worried about Lalita being harmed in any way..
In the late evening, the day Rakesh left home for boarding the train, He had the inkling that he was being followed. He feared that they may attack him on the way. Rakesh could feel that he was being followed till he had boarded the train. While inside the train and train started, he felt relieved. It was late in the night; while lying in his bed, that Rakesh was disturbed by a thought. If the guys did not want to harm or encounter him as he feared, then why should they have followed him unto the train? Curious and worried Rakesh laid putting the pieces together, the recent events and Lalita’s strange behavior in past few days. Her dressing up the way she had never done in the past. One evening while both were sitting in the front garden of their house Billu appeared in the street. His sudden appearance had Lolita left startled.
As the whole picture was getting clear before Rakesh.; A feeling of sudden rush of rage and anguish overtook him. This was directed at himself. Manoj was hitting his palm of one hand hard with his fist in utter frustration and madness. He cursed himself furiously,
“Oh! Why could I not see this before?.”
“What a fool I had been?”
“I have been duped by cunning Lalita herself”
“So she was the part of the game and she made me to move out of town”
Restless Rakesh passed the rest of night turning in his bed and cursing him, as he could not do anything as it was too late by then. He was furious and angry with himself that he miserably failed to see through the game in time. Now It had become even more urgent for him to get out of the place as soon as possible. So while in Delhi he tried hard to seek his transfer which did not seem imminent and he had to go back dejected. He could imagine the humiliations awaited him at the hands of people there. As he reached back late in the evening, Lalita welcomed him home. She looked rather relaxed. She in her wildest of dreams could never have imagined that she stood exposed to Manoj. After entering into the house Rakesh was anxious to find some clues as he was confident of getting some in the house. But it was only in the day light of the next morning he stumbled upon some. Upon being questioned, Lalita all of sudden finding exposed, as if caught red handed stood terrified. She confessed to Rakesh in the heat of moment. Lalita admitted that Billu had been visiting her in the nights.
Lalita took some time to gain back some composure realizing her folly of admission. She started throwing tantrums. She went to level allegation against Rakesh, and started packing her suitcase, threatening to leave. Rakesh remained unfazed by her tantrums and threats. Seeing husband unrelenting, Lalita left for her parents in huff. Rakesh hoped that his parent- in-laws were definitely going to sympathies with him on the misdeed of their daughter. He went to apprise them of the matter, lamenting that she had ruined his life. But to his shock they stood by their daughter. Charging him of having made her to confess at the point of knife. In next few days that followed worked as insult to injury for him.
A police complaint was filed with the police station. The charges framed were, Cruelty while demanding dowry. Rakesh was booked under section 482 of and was sent to jail. He was in jail for three months. When he was out he had lost his job. But he was determined not to take back Lalita at any cost. He had suffered the most and was not afraid of any thing now. The divorce was brokered at a high cost. While in Jail Rakesh had enough time to ponder over the past spent with Lalita. He could clearly see the negative signals he was getting since beginning and had refused to see then. He cursed the day he had first seen Lalita and the way he was carried away by her first impression. That blinded emotional Rakesh to see her true colors in time and made him to make compromises.
Years had passed and Rakesh had hardly forgotten the bitter past of his life. He was still not in favor of second marriage, but upon being insisted persistently he had agreed for and given the ad under disguise. Today seeing the response posted by Lolita herself, his ex wife and that too claiming to be “Innocent divorcee”
Manoj could not stop himself laughing and chiding the words,
“Inno cent divor cee”
He burst into laugh, a laugh loud enough and long enough.
Kkrish……
INNOCENT DIVORCEE
Misery Memoir
(Short Story)
A bitter smile forced way on Manoj’s lips as he once again looked at the mail on his computer. Amused as he was, could not stop laughing as he glanced at the mail before him. Leaving the mail open, Manoj laid back to rest into his chair. Slowly slipping into the past, which he detested the most and thought had by now forgotten.
It was while he was posted in a remote township of Rajasthan a few months after his marriage to Lalita. Theirs was arranged marriage and she came from a far related family. Manoj had selected her after rejecting a few girls. He saw Lalita in a dingy room of her relative at Pahar ganj, Delhi. She looked gorgeous and the way she carried herself that day, she quite fitted with the image he carried in his mind of his, would be.
After a few months there in, away from home Manoj was beset with health problems. Besides
Manoj also had some problem with the neighbor and resulting in the scuffle between the two. The neighbor was related to a local baddie called Billu who will often visit him. Manoj being ill all this time, had to cope with the dual tension.. Manoj was bed ridden due to jaundice for over a month. Lolita, felt bore, being home all the time attending to him. Manoj started feeling guilty for her boredom. Meanwhile Lalita had taken membership of a local library in the colony; she will dress up in the evenings to go to exchange the books from the library shop. This to some extent relieved Manoj of his guilt. As he saw that Lalita was taking care of herself. While he was up, it was decided Manoj will be visiting the head office at Delhi, to make effort for his transfer from there on health ground. While Manoj was to leave for Delhi, the tension started mounting. He could feel as if some wrong was going to happen. Billu was seen more often in the vicinity and some times with threatening posture. Utterly confused, Weak of long illness and mired in health worries. He feared that the crooked neighbor with the help of his goon relative was up to create some problem or play mischief in his absence. His office was also quite near and his neighbor was also well connected with some of junior staff members and was part of the office politics. So Manoj apprised Lolita of his anxieties and warned her not to go out or do anything silly, while he was away. He was worried about Lolita being harmed in any way..
In the late evening, the day Manoj left home for boarding the train, He had the inkling that he was being followed. He feared that they may attack him on the way. Manoj could feel that he was being followed till he had boarded the train. While inside the train and train started, he felt relieved. It was late in the night; while lying in his bed, that Manoj was disturbed by a thought. If the guys did not want to harm or encounter him as he feared, then why should they have followed him unto the train? Curious Manoj laid putting the pieces together, the recent events and Lalita’s strange behavior in past few days. Her dressing up the way she had never done in the past. One evening while both were sitting in the front garden of their house Billu appeared in the street. His sudden appearance had Lolita left startled.
As the whole picture was getting clear before Manoj.; A feeling of sudden rush of rage and anguish overtook him. The same was directed at himself. Manoj was hitting his palm of one hand hard with his fist in utter frustration and madness. He cursed himself furiously,
“Oh! Why could I not see this before?.”
“What a fool I had been?”
“I have been duped by cunning Lalita”
“So she was the part of the game and she made me to move out of town”
Restless Manoj passed the rest of night turning in his bed and cursing him, as he could not do anything as it was too late then. He was furious and angry with himself that he miserably failed to see through the game in time. It had become essential for him now to get out of the place as soon as possible. So while in Delhi he tried hard to seek his transfer which did not seem imminent and he had to go back. He could imagine the humiliations awaited him at the hands of people there. As he reached back late in the evening, Lalita welcomed him home. She looked rather relaxed. She in her wildest of dreams could never have imagined that she stood exposed to Manoj. After entering into the house Manoj was anxious to find some clues as he was confident of getting some in the house. But it was only in the day light of the next morning he stumbled upon some. Upon being questioned Lolita all of sudden finding exposed, as if caught red handed stood terrified. She confessed to Manoj in the heat of moment. Lalita admitted that Billu had been visiting her in the nights.
Lalita took some time to gain back some composure realizing her folly of admission, she started throwing tantrums. She went to level allegation against Manoj, and started packing her suitcase, threatening to leave. Manoj remained unfazed by her tantrums and threats. Seeing Manoj unrelenting, Lolita left for her parents in huff. Manoj hoped that his parent- in-laws were definitely going to sympathies with him on the misdeed of their daughter. He went to apprise them of the matter, lamenting that she had ruined his life. But to his shock they stood by their daughter. Charging him of having threatened her with knife, to confession, In next few days that followed worked as insult to injury for him.
A police complaint was filed with the police station. The charges framed were, Cruelty while demanding dowry. Manoj was booked under section 482 of and was sent to jail. He was in jail for three months. When he was out he had lost his job. But he was determined not to take back Lalita at any cost. He had suffered the most and was not afraid of any thing now. The divorce was brokered at a high cost. While in Jail Manoj had enough time to ponder over the past spent with Lalita. He could clearly see the negative signals he was getting since beginning and had refused to see then. He cursed the day he had first seen Lalita and the way he was carried away by her first impression. That blinded emotional Manoj to see her true colors in time and made him to make compromises.
Years had passed and Manoj had hardly forgotten the bitter past of his life. He was still not in favor of second marriage, but upon being insisted persistently he had agreed for and given the ad under disguise. Today seeing the response posted by Lolita herself, his ex wife and that too claiming to be “Innocent divorcee”
Manoj could not stop himself laughing and chiding the words,
“Inno cent divor cee”
He burst into laugh, a laugh loud enough and long enough.
Kkrish……
INNOCENT DIVORCEE
Misery Memoir
(Short Story)
A bitter smile forced way on Manoj’s lips as he once again looked at the mail on his computer. Amused as he was, could not stop laughing as he glanced at the mail before him. Leaving the mail open, Manoj laid back to rest into his chair. Slowly slipping into the past, which he detested the most and thought had by now forgotten.
It was while he was posted in a remote township of Rajasthan a few months after his marriage to Lalita. Theirs was arranged marriage and she came from a far related family. Manoj had selected her after rejecting a few girls. He saw Lalita in a dingy room of her relative at Pahar ganj, Delhi. She looked gorgeous and the way she carried herself that day, she quite fitted with the image he carried in his mind of his, would be.
After a few months there in, away from home Manoj was beset with health problems. Besides
Manoj also had some problem with the neighbor and resulting in the scuffle between the two. The neighbor was related to a local baddie called Billu who will often visit him. Manoj being ill all this time, had to cope with the dual tension.. Manoj was bed ridden due to jaundice for over a month. Lolita, felt bore, being home all the time attending to him. Manoj started feeling guilty for her boredom. Meanwhile Lalita had taken membership of a local library in the colony; she will dress up in the evenings to go to exchange the books from the library shop. This to some extent relieved Manoj of his guilt. As he saw that Lalita was taking care of herself. While he was up, it was decided Manoj will be visiting the head office at Delhi, to make effort for his transfer from there on health ground. While Manoj was to leave for Delhi, the tension started mounting. He could feel as if some wrong was going to happen. Billu was seen more often in the vicinity and some times with threatening posture. Utterly confused, Weak of long illness and mired in health worries. He feared that the crooked neighbor with the help of his goon relative was up to create some problem or play mischief in his absence. His office was also quite near and his neighbor was also well connected with some of junior staff members and was part of the office politics. So Manoj apprised Lolita of his anxieties and warned her not to go out or do anything silly, while he was away. He was worried about Lolita being harmed in any way..
In the late evening, the day Manoj left home for boarding the train, He had the inkling that he was being followed. He feared that they may attack him on the way. Manoj could feel that he was being followed till he had boarded the train. While inside the train and train started, he felt relieved. It was late in the night; while lying in his bed, that Manoj was disturbed by a thought. If the guys did not want to harm or encounter him as he feared, then why should they have followed him unto the train? Curious Manoj laid putting the pieces together, the recent events and Lalita’s strange behavior in past few days. Her dressing up the way she had never done in the past. One evening while both were sitting in the front garden of their house Billu appeared in the street. His sudden appearance had Lolita left startled.
As the whole picture was getting clear before Manoj.; A feeling of sudden rush of rage and anguish overtook him. The same was directed at himself. Manoj was hitting his palm of one hand hard with his fist in utter frustration and madness. He cursed himself furiously,
“Oh! Why could I not see this before?.”
“What a fool I had been?”
“I have been duped by cunning Lalita”
“So she was the part of the game and she made me to move out of town”
Restless Manoj passed the rest of night turning in his bed and cursing him, as he could not do anything as it was too late then. He was furious and angry with himself that he miserably failed to see through the game in time. It had become essential for him now to get out of the place as soon as possible. So while in Delhi he tried hard to seek his transfer which did not seem imminent and he had to go back. He could imagine the humiliations awaited him at the hands of people there. As he reached back late in the evening, Lalita welcomed him home. She looked rather relaxed. She in her wildest of dreams could never have imagined that she stood exposed to Manoj. After entering into the house Manoj was anxious to find some clues as he was confident of getting some in the house. But it was only in the day light of the next morning he stumbled upon some. Upon being questioned Lolita all of sudden finding exposed, as if caught red handed stood terrified. She confessed to Manoj in the heat of moment. Lalita admitted that Billu had been visiting her in the nights.
Lalita took some time to gain back some composure realizing her folly of admission, she started throwing tantrums. She went to level allegation against Manoj, and started packing her suitcase, threatening to leave. Manoj remained unfazed by her tantrums and threats. Seeing Manoj unrelenting, Lolita left for her parents in huff. Manoj hoped that his parent- in-laws were definitely going to sympathies with him on the misdeed of their daughter. He went to apprise them of the matter, lamenting that she had ruined his life. But to his shock they stood by their daughter. Charging him of having threatened her with knife, to confession, In next few days that followed worked as insult to injury for him.
A police complaint was filed with the police station. The charges framed were, Cruelty while demanding dowry. Manoj was booked under section 482 of and was sent to jail. He was in jail for three months. When he was out he had lost his job. But he was determined not to take back Lalita at any cost. He had suffered the most and was not afraid of any thing now. The divorce was brokered at a high cost. While in Jail Manoj had enough time to ponder over the past spent with Lalita. He could clearly see the negative signals he was getting since beginning and had refused to see then. He cursed the day he had first seen Lalita and the way he was carried away by her first impression. That blinded emotional Manoj to see her true colors in time and made him to make compromises.
Years had passed and Manoj had hardly forgotten the bitter past of his life. He was still not in favor of second marriage, but upon being insisted persistently he had agreed for and given the ad under disguise. Today seeing the response posted by Lolita herself, his ex wife and that too claiming to be “Innocent divorcee”
Manoj could not stop himself laughing and chiding the words,
“Inno cent divor cee”
He burst into laugh, a laugh loud enough and long enough.
Kkrish……
INNOCENT DIVORCEE
Misery Memoir
(Short Story)
A bitter smile forced way on Manoj’s lips as he once again looked at the mail on his computer. Amused as he was, could not stop laughing as he glanced at the mail before him. Leaving the mail open, Manoj laid back to rest into his chair. Slowly slipping into the past, which he detested the most and thought had by now forgotten.
It was while he was posted in a remote township of Rajasthan a few months after his marriage to Lalita. Theirs was arranged marriage and she came from a far related family. Manoj had selected her after rejecting a few girls. He saw Lalita in a dingy room of her relative at Pahar ganj, Delhi. She looked gorgeous and the way she carried herself that day, she quite fitted with the image he carried in his mind of his, would be.
After a few months there in, away from home Manoj was beset with health problems. Besides
Manoj also had some problem with the neighbor and resulting in the scuffle between the two. The neighbor was related to a local baddie called Billu who will often visit him. Manoj being ill all this time, had to cope with the dual tension.. Manoj was bed ridden due to jaundice for over a month. Lolita, felt bore, being home all the time attending to him. Manoj started feeling guilty for her boredom. Meanwhile Lalita had taken membership of a local library in the colony; she will dress up in the evenings to go to exchange the books from the library shop. This to some extent relieved Manoj of his guilt. As he saw that Lalita was taking care of herself. While he was up, it was decided Manoj will be visiting the head office at Delhi, to make effort for his transfer from there on health ground. While Manoj was to leave for Delhi, the tension started mounting. He could feel as if some wrong was going to happen. Billu was seen more often in the vicinity and some times with threatening posture. Utterly confused, Weak of long illness and mired in health worries. He feared that the crooked neighbor with the help of his goon relative was up to create some problem or play mischief in his absence. His office was also quite near and his neighbor was also well connected with some of junior staff members and was part of the office politics. So Manoj apprised Lolita of his anxieties and warned her not to go out or do anything silly, while he was away. He was worried about Lolita being harmed in any way..
In the late evening, the day Manoj left home for boarding the train, He had the inkling that he was being followed. He feared that they may attack him on the way. Manoj could feel that he was being followed till he had boarded the train. While inside the train and train started, he felt relieved. It was late in the night; while lying in his bed, that Manoj was disturbed by a thought. If the guys did not want to harm or encounter him as he feared, then why should they have followed him unto the train? Curious Manoj laid putting the pieces together, the recent events and Lalita’s strange behavior in past few days. Her dressing up the way she had never done in the past. One evening while both were sitting in the front garden of their house Billu appeared in the street. His sudden appearance had Lolita left startled.
As the whole picture was getting clear before Manoj.; A feeling of sudden rush of rage and anguish overtook him. The same was directed at himself. Manoj was hitting his palm of one hand hard with his fist in utter frustration and madness. He cursed himself furiously,
“Oh! Why could I not see this before?.”
“What a fool I had been?”
“I have been duped by cunning Lalita”
“So she was the part of the game and she made me to move out of town”
Restless Manoj passed the rest of night turning in his bed and cursing him, as he could not do anything as it was too late then. He was furious and angry with himself that he miserably failed to see through the game in time. It had become essential for him now to get out of the place as soon as possible. So while in Delhi he tried hard to seek his transfer which did not seem imminent and he had to go back. He could imagine the humiliations awaited him at the hands of people there. As he reached back late in the evening, Lalita welcomed him home. She looked rather relaxed. She in her wildest of dreams could never have imagined that she stood exposed to Manoj. After entering into the house Manoj was anxious to find some clues as he was confident of getting some in the house. But it was only in the day light of the next morning he stumbled upon some. Upon being questioned Lolita all of sudden finding exposed, as if caught red handed stood terrified. She confessed to Manoj in the heat of moment. Lalita admitted that Billu had been visiting her in the nights.
Lalita took some time to gain back some composure realizing her folly of admission, she started throwing tantrums. She went to level allegation against Manoj, and started packing her suitcase, threatening to leave. Manoj remained unfazed by her tantrums and threats. Seeing Manoj unrelenting, Lolita left for her parents in huff. Manoj hoped that his parent- in-laws were definitely going to sympathies with him on the misdeed of their daughter. He went to apprise them of the matter, lamenting that she had ruined his life. But to his shock they stood by their daughter. Charging him of having threatened her with knife, to confession, In next few days that followed worked as insult to injury for him.
A police complaint was filed with the police station. The charges framed were, Cruelty while demanding dowry. Manoj was booked under section 482 of and was sent to jail. He was in jail for three months. When he was out he had lost his job. But he was determined not to take back Lalita at any cost. He had suffered the most and was not afraid of any thing now. The divorce was brokered at a high cost. While in Jail Manoj had enough time to ponder over the past spent with Lalita. He could clearly see the negative signals he was getting since beginning and had refused to see then. He cursed the day he had first seen Lalita and the way he was carried away by her first impression. That blinded emotional Manoj to see her true colors in time and made him to make compromises.
Years had passed and Manoj had hardly forgotten the bitter past of his life. He was still not in favor of second marriage, but upon being insisted persistently he had agreed for and given the ad under disguise. Today seeing the response posted by Lolita herself, his ex wife and that too claiming to be “Innocent divorcee”
Manoj could not stop himself laughing and chiding the words,
“Inno cent divor cee”
He burst into laugh, a laugh loud enough and long enough.
Kkrish……
INNOCENT DIVORCEE
Misery Memoir
(Short Story)
A bitter smile forced way on Manoj’s lips as he once again looked at the mail on his computer. Amused as he was, could not stop laughing as he glanced at the mail before him. Leaving the mail open, Manoj laid back to rest into his chair. Slowly slipping into the past, which he detested the most and thought had by now forgotten.
It was while he was posted in a remote township of Rajasthan a few months after his marriage to Lalita. Theirs was arranged marriage and she came from a far related family. Manoj had selected her after rejecting a few girls. He saw Lalita in a dingy room of her relative at Pahar ganj, Delhi. She looked gorgeous and the way she carried herself that day, she quite fitted with the image he carried in his mind of his, would be.
After a few months there in, away from home Manoj was beset with health problems. Besides
Manoj also had some problem with the neighbor and resulting in the scuffle between the two. The neighbor was related to a local baddie called Billu who will often visit him. Manoj being ill all this time, had to cope with the dual tension.. Manoj was bed ridden due to jaundice for over a month. Lolita, felt bore, being home all the time attending to him. Manoj started feeling guilty for her boredom. Meanwhile Lalita had taken membership of a local library in the colony; she will dress up in the evenings to go to exchange the books from the library shop. This to some extent relieved Manoj of his guilt. As he saw that Lalita was taking care of herself. While he was up, it was decided Manoj will be visiting the head office at Delhi, to make effort for his transfer from there on health ground. While Manoj was to leave for Delhi, the tension started mounting. He could feel as if some wrong was going to happen. Billu was seen more often in the vicinity and some times with threatening posture. Utterly confused, Weak of long illness and mired in health worries. He feared that the crooked neighbor with the help of his goon relative was up to create some problem or play mischief in his absence. His office was also quite near and his neighbor was also well connected with some of junior staff members and was part of the office politics. So Manoj apprised Lolita of his anxieties and warned her not to go out or do anything silly, while he was away. He was worried about Lolita being harmed in any way..
In the late evening, the day Manoj left home for boarding the train, He had the inkling that he was being followed. He feared that they may attack him on the way. Manoj could feel that he was being followed till he had boarded the train. While inside the train and train started, he felt relieved. It was late in the night; while lying in his bed, that Manoj was disturbed by a thought. If the guys did not want to harm or encounter him as he feared, then why should they have followed him unto the train? Curious Manoj laid putting the pieces together, the recent events and Lalita’s strange behavior in past few days. Her dressing up the way she had never done in the past. One evening while both were sitting in the front garden of their house Billu appeared in the street. His sudden appearance had Lolita left startled.
As the whole picture was getting clear before Manoj.; A feeling of sudden rush of rage and anguish overtook him. The same was directed at himself. Manoj was hitting his palm of one hand hard with his fist in utter frustration and madness. He cursed himself furiously,
“Oh! Why could I not see this before?.”
“What a fool I had been?”
“I have been duped by cunning Lalita”
“So she was the part of the game and she made me to move out of town”
Restless Manoj passed the rest of night turning in his bed and cursing him, as he could not do anything as it was too late then. He was furious and angry with himself that he miserably failed to see through the game in time. It had become essential for him now to get out of the place as soon as possible. So while in Delhi he tried hard to seek his transfer which did not seem imminent and he had to go back. He could imagine the humiliations awaited him at the hands of people there. As he reached back late in the evening, Lalita welcomed him home. She looked rather relaxed. She in her wildest of dreams could never have imagined that she stood exposed to Manoj. After entering into the house Manoj was anxious to find some clues as he was confident of getting some in the house. But it was only in the day light of the next morning he stumbled upon some. Upon being questioned Lolita all of sudden finding exposed, as if caught red handed stood terrified. She confessed to Manoj in the heat of moment. Lalita admitted that Billu had been visiting her in the nights.
Lalita took some time to gain back some composure realizing her folly of admission, she started throwing tantrums. She went to level allegation against Manoj, and started packing her suitcase, threatening to leave. Manoj remained unfazed by her tantrums and threats. Seeing Manoj unrelenting, Lolita left for her parents in huff. Manoj hoped that his parent- in-laws were definitely going to sympathies with him on the misdeed of their daughter. He went to apprise them of the matter, lamenting that she had ruined his life. But to his shock they stood by their daughter. Charging him of having threatened her with knife, to confession, In next few days that followed worked as insult to injury for him.
A police complaint was filed with the police station. The charges framed were, Cruelty while demanding dowry. Manoj was booked under section 482 of and was sent to jail. He was in jail for three months. When he was out he had lost his job. But he was determined not to take back Lalita at any cost. He had suffered the most and was not afraid of any thing now. The divorce was brokered at a high cost. While in Jail Manoj had enough time to ponder over the past spent with Lalita. He could clearly see the negative signals he was getting since beginning and had refused to see then. He cursed the day he had first seen Lalita and the way he was carried away by her first impression. That blinded emotional Manoj to see her true colors in time and made him to make compromises.
Years had passed and Manoj had hardly forgotten the bitter past of his life. He was still not in favor of second marriage, but upon being insisted persistently he had agreed for and given the ad under disguise. Today seeing the response posted by Lolita herself, his ex wife and that too claiming to be “Innocent divorcee”
Manoj could not stop himself laughing and chiding the words,
“Inno cent divor cee”
He burst into laugh, a laugh loud enough and long enough.
Kkrish……
INNOCENT DIVORCEE
Misery Memoir
(Short Story)
A bitter smile forced way on Manoj’s lips as he once again looked at the mail on his computer. Amused as he was, could not stop laughing as he glanced at the mail before him. Leaving the mail open, Manoj laid back to rest into his chair. Slowly slipping into the past, which he detested the most and thought had by now forgotten.
It was while he was posted in a remote township of Rajasthan a few months after his marriage to Lalita. Theirs was arranged marriage and she came from a far related family. Manoj had selected her after rejecting a few girls. He saw Lalita in a dingy room of her relative at Pahar ganj, Delhi. She looked gorgeous and the way she carried herself that day, she quite fitted with the image he carried in his mind of his, would be.
After a few months there in, away from home Manoj was beset with health problems. Besides
Manoj also had some problem with the neighbor and resulting in the scuffle between the two. The neighbor was related to a local baddie called Billu who will often visit him. Manoj being ill all this time, had to cope with the dual tension.. Manoj was bed ridden due to jaundice for over a month. Lolita, felt bore, being home all the time attending to him. Manoj started feeling guilty for her boredom. Meanwhile Lalita had taken membership of a local library in the colony; she will dress up in the evenings to go to exchange the books from the library shop. This to some extent relieved Manoj of his guilt. As he saw that Lalita was taking care of herself. While he was up, it was decided Manoj will be visiting the head office at Delhi, to make effort for his transfer from there on health ground. While Manoj was to leave for Delhi, the tension started mounting. He could feel as if some wrong was going to happen. Billu was seen more often in the vicinity and some times with threatening posture. Utterly confused, Weak of long illness and mired in health worries. He feared that the crooked neighbor with the help of his goon relative was up to create some problem or play mischief in his absence. His office was also quite near and his neighbor was also well connected with some of junior staff members and was part of the office politics. So Manoj apprised Lolita of his anxieties and warned her not to go out or do anything silly, while he was away. He was worried about Lolita being harmed in any way..
In the late evening, the day Manoj left home for boarding the train, He had the inkling that he was being followed. He feared that they may attack him on the way. Manoj could feel that he was being followed till he had boarded the train. While inside the train and train started, he felt relieved. It was late in the night; while lying in his bed, that Manoj was disturbed by a thought. If the guys did not want to harm or encounter him as he feared, then why should they have followed him unto the train? Curious Manoj laid putting the pieces together, the recent events and Lalita’s strange behavior in past few days. Her dressing up the way she had never done in the past. One evening while both were sitting in the front garden of their house Billu appeared in the street. His sudden appearance had Lolita left startled.
As the whole picture was getting clear before Manoj.; A feeling of sudden rush of rage and anguish overtook him. The same was directed at himself. Manoj was hitting his palm of one hand hard with his fist in utter frustration and madness. He cursed himself furiously,
“Oh! Why could I not see this before?.”
“What a fool I had been?”
“I have been duped by cunning Lalita”
“So she was the part of the game and she made me to move out of town”
Restless Manoj passed the rest of night turning in his bed and cursing him, as he could not do anything as it was too late then. He was furious and angry with himself that he miserably failed to see through the game in time. It had become essential for him now to get out of the place as soon as possible. So while in Delhi he tried hard to seek his transfer which did not seem imminent and he had to go back. He could imagine the humiliations awaited him at the hands of people there. As he reached back late in the evening, Lalita welcomed him home. She looked rather relaxed. She in her wildest of dreams could never have imagined that she stood exposed to Manoj. After entering into the house Manoj was anxious to find some clues as he was confident of getting some in the house. But it was only in the day light of the next morning he stumbled upon some. Upon being questioned Lolita all of sudden finding exposed, as if caught red handed stood terrified. She confessed to Manoj in the heat of moment. Lalita admitted that Billu had been visiting her in the nights.
Lalita took some time to gain back some composure realizing her folly of admission, she started throwing tantrums. She went to level allegation against Manoj, and started packing her suitcase, threatening to leave. Manoj remained unfazed by her tantrums and threats. Seeing Manoj unrelenting, Lolita left for her parents in huff. Manoj hoped that his parent- in-laws were definitely going to sympathies with him on the misdeed of their daughter. He went to apprise them of the matter, lamenting that she had ruined his life. But to his shock they stood by their daughter. Charging him of having threatened her with knife, to confession, In next few days that followed worked as insult to injury for him.
A police complaint was filed with the police station. The charges framed were, Cruelty while demanding dowry. Manoj was booked under section 482 of and was sent to jail. He was in jail for three months. When he was out he had lost his job. But he was determined not to take back Lalita at any cost. He had suffered the most and was not afraid of any thing now. The divorce was brokered at a high cost. While in Jail Manoj had enough time to ponder over the past spent with Lalita. He could clearly see the negative signals he was getting since beginning and had refused to see then. He cursed the day he had first seen Lalita and the way he was carried away by her first impression. That blinded emotional Manoj to see her true colors in time and made him to make compromises.
Years had passed and Manoj had hardly forgotten the bitter past of his life. He was still not in favor of second marriage, but upon being insisted persistently he had agreed for and given the ad under disguise. Today seeing the response posted by Lolita herself, his ex wife and that too claiming to be “Innocent divorcee”
Manoj could not stop himself laughing and chiding the words,
“Inno cent divor cee”
He burst into laugh, a laugh loud enough and long enough.
Kkrish……
INNOCENT DIVORCEE
Misery Memoir
(Short Story)
A bitter smile forced way on Manoj’s lips as he once again looked at the mail on his computer. Amused as he was, could not stop laughing as he glanced at the mail before him. Leaving the mail open, Manoj laid back to rest into his chair. Slowly slipping into the past, which he detested the most and thought had by now forgotten.
It was while he was posted in a remote township of Rajasthan a few months after his marriage to Lalita. Theirs was arranged marriage and she came from a far related family. Manoj had selected her after rejecting a few girls. He saw Lalita in a dingy room of her relative at Pahar ganj, Delhi. She looked gorgeous and the way she carried herself that day, she quite fitted with the image he carried in his mind of his, would be.
After a few months there in, away from home Manoj was beset with health problems. Besides
Manoj also had some problem with the neighbor and resulting in the scuffle between the two. The neighbor was related to a local baddie called Billu who will often visit him. Manoj being ill all this time, had to cope with the dual tension.. Manoj was bed ridden due to jaundice for over a month. Lolita, felt bore, being home all the time attending to him. Manoj started feeling guilty for her boredom. Meanwhile Lalita had taken membership of a local library in the colony; she will dress up in the evenings to go to exchange the books from the library shop. This to some extent relieved Manoj of his guilt. As he saw that Lalita was taking care of herself. While he was up, it was decided Manoj will be visiting the head office at Delhi, to make effort for his transfer from there on health ground. While Manoj was to leave for Delhi, the tension started mounting. He could feel as if some wrong was going to happen. Billu was seen more often in the vicinity and some times with threatening posture. Utterly confused, Weak of long illness and mired in health worries. He feared that the crooked neighbor with the help of his goon relative was up to create some problem or play mischief in his absence. His office was also quite near and his neighbor was also well connected with some of junior staff members and was part of the office politics. So Manoj apprised Lolita of his anxieties and warned her not to go out or do anything silly, while he was away. He was worried about Lolita being harmed in any way..
In the late evening, the day Manoj left home for boarding the train, He had the inkling that he was being followed. He feared that they may attack him on the way. Manoj could feel that he was being followed till he had boarded the train. While inside the train and train started, he felt relieved. It was late in the night; while lying in his bed, that Manoj was disturbed by a thought. If the guys did not want to harm or encounter him as he feared, then why should they have followed him unto the train? Curious Manoj laid putting the pieces together, the recent events and Lalita’s strange behavior in past few days. Her dressing up the way she had never done in the past. One evening while both were sitting in the front garden of their house Billu appeared in the street. His sudden appearance had Lolita left startled.
As the whole picture was getting clear before Manoj.; A feeling of sudden rush of rage and anguish overtook him. The same was directed at himself. Manoj was hitting his palm of one hand hard with his fist in utter frustration and madness. He cursed himself furiously,
“Oh! Why could I not see this before?.”
“What a fool I had been?”
“I have been duped by cunning Lalita”
“So she was the part of the game and she made me to move out of town”
Restless Manoj passed the rest of night turning in his bed and cursing him, as he could not do anything as it was too late then. He was furious and angry with himself that he miserably failed to see through the game in time. It had become essential for him now to get out of the place as soon as possible. So while in Delhi he tried hard to seek his transfer which did not seem imminent and he had to go back. He could imagine the humiliations awaited him at the hands of people there. As he reached back late in the evening, Lalita welcomed him home. She looked rather relaxed. She in her wildest of dreams could never have imagined that she stood exposed to Manoj. After entering into the house Manoj was anxious to find some clues as he was confident of getting some in the house. But it was only in the day light of the next morning he stumbled upon some. Upon being questioned Lolita all of sudden finding exposed, as if caught red handed stood terrified. She confessed to Manoj in the heat of moment. Lalita admitted that Billu had been visiting her in the nights.
Lalita took some time to gain back some composure realizing her folly of admission, she started throwing tantrums. She went to level allegation against Manoj, and started packing her suitcase, threatening to leave. Manoj remained unfazed by her tantrums and threats. Seeing Manoj unrelenting, Lolita left for her parents in huff. Manoj hoped that his parent- in-laws were definitely going to sympathies with him on the misdeed of their daughter. He went to apprise them of the matter, lamenting that she had ruined his life. But to his shock they stood by their daughter. Charging him of having threatened her with knife, to confession, In next few days that followed worked as insult to injury for him.
A police complaint was filed with the police station. The charges framed were, Cruelty while demanding dowry. Manoj was booked under section 482 of and was sent to jail. He was in jail for three months. When he was out he had lost his job. But he was determined not to take back Lalita at any cost. He had suffered the most and was not afraid of any thing now. The divorce was brokered at a high cost. While in Jail Manoj had enough time to ponder over the past spent with Lalita. He could clearly see the negative signals he was getting since beginning and had refused to see then. He cursed the day he had first seen Lalita and the way he was carried away by her first impression. That blinded emotional Manoj to see her true colors in time and made him to make compromises.
Years had passed and Manoj had hardly forgotten the bitter past of his life. He was still not in favor of second marriage, but upon being insisted persistently he had agreed for and given the ad under disguise. Today seeing the response posted by Lolita herself, his ex wife and that too claiming to be “Innocent divorcee”
Manoj could not stop himself laughing and chiding the words,
“Inno cent divor cee”
He burst into laugh, a laugh loud enough and long enough.
Kkrish……
INNOCENT DIVORCEE
Misery Memoir
(Short Story)
A bitter smile forced way on Manoj’s lips as he once again looked at the mail on his computer. Amused as he was, could not stop laughing as he glanced at the mail before him. Leaving the mail open, Manoj laid back to rest into his chair. Slowly slipping into the past, which he detested the most and thought had by now forgotten.
It was while he was posted in a remote township of Rajasthan a few months after his marriage to Lalita. Theirs was arranged marriage and she came from a far related family. Manoj had selected her after rejecting a few girls. He saw Lalita in a dingy room of her relative at Pahar ganj, Delhi. She looked gorgeous and the way she carried herself that day, she quite fitted with the image he carried in his mind of his, would be.
After a few months there in, away from home Manoj was beset with health problems. Besides
Manoj also had some problem with the neighbor and resulting in the scuffle between the two. The neighbor was related to a local baddie called Billu who will often visit him. Manoj being ill all this time, had to cope with the dual tension.. Manoj was bed ridden due to jaundice for over a month. Lolita, felt bore, being home all the time attending to him. Manoj started feeling guilty for her boredom. Meanwhile Lalita had taken membership of a local library in the colony; she will dress up in the evenings to go to exchange the books from the library shop. This to some extent relieved Manoj of his guilt. As he saw that Lalita was taking care of herself. While he was up, it was decided Manoj will be visiting the head office at Delhi, to make effort for his transfer from there on health ground. While Manoj was to leave for Delhi, the tension started mounting. He could feel as if some wrong was going to happen. Billu was seen more often in the vicinity and some times with threatening posture. Utterly confused, Weak of long illness and mired in health worries. He feared that the crooked neighbor with the help of his goon relative was up to create some problem or play mischief in his absence. His office was also quite near and his neighbor was also well connected with some of junior staff members and was part of the office politics. So Manoj apprised Lolita of his anxieties and warned her not to go out or do anything silly, while he was away. He was worried about Lolita being harmed in any way..
In the late evening, the day Manoj left home for boarding the train, He had the inkling that he was being followed. He feared that they may attack him on the way. Manoj could feel that he was being followed till he had boarded the train. While inside the train and train started, he felt relieved. It was late in the night; while lying in his bed, that Manoj was disturbed by a thought. If the guys did not want to harm or encounter him as he feared, then why should they have followed him unto the train? Curious Manoj laid putting the pieces together, the recent events and Lalita’s strange behavior in past few days. Her dressing up the way she had never done in the past. One evening while both were sitting in the front garden of their house Billu appeared in the street. His sudden appearance had Lolita left startled.
As the whole picture was getting clear before Manoj.; A feeling of sudden rush of rage and anguish overtook him. The same was directed at himself. Manoj was hitting his palm of one hand hard with his fist in utter frustration and madness. He cursed himself furiously,
“Oh! Why could I not see this before?.”
“What a fool I had been?”
“I have been duped by cunning Lalita”
“So she was the part of the game and she made me to move out of town”
Restless Manoj passed the rest of night turning in his bed and cursing him, as he could not do anything as it was too late then. He was furious and angry with himself that he miserably failed to see through the game in time. It had become essential for him now to get out of the place as soon as possible. So while in Delhi he tried hard to seek his transfer which did not seem imminent and he had to go back. He could imagine the humiliations awaited him at the hands of people there. As he reached back late in the evening, Lalita welcomed him home. She looked rather relaxed. She in her wildest of dreams could never have imagined that she stood exposed to Manoj. After entering into the house Manoj was anxious to find some clues as he was confident of getting some in the house. But it was only in the day light of the next morning he stumbled upon some. Upon being questioned Lolita all of sudden finding exposed, as if caught red handed stood terrified. She confessed to Manoj in the heat of moment. Lalita admitted that Billu had been visiting her in the nights.
Lalita took some time to gain back some composure realizing her folly of admission, she started throwing tantrums. She went to level allegation against Manoj, and started packing her suitcase, threatening to leave. Manoj remained unfazed by her tantrums and threats. Seeing Manoj unrelenting, Lolita left for her parents in huff. Manoj hoped that his parent- in-laws were definitely going to sympathies with him on the misdeed of their daughter. He went to apprise them of the matter, lamenting that she had ruined his life. But to his shock they stood by their daughter. Charging him of having threatened her with knife, to confession, In next few days that followed worked as insult to injury for him.
A police complaint was filed with the police station. The charges framed were, Cruelty while demanding dowry. Manoj was booked under section 482 of and was sent to jail. He was in jail for three months. When he was out he had lost his job. But he was determined not to take back Lalita at any cost. He had suffered the most and was not afraid of any thing now. The divorce was brokered at a high cost. While in Jail Manoj had enough time to ponder over the past spent with Lalita. He could clearly see the negative signals he was getting since beginning and had refused to see then. He cursed the day he had first seen Lalita and the way he was carried away by her first impression. That blinded emotional Manoj to see her true colors in time and made him to make compromises.
Years had passed and Manoj had hardly forgotten the bitter past of his life. He was still not in favor of second marriage, but upon being insisted persistently he had agreed for and given the ad under disguise. Today seeing the response posted by Lolita herself, his ex wife and that too claiming to be “Innocent divorcee”
Manoj could not stop himself laughing and chiding the words,
“Inno cent divor cee”
He burst into laugh, a laugh loud enough and long enough.
Kkrish……
INNOCENT DIVORCEE
Misery Memoir
(Short Story)
A bitter smile forced way on Manoj’s lips as he once again looked at the mail on his computer. Amused as he was, could not stop laughing as he glanced at the mail before him. Leaving the mail open, Manoj laid back to rest into his chair. Slowly slipping into the past, which he detested the most and thought had by now forgotten.
It was while he was posted in a remote township of Rajasthan a few months after his marriage to Lalita. Theirs was arranged marriage and she came from a far related family. Manoj had selected her after rejecting a few girls. He saw Lalita in a dingy room of her relative at Pahar ganj, Delhi. She looked gorgeous and the way she carried herself that day, she quite fitted with the image he carried in his mind of his, would be.
After a few months there in, away from home Manoj was beset with health problems. Besides
Manoj also had some problem with the neighbor and resulting in the scuffle between the two. The neighbor was related to a local baddie called Billu who will often visit him. Manoj being ill all this time, had to cope with the dual tension.. Manoj was bed ridden due to jaundice for over a month. Lolita, felt bore, being home all the time attending to him. Manoj started feeling guilty for her boredom. Meanwhile Lalita had taken membership of a local library in the colony; she will dress up in the evenings to go to exchange the books from the library shop. This to some extent relieved Manoj of his guilt. As he saw that Lalita was taking care of herself. While he was up, it was decided Manoj will be visiting the head office at Delhi, to make effort for his transfer from there on health ground. While Manoj was to leave for Delhi, the tension started mounting. He could feel as if some wrong was going to happen. Billu was seen more often in the vicinity and some times with threatening posture. Utterly confused, Weak of long illness and mired in health worries. He feared that the crooked neighbor with the help of his goon relative was up to create some problem or play mischief in his absence. His office was also quite near and his neighbor was also well connected with some of junior staff members and was part of the office politics. So Manoj apprised Lolita of his anxieties and warned her not to go out or do anything silly, while he was away. He was worried about Lolita being harmed in any way..
In the late evening, the day Manoj left home for boarding the train, He had the inkling that he was being followed. He feared that they may attack him on the way. Manoj could feel that he was being followed till he had boarded the train. While inside the train and train started, he felt relieved. It was late in the night; while lying in his bed, that Manoj was disturbed by a thought. If the guys did not want to harm or encounter him as he feared, then why should they have followed him unto the train? Curious Manoj laid putting the pieces together, the recent events and Lalita’s strange behavior in past few days. Her dressing up the way she had never done in the past. One evening while both were sitting in the front garden of their house Billu appeared in the street. His sudden appearance had Lolita left startled.
As the whole picture was getting clear before Manoj.; A feeling of sudden rush of rage and anguish overtook him. The same was directed at himself. Manoj was hitting his palm of one hand hard with his fist in utter frustration and madness. He cursed himself furiously,
“Oh! Why could I not see this before?.”
“What a fool I had been?”
“I have been duped by cunning Lalita”
“So she was the part of the game and she made me to move out of town”
Restless Manoj passed the rest of night turning in his bed and cursing him, as he could not do anything as it was too late then. He was furious and angry with himself that he miserably failed to see through the game in time. It had become essential for him now to get out of the place as soon as possible. So while in Delhi he tried hard to seek his transfer which did not seem imminent and he had to go back. He could imagine the humiliations awaited him at the hands of people there. As he reached back late in the evening, Lalita welcomed him home. She looked rather relaxed. She in her wildest of dreams could never have imagined that she stood exposed to Manoj. After entering into the house Manoj was anxious to find some clues as he was confident of getting some in the house. But it was only in the day light of the next morning he stumbled upon some. Upon being questioned Lolita all of sudden finding exposed, as if caught red handed stood terrified. She confessed to Manoj in the heat of moment. Lalita admitted that Billu had been visiting her in the nights.
Lalita took some time to gain back some composure realizing her folly of admission, she started throwing tantrums. She went to level allegation against Manoj, and started packing her suitcase, threatening to leave. Manoj remained unfazed by her tantrums and threats. Seeing Manoj unrelenting, Lolita left for her parents in huff. Manoj hoped that his parent- in-laws were definitely going to sympathies with him on the misdeed of their daughter. He went to apprise them of the matter, lamenting that she had ruined his life. But to his shock they stood by their daughter. Charging him of having threatened her with knife, to confession, In next few days that followed worked as insult to injury for him.
A police complaint was filed with the police station. The charges framed were, Cruelty while demanding dowry. Manoj was booked under section 482 of and was sent to jail. He was in jail for three months. When he was out he had lost his job. But he was determined not to take back Lalita at any cost. He had suffered the most and was not afraid of any thing now. The divorce was brokered at a high cost. While in Jail Manoj had enough time to ponder over the past spent with Lalita. He could clearly see the negative signals he was getting since beginning and had refused to see then. He cursed the day he had first seen Lalita and the way he was carried away by her first impression. That blinded emotional Manoj to see her true colors in time and made him to make compromises.
Years had passed and Manoj had hardly forgotten the bitter past of his life. He was still not in favor of second marriage, but upon being insisted persistently he had agreed for and given the ad under disguise. Today seeing the response posted by Lolita herself, his ex wife and that too claiming to be “Innocent divorcee”
Manoj could not stop himself laughing and chiding the words,
“Inno cent divor cee”
He burst into laugh, a laugh loud enough and long enough.
Kkrish……
INNOCENT DIVORCEE
Misery Memoir
(Short Story)
A bitter smile forced way on Manoj’s lips as he once again looked at the mail on his computer. Amused as he was, could not stop laughing as he glanced at the mail before him. Leaving the mail open, Manoj laid back to rest into his chair. Slowly slipping into the past, which he detested the most and thought had by now forgotten.
It was while he was posted in a remote township of Rajasthan a few months after his marriage to Lalita. Theirs was arranged marriage and she came from a far related family. Manoj had selected her after rejecting a few girls. He saw Lalita in a dingy room of her relative at Pahar ganj, Delhi. She looked gorgeous and the way she carried herself that day, she quite fitted with the image he carried in his mind of his, would be.
After a few months there in, away from home Manoj was beset with health problems. Besides
Manoj also had some problem with the neighbor and resulting in the scuffle between the two. The neighbor was related to a local baddie called Billu who will often visit him. Manoj being ill all this time, had to cope with the dual tension.. Manoj was bed ridden due to jaundice for over a month. Lolita, felt bore, being home all the time attending to him. Manoj started feeling guilty for her boredom. Meanwhile Lalita had taken membership of a local library in the colony; she will dress up in the evenings to go to exchange the books from the library shop. This to some extent relieved Manoj of his guilt. As he saw that Lalita was taking care of herself. While he was up, it was decided Manoj will be visiting the head office at Delhi, to make effort for his transfer from there on health ground. While Manoj was to leave for Delhi, the tension started mounting. He could feel as if some wrong was going to happen. Billu was seen more often in the vicinity and some times with threatening posture. Utterly confused, Weak of long illness and mired in health worries. He feared that the crooked neighbor with the help of his goon relative was up to create some problem or play mischief in his absence. His office was also quite near and his neighbor was also well connected with some of junior staff members and was part of the office politics. So Manoj apprised Lolita of his anxieties and warned her not to go out or do anything silly, while he was away. He was worried about Lolita being harmed in any way..
In the late evening, the day Manoj left home for boarding the train, He had the inkling that he was being followed. He feared that they may attack him on the way. Manoj could feel that he was being followed till he had boarded the train. While inside the train and train started, he felt relieved. It was late in the night; while lying in his bed, that Manoj was disturbed by a thought. If the guys did not want to harm or encounter him as he feared, then why should they have followed him unto the train? Curious Manoj laid putting the pieces together, the recent events and Lalita’s strange behavior in past few days. Her dressing up the way she had never done in the past. One evening while both were sitting in the front garden of their house Billu appeared in the street. His sudden appearance had Lolita left startled.
As the whole picture was getting clear before Manoj.; A feeling of sudden rush of rage and anguish overtook him. The same was directed at himself. Manoj was hitting his palm of one hand hard with his fist in utter frustration and madness. He cursed himself furiously,
“Oh! Why could I not see this before?.”
“What a fool I had been?”
“I have been duped by cunning Lalita”
“So she was the part of the game and she made me to move out of town”
Restless Manoj passed the rest of night turning in his bed and cursing him, as he could not do anything as it was too late then. He was furious and angry with himself that he miserably failed to see through the game in time. It had become essential for him now to get out of the place as soon as possible. So while in Delhi he tried hard to seek his transfer which did not seem imminent and he had to go back. He could imagine the humiliations awaited him at the hands of people there. As he reached back late in the evening, Lalita welcomed him home. She looked rather relaxed. She in her wildest of dreams could never have imagined that she stood exposed to Manoj. After entering into the house Manoj was anxious to find some clues as he was confident of getting some in the house. But it was only in the day light of the next morning he stumbled upon some. Upon being questioned Lolita all of sudden finding exposed, as if caught red handed stood terrified. She confessed to Manoj in the heat of moment. Lalita admitted that Billu had been visiting her in the nights.
Lalita took some time to gain back some composure realizing her folly of admission, she started throwing tantrums. She went to level allegation against Manoj, and started packing her suitcase, threatening to leave. Manoj remained unfazed by her tantrums and threats. Seeing Manoj unrelenting, Lolita left for her parents in huff. Manoj hoped that his parent- in-laws were definitely going to sympathies with him on the misdeed of their daughter. He went to apprise them of the matter,