- 23 -
Just as the flowing water of a river is pure and sweet, and the stagnant water starts stinking after some time, similarly the married life remains happy and sweet if there is constant flow of two way communication, mutual respect, trust and commitment care for each other’s problems. But if the married life becomes like stagnant water, its harmony and sweetness vanish and are replaced with boredom and dullness. The gentle gusts of the breeze make life joyful whereas tsunami waves turn life topsy-turvy. Despite the differences in the nature of the husband and wife and lack of agreement in their thoughts, there can be harmony in their life if they are ready to respect each other’s feelings and thoughts. Compromise and adjustment are essential to save married life from bitterness and disintegration. But the desired extent of compromise depends upon the circumstances of the person concerned and his concepts and approach to life.
Even after coming to office, Ramesh remained restless. Conflicting thoughts kept churning in his mind. He ruminated about their long married life… ‘If petty skirmishes are ignored, neither Rani gave me any cause of complain nor did I ever felt that she likes or had ever liked some other man. Her behaviour with my friends and relatives remained within the social norms. Nothing inappropriate has ever happened. All my friends and relatives have been admirers of her decent and affectionate behaviour and character. Before Rani and Alok met, our married life was smooth and happy, everything was going well. God knows where from did this Alok drop into our life like a meteor and destroyed all the happiness and peace!’ The very next moment, he thought, ‘Since the beginning of our married life, due to the busy schedule of business, I’ve not been able to spend quality time with Rani. I’ve been to many countries, but never took her along except to Nepal. What to talk of foreign countries, even in India, we’ve gone only to a few places for a pleasure trip. Even at home, I can’t count sufficient time given to her. Monday to Saturday, I remain busy in the office. And even on Sundays, I don’t stay at home due to the card-parties. We’ve just watched 5-7 movies together. Rani has to find a way out to enjoy herself by going to kitty parties. In such a situation if she has suddenly met Alok, her childhood friend, then I shouldn’t have any objection, especially when Vinay told me that Alok had been a good person’. But Ramesh’s mind could not stay on these thoughts for long. The serpent of suspicion raised its head again. The thought process suddenly took a U-turn and came back to the same point from where it had started. The mind said, ‘If their friendship becomes public, then it would be impossible to stop people gossiping. I can’t keep showing Alok’s character certificate to every other person! Furthermore, Alok would not have given such a costly gift to Rani only because of their childhood friendship. Therefore, it would be better to consult a lawyer today. Last night, I’ve already mentioned it to Rani.’
So, Ramesh called Advocate V. K. Khanna, a well-known civil lawyer. Ramesh has known him for many years. He said, “Khanna Sahib, I want to come to you for consultation. When will it be convenient for you to spare some time for me?”
“Ramesh Ji, I’m busy today. Courts will be closed tomorrow it being second Saturday. Come any time after 11 o’clock. I’ll meet you at home.”
…….
On Sunday, Ramesh called Khanna around eleven. He asked Ramesh to come half an hour later. Accordingly, Ramesh reached his house. There was exchange of formalities. Then Khanna said, “Ok, about what do you need my advice?”
Ramesh thought for a while as to from where and how to start. Finally, he said, “Khanna Sahib, today I’ve come to seek your advice on a personal and private matter.”
“Yes, please …...”
“Actually, in her childhood, where my wife Rani’s family lived, there was a boy of her age living in their neighbourhood. They were good friends. They used to play and do all types of activities together and often visited each other's houses. Now six-seven months ago, we had gone to a wedding function. That boy, I mean that person named Alok was also there. God knows, how both of them recognised each other after such a long time, but the fact is this that they’ve met many times since then. He came even to our residence in my absence. Not only this, even Rani has been to his house at Patiala. Although she didn’t tell all this to me herself, but when I learnt this myself by chance and checked with her, she accepted everything without any hesitation. I didn’t like all this and tried to dissuade her from continuing their friendship. When I didn’t succeed, I even tried through my brother-in-law, but she says that she doesn't see any harm in this friendship, and she’s not ready to drop and forget it. This has eventually led to the end of husband-wife relationship between us since the last days of March, even though we were sharing the same bedroom till the day before yesterday. On last Wednesday, it was Rani’s birthday. I didn’t even know that, but her friend celebrated her birthday at JW Marriott. I wouldn't have known this if the next morning at breakfast, I had not seen the solitaire ring on Rani’s finger. When I asked her about it, she told me that her friend had gifted it on her birthday. I’m not ready to accept that a man would give such a costly gift to another man's wife just because they were friends in their childhood. What’s your opinion?”
“Ramesh Ji, tell me whether that man, I mean madam's friend, is married or….?”
“As I’ve been told, his wife died three-four years ago. Nowadays he lives alone as his children live abroad.”
“Hmm. ... From your initial talk, I had felt that you were unnecessarily worried, but now I think that the matter is quite serious. Can you bring madam here; I want to ask her some questions in private?”
“Why not, when should I bring her?”
“Today afternoon or tomorrow morning.”
“Okay. We’ll come tomorrow morning around this time. Khanna Sahib, though I’ve told you everything in detail, still I request you to further probe Rani whatever way you want to but please don't reveal your opinion to her.”
“The matter is quite delicate. I’ll handle it with utmost seriousness. You can rest assured.”
…….
Ramesh came home in the evening. He had his dinner. When Rani was going to her room after finishing the kitchen work, he called out to her, “Rani, come here. I’ve something important to talk to you.” She came to the bedroom and stood quietly. Due to the circumstances they were going through, she did not expect any kind of familial or formal address for her or behaviour from Ramesh. Still there was a slight hope somewhere in her heart that when Ramesh has called her to talk, he would at least ask her to sit. But when he did not, she did not sit herself and kept standing. Ramesh cleared his throat and said, “Today I went to Advocate Khanna. Under the circumstances in which we’re living, it’s not possible for me to continue to stay together. Triangle love looks okay in films and stories, but I don’t want to be one angle of the triangle. For me, the aim of life was to become one of the two points of a straight line that connects them. So, I’ve apprised Khanna Sahib of whole of the matter. Actually, I had gone to seek his advice about the divorce.”
For a moment Rani was stunned to hear about the divorce. She felt as if hundreds of scorpions had simultaneously stung her body. She felt dizziness. She had a premonition that Ramesh had gone to a lawyer to seek advice about the rift in their marital relationship, but she had not even remotely imagined that it could lead to divorce. For a few moments, she was bewildered and kept staring at Ramesh.
The only reaction that she could utter was, “Wha…t!”
Ramesh continued his talk without paying attention to the changing expressions on her face, “Either you forget your friendship with Alok or get out of my life. I don't want that you should have the best of both the worlds. It’s impossible for me to live like two strangers under one roof and bear mental torture every moment.”
When Rani didn’t say anything, he further said, “Khanna Sahib wants to ask you some questions before giving his final opinion. We’ve to go to him tomorrow at eleven in the morning, remember this.”
Rani waited for some time thinking that maybe Ramesh had something more to say. But when a few minutes passed and Ramesh did not say anything, she went to the other room.
******
