Seeds of suspicion!

“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 that 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 extra-marital 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?”

Sanjay said “I don't think so! Ritobrata is not like that, I think he cares for you!”

Maya continued "No, I don't think so!"

Sanjay replied "Well, you will not believe even if I tell you the truth!"

Maya replied "You are his friend and will always take his side! Men will be men!"

Sanjay replied "Well, they are supposed to check-in together at the Hyatt Regency tomorrow. Then they are going to have lunch together. Ritobrata is going to return home after the meeting. But, I insist there is nothing between the two!"

Maya replied "Well, now you have to admit that the love-birds are searching for a nest. Still you want to defend him, Sanjay?"

Sanjay replied "Tomorrow is the 1st, and his flight lands at 8.30 A.M as far as I know. Why don't you go and check for yourself!"

"Good idea, I will catch them red-handed!" interjected Maya.

"Well, there is nothing between the two and I think you are over-reacting to small issues. I think he still loves you!" continued Sanjay.

Maya continued "Well, love my foot! Then why didn't he tell me that his flight lands at half past eight in the morning? Why has to take that bitch with himself, every time he leaves station? Before leaving he just said he would be coming back at half past four in the afternoon?"

Sanjay then said "It is work, the company sends them together. They are the most efficient people who can tackle difficult situations together. They complement each other’s strengths and they are effective about it!"

Maya replied "Then why was I born to destroy this extra-marital dalliance? I am the one who is now, the misfit!"

Sanjay sighed and replied "By the way, I can’t argue with you. I will take my leave now, as there is a lot of work pending. Today is the financial year ending, if you remember! All I can say is, go at your own peril!"

When Sanjay left, Maya started ruminating. She thought “What did he mean when he said go at your own peril? Is Sanjay misleading me?”

Then she thought “Ritobrata must be a cheat. I remember when he first introduced Minissha to me. She had been invited over Sanjay’s house for a party. When she arrived she had kissed him on the cheek.”

And Ritobrata had defended saying that “You know, foreigners have the tendency to kiss people close to them when they greet them!”

She started agonizing over her situation. Then she remembered the crux of the moral in one of the Harry Potter stories. When one is faced with a difficult situation one should try and think of happy thoughts and how one had enjoyed in the best of times, this would help one tide over the difficulties.

Maya remembered how Ritobrata had told her about cultural differences that exist between the West and the Indian sub-continent. Ritobrata had said “Well, when I was a teenager, we had stayed in the Park Hotel in New Delhi.”

Maya remembered how Ritobrata had said that “There one western gentleman had complimented my mom saying that you are looking very beautiful madam!”

To this Maya’s mother-in-law had become very angry and had agitatedly said to her husband “Look this gentleman appears to be flirting with me!”

Ritobrata’s father understanding the situation, had not confronted the gentleman. Although, his wife was expecting him to do so. Instead, he had thanked the gentleman for the compliment and told his wife “Well, in the west people do have the habit of complimenting others irrespective of their age and people feel good about it. Like people who are young in U.K tend to have the habit of being immaculately dressed in formals while people who are in their late fifties and sixties tend to wear gorgeous colours which is almost the opposite of what it is in India!”

Then again Maya’s thoughts wondered back to how she had caught the two having late lunch on Christmas eve, when he was supposed to take Maya out for shopping. She remembered the excuse that Ritobrata had given “Well, you were late by two whole hours, and I was famished and when Minissha insisted I couldn’t resist.”

Sanjay had verified this by saying “Ritobrata had left office early to meet you at the mall. But he didn’t know Minissha would go to the same mall as she had taken a day off on that day. It was pure coincidence.”

“But after all men were men, could they be trusted?” thought Maya.

Then the maid servant Rishra said “Bhabhi, what are you thinking? Your coffee has turned ice cold!”

The sad look in Maya’s eyes instilled a sense of pity in Rishra, who asked “Is something wrong, Bhabhi ?”

Maya replied “Well there is nothing that you can help me with!”

Maya then got up and went to her bedroom.

She felt restless, so she thought of calling Manshi her bossom friend. One or two rings and Manshi’s sweet voice replied “Hello!”

Maya replied “What do you do if your husband starts cheating on you?”

Manshi laughed and said “Well, Maya I don’t think Ritobrata cheats on you. Anyway, I am in a meeting. Could I call you back in the afternoon! ”

Maya exasperatedly replied “All right!” Then she banged the phone down.

Then she decided to call Protima, who was her college friend.

Protima picked up the phone and even before Maya could say anything replied “About to board flight to Pattaya with hubby. I am so excited.”

Maya didn’t want to ruin Protima’s day by telling Protima about her woes, although she desperately wanted to convey that. Maya exchanged a few pleasantries and hung up.

Desperation forced Maya to turn to her parents. So she called up her mom. Maya’s mom, Mrs.Ahuja picked up the phone and after Maya had related some of her grievances, advised “Well do you think my relationship with your father was hassle free? No! Every relationship has issues. You should discuss these once Ritobrata is back. You are grown up now Maya, learn to solve your own problems!” Maya was not expecting this, but she kept quiet and put the phone down in disgust thinking “No one understands me!”

Her thoughts waned suddenly, as her stress had exhausted her. She then disconnected the phone and switched off her mobile and decided to stay in bed. Large drops started flowing from her eyes. They flowed slowly over her lovely tresses on to the pillow. Slowly she fell asleep on the disheveled bed that needed tending.

It was evening Manshi called Maya. Manshi had forgotten to call her that afternoon, and she found her mobile switched off. So Manshi then called Ritobrata.

Manshi said “Is everything ok with Maya! I find her phone switched off!”

Ritobrata replied “I am out of town, I will check and let you know!”

Ritobrata then called up Maya to check if this was true. He found Maya’s phone switched off.

Ritobrata then called up Sanjay.

Ritobrata said “Well, is everything ok? I find the Maya’s phone switched off!”

Sanjay had replied “Well, you should stop torching your insecure wife, buddy!” He could overhear Minissha giggling over the phone.

Ritobrata had replied “Is it my fault that I am in love?”

He continued “I love her more than anything! I have tried my level best to reveal everything but to no avail. I am a human being after all and my happiness does matter! You have to understand that buddy! She doesn’t want to understand the truth. Is it my fault she doesn’t understand! Hopefully she will understand. We have to make her realize the truth! Anyway, take care and come tomorrow we see a new day and a new relationship flowering for us!” Then Sanjay went on to related what had transpired between Maya and him that morning. After that Ritobrata hung up saying “Good Night!”

Ritobrata then called up Manshi and said “She is just upset with me! Don’t worry! Tomorrow we will sort it out once and for all!”

 

Around half eight the next morning, Maya called up Sanjay and said “Can you give me a lift to the Hyatt Regency? We need to sort this out. I need your help Sanjay!”

Sanjay replied “Ok! I will give you a lift but I don’t want to interfere anyhow between you and Ritobrata! I can just drop you there at the Hyatt Regency! If you agree I can give you a lift!”

Maya replied in the affirmative.

It was half past nine when Sanjay drove in. Maya was waiting immaculately dressed. Then she locked up the flat and came down. Rishra who had also just arrived was dismissed by Maya who said “Come tomorrow, I won’t be in today!” Sanjay could feel the intense tension that was alluded by Maya. Sanjay smiled and said “Maya don’t get too worked up please. You never know what Ritobrata the brat could do. I still believe he is a kid at heart! He wouldn’t dare lose you!”

Maya said nothing and just sat beside him in the car. Her intense silence reverberated in the atmosphere. Sanjay could feel how deeply she was hurt, so he kept mum. The journey was uneventful and when they arrived in front of the Hyatt Regency, Sanjay stopped and said “Well, Maya whatever you do don’t walk away if you catch him red-handed. Hopefully you will find the jolly Ritobrata that you once fell in love with when you come out of Hyatt Regency! Relax please and then go ahead.” Maya secretly wanted to believe him but suspicion took the upper hand. Then Sanjay drove away.

  As Maya approached the gate when she was about to enter, a car passed by her. As she looked up she saw the car rolling up the inclined car verandah of the Hyatt Regency. Then what she saw, she didn’t want to believe. She saw Ritobrata and Minissha alighting from the car which was about fifty metres away from her. She could see that Ritobrata was wearing an angry bird T-shirt with a Big M written on his back. He was carrying his sliding suitcase and a love shaped balloon. Minissha was wearing a white T-Shirt and her trademark mini skirt. Maya fears had materialized and she became angry. When she was asked to stop by the security men she blurted out “When the hell do you expect a woman to carry an atom bomb!”

To this the security men looked at each other and let her pass through. By then her husband and “the bitch” had vanished inside.

She hurried on and went inside and found the beautiful receptionist behind the reception desk. She went up to her and said “Well, my husband just checked in, I was delayed could you please tell me his room number!”

“Well, the grand suite, on the sixth floor, madam!” replied she. Then she smiled and went on to add “Well, you enjoy your stay here!”

“Enjoy your stay here!” thought Maya.

“How cruel can people be!” she thought.

Maya hurried to the lift. A thousand thoughts were cluttering her mind and she couldn’t think of a proper way of expressing herself. The liftman greeted her as she mumbled “The sixth floor!”

She was red with anger and said “Well, which direction is the grand suite on the sixth floor?”

The liftman replied “There is only one suite on the sixth floor madam! It is the biggest suite in this hotel!”

The lift stopped at the sixth floor and she alighted from it. She was greeted by a grand polished wooden door and she composed herself and then she went up to the door and pushed hard at the door expecting it to be locked. She found that it was open and she went inside shouting “What the hell…!”

Unfortunately to her surprise she found not two but a couple of faces were grinning at her from behind a big placard which said “April Fool!”

Tears started rolling from her eyes as she could barely make out the familiar faces. The faces were none other than that of her parents, Ritobrata’s parents, her close friends Manshi, Protima alongside Ritobrata, Minissha and a man she couldn’t recognize. Ritobrata came along held her hand and said “Well Maya, stop being suspicious for heaven’s sake! Meet Minissha’s husband Josef!” Josef and Minissha were hugging each other and smiling. Maya fumbled and she couldn’t reign in her emotions. She started smiling and crying at the same time. One by one, everyone started hugging Maya. Maya, who now relieved, said “Whose idea was this?”

Manshi pointing at Maya’s father, Mr. Rajshekhar replied “Well, when Ritobrata found that you were getting secretly worked up because of Minissha and Ritobrata due to no real reason, we all planned this to end your suspicion. The 1st of April was approaching round the corner, so we thought let’s have some fun!”

Maya looked at Ritobrata and said “You had ganged up with my parents, my friends and Sanjay too!”

Ritobrata replied “After all, everything is fair in love and war!”

By then Sanjay arrived and said “I hate missing the climax!”

Then looking at Maya he went on to add “I had warned you so many times Maya but you didn’t listen. I even told go at your own peril. But you were too blinded by suspicion and jealousy!”

Maya picked up a pillow and hurl it at the empty bed and replied “This is too embarrassing! I hate you guys!”

Peals of laughter followed and Maya’s cheeks became crimson red in colour. Then Minissha spoke “Maya you are so beautiful. Frankly, now I know understand why Ritobrata is head over heels in love with you. However, why are you so afraid! You are so lucky to have a guy like him.”