The Decree

 As Justice Girish Saxena stepped out from his shining black Mercedes and entered the elite luxury hotel ,he could see Payal standing in the plush lobby. Clad in a pink cotton saree with neatly pleated pallu pinned on her shoulder, her hair neatly tied in a bun, A big red bindi sitting pretty on her broad forehead between her ever shining kohl rimmed eyes, she looked as divine as she did fifteen years ago.

He walked towards her with a pulsating heart and a spring in his step .As her eyes caught him she enthusiastically waved and greeted him with a broad smile, her pearly white teeth shimmering like the lights in the chandelier hanging above her.

“Oh Girish, never thought I will meet you again. Thanks to Facebook we could connect. So happy to see you doing so well your honor ” she said playfully. As she hugged him ,her fragrance whiffed in a million memories of their yesteryears.

The almighty my lord Justice Girish Saxena who was a force to reckon with in the courtroom stood like an awkward teenager who had had a sudden rendezvous with his crush. Words failed him , he just mumbled

“Age has not changed you Payal you still look the same “

As they moved together towards a table in the restaurant he felt a sharp sense of regret as to why he had married Malti and not Payal. Payal’s tinkling voice was like music to his ears .He felt all his weariness melting away.

Their conversation flowed back to their college days and nostalgia reigned in slowly. Suddenly Girish said “Payal I wish I had chosen you over Malti”

Payal looked at him and he could palpate the pain and hurt in her eyes.

“Is it worth talking about all this now Girish? Was it not a well thought out planned decision of yours at that time?

You wanted to climb the ladder of success rather fast and being the daughter of the mighty Chief Justice Surendra Kumar, Malti was the first step towards that. You chose ambition over love. Simple! 

You chose the easy way but then you got all you wanted name, fame and money which was more important to you.”

Girish looked at her imploringly and said ”Payal, honestly I have never been able to truly love Malti. I realize now that somewhere I was constantly searching for you in her all these years. Mine is a loveless marriage. It is good you never married ,at least we can think of being together once again now.”

Payal’s expressions suddenly changed. She looked disgustingly at Girish and said in an acerbic tone “ You too have not changed Girish. You married but never tried to accept Malti. You just carried on listlessly with this marriage of convenience that you had chosen to fulfil your materialistic desires .Now since those have been achieved you want me in your life to satiate your carnal and emotional desires. Your marriage is loveless not because of Malti but because of you. You never made an attempt to work on your relationship, for its deep rooted in your nature to steer away from struggle and find an easier path. Rather than accepting your chosen reality you kept yearning for me. Still wonder how Malti could carry on with you for so long. Hats off to her.!

Today I spitefully pronounce the decree on you Justice Girish Saxena ,You are a self obsessed selfish opportunist coward and I regret I decided to meet you again. Bye!”