Chapter 16: Chapter 16

I had a great passion for cooking, and I did not feel that I was burning my time there. And at the same time, I had an outstanding knowledge of all the types of herbs and spices which were available on our kitchen shelves and in our kitchen garden. In addition to that, I became acquainted with all the merits and demerits of them and their effects on the human body. I was very fond of playing with them, and I would win too. Therefore, I decided to use those herbs as my tools in my battle against Ravi to win.

I trusted the power of my knowledge and was sure my knowledge would never deceive me. And what to talk about counter-attack? Ravi would not be able to shield himself from my hard blow either? Then it was my turn to attack him under the guise of intimacy, and I was all set. I got down on the ground by preparing the tea for Ravi in the morning on my own.

My strategy was to make him feel that I was falling in love with him. And I was taking all those pains just to make him believe that I was so concerned about him. I purposely added sugar tablets to his tea from then on. However, Ravi did not have an asthmatic problem, but he had some respiratory issues, and I knew asthma was a hereditary disease, and he had a medical history as well. Therefore, sugar tablets could cause a recurrence of the problem. Then I used to cook his food in the microwave rather than on the gas or stove. In addition, I intently warm the food frequently.

I did not forget to add some more spices to aggravate his pile and shoot up his blood pressure. I intentionally added ghee to his food, which did not let the blood form in his body, and because of that, he began to get exhausted quickly. I was no doubt thrilled to see the sharp deterioration in his health. He could not do physical activities as much as he used to do earlier and preferred to stay in the A. C room all the time. He was getting bloated day by day; because of that, his blood pressure went up quickly. And so, things were moving ahead according to my plan.

I had to make him feel that I was concerned about him and he was everything to me. I did not forget to keep telling him quite often that he was in tension unnecessarily and it was spoiling his health. In the span of another six months, he began to give a more mature look because of my hard work in the kitchen. And at the same time, the staff had the same feeling that I was a good wife and took good care of my husband. Even then, I was working and earning well. That was all I wanted to tell Ravi, and others had an opinion about me.

I began to observe a fast every Monday to keep myself fit. I needed to gain his confidence. I told him I did it only for his healthy body and longevity. He thought I was observing the fast to impress him. I knew he could never get beyond that; I was done quickly for the detoxification purpose, nothing else. I just wanted to keep him confused all the time so that I could stab at his back at the right time, and he could not come to know who he or she was.

Although things had grown more serious between us, we pretended as if everything was going fine. After some time, he began to doubt my purpose, and became watchful. Our days started together as a lovely husband and wife with a cup of tea in the morning. And at the end, we retire to bed together. We left for our office at the same time in the same vehicle and returned home at the same time.

We went to the party together. And there we stayed together all the time, as much as possible, as if we were love birds after a marriage of such long years. But the fact was something else; we could not afford to keep our eyes off each other. In-office hours, we also did not mind disturbing each other with our frequent phone calls, affecting our business.

I could sense I was just doing the job of sprinkling more and more salt on my wounds and increasing my pain while acting along with Ravi. I was totally worn out and sick of leading such an eyewash life, and then I wanted to liberate Ravi and myself from that false life forever. When I looked behind and introspected. I felt what I had been doing with my life in the process of taking revenge for the last year and what I had become. I had a sleepless night and always stayed in fear that if Ravi caught me red-handed someday, he would have conspired against me.

She just fell on my feet and wailed a lot. She was sorry for all the misdeeds which she had inflicted on me. Her voice cracked and she choked while crying. But her constant tears failed to move me that time, as if my heart had got stony. I did not put any effort into lifting her as well. I kept standing there motionless and emotionless too.

My mother alluded to one of the maids lifting my grandmother and taking her inside as soon as possible. She then waited for my subsequent response. I first thought about introducing myself and soothing others' curiosity, but I ceased to do so down the line. After all, I had not come over there to establish a relationship with any of them.

I stepped toward my mother, slowly but firmly. She was continually looking at me.

"Today, I have come over here to tell you that you have totally failed in your aim to wreck my life. For your kind information, my husband loves my children and me a lot. Now there is no other woman in his life. We are proud parents of two adorable daughters. You were alone yesterday because you did not accept your daughter, whom you had kept in your womb for nine months. And it is not that you love your son. You just need him to secure your place at home. God has certainly blessed you with a son, but he is not connected emotionally with you. Again, your husband has never been loyal to you. Sorry to say this, he was not your thing in the past, and even now, he is not your thing".

Speaking so I sat back in the car at once and asked Ravi to take me back to my home straightaway in a choking voice. I did not want to stay there any longer to give fodder to think about me. My mother had undoubtedly committed the crime with me, until I could not believe even in my wildest dream that I could tarnish her image before anyone. That is why I talked to her in coded words, and I did not let anyone else know about anything and gave her sufficient space to cook up stories and save her skin as well.

I could see at the same time Ravi was turning his car, that they were all standing there, mouths agape. However, my mother was standing there with a blank look on her face. I knew that was the last time I was going over there. I was dead sure; my measure would have certainly obliged Ravi to think that I wanted to resume my life with him afresh. But I had restored some other plans, and Ravi was unaware of them. I had made up my mind that I would not spend my additional time playing the cat and rat game along with Ravi. I would fix everything before long. So, both of us could move ahead in our lives, keeping no bitterness towards each other.

Ravi was very unaware of my other day's plan, and I did not understand it was necessary to disclose it to him, as he had not intimated it to me prior. I headed to the airport before his wake-up in the morning. Before leaving, I had left a note for him under his pillow.

"I have some urgent work to finish. I will talk about it after getting back, and please do not panic; I will be back in a couple of days. "''

I went to Delhi and had a word with his first wife. Somehow, I managed to manage her contact number. I somehow convinced her that Ravi was entirely innocent. The odd situation made him a false person and he committed so many mistakes. I met him with her son, when she was getting ready to marry and resume her life with Ravi. He was with Ravi, but I did not find anything familiar between them other than their looks. I had also convinced his ex-wife that they would both come to Meerut with me. She did not take much time to get ready to go with me, but her son could not join us because his exam was at hand.

She seemed to be a very sensible and independent lady who had followed her heart and dealt with Sari online. She took me out for dinner with her and made me introduce all the friends to her. I found her very amiable. Even after getting back late, we talked throughout the night. She showed me all her albums. They told me about all those joyful moments that they all shared, and I could never experience those things in my life. I did not know the same Ravi that she was describing.

The other day, we had a flight in the afternoon. We reached home at seven in the evening. I wanted to give a surprise to Ravi, so I did not make him a call. We found Ravi was strolling on the terrace when I arrived home with Revati. It confused him to see both of us together. He did not take much time to get where I had gone and for what purpose. He had some hesitation about talking to me before her. Before he could speak to me about anything, I told him,

"We will certainly talk with one another, but not now. After some time over the tea, let us get fresh. "

Then I asked one of the staff to keep the suitcase for Revati in Saheb's room. I had already instructed them to vacate my cupboard and pack my bags, and they had done so without Ravi's knowledge at that time. I could gauge from Ravi's gestures that he was not prepared for so many changes in his life, without his awareness suddenly. I could not comment on whether he was okay with those changes or not. And I did not intend to know either.

Revati and Ravi took some extra time to reach the sitting room. I had already served the tea to myself. It soothed me a lot. I was feeling exhausted because I was not used to traveling for so long. I instructed all the staff before them; they would not come over here as long as they were not called. They also had tea until that time. Then I began,

"Ravi, I love you, and it is tough for me to get separated from you. I will not decline today. Today I realize that earlier, I pretended to love you, and I wanted to stay with you just because you were providing me with a comfortable life. I have seen you go through a callous time in the last year, which has affected everyone's life who is associated with you. I do not know when I began to love you. I was delighted when you got a divorce from Revati. But I have not seen a speck of a smile on your face since then. It took a little more time to get to the point that your happiness lies in staying with Revati. "

I thought I would change everything with my love, but nothing like that happened. Your health was affected terribly, and you were admitted to the hospital. During your stay in the hospital, I realized,

"You do not belong to me. I will lose you forever if I do not liberate you from my tie ".

Besides, I do not want my kids to lose their father because of my stubbornness. So, I have decided I am taking a divorce from you to stay with Revati.

Ravi was stupefied by listening to me. He had never thought I would turn the table upside down like that, and he would find himself totally miserable trying to stop me. Revati came into emotion, and, on impulse, she suggested,

"What about we all stay together under the same roof? "

I knew her proposal was as genuine as she was. Ravi also gave his consent to that idea in a stammering manner, but I ruled out the idea at once, saying a couple of days ago I had found a sister in you, and I could not afford to lose that sister.

She understood my point and stayed quiet after that. Soon after, we all had our dinner. We were almost sitting quietly during dinner. I no longer stayed there and went to sleep in the kids' room. And I did not forget to bolt the door from the inside so that Revati did not come in. I could hear a mild knock at my door, but I did not open it.

However, I was very sure Ravi would never dare to come in and talk to me when Revati was around. In fact, Ravi would not dare to mess up with me further because he knew Revati would not spare him so easily. The other morning, she came to me with Ravi, as expected. We had our tea together. I agreed; she was a smart lady. She had already instructed the staff on what they would prepare at home.

I also avoided instructing the staff, and the previous night I had instructed them that further instruction they would take from Revati rather than me. Ravi could not approach me, but I could feel he was not very comfortable with all that sudden change. When I reached the dining table for breakfast, I found that they had prepared everything according to my liking, which just melted me from the inside, and I could not stop myself from giving her a tight hug.

My advocate had arrived home along with the divorce papers. I signed it quickly and asked Ravi to do the same. I left Ravi with no other option, but to sign the papers. As soon as Ravi signed the paper, I felt I was free from his clutches forever. Then, I could take a breath of free air. I had demanded nothing from Ravi. I knew his business was not running smoothly. Thereafter, my advocate went. I kept custody of Anu and Priya with me, but they could visit each other anytime.

Revati also agreed with my point that all children should have a healthy environment to grow in, no matter where and with whom they are staying. And she assured me that she would do her best to have a healthy relationship with both my daughters. And I knew she meant at heart what she was saying. The cabs had also come until then. I requested Revati to ask the staff to help me put my suitcases in the cab. She protested mildly that I did not leave there so soon and stayed with her for some more time. But I knew it would be better for me to leave Ravi's life and that house as quickly as possible.

I told her that I did not want any mess among us to stay there further. Ravi kept watching the thing in a passive manner. After that, Revati told Ravi that he should leave the office. And she would drop me off at my home. I could feel Ravi wanted to come with me, but he could not dare to go against Revati's wish. Revati got ready quickly. She took one of the staff to help us as well.

Although I was restraining her at my best, I was hoping that I would manage everything on my own, but she was not ready to listen to me. I reached my new destination, which was a three-room in a beautiful location. I did not have much stuff with me. I could not stop myself from being impressed with Revati. It was a slight gesture, but it touched me. She asked the staff to bring coconut, sweet matchsticks, and other essential things for a small Puja before taking the home entrance. And she made me do everything correctly.

My house was not furnished at all. I did not have even a single chair to make her sit on, and I was literally feeling terrible about that. To my surprise, she had already asked the staff to carry some pillows, bed sheets, and water bottles with him. I could not entertain her for longer because I was getting late to the office, which had been neglected for the last few days. Before I spoke to her about something, she asked me to go to the office, and she said she would take care of my house, and we were having lunch together.

She said to me that she would reach my office at 2 o'clock. I requested the chauffeur to drop me off. When I arrived at the office, I found a lot of work was pending. I did not come to know how time flew handling those files and all, during which she bumped into my office sharp at two o'clock as she had promised. Again, she had taken a lot of pain for me and prepared everything that I relish eating in my kitchen. While having food, she told me she had almost set up my house; just a few things were needed to get set. But they would be done in a couple of days.

After she left, I was again occupied with my work. Actually, I was in a hurry to finish all the pending assignments as soon as possible. I was surprised to see that Revati had come over to my office, this time with Ravi in the evening. She was very excited. Ravi was very formal with a long face. She was talking to me incessantly, and Ravi was standing quietly by her. Then suddenly, she showed me a key. When I inquired what it was, she said, go out and check yourself. I went outside. It was a new brand for me.

Before I could say something, she said you would commute with it from then on. Then they left. I did not struggle or demand anything from Ravi. But Revati ensured that I always had sound financial condition, and I did not have to go through any financial problems. I could not believe my eyes when I reached the house. She had furnished and decorated my house with every essential thing.

There was no doubt she had thrown almost all of her money into my house to get it up and running. Soft music was playing, the rooms were perfectly reasonably cool, and ready-to-eat food was on the table. Clothes had been placed on the bed, and there was also a file on the bed.

According to the papers, Ravi was going to pay me a sizable alimony payment.

Next, I got two flats in the city. My daughters had 70% of his business. At the top of them, Ravi would bear all the expenses of their studies and marriage. And, all the kids would spend the summer vacation together. Tears rolled down my cheeks incessantly after reading the papers.

I was greatly relieved and thoroughly convinced that I had completely and permanently secured my daughters' lives by including a new and amazing mother in their lives who would go to any length to keep them safe. Besides, I had brought with me a wonderful sister from Delhi who only cared about my well-being and the comfort of my daughters. I was relieved and happy that I had not made the same mistake of moving away from the facts and defrauding myself, and, in return, I would get sound health and peace of mind forever. Amen

The End