Stories  
Oblivion – 3
by Ramendra Kumar 

Next day after getting the list for the last one year , Anurag studied it carefully. He found there was a sudden pattern. More than forty per cent of the local calls were to only one number. ‘Had Akruti lied to him. Was Naresh right? Was Akruti calling her seniors?’ He decided to check once again.

His eyes fell on the column to the extreme right which gave the time at which the calls were made. Most of the calls were made between 6 and 6.30 pm. B....but that was the time when Neha was changing. So how could Akruti be making the calls when Neha……His heart started pounding….that means it was not Akruti…..it was….it was Neha….but who…..why”

He felt a sudden tightening in the pit of his stomach. No it could not be. There was some mistake. He again looked at the list. There was no mistake…..

His mind raced back to that day when he had been outside the bedroom.

“Hello!”
“Can we talk?”
“Whom was she talking to? He had to find out?”

That evening Akruti had gone to a birthday party in the campus along with Sarita.
Neha had finished her bath and was sitting propped up on the bed reading a Reader’s Digest.

He sat on the bed and casually said, “Neha, I was told Akruti has been making a lot of phone calls. I got a list of phone calls made in the last six months. Most of them are to one number and at a particular time.”

Neha looked up. Had her face turned pale or was he imagining it?

“So?”
“Neha, all the calls have been made between six and six thirty and that is the time you are alone in the bed room changing,” he said very slowly looking intently at her.
“What are you trying to say?”
“I only want to know who you are making these calls to and why?”

Neha kept silent.

“Answer me Neha,” he said, his eyes still fixed on her face.
“It is a friend,” she said her face tense.
“Who is she?”
“It is a he?”

Anurag recoiled as if a viper had struck him.

“He. I…I can’t believe it? Who is he?”
“What is the point in knowing Anu?”
“What do you mean what is the point? I want to know the name of that fellow?” Anurag shouted his face turning red.
“Why so that you can pick up a fight with him and create a scene? I’ll tell you in due course. But not today.”

Anurag got up.

“For God’s sake Neha tell me his name. I can’t take this suspense. I want to know whom you have been talking to all these months stealthily, surreptitiously, and furtively. All along you told me you needed time to change and cool yourself under the fan. You didn’t need time for that. You needed privacy to chat with your boy friend.”

“Don’t be silly Anu. He is not my boy friend. He is just a good friend.”
“But what was the need for you to talk to him at all and that too in this secretive manner?”
“Anu, there are times when I too need some one to share my feelings.”
“Am I dead?”
“Don’t talk rot. There are some things which I can’t discuss with you?”
“Achha! So dearie what are the things which you can’t discuss with me but can share with this special friend?’
“Many times when we have our fights I am really puzzled. I don’t know who is at fault? It helps if I talk to him?”
“And what does he say? ‘My dear it is all your husband’s fault. You are an angel of mercy, a picture of perfection’?”
“On the contrary he counsels me. He keeps saying Anurag is an artist and artists are moody and sensitive.”
“Really. I am grateful to this noble soul. So he knows me. Now for heaven’s sake will you tell me his name? I promise I won’t act like a hoodlum.”
Neha hesitated and then after what seemed an eternity she very quietly said, “It’s Vikram, Vikram Rai.”

“Vikram!” Anurag sat down with a thud. Vikram had been her boss when he had been in Personnel Department. He had been transferred to Training three years ago. He was a tall, well-built guy who had an easy going style and a way with people. He had always been very fond of Anurag and he too respected him. His wife Preeti was a charming lady and his daughter Mayuri and Akruti were good friends. Four months ago when Preeti had suffered a nervous break down Anurag and Neha had done the maximum running around.

“Vikram! He is probably the only fellow in our organization I had a high regard for. In fact he was one guy who seemed so genuine, so transparent. How could he do this to me?”

“But what has he done, Anurag? He has just been an emotional anchor. Just the other day you had mentioned that in the last couple of years things have been going on very smoothly for us. We’ve had so few fights. Well, Vikram’s counselling has really helped me a lot. It has helped me to understand you better.”

“Oh! So whatever good that has happened in the recent past is all due the kind benediction of Sir Vikram,” Anurag was now dripping sarcasm.

Neha kept quiet.

“Why did you have to do this to me Neha?”
“I haven’t done anything?”
“You have betrayed my trust, you have betrayed me. For two years you were carrying on an emotional affair with this guy right in our bedroom, and I hadn’t the foggiest notion.”
“Come on Anurag, you are carrying things a bit too far. Emotional affair indeed! Is talking to a friend same as having an affair.”
“Yes, if it is done surreptitiously, stealthily.”
“Yes, I think talking to him secretively was a mistake. But what could I do? Would you have allowed it if I told you I wanted some emotional support from a friend.”
“But what was the need for emotional support. Wasn’t the support you are getting from me enough? What more did you want?”
“I…I thought it would help me understand my self better and it would help our marriage.”
“Bull shit. It is just that you have fallen for his charms?”
“Don’t talk rot, Anurag?” Neha’s face turned pink. “I told you he is just a friend.”
“If he was just a friend you wouldn’t have taken such a big risk. You must have jolly well known that one of these days I would come to know. And then I would be shattered. Yet you took the gamble. It proves that he is much more to you than a friend,” Anurag yelled.
“I don’t care what you think Mr. Anurag Gupta. I am not in love with Vikram. He is just a friend and yes I like him and I enjoy his company. If you can take it do so or just lump it,” Neha shouted and stomped out.

– Continued

Page : 1 | 2 | 3 | 4

Top | Stories

 
Analysis | Architecture | Astrology | Ayurveda | Book Reviews | Buddhism | Cartoons | Cinema | Computing | Culture | Dances
Environment | Fables | Family Matters | Festivals | Hinduism | Health | History | Home Remedies | Humor | Individuality | Jagoji
Literary Shelf | Memoirs | Musings | Opinion | Parenting | Perspective | Photo Essays | Places | Ramblings
Random Thoughts | Recipes | Sikhism | Society | Spirituality | Stories | Teens | Travelogues | Vastu | Vithika | Women

Home | Bolography | BoloKids | Columns | Hindi | Kabir | Poetry | Quotes | Workshop | Writers | Contribute | Search | Contact

Boloji.com includes IndiaNest.com and PoeticNest.com
Privacy Policy | Disclaimer
No part of this Internet site may be reproduced without prior written permission of the copyright holder.