My wife, why did she betray me / Pink Jasmine : Author:game40it - COMPLETED

Now both Saravanan and Meera were listening to her attentively. Prabu still had his head hung down, probably in shame. Gomathi continued.
 
“When I couldn’t get pregnant, we both had ourselves tested.” “It turned out that my husband did not have the ability to make me a mother. It would have greatly disappointed both our parents if this had been known, especially my husband’s as he was the only male heir. So, we came up with this deception. We didn’t want to unnecessarily upset our parents.”
So, this so called masculine, virile man, the seducer of other men’s wives was incapable of fathering a child, Meera thought as she laughed to herself. She had been thinking it was just luck that she did not get pregnant by Prabu when they first started having sex as they did not always use precaution. At that time of course Prabu too would not have been aware that he could not father a child. So he did not care she got pregnant or secretly wanted her to become pregnant by him. That being said, she too did not deeply worry about it at that time. It just showed how blinded by lust she was at that time. It’s god’s grace that she did not get pregnant she thought.  So anyway, why is this all being revealed to us she wondered to herself.
 
“So why are you telling all this to us?” Saravanan asked echoing her thoughts.
 
Instead of answering Gomathi asked in return. “Think about my situation. Let me ask you two,” she said addressing both Saravanan and Meera, “is it fair that I cannot experience the joy of motherhood.”
 
Saravanan and Meera both were silent for a few seconds then Saravanan replied,” Sometimes fate makes us suffer many adversities, we just have to accept it and learn to deal with it. Sometimes things can’t be changed.”
 
“I agree, sometimes nothing can be done but if there is a way why not do it,” Gomathi said firmly.
 
“What do you mean?” Saravanan asked confused.
 
“I am capable of being a mother so ….,” she dragged … why can’t I be a mother through you.”
 
“WHATT!!!... are you mad,” Saravanan shouted and got up suddenly, shocked by what he heard.
 
“What!!! My husband,” Meera thought in shock and pain.
 
The child sleeping on Prabu’s lap woke up at the sound and started crying.
 
“Are you mad,” he said again, upset at what she had said,” why me you could have gone elsewhere.”
 
“Why not you,” Gomathi said softly, “ I know everything about your wife and my husband.”
 
Now both Meera and Saravanan were shocked into silence. Prabu’s face had a forlorn, helpless look. Seeing the sadness there it was evident that he was not happy with this.  

Meera looked at her husband stand up in protest at hearing what Gomathi had said. Her husband continued to surprise her. Anyone else in the same situation would have shown glee at this turn of events. The wife of the very person who had seduced his own wife is now proposing that he has sex with her in return and he had straightaway rejected the notion. Not for him the notion that this was the time to get revenge against the person who had done great harm to his own family life. At the very least he should have felt some degree of satisfaction that the person who had betrayed his trust has been punished by fate that, that person would not be able to father a child of his own. Here too he didn’t seem to be pleased about that either.

 
“Wha.. How…  how did you know?” Saravanan asked.
 
“I had known from the time their illicit relationship ended,” Gomathi said.
 
Prabu was consoling the crying child which soon went back to sleep. Prabu did not look at them. He seemed intent only in taking care of his child but it was clear his ears were keenly listening to his wife.
 
“My husband came one day early from Chennai back then but he came home only late morning, in fact it was almost going to reach noon. I know there is no bus that comes back here at that time and so I asked the reason for him coming late. He just said that the bus was late that day.”
 
Gomathi looked at the two of them who were still puzzled how that alone led to her discovery of the affair.
 
“If you are wondering how could that alone have made me so suspicious as to lead me to find out everything then you are right. I didn’t think much of it then and had forgotten about it.”
 
Gomathi looked at Prabu who still was looking at their sleeping adopted child and patting her as she slept on his lap.
 
“Well after the many things that had happened between my husband and Meera and your knowledge of that too, I am also not too embarrassed to say what happened between me and my husband that afternoon. Gomathi took a deep breath then continued,” I wanted to have sex with my husband that afternoon. That’s when I discovered another thing that raised my suspicions.”
 
Meera was the one who now started feeling embarrassment as she feared that the second clue that Gomathi had got was somehow related to her.
 
“When my husband was making love to me, I had grabbed his buttocks,” Gomathi said this as a matter of fact, not feeling shy about relating something as personal as this to the two of them.
 
“I felt some sort of streaks of slight swelling on his flesh there. After sex when my husband quickly tied his dhoti around his waist, I happened to get a glance and saw about three stripes of reddish marks on both of his buttocks flesh.”
 
Meera’s face reddened in shame. She was being reminded of something she did not ever want to think about again. She felt sick inside. She dreaded how this must be hurting her husband again because it was her fingernails that had caused those streaks. She had been careful not to mark Prabu’s body now that he was married so she had grabbed his buttocks when she had her orgasm. That she though would be the non-visible part of his body. Yet it had not occurred to her that Prabu’s wife may also caress him there during their sex together.
 
“That raised my suspicions but at that time I thought my husband may have done something wrong when he was alone in Chennai. Even then too I really didn’t know for sure as there could be some logical explanation for the marks on him,” Gomathi continued.
 
“It was when you called him out the next day,” Gomathi looked at Saravanan as she said this. “I saw his face change and I thought something was very wrong. Even the day before when you had called my mother in law I saw how agitated she was when you had enquired about my husband.”
 
Saravanan could see how all the different events had slowly raised Prabu’s wife’s suspicions. She was an intelligent woman and her instincts had been alerted by these, chain of events.
 
“I didn’t know what to do actually after my husband had left to see you. I debated with myself on what I should do. My husband had gone on his motorbike so I had no chance of following him. On a hunch I decided to go to your house. I went via the back way and waited.” 
 
Neither Saravanan nor Prabu had anticipated that Gomathi would have been so smart enough to have done an investigation like this. They were so immersed in the issue they had hoped to resolve once and for all that they had neglected to consider anything else.
 
“When I saw my husband approach your house, I knew that my instincts had been correct. My husband had glanced back a few times as he came to your house so I knew you were not far away but I could not see you. So, you must have been sufficiently far away enough to be out of sight.”
 
“I hid by the window on the side of your hall and could look inside. That’s when I heard everything from the conversation between my husband and your wife. I also learnt how you had tolerated everything for the sake of both your family and my husband’s family’s good name but primarily for the sake of your wife.”
 
“If you knew about everything at that time why didn’t you say or do anything then,” Saravanan asked.
 
Gomathi was silent for some time then started speaking again. “You must realise how much of a shock it was to me. I realised at that time that I was witnessing the end of the adulterous relationship between your wife and my husband. What had gone on between them was mostly before our marriage but the last time my husband had directly betrayed me too. I really did not know what to do. I was thinking about my parents, my family and my mother in law. I was thinking of the upheaval in everyone’s life if I made a big matter of the whole thing. I wrestled with my conscience on what to do.”
 
“Then what happened now. Why bring this all up now?” Saravanan asked.

“It was slowly gnawing within me. I struggled with myself without being able to confront my husband on the whole matter. Finally, I could not take it anymore. I had a huge confrontation with my husband. Though I knew what had happened I dragged every bit of the details of my husband’s affair with your wife.”
 
All these matters being put out in the open again was causing great distress to Meera. It once again starkly brought out her odious behaviour with Prabu. She was ashamed at how much she had sinned in seeking her own pleasures selfishly. Now her actions had not only deeply hurt her husband but it had also wounded another innocent woman.
 
“Do you know after hearing about all the details from my husband, my respect for you grew hugely. How you had acted with so much of dignity. How much you must have loved your wife to be able to tolerate something like this. I had always thought that a man in this type of situation would have killed himself or killed his wife and her lover, or both, but you were conscious of the tremendous disaster for those left behind by blind actions taken in haste and anger.”
 
Tears started automatically flowing from Meera’s eyes as once again someone reminded her of the immense sacrifice made by her husband and the love he had for her.
 
“It simply amazed me that if my husband had not come here again, you would have never revealed to your wife that you knew about her betrayal. You tolerated so much of humiliation and pain and you wanted your wife to be spared from any pain at all.”
 
Hearing this a sob escaped from Meera’s mouth. Saravanan was upset that all this was going to affect his wife badly again when Dr. Arul had made so much of slow in treating Meera.
 
“All that is over and done with now why are coming up with this atrocious idea now,” Saravanan said angrily.
 
“I have been giving serious thought to this for the past three to four months. I have had many arguments with my husband over this. For what he had done he has no moral right to argue against this. I feel deprived of the right to motherhood. He has no option but to respect my wishes. He would not be able to get away scot free if my family gets to know what he has done.”
 
Saravanan listened impatiently to what Gomathi was saying.
 
“Then go ahead and chose somebody else, maybe even some member within your greater family. Why me,” Saravanan retorted angrily.
 
“Why you… because of the type of man you are. Anyone else in your position would be willingly ready to seek revenge for what my husband had done. You don’t have animosity towards him. You are a caring person with a high degree of honour. These are the types of qualities I would want my child to have.”

“Another reason is that, only through you this could be kept a secret and there would be no problems in the future.”
 
Saravanan was suddenly very quiet. One could see that he was thinking deeply and gathering his thoughts. Meera too had a great degree of anxiety on what her husband would say but she really could not quite make out what she was feeling. There were conflicting emotions within her. Saravanan started speaking slowly, patiently and firmly.
 
“You must know Gomathi the reason why I did not seek to gain any revenge against your husband is because he is a person of no consequence to me. I believe everyone will pay for their actions one way or another eventually. I demean myself to his level if I find solace in any sort of revenge.”
 
All three of them were listening to Saravanan speak intently. He was revealing himself to them for the first time and they are learning the make up of his character. Even Meera after living so many years of her life with him is getting to learn an aspect of his character for the first time.
 
“I believe that one’s own righteous behaviour is that which defines a person. No body else’s behaviour should shape your own character. I have my principles. I  believe in being true to them. As I said your husband doesn’t matter to me. I could not care less what happens to him and it’s not my duty to punish him in anyway. There will come a time that he himself would deeply and truly regret his actions if he already hasn’t.”
 
“What matters to me is my family. The future of my children. The happiness of my wife and children. You will not want to hurt any person that you truly care for and love. My wife may have made mistakes in her life. I may even be partly responsible for those mistakes to happen but I had a believe that her love for me had never diminished in anyway. We now have a chance to rebuild our lives. Dwelling on wrong doing and the past is never going to be of any good for the future. I love my wife and I can’t just think of being with another woman because of what happened in the past. Otherwise what’s the difference between me and Prabu.”
 
Saravanan had in fact degraded Prabu without directly saying anything degrading about him.
 
Meera’s heart broke on hearing her husband speak. She had a diamond with her yet she had not learnt to treasure it. How could she ever deserve such a person as this. Her heart swelled with love for her husband. What can she do.. what should she do… Meera was lost now more than ever.  

Gomathi turned to look at her husband first whose face seemed to have brightened on hearing Saravanan say those words. She observed her husband’s reaction and then turned back once more to look at Saravanan’s face. How could she not differentiate the two men’s reaction on this. It perfectly reflected the moral fortitude and character of the two men. She reflected to herself on how much her husband had argued against her taking this decision but she had been forthright in letting him know that he did not have any ethical standing to object to her wish.
 
“Your words once again prove that I was not wrong in wanting you to be the father of my child. You don’t have vengeance in your heart, you did not jump at the opportunity to sleep with another woman when no one or nothing could have stopped you. Which better man can a woman chose?”
 
‘Look Gomathi, I have already told you the reason why I am not going to do as you wish, why waste your time talking further,” Saravanan said, exasperated that Gomathi was still adamant in wanting her way.
 
“I understand what you have said and I respect your wishes but there is something else you should consider. You may change your mind then.”
 
Saravanan was getting irritated. He normally would not want to be rude to anyone but Gomathi was stretching his patience a lot.
 
“What is there to consider. I don’t think anything would change my mind, so please let’s leave that topic.”
 
Gomathi was not going to be put off by Saravanan’s tone. “I need to talk to you in private and I will let you know why.”
 
“What more is there to say, you can say whatever you want to me here itself, though I can’t see what difference it would make whatever you may say.”
 
God, this man is so stubborn Gomathi thought to herself. She felt like telling him to shut up and just drag him to the bedroom. However, all she did was got up and walked up to Saravanan. Meera looked at Gomathi, her heart beating fast, maybe even a little fearful of what she was going to do. Prabu seemed to have stopped breathing his eyes open wide watching his wife. Gomathi walked right up to Saravanan who a little alarmed stuttered back. The back of his legs hitting the single sofa on which he had been sitting stopped him from going any further back. Gomathi almost laughed seeing this.
 
“Please don’t move, I’m not going to do anything. I just want to say something to you.”
 
Saravanan too felt foolish at the way he had reacted. Here in the middle of the hall in his own house, what could Gomathi have done especially with his wife and her husband being there. Gomathi leaned her head to the side of his head and whispered something in his ears. Saravanan’s eyes narrowed in a frown. He seemed to be considering what Gomathi had said to him. Gomathi did not wait for Saravanan, she started walking to dining hall without looking back. Meera was looking at Gomathi walking away, her mouth slightly agape at Gomathi’s actions. Prabu on the other hand was looking at Saravanan. He seemed more anxious to see what Saravanan’s reaction was going to be. Maybe he knew about and feared his wife’s persuasive ability.
 
Saravanan stood there for a few seconds. He was contemplating his next action. Gomathi walking away like that was like a fait accompli leaving him no option but to follow her. He hesitated but felt it would be rude to just let Gomathi stand there without him doing as she asked. Besides it would do no harm to listen to her especially regarding what she whispered in his ear. Saravanan slowly started walking towards where Gomathi was standing, waiting for him. Prabu’s strength seemed to leave him as his shoulders slumped on seeing what was happening. Meera on the other hand was actually flabbergasted not knowing what to make of what was happening. Meera took great effort not to look at Prabu. She really had no desire to see that face anymore.
 
Gomathi was saying something to Saravanan. Saravanan at first nodded to what Gomathi said but he shook his head vehemently to say no to what Gomathi was saying. They were talking very earnestly but softly so that the two of them who were sitting in the hall could not hear what was being said. Gomathi seemed to be insistently saying something but Saravanan seemed to be opposed to what she was saying by the expression on his face and the way he was shaking his head. The conversation seemed to be going on for a long time but was in fact going on for only ten minutes. Suddenly Gomathi seemed to have struck on something that had made Saravanan think again. This was seen by the way he suddenly became still and the concentration on his face listening to what Gomathi was saying.

Gomathi too realised she had found the key to break Saravanan’s resistance to her proposal. She seemed to be keenly pursuing those lines in her arguments. Saravanan was not speaking so much now and was listening more intently. He also seemed to be thinking deeply at what was being said. Gomathi seemed to be silent for a few seconds after she says something as if giving Saravanan time to absorb what was said as well as reflect on the merit of what was being said. She would then speak some more before letting Saravanan reflect on that too. Saravanan’s body language seemed to admit defeat. Even though he still seemed to put out some arguments but they seemed to be half hearted now. Finally he seemed only to be listening to what Gomathi was saying, nodding a little now and then. He seemed to take a deep breath, sigh and then say something to Gomathi. This time it was Gomathi who shook her head in acceptance but it was clear that she had prevailed in the argument by the look of satisfaction on her face.
 
They both then walked back to the hall. Gomathi’s steps were confident and sure. Saravanan was reluctantly walking back. His face still reflected the dilemma within him. For the first time he avoided looking at Meera. He seemed to feel uncomfortable doing that. For that matter he did not look at Prabu either. Gomathi went straight to her husband and said something softly. He opened his mouth as if wanting to argue but then shut it up again and just nodded to Gomathi. Meera’s heart was racing. She now knew what was the outcome in the argument between her husband and Prabu’s wife. She could understand her own feelings as there were two directly opposing emotions that she felt at the same time.
 
There was elation that her husband was finally getting justice. In her heart she finally felt that he too was winning and not always being the victim of others wrong doing. A great pang of pain seemed to be lifted from her heart. That both she and Prabu would feel the pain in return for the agony caused to her husband was a big solace to her. The guilt was still there but it didn’t hurt as much. However, at the same time she felt another kind of pain. One she had never experienced before. For the first time she experienced a sense of jealousy on someone else sharing what was always only hers. That hurt, it didn’t feel good at all.
 
Saravanan walked to the center of the hall and stood there, strangely lost in his own home. Gomathi moved away from her husband and walked up to him. Gomathi looked at him meaningfully. Saravanan seemed to be dazed for a while then as if coming to his senses nodded to Gomathi and walked to his bedroom. He carefully avoided looking at anyone else in the room. Being unfaithful to his wife was such an agonising step for him though he was not being unfaithful in the strict understanding of that word. Even in that case doing something like this was alien to his nature. However, it was not possible to understand what was motivating Gomathi. She seemed to relish what she was doing. What was actually driving her. Was it the possibility of becoming a mother of her own child for the first time. Or did her husband cheating on her was a greater hurt than what she let out to be. Unlike Saravanan, was the motive of revenge that was driving her. Or more likely it was a mixture of the two. Or it could be something no one else had thought off. On learning what had happened to Saravanan and how he suffered may have deeply affected her conscience and she may have developed a lot of empathy for him.
 
Gomathi started walking behind Saravanan. Prabu glanced at her but then turned his head back just as quickly as if being unable to bear the sight. He had gone into that room so many times to have sex with Saravanan’s wife. It was always with glee, with a arrogant smile on his face that the wife of his friend would soon be lying there naked in her bed waiting to offer her voluptuous body to him for his pleasure. Now the shoe was on the other foot. His wife was walking into that same bedroom. Soon she too would be lying there naked for his friend to have his pleasure with her. He was feeling sick inside. There was an additional factor here. They were going to make love so that his friend can impregnate his wife, something that god had deprived him of being able to do. Perhaps as a punishment for his own lack of morals.

He had sex with Meera many times without using protection. He had avoided it as much as he could because he wanted the added pleasure of skin on skin rather than the protective rubber which reduced the pleasurable sensation. Contracting any sexual disease was not an issue as he was not having sex with anyone other than Meera at that time and she too was not a wanton woman who was sleeping around. He was just her second man after her husband and Saravanan was a faithful husband who did not have sex with anyone other than his wife. Meera too had not insisted he use a condom all the time. In moments of passion they had forgotten everything else. Not only did he misuse the advantage of friendship for his immoral seduction of his friends wife, he may have even secretly wanted to impregnate her as that would have totally established his dominance as an alpha male. He had thought it was only by sheer luck Meera had not got pregnant. He was only to learn later than he was incapable of fathering a child.  
 
Learning that fact had upset him immensely at first but he soon learnt to reconcile with that fact as there was nothing that could be done about it. Apart from not being able to father a child it did not diminish his prowess in making love to a woman and fully satisfying her.  He looked at Meera, she seemed to have a look of sadness on her face as she saw his wife going into the bedroom with her husband. Was she also feeling the same way he is, Prabu wondered. She had avoided looking at him totally. She had lost a lot of weight and looked haggard. The skin that once was so smooth seemed to be lined and wrinkled.  One had to look for the  underlying beauty that was once there, but it was not very evident now.
 
Meera sat as far away from him as possible noted Prabu. She clearly did not want to have anything to do with him anymore. This was the paradox in this type of relationships. As it was usual at the end of these sort of illicit affairs there is a resentment by the woman at the man who had seduced her. It was usually the man who would make all sorts of efforts to covet what is not his. They exploit any weaknesses to achieve their aim. Vulnerability is exploited till they achieve their goal. When the affair ends, there is resentment on the part of the women. She would come to realise and feel that she had been taken advantage off because the seducers aim is almost always not to start a family with seduced woman but to enjoy the thrill and pleasure from an adulterous relationship. For the man’s primary aim is his own pleasure. When the man is a skilful lover the woman too gets to partake in the pleasures but resentment sets in only when the affair is over. Realisation comes that they were exploited for the lover’s own selfish desires. The lover would not have much concern on the detrimental effects it would have on her family. Part of that resentment reflected against the ex-lover is their resentment against themselves. Their weakness that allowed themselves to be exploited. Their resentment against themselves for the harm and betrayal of their family. Very rarely do lovers in an adulterous relationship part on amicable terms.
 
Prabu placed the sleeping child on the sofa and got up. He slowly walked towards Meera. He wanted to talk to her maybe even do something more in revenge as her husband was surely going to have sex with his wife soon. In his own selfishness he did not seem to realise that this should not be anything about revenge but payback for his callous betrayal of strong bond of friendship. Hearing the sound of his approaching feet Meera looked up directly at Prabu for the first time. Her eyes were searing coals of fire. Her resentment against him was clearly evident those eyes. It clearly indicated how she considered him to be a despicable human being. He was taken aback as her look made him stop in his tracks. These were not the eyes he was used to. Not the eyes which had looked at him with naked desire and lust. These eyes would burn a hole directly through him. He came to realise fully now that things would never be like before ever again. He quietly went back and sat beside his sleeping child.
 
There were some sounds of movements in the room. Gomathi who had gone in after Saravanan had not fully closed the door. It was very slightly ajar. Had she done it inadvertently or on purpose. If on purpose, why? Was there a great resentment within her on how her husband had betrayed her. There were sounds of kissing. Then Saravanan’s voice can be faintly heard.

“What’s this, no, no this is not necessary. Let’s just finish this as soon as possible.” It looked like Gomathi was the one who had initiated the kisses.
 
There were some indistinct noises. Words spoken that couldn’t be distinguished. There was a creaking of the bed. Saravanan’s voice was quite clearly heard as he spoke louder probably in alarm.
 
“What are you doing .. why are you going there ..  not there .. no no..Humm..mmm…”
 
Meera felt a stab of intense pain in her heart. Gomathi was doing something that she had not done for her husband. Her husband was experiencing the pleasure a woman’s mouth could give not from her but from another woman. In her mistaken belief of decent behaviour she had denied her husband this pleasure. Something made her look at Prabu at that time. He had his hands on his face as if not bearing to listen to what was happening in the room. There were sounds of passion coming from the room, mostly from a woman. Had she ever displayed her feelings like this Meera thought in despair but another woman is freely expressing what she always sought to supress. This added on to the agony she was already feeling.
 
She once again glanced at Prabu. This time he had his hands covering his ears as if not wanting to hear what was happening in the room. He seemed to not be able to bear it anymore. He quickly got up and walked to the front door. He opened it and stepped outside. Seeing the level of discomfort Prabu was in was like a soothing balm to the hurt that she was feeling. Has he walked away completely she wondered. No, he was still there. She could see his shadow in the pathway of the door. She too wanted to close her ears but she somehow needed to hear what was going on. She thought it was imperative that she had to undergo the same pain her husband had. It was after more than half an hour before Gomathi came out. Her face was bright and there was a look of satisfaction on her face. Was it because of the sex or because of her sense of revenge, Meera did not know. She smiled at Meera, picked up her child.
 
“I will be back tomorrow,” she said, as she left with the child.
 
Prabu did not come back in again. Meera could hear their vehicle leave. She could hear her husband taking bath. When he came out, he was finding it difficult to look at Meera. Even though he did not do anything behind her back and also, she having no right to be upset about it, he nevertheless was feeling guilty for what he had done.  He attempted to say something but thought better of it and remained silent. Meera wanted to ease his feeling of unease and went to the kitchen. In any case the children would be back soon and she needed to have dinner ready for them and her husband. Out of her husband’s sight her suppressed emotions poured out. Silent tears fell from her eyes. This is how the pain of betrayal felt. In this case it can’t even be strictly termed as betrayal yet it caused this agony within her. Then how much more her adultery must have caused to her beloved husband.
 
Gomathi came the next day and the day after that too. Meera later learnt that these were her fertile days. She had pre-planned everything and chosen the right time to be back here in town. That would have meant she had made Prabu acquiesce to her decision knowing fully well the outcome that it would bring. It took Saravanan several days before he could talk to Meera freely like before. This made Meera reflect how much more easily she had hidden her betrayal to her husband while he felt so guilty even when everything was done in the open.

Dr. Arul called Saravanan aside after about four sessions after Gomathi and Prabu’s visit to their home.
 
“Saravanan, I am pleased, she is a bit more open now. She is attempting to communicate her feelings, though she still has that inbuilt resistance to overcome.”
 
About a month later Gomathi and Prabu came back to Saravanan’s home. This time Prabu left Gomathi and went away saying he would be back in an hour. This time they did not bring their child with them. Saravanan was upset. Looked like Gomathi had not got pregnant and was back. He had thought that that ordeal was behind him. He felt it not right sleeping with another woman even though it was strictly on the understanding of making the woman pregnant and had no emotional attachments whatsoever.
 
“Sorry, we have to do this again,” Gomathi said to Meera before she pulled a reluctant Saravanan to the bedroom.
 
This time Meera shut herself in away in another room from the sounds of their lovemaking. She too couldn’t bear to hear the sounds of pleasure from Gomathi in the same way that Prabu couldn’t. This time their sexual union took longer. It was almost an hour before she heard Gomathi calling for her. She really did not want to see Gomathi’s face but Meera had no choice but to come out.
 
Gomathi took Meera’s hands in her and pulled her in to sit on the sofa. She made Saravanan sit beside Meera. Gomathi looked at both of them with fondness.
 
“Meera, you must surely be aware that your husband is a very decent and good human being and that you are lucky to have him.”
 
Meera nodded at Gomathi because it was all so true.
 
“You should also know that he loves you very much.”
It was the first time that Meera then spoke, “I know, but why?? I don’t deserve that love.”
 
“Meera akka, you cannot always explain why one person loves another. Many a times this defies logic because it has nothing to do with that and everything to do with emotions.”
 
Meera took a quick glance at the stoic face of her husband sitting beside her.
 
“You know that your husband refused what I was asking. Did you wonder what made him change his mind?”
 
Meera did wonder that, it was very evident from the look on her face.
 
“He agreed to it only for your sake and nothing else.”
 
“How so,” Meera asked softly though a feeling of elation surged through her on hearing that even this very act was only for her.
 
“I noticed how your health has deteriorated. I need not be a doctor to guess that it had a lot to do with your great feeling of guilt. I sensed I was on the right track when your husband arguments against me losing it’s strength when I argued on this point.”
 
Did he mention to her that he is taking me to see a psychiatric doctor thought Meera to herself.
 
“Your husband maybe of a noble soul who does not want to seek revenge, but I convinced him how your feeling of injustice done to him would not be appeased unless there was some sort of payback for himself.”
 
Gomathi was no doctor but as a woman, she had put herself in another woman’s place and sort of surmised how another woman would feel.
 
“Even then your husband was not convinced. I told him that if this gave even a small chance of your wife getting back her emotional balance would he not want to take it.”
 
“I knew deep within you, you needed him to get his revenge even if it did not matter to him. I also realised apart from wanting to bear a child, I too needed a bit of revenge for my husband’s betrayal of me.”
 
After all that she had done, her husband’s only motive to sleep with another woman is that it may help me, thought Meera proudly about her husband.
 
“One more thing Meera, I am already pregnant but today was just to thank your husband. I’m very sorry for that. I won’t interfere in your life after this .. also by the way your husband didn’t know too that I was pregnant,” Gomathi said with a smile seeing the shock on Saravanan’s face.