Know your spouse well

Natasha opened her eyes as she heard the sound of chirping birds.
The sun's rays filtered through the closed curtains casting a golden
glow in the room. She turned to the empty side of her bed. Zubair had a
night shift so he wouldn't be back till seven. Natasha sighed as she
pictured his handsome face and radiant smile in her mind. The day she
got married to Zubair was the happiest day of her life. He was a most
understanding, loving and co-operative guy that she couldn't ask for
anything more. Life with him was heaven on earth and was living
contentedly in Hyderabad where he worked as an electronics engineer.
Till that fateful day??

Natasha got out of the bed, freshened up in the toilet and went to the
kitchen. She poured water into the kettle and switched it on. She
looked up at the kitchen clock which showed 6.50. He would be back in a
few minutes, she thought. Oh God, at least today would I be able to
tell him everything. How do I get myself out of this critical
situation? I love him a lot and want to be completely honest with him.
But you have sealed my mouth. What is the resolution to my problems,
Lord? The sound of the boiling water cut through her thoughts. She
sloshed the teabag around in the hot water and went to the living room
to have her cup of tea. Her eyes filled with tears as she saw her
marriage photograph on the mantelpiece. She started as she heard the
key turn in the main door lock and wiped away her tears. Zubair came in
and saw her having her tea. "Wow, up already?" he said, " I thought I'd
come soon and surprise you by getting breakfast ready." "C'mon Zubair,
stop joking. Since when in your lifetime have you come near the
kitchen?" She went in to get his tea. "By the way, Nat, I've got duty
in the afternoon also. I'll be back by dinnertime. You better fix a
good dinner, as I might be bringing someone tonight with me." " Guests
again?" she said wearily. " Sorry, dear, but it's absolutely necessary.
We are signing a big contract with Ramnath &; Co. and have got a lot
to discuss regarding the deal. So I invited their manager over to talk
over the whole stuff. Hey, I think you have already met him. Do you
remember the party I took you to last month? I introduced Mr. Ali to
you there." "Mmmm I'm not really sure. You better get some rest now.
I'm going to have a shower," she said leaving the room.

Natasha felt as if someone had punched her stomach. She felt her knees
shaking and could hear her explosive heartbeat. Her forehead was moist
with sweat. She knew she had to do something. She couldn't risk having
dinner tonight with Ali. She had to find a way out.

Zubair scratched his forehead thoughtfully. " Well, she didn't sound
very interested about the whole thing. What's the matter with her?" he
pondered. He had noticed a marked change in her during the past few
days. She was not the same bubbly, cheerful Natasha he knew. Though she
tried to look normal, he knew something was disturbing her. He could
see it in her eyes that she was worried over something. They no longer
looked lustrous and sparkling; rather he found dark circles under them
indicating her lack of sleep. The last time they had guests over was
ages ago, yet he realized she was in no mood for entertaining anybody.
He hoped she'd show some improvement after she met Mr. Ali. Ali was one
of the most jovial and fun-loving persons he had ever met. His sense of
humour never failed to send listeners into fits of laughter. Zubair
assured himself that his presence would make a marvelous impact on
Natasha and make her her old self again.

It was 6.30 p.m. Zubair started his car and made his way out of the
office parking area. He was incensed and upset and didn't feel like
going home right away. He knew that his doubts were baseless, but he
couldn't help feeling annoyed. Natasha had called and said she was
feeling very feverish. She asked him to call off his guest, and get a
take away dinner. He could make out that this was just an excuse to be
left alone but he couldn't stop wondering why she wanted to. Why was
she trying to isolate herself from people, he thought mystified. Did
something happen that perturbed her? He went over her activities during
the past few weeks in his mind. He tried to find out the last time she
had behaved socially with people. She was fine when they went for the
Mysore tour with the Carlsons. They had a great time at the Cultural
Exhibition too. She was always the star attraction everywhere with her
vivacious enthusiasm and contagious smile. He remembered how gorgeous
she looked at his office party in her embroidered silk sari. She was a
wonderful sight as she walked graciously in her flowing sari
courteously getting herself introduced to his colleagues. He suddenly
stepped on the brakes bringing the car to a screeching halt. "That's
it", he snapped his fingers. " That was the last time I saw her normal
self. So what happened there that upset her?"

Zubair tried the door and found it unlocked. Natasha must have
forgotten to lock it after getting back from the grocers' he mused. He
closed the door behind him and looked around for her. He went to the
bedroom to find her slamming the receiver of the phone down. She looked
very nervous and stuttered, " Hi Zubair, I was?? just?I thought I would
order dinner from here." " But I've already brought it home with me.
You yourself asked me to get it, remember?" " Oh I completely forgot
that I told you. Anyways I was searching for the number when you came
in and still didn't make the call." She got up and left the room.
Zubair knew something was definitely wrong now. On an impulse, though
he couldn't reason out why he was doing it, he reached for the phone
and pressed the redial button. He heard a continuous high-pitched
single tone indicating the number was unobtainable. He put back the
receiver and sat on the bed. He was sure she had been talking to
somebody and she had deliberately changed the number so that he can't
trace it. " What is she hiding from me? Nothing of this sort has ever
happened in these two years of our married life. She had always been
very open and free to me. I thought that there isn't a single thing
that I don't know about her. Or is there something?"

Natasha looked at her reflection in the mirror. She looked pale and
blue with tension. She cursed herself for being very silly to make the
call when she knew very well that Zubair would be home soon. She was
sure that doubts would have formed in his mind by now. Her abnormal
behaviour had revealed everything. She couldn't take it any more. She
had to solve this problem fast. If she delayed, she might meet with
disastrous results. She took a deep breath as she saw him coming
towards her. " Zubair, I've got something to tell you." He stared at
her and went to the drawing room without saying a word. She followed
him and saw him seated on the sofa. " Zubair, I have never kept
anything away from you. You have always been my best friend and I can
always rely on you whenever I felt troubled. You are my most precious
gift given by God and I had promised myself never to be a burden or
bother to you. But I was forced to keep something to myself as my mom
pleaded with me never to reveal it to you.

I was 15 when I met Ali. He was a good friend of Dad's and used to
come home frequently. He gave me the shock of my life one day by
proposing to me. I told him I was in no hurry for marriage and didn't
find my age appropriate for taking such a big decision. I tried to keep
away from him but he remained insistent. I felt very scared to tell my
parents the whole story, as I couldn't expect how they would react to
it. I had a guilty consciousness in me that told me that I was also
responsible for his love for me. I had never dreamt of harming any soul
in my life and felt accountable for disturbing him. It was the most
grievous and foolish mistake that I had committed in my life.

At one point of time when I couldn't find any way out, I accepted his
proposal provided my parents agreed too. I was not sure whether I was
doing the right thing but felt that everything happened for a reason
and maybe this was my destiny. My dad was furious when Ali approached
him and told him to leave me alone. I was in a big dilemma and was
completely unsure of my next move. All this affected me a lot and
caused a lot of confusion in my family. This went on like this for a
few months when he came to me one day and informed that he was married.
I felt deceived and cheated and flared up at him. He protested and told
that he was forced to do it, as his parents didn't agree to accept me
as their daughter-in-law and had already seen a bride for him. He said
that whatever happened his heart belonged to me. He begged me to accept
him as my friend and wanted to be a part of my joys and sorrows.

I finally got away from him when I came to India to do my graduation.
I resolved to have a blissful life with my would-be husband and prayed
each day without fail for a good future. God blessed me with a
wonderful life partner and made me forget all my past unpleasant
encounters. I led a problem-free life till the day I met him again at
the party. Bad memories kept haunting me from that day onwards and I
knew I had to reveal everything to you. I was just telling my mother
all this on the phone when you came. She was against my decision and
warned me that this could be the end of my marriage life. I know my
Zubair and I know he is the most understanding person in the whole
world. You gave me a heavenly life on this earth and I'm ready to face
the consequences now. I'm ready..for?.anything?" She sobbed as she
stopped speaking.

She knew she did what she had to and felt that a big burden was lifted
from her shoulders. Zubair remained silent for several minutes. He then
heaved a sigh and spoke up. " So this is your secret. I have never
doubted you for a single second and so never expected this from you. I
knew something was bothering you but couldn't find what it was." He
suddenly grabbed her hand. " What did you expect I'd do now?" he
demanded. " You think I'll send you out of the house and divorce you?"
He burst out laughing as he told so. "C'mon Nat, this is not an Indian
movie. This is real life. And we have lived together for two whole
years in mutual understanding and consideration. Did you forget all
that I had told you of my past life? I can't count by my fingers the
number of girlfriends I had. I was a freak during my college days. I
was living a life without any goal and objective." He touched her cheek
and said, " You were the one who changed me. I started living with a
purpose after marrying you. You showed me how to distinguish right from
wrong. And how in the ever-loving world can I leave you like that?
Let's forget about everything. I'm glad you told me everything. Be your
old self again, darling. Will you?" Natasha couldn't believe her ears.
" Of course I will. I just have one favour to ask you." " Ask away,
honey. I'd do anything to see the same old cheerful Nattu again." "
Actually whatever I told you just now was in a novel you got from the
exhibition last month. Can you get me another one like that? I'll use
it for the next April fools' Day."