A love story untold
- Part 2 -

Samarjit Kambam *

Slowly and slowly he began to lost interest in his wife and daughter. His affection for his daughter seemed to have vanished or siphoned off from his brain. He hadn't ask her what was taught at the class nor did he sit a single moment with her to look after her studies.

Her wife realised that he has been living in a totally different world, oblivious of everything, loving only his 'stuff'. He stopped meeting his relatives, near and dear ones. v He became aggressive at the slightest pretext. When she started to discuss about a family issue, he would push and shove her away telling her that he didn't want to hear her voice, to leave him alone. She brought up the issue of putting him in a de-addiction centre, but he was obstinate and was totally against it.

Even though they slept together, they were like strangers. She realised the gravity of the situation that the stuff was dragging her dearest from her further and further away towards the destination which is nothing but 'death'. She knew that her husband's days are getting numbered if the status quo prevails.

But she didn't want to lose her husband for she loved her too much. Her husband was like a bird with broken wings and she thought "How far can a bird with broken wings fly?"

It was at this stage that she thought of doing something extraordinary, something that could tie all the loose ends together. She thought and thought for a solution to the problem but her mind drew a blank.

At last an idea struck her where she had to make a harsh and tough decision. The action that followed after her decision was a violent one. But she stuck to her decision making it her last stand. Besides, there was no other choice left for her.

On the wall there was a baseball bat that has remained there for many years. It was a souvenir from one of his hubby's uncles. One night, she waited for him to sleep and while he was having a sound sleep, she struck the baseball on his right leg just below the knee hard, really hard but not hard enough to make his leg turn into a pulp.

She did it in such a way that his leg got a very minor fracture, a small hairline crack. Caught by surprise and sudden excruciating pain he yelled to the top of his voice. It was so painful, he could hardly move his leg. She immediately called their neighbours and he was taken to Casualty Ward of the nearest hospital.

The required medical procedures were carried out and the doctors diagnosed him with a simple fracture, not that bad but would take at least two to three months to completely heal.

The doctors gave him medications, a minor operation was carried out, his leg was plastered and he was advised to rest for a minimum of three months. He seethed with anger at his wife, cursed and swore that he'd send her to hell or make her life a living hell once he gets well. He had planned from many angles to take revenge against his wife.

Someday.... he thought.... someday. But that 'someday' never came. For, from day one since he was brought back home from hospital and bed-ridden at home, his anger dissipated to see the way his wife treated him with so much love.

She always remained near him, looking after his needs, taking great care of him and at the same time sobbing silently by snuggling herself near his feet. She diverted all her attention towards him and tended after him with so much love, affection and care and made sure that the medication routine was properly maintained.

Slowly, his leg began to heal, he got better and stronger. She was there for him all the time. She ate only after he ate, she slept only after he slept. Seeing his wife's compassion, he was filled with mixed emotions. After about two months, all the cravings for his 'stuff' vanished. He got stronger.

For the first time in his life he felt hungry and ate heartily. His friends and relatives came to him and wished him speedy recovery. After the third month he could walk without any support and after what seemed like an eternity he could feel the freshness and enjoy the beauty of the early morning.

He felt like talking to others, in fact, he became quite social. It was a visual treat to him to watch his daughter running around, enjoyed watching her painting the drawings she had drawn and the love for his daughter filled his heart. He wondered how he had missed all the pretty things and good sides of life all the years.

His affection and love for his daughter grew more in his heart with each passing day. He'd hold his daughter's hand and take her for early morning walk, for evening walk, taught her in her studies, took her to eateries, bought her nice dresses, chocolates and things her daughter liked.

New he experienced real happiness and could differentiate between induced and real happiness and thought to himself that he had been such a fool to miss real happiness all those bygone years, years which will never return.

One fine sunny day, as he was reading a novel, his wife sat near him, took out a shiny and sparkling sharp knife which she bought from the market the previous day, gave it to him and requested him to thrust it inside her belly and finish her off after saying, "Now that you have begun to love your daughter have taken great care of her, you have become a good father now. I sure hope you'll bring her up to be a doctor which has always been my dream. After all what I did to you, now its time for your revenge, just kill me. Now I can die peacefully for I know you have returned to your own good self and I sure hope that you'll look after our daughter as a good father".

Hearing that he stood motionless for a few moments, dropped the knife on the floor, held her tight in his arms saying, "You have given me the meaning of love, shown me true love with your deeds, without you my life is not worth living. I love you. Lets bring up our daughter together until your dreams materialise. Now, I am getting hungry, lets have lunch".

Concluded...