chapter 19

GOA, PRESENT DAY Chetana stared grimly at her coffee mug as some ominous thoughts gnawed upon her mind. After learning about Kabir’s illegitimate affairs with multiple women, she started doubting whether Adira was the only one in Anant’s life or it was there someone else too. The most probable candidate in her list of suspects was Maithili.      She was the mother of one of Richa’s classmates and they had met at a PTA meeting at Richa’s college. Anant had been praising Maithili to the sky back home after the meeting. Chetana was so fed up with his adulation that she felt like jumping out of the car. She doubted whether they had been meeting frequently but furtively after that day.“Hey, what’s it?” Sam asked as he noticed her long face.“Oh! Nothing…” Chetana shook her head to ward off some dreadful thoughts. “Sam, Kabir is your friend. You must bring him back on the right track. Why didn’t you do that? How could you just keep watching everything like a dumb spectator?”Chetana’s face was dark with fury.“Yes, I did, Chetana!” Sam lifted both his hands. “I did all I could do to stop all this. And not only Kabir, but I pleaded with Sonia also to rein her husband. The reply I got from Kabir was a well-expected one but Sonia’s words shocked me.”“What did she say?” Chetana sipped whatever coffee was remaining in her mug.“Let’s get back to our story.” MUMBAI, 10 YEARS AGO “You are playing with fire, Kabir,” I confronted him in his cabin after office hours. “If you don’t step out of your dalliances right now, you are going to regret it later.”“What is so wrong with that, Sam?” Kabir smiled shamelessly. “Why are you so averse to things that give me a little pleasure?”“Because you are cheating on a wife who adores you.”“I haven’t done anything wrong to her.” Kabir shrugged. “I’ve never even hurt her with a bad word. I keep her happy and take good care of all her needs. I have always fulfilled all my duties towards her as a husband. What else do you expect from me?”“Be loyal to her.”“It doesn’t matter as long as she doesn’t know about it.” Kabir’s voice shrilled with the triumph of a man who had conquered the world. “As it is said, you are not a criminal till you are caught!”“And what if she does the same to you?” My eyes nearly pierced through his. “Would you be able to forgive her? Would you still prefer to go on with your marital relationship?”His smile faded and I could see sparks of fury burst in his eyes.“Look, Sam, we are friends,” he turned his back towards me, “but you have no right to interfere in my matters. You have preached me enough, now leave the rest to my discretion.”“I was only trying to…”“Please leave, Sam.” His voice was cold and the tone was harsh. *    * When I realized that trying to convince Kabir was useless, I decided to disclose the truth to Sonia. Though I was not supposed to reveal Kabir’s secrets as a friend, it was the only way to pull him back. Sonia used to teach music at an institute. I went to meet her there during her lunch break.“Oh, Sam!” she said as she stepped into the visitor’s room. “It’s so good to see you. By the way, what are you doing here? Do you want to learn music?”“I am here to tell you something that will not seem music to your ears, Sonia.” I had already made up my mind to say it straight. But I kept my eyes lowered as I didn’t dare to see the hurt in her eyes.“Is Kabir alright?” Sonia gasped as her terrified eyes looked questioningly at me.“He is fine.” I sighed. “But his mind has become sick. Only you can bring him back to normalcy.”“What are you trying to say, Sam?”“It will not be easy for you but you have to be strong.”I closed my eyes and took a deep breath as I strengthened myself to unveil the dreadful face of truth to her. Sonia remained calm and listened quietly to my narration.“Do you think I am unaware of everything?” Sonia said calmly after I had finished.“What?” It was a bolt from the blue for me.“I am his wife, Sam.” She raised her tear-filled eyes to look at me. “I am aware of every breath he takes, his unspoken words and hidden instincts.”“Then, why don’t you say anything to him?” I was baffled. “Why are you just letting everything happen? Why are you doing this to yourself, Sonia?”“It will not do any good.” She wiped her tears. “He will only become more rebellious. The next time, he will play all his moves very cautiously. Nobody can change him other than Kabir himself. He should understand that he is walking on the wrong path. Till he realizes his mistakes, he will not be able to rectify them.”“And do you think it will happen one day, just out of the blue?” I felt pity for the poor woman who had unfaltering faith in a man like Kabir.“Yes, Sam…” There was a serene gleam in her eyes. “One day he will apologize from the depths of his heart and make a true promise that he is going to keep with utmost sincerity throughout his life.”I couldn't imagine even in the wildest of fancies that the Kabir I knew would do so someday. But as it is said, faith has the power to move mountains. I let her live peacefully with her faith and walked out without a word.Â