The Revenge

January 2019

“No No No wait! Stop!” and pin drop silence. The cold winter night was as quiet as it could be and except the scream nothing else disturbed the silence of the night.

September 2017

The sun peeped in through the cracks of the curtains and all he could do was look at her. She was so beautiful but wasn’t his to begin with.

“Hey! You’re up...”

“Yes I am. How can I sleep when you’re next to me?”

“Hmmm… What’s the time?”

“The best time ever.”

“Ha-Ha! Tell me the time. I’ve to be home. Don’t ask why. You already know. ”

“Let him know that you’re with me now.Why are you still with him anyway? You don’t love him.”

“Ummhh.. That’s it. We are not having this discussion again and again. I cannot leave just yet.”

She shook off the covers, got up from the bed, her long black dishevelled hair falling on her back, her curvaceous figure forming a sexy silhouette against the sunlight. He couldn’t stop himself and leaped out of the bed pulling her back towards him, holding her by her waist and kissing her neck simultaneously. One hand slowly slid up on her naked body, cupping her left breast and the other hand caressing her nether region. She could feel his erection poking her at the back. They stayed in bed for two more sessions of steamy sex before she left.

Prologue -

Rita and Mukesh had been married for 2 years and it was everything she expected it to be except in some ways it was not. Mukesh was very successful, working as the regional head for one of the top tier banks. Mukesh and Rita had met rather their meeting had been arranged by their respective parents for them to get to know each other for future marriage prospects. Much to their parents’ relief, things had worked out pretty well between these two and they tied the knot. However, their relationship was rather mechanical. Mukesh was the perfect husband, taking care of things wherever needed but Rita knew he did not love her. There was something amiss. Even the sex seemed something happening only because it was a compulsion. Rita was unhappy. She thought of planning for a baby but Mukesh did not want that. She was at her wits end about her failing marriage.

Ankesh had known all his life that he was meant for bigger things, even when they stayed in the small rented room in one of the chawls. With his mom trying to make ends meet with her small tailoring shop and his dad’s auto repair shop, life was hard. He had somehow managed to complete school but because of financial constraints his college admissions seemed like a distant dream. He knew he had it in him; just an opportunity was what he needed. Ankesh had always had the gift of the gab and with the right kind of grooming, would be fit to be called even prince charming by some. One fine day during his usual routine of helping his dad out in his shop, he met Kamal. Kamal, in layman terms, was who we refer to as the middleman; people who make sure you get into a college of your choice through quotas in lieu of a lump sum brokerage.

“Hey, you really can talk to people. That guy just came in for some air refill and you managed to sell him accessories worth 1500 bucks!”

“Thanks. I just thought he could use the motivation to buy stuff that he did not know he needed yet” smirked Ankesh

“Listen, we could use someone like you. How would you like to make some side income? Its quick, easy money and the pay is good. Call me on this number if you want to talk more” said Kamal handing him a business card. And this was the beginning of a major life turn for Ankesh. He knew the opportunity that he had been looking for had arrived.

Rita was a college topper. She was the star of the college, very popular and gorgeous. Every girl wanted to be like her and every boy wanted to be with her. Rita knew better than that. She just was not going to settle for any guy. She was extremely cautious and calculative when it came to relationships. She knew she could have any guy she wanted, but she wanted to be sure first. College flew by; she got a good job with a reputed MNC. She was happy.

With the commissions flying in from the admissions, Ankesh was able to pay for his college. He was finally doing something independently and he knew things would only get better from here. College life had been a very different experience for him altogether.

“Hi, can I borrow a pen?”

“Sure, here you go.”

“Thanks”

“You have a very pretty smile”

“Umm, thanks” blushed Rita

And thus began Ankesh and Rita’s story. Well it was a different experience for both of them. Ankesh thought they were in love; Rita was just trying to be a friend.

“What do you mean you are getting married? What have we been doing all this while?”

“I never told you that I loved you or wanted to date you. This was all in your head and I did not have the slightest clue. I am sorry.”

“I just don’t get it. After all this while, I thought we were going to get together. I saw my life with you.”

“Listen Ankesh, you have been a very good friend to me and I will always be grateful for that. College was fun because of you but we are two very different people. Our backgrounds, our lives, our families are too different. We can never be together. I am sorry” and with that Rita left.

“This is not how it’s supposed to be. I will fix this. No matter what!” muttered Ankesh under his breath, seething with anger.

This girl had betrayed him, his love for her for 3 whole years and he was in no mood to let go. Even as a child, Ankesh had always been a very stubborn child. If he set his heart and mind on something, he had to have it and he would always manage to get it.

Sometime in 2017

“This was so good. We should meet again soon. My wife has been getting pretty anxious of late and I don’t know if I’ll be able to see you soon.”

“Oh, don’t worry. We’ll figure something out. ” And with that he pulled him closer for another intense love making session.

“Why don’t you tell her that you don’t want to be with her?” said Ankesh standing in a towel, flaunting his well chiselled body.

“What are you trying to do to me? Don’t do that. And yes I will tell her when the time is right. Please put on some clothes or else I won’t be able to leave.”

“Then don’t!” and he pulled him closer for one long kiss before he left.

The timing was almost perfect when Rita had reconnected with Ankesh. Her marriage was in shambles and she did not know what to do anymore. It was like the universe was finally answering all her prayers. They met at a mall one fine day and things took off almost immediately. Rita was convinced that all her cautiousness did not get her anywhere. So this time she decided to throw caution to the wind and go with the flow. Being with Ankesh fulfilled her in a way she had never felt before. She was considering leaving Mukesh because she did not see a point to that relationship anymore.

Present Day -

Whatsapp buzzes.

“Hey, you are doing it today?”

“Yes, this is our marriage anniversary party. I have to keep up appearances at the moment but I promise I’ll do it tonight.”

At a distant corner of the room, a phone rings.

“Hey, you are doing it tonight?”

“Yes, definitely. I cannot wait to start a new life with you. I love you.”

“I love you too. Tell me when this is over and I will come over. ”

There is an announcement on the mike and all eyes turn to the LED which was displaying pictures of the couple till now. Suddenly everyone went quiet and Mukesh realised what was happening. These were all his pictures in a compromising position with another man. Whoever had put up the pictures was careful not to show the other man’s photo. It was all blurred. He turned to look at Rita who was in equal shock. Rita ran out of the venue and Mukesh followed.

“No No No wait! Stop!” and pin drop silence. The cold winter night was as quiet as it could be and except the scream nothing else disturbed the silence of the night.

Rita drove straight home and called him. No answer. She heard a noise outside her house and went to check.

Mukesh - “What are you doing here? Someone leaked all our pictures at the party and I have no idea what to do now. You should leave before she sees you. ”

Rita - “What is happening here? Wait, What, Ankesh?”

Mukesh - “You know him?”

Ankesh starts laughing loudly. For the first time in his life since the last 4 years, he had felt so much at peace. He felt overjoyed.

“Let me tell you a small story. There was once a boy who loved a girl with all his heart. The girl decided that he was beneath her standards and left him for some rich guy. The boy decided to seek revenge and imagine his joy when he realised that the rich guy was secretly gay. So he hatched a plan, had an affair with both of them, promised both of them a lifetime of happiness and voila, his work was done!”

“You did all this because I rejected you back in college? You ruined my life because of such a trivial matter? You are sick!”

“Trivial? My feelings, my love seem trivial to you? What wouldn’t I have done for you Rita? I loved you insanely but you never understood that. Go live your sad ruined life now. And now that your husband is exposed, good luck dealing with that. Also, if you are thinking that only Mukesh’s pictures got leaked, you are wrong. I have put up our pictures everywhere that you can imagine and these pictures are definitely A rated so I hope your nieces and nephews don’t see it first!” said Ankesh laughing out loud before disappearing in to the cold night.