The Autumn Stories

I was looking out from my windshield. I could see the red sky. Some other day I would have called it a beautiful sunset. But today it was a red sky.

My car was parked on the corner of a street. It was not any street. It was my street. If I move a step out of my car I could see a house clearly. Again it was not any house. It was my house. But as usual, I was waiting in my car. I was not waiting for any person. I was waiting for time to get over. I do not even remember when this ritual started. But it has been the same for very long.

I drive from my office. Then I buy a newspaper along the way. Then I drive past my house. Then I see a yellow mustang right outside my door. I slow down my car. Slow enough to catch a glimpse of what's going inside my house. But not slow enough that my car can be recognized.

Then I park my car in this corner of the street. I read the newspaper. In between, I see Mrs. Brown strolling with her dog. I sometimes see the baker's boy carrying a basket of bread. Sometimes I see John a local car mechanic. Whenever John comes, we smoke a cigarette. That's how the time is spent. Once my clock shows 7'Oclock, I bid my goodbye to this comforting corner of the street and move towards my house.

I never tried to know when that yellow mustang leaves. But I know for sure that by 7, it definitely leaves. Thus after 7 O'clock, I find my parking spot empty. Hahaha! At least I have something.

I am not amongst the geniuses of this world. But I do have certain intelligence. Thus I park my car as if I have come from my office. Thus firstly I drive past my house and then come back from that direction. It also ensures that yellow mustang has really gone.

So I drive past the house. The mustang was nowhere to be found. I was glad it had gone. I parked my car. Then, as usual, I turned off the engine. Then I started walking towards my front door. As usual, it was nighttime so not a soul was around. I entered through the door. As usual, it was open. I know my wife takes a shower at this time. And today also it was the same. I can hear the running tap water from the bedroom.

My wife and I don't talk much. She respects my privacy and I respect hers. I voluntarily chose to live in the first floor of the house. So every day after coming home I used to go to my room upstairs. I followed this today also. I quietly went into my room.

I sat on my small bed. I knew after the shower she will take dinner and then she will go to sleep. I can only have dinner once she is asleep. So like always I waited for it to happen.

I was feeling hungry but still, I can't hear any noise from the kitchen. Maybe she is not hungry and will not have dinner. I decided to wait for some time. But my hunger was uncontrollable.

So I decided to go downstairs. I moved slowly, so it wouldn't disturb her sleep. As soon as I reached downstairs, I saw a man's shorts. A man's short! How dare she. I have accepted everything until now. But now I can't turn a blind eye. she is definitely making fun of me. Next will be what, kissing him in front of me.

I went to the kitchen and took a knife. Then I ran towards the bedroom. As soon as I opened the door, I saw her. She was reading a magazine. My heart wanted to love her but my mind had already decided. She needs to pay the price.

She saw me and shouted," What are you doing here?"

I didn't reply. I just jumped on her and slashed her throat. The lying wife was lying there.

Today also, I am following that mundane routine. I have driven past my house. But today a blue Chevrolet was outside my house. I slowed in front of my house and again saw nothing. But today the newspaper has very interesting news. "Wife killed by a stranger while husband was on the night duty. Evidence suggests that a stranger was living in house unknown to the family."

What a cruel little world. Ohh its 7'O clock, time to meet my loving wife.