SHE was bored. The music was pumping. The drinks were flowing. And she was dressed to kill. She stood in front of the bar, running her eyes over the couples slow-dancing. And then she saw him… ‘What is he doing here?”
Jaswant Verma, also known as JV Owner of a construction company. Aditi had met him through Rahul, her college sweetheart and now beloved husband. JV was rumored to have had a shady past but was more popular for being seen at almost every party in town.
Muscular, with a slightly bald plate and a beer belly, Aditi found him unattractive. Tonight was one of those rare days that Aditi went out without Rahul. Rahul’s friends were her friends, his family her own. Being an orphan raised by her aunt, in Rahul, Aditi had found a reason to live.
Rahul also considered her his lucky charm, for since their marriage, his career had seen an unexpectedly steep rise and several ‘Best performer’ awards later, today at 37, he was a vice-president of a leading MNC insurance company.
Aditi had got used to the good life, with Rahul, but now with his career and the crazy deadlines he faced, she found herself going to sleep alone, most nights of the week. Calling him, resulted in disconnection of the call and a subsequent message: “Busy in a meeting. Don’t wait 4 me. Love you, my princess. Good night.”
“Hi, what you doing here?”
“Just taking a break, had a tough week”.
“You are looking hot”.
“Shut up, J”.
“Its really crowded here, let’s take that seat on the back.”
The phone rang. Rahul. She had begged and pleaded with him for the whole week to accompany her to the party. He had promised her he would and then cancelled it a couple of days earlier, citing a sudden visit by foreign clients. Rahul again. Again. Why didn’t he just understand that she wouldn’t receive the call. If he wanted to talk with her, he should have been there with her. The phone vibrated and as Aditi almost pressed the ‘Cancel’ button, she saw ‘Baba’. Her father-in-law.
“Hello, Mamon? Shob shesh hoye gechhe! Rahul has been murdered and his body is lying in a pool of blood in the bathroom...Ekkhoni bari chole esho.”
Her trembling fingers disconnected the call and she just closed her eyes. Rahul’s face and their first date flashed across her mind. He had worn her favourite shirt to office today. She slowly opened her purse, took out five neatly bundled 10,000 rupee stacks and handed them to J.
“Thanks”.
“Heard he put a helluva fight... Those years at the gym, almost paid off. No wonder his teenage couldn’t take her hands off him!”
“Shut up, J”.
“Some champagne or the regular Bacardi Coke?”
“Some Vodka and Red Bull. Have a long night ahead. Can you drop me home?”