Sanjay Prasad Paudel
Victoria had been very much careful as far as possible she could before her husband, Adam, returned home from his office. There was not any evidence that could prove someone was in the living room at home a few moments ago. Adam, a middle aged man, approximately forty five years old, had second marriage with Victoria after a sudden death of his first wife. Victoria had spent her twenty-fifth Christmas and belonged to a couple of beautiful blue eyes along with black and long silky hair.
“I think, now, someone whom I don’t know, must have come here a short time ago,” said Adam when he entered into the living room. He once looked at Victoria and went on. “I am feeling at the moment a bad smelling of cigarette. Tell me what is the fact? Who had come here before?” he raised his voice rather strong.
“No one has come here. What a doubtful mind! It is generally assumed that husbands remain doubtful only when do they keep suspicion of their beautiful wives,” said she. “Now, I would like you to get coffee. I believe you have been very much tired of your work at office.”
“Of course. Why not! I would let you make coffee. It is great idea! It is very cold outside. But listen to me you are very clever to change the topic. Tell me at once about what I have asked you before? I undoubtedly believe someone must have come here”, he said again.
“If a misunderstanding starts between a husband and wife, the family will soon begin to spoil. Why did I need a man here Mr. Adam?
She said touching frequently and smoothly his hairs with soft and lovely hand. “Don’t you love me very much? She looked up his eyes. “Do you really mean no one had come here before?” He gazed on her face very deeply. He was not still convinced himself of what she had told him just before. There was still a deep-rooted suspicion in his mind. “How can I get you convinced?” said she when she got a few drops of perspiration on her forehead.
“Promise?” said Adam.
“Promise!” She answered.
“One?”
“One!”
“Two?”
“Two”!
“Three?”
“Three!” was her answer.
“Then, where did this half-smoked cigarette come from?” He suddenly got her the half smoked-cigarette from elsewhere in the room. “Neither do I smoke nor do you. Where did it come from?” said he angrily.
“Oh God!” Her heartbeat was pounding inside the chest as if it was going to stop. She was feeling a little uncomfortable. All of a sudden, her entire face turned into pale. She was afraid of her husband very much. Soon she recovered herself and sighed as she found a reasonable answer in her mind. “I don’t enjoy remaining alone in this room all day long. I have not even known next-door neighbors around us yet. Because it is only two years since we have been married. Therefore, I would like to smoke sometimes when I feel boring, depressed and loneliness.” No sooner had she finished her remark than she picked up a cigarette from her drawer, lit it and smoked. Soon, their living was filled with smoke.
Victoria got his suspicion at her swept away for a few moments but her husband had not been so much convinced by himself. Soon afterwards, they started sipping coffee which Victoria had brewed. The beautiful smell of coffee spread the whole room and it brought the couple into romantic mood. Adam got her closer to her breast with the interval of their coffee. He told her delivering a strong kiss on her cheek,” Really Victoria! I love you very much. Except you, I don’t have any immediate kinship in London. Just a few moments ago, I made a joke with no reason. It doesn’t matter and I insist that you don’t mind it anyway.”
On hearing the last words, she turned into full of joy and romance, and lost control under her body to keep it standing up, however, against her wish. She was so weak to keep her standing on the floor as a result she surrendered herself both physically and emotionally to him. Adam has captured her until now trying to find out a place to have another shot of kiss.
“Shall we go to the cinema? Nowadays, there is Jurassic Park at the cinemas. This film is worth seeing. It is very long since we have been to the cinema”, said she trying to be free herself from him.
“We cannot go today. I am not interested in watching film at this moment. I would rather even you didn’t go the cinema. We may go next Sunday”, said he disappointingly.
“Then shall we play chess? A week ago, I easily won you. Could you win me today? Please try at once.” She tried to increase his interest. A sudden light of hope in her eyes flashed itself.
“Please, leave it now.” He said being rather disappointed. “I don’t enjoy playing chess being worried. You know playing chess consumes very much intelligence.”
“So let’s go shopping today. In fact, we only had a look at the watch in the market the day before yesterday. We could not afford to buy it. I am still very much interested in buying the watch for me.” Now her speech was very soft and polite. Women very often do this while they offer their husband to do something for their benefits. Only was not she an exception. “You were also interested in purchasing a piece of suit, weren’t you?” she gazed her sight in his eyes receiving a full affirmation.
“I am not well enough to think about it at this moment. We may do these things later. If you can, get me another cup of beautiful coffee. I think the weather is rather cold today”, said he.
“Damn! You are being rather disappointed nowadays. You don’t have any consideration at my will.” She burst into anger. She was, now, rather unhappy but suddenly her face was lightened remembering something important. “Tomorrow is holiday. Would you please remember? You promised last week that we would go boating on the Thames and enjoy even swimming. Is not the day tomorrow?” There was particular enthusiasm on her speech.
“Let’s think tomorrow for tomorrow.” He gave a short remark. She entered into the kitchen hopelessly to brew the coffee for him and even for herself. He started reading newspaper that he was just brought from the stationary. A couple of weeks passed on the conflict rose in their small room but time and again.
“I had come home from my office having a short leisure but you weren’t at home. Where had you been? I think you might have been to dating with your boyfriend. I think it must be true.”He asked his wife suspecting again.
“Don’t you feel any inferiority complex to blame on me like this forever? I had been to the shopping before you came home. Why do you always doubt at and even blame on me?” She said angrily. “It is useless. You had better not suspect me at all. What do you think about yourself?”
“Correct! You have almost raised a very good question so far. I think I am your husband and have right to ask the question. I repeat that you might have been outside along with your boyfriend whom you have an affair with. Please tell me whether had you been or not?” said he gazing her eye very deeply.
She reacted, “Do you have any evidence? You don’t have any right to blame on me without any evidence.” She said courageously although she was afraid of an unknown fear.
“Do you want the evidence? Shit! “He smiled a little and said, “The books on my shelf are not in order. These are scattered here and there.”
All of a sudden, Victoria got a good reason to deal with him and said, “Staying alone the whole day in this room, I always feel rather disappointed. To avoid myself of this circumstance, I preferred reading novels to staring outside through window. Therefore, finding a good novel out of the shelf they might have been here and there. Please, do not mind! I will put it in right place soon.”
“Then you spent your time here reading a novel today, didn’t you? She nodded her head. “You are still being a liar.” He said. “Men can deceive other, however, they cannot do so for themselves. Eyes are supposed to be a mirror of our hearts. Your eyes have already proved about yourself. It is okay. Which book did you read today? If the book is novel, tell me now, what is the story in short.” She puzzled that what to tell. She was very embarrassed for a few moments. Soon she remembered something. After a short while, she began telling the story out of the novel.
“Finally, the woman was very devoted to her husband although she was still supposed to be a characterless woman by her husband. Therefore, their entire family turned into the hell.
“Yes, you are right. In the novel, the man always doubted his wife. He had also got his first wife dead and married her as the second one as I did. In addition, even the woman was very as beautiful as you, wasn’t she? Did you not read this in the novel, “said he being much polite. She nodded her head. “Damn! I suspected you with no reason again! How silly I am! My dear! Please be closer.” He embraced her by his chest. She was so tall that her head could touch on his chest.
“In fact, you loved me very much,” said she. She had already surrendered herself both her body and soul completely to him. “Today you looked very handsome.” She said. On hearing these words, he turned happy and bit her cheek emotionally. Soon, they were involved into a long and beautiful tongue kiss.
Adam was so happy that Victoria offered a propose hunting a suitable moment by breaking their love for a few moments. “Let’s go swimming tomorrow on holiday. And, it is long since we have been to the restaurant.”
“It is all right. We may go next day. We don’t need to go out tomorrow.” He denied her offer. Then Victoria didn’t involve herself into the love again. There was not any such conflict for about one week. Their love ran smoothly.
“Today you had been to the cinema. Am I right?” He asked her with suspect after he turned home from his office.
“Yes, you are.”She said.
“Why did you go to the cinema without my permission?” He was fire at her. She replied nothing. “I know why you didn’t ask me. You were two in the cinema, weren’t you? I had also been to the cinema. I had a chance to see two films with only one ticket today.” He smiled wryly at once and went on, “The first was of the screen and the second was of the real life.” She was trembling with fear and told nothing. “You enjoyed very much, didn’t you? Tell me what is the truth? I cannot tolerate long. We had better get divorced”, he said while he was sipping coffee which she had made.
“All of your blames on me have no reason. I had been to the cinema but alone.” She replied and was trembling even now. “Couldn’t you wait for me next day? It was better you didn’t wait for me because I could have been a problem between your romance. The naughty boy must be really younger and more handsome than I am. He may earn even much salary than I get now.” He invited far too causal smile to his lip. “Pooh!”, he burst out.”I am very poor clerk who cannot buy even a watch with a month’s salary. I must borrow money from someone to get it. Oh, Jesus! How poor I am.”
“The man sitting next to me in the cinema was a friend of my college life. I don’t have any unfair relationship with him”, said she although she was being afraid of an unknown fear.
“You are still lying.” He burst into anger.
“Not at all”, said she.
“You are a cheater and have betrayed me ever. Don’t make me a fool.” No sooner did he told her than he slapped on her cheek. Victoria fell down on the floor and got a faint pulse. In the night, they slept unfed and spent their night separately over the different beds.
Next day, he got his salary and went straight to the market. “Good afternoon, Mr Bermin!”
Good afternoon, Mr. Adam! What can I serve you?”
“Show me the watch I had chosen before.” He said. The shopkeeper began finding it out!
“Really, Victoria is very humble and kind-hearted. I have known it since the very beginning that she does not have any unfair relationship with anyone. She may not know that I love her very much. She may think me differently for the last night event. I am sure she hates me since then although she is still an ideal wife. She did not speak with me when I was ready to arrive at office. If I give her this watch as a birthday gift things will go right way. Victoria, my beloved”, he thought.
“What are you thinking now?” said the shopkeeper.
“Oh, sorry. I was just thinking now. How much does it cost?”
“It costs very expensive. I had only two pieces of the new model. The first one was already sold out.
“I am sure there is not any watch so expensive and unaffordable for my wife in London to get her wrist.”
“I don’t think so but you will know about it when you hear of its price”, said the shopkeeper.
“I must buy it any way. The day before yesterday the chief executive officer at my office praised the watch that he bought for his wife. Once he had shown me when he at first bought it. Now I know that he must have arrived here and bought the watch. The watch was very beautiful and expensive but I am sure this is even more expensive and beautiful. It is true I have less salary than him but I hope the God have distributed everyone the equal heart to love.”
“You may be right. This watch costs ……pounds.” On hearing the price, he astonished and said to the shopkeeper, “Sorry, Bermin! I cannot afford it. Take it back yourself. I may come next month if I have got enough money.”
He walked along the way to home and began thinking, “It is alright. I promise I will give her the watch on her birthday next year. I will give her something better today. Is it necessary to give anyone a gift in real love? I will give her the best gift on her birthday. I think the best thing is real love between husband and wife, and it is also the best gift. But what is that best thing I am going to give her?” He became confused for a few moments.
“Oh, Jesus! I recalled. I explain her I will never do any doubt at her again. All of suspicions before now I had made were untrue and caused no reason. She is very poor and innocent. Also, she is very economic in spending money.”
When he was thinking he came across with his old friend. They entered into the café and had coffee. His friend had a beautiful and expensive watch on his wrist. He swallowed a little saliva down his throat looking at the watch. Adam looked time over his watch while he was coming back on way home. “It is still okay”, he thought, “It is not very late. I have not spoken with her since we last debated with each other. It is no doubt I love her very much. I have got no one except her in London.”
He came home straight but soon turned into disappointed when he entered into the living room. Victoria was not there. He looked around anxiously but he saw her nowhere. It is true that he had arrived home much earlier than usual. He looked for her in the kitchen, at the garden, at the backyard and everywhere as much as possible he could but could not find her anywhere. He stepped up the stairs and arrived at the top of the house. He had a long sigh and turned into happy when he found her.
She was well dressed because it was her first birthday after her marriage. Probably, she was waiting for someone whom she loved much. It was falling dusk and she was still enjoying the views of the city without any caution. He got closer to her with catwalk steps and hid her eyes rather strongly with his hands.
“I found who you are! Please remove your hands from my eyes immediately. I would like what you have brought to me as my birthday gift. I am feeling tremendous pain in my eyes. Don’t pull a prank on me, please! This is the exact time when my husband comes home from his office”, she said with bated breath.
Shocked by her statement, Adam instantly took out his hands from her eyes. She suddenly gazed at the watch he brought to her as a birthday gift. He stared at her guilty eyes innocently for moments.
(Paudel is Associate Editor of nepali.himalayantribune.com.)
