October 30, 2010 

Komal anxiously glanced at the wall clock. It was 7:07 pm. She worked in a British representative firm where the working hours would wind up at 4:00 pm. She had reached home by 5:00 pm and had enough time at her disposal to freshen up. Her husband Sunil had promised to take her out to the candlelight dinner. It was their first wedding anniversary. Sunil would routinely return by 7:00 pm. The doorbell buzzed at 7:10. She hurriedly opened the door.

“Hi.” Sunil walked in with a smile.

“Hi.” She replied. “I am ready.”

“That’s noticeable.” Sunil dropped his office bag over the sofa. “Would you give me 10 minutes? Let me have a quick shower.”

“Let me watch TV until you come.” She switched on the television.

She remained focused on the TV serial. He consumed about eighteen minutes to appear neat and clean after the shower.  Komal switched off the TV as soon as he emerged from bedroom.

“Shall we?” He pulled his bag.

“Give me a minute.” Komal picked a colorfully wrapped packet from the TV stand.

“What is this?” He stopped looking in his bag for a while.

“It’s my gift for the first wedding anniversary.” She declared.

“Thank you and this is from my side.” He handed over a multicolored package while collecting Komal’s gift.

“I am delighted.”  She opened the package.

While unwrapping Sunil found strikingly exquisite leather wallet and Komal removed an attractively sleek cell phone.

“I hope you liked my selection.” She sat in front of him. “I am sick of your tattered wallet. You know it gives such a poor and miserly image.”

“It’s misconception.” He turned serious. “Some times we continue using worn out items for reasons beyond affordability.”

“You sound tender and nostalgic.” She gave a probing look. “Could you liberate the hidden portrait behind your sentimentally tattered wallet? I am keen to know.”

“Please forgive me for hiding a part of my past.” Sunil bit his lips for a while. “I was quite close to a girl named Priya during my college days. We connected well in our innermost thoughts and feelings. The promise of marriage too was exchanged. However, soon after the graduation, Priya came under severe pressure of marriage from her parents. Considering my middle class background, financial constraints and jobless situation I pleaded for a minimum of three years in my quest of self-reliance. They conveniently ignored my plea and arranged her marriage with a NRI based in US. The elegant wallet, though now in tattered condition was gifted by Priya on our final meeting.”

“I can understand.” Komal replied. “I think you should shift the contents to the new wallet and get rid of the old wallet. This will help you to bury the pain and bitter feelings which are still lingering within.”

“I request you to bear with me for some time.” He assured. “I will try to get over this. I know it is wrong on my part to carry on with some of my feelings towards Priya. Contrary to the promises we make during the wedding, my act may sound like betrayal.  I am sorry.”

“……..” Komal remained silent and took a deep breath.

“Forget it.” Sunil tried to uplift the depleted mood. “At least you should not waste any time in inserting the sim card into your new mobile from your outdated cell phone. The worn out mobile does not suite you.”

“It is okay.” Komal turned hesitant. “We will see it later.”

“Why can’t you do it now?” Sunil persisted.

“”This may sound dramatic and theatrical.” She delicately picked the words. “Strange but true, we are sailing in the same boat. In a way your tattered wallet and my outdated cell phone are drowned in similar level of sentiments.”

“What?” He was taken a back.

“Some years back, I was working under a British boss.” She spoke softly.

“Now don’t tell me you had an affair with your British boss.” He pounced with his words.

“Would you listen to me properly?” She requested. “He was married with two kids. His behavioral pattern had some kind of refined appeal and tender feeling while interacting with me. I was pulled by the magic. The attachment was reciprocal. However we did not cross the unacceptable limits.”

 “Did you love him too?” He enquired with envious undertone.

“In a way, I won’t deny.” She continued. “His eyes had turned moist when he was transferred back to London office about three years back. This cell phone was presented by him during our final meeting in a coffee shop.”

The excitement for the candlelight dinner had moved to the reversal.  The dropped shoulders indicated the diminished eagerness. They could not utter a word for sometime. The silence prolonged with suppressed expression. The first year of their marriage was marched without any setback. Unexpectedly they were traumatized by their cryptic past. The outer edges of their relationship seemed always strongly woven. However, now the inner fabric appeared weak.

How could this be possible? Sunil seemed confused by the incomprehensible situation. The elapsed past had hit back from both ends at one stroke.

The excruciating burden tested his brain cells. He had not experienced any kind of inadequacy in their physical relationship. However, he was aware that any feeling towards someone outside the marriage was psychologically adulterous.  The conscience pricked him. Sunil felt strong motivation to dump the old wallet into waste paper basket. An initiative towards revival would save this rough moment of life. Before he could think further, an unsubstantiated suspicion whipped within. Komal’s revelation on her one-time affair with British boss had lacked the conviction.

Was she truthful? His marriage with Komal had given him the equitable comfort factor. He was impressed by her practical way of life. Her sensible and realistic traits stood apart. She was not of the kind could be easily hooked.

That too by a married British boss was hard to believe.

This could be a psychological game play. His inability to forget Priya must have had inspired Komal. Possibly, she had faked a story to win him. In simple words, she had turned the tables. Her intention was very clear. She wanted him to abandon the feelings towards Priya by picking up the new wallet. Undoubtedly, she would follow him by placing the sim card into the new cell phone. This was just an act of maneuver. He controlled the smile that radiated from his inner self.

“Shall we go? It is time up for dinner.” She reminded.

“Please wait for a minute.” Without thinking any further, he pulled his old wallet from the pocket.  Sunil removed cash, credit cards, visiting cards and some other bills from the tattered wallet. He placed them in the new elegant wallet and tossed the old wallet into the bin with sigh of weariness.

“Thank you.” She expressed the feelings of gratitude.

“Now it is your turn.” He reminded her.

“What kind of turn?” She stood up.

“Wouldn’t you discard your old mobile?” He smiled.

“I am sorry. It is easier for a man to switch his mindset. However, women are more sensitive in their sentimental values. You will have to give me some time. I will overcome.” Komal assured. “Now let us get out from here. We are already late.”