Adultery My wife, why did she betray me (completed)

[manas]

As a reminder to self I am putting it down again.

My assumptions are:

1. So far the story has not deviated from reality and in future will not deviate.
2. Normally the behaviour of characters is influenced by their motive and self value unless forced upon. There can be temporary short term discourse from path by the influence of sudden emotional burst.
3. The basic characteristics of a person do never get a sea change. Apparent changes will reverse with slightest opportunity. A person with crocked mentality will remain so and vice versa.
4. Whenever a character visits oneself in memory, character speaks the truth. After all you can never deceive yourself concisely.

I believe:

5. I am not moral security officer and have no inclination to dictate which is correct or wrong. Based on circumstantial evidences, I will try to reason the way characters may behave in future.
6. In no way I am trying or will try to influence author from his judgement about future of this story.

Saravana:

At the age of 19 years, losing all property and father Saravana had to move to other city along with mother for livelihood. Education was not completed. He never surrendered to obstacles and fought relentlessly to concur life. It is not an easy journey. There must have been ups and downs. Only patience, diligence and sheer determination made him prosper in life. In his own words:-

““My inherent character to battle against life’s obstacles became stronger. . Life which had been an enemy to me all this while became my friend.””

He has learnt to lead life optimistically in positive frame of mind and achieved results.
At very young age of 23, Meera shared her life with him and made him proud father.

“”Meera was my lieutenant in the war helping me face all the battles.””

She alone was his inspiration and emotional attachment as his mother passed away. In the process of struggle to life, wife naturally gets less attention. fulfilment of higher needs arises only after satisfaction of basic needs. Children occupies a special place in the heart of father and more so when it is a girl child. As Saravana’s free time reduced with added responsibility, inevitably emotional quotient reduced towards Meera. Sex life was bound to be curtailed. Variety and experimentation will be a luxury. In all probability, Saravana was equally ignorant. The vigour and attention a wife receives immediate post marriage diminishes with time. Saravana was not exception.

Except reduced time sharing and well justified natural degradation of attention, Saravana’s world was revolving around Meera and welfare of family was his one of top most interest. Except for married sister, he had no close relatives to depend upon. His love towards Meera was pure and unconditional in his journey of life.

Saravana keenly observed slow changes in the behaviour of his wife. He found her lying and hiding information.  He could not correlate the incidents without understanding basic motive. He knew, he won’t get respite asking Meera as she was lying and hiding for purpose. He was clueless.

After discovering them together at Prabhu’s abandoned house, painfully he assessed the graveness of their illicit affair. It was difficult for him to believe himself. Something, beyond his wild imagination.  His inherent character helped him not to act in haste.

Let’s see from neutral ground; What were the options available to him?.

1. Kill either or both of them.
2. Take Meera into confidence with or without involvement of Prabhu and reason her to stop the relationship
3. Divorce Meera and start over.
4. Take Prabhu into confidence with or without involvement of Meera and reason him to stop the relationship
5. Take Prabhu’s parents into confidence to stop the relationship
6. Create an obstacle between them to allow for a natural dying. Time is greatest healer. Anyway, Prabhu is not permanent here.
7. Allowing relationship to continue as it is with or without self involvement / encouragement.


He remembers his difficult days. Meera was his inspiration, Meera was his life. He wants Meera back in same role. A loving wife, a loving mother. Human is not robot. For him Meera has made a grievous mistake. He understands the relationship has no future. Moreover future of his children is at stake. Abandoning the loved one in critical conditions is not his character.
See the way he analyses in one similar circumstances:

““My father is no more, I am asking you as my father, my wife should not come to know that we know about this ugly deed. She would hang herself if it is known to her. She has never been like this before .. she has done this out of some weakness at this vulnerable age. I have the mental strength to bear this pain and live, she does not.””

He weighs each option critically and carefully. He does not want Meera to know. He thinks he understands Meera’s psychology and weakness very well. She has given him support for long 7 yeras as mother, as wife, as friend as philosopher & guide. She will definitely take drastic steps in the event of adultery is exposed. That will be his loss which he can’t bear. He must have analysed in similar fashion. He was convinced that, all the options except 6, will directly or indirectly denote his loss rather to say his extinction. In all the options except choice 6,Meera will come across with the truth, which he does not desire.. He accepts choice 6.

The reasoning he made in abandoned temple is similar:

““What then. After cutting them to pieces what would you tell to the town folks. That my wife cheated on me or your son had seduced another man’s wife.” “By cutting them up our honour is not going to be saved, everyone will speak disparagingly about us.” By killing them I will go to jail, what will happen to my children. Will they be begging in the street.” “You will go to jail, your family would have no men folks left, it will suffer. The whole town will speak very ill of us all throughout the lives of our family members.””

This is his choice. This is the way he has seen the world in his struggling period. He is pained beyond limit. But he believes he has the capability to withstand. He has self belief and strong determination. He has seen many ups and downs. He believes some day Meera will come out of her illusion and lust. He has confidence in Meera. Their life will be back to normal. This is his character. Always optimistic.

Accordingly, he made plan to keep them separated. Things took ugly turn with discovery of the truth by Prabhu’s father. Out of sheer love, affection and rare quality of forgiveness, he became rescuer again. But failed to contain the damage absolutely. Prabhu was forced to leave country by his father after marrying his cousin with a promise not to be seen again.

But Saravana is Saravana. He does not want to be a cause of other’s pain. In a rare sign of forgiveness, absorbing all pains within self, he consoled remorseful Prabhu. He tries to find his own short comings than blaming others.

““Prabu, it’s not just only your fault or Meera’s fault in this matter, I am partly to blame too.””

Some may find it his weakness, cowardice; some may argue it as broadness of heart. Whatever it may be, it is a unique and rare example of humanity.
It does not end here. Even after almost three long years, he does not lose hope. He is pained but determined to win back.

I envy Meera of her luck to have Saravana as her husband.

So, characterization is over. We know how characters will behave in different circumstances.

Next we will examine what could be the different situations Meera knowing the truth. The quest of how, when and where Meera is enlightened with the truth