Non-erotic The Gamechangers by Trambak

[Ramesh_Rocky]

He came forward and caressed my cheek, "You don't have to tell me that Tanu, don't I know it already? You are too good, too upright a person. You would never tell lies or even half-truths. I know what you needed to do but I was certain that it would kill you, to say it aloud. You made special efforts to get all of us here so that you could say it in front of the children and answer their questions. You could have simply left me but that was not you, never. So, I decided to step aside. We all must step aside.

"We? What do you mean?" I was frantic, confused.

"All of us." He was calm. "I will explain things to them, maybe Robin would be a bit distraught but he will understand. Fulki knows, and we both agree that you have been a bird in a cage for far too long and time has come for you to claim freedom by right."

"What about the game last night?" I asked.

"Fulki planned it, it was an opportunity for all of us to listen to our hearts and say it out loud. The game changed so many things.

But, it is all over now, let us spend the next three days in complete bliss. Four adults with each other, like friends. Look Tanu, here they come. Fulki must have spoken to Robin and they know that we are speaking. Today; I am the one, doing all the talking. It is surprising even to me." He chuckled.

I looked at him, now there was not an iota of stress on his face. No anger, no furrowing of brows, no quivering of the lips. Nothing.

The children were moving in. Robin looked stressed out. Fulki wore an impassive face. Finally, they stood in front of us. Fulki shot a questioning look at her father. He, in turn, indicated towards me.

I was prepared, it was the endgame and the dice was cast. I looked at my husband and said, "can I talk to them alone." He looked at me and the children with an inquisitive eye and then retreated towards the bungalow. They were grown up children and I had to speak to them. Not easy.

The Endgame

They were uncomfortable. So was I. I pulled both close to me and I started to speak.

"Fulki, Robin. I and your father have had a long talk and you know what it is all about. I know that you know a lot and that makes it easier for me. What has to happen will happen but I am your mother for life. That, you need to accept. Fulki nodded. Robin looked the other side.

Ignoring him, I continued, "Vivek and I have been constant office companions because our jobs were such. The time I spent with him rejuvenated me. He spoke of things that were about the days gone. Merely talking to him made me revisit time and feel happy. I was happy to go back home after office but was equally expectant of the morning to return. He never ever asked me to go out with him, he never touched me but I connected with him. At the same time, I disconnected from my home, your Dad and even myself.

Did we do anything inappropriate? I will not answer that question. Your Dad knows. But, there is something that I want to share with you. About a week after the office picnic I and Vivek were sitting in my office. After discussing a few points, he suddenly said something that was new to me.

"Do you know Avik well?" He had asked. Well, it was such a stupid, mindless question to ask. And that too to me! I did not feel it necessary to answer. But Vivek would not take the cue and asked the same question once again.

Annoyed, I had answered him with a yes.

"Do you know what he does for a living or what position he is in," he had persisted.

"He is a scientist and he is into books; he doesn't talk much," I had replied, still irritable.

Vivek had kept quiet for some time and asked, "Tanaya, do you know that he has written four textbooks, published hundreds of papers, and is an international expert on bioterrorism?"

"I know he is a damn good scholar but we don't discuss that at home." I replied.

"Do you know that he is a Scientist H?" He said.

At this point, Robin suddenly blurted out, "Dad has been working so long, shouldn't he be around A or B by now?"

"Honestly, I had felt the same that day till I was explained by Vivek that Scientist H is almost the top rank and Avik was the youngest to hold that post," I replied.

Vivek had continued, "You know, Avik has sent us a letter thanking us for having invited him for the picnic and for making his time so wonderful. The institute letterhead says that he is the Director.