Adultery The Old Toothbrush by Trambak

[Ramesh_Rocky]

All eyes turned towards me. Aditya was looking down in shame and embarrassment. He had no face to hide, exposed to his own. The unexplainable guilt and shame were overwhelming.

Shakti had ended her story about Aditya.

Karan came and stood by me. He put his hand on my shoulder that drooped by age and incarceration. He was surprisingly calm and said, "Don't worry Trambak, I know what you feel."

I looked at him with grief. He had no idea.

He again patted my shoulders and said, "You live in all of your creations. When Keya feels hopeless and angry, she is actually portraying your innermost pains. When Shobha gives her idea of discipline, it's another part of your mind that feels likewise. The calmness in Avni and her selfless attitude is a quality that comes from you. And, Nandan? I can feel his love for Shobha and also his fear of her and now I know how you feel about Adishakti. You are a man with deficiencies. That makes you human. So, don't worry. We will carry your legacy. Through our behaviours, we will know what you are thinking."

Avni nodded and said, "I think it's now time for us to really go."

Suddenly, four of us were left alone. They were gone.

Probal and Ahana were sitting on the hammock. They looked at us as if we were alien to them.

I kept sitting till I found Adi standing very close to me. She raised my face and said, "Till date, I could never forgive you for what you did to me. I returned because the compulsion of raising Ranju was paramount and I had to be pragmatic. She loves you, adores you. As a father, you were excellent but as a husband, you had failed.

Today, when I saw you crumbling under the scrutiny of your own conscience, I felt that time had come to reveal what you could not do, on your own. And, end this agony for both of us.

Today, we are even. I exposed you; humiliated you and who knows also exorcised you of your guilt. My reprisal is complete. Henceforth, your guilt, your shame, and your embarrassment shall equally be mine. Time has come for us to share this burden by the same token.

Come, my imperfect husband, let us celebrate your follies and my pains. Come to your Adishakti or Suhasini whatever you may choose to call me. I don't have to keep anymore eye on you."

She closeted my head in her bosom and then gave me a deep and passionate kiss.

I was in no position to speak. I nodded my head and said, "Yes, Adi."

Probal came up and quietly said, "Dada, it's over, let's go."

THE END