Adultery Nalini and The Unseen Virus

[tweeny_fory]

Anbu, the younger of the two, couldn't have been more than twenty-five. His eyes, a deep shade of brown, held a mix of wariness and compassion behind the foggy plastic of his mask. His hands, rough and calloused, clutched the clipboard tightly. Teja, a few years older, had a more authoritative air about him. His eyes, a piercing blue, darted around the room, scrutinizing every corner. His movements were deliberate, the bag at his side seemingly weighing him down with the gravity of his duty. Despite their youth, they had seen enough to carry the weight of the world on their shoulders.


They sat on the sofa, the fabric shifting and whispering under their weight, creating a stark contrast to the silence that had engulfed the room. Nalini perched on the chair opposite, her posture erect, her hands folded in her lap. The space between them was charged with an unspoken tension, the air thick with the unsaid. Anbu cleared his throat, the sound echoing through the emptiness.

"Ma'am," he began, his eyes meeting hers with a solemnity that made her stomach clench, "we've had reports of a few cases in the area. We're just here to make sure you're okay, and to remind you of the precautions." His voice was gentle, the gruffness from before replaced with a calmness that was almost reassuring. He held up the clipboard as if it were a shield, his knuckles white against the yellowed plastic.

Nalini nodded, her throat tight. "Okay, please ask the questions," she said, her voice a little shakier than she would have liked. She could feel their gaze on her, scrutinizing her every move, searching for signs of illness or noncompliance. The room seemed to shrink around her, the air thick with unspoken fears and accusations.


Teja pulled out a pad and a pen from the bag, his hand shaking slightly. He cleared his throat, the sound like a pebble skipping across a still pond. "Your name, ma'am?" He spoke in a soft tone, his eyes darting to the pad as if seeking refuge from the gravity of the situation.

"Nalini," she replied, her voice echoing in the quiet. The name hung in the air, a simple thread connecting her to the outside world.

"Your husband's name?" Anbu's voice was firm but kind, a stark contrast to the fear that had taken root in her chest.

"Mohan," she replied, the name rolling off her tongue like a prayer. She missed him fiercely, his strong arms, his reassuring smile. The thought of him made her feel a little less alone in the face of the strangers invading her sanctuary.

Teja scribbled something on his pad, his eyes never leaving hers. "And your children?"

"Aarav and Anjali," she said, the names leaving a bittersweet taste on her tongue. "They're with their grandparents in the village."

Teja nodded, scribbling away. "Your husband's current location?"

Nalini swallowed, the mention of her husband's name bringing a lump to her throat. "Bangalore. He's been stuck there for work."