20-06-2025, 09:41 PM
The phone vibrated against Vishnu's thigh, yanking him from a half-sleep filled with dreams of emerald silk and exposed skin. He fumbled in his pocket, squinting at the screen. Dubai's country code. His cousin. Vishnu sat up straight, suddenly wide awake, and glanced at Pathan who dozed in the adjacent bed. The room felt too small, too airless as he answered the call, his voice a careful whisper. "Tell me you have something."
"Oh, I have something alright," his cousin Rakesh's voice crackled through the line, thick with barely contained excitement. "Your professor's husband is quite the player."
Vishnu swung his legs over the side of the bed, his heart hammering against his ribs. "You found him?"
"Found him? I've been tracking him for five days." Rakesh chuckled, the sound tinny through the connection. "And brother, this man is not just having an affair. He's having two."
"Two?" Vishnu hissed, loud enough that Pathan stirred, one eye cracking open to regard him with groggy curiosity.
"Two different women. One looks like a coworker – business suits, professional type. The other's younger, maybe a waitress or something at one of the bars he frequents." Rakesh's voice dropped lower, conspiratorial. "I got photos of everything. The man isn't even subtle about it."
Vishnu motioned urgently to Pathan, who now sat up, fully alert. "How explicit are these photos? We need proof, but..."
"Trust me, there's no mistaking what's happening. Got him kissing the professional woman in a park – hands everywhere, very public. And the younger one, she was feeding him at some fancy restaurant, sitting in his lap." Rakesh paused. "I'll send everything now. What exactly are you planning to do with these, cousin?"
"Just helping a friend discover the truth," Vishnu replied, his tone deliberately vague. "You've done well. I owe you."
"Keep your money. Just send me some of those foreign liquors from your father's collection. The ones that don't make it to Dubai legally."
"Done. And Rakesh?" Vishnu's fingers tightened around the phone. "Not a word about this to anyone else in the family."
After ending the call, Vishnu turned to Pathan, who was now perched on the edge of his bed, eyes bright with anticipation.
"Well?" Pathan demanded.
"The bastard is cheating on her. Not with one woman—with two."
Pathan's mouth fell open before curving into a slow, disbelieving smile. "Two? Are you serious?"
"My cousin is sending the photos now." Vishnu stared at his phone, waiting for the notification. "Said he got everything we need. One woman seems to be a coworker, the other some girl from a bar."
"While Professor Nair sits alone in Pune, teaching biology to unappreciative students," Pathan shook his head, his expression a carefully constructed mask of indignation that didn't quite hide the gleam of opportunity in his eyes. "What kind of man does that?"
"A fool," Vishnu muttered, just as his phone vibrated with an incoming message. "They're here."
The two leaned close together as Vishnu opened the message, revealing a folder of images. The first showed a man they recognized from the photograph Devika had provided – Anand Menon – sitting on a park bench with a woman in a tailored pantsuit. Her legs were crossed toward him, her hand resting on his thigh as they spoke, heads inclined toward each other with obvious intimacy.
Vishnu swiped to the next image. The same woman, now standing between Anand's knees as he remained seated, his hands gripping her waist, their mouths locked together in a kiss that left no room for misinterpretation.
"Fuck," Pathan breathed, his voice thick. "Look at his hand."
Vishnu zoomed in slightly. Anand's right hand had moved up from the woman's waist to cup her breast, fingers visibly pressing into the fabric of her blouse.
"In public," Vishnu murmured, a strange mix of disgust and admiration coloring his tone. "The man has no shame."
They continued through the images – Anand and the suited woman entering an apartment building together, emerging hours later with rumpled clothes. Then a new set, featuring a different woman – younger, with highlighted hair and bright red lips. These showed them at a restaurant, the woman perched on Anand's lap in a private booth, feeding him from her fork, his hand disappearing beneath the table in a way that made their activity unmistakable.
"His wife is ten times more beautiful than either of these women," Pathan said, his voice hard with genuine anger. "Look at them – this one has a face like a monkey, and the young one wears enough makeup to supply a film set."
"He doesn't deserve her," Vishnu agreed, closing the folder and pocketing his phone. "But his loss is potentially our gain."
Pathan leaned back, considering. "How do we tell her? We can't just show her these photos without preparation. She might collapse."
"We need to be gentle," Vishnu said, the word sounding strange coming from his mouth. "Supportive. She needs to see us as her protectors, not just the bearers of bad news."
"Tomorrow," Pathan decided. "We'll approach her after the lecture, ask to speak privately. Tell her we have news about her husband, but suggest meeting somewhere more private than her office."
"Her apartment would be ideal," Vishnu mused, already imagining the possibilities that might unfold in such an intimate setting. "She'll be in her own space, comfortable. Vulnerable."
"But we can't suggest it," Pathan cautioned. "She has to be the one to offer."
"She will," Vishnu said with quiet confidence. "Where else could we possibly show her these kinds of photos? She won't want to risk being seen breaking down on campus."
They fell silent, each lost in his own thoughts about the opportunity that had fallen into their laps – a beautiful woman on the verge of discovering her husband's betrayal, with only them to turn to for comfort.
---
The next day dragged endlessly. Throughout Devika's lecture on genetic mutation, Vishnu found himself unable to focus on anything but the weight of his phone in his pocket, the images it contained, and the woman standing at the podium who had no idea her world was about to shatter.
She looked different today – more like when she had first arrived at the college. Her saree was dbangd higher on her waist in the traditional Kerala style, her demeanor more reserved. Perhaps some instinct had warned her that change was coming.
When the lecture finally ended, Vishnu caught Pathan's eye and nodded. They remained seated as other students filed out, waiting until the room was nearly empty before approaching the podium where Devika was gathering her notes.
"Professor Nair," Vishnu began, his voice pitched low. "We need to speak with you. About the matter you asked us to look into."
Devika's hands stilled on her papers, her eyes darting to the few remaining students lingering near the door. "You found something?" she asked, her voice barely audible.
"Yes," Pathan confirmed. "But it's not something we should discuss here."
She studied their faces, seeming to search for clues about what they had discovered. "My office, then? In ten minutes?"
Vishnu hesitated, glancing meaningfully at a group of students who had paused just outside the open door. "Perhaps somewhere more... private would be better. The information is sensitive."
Understanding dawned in Devika's eyes, followed quickly by apprehension. "I see." She was quiet for a moment, clearly weighing her options. "My apartment, then. This evening at six?"
"That would be appropriate, yes," Pathan agreed, his tone carefully professional despite the triumph surging through him. "We'll be discrete."
Devika nodded, her fingers nervously adjusting the edge of her saree pallu. "Do you... is there..." She seemed unable to form the question directly. "Did you find what I feared?"
"We should discuss everything in private," Vishnu replied gently. "But you should prepare yourself. The news isn't good."
She closed her eyes briefly, a small tremor passing through her shoulders. "I suspected as much. Thank you for your help. I'll text you the address."
---
The apartment building was nicer than Vishnu had expected – a modern complex with a security guard stationed at the entrance who eyed them suspiciously as they approached. They gave Devika's name, and after a brief call to confirm, he waved them through with obvious reluctance.
"That must be the old man she told us about," Pathan murmured as they climbed the stairs. "The one she thought was opening her packages."
"The one she slapped," Vishnu corrected, a smirk playing at his lips. "Our proper professor has quite the temper beneath that calm exterior."
They found her apartment on the second floor, the door opening almost immediately after Vishnu's tentative knock. Devika stood before them in a simple cotton saree of deep blue, her hair loose around her shoulders rather than in its usual neat braid. The informal presentation made her seem younger, more vulnerable.
"Come in," she said, stepping aside to let them enter.
The apartment was small but tastefully furnished, with bookshelves lining one wall and a modest seating area centered around a low coffee table. Everything was meticulously clean, orderly in a way that spoke of Devika's careful nature.
"Please, sit down," she said, gesturing to the sofa. "Would you like some tea?"
"That's not necessary," Vishnu began, acutely aware that they were in her personal space, breathing the air that smelled faintly of sandalwood and jasmine – her scent.
"I insist," Devika said, her voice taking on a note of determination. "I need... I need something normal right now. Before whatever comes next."
"Of course," Pathan conceded, settling onto the sofa. "Tea would be nice."
She disappeared into the kitchen, the soft clinking of cups and the sound of water being poured providing a domestic soundtrack that felt jarringly at odds with their purpose. Vishnu and Pathan exchanged glances, neither speaking. The weight of what they were about to do hung heavy in the air between them.
Devika returned with a tray bearing three cups of tea, setting it carefully on the coffee table before taking a seat in the armchair opposite them. Her hands trembled slightly as she passed them each a cup.
"So," she said after taking a small sip of her own tea, "you found something."
"Yes," Vishnu confirmed, setting his untouched tea back on the tray. "My cousin in Dubai has been tracking your husband for the past week. He..." He paused, searching for the most delicate way to continue. "He observed behavior that confirms your suspicions."
Devika's fingers tightened around her cup. "He's having an affair."
"I'm sorry to say that yes, he is," Pathan said, his voice gentler than Vishnu had ever heard it. "We have photographic evidence."
A small, pained sound escaped her, quickly suppressed. "I need to see it," she said, setting down her cup with a decisive clink. "Whatever it is, I need to see it with my own eyes."
Vishnu hesitated, then reached for his phone. "The images are... explicit, Professor. Are you sure you want to see them now?"
"Stop treating me like I'm made of glass," Devika snapped, a flash of anger momentarily overwhelming her anxiety. "Just show me."
Vishnu unlocked his phone and opened the folder, but instead of handing it over, he stood and moved to sit beside Devika on the arm of her chair. "I'll show you," he said quietly. "So I can explain what you're seeing."
She nodded, seemingly unaware of how close he now sat, her attention fixed entirely on the phone in his hand. Pathan moved as well, coming to stand behind her chair, effectively surrounding her with their presence.
Vishnu opened the first image – Anand and the suited woman sitting close together on the park bench. "This woman appears to be a colleague," he explained. "They were observed meeting several times during lunch breaks."
Devika stared at the image, her expression frozen. "Show me more," she whispered.
He swiped to the next photo, where the kiss was clearly visible. Devika's breath caught, a small, wounded noise escaping her lips.
"I'm sorry," Vishnu murmured, his free hand coming to rest lightly on her shoulder. "There's more."
The next few images showed the progression – Anand's hand on the woman's breast, their entry into an apartment building, their exit hours later.
"There's something else," Pathan said softly from behind her. "Something you should know."
Devika looked up, her eyes already glistening with unshed tears. "What could be worse than this?"
"He's not just involved with this woman," Vishnu said, swiping to the first image of Anand with the younger woman at the restaurant. "There's another."
Devika's hand flew to her mouth, her eyes widening in shock as she stared at the image of her husband with another woman on his lap. "Two?" she whispered through her fingers. "He's seeing two different women?"
"I'm afraid so," Pathan confirmed, his hand joining Vishnu's on her shoulders, a gesture that would have been unthinkable days earlier but now seemed natural in the context of her distress. "My cousin observed him with both women on different days."
Devika took the phone from Vishnu's hand, scrolling through the images with trembling fingers. Her face had gone pale, the skin stretched tight across her cheekbones. "I don't understand," she said, her voice hollow. "One woman wasn't enough? He needed two?"
"Some men are never satisfied," Vishnu said, his fingers gently squeezing her shoulder. "No matter what they have at home."
A tear slipped down Devika's cheek, followed quickly by another. "What's wrong with me?" she whispered, the question clearly not meant for them but torn from some deep, wounded place inside her. "Why wasn't I enough for him?"
"Nothing is wrong with you," Pathan said firmly, moving around to kneel before her chair. "Your husband is a fool. These women aren't half the woman you are."
She looked at him through tear-filled eyes, her usual composure completely shattered. "Then why? Why would he do this?"
"Because he's weak," Vishnu said, his arm slipping further around her shoulders. "Weak men take the easy path. They chase whatever's in front of them rather than cherishing what they have."
A sob broke from Devika's throat, raw and jagged. She bent forward, her body shaking with the force of her grief, the phone falling from her hands onto the carpet. "I tried so hard," she cried, words spilling out between sobs. "I was the perfect wife. I supported his career. I waited for him. And he's... he's touching them, kissing them in public... while calling me a... a slut for how I dbang my saree."
Pathan reached for her hands, taking them in his own, his thumb stroking across her knuckles. "He had no right to call you that. No right at all."
"I'm not enough," she repeated, the words muffled against her chest as she curled in on herself. "Not enough for one man, let alone two."
"That's not true," Vishnu insisted, pulling her gently against his side. "Look at me, Professor."
She raised her head, her face streaked with tears, eyes red-rimmed and vulnerable in a way that made something twist in Vishnu's chest – something that wasn't entirely predatory.
"You are more than enough," he said, surprising himself with the sincerity in his voice. "Any man would be lucky to have you. Your husband is blind and stupid not to see what he has."
Devika's face crumpled again, and without warning, she turned toward Pathan, who was still kneeling before her. She leaned forward, her forehead coming to rest on his shoulder as she cried. Pathan froze for a moment, his eyes meeting Vishnu's over her bent head, shock clear in his expression. Then, slowly, he wrapped his arms around her, one hand awkwardly patting her back.
"It's alright," he murmured, the words stiff with unfamiliar sincerity. "Let it out."
Vishnu watched, a strange mixture of jealousy and fascination coursing through him as Devika clung to Pathan, her body shaking with sobs. This wasn't how they had imagined the scene unfolding – her vulnerability was too raw, too genuine. It made their calculated approach feel suddenly shabby, inappropriate.
After several minutes, Devika's sobs quieted. She pulled back from Pathan, wiping hastily at her face with the edge of her saree pallu. "I'm sorry," she whispered, not meeting either of their eyes. "That was... unprofessional."
"Don't apologize," Vishnu said quickly. "You've received a terrible shock."
She nodded, her gaze fixed on the floor where the phone still lay. "I think I need to be alone now. To process all of this."
"Are you sure that's a good idea?" Pathan asked, genuine concern creasing his brow. "In this state..."
"I'm not going to do anything foolish," Devika said, a hint of her usual composure returning. "I just need space to think. To decide what happens next."
"We could stay," Vishnu offered. "Just to make sure you're alright."
"No." Her voice was firmer now. "Thank you for bringing me this information. Truly. But I need privacy now."
They exchanged glances, reluctant to leave her but recognizing that pushing further would only damage the fragile connection they had established. Vishnu retrieved his phone from the floor, carefully avoiding looking at the images that had caused such pain.
"We'll check on you tomorrow," he said as they moved toward the door. "If that's alright."
Devika nodded, not trusting herself to speak.
At the threshold, Pathan turned back. "Remember, Professor – this says nothing about you and everything about him."
She attempted a smile that didn't reach her eyes. "Good night, Mr. Khan. Mr. Patil."
The door closed behind them with a soft click, leaving them standing in the corridor, the echo of Devika's sobs still ringing in their ears.
"Well," Vishnu said as they descended the stairs, "that wasn't exactly how I imagined it going."
"No," Pathan agreed, his expression thoughtful. "I expected... I don't know. Not that."
"She completely broke down."
"Wouldn't you? Finding out your spouse is cheating with two different people?"
They stepped out into the evening air, the security guard watching them with suspicious eyes as they passed his booth.
"We should give her some space," Vishnu said, surprising himself with the suggestion. "Let her process it. Come to us when she's ready."
"Since when are you the patient type?" Pathan asked, eyebrows raised.
Vishnu shrugged, unable to articulate the strange feeling that had come over him watching Devika's genuine grief. "Just seems like the right approach. She's broken now. If we push too hard, she might shatter completely."
"And then what use would she be to us?" Pathan nodded, understanding. "You're right. We've planted the seed. Now we wait for it to grow."
They walked in silence for several minutes, each lost in thought about the scene they had just witnessed and what it might mean for their plans.
"Do you think she'll divorce him?" Pathan asked eventually.
"After seeing those photos? She'd be a fool not to."
"And then?"
Vishnu smiled, the familiar predatory gleam returning to his eyes. "And then she'll be truly alone in a city far from home. No husband, no family to turn to. Just her colleagues... and us."
"Her loyal students," Pathan added, his silver tooth catching the light of a passing streetlamp. "Who saw her value when her husband didn't."
"Exactly," Vishnu agreed, his momentary empathy giving way to calculation once more. "The perfect foundation for what comes next."
"Oh, I have something alright," his cousin Rakesh's voice crackled through the line, thick with barely contained excitement. "Your professor's husband is quite the player."
Vishnu swung his legs over the side of the bed, his heart hammering against his ribs. "You found him?"
"Found him? I've been tracking him for five days." Rakesh chuckled, the sound tinny through the connection. "And brother, this man is not just having an affair. He's having two."
"Two?" Vishnu hissed, loud enough that Pathan stirred, one eye cracking open to regard him with groggy curiosity.
"Two different women. One looks like a coworker – business suits, professional type. The other's younger, maybe a waitress or something at one of the bars he frequents." Rakesh's voice dropped lower, conspiratorial. "I got photos of everything. The man isn't even subtle about it."
Vishnu motioned urgently to Pathan, who now sat up, fully alert. "How explicit are these photos? We need proof, but..."
"Trust me, there's no mistaking what's happening. Got him kissing the professional woman in a park – hands everywhere, very public. And the younger one, she was feeding him at some fancy restaurant, sitting in his lap." Rakesh paused. "I'll send everything now. What exactly are you planning to do with these, cousin?"
"Just helping a friend discover the truth," Vishnu replied, his tone deliberately vague. "You've done well. I owe you."
"Keep your money. Just send me some of those foreign liquors from your father's collection. The ones that don't make it to Dubai legally."
"Done. And Rakesh?" Vishnu's fingers tightened around the phone. "Not a word about this to anyone else in the family."
After ending the call, Vishnu turned to Pathan, who was now perched on the edge of his bed, eyes bright with anticipation.
"Well?" Pathan demanded.
"The bastard is cheating on her. Not with one woman—with two."
Pathan's mouth fell open before curving into a slow, disbelieving smile. "Two? Are you serious?"
"My cousin is sending the photos now." Vishnu stared at his phone, waiting for the notification. "Said he got everything we need. One woman seems to be a coworker, the other some girl from a bar."
"While Professor Nair sits alone in Pune, teaching biology to unappreciative students," Pathan shook his head, his expression a carefully constructed mask of indignation that didn't quite hide the gleam of opportunity in his eyes. "What kind of man does that?"
"A fool," Vishnu muttered, just as his phone vibrated with an incoming message. "They're here."
The two leaned close together as Vishnu opened the message, revealing a folder of images. The first showed a man they recognized from the photograph Devika had provided – Anand Menon – sitting on a park bench with a woman in a tailored pantsuit. Her legs were crossed toward him, her hand resting on his thigh as they spoke, heads inclined toward each other with obvious intimacy.
Vishnu swiped to the next image. The same woman, now standing between Anand's knees as he remained seated, his hands gripping her waist, their mouths locked together in a kiss that left no room for misinterpretation.
"Fuck," Pathan breathed, his voice thick. "Look at his hand."
Vishnu zoomed in slightly. Anand's right hand had moved up from the woman's waist to cup her breast, fingers visibly pressing into the fabric of her blouse.
"In public," Vishnu murmured, a strange mix of disgust and admiration coloring his tone. "The man has no shame."
They continued through the images – Anand and the suited woman entering an apartment building together, emerging hours later with rumpled clothes. Then a new set, featuring a different woman – younger, with highlighted hair and bright red lips. These showed them at a restaurant, the woman perched on Anand's lap in a private booth, feeding him from her fork, his hand disappearing beneath the table in a way that made their activity unmistakable.
"His wife is ten times more beautiful than either of these women," Pathan said, his voice hard with genuine anger. "Look at them – this one has a face like a monkey, and the young one wears enough makeup to supply a film set."
"He doesn't deserve her," Vishnu agreed, closing the folder and pocketing his phone. "But his loss is potentially our gain."
Pathan leaned back, considering. "How do we tell her? We can't just show her these photos without preparation. She might collapse."
"We need to be gentle," Vishnu said, the word sounding strange coming from his mouth. "Supportive. She needs to see us as her protectors, not just the bearers of bad news."
"Tomorrow," Pathan decided. "We'll approach her after the lecture, ask to speak privately. Tell her we have news about her husband, but suggest meeting somewhere more private than her office."
"Her apartment would be ideal," Vishnu mused, already imagining the possibilities that might unfold in such an intimate setting. "She'll be in her own space, comfortable. Vulnerable."
"But we can't suggest it," Pathan cautioned. "She has to be the one to offer."
"She will," Vishnu said with quiet confidence. "Where else could we possibly show her these kinds of photos? She won't want to risk being seen breaking down on campus."
They fell silent, each lost in his own thoughts about the opportunity that had fallen into their laps – a beautiful woman on the verge of discovering her husband's betrayal, with only them to turn to for comfort.
---
The next day dragged endlessly. Throughout Devika's lecture on genetic mutation, Vishnu found himself unable to focus on anything but the weight of his phone in his pocket, the images it contained, and the woman standing at the podium who had no idea her world was about to shatter.
She looked different today – more like when she had first arrived at the college. Her saree was dbangd higher on her waist in the traditional Kerala style, her demeanor more reserved. Perhaps some instinct had warned her that change was coming.
When the lecture finally ended, Vishnu caught Pathan's eye and nodded. They remained seated as other students filed out, waiting until the room was nearly empty before approaching the podium where Devika was gathering her notes.
"Professor Nair," Vishnu began, his voice pitched low. "We need to speak with you. About the matter you asked us to look into."
Devika's hands stilled on her papers, her eyes darting to the few remaining students lingering near the door. "You found something?" she asked, her voice barely audible.
"Yes," Pathan confirmed. "But it's not something we should discuss here."
She studied their faces, seeming to search for clues about what they had discovered. "My office, then? In ten minutes?"
Vishnu hesitated, glancing meaningfully at a group of students who had paused just outside the open door. "Perhaps somewhere more... private would be better. The information is sensitive."
Understanding dawned in Devika's eyes, followed quickly by apprehension. "I see." She was quiet for a moment, clearly weighing her options. "My apartment, then. This evening at six?"
"That would be appropriate, yes," Pathan agreed, his tone carefully professional despite the triumph surging through him. "We'll be discrete."
Devika nodded, her fingers nervously adjusting the edge of her saree pallu. "Do you... is there..." She seemed unable to form the question directly. "Did you find what I feared?"
"We should discuss everything in private," Vishnu replied gently. "But you should prepare yourself. The news isn't good."
She closed her eyes briefly, a small tremor passing through her shoulders. "I suspected as much. Thank you for your help. I'll text you the address."
---
The apartment building was nicer than Vishnu had expected – a modern complex with a security guard stationed at the entrance who eyed them suspiciously as they approached. They gave Devika's name, and after a brief call to confirm, he waved them through with obvious reluctance.
"That must be the old man she told us about," Pathan murmured as they climbed the stairs. "The one she thought was opening her packages."
"The one she slapped," Vishnu corrected, a smirk playing at his lips. "Our proper professor has quite the temper beneath that calm exterior."
They found her apartment on the second floor, the door opening almost immediately after Vishnu's tentative knock. Devika stood before them in a simple cotton saree of deep blue, her hair loose around her shoulders rather than in its usual neat braid. The informal presentation made her seem younger, more vulnerable.
"Come in," she said, stepping aside to let them enter.
The apartment was small but tastefully furnished, with bookshelves lining one wall and a modest seating area centered around a low coffee table. Everything was meticulously clean, orderly in a way that spoke of Devika's careful nature.
"Please, sit down," she said, gesturing to the sofa. "Would you like some tea?"
"That's not necessary," Vishnu began, acutely aware that they were in her personal space, breathing the air that smelled faintly of sandalwood and jasmine – her scent.
"I insist," Devika said, her voice taking on a note of determination. "I need... I need something normal right now. Before whatever comes next."
"Of course," Pathan conceded, settling onto the sofa. "Tea would be nice."
She disappeared into the kitchen, the soft clinking of cups and the sound of water being poured providing a domestic soundtrack that felt jarringly at odds with their purpose. Vishnu and Pathan exchanged glances, neither speaking. The weight of what they were about to do hung heavy in the air between them.
Devika returned with a tray bearing three cups of tea, setting it carefully on the coffee table before taking a seat in the armchair opposite them. Her hands trembled slightly as she passed them each a cup.
"So," she said after taking a small sip of her own tea, "you found something."
"Yes," Vishnu confirmed, setting his untouched tea back on the tray. "My cousin in Dubai has been tracking your husband for the past week. He..." He paused, searching for the most delicate way to continue. "He observed behavior that confirms your suspicions."
Devika's fingers tightened around her cup. "He's having an affair."
"I'm sorry to say that yes, he is," Pathan said, his voice gentler than Vishnu had ever heard it. "We have photographic evidence."
A small, pained sound escaped her, quickly suppressed. "I need to see it," she said, setting down her cup with a decisive clink. "Whatever it is, I need to see it with my own eyes."
Vishnu hesitated, then reached for his phone. "The images are... explicit, Professor. Are you sure you want to see them now?"
"Stop treating me like I'm made of glass," Devika snapped, a flash of anger momentarily overwhelming her anxiety. "Just show me."
Vishnu unlocked his phone and opened the folder, but instead of handing it over, he stood and moved to sit beside Devika on the arm of her chair. "I'll show you," he said quietly. "So I can explain what you're seeing."
She nodded, seemingly unaware of how close he now sat, her attention fixed entirely on the phone in his hand. Pathan moved as well, coming to stand behind her chair, effectively surrounding her with their presence.
Vishnu opened the first image – Anand and the suited woman sitting close together on the park bench. "This woman appears to be a colleague," he explained. "They were observed meeting several times during lunch breaks."
Devika stared at the image, her expression frozen. "Show me more," she whispered.
He swiped to the next photo, where the kiss was clearly visible. Devika's breath caught, a small, wounded noise escaping her lips.
"I'm sorry," Vishnu murmured, his free hand coming to rest lightly on her shoulder. "There's more."
The next few images showed the progression – Anand's hand on the woman's breast, their entry into an apartment building, their exit hours later.
"There's something else," Pathan said softly from behind her. "Something you should know."
Devika looked up, her eyes already glistening with unshed tears. "What could be worse than this?"
"He's not just involved with this woman," Vishnu said, swiping to the first image of Anand with the younger woman at the restaurant. "There's another."
Devika's hand flew to her mouth, her eyes widening in shock as she stared at the image of her husband with another woman on his lap. "Two?" she whispered through her fingers. "He's seeing two different women?"
"I'm afraid so," Pathan confirmed, his hand joining Vishnu's on her shoulders, a gesture that would have been unthinkable days earlier but now seemed natural in the context of her distress. "My cousin observed him with both women on different days."
Devika took the phone from Vishnu's hand, scrolling through the images with trembling fingers. Her face had gone pale, the skin stretched tight across her cheekbones. "I don't understand," she said, her voice hollow. "One woman wasn't enough? He needed two?"
"Some men are never satisfied," Vishnu said, his fingers gently squeezing her shoulder. "No matter what they have at home."
A tear slipped down Devika's cheek, followed quickly by another. "What's wrong with me?" she whispered, the question clearly not meant for them but torn from some deep, wounded place inside her. "Why wasn't I enough for him?"
"Nothing is wrong with you," Pathan said firmly, moving around to kneel before her chair. "Your husband is a fool. These women aren't half the woman you are."
She looked at him through tear-filled eyes, her usual composure completely shattered. "Then why? Why would he do this?"
"Because he's weak," Vishnu said, his arm slipping further around her shoulders. "Weak men take the easy path. They chase whatever's in front of them rather than cherishing what they have."
A sob broke from Devika's throat, raw and jagged. She bent forward, her body shaking with the force of her grief, the phone falling from her hands onto the carpet. "I tried so hard," she cried, words spilling out between sobs. "I was the perfect wife. I supported his career. I waited for him. And he's... he's touching them, kissing them in public... while calling me a... a slut for how I dbang my saree."
Pathan reached for her hands, taking them in his own, his thumb stroking across her knuckles. "He had no right to call you that. No right at all."
"I'm not enough," she repeated, the words muffled against her chest as she curled in on herself. "Not enough for one man, let alone two."
"That's not true," Vishnu insisted, pulling her gently against his side. "Look at me, Professor."
She raised her head, her face streaked with tears, eyes red-rimmed and vulnerable in a way that made something twist in Vishnu's chest – something that wasn't entirely predatory.
"You are more than enough," he said, surprising himself with the sincerity in his voice. "Any man would be lucky to have you. Your husband is blind and stupid not to see what he has."
Devika's face crumpled again, and without warning, she turned toward Pathan, who was still kneeling before her. She leaned forward, her forehead coming to rest on his shoulder as she cried. Pathan froze for a moment, his eyes meeting Vishnu's over her bent head, shock clear in his expression. Then, slowly, he wrapped his arms around her, one hand awkwardly patting her back.
"It's alright," he murmured, the words stiff with unfamiliar sincerity. "Let it out."
Vishnu watched, a strange mixture of jealousy and fascination coursing through him as Devika clung to Pathan, her body shaking with sobs. This wasn't how they had imagined the scene unfolding – her vulnerability was too raw, too genuine. It made their calculated approach feel suddenly shabby, inappropriate.
After several minutes, Devika's sobs quieted. She pulled back from Pathan, wiping hastily at her face with the edge of her saree pallu. "I'm sorry," she whispered, not meeting either of their eyes. "That was... unprofessional."
"Don't apologize," Vishnu said quickly. "You've received a terrible shock."
She nodded, her gaze fixed on the floor where the phone still lay. "I think I need to be alone now. To process all of this."
"Are you sure that's a good idea?" Pathan asked, genuine concern creasing his brow. "In this state..."
"I'm not going to do anything foolish," Devika said, a hint of her usual composure returning. "I just need space to think. To decide what happens next."
"We could stay," Vishnu offered. "Just to make sure you're alright."
"No." Her voice was firmer now. "Thank you for bringing me this information. Truly. But I need privacy now."
They exchanged glances, reluctant to leave her but recognizing that pushing further would only damage the fragile connection they had established. Vishnu retrieved his phone from the floor, carefully avoiding looking at the images that had caused such pain.
"We'll check on you tomorrow," he said as they moved toward the door. "If that's alright."
Devika nodded, not trusting herself to speak.
At the threshold, Pathan turned back. "Remember, Professor – this says nothing about you and everything about him."
She attempted a smile that didn't reach her eyes. "Good night, Mr. Khan. Mr. Patil."
The door closed behind them with a soft click, leaving them standing in the corridor, the echo of Devika's sobs still ringing in their ears.
"Well," Vishnu said as they descended the stairs, "that wasn't exactly how I imagined it going."
"No," Pathan agreed, his expression thoughtful. "I expected... I don't know. Not that."
"She completely broke down."
"Wouldn't you? Finding out your spouse is cheating with two different people?"
They stepped out into the evening air, the security guard watching them with suspicious eyes as they passed his booth.
"We should give her some space," Vishnu said, surprising himself with the suggestion. "Let her process it. Come to us when she's ready."
"Since when are you the patient type?" Pathan asked, eyebrows raised.
Vishnu shrugged, unable to articulate the strange feeling that had come over him watching Devika's genuine grief. "Just seems like the right approach. She's broken now. If we push too hard, she might shatter completely."
"And then what use would she be to us?" Pathan nodded, understanding. "You're right. We've planted the seed. Now we wait for it to grow."
They walked in silence for several minutes, each lost in thought about the scene they had just witnessed and what it might mean for their plans.
"Do you think she'll divorce him?" Pathan asked eventually.
"After seeing those photos? She'd be a fool not to."
"And then?"
Vishnu smiled, the familiar predatory gleam returning to his eyes. "And then she'll be truly alone in a city far from home. No husband, no family to turn to. Just her colleagues... and us."
"Her loyal students," Pathan added, his silver tooth catching the light of a passing streetlamp. "Who saw her value when her husband didn't."
"Exactly," Vishnu agreed, his momentary empathy giving way to calculation once more. "The perfect foundation for what comes next."