The Cuckold of Anushka's Husband - Story written on a User's Request

[ashuezy2]

Scene 7

The next evening, Rajiv is sitting on the sofa, watching cricket.
Anushka brings him a cup of tea. She is wearing her red dress again.
She sits next to him. Too close.

Rajiv: (He shifts uncomfortably, aware of her dress) Thanks for the tea, Anu.

Anushka: (Her voice is full of fake concern) Rajiv... I was thinking about last night.

Rajiv: (He frowns, not looking at her) I told you, I don't want to talk about that.

Anushka: No, not that. I am worried about you.

Rajiv: (He looks at her, confused) Me? Why? I am perfectly fine.

Anushka: (She puts her hand on his leg. Her touch is light, but it makes him nervous.) Are you sure? You seem... low on energy. All the time.

Rajiv: (He pulls his leg away gently) It is just work stress, Anu. I am fine.

Anushka: (She leans in. He can smell her perfume. It is strong.) I am not just talking about work, Rajiv.

Anushka: I am talking about... us. In the bedroom.

Rajiv: (His face gets red) Anushka! Stop it. What is wrong with you?

Anushka: (Her voice is like soft cotton, but the words are sharp) You get tired so fast.

Anushka: It is... over... before I can even feel anything.

Rajiv: (He stands up, his voice shaking a little) That is a cruel thing to say!

Anushka: (She looks up at him, her eyes wide and innocent) Why is it cruel? I am your wife. I worry about your health.

Anushka: Maybe you should see a doctor? For your... stamina.
Rajiv just stares at her. He is angry, but also deeply ashamed.
She is right. And he knows it.

Anushka: (She stands up and touches his cheek) It is just... it is a small problem, I know.
The word 'small' hangs in the air between them.
She is not just talking about the stamina. They both know it.

Rajiv: (He pushes her hand away) I am fine! Leave me alone!
He walks away to the balcony, his back straight and angry.
Anushka watches him.
He did not fight back. He just ran.
She felt a small, cold drop of power in her stomach. He could take the humiliation.
This was good. This was very good.

---

Scene 8

It is Friday evening.
Rajiv comes home from work. He is very tired.
He enters the house. It is a mess.
The plates from breakfast are still on the table.


There is no smell of dinner cooking.
He walks into the bedroom.
Anushka is not in the kitchen. She is at the mirror.

She is putting on bright red lipstick.
She is wearing a new black dress. It is very tight on her body.

Rajiv: Anu? What is this?

Anushka: (She does not look at him, focused on her lips) What is what, Rajiv?

Rajiv: The house is a mess. You have not cooked dinner?

Anushka: (She presses her lips together, then turns) No. I did not cook.

Rajiv: (He sighs, running his hand through his hair) Why not? I am hungry. I had a long day.

Anushka: (Her voice is hard, like a stone) You had a long day?

Anushka: What about me? I am in this house all day. I am stressed.

Rajiv: Stressed? From what? You don't even go to work!

Anushka: (She laughs, a cold, short sound) I am stressed from this. From you.

Anushka: I do everything. I clean, I cook... and I get nothing in return.

Anushka: I am feeling suffocated, Rajiv.

Rajiv: (He looks defeated) Anu... please. I am too tired for a fight.

Anushka: (She picks up her small purse) Good. Because I am not fighting.

Anushka: I am going out.

Rajiv: (He looks alarmed) Out? Out where? It is 9 PM.

Anushka: I am going to meet some friends.

Rajiv: Friends? What friends? I don't know them.

Anushka: (She walks to the door, pushing past him) You don't need to know them. I need a break. I need to cope.

Rajiv: Anushka, wait! This is not right!

Anushka: (She turns at the door, her eyes flashing) What is not right, Rajiv?

Anushka: You want me to stay here, unhappy, with you?
Rajiv has no answer.
He is too tired. He is too weak to argue with her.
He just watches.

Anushka: I will be back late. Don't wait for me.
The door clicks shut.
Rajiv stands alone in the messy house. He feels a new kind of fear.
She is gone. And he did nothing to stop her.

---

Scene 9

It has been two weeks.
Anushka goes out three or four times every week. She calls them "her breaks."
She does not clean. She does not cook.
Rajiv is living in a messy house. He is eating food from outside. He feels lost.
Tonight, Anushka comes home. It is almost midnight.
Rajiv is awake, waiting on the sofa. He looks tired and angry.
He opens his mouth to shout at her.
But then... he sees her.

She is... glowing.
Her cheeks are pink. Her eyes are bright and sparkling.
She looks younger.
She is smiling, a small, secret smile.

Rajiv: (His anger just melts into confusion) Anu?

Anushka: (She looks at him, her smile growing) Oh, you are awake, Rajiv?

Rajiv: Where were you? It is midnight!

Anushka: (She kicks off her heels and stretches, her bust pushing against her dress) Ah, I am so relaxed.

Anushka: I was just out with my friends. We were talking.

Rajiv: (He stands up, walking closer to her) Talking? You look... different.

Rajiv: You seem so... happy.
He cannot understand it.
At home, she is angry and stressed.
But she comes back from these "friends" looking satisfied and cheerful.

Anushka: (She laughs, a light, happy sound he has not heard in years) I am happy, Rajiv.

Anushka: It feels good to be... appreciated.

Rajiv: Appreciated? Who is appreciating you?

Anushka: (She pats his cheek, like he is a small boy) Just my friends. They are very nice to me.

Anushka: They make me feel good about myself.
Rajiv stares at her.
He cannot comprehend the reason for this sudden joy.
He is failing. The house is failing. Their marriage is failing.
But Anushka... Anushka is glowing.