Adultery Love Sex And War : Age Of Darkness

[Harry Jordan]

                                                                                                                             (CHAPTER CONTD)                         

The evening sky had begun to dim when Sonarika reached Reshma’s house. For a moment, she just stood outside the door, gathering herself. Her fingers trembled slightly as she rang the bell. The door opened almost instantly.

"Sonarika!" 

Reshma’s face lit up with genuine warmth as she pulled her into a hug. But just as quickly, that warmth shifted into concern. 

"Hey… what happened? You don’t look okay"

That was all it took. Sonarika’s composure cracked again—but this time, she held it just enough to step inside.

"Sit. Breathe. Tell me everything" Reshma guided her to the couch, gently holding her hand. 

And this time…Sonarika didn’t hold back. The words came slowly at first. Then all at once. She confessed everything—the affair with Vikram, the choices she had made, the way it had shattered her marriage , everything to this moment , every detail , every situations , every emotions. Her voice broke multiple times, but she didn’t stop. Then came the part she had never fully said out loud.

"Ever since that freak accident…I was never the same… something changed in me. I couldn’t control certain urges. It felt like… I wasn’t myself anymore" 

She whispered. Reshma didn’t interrupt. She just listened. Carefully. Quietly. Absorbing every piece. When Sonarika finally finished, the room fell silent for a moment. Then Reshma exhaled slowly.

"That explains a lot…"

"What do you mean?" Sonarika looked at her, confused. 

Reshma leaned back slightly, her eyes thoughtful. 

"You weren’t always like this, Sonarika. The girl I knew… she was curious. Always exploring, always questioning things. You used to find joy in the smallest discoveries"

A faint, broken smile touched Sonarika’s lips at the memory.

"Your love for plants, that didn’t come from nowhere. That was your nature" 

Reshma continued, her tone softened.

"But somewhere along the way… you lost that. You became… quieter. More withdrawn. Like you stopped being you"

"It started after that stupid accident… when that grill fell. I tried to push Meghna out of the way…"

Sonarika’s eyes lowered. Reshma’s expression shifted slightly at the name.

"Do you trust Meghna?" she asked suddenly.

Sonarika hesitated.

"I used to, she was… everything to me back then. My support system" she admitted.  

Her voice hardened slightly. 

"But now… I don’t know. Something feels off. Especially after realizing how much she pushed Vikram into my life"

"That makes sense" Reshma nodded slowly. 

"How?" Sonarika asked.

Reshma stood up and walked inside, returning with a file in her hand.

"There’s something I never told you. Back when you were recovering… I was in Delhi. I went to the hospital to see you" 

She said, sitting down again. Sonarika looked up, surprised.

"But Meghna stopped me, She said you shouldn’t be disturbed. That you head injury was severe and was on the verge of memory loss. That you needed distance from your past" 

Reshma continued. A pause.

"And I believed her at that time. But something about it… didn’t sit right with me"

"Reshma , I didn't have that much serious health complication?" Sonarika stated with shock.

"I know Sonarika , I learned it after what happened later"

Sonarika’s breath grew shallow.

"Years later, I found out something else. My visit at that time in Delhi was meant to be longer as I planned to move back for a diploma course at a university nearby. They greenlit the application initially,  but after trying to visit you in the hospital , a few days later , I recieved a notification that my appilcation was rejected citing that I wasn't 'qualified' enough. Years later , through my husband , I learned that my rejection was done due to managament pressure"  

Reshma went on, tapping the file lightly. Sonarika’s fingers tightened.

"And when I investigated that pressure, I learned one of the management member had close ties with Meghna" 

Reshma said quietly. Silence filled the room.

"She wasn't just a journalist" Reshma added. 

"She’s connected to something much bigger. A network…..of powerful people, political influence, illegal operations...including ties to a woman in power who runs a sex trafficking ring to seize power and influence" 

Her voice lowered. Sonarika felt her chest tighten. This was beyond what she had imagined.

"I knew she was… manipulative, but this…?" she whispered. 

"Hey. Look at me" Reshma reached out and held her hand firmly. 

Sonarika did.

"You’re not alone in this" Reshma said gently. 

"Whatever she’s doing—there’s a reason. And we’ll figure it out"

But Sonarika shook her head, tears forming again.

"None of that changes what I’ve done" she said, her voice breaking. 

"I’ve already lost Hemant. Completely. There’s no going back"

Reshma didn’t agree.

"You’ve changed" she said calmly.

"How can you be so sure?" Sonarika frowned through her tears. 

"Because this time, you resisted" Reshma said, her voice steady.

Sonarika froze.

"You didn’t give in. Based on all the things you told me , unlike all the time Vikram had worked his charm on you , this time , you resisted Vikram. You didn't succumb to the temptation easily , you showed resolve , you revolted. This shows that you are not that vulnerable and broken woman anymore" 

Reshma continued.Something shifted slightly inside Sonarika.

"You’re not that helpless, submissive version of yourself anymore You're resisting , you are revolting , I see my old daring classmate in you again now. And my faith in her still lives" 

Reshma added. Sonarika wiped her tears slowly, listening.

"You need to reconnect with who you really are....what you are meant to be" Reshma said. 

"And you need guidance. Talk to Dhananjay Shankar. The truth will show you your path"

There was a pause before Reshma added, more softly—

"And understand something… relationships aren’t perfect. Even mine wasn’t"

Sonarika looked at her, surprised. Reshma smiled faintly. 

"Suresh and I… we went through a phase. We tried 'open marriage' for two years to spice things up. We did with full discussion and consent with each other understanding each other's limits. I did things I never did in marriage , he did the same. But we still found our way back to each other , as promised. And we found our relationship to be stronger than ever that only deepened after two of my kids. Now those two years fuel our sex life in this lifetime. But just because it worked for us , doesn't mean it will work for others. That is where you went wrong Sonarika. Rather than discussing your needs to your husband , you seeked a thrill and broke his trust and love for you"

She leaned forward slightly.

"I’m not justifying your betrayal , I am simply pointing out that you now see your mistakes and betrayal and you understand your failings. That is the path of redemption. There is no guarantee you will get him back , but you can for the first time actually fight for him and his love" 

Reshma said gently. Sonarika lowered her gaze.

"The path back to him…..it’s gone" she whispered, 

"Maybe the old path is, but that doesn’t mean a new one can’t be built" Reshma said. 

Sonarika looked up again.

"Not by forcing anything but by becoming true to each other , because that is the truth both of you must accept , both of you lived each other's lies. Its time to give truth that chance , not just for love , but for the family that relies on that love. And family is everything worth fighting for Sonarika!" 

Reshma continued. A quiet determination began to replace the chaos in Sonarika’s eyes.

"You show him—not with words, but with who you truly are—that there’s only one place your heart truly belongs. You pay the penance for your sins and in the end show him how much he matter to you , don't tell him , just show him. Make him understand why you want this to work , convince him for a second chance and then rebuild your world again this time with truth and a new resolve , everyone deserves a second chance as long as its geuine and is to redeem!"

Tears still lingered, but they weren’t the same anymore. They weren’t just pain. They carried something else. Resolve.

"I’ll meet Dhananjay Shankar" Sonarika said softly.

"Good" Reshma smiled. 

She squeezed her hand again. 

"And remember… whatever comes next—you won’t face it alone"

For the first time that day—Sonarika felt it. Not relief. Not happiness. But something she thought she had completely lost—A reason to stand back up.

THE NEXT MORNING

The cab slowed to a halt in front of a quiet residential complex. Sonarika stepped out, her eyes scanning the place Dan had shared. At the far end stood a rowhouse—old, weathered, carrying the same aged charm as her maternal home in Janakpuri. It didn’t look like the residence of someone extraordinary. And yet… something about it felt deliberate. She adjusted her formal shirt, neatly tucked into her slacks. The outfit wasn’t just about appearance—it was armor. She didn’t want to walk in as someone broken. She walked through the gate, her steps steady, and reached the door. Ding. As she waited, her eyes caught something—a small camera mounted at the far corner. It shifted slightly. Watching her. A soft mechanical beep followed. Then—Click. The door unlocked on its own. From inside, a familiar voice echoed, calm and casual—

"Door’s open. Come in"

Sonarika stepped inside. The interior was simple. Neat. Functional. But before she could take it all in, she saw him. Dan. He was approaching her in his wheelchair, balancing a tray while maneuvering himself forward. The effort was visible. Without thinking twice, Sonarika moved toward him.

"Let me—"

"I can manage" Dan said, instinctively holding onto the tray.

She paused for a second… then gently but firmly took it from him.

"There’s no shame in getting help, You’ve already given enough for this country" 

She said, her voice calm but certain. Dan looked at her. Really looked this time.

"Fair point" Then a faint smile appeared. 

She placed the tray on the nearby table and took a seat. Dan rolled forward, positioning himself across from her. The tray held a teapot and two cups. She poured herself some tea and took a sip.

"I prefer less sugar. So… if it’s not sweet enough, that’s on me" Dan leaned back slightly.

"It’s perfect" Sonarika shook her head lightly. 

A brief silence settled.

Then Dan’s expression shifted—more focused now.

"So.....You’re here to know about your husband" he said.

"I am. I want to know… who he really is" Sonarika nodded. 

Dan exhaled softly, as if preparing to revisit something significant.

"I don’t know what version of him you’ve seen" he began. 

"Maybe a regular guy. A corporate employee. Someone… ordinary"

He paused.

"But the man I met…..was anything but that" his eyes hardened slightly with memory, 

Sonarika’s attention sharpened. Dan leaned forward a little, his voice lowering—not out of secrecy, but gravity.

"I still remember the first day I met him" he said. 

"Clear as yesterday"

A faint smile crossed his lips—this one not light, but filled with something deeper.

"Because that was the day I realized… my life was about to change"

Sonarika didn’t interrupt. She could feel it. This wasn’t just a story. This was something that mattered.

"Meeting him, wasn’t just coincidence. It felt like… stepping into something far bigger than yourself" 

Dan continued, his gaze distant now, He looked back at her.

"And I knew, right then… that I was about to become part of something that wasn’t normal"

A slight pause.

"That I was going to be part of nothing short of a Spectacle!"

                                                                                                                            (TO BE CONTD)