Crossing the Mirage:Passing Through Youth

Spurring on to Err

Nithya collapsed in her bed as if Vasu sapped her strength and unable to comprehend, her mind became numb. But realizing that inaction wouldn't lead her anywhere, she forced herself to apply her mind to the problem on hand.

"What a shameless guy really,‟ she thought. "What a gall to eye me again? Why, hasn't he hinted at blackmail? What a devil I courted! It‟s sickening to even think of him, well, no decent man would ever want to tempt the woman he lost, more so when she's married. Isn't it a crime to upset her life, that too when one had lost her by his own fault? What does he think of me? He seems to have taken me for granted being sure of luring me back into his fold by exploiting my past feelings for him! Well, I'll show him what really I am by paying him back in the same coin. Won't I teach him the lesson of his life?‟

Her suffering and humiliation associated with him that she couldn't help recall, only strengthened her resolve for revenge. The thought that he was out to blackmail her to exploit her again made her abhor him even more. Soon, she was seized by an urge to avenge herself upon him.

"Why not I torment him by leading him up the garden path and see his ruin in the end,‟ she began contemplating the course of her revenge. "But then, won't I run the risk of being misunderstood by Chandra? If he were he to stalk me, won't the risk remain the same, making no difference either way for me. Better I tell Chandra right away, and that way, I can cover my flanks as I take the devil head on.‟

Having got carried away by her feeling of revenge thus, she began to map out the plan of action.

"What shall be done to make him pay for his misdeeds as well as evil designs!‟ she began racking her brains. "Won't man feel insecure seeing his wife wooed by another male? What about settling scores with him by letting Chandra befriend Prema? But then, why should Chandra play ball? Given his sense of decency he's bound to be averse to the idea! But then, won't I be able to persuade him? And which man doesn't enjoy the company of a pretty woman like Prema, that too if prompted by his wife? Whenever that happens, then Vasu would be forced to put up with that or pack up with his wife. What if Chandra and Prema develop some romantic designs of their own? How one can ever know! If they turn close, won't that make the rogue die in humiliation? And should Prema ditch Vasu for Chandra, won't it be a double jeopardy for that bastard? Won't then, he would lose his wife for her to become 'the other woman' that he wanted to make out of me. Ware wah! Won't that leave the rouge staring at a leaf out of his dirty book?‟