"But, all that could hurt me as well?‟ she thought on coming back to the reality of life from the euphoria of revenge. "Won't I end up with a rival for Chandra's affections? Who knows, Prema's charms might even dampen his ardor for me. Well, why not I face the facts of life? Won't all men end up having a fling on the sly, sooner or later? Moreover, when one plays with fire, how can one ever shy away from the heat of it?‟
As her obsession to avenge herself on the man who had betrayed her made her rationalize the prospect of a rival to the affections of the man who stood by her, Nithya was impatient for Chandra arrival that evening. After dinner, having detailed Vasu's trespass to him, she unfolded her plan to checkmate him, however, without raising any romantic appetite in her man. And as expected, Chandra wasn't inclined go with her plan and instead wanted to bury the issue by sorting it out with Vasu.
“What if he won't give up?” she said unprepared to shift her goal post. “That would only make you suspicious in the end.”
“Maybe, but…”
“Offence is the best form of defense, isn't it?” she said unable to desist herself from her sense of revenge.
“Okay but,” said Chandra in vacillation, “it may all be messy.”
“Why leave me to the wolf,” she said playing her trump card, “and yourself court misunderstanding?”
“Won't I go to lengths for you?” he said with all his heart. “But still.”
“If you keep quiet now,” she said seemingly worried, “we may have to sulk later, you in doubt and I in neglect.”
“Maybe you're right,” he said contemplatively, “but for all that, it could be risky for you.”
“What's the risk like?” she asked feigning ignorance.
“Don't you know man-woman friendships lurk about liaisons‟ fences?” he said to alert her.
“For all I know, it may turn out to be a platonic feeling between you and her,” she said determinedly. “Won't sex appeal vary from eye to eye? Besides, it's not that every attraction burns in the groin, does it? After all, platonic love is all about physical attraction sans sexual urge. Still if you get involved, it's but a small price for me to pay to save my marriage.”
“Why are you so obsessed with him?” asked Chandra appearing relenting.
“There is another angle to it as well,” she said with conviction. “Once he's made to taste his own bitter medicine, he would think twice before making a pass at another woman. If left loose, he's likely to spoil a woman or more on the way, wouldn't he? That way, our mission serves a social purpose as well.”