Rajiv: Don’t you see my misery unable to digest that?
Divya: Maybe you are imagining things. Don’t I know you are not well?
Rajiv: Do you think my grief itself is imaginary?
Divya: You surprise me really.
Rajiv: So was I when I caught them in the act.
Divya: But still…
Rajiv: If I let you catch your man with my wife, would that do?
Divya: Won’t I be shamed no end then?
Rajiv: Having endured the ordeal, I can tell you what it would be like. It would be worse than you can ever imagine what it might feel like.
Divya: I can understand [she takes his arm] I’m sorry really.
Rajiv [holding her arm]: What a relief your empathy gives me. [He rests his head on her shoulder] Won’t you give me you shoulder to cry over?
Divya [caressing his head]: Can’t I share your agony being in the same boat?
Rajiv [hugging her]: Dear, let us weather out the storm together.
[As Rajiv tries to take Divya into his arms, she smoothly withdraws from him.]
Rajiv: What a pity even a woman can’t hold her pity for a cuckold for long.
Divya [taking his hand]: Please don’t hurt yourself with self-pity.
Rajiv [holding her hand]: Divya please, I need your understanding to get over her deceit?
Divya: You can count on that.
Rajiv: When the tragedy sinks in you, don’t you crave for a lover’s solace?
Divya: I am too dazed to visualize that.
Rajiv: Why don’t’ you see the mirror image of your hurt soul in my wretched bosom?
[Divya stares at him long and hard. He gently forces her into the bedroom even as she protests.]
Divya: No Rajiv, no, please, leave me.
Rajiv: Believe me; I’ll die if you deny.
Divya: Oh, it’s not fair.
Rajiv: Is it fair to deny us our solace.
[Rajiv forces himself on Divya.]
[Lights go off to indicate the impending act as he forces himself upon her.]
[Enter: Ramya as lights are switched on.]
[Ramya goes straight into the bedroom as Rajiv was about to make it into the drawing room. Once in, Ramya finds a distraught Divya rearranging her dress. Divya sinks into Ramya’s arms.]
Ramya: Oh, how come?
Divya: Why, haven’t you brought it upon me?
Ramya: What do you mean?
Divya: Are you not carrying on with Deva?
Ramya: Don’t be crazy.
Divya: Don’t you know Rajiv is mad about it.
Ramya: He may be imagining things or worse still…
Divya: I tried to console him and he forced himself upon me.