The Chronicles Of Subhadra Hegde √

Chronicle 24

Subhadra Hegde returned home, that afternoon.

She stopped her car at the gate to the housing society.

Got down and walked on to one of the security personnels she was friendly with.

" Jyoti ji, is Maanav home? "

Jyoti looked sideways, and lowering her voice, said,
" He's, but not alone. A woman visits him frequently since you left. She's in, now as well. "

Subhadra Hegde got into the car, and drove away.
Jyoti didn't really make out the glow... her fierce eyes had.

~~

Nayanthara prepared coffee. And looked at Maanav through the corner of her eyes. He stood at the window, staring outside vaguely.

" Maanav..... "

He turned and smiled and took the cup from her hands.

Nayanthara felt an unusual stiffness in Maanav. 

" Maanav, if you are afraid of your wife, why do you bring me home? I never insist!!  "

He kept quiet for sometime.

Then replied,
" I'm tired of my fear, Nayanthara.

Trust me, I don't wanna cheat on her.

But she..she forces me that way....

I feel guilty when she sniffs your perfumes on my shirts..

Yet, there's some desperation, to get rid of her.... "

Nayanthara sighed. She wondered if Maanav could ever completely own her, with a nightmare between them, Subhadra.

" I wonder how your shirts dawn my smells, when we never even hug each other that way....." , Nayanthara sipped her coffee.

" Too strong, the coffee, your perfumes, and you...  " , Maanav Hegde sat on the couch.

" Me? " , she exclaimed.

" Yes...
I know I hurt you, much with my stiffness...

But you are strong... "

" My love is, Maanav!! "

" I sometimes feel like ending my life altogether. This huge house chokes me.

Now that I have you to care for, I'm afraid more for your life..

I don't have a problem in dying. I'll be happy to... But what if she harms you???  " , Maanav stared blankly at the floor.

Nayanthara's phone began ringing.

Unknown number.

She picked up the call.

A soft voice almost whispered on the other side.

" Tell your darling Maanav Hegde to switch on the television....
Nayanthara mistress Jaiswal!! "

Freezing, Nayanthara put the phone on speaker mode.
The voice kept on repeating itself.

Maanav Hegde sprang up from the couch.

" Oh my god!!! Subhadra...... "

He immediately ran to the television and switched it on.

The screen stayed completely dark for seconds.

Then a scene cleared up.

A little boy, tied up completely to a chair, mostly unconscious, lay with his head tilted to one side, and his lips plastered.