Komal had not stopped crying in the past 24 hours, except during the two measly hours that she had managed to fall asleep out of exhaustion. Her stomach hurt with pangs of hunger and she sensed that her face might somewhat look distorted with the muscle strains. And yet she could not help it.
Komal had left Vivek's home yesterday. Vivek, her beloved husband who she had married against her parents wishes. Vivek, her boyfriend in college, who her friends had warned her about. Vivek, his parents' pampered child, who still clung on to his mother's saree, figuratively. Vivek, the childless man.
Komal married at 24, and turned 28 two months ago. Her first year of marriage was uneventful. Her second began with pressure from her in-laws to have a baby. Her third, Vivek and she tried desperately to conceive. They bought fancy machines to track her ovulation, she took herbs to improve her fertility, her in-laws visiting temples, and Vivek suggested certain positions for the bedroom because he wanted only a boy. Her fourth year turned into a roller coaster with her in-laws ill-treating her, calling her names, labeling her as "infertile", Vivek shunning her, and Komal's self-esteem plummeting. The herbs did no good and the Gods apparently were not listening.
Vivek and Komal had screaming matches everyday. Yesterday they had the last one.
Komal: "Why can't we just tell them??"
Vivek: "I have told you a million times that we cannot!"
Komal: "What is the point of hiding the truth. One day they will have to know."
Vivek: "NO Komal!! And if you wish to, you can leave the house right now!"
Komal: "All this is your fault!"
Vivek: "If only you would have been careful, this situation would never have occurred."
Komal: "And so you have no part to play in this?? Are you not responsible?"
Vivek: "No Komal, You are the only one responsible for this. Not me!!"
That day, Komal left Vivek' house. She could not believe that he was in denial. She was dumbstruck with his inability to stand by her and face his parents with the truth.
The truth was that Komal had been pregnant 6 years ago with Vivek's child. Naive at 22, and poor as students, frightened of the consequences, Vivek and Komal went to a quack to have their child aborted.
She killed her child 6 years ago. And Vivek killed her marriage today. Komal had nothing to say.
Thank you all for you support!
Please feel free to email me on solitaire2009@gmail.com for a discount code before purchasing THE ELEVEN at http://www.saikiranpublications.com/orderform.htm
I hope you enjoy the book.
I hope you enjoy the book.
Friday, December 28, 2007
Silence
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32 comments:
touching...
continue with the story... please!
u can do alot more to it...
@ imperfect, really? u think so??
I want to write only about the irony.
What do you think the end is?
It's a very thought-provoking piece you've brought out here, and I must say the way you've ended it with a calm "she killed her child 6 years ago....", is brilliant.
the end would be that they would separate forever unless he has the sense to sotrt it out !!
very thought provoking and the irony has been brought out so well
wish you a great 2008 and hope to read more posts like these
well well narrated - personally the marriage did not end but a new lease of life started for Komal - what good is a person (he/she) who cannot stand for their own actions...isnt it better to end such a relationship than bear a child from such a loser....
(was browsing thru and found you have two more blogs :)
well narrated...a nice piece of writing!
First time here..! Wonderful ! Lovely space you have here..!
This was well written ! Stay connected. Happy new year !
:( komal...
pain in dis post hangs like mist..!
thanka for dropping by..n we share da same blog bday..nice to know..!
Written very well ..Child loss due to lack of knowledge is sad..But walking out of a stupid person is in fact good since living with him will lead nowhere.
Once again beautifully brought out
A forst timer here and enjoyed being here
Wish you a happy new year
TC
CU
Great piece of work. There is much injustice in the world.
Have a rocking new year. Loads of good wishes and love to you! :)
touching story..
Happy New Year Solitaire!
Keshi.
@ kavya..thanks!! "calm" frenzies in the true sense, right?
@ zahid, so be it!!
@ backpakker, trying my best! thanks!!
@ ceedy, thanks! keep visiting!
@ m flowerr..thanks!!
@ kavi, hopefully not your last time here!
@ anirudh, we dont share the same blog bday..your blog's birthday and my own birthday is the same!!
@ compassion, keep visiting then..there will be more to come..
@ smita, great injustices make great stories!
@ keshi, you too!! where did you disappear?
aloha:)
HAPPY NEW YEAR:).. dnt read ur post.. will do whn i hv more time :P..
thnx fr droppin by my blog n commentin.. cheerz!!
Happy New Year!!
moving.....
will be back for more....
happy new year...
Solitaire, a beautifully written, poignant story. Great job!
Children do make or break a marriage sometimes and inlaws can do major damage too.
What would the lovers world be like without interference?
Hugs, JJ
Lovely story. I felt the end was a little abrupt. But otherwise amazing job!
@ ssnab, keep visiting!
@ abc, you too!
@ durjoy, sure thing!
@ nature nut, without these interferences there would be no great fiction either!
@ neha, thanks neha! i like to keep it short and sweet..and hence, sometimes abrupt!
well it was good she left him! no point for her to stay with a guy who didn't respect her and didn't have the courage to accept the truth in front of his parents!
am i addicted 2 yur blog?
i sure am ;)
and i forgot to wish u a very happy new year!! keep writing!!
i know it is "calm frenzies" but can we have some happy endings kind too!!
:D
@ veens, I am glad you are addicted!!! Happy endings...maybe one day..
ive looked at it very differently i guess.
It can still be continued.
try. think.
@ imperfect, how have you looked at it? I am going to let their life take its course..
I have to say I'm confused.
I get the irony etc. [no actually I don't, she has an abortion, not cant have kids. Its not that ironic, but sounds a lot like what anti-abortion scare mongers tell women]
So you say "she killed her child"
["killed" ?? Thats a little excessive don't you think?]
Is the stance of your tale that:
a} abortion = murder
b} if you have an abortion you might not be able to concieve in the future, thus potentially ruining your marriage/life?
c} Contraceptives are very important?
I have to say your stories so far disturb me.
well, it seems that i stumbled on a very gud narrator, at last in this blog world. but may i know something? y do u always write abt women's issues? y don't u try something at humans, as-a-whole? but anyways, dis short narrative is good enough to open many eyes
@ Scritch, So reality portrayed in the form of fiction disturbs you eh?
Yes, I do think abortion=murder.
Yes, if you suffer from a certain kind of infection after an abortion, you may not be able to conceive.
Yes, contraceptives are important if you dont want to encounter unwanted pregnancies or STDs.
@ Satish, Hmm..good point, I have to think about this one.
Lovely space u hav here :) il cum back n read all of them. But y always sad endings :(
i dont think the story has an end life is ironic, bitchy and no matter what we would like to think its not always happy endings and riding into the sunset. nice story forces u to think.
Its really thought-provoking.
why cdnt they get a kid anymore????
nicely written
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