Meera belonged to nobody ..not even herself

Meera was folding the clothes as there was another lot waiting to be washed in the tub. She was lost in her own thoughts and didn't realize that the pressure cooker had been whistling since half an hour. She looked at the door every few minutes as if she was waiting for someone.

The doorbell rang and her face turned red with horror. She was in a dilemma, to walk to the door or stay where she was. She carefully stepped towards the door and asked who was there, "It's me Ramesh" the voice answered.

Meera reluctantly opened the door and said, "He is not at home". Ramesh passed on a crooked smile and said," I know, I came to meet you". Meera asked him to sit. Ramesh looked around the house quickly to be sure that they both were alone now. The wind chimes made a melodious rhyming sound and the fragrance of the room was enthralling Ramesh. He went to the kitchen where she was making tea for him. She was scared, he held her hands and asked , "Is everything okay between him and you". She could not stop herself from crying and hugged him in despair. Ramesh consoled her, moving his fingers in her long and shiny knotted hair, the aroma of her perfume was driving him mad.

She confessed that they did not have sex since the last few months. Her tears did not stop. She could not share her grief with anyone. Ramesh took her into his arms and carried her to the bedroom. He caressed her body and made love to her. They both were in bed, naked and silent. They both had not intended to do this but it just happened. Meera decided to break the ice and asked Ramesh to stay back at her place as her husband might not be home. Ramesh denied and left hurriedly.

Meera wept and screamed aloud. She was tired of this life, this dual life.

Her husband was mentally ill. He comes home during the day and pretends to be his own friend and forces her to make love. He again turns up at night and accuses her of sleeping with his friends.

Ramesh was her own husband’s alter ego.

The trauma in which she had been living for months was frustrating her. She did not want to live anymore. She was tired of her husband's dichotomy.

Few days later, her husband died .Meera had poisoned her drink. Nobody knew about it. There was no evidence and looked like a suicide attempt. Meera was redeem