Everything was absolutely in place and customary when she got up early in the morning.She switched off the alarm, carefully removed her husband’s arms entwined around her and headed off to kitchen .
She liked everything normal and habitual that followed a preset pattern. Having to do things differently caused her irritation and she loved her robotic life. Even going out and having fun followed a time table which they did on Saturdays .It was always a movie, random shopping and lunch.Once in a while she would do things unplanned and chaotic.
On such occasions she would be restless tills she falls back on track. Even though she was aware of this she didn’t find anything strange in her behaviour and her husband never complained.
As usual she was in her comfort zone,cooking and the next agenda in her timetable was to keep the kitchen waste outside .She did it promptly and went to the balcony to collect another waste disposal bag .Then and there the trouble erupted.Her husband had not placed his shoes on the shoe rack where it was meant to be.It was on the floor with the soiled socks strewn around .She hated having to touch another person’s soiled socks even if that another person was her husband.Now seeing the balcony in a disarrayed manner ,she felt irritation welling within her like a volcano waiting to erupt.
Now this would remain within her for days ,intensifying every day due to some things or other out of place ,like a wet towel on the bed, unfolded blanket, dirty linen outside the laundry bag…..Then it would erupt and she would let her anger flow, careful that the lava doesn’t cause any harm to anything or anyone nearby.What she would be thinking of, will be leaving her husband and staying alone not having anyone to bother about or anyone to disrupt her picture perfect life.She would pour out her anger in all those conversations that happened in her head, words which would wring his heart, which she would otherwise dare not utter. Then she would feel remorse for even having those thoughts.This would calm her down .She would drown her husband in her love for the next few days till it happened all over again.
Today ,having had to face this soiled socks and strewn shoes early morning itself, she felt miserable.
“How many times have I told him not to leave the shoes and socks around…? I need to put an end to it. “
She first thought of flinging them out of the balcony, then thought of hiding them .
As she kept concoting her devious plans and thought, she felt her not so good alter ego gaining control .She was aware of it but for once she let it overpower her.
Her husband got up at 6 a.m ,came to the kitchen to give and take the good morning hug and sat with the news paper and his coffee .Her plan was to spill little water on the marble floor near the bathroom .She expected him to slip and fall ,thus taking her sweet revenge for spoiling her day. He finished his coffee and headed for his bath .She was in the kitchen listening for the thud sound and her husband calling out for her .Thud sound she heard and then silence.
Minutes passed and she failed to hear the groaning as she expected. Her wicked state of mind gave way to alarm and she flew to their bedroom .There he lay, motionless, blood trickling on the white floor ,behind his head.She kneeled down beside him and shook him calling his name again and again. This wasn’t what she expected.She did not imagine him to hit his head on the sharp corner of the bed, or for him to lay still like the way he was lying now.
“ No ,No..Oh God ,No…” She screamed…
“Stop it …wake up…” It was her husband shaking her .She opened her eyes, realizing what she had gone through, was just a dream.
“ Were you having a nightmare? It’s 5:30 .Aren’t to going to work today.?” he asked.
She heaved a sigh of relief and said,”No,I am taking a day off. Let’s spend a day together.What say ? ..”
“ You are a very wicked woman ,” he said smiling.
