"The Winner"----A Short Story.

Shondha hurried out of the bath hearing the pealing door bell.

"GOD! Not a moment's peace". she muttered.

The door bell sounded again as Sondha hurriedly put on a kaftan.She tried to get a glimpse of the man through the eye-hole.In the semi darkness of the corridor , she did not recognize the face and wondered of she should open the door at all.

"Hi Shondha". came a voice from the darkness.
The voice sounded vaguely familiar.NO.....no, it couldn't be! Not after so many years.

"Aditya...is that you?"Shondha was stunned.

She opened the door and stared at the man with salt and pepper hair.Twenty years had changed him a lot.He seemed heavier and he slumped a bit. Asking him to take a seat , she moved into the kitchen, "I'll get us some tea".
With him in the same room ,she felt claustrophobic and needed a moment to catch her breath.

Alone in the living room, Aditya looked around him. A comfortable space done up in bright colors. The room had a distinctive Indianess and warmth to it.There was a pile of books and papers on the table in front of him. The photograph of a young girl in her teens hugging Shondha dominated the room. He scoured the room for any more photo's. There were none. Shondha he noticed had put on some weight and her hair was done differently. But she was still beautiful. Her doe eyes and creamy complexion were still intact.

In the kitchen,fighting the emotional turmoil she vowed to deal with the situation in a calm and collected manner.In the living room,she offered him the tea and sitting down asked, "So,what's bought you to Kolkata?"
"Nothing.just wanted to catch up on old times".
Shondha nodded as her mind went into flashback. Twenty years ago they had been married for a brief period. Painful memories flooded back. The rejection and humiliation buried deep within came back in a flash.

Shondha had been 21 then,a good looking and carefree girl.Her parents had forced her to consider marriage 'as an engineer settled abroad' was a good catch. They had been married within a month.

Her dreams had been shattered soon after the ceremony. Aditya made it very clear that he had no intention of taking her back with him. He had Janice there--his live in partner.Shondha had been devastated. She needed to think and re plan her whole life.She also knew that her parents would demand an immediate divorce and another marriage had they known the truth. Marriage had left a bitter taste in her mouth and she was not about to forget it easily. Her aim now was to be independent and live life on her terms.

Divorce was obviously the only option and she took it. She picked up the strings of her life by enrolling for higher studies. Her parents had been dumb struck by her grown up attitude but this time they did not interfere.They felt guilty and responsible for the mess Shondha was in. Shondha worked hard. She was a teacher during the day and took classes at night to further her degrees.Soon her hard work was paying off.Better opportunities were coming her way. She was financially secure and doing well professionally.Currently she was the HOD for LITERATURE in a well known college.Two years back she had inherited her parents home and money giving her a comfortable life.Shondha was happy with the way her life had taken shape. Seeing Aditya had shaken her up. She hated not having complete control of her life.

Now, she noticed Aditya looking at Purva's photo.Should She tell him about Purva? No, she decided. Purva had nothing to do with him. Purva was part of her life, her present and her future.

"How's Janice?" Shondha asked.
"We separated last year".Aditya answered looking at the geometric design on the carpet.
"I'm sorry to hear that. Any children?".
"Will you forgive me ,for everything?" Aditya blurted out.
"I've learnt to live in the present,Aditya.Forget the past".
"Janice left me for a younger man,I don't have a present".said a sad Aditya.

A very embarrassing silence ensued until thankfully the door bell was pealing again.Shondha opened the door and Aditya watched as the young girl from the photograph entered the room.
"Hi Maa. I'm so hungry. Can we ......Oh! sorry." Purva had just noticed a stranger in their room.
Shondha introduced them.
"Aditya this is my daughter ,Purva."
Purva said a quick hello and excused herself from the room.
"So you remarried?" almost accusingly Aditya questioned.
"No Aditya , I did not."
"Then Purva....."
"I adopted her when she was four months old".
Aditya just stared.A new respect crept into his eyes.He looked away.Here was Shondha,so confident and courageous. A woman who had moulded not only her life but another one as well.She had emerged the winner.He had lost. Janice had left him like he had left Shondha.....without an anchor. He had hit rock bottom.

"It's time for me to go now".
"Yes,Aditya it's time".

Shondha quietly opened the door and watched as Aditya faded away into the darkness....once again.