INFIDELITY

Chaitali's lifeless body lied on the hospital stretcher.An autopsy has just been performed on her which confirmed that her death was a result of overdose of sedatives.Chaitali's only daughter Mitali was standing near the corpse.Motionless the young girl stared blankly at the naked body of her mother who looked more beautiful than ever.There wasnt a single drop of tear in Mitlali's eyes.The shock seemed to be too much to even let her cry.Chaitali was the world to her.A friend,teacher,guide and a strict mother....she played all the roles with great competence.Mitali emulated her mother.But today standing near her dead body she had questions in her mind.She wanted to know the reason for which her mother took such a step.Why didnt she think about her only daughter and her husband.She wanted to cry out loudly and ask just once 'Why mumma.Why???' but she couldnt.

Mitali didnt know how long she had ben standing near the lifeless body of her mother,staring at her.Her trance was broken by a tapping on her shoulder.She turned around and found her father Shiv standing behind her.Shiv had just completed the hospital formalities and he was there to take his daughter and dead wife home where preparations of Chaitali's last rites were being made.Mitali wanted to ask the question to her father,she cleared her throat but her voice seemed to choke.She couldnt utter a word instead fainted in Shiv's arms.Doctors were called who after examining Mitali told that the girl was under tremendous shock and needs to relax her mind to avoid a haemorrhage.When Mitali regained her concious they went home.Chiatali's last rites were performed.

Relatives,friends,well wishers poured into their house.Some came with flowers,some with fruits to condole the father and daughter.Everybody asked the same question 'why' , 'how' , 'when' and tried to sympathise with Mitali who kept fainting causing much worry to Shiv.When everyone left Shiv thought of ways to make Mitali cry but he himself was too tired and lonely.At midnight Shiv peeped into Mitali's room and found the girl sitting on her bed staring blankly at Chaitali's photograph with questions in her eyes.Mitali's condition was detoriating and Shiv beacme restless.He couldnot afford to lose his daughter after losing his wife.
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Chaitali was married to Shiv for 24 years.Ever since they got married there hadnot been a single day without Shiv saying 'I Love You' to Chaitali.Even when they fought,it never lasted for more than a few hours.One of them always compromised and resolved the differences. Either Shiv would send Chaitali a large bouquet with a note of sorry or it would be Chaitali who dropped into Shiv's office with a lunch of his favourite dishes.They were madly in love even after 24 yrs of marraige and there romance was as fresh as a newly wed couple.Their ice-candy romance was lways the talk of the mouth of relatives and friends.
Chaitali thought that she was a complete woman.With a loving,caring husband Shiv and a lovely daughter Mitali,she couldnot ask for more.She thanked God for everything she had and thought herself to be the luckiest woman on earth.What made her commit a sucide was a mystry for everbody.
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Having seen Mitali's detoriating condition shiv decided to do something.He rushed to his room,opened his cupboard and took out an envelope.It contained a secret which Shiv always wanted to keep away from Mitali.But now he knew that this was the only way to save the life of his daughter.With the envelope in his hands he entered Mitali's room where she was sitting motionless.He gave the envelope to Mitali and said that to her 'This is the last letter your mother wrote to me.You may never forgive me after reading this but you are a big girl now and you should know a few things clearly.'
Mitali took out the letter and started reading it.Tears started rolling down her cheeks.After finishing the letter she held it close to her chest and cried.She howled and cried for the rest of the night.This was the first time she cried after Chaitali's death.Shiv knew that he had saved Mitali but had lost his daughter forever.The letter said,

Dear Shiv,
I would be gone far away by the time you read this letter.Dont get angry Shiv as I really didnt know what else could I do.You have been a wonderful husband all these years.You gave me a lovely daughter and all the happiness which I could have never got otherwise.I consider myself lucky to have got a husband like you and wish to have you as a husband everytime I am reborn.Shiv,for everything you have given me,I could never thank you as I felt thank would be such a small thing to give you back.If you wanted something,you should have told me frankly.Why did you have to do something behind my back,hiding from me? If you fell in love with Nandini you could have told me Shiv.I wouldnt have been happy but would have surely stepped out of your way for your happiness.That was the only thing I ever wanted...to see you happy.You shouldnot have lied to me all these years Shiv.Were they not true Shiv,all the love ,care,affection that I got from you.Was there anything I missed out on my part that you had to go to another woman.Was my love not enough to hold you back?These thought hurts me Shiv.So much that I cant even tell you.So much that I donot wish to live anymore.Nandini is a nice girl and I know she will keep you immesely happy.Moreover who else can take care of Mitali in a better way than her own 'masi'.Dont ever let Mitali know about all this.She is a very emotional girl and she loves me very much.She would never accept this.I dont have to worry much about my girl beacuse I know her dad would take good care of her.But along with your daughter you should take care of yourself too.You just dont skip your meals and dont work too much.Take proper rest.
See,I have started behaving like a typical wife,I know Nandini would be there to take care of you.Be happy Shiv and keep smiling bacuse I would be watching you from up there.
One last thing that I want to say is that 'I LOVE YOU SHIV,I REALLY LOVE YOU A LOT'
Goodbye
Forever yours
Chaitali