The Secret Affair

She craved it. A desire to see him, one last time. There had been too many “last times”, that she had lost count of it. Every “last” time became a time “lost” in serenity with him. Such was his ominous presence and magnetic charm. His eyes were so intense that staring into his, was one of the easiest way to get tranquilized. And she preferred it, the same way, every time. Just she, him and the peace inside her. She would sacrifice anything for that peace.

Above all, he was the reason, she stayed sane amidst the chaos of her mundane and rickety life.

Life was pretty good to her. A loving mom and dad, who raised her up with enough freedom to practice her choices. An elder brother from whom she imbibed those qualities of virtue. A husband, whom she admired for his friendship and counsel. She had a job that she loved. And it paid for her necessities, with ease, apart from the bi-yearly vacation to those exotic locations of the globe. Yet, there was something essential missing in her life. Hence, the craving, maybe!

The craving didn't stop with every “last” time. It only aggravated her desire. She never let anyone question her morality with her activities. Neither did she question herself. She found it perfectly acceptable to meet him. There was neither guilt nor regret. Her level of perception of the world was unique. She did not rely on the society’s scale to weigh her craziness. She developed her own scale and lived by it, merrily.

She planned a routine walk by the seaside, every morning, to keep her fit physically. And the same would keep her mental health in good shape too, although in disguise. Because the exact reason she planned on it was to meet him, in the dawn, everyday. It helped in calming her cravings.

This went on for months. She religiously woke up early, even without an alarm and put on her jogging suit and rode herself to the beach daily. Weekend was no exception and she didn't claim any fatigue out of it. After all this was the motivation that kept her spirits high, throughout the day. And the hope of seeing him the next day was what made her to leave him, everyday. 

Everyday she would pick the same spot. She loved the rock that was perfect for their rendezvous. She arrived there before him and would wait patiently. She would look on the horizon eagerly anticipating his silhouette. Once he appeared, it would be a brief encounter, mostly spent in silence. She loved the silence and all its synonyms, effortlessly. All they needed were the intimate stares and glares. They were conceiving a new language out of it. She lived for these ten minutes of confrontation, everyday and anticipated the same in the eleventh minute! That kept her going on and on.

Until one day, she was followed by her husband. And the sight he witnessed there at the beach, left him dumb-struck! 

“There in the early hours before “His” arrival, she sat on the same rock  and eagerly awaited for “His” kiss to be rejuvenated for the day.” 

He too waited for that too happen, to catch her red handed. But then nobody arrived and nobody left. 

“The SUN peeped out of the sea and kissed her with “His” magnificent rays and ascended up into the red sky.” 

P.S. She had probably fallen in an irreplaceable love with the sun and its rise and its set and those vibrant colorful rangoli it plays, every dawn and dusk, JUST LIKE ME!!