Sensing her
unasked question, Norman said, “Believe me Martha. I didn’t ask him to resign.
He’s too valuable to lose! But now I think that it is for the best. Let’s go
for dinner.”
Resenting his
casual words, she felt like declining and going home to weep her heart out. But
she didn’t want to appear ungrateful to Norman. He was doing it for her. She
felt like screaming that she wouldn’t ever faint on seeing John and that he
shouldn’t be allowed to resign. But even she knew that that wasn’t in her
hands. Life wasn’t so easy!
Both of
them went for dinner to a nearby restaurant, had forced conversation and he
left her at her cottage. She felt like telling him about the stranger but
didn’t. She couldn’t handle any more stress. Her heart was bursting with untold
grief. She just wanted to be alone and wallow in self-pity and loathing. How
she hated herself!
******************************************************************************
Back in
the safe sanctuary of her cottage, the first thing that she did was securely
bolt and lock all the doors and windows. The burglar alarm was on and she
didn’t have to worry at all. She was used to staying all by herself. Only, that
intruder in her rear-view mirror had unnerved her. She decided that she
wouldn’t open the door, at any cost. She dressed for the night in a comfortable
pajama suit and made a cup of coffee to have and unwind. As she sipped it, she
remembered that she had to phone John.
She dialed
his number with slightly trembling fingers and waited anxiously for him to pick
it up. She had deliberately dialed from her landline number as he didn’t have
it and hence wouldn’t be predisposed to ignore her call. He would obviously
know why she had called him and would certainly refuse to talk to her, to avoid
an argument. He cared for her and wouldn’t want to displease her or cause
concern to her. After what seemed like an eternity, he picked up the phone and
said “Hello” in that irresistibly male voice of his. How she loved that accent!
When she
didn’t reply, he repeated “Hello?” Then she said “Hello John. This is Martha
here. “Oh, Mara,” she said softly and laughed hesitantly. She could feel the
stiffness in his voice when he asked, “Why did you call me Mara? I wish you
hadn’t.” She winced and felt the jibe stabbing her heart. “John, I hope that
you aren’t blaming me for your resignation! I know that you wouldn’t have
resigned had it not been for me! I can understand how hard it must have been
for you, giving up a secure and much-loved job of nearly 2 decades for a lady
who just swept into the office hardly three months ago and sucked you into her
obsessed life. I am really, really sorry. In fact I feel wretched and guilty.
You didn’t deserve such an ignominious exit. I ……” she trailed off, struggling
to stop the hot tears that threatened to spill down from her eyes. Her throat
was choked with gut-wrenching emotions.
John seized
the opportunity to say, “Oh, foolish Mara. I didn’t resign because of you. I
have been contemplating the change for quite some time. You just acted as a
catalyst for my decision to quit. In fact, I must thank you for the
opportunity!”
“I’m sure
that you’re saying this just to make me feel better, John.” “No I really mean
it Mara. I will be joining “Nora Publications” in New Delhi from this Monday. I’ll
be visiting our office to obtain my reference certificate from Norman tomorrow.
Let’s see whether I could drop in and say “Hello and Good Bye to everyone
there””. Even as he said it, he felt miserable for lying because Norman had
already mailed him his certificate and informed him about the same by a terse
phone-call.
Though
Norman hadn’t actually worded it, the very fact that he had done everything so
quickly meant that he hadn’t wanted him to visit the office even for a
farewell. John wasn’t obtuse so he had got the point. His Boss didn’t want him
seeing his fiancée even by chance! And here was his fiancée calling him up late
in the night to inquire about his resignation! He hoped against hope that she
felt the same about him as he felt about her. He was already missing her. He
hoped that she missed him equally. Now he was sure about that after receiving her
call. He felt better. Even ecstatic! But the thought that bugged him couldn’t
be ignored. If she always fainted at his very sight, what hope could he have
for a future together?
Without a second thought he said, “Mara, I
miss you dear! I love you. But since you can’t stand the sight of me,
literally, I think it is best that we part as good friends. We’ll definitely be
in touch over the phone.”
John, please
could you postpone joining in your new office? I think that we must discuss our
relationship face to face. I’ve a good idea. Why not meet in the presence of
Dr. Benedict Hussey? Then there would be no cause to worry. Meanwhile I’ll train
myself to halt my fainting fits on seeing you. John, I can’t even contemplate a
life without you. I too love you with all my heart. You are my first love and
hopefully my last too! Let’s give ourselves a chance dear!”
John’s heart
went out to her though he did have his reservations. Would it work? He’d just
have to give it his best try and wait and watch. He was ready to wait for
Martha for the rest of his life. He was so enamored by her.
She took his
silence as an affirmation and said happily, “So it’s decided then. I’ll call up
the Doctor and fix an appointment for the earliest date. Please, please cancel
your reservations if you have made them. Promise me.” The urgency in her sweet
voice warmed him as he simply said, “Yes Ma’am. Good night,” and hung up. Life
was going to be beautiful again!
To be continued....
The copyright of this novel is with Mrs. Priya Ramesh Swaminathan.
