Rumor was that wife of Judge was counting days and he didn't want to leave her uncared with anyone. He was giving last services showing how much he loved wife. Another rumor was that wife came to know about his close affair with one of his classmate who was his first love and he couldn't marry girl who belonged to different caste. Girl's father threatened to commit suicide. Obviously he had to give up idea and she was married to one moneyed person who indulged in smuggling and other illegal trades.
. Business man's wife approached him when he was caught and put behind bars. The case came to his court and he waited that his ex-girlfriend would approach for help. This didn't happen and like a true wife she fought legal battle undeterred. Finally man was jailed for ten years and when he was out, he fell sick and expired.
Judge's lust again surfaced and he was waiting for death of wife after which he could approach old love who was now fat and in highly distorted shape. No normal person would have taken her as wife. But love was blind and while wife was hospitalized, he travelled to see old lady and proposed to her mentioning terminal sickness of present wife.
But old lady gave a cold response and judge got her killed by a killer and made him run away to neighbouring country by air. The brother of killer was languishing in jail under punishment of life imprisonment. He promised to get him free for good behavior.
Judge came back after ten days and wife asked, 'Where you had gone? I was unable to sleep well all these days and feared you getting involved in some accident. One criminal type goon came everyday to ask about you and roamed in this ward for hours. Nurses informed that he was an abnormal person whose wife was lying in coma for last six months. The person is very tense and can't behave normal. You can find him somewhere around.'
Judge got scared and tried to look for man but he was not seen anywhere. It was again very serious and mysterious. Within two days news came that the man strangled his wife in coma and vanished. Matter was reported to police and FIR was lodged. Nothing happened but judge was himself very disturbed and felt that his wife may also meet similar end. He extended leave to be with wife who finally died one day. Judge returned to court and fell sick.
Raja never expected these developments and was also very sad that his car case was unduly stuck up. He went to see tea shop owner who was eagerly waiting for his return. He enquired about his welfare and also expressed his gratitude to Raja for taking control of tea shop in absence and which worked well. He was able to meet expenses for treatment of old wife who finally died in his presence. His children came at the end and they performed last rites according to traditions. Kundan didn't appear much disturbed obviously as a highly experienced man. He had many near and dear ones dying before him.
'Life is a peculiar game being played and it gives one what one deserves through his actions and doings.' Kundan told with feelings.
Raja asked Kundan, 'The judge has been absenting long. His wife has died and now he is hospitalized. Rumor goes he may not join court and take early retirement. Should I wait or get case transferred to some other court by requesting District Judge.'
'Don't do it yourself which may be misinterpreted? Wait and it will be done by them only which will not send any wrong message to new judge. Presently you were in court which was most clean and judicious. All others are having doubtful integrity. It will delay further but I feel it a better choice,' Baba told.
'But many talked otherwise and suggested me to bribe him for early decision,' Raja said.
'It's absurd. He is most clean person with high integrity.' Kundan said.
Raja had high respect for old man and agreed to wait. He had his cup of tea and decided to go back home. But he was not lucky as same old rogue advocate interfered.
'What has happened Professor? You are in a hurry to go back. What happened to your case when your favorite man is sick both physically and mentally? Leave it aside and if you want, I can manage transfer of your case to another court and also get favorable verdict in shortest possible time. But this time expenses will be more as new man shall be demanding higher amount. After all everyone works for money which you may not appreciate after getting retired.' Advocate spoke shamelessly.
Raja was thinking how such persons remain healthy working with manipulations of any magnitude. Once he thought of walking away when reminded of his wife waiting for some good news in sister's home. He knew that woman has tremendous power of tolerance which she develops after giving birth to child with abnormal labor pain.
It's said that that woman experiences death in process of child birth and it never repeats. It may not happen in modern days when woman prefer Cesarean child birth and they can't bear similar pain in life. His wife had two child births and she survived both and perhaps she is stronger than any of her friends and also looks comparatively younger.
He thought for a moment and told advocate, 'Give me time to think and I will tell you. I am thankful to you for taking care. In fact my mind doesn't accept idea of giving bribe for getting work done. I never did this anytime. Obviously now also I hesitate. I have to talk to wife who is my guide in ethical practices. She suggested dumping car in junk yard of police and forgets this case. She also says that we can eat one dish less and compensate losses in remaining days of life.'
Advocate looked at him with wide opened eyes to note that such honest persons are still in our society. Inside he pitied self and walked away without uttering single word. He was nourishing lust for Selena unknown to Raja. He tried to trap her once or twice but couldn't succeed as both times her maid came. Raja also walked silently to his car.
In the loneliness of home Rajs was not happy and missed wife. She talked rudely but still gave a pleasant company and strong emotional support. He could absorb so much feelings and mental disturbances. This is why marriage is important and keeps life in balance. It hardly matter what attitude wife might be having. It is now that new couple starts like friends and later become competitive in all matters. They clash often and their selfish ways get exposed in big way and children also get into early relationship and later suffer a lot.
Subsequently conjugal life remains in doldrums and settling down becomes difficult. They don't relish any common goals in life. They trade different paths and may also end in separation on flimsy grounds. The social equilibrium gets upset.
'What a pity?' Raja thought.
He was surprised how much imagination and concern he carried in mind despite quarrelsome nature of Selena. He ate quickly dinner by doing some fast cooking and mixing up things which wife never liked and commented, 'What typical taste bud are you having? How unimaginable and pitiable are you dear Raghav?'
Suddenly he felt Selena was by his side listening and opened eyes which were thoughtfully half closed. Once again he thought, 'Selena is so much part of life that even in absence she comes close to as living entity. How shall I survive if she leaves me alone at end of life? She will also feel same way.'
Raja felt sweating on forehead and his palm was also wet as if he suffered stroke. This was not true and he checked his breathings which was absolutely normal. Probably it was fear of a big loss which made him sweat. Today he couldn't find anyone not even Soni who came in front most of days and broke such thinking line and sequences.
It was late now and he returned from his evening walk. His eyes were heavy and sleepy. He didn't increase walking pace and started humming favorite tune 'Tere bina jindagee se koi sikva to naheen' and kept repeating till opening lock on door. He forgot to carry mobile phone for which almost regularly he was admonished by wife. It was his landline ringing and he consoled himself. Selena was on line. Her voice was heavy and serious. She first enquired about his well being to get satisfied.
She said, 'you will have to rush to this place immediately. Didi has committed suicide by jumping into pond in night. Manish is out on business tour and will return after two days. I am informing him also. I am really worried and fear police harassment. Manish will think I neglected Didi. I will tell you other details in person.'
Raja could say nothing and felt very weak. The bad dream has become true which he was not recalling in morning. Sweating was symptom of dreaded dream. He only said, 'Alright' and closed phone.
His mind was full of suspicions but nothing was definite. One thing was certain that something abnormal happened in that house. He didn't like to disturb Manish again and left it to his wife. This was also not necessary when Selena herself told. She was a person who couldn't cut jokes in such serious matter. Otherwise also her sense of humor was not very live. She liked mostly to remain in sober mood which became part of her persona after she got aborted first time to retain her beauty and charms.
'Any wrong doing takes toll in life and subsequently she could never conceive any child and life continued without children. She later developed such apathy that she wanted to be free from burden of rearing any child even by adoption. Her face looked manly and later she wore a boy cut hair imitating pretty film actresses from foreign. This was more to show liking for foreign goods taxing pocket of husband. She always waited for gifts from distant relations settled in USA and Europe.' Raja recalled about Jyoti.
She took all pains to travel to their places of stay on their return, all alone to collect cosmetics and dresses which didn't fit to her. Still she carried them around particularly on vacation where none would make any odd comment. But this forced her to maintain shape and figure and she never became bulky with excess fat. Raja visualised Jyoti much younger than her age and often felt crushed. He imagined to sleep with her many nights despite Selena being by side. This mostly happened when wife misbehaved seriously or hurled abuses like uncivilized rural lady and he hated strongly.
Today it was different. It was his extraordinary imaginative mind that he was swinging in different condition and warding off anxiety. He went to bed and slept a disturbed sleep almost awakening every alternate hour despite alarm set for early morning.
He decided travel plan in morning and actually travelled in train without ticket standing for long. He was obliged by TTE when no fine was levied and seat was allotted to him in one lonely corner. He sat with closed eye and recalled one incident.
'It was second night after marriage and he was awakened by Jyoti and told, Selena was sleeping with aunt having headache. Manish is taking care of guests. Can you help me getting a child?'
'How it can be? You're married and you can't ditch him in his house only.' Rajs said not very strongly.
'Are you afraid of Manish? He has permitted me to have child from any close relative. He is having problems in making sex. He should have told our people before marriage. Now it can't be done. Prestige of two families is involved." She insisted.
'Still I can't ditch him like this. I can arrange a child for you sometime later." Raja said again.
'But that won't give me pleasure of child birth. I want to have through sexual intercourse and then child will love me more. You also seem to have some weakness like Manish. He became so because of uncontrolled affairs right from very young age and then getting busy with work.' Jyoti tried to make him agree.
'Didi you are here and Manish is looking for you. It's too late and lets us take rest. We have to work hard tomorrow till all guests don't go.' Selena walked in.
Jyoti left without telling a word and Selena closed door to get into bed with Raja who pretended asleep for some time. He woke up to celebrate the night. The incident became more important in view of suicide by Jyoti. The incident was never discussed by them.
Raja woke before time and got ready without taking risk of missing train in the morning. He took a taxi with minimum possible clothes to travel light. He knew that wife will scold him for poor selection of clothes leaving best ones in wardrobe.
She generally commented, 'Why don't you use good dresses? You don't have grand children who may use leftover dresses.' He kept silent not to get into discussion.