‘My marriage is over, you piece of shit!’ Sarika flung the expensive Waterord crystal ashtray towards Alex. ‘And you are the reason for it.’
Alex had dodged the crystalline projectile with ease and looked at Sarika. ‘Calm down, Mi amor! I know you are in shock and disbelief. Pero, would it hurt to sit down and talk as adults?’
‘Easy for you to say!’ Sarika fumed, ‘My husband of ten years slammed the door on my face just an hour back. Do you know how it feels?’
Alex stayed quiet, preferring to let Sarika vent.
‘That’s not the worst thing to have happened today. I deserved that.’ Sarika collapsed to the bed, ‘It was the look on his face. I shattered his life, I destroyed him. And you are the reason for that.’
With renewed fury she fell upon Alex, throwing punches. Alex deftly caught Sarika’s slender hands and manoeuvred them behind her back. Sarika knew what was coming next and tried to wriggle her way out. Alex was too experienced and moved quickly to capture her lips with a searing kiss.
After fifteen minutes of passionate lovemaking, they broke apart. Alex lit a cigarette and blew out lazy smoke rings. Sarika half-heartedly pulled her, now completely wrinkled, floral printed dress over her head. The situation was something she never expected to be in her life. She was a good person, a faithful wife and an intelligent woman. How did she allow herself to be pulled into this vortex of adultery? She racked her brain long and hard and all the answers started and ended with Alex.
Sarika had met Alex during her MBA course in ESADE, Barcelona more than a decade ago. Alex was a local and had offered to show Sarika around the city. They walked along the playas, got their paintings done by street artists in Las Ramblas, enjoyed Flamenco dances at Tablao de Carmen and los Tarantos. Alex even convinced her to watch football matches at Camp Nou. Somewhere along the way they had started a very passionate physical relationship. Sarika had made it clear that her conservative family would never accept someone like Alex. Alex was pretty cool with it.
‘Sarika, mi preciosa, quieres cerveza?’ Alex’s voice broke her reverie. A bottle of cold beer was dangling in front of her eyes.
‘I don’t want a fucking beer,’ Sarika spat. ‘Alex, you don’t seem to understand the situation. I made a mistake sleeping with you again. Now, my life is over. My husband had tears in his eyes. I’ve never seen him cry. But hey! After having sex again with my lover, all I need to do is have couple of beers. That’s all that will take to make things alright. Isn’t it?’
Alex sighed, ‘What do you want me to do, mi Mariposa?’
That word sent tingles up her spine. Alex used to call her Mariposa – a butterfly when they were dating.
‘I don’t know, Alex. My life is fucked up. Help me sort it out!’
Alex lit another cigarette, ‘I cannot influence your life, Sarika. If it was upto me, I’d have forced you to confront your parents about us. I wanted to fly down to India and beg them. But the problem was you yourself were not sure about us. Sure, I did start our relationship on a strictly casual basis, but somewhere along the way I fell in love with you.’
Sarika just gaped at Alex. The past was catching up with her fast.
‘But you were convinced that our relationship would not work out. Let me ask you this, you gave me a lot of reasons why this wouldn’t work. Did you ever stop and give yourself even one reason why our relationship could succeed?’
‘Alex, don’t blame me. My situation was such.’
‘Sarika, I agree we were young back then. Do you know why I kept calling you my Mariposa? Just not because you were beautiful. It was because you were hiding inside a cocoon you had spun around yourself. I wanted you to come out and be the beautiful butterfly you were supposed to be.’
She bit her lips, ‘Alex, what is the connection between what happened then and what is happening now?’
‘You are still inside your cocoon. I know you will be hurting inside. I’m sorry that I came between you and your husband. And I’m sorry that your husband had to come to know about us because of few careless messages between us. But I’m not sorry that you came to me. I have always loved you and I have enough reasons to believe that you have too.’ Alex gripped her shoulders and gazed into her eyes, ‘I let you go once without putting much of a fight. Not now!’
‘But I have hurt my husband for no mistake of his.’
‘Yes! But answer this question. Did you ever love him the way you loved me?’
‘No!’ Sarika lowered her head in shame.
‘There’s nothing to be ashamed of, Sarika. You have been faithful to him, yes. But you have not been able to give your heart entirely to him. Consider this as giving him the freedom to find someone who will love him with all their heart.’
‘I don’t think he’d understand.’
Alex flicked the cigarette into the sink, ‘I think he will. Any reasonable man will. In fact, why don’t you call him? We’ll meet him together. It’s time to come out your cocoon, mi Mariposa.’
The next day Alex and Sarika walked hand in hand into the beautiful bistro on La Rambla. Sarika’s husband was already there, a grim expression on his countenance. He frowned on seeing them together, but composed himself, stood up and offered his hand.
‘Hello! I’m Satish Gopalan.’
Alex smiled warmly and took his hand in hers, ‘I’m Alessandra Pilar León. Call me Alex. I guess we have a lot to talk.’
Two years later: Satish has remarried. He and his wife are expecting the arrival of their first child. Alex and Sarika have moved to Los Angeles. They had married in a simple ceremony. Sarika’s parents and Satish had attended the wedding. Sarika and Alex have applied for adopting a baby girl. The Mariposa was well and truly out of its cocoon.
See you have spoilt me with all your twists. Throughout this one I kept waiting for the other shoe to drop 😛
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The twist is that there was no signature twist from me. 😛 It’s rather subtle here. Thanks for the comment 🙂
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I read through your stories earlier today and I almost had a feeling and saw this one coming! I like how the tale opens up, pieces patching up, and then left me wishing, hopefully, not many will have to keep fighting the same fight. Not many get this happy ever after their entire life.
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So true, Shweta. But some people are persevering in their pursuits. Thanks for the comment.
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What about the slow acting poison that Satish slipped in Alex’s coffee?
Some maturity shown by Alex in setting things right. Nice one.
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Lol! Not in every story, Subroto 😀 Thanks for the comment.
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woah@! what a twist
Tongue Twister for N
Tongue Twister for M
Tongue Twister for L
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Thanks, DeeDee
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What? No murders? 🙂
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That can be arranged. Gimme your address 😀
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Nice twist at the end.
And nice ending too…all’s well that ends well 🙂
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That doesn’t end in a well? 😉 Thanks, CRD.
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Brilliantly done ending. Now I would absolutely love to hear what you think of this! 🙂
http://deepa-duraisamy.blogspot.in/2015/04/e-for-engagement.html
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Thanks, Deepa. 🙂 I read your story and left my comment there.
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I was expecting your characteristic twist in the end but this one was a happy one. Loved the narration immensely. This reminded me of Woody Allen movies somehow.
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Thanks, Meha. That is some real high praise or my writing. 🙂
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Interesting story-line and title, Varad! I enjoyed reading this one 🙂
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Thanks, Tina 🙂
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Like others I was waiting for the showdown at the end, but was pleasantly surprised by the happy ending all round.
https://iainkellywriting.com/2018/04/14/m-is-for-metlika-on-the-slovenian-croatian-border/
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Haha! Not every story, Iain. Thanks for the comment🙂
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Gosh! I’m blown away by this ending. Was expecting something sinister given your penchant for it.
I’m glad Alex wasn’t the bad guy after all.
Neat very neat!
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Thanks, Natasha. Glad you liked it. Alex most certainly was not a bad ‘guy’ after all 😁
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The differing levels of love and the challenge it presents. You created the tense in this piece masterfully. Thank you for sharing.
Moonlight: https://writingiscommunication.wordpress.com/2018/04/14/moonlight-the-space-between-bookstore-presented-by-a-to-z-100-word-stories/
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Thanks for the comment, Sharri. Glad you liked it.
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A delightfully different type of story from you today Varad. Variety is the spice of life – or is that cumin?
A-Z of My Friend Rosey!
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It sure is, Keith. Variety that is… or cumin… Variety? Cumin? Let’s go with variety here. Thanks for the comment. Glad you liked it.
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I was trying to use telepathy to goad Mariposa to stay in her cocoon. Alex did not seem like the right guy. Even though through Alex’s words I realized the depth in their relationship… I guess I am conditioned to think that no good can ever come out of a casual relationship. The epilogue came as a surprise.
Yesterday I was in space and today in Barcelona. Your range as a writer is admirable. Will come back.
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Thank you for your comment, Ashwini. Sometimes the warning bells ringing might turn out to be false alarms. Guess we need to take a risk, after all. I’m glad you liked the story. Cheers
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Hmmmm…. this wasn’t up to your usual fare. Blame it on yourself that I am disappointed 😉 Your stories have such a punch everyday that a simple happy tale didn’t make me happy. Guess yeh dil maangey more Varad
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Lol… you’re borderline stereotyping me 🤣 can’t keep killing people always, shalz. 😜
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Ps: stay tuned for Tuesday. You won’t be disappointed
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I kept waiting.. something sinister has to happen if its coming from you. I was pleasantly surprised to see how it ended! You know how ti surprise your readers Varad
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Thanks, Akshata. There are more than one way to surprise. I’m trying to use most of them. Glad you liked it.
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First, Thanks a lot for removing the snake 😀
Second, I am reading this kind of a sweet story from you after a very long time. First time when I read your story on Kashmiri girl I became your fan and regular visitor. Now again this story tells me that you are versatile in storytelling and can dabble in any genre. High time you publish a book. I mean it.
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Can’t keep killing people in every story, right? 😜 I do like to write in all genres. I’m still learning and I hope to expand my repertoire. Thanks for the comment, Balaka. Glad you liked the story.
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Yayy to a happy ending. The story very rightly talks about coming out or breaking free of a cocoon and good that Alex was by Sarika’s side.
https://www.rohankachalia.com/2018/04/the-crying-me-day-13-atozchallenge/
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Thanks, Rrohan. Glad you liked the story
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Coming out of cocoon.. yes most of us are like that we tend to do what is expected without going for what the heart truly desires
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Yes! There are many who are still safely ensconced within their cocoons. They should break free or take some one else’s help to. Thanks for the comment, Ruchi. Glad you liked it.
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I’m glad it all ended up happily for everyone! The amazing influence of music upon our lives.
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Some times it does end well. All it takes is for the parties involved to open up and give love a chance. Thanks for the comment, Shirley.
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I like the comparison of a butterfly in its cocoon. Most Indian men and women are conventional and tend to follow the accepted norms of the society and refuse to chase the desires of their heart. We are made to accept certain things right from the time we are kids and it is driven deep into our heads to be so and so and such and such. Glad Alex got her to break from her cocoon. I loved the Spanish.
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Thank you, Jai. Glad you liked it.
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Beautiful, bold story. Loved the ending.
https://lonelycanopyblog.wordpress.com/2018/04/12/legend-of-bhangarh-fort/
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Thank you very much, Seema
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It was obvious yet beautiful.. Coming out of your shell is the most difficult thing. But Thank fully Sarika could do it right when needed..
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In the end, she did. After all there’s still time for everyone to burst out of their cocoons. Thanks for the comment, Shipra
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Ha! A normal and happy story for once!
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Hey! I can write those too
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Great twist, Varad . 🙂 I am sure there are many men and women who don’t dare to come out of their cocoons , assert their true identities and rather relent to a traditional marriage and force themselves to live a lie throughout! I am glad Sarika had Alex! Superb story!
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Thank you, Moon. Sometimes, if we are scared to come out of our cocoons on our own, there’s no shame in taking others’ help. Especially if they happen to love us.
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That’s so true. I figured out what was going on only in my second reading on noticing her full name.🙂
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I am glad of the happy ending. 🙂
BTW I could not find the linky. Help out a fellow blogger please.
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Thank you, Meena 🙂
BTW, here you go: https://www.theblogchatter.com/method-writing-and-a-writers-journey-ft-siddhartha/
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Thank you 🙏
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I’m glad they all got a happy ending
Debbie
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Somehow, I’m glad as well. 😀 Thanks for the comment, Debbie
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