THE POLICE officer looked at the trembling man. “What happened?” Deepak, who was squirming in a chair in the interrogation room, looked up at him. “I couldn’t handle it anymore.” A few days ago, Deepak woke up beside Payal, his wife, and felt a sharp stab within him. He went through his routine listlessly — Payal nagging as she always did, the same breakfast, the same bus to office, slogging in the same way once there and being ordered by the same irritating boss. He returned home miserable settled down in front of the TV. Every channel had almost the same soap to offer, albeit in different packages. Payal, who was sitting next to him, reached for his hand. Once he held her hand, she promptly pulled it away and grabbed the remote control over him. They had an argument shortly after. “Anything would be better than living with you. You’re a sad, useless man who manages to suck the life out of everything around him. Why don’t you just die?”
The next few days were just the same. Deepak went about doing the same chores both at home and office. He was having trouble concentrating and his boss brought the fact rudely to his notice. Regular arguments with Payal — to top it all. He badly needed a change.
The change came one morning in the form of a pretty young lady, who sat next to him on his way to office. None of them spoke to one another. She took her seat beside him every morning, but refused to acknowledge his presence. It was, however, enough for Deepak. The morning rides had a rejuvenating effect. He kept thinking about seeing her again. His work improved and even irksome Payal appeared agreeable. His boss was pleased with him. Life was good.
He perpetually thought about the girl and felt charged up. The anonymous but pleasant acquaintance somehow made him enjoy life once again.
One sudden day, she didn’t board the bus. And never did again. To cut a long story short, he was fired after a few days.
“You intolerable bastard!” Payal screamed.
There was a knife within an arm’s reach.
“And I stabbed her,” Deepak told the police officer.
