So it went on….

She continued with the new job. Pleasantly surprised that her new bosses praised her often for her initiative and common sense something she had become so unused to in her life. Within a month and half of joining she was given a substantial raise. She wanted to convey the happy news to someone, she thought of who to call first and the answer that her mind threw up surprised even her.

She called up the phone friend she had acquired and told him the happy news, he congratulated her wholeheartedly and they discussed yet again the possibility of meeting someday soon. This had almost become a joke between them since whenever they planned to meet something or the other would disrupt the plans. She called up her mom next who at that time was traveling, she as always was pleased with the news but again like always said it could have been, should have been better.

Finally she called up her husband wondering in what manner her news would be received. She was already aware of the change in his manners since she had joined the new company. He picked up the call heard her out in silence and then said ‘with the amount of time you have been spending with the new boss its no wonder you are being given a raise so soon’. Before she could protest he put down the phone.

The barbs about her relation with her boss, a fifty year old gentleman who treated her like a daughter, grew. In spite of her many protests that had it been so she would not have been on such good terms with his wife who was also the creative head of the organization brought no respite. To make things worse her work hours were lengthening due to work pressure and this only added fuel to the fire since a couple of times she was so late in returning that there was no time to cook dinner and they had to order in.

Her husband’s insecurity arose from the fact that in her earlier organization which his brother owned, he knew everyone and could monitor all her movements. He was sure of where she was at any given time of day. Now with the new place he had no information givers. He had tried a couple of times to call her office and ask after her but the only response they got in return was Madam is not in which was not sufficient information for him.

The praise she got in office and the feeling of being a fellow human that she got from her friend made her think long and hard about her situation in life. For the first time she had started analyzing the rut she had allowed herself to walk in and she found the idea of living the rest of her live in it nauseous. She had a long chat one day with a colleague who had been in a less than happy marriage and had walked out; she had retained a positive outlook on life and finally had been rewarded with an understanding partner. She heard her out in silence, tallying in her mind the many aspects which were similar to her own story and wondered if she could ever have the courage to face her husband and tell him she wanted out.

Things continued to go from bad to worse and for the first time instead of bending backwards in order to keep peace at home she started talking back. Then one night when her husband was sleeping after yet again assaulting her ruthlessly for an hour she decided she would give him a clear ultimatum the next morning.

When he woke up the next day, she told him in clear terms that she was unable to bear these assaults on her and they had to stop. Also his drinking which was progressively getting worse needed to be controlled and she was not willing to put up with his ill-manners towards her in front of family and friends. He kept reading the newspaper, nodded his head and went off to dress. She was left standing agitated and without any response for he deemed her point of view as mere ranting of a woman not worth an answer.

In the evening while serving dinner she finally told him that he had three months time to clear up his act or she would leave him. She gave him a date. He merely nodded engrossed in his Govinda movie.