Short Story ; When Tables Turn

This piece was submitted as part of the TOI Write India initiative

When Tables Turn

What the hell is going on between my husband and that bitch?' Maya's patience was at its lowest ebb and she was ready to burst.

Sanjay knew that she was serious. 'Look, Maya. There is nothing going on between the two of them. Just a little bit of healthy flirting, I'd say.'

'Flirting? Healthy flirting? Really Sanjay . . .' she rolled her eyes in disgust. 'That's what you men call it? There is nothing healthy about flirting, Sanjay, not for a married man.

Healthy flirting is a term introduced by perverted men who want to lend legitimacy to their extramarital dalliances. Flirting invariably has a sexual connotation to it.' She got up from her seat and walked around the room gesticulating and muttering something to herself. Suddenly she stopped, turned back, looked at Sanjay and asked, 'Did my husband sleep with her? You are his friend. Did he ever tell you anything about it?'

Kapil and Maya had been his friends from their early college days. They had grown from two people who couldn't stand each other in the first year to being inseparable by the time they passed out of college. The gregarious, never short of a word and extremely handsome Kapil had always been popular with the ladies and knew it well. Till, that is, he ran into the quiet, seemingly unassuming but extremely beautiful Maya. He felt more involved than normal in the current situation as after all he had been the common thread which had brought them together in the first place.

During college, Sanjay had been part of the college committee responsible for extra-curricular activities. His love for conceptualising and hosting events, especially intellectual, was well known and his ability to deliver a responsibility appreciated enough to lead him to him being chosen to organise a debate as part of the college festival. The college had previously never had a debating team, and to organise such an event, the first necessity he wanted to take up was ensuring that the home team was well represented.

To identify the best talent available, Sanjay decided on a plan. He organised a fifteen minute contest, post classes as the faculty was keen on maintaining the balance and ensuring that extra-curricular activities did not impact the progress of the curriculum, wherein he threw open a subject and challenged students to express their views by way of a short essay which would either support or refute the topic. The top ten selected entries would be given a chance to read out their submissions and vie for a place on the two member debating team. He knew selection of a debate team by way of a writing contest was not ideal but given the paucity of time, he could think of no better way.

The competition was held in the canteen and had a fair turnout; more than a 100 students participated and turned in essays which Sanjay spent a full day reviewing before coming to a decision.

Kapil and Maya had both participated in this and Sanjay was struck by the singular manner in which the two submissions contradicted each other. He remembered wondering if there could have been two people who thought so differently about the subject, yet objectively had placed each point in the same chronological order. While clearly Maya's submission had a clearer thought flow, the points Kapil made were more than pertinent. He shortlisted them both but decided to add another layer to his final selection test.

The following week, Sanjay booked the college auditorium, once more post classes. He emailed the ten authors of the ten selected submissions besides posting the same on the notice board, requesting them to make themselves available for the final round on the coming Wednesday at 2:00 Pm.

He walked into the auditorium five minutes before time and was happy to see all ten of them already there. He now threw down the gauntlet.

"I wont waste too much time on introductions, but rather get straight to the point. I have shortlisted the submissions by the ten of you here this afternoon as they were clearly the best submissions on the subject. However, a debate is nothing short of a joust; a verbal joust with an objective of striking hard atb the opponents point of view. It is not merely an essay writing contest and therefore to choose the best two amongst you, I am going to have each of you debate each other. For the record, I chose five people who wrote against the topic and five who wrote for the topic. There were some who submitted entries which seemed confused between which side of the fence they stood, and those I disqualified. For me, in a debating contest you need to be one side of the fence, you can't be on the fence. I am now going to pair you guys up into 5 groups of 2 each. Each group will consist of two members, one of which one would have submitted a piece for the topic and the other against the topic. You will each be given five minutes to read your submitted entries post which you will alternate with a further two minutes each being given for the other person's rebuttal of your argument. I trust that's simple enough for everyone to follow so let's begin." So saying he read out the list of five groups in the order of appearing on the podium. As planned, he had put Maya and Kapil together, as the final group, and was most looking forward to their repartee.

While he enjoyed the debating between the others, the moment Maya and Kapil took the stage the competition reached another level. Maya was clearly someone well abreast with the subject of discussion and brought real life examples and quotes to the fore. Kapil, on the other hand, brought passion and emotion to the audience in large measure. He made meaningful points based more on beliefs and true to life examples with a passion and vigour which showed an understanding if not knowledge of the subject. They debated each other fiercely, each attacking the other in their rebuttal brutally but with a touch of class. That was something Sanjay was surprised Kapil was capable of but pleasantly so. His decision on the selection was easy and clearly agreed upon by the rest given the applause following the completion of their arguments.

The challenge actually began post his selection of Kapil and Maya to be the team to represent the college. While Maya was always ready to take out time to sit and discuss their strategy for the competition, Kapil seemed forever busy with his own activities surrounding sports and girls to be available to join in. The evening before the competition was the first time Kapil and Maya actually spent some time together to finalise their speeches and that was primarily thanks to Sanjay laying down the law to Kapil, who was otherwise completely content to go on stage and speak extempore for a debate all other teams had prepared for the past week. It turned out to be a disaster. The lack of research showed clearly in Kapil's arguments and they were easily eliminated despite a well-crafted set of arguments presented by Maya.

Post the competition, Sanjay came up to them and it was clearly apparent that Maya blamed Kapil for their defeat. "We could have won this Sanjay if Kapil had taken this seriously", she said to Kapil's hearing. Kapil smiled, "I'm sorry Maya, but yes I do have more important things on my mind. It's a game and lets treat it just that way", so saying he shook Sanjay's hand and walked away without a word to Maya.

Sanjay though realised he liked them both, their honesty and clear points of view attracted him and he was soon a friend of theirs, albeit separately. He never, ever, thought of them as a possible romantic pairing through the first year of college as both of them seemed to stand for the exact opposite of what the other stood for. However, the second year turned out to be a very different story.

With both of them opting to be part of the editorial board of the college magazine they gradually started spending more time together. Perhaps, this is when it changed for them as the individuals who never spoke of each other suddenly became best friends. They would be seen hanging out often as part of work initially and then for reasons beyond work. The college magazine benefitted as it improved beyond imagination and the crowning glory was when the duo won the debating completion in their final year.

Sanjay enjoyed the time the three spent together, sometimes just talking and realised they were both individuals unafraid to speak their heart out. They thought differently but when it came to things that mattered they had a mutual agreement. They had clear ideas, bordering on playing the role of being judges, of what was right and what was wrong. There were many fine afternoons when the three of them spent hours together talking about anything from politics to theology, arguing bitterly but enjoying the clash of minds.

It was one such afternoon where suddenly Kapil suddenly sprouted the fact that they had decided to go "steady" with each other which while surprised Sanjay also made him happy. He knew them both as great individuals and realised how their differences could actually compliment their relationship so well. He was even happier when, a few years post passing out of college, Kapil and Maya decided to tie the knot.

While losing touch, like so many college friends had post college in the years spent in adding on the additional degrees and finding space in the corporate rat race, Sanjay was delighted to run into Kapil and Maya again while he was posted in Mumbai. Sanjay had by then married himself and was even happier to see his wife Reema also like his friends so much.

However, over the two years they spent post re-connecting he also noticed a growing rift between the Kapil and Maya. While nothing outwardly would suggest the same, he knew the bond they once had was weakening. He put it down to the stress the world and its day to day affairs places on a relationship but he could feel the difference between the couple of those days in college to the one he knew now.

Over a few occasional beers with Kapil post office and numerous evenings they spent together with their respective spouses, they grew close once again but even then, never wanting to intrude on a couple's privacy Sanjay never broached the subject. He wondered but left it at that, till this evening.

It had been around 6:00 Pm on a lazy Sunday for Sanjay, when Maya had called. "Do you have any plans for the evening?, she asked. He hadn't. She asked him if he could come over as she wanted to talk to him. He told Reema who gave up her plans of a dinner out without a murmur seeing the anxiety on his face. He had come over and within minutes Maya, post apologising for the sudden call put her heart on the table.

She told him about how she had started believing Kapil was having an affair with a colleague from office of his. She told him how she had seen him frequently spending more than proportionate time with her at parties or how they seemed to have a secret bond while in a group and looked at each other with what she described as knowing looks'.

He felt bad for Maya, about the demons she was dealing with, however felt secure in his mind, knowing Kapil, that they were no more than figments of her imagination. He knew enough in his heart to write off her apprehensions but his head told him a little introspection maybe well placed.

"Are you going to say something Sanjay? Or just stare at the window as though you're just going to let me rant away and blow off some steam? I want your advice right now", asked Maya, clearly flustered.

Sanjay slowly stood up. His long, orange, flowing kurta slightly crumpled which he self-consciously but unthinkingly straightened with his hands. His expression was clearly one of concern.

"No Maya. He has never spoken to me about her at all. He never talks about anyone else but you. I can see you're upset now and I think you need some time alone. I think you may be over reacting and hence trying to ask you to over think about simple incidents may cause more pain than good. I'll leave you to yourself for a while, but please know this that I'm just a few minutes away if you need me to come back and a call away if you want to talk."

Maya looked at him with a surprised expression on her face. This was clearly not the response she had been expecting from him. It took her a minute to gather her composure before she offered a glimmer of a smile. "You may well be right, Sanjay. Thank you for coming over even if it was for nothing and thank you for always being my friend."

Sanjay slowly walked over to the door and made his way to his car. He started it and slowly drove back to his home. He parked the car outside, but before entering decided to call Kapil. He was worried about Maya and wasn't comfortable leaving her alone even though that's what he had just recommended to her. He dialled his number and waited for a response which came after a few minutes, "Hi Sanjay. How are you dude?"

"I'm doing well Kapil. Where are you right now?"

"Just out shopping with Maya, man. You can't believe how much she likes to shop. We've been at it for the last four hours man."

Hearing this Sanjay felt his blood turn cold. He knew Kapil was lying but didn't know what he could, or rather should say. "Cool Kapil. Call me once your free man. Let's get together next weekend."

"Sounds good but let me call you to confirm sometime during the week Sanjay. I might be travelling the next weekend over work. You know how it is."

"I understand Kapil, you call me and we'll plan it out. Take care buddy. Bye"

"Bye Sanjay".

Sanjay put the phone back with a heavy heart. He knew his friend had lied to him but could not bear to confront him. How could he be shopping with his wife for the last four hours when she had been with him till just a few minutes ago? Where was he and more pertinently with whom?

He was about to give up the question as one which he could not hope to answer when he remembered the app Kapil had shared with him a few weeks ago. It was a location app which had helped Sanjay to navigate to the restaurant Kapil had called him to for a quick drink together one evening. He pulled out his phone again and opened the app. As he suspected, Kapil had forgotten to turn off the location sharing feature and he saw he was not very far from him, at the local mall.

Sanjay immediately got into his car again and drove directly to the mall. He walked into the ground floor pub which the app indicated and got the shock of his life. Sitting on a bar stool was Kapil with a PYT on a bar stool alongside him. They were looking extremely cozy together as they talked to each other, clearly enjoying the other's company. They never noticed Sanjay walk in and place himself in a dark corner behind them, from where he could watch them at a safe distance.

Kapil had his arm around the girl, clearly his junior by a few years, as they drank and talked to one another. He was angry, hurt and saddened by what he saw but wasn't sure what he should do.

He ordered a drink and watched them for ten minutes while he finished it before paying his bill and quietly walking out. He walked back to the parking lot, got into his car and drove home.

His emotions were boiling over even after reaching home and it was clear to Reema who quickly gave up asking him when she saw no responses were forthcoming. They had a quiet dinner together, post which Reema retired to bed. Sanjay poured himself a drink, a lover of good single malts, he could hardly taste the smoky eighteen year aged flavour he drank at this moment. He poured himself another as he tried to think about how he could help the situation.

He loved his friends and he couldn't help but hate what he was seeing happen to them. Clearly, Maya's intuition was right. Kapil was seeing someone else. But why? And was there anything he could do about it? His thoughts were suddenly interrupted by the vibration of his phone. He was surprised to see it was Maya again. It was close to midnight now, and while he did not want to speak to her at that moment the fact that she was calling worried him. He picked up, "Hi Maya. Is everything all right?" "No Sanjay", said a worried tone across the line. "Kapil isn't back yet and his phone is switched off. I know his battery may have run out but I am worried".

Sanjay didn't know what to say to Maya at this point. Should he tell her what he saw? Or should he just keep that evening's events to himself? Perhaps Maya sensed the hesitancy in his voice as she asked him, "Sanjay, do you have any idea where Kapil is right now? Did you guys talk after you left my place?"

There was no way out for Sanjay at this point. He knew he couldn't lie to Maya who would realise the moment he would start to fumble as he always did when he even tried to get away with half truths. He opened up and told her exactly what had transpired post leaving Maya's house.

Maya silently listened to him not saying a word till he finally stopped. "So I am right then aren't I?"

"Yes Maya, unfortunately you are. I so wish you weren't but from what I saw tonight you are."

"Well, I guess I have a fair Idea where Kapil is and don't need to worry too much. Surprisingly I think I will sleep better now that I know the truth and don't have to keep wondering about what is going on."

"I'm really sorry Maya."

"Don't be Sanjay. You just told me what you saw. What has caused the problem is between Kapil and me. You've always been a great friend to us and I hope you will always be around. Don't you worry too much, that's my lot for now. Good night Sanjay"

"Good night Maya"

Sanjay didn't sleep much that night. His mind was running at a million miles a second and wasn't ready to tire easily. He tried reading for a while but just couldn't concentrate so gave it up quickly. He tossed and turned in bed for a long while and just when he somehow managed to begin drifting into sleep his phone rang.

This time it was Kapil's number. He looked at the time, it was almost 4:00 am. He picked it up. "Hello."

"Sanjay come over here immediately. I don't know what's wrong with Maya but she seems to have taken some pills and isn't waking up."

Kapil jumped up. Something in his head had been telling him that this was what he was worried about. "I'll be right over Kapil. Call an ambulance and if they get there before I reach just let me know which hospital you're going too."

He realised he had already reached his closet while he was talking, and continued pulling out the first things he could lay his hands on. Reema too had woken up by now and was quickly jogged out of her sleepy state by seeing the frenzy Sanjay was in. "What's happened?" she asked.

"That was Kapil. Maya's taken some pills and isn't getting up. I'm going to the hospital" replied Sanjay without slowing down his progress to get ready.

"I'm coming with you" said Reema as she rushed to the washroom.

It was less than five minutes later when they were in the car and hurtling down the streets at the rate of knots towards Kapil and Maya's home. They reached to see an ambulance parked outside the building. They parked near the entrance and ran towards the lift but in the time they waited for the lift they could hear voices coming down the staircase. They turned to see the hospital attendants, coming down the stairs, with a stretcher in which carrying Maya. Kapil was right alongside them and he was beside himself. He looked at them as the tears rolled down his eyes. His face was ashen and he was clearly not in control of himself.

They said nothing beyond a gentle recognition of each other and followed the attendants who carefully put Maya into the ambulance. Kapil got in with her and Sanjay nodded to him that they would follow the ambulance.

"Any idea, what's going on?" Reema asked,as they got into their car.

"Actually, but unfortunately, yes Reema. Maya has probably tried committing suicide as she suspects Kapil is having an affair" responded Sanjay as he started the car and began chasing the ambulance.

"Kapil? Having an affair? With whom? And how do you know?" blurted out Reema clearly shocked by the revelation.

He once again repeated the story to Reema who listened silently though clearly extremely disturbed. She was about to open her mouth when Sanjay jammed brakes and guided the car into a vacant parking slot of the hospital.

They jumped out of the car and ran into the hospital's emergency section. Kapil was standing outside, still weeping profusely, while filling up forms at the counter. Sanjay ran to him and put his hand on his shoulder. "It'll be all right Kapil, don't worry." He noticed even as he spoke how his words and his tone seemed to speak a different language.

Kapil looked at him, "I hope so Sanjay. I hope and pray so."

"So what exactly happened Kapil?" asked Sanjay

"Well to begin with when you called me this evening, I lied to you where I was. I was with Sakshi at the mall. We had dinner together post which I went home. I opened the door and went to our bedroom where I saw Maya lying in bed. My phone battery had died on me and I figured she must have been pissed when I saw the half emptied bottle of vodka. I tried to wake her up to help her change as she was still wearing her street clothes when I saw near her pillow an empty bottle of sleeping pills. I threw water on her and tried to even slap[ her but she didn't wake up which is when I called you."

"Who's Sakshi, Kapil?" asked Sanjay surprised with how easily Kapil had brought the other woman into the conversation. That very fact now worried him.

"Huh? Oh, of course, you don't know Sakshi, she's my first cousin who's an interior decorator. For the last few months I have had her help me put together what I wanted to be the ultimate surprise for our coming wedding anniversary. A few months ago, Maya and myself had gone house hunting. She has been wanting for us to buy and move into our own home for a very long time. She really liked a flat across town but gave up the thought when the builder told us the price. I could see how much it meantto her though and raised the money to buy it anyway. I wanted to decorate it the way I knew she'd like it and that's where I got Sakshi in to help me. She's been working on it for the last three months and I have been trying to help all I can after office which isn't much anyway. But I wanted to do all I can to give her a perfect home."

Sanjay didn't know which side to turn. His imagination had allowed him to create a story which could be the potential death knell of his dear friend Maya. He had singlehandedly almost destroyed their lives in a few minutes without even realising it. How could he have allowed this to happen? How could he have believed what he had seen for a minute without evening questioning the scenario to find an alternate explanation. He knew he was about to break down and made a dash to the wash room. He needed to be alone for a minute.

He washed his face with cold water but for once even that didn't help. His mind and heart were on fire and the water from the tap was insufficient to cool them off. He was breaking up inside with the thought of the havoc he had almost mindlessly caused. He knew he had to pull himself together but didn't know if he had it within him to do so. Perhaps this is where the human spirit takes over, at the moment of our greatest lows. He found within him reserves of strength to move forward with the thought that the least he could do at this point was be a good friend and try to be there for Kapil. He had to be strong right now, stronger than he thought he was capable of being.

He washed his face again and slowly came out of the washroom and started walking back towards the emergency. He was about to turn the corner into the passage where he had left Kapil when he stopped. He could hear Reema talking to Kapil in a low tone, "You have no idea how scared I was and how angry I became within a couple of minutes. Hearing Kapil talk about you having an affair scared me with the thought he had found out about us, but when he went on about some other girl you were with, in the bar, that made me really angry. I will kill any woman who gets close to you from now my darling. Thankfully you explained yourself though I still want to meet Sakshi to make sure she is your real cousin". Her tone though soft was clearly of one who was happy to be in the company of the other.

Sanjay by now was leaning against the wall trying to make sense of what he was hearing. Had he really got this all wrong? Had Maya been right when she spoke of Kapil having an affair only that she got the woman wrong? Had the woman he built his life around been building hers in someone else's arms? How could he have not noticed or realised something different about Reema? Were some of those evenings she chose to step out with her set of friends been evenings with Kapil? Was his friend who he had always tried to help been the Judas of his life? These were the last thoughts on his mind when he blanked out.

Awesome story!

Thank you Artist. Glad you liked it.