Part 1: They loved, got married & lived happily everafter, until…

Ranjan continued “Did Pramod convert to Christianity or Susan became a Hindu?”

I did not like his question.

Susan smiled. She walked up to Pramod.

Held his hand and replied “We are Indians first and will remain Indians till we last. Religion is strictly a personal thing for us. Other things do not matter.”

Everyone including Ranjan got up and started clapping in appreciation.

I told my friends who had gathered in the house of Sujan Chandy and Mini Mathews “Friends narrating the story of Susan and Pramod made me emotional. I know them from more than two decades since they fell in love during Engineering study days. I was with them all through the journey they took in those few years in the college. They not only braved the odds but have succeeded and proved to the world that if partners are in love with one another, nothing else can come in between”.

We had dinner and after exchanging pleasantries, went back to our houses.

Couple of weeks passed and I was sitting in my office busy looking at the graph of sales which was not looking northwards. I started analyzing the sales numbers and figuring out how the same could be improved.

 I got a call on my mobile. I looked at it. It was from Susan. I answered “Hi Susan how are you?”

She replied “I am doing fine.  Want to talk to you about some pressing issues. Can we meet in the evening today?”

I was surprised. Of late I had become a part time Agony Uncle giving a patient hearing to the problems of my friends and trying to give solutions. I had not expected Susan to come out with any issues to me. They were the ideal pair and I had not seen any love succeed the way their story had succeeded.   

I reached the coffee cafe by 6 PM and saw Susan waiting for me inside. I wished her and took my seat opposite her. I looked at her. She looked the same beautiful Susan we all had admired during our engineering days. We ordered coffee and I told her “Few weeks ago I was in this same cafe but the person with me was Chandana. She had some small issues with Nandan and they both made me solve their problems”.

Susan smiled and said “This time it is my turn”.

She continued “You were very generous in praising us the other day during the get together at Mini’s house. You have been with me and Pramod in the journey since the day we fell in love. I should be honest and speak the truth to you”.

I kept the coffee mug down and with lot of nervousness asked her “Why are you talking of honesty and speaking the truth? Hope everything is fine between two of you”.

“Not as it should be”

“I am surprised. Do not tell me that you both have differences. I have always taken your example and explained to people about love and successful marriage”

She could not take more. She started sobbing. I felt embarrassed. I kept my hand on her shoulder and asked her to calm down.

She continued “I feel very guilty to face you. You are one of the important people who helped us in life”

I told “Do not think about me. Tell me what has gone wrong?”

“Pramod had changed over a period of time”

“What sort of changes?”

“Many are there. You know that I have unconditional love towards him. Since the time he has crossed forty, I find some changes in him. He no longer yearns to be in my company. He spends more time in the office. I come back from my office by about 6 pm. He used to be back by 6 pm. Now a day he comes at around 8 pm and does not spend time with me.

He talks to Bharati for few minutes and after dinner goes to bed”.

I interrupted her “How is Bharati? She is now in which class?”

“She is doing fine. She is now in fifth standard”

I told her to continue with her explanation.

She continued “I sometimes feel that we exhausted the love for one another after few years of marriage. You know what turmoil we went through. Ours was not an ordinary marriage during those times. I am a Christian and he is from a very Orthodox Hindu family. We have faced the odds together well. I do not understand why things are changing now”.

I looked at her and said “Susan welcome to the club. You guys are in mid life crisis”.

She did not look pleased.

She continued “I do not know about any such club. You know how sincere we both were during college days. I am not saying that he does not love me but I see dilution in it”.

I added “Things are not the same as they were two decades ago. Then at least couple of girls used to look at me. Now I have grown darker and have developed a tummy. So is the case with Pramod. He has put on weight and maybe he gets tired very fast and goes to sleep early”

She continued “Remember four years ago when you were at our house with your wife on Valentine’s Day?”

“How can I forget that day? You and Mini prepared very tasty Mangalore dishes and we had wine, danced and dined”

“It was the last memorable Valentine’s Day we celebrated. He has become busy with his work. I also work and I do not appear busy at least for the family”.

I was not comfortable with the details she was giving. I started feeling let down. The love story of Susan and Pramod was very close to my heart and many times I felt that I should have fallen in love with some girl during my engineering studies. Destiny had some other scheme for me and mine was an arranged marriage.

I looked at her and said “Susan please do not get irritated or let down. Pramod is a very nice guy and we both know it well. This is typical of mid life and you both are facing the crisis. Let me talk it over with him”.

She said “We are very lucky to have a good friend like you. You empathize with us and help us sincerely”.

I said “Susan after hearing you I feel that they are not big issues. You both can resolve them easily. You need to take out time and talk to one another. After all you both have braved the society and are together. I am confident that you can do it”.

She suddenly started sobbing and was not able to hold her tears back.

I looked at her and said “What happened? Why so much emotion? I think there is something else in the story. You are not telling me the full story”.

She took couple of minutes to get back to normalcy. She looked at me. I could see lot of pain in her eyes. I could not hold back. Tears rolled from my eyes. I said “Susan this is last thing I want. I cannot see tears in your eyes. Please tell me what is troubling you so much”.

“Oh My God and  I had to hear this” was my reaction to what she said next.

She told me “ I really do not care about all the things which I have told you today. What makes me nervous and restless is his liking for her”

To be continued…