Secret job
Tarun started to count money. It was perfect. He gave that money to Usha. " Usha keep this on one side. This is for Rita's fees." Usha nodded. She did as per his instructions. He always had to tell her every time what she supposed to do many times he wished only if she had little bit independent thinking. But Usha always behaved like obedient child. He never forced her to listen him.But she was never fond of thinking in her own way. He had to tell her all. It was so tiring for him. He had to daily manage entire budget. He wanted to her to manage many tasks. But she never did. He wanted to accept her as she was but he still kept hoping every time she would act more like human than robot one day. But she never changed. She kept moving ahead same way on each day.He smiled at her. She returned that smile. She did it automatically just like robot. He loved his wife but he kept feeling something was just not right with her. He knew that he couldn't discuss this with anyone. They would just consider him complaint box. He gave next instructions. He had nice family and perfect house with two daughters. He had to accept that everything was fine. It was his general fear. He managed to divide his salary in right way. He asked about his mother-in-law. His mother-in-law always stayed with them. At beginning when she came to stay with them he was upset. But then he felt that he was doing wrong. His mother-in-law was nice lady. She was living alone in village. After all Usha was her only child it was wrong to deny her responsibility. Soon he sensed that it was practical too. After all his mother-in-law didn't have much earning. He would have forced to run two houses if he didn't took her responsibility while she was staying in village. Any way his parents were never happy with this arrangement. They kept taunting and insulting Usha. But Usha or her mother never reacted in anger. They tolerated it with smile. At that point he was not even happy with this arrangement. He wanted privacy with wife. They kept tolerating slowly he began to feel sorry for them. He started convincing his parents practical aspects of situation. Slowly they began to agree and finally his mother-in-law became permanent member of their family. It was that arrangement which looked wrong at beginning but it proved wonderful in end. His mother-in-law was biggest help in his household. He was tense now, since she was sick and Usha needed to manage all. Usha smiled. "Don't worry Mom is fine. She is helping me in all." " I don't understand how could we survive a day without your Mom?" Usha smiled. " Now don't smile on this issue. This is not right. You need to take responsibilities. Your Mom can't do all for us." Usha nodded. He knew that she was going to nod for everything. Sometimes he just wished only if his wife curse him for something. He knew that fights were not good thing for married life but she was accepting everything so devotedly that it started to get irritating. He wanted to know her views too but she didn't seem have any view over anything. He decided that he might need to ask her little bit sweetly about those views. He had tried it many times but it never worked. Still he decided to give another try. Tarun " Why don't we discuss budget?" She gave that sweet smile which always managed to melt his heart. Usha" May be we should do it tomorrow?" He knew that this tomorrow was never going to come but he desired to spend sometime with his wife for pleasure. He smiled. " Okay we can do it tomorrow." After all his life was not that bad. He began to create packets for every need. He arranged it all. He started to plan every thing. Tarun " So we arranged all. I wanted to keep my both daughters happy." Usha " Of course your budgeting is so perfect. I can't stop admiring it." Tarun sensed one thing. Normally his wife worked like robot but whenever she desired she admire him so much that he began to feel he was most intelligent man on earth. He loved her attitude. He knew one thing. She was nice and sweet that he didn't mind doing budgeting for her. He smiled and his determination of teaching her budget was completely forgotten. They were so much in love with each other that he didn't want to taunt her little defects. He smiled happily.
Rita was frustrated. Her grandmother was ill and her mother was not paying full attention to her needs. She started discussing matter with her younger sister Charu. Rita " I don't understand why Mom had to go out every day?" Charu " True and I don't understand why she wore that used and dirty saree. Then she cleaned house every day. Then she didn't come for few hours. When she returned, she looked so scared. " " Yes and then grandma came out with her saree. They are doing it every day. " " And we never supposed to tell Papa." Charu smiled and every day we get bribed for it. Why did you want to know about it?" Rita " Since I am not greedy like you." Charu gave her angry look. Charu" I am not greedy. I never ask for it Grandma gave it by herself." Rita " But still we are not telling truth to Papa for those chocolates!! This is wrong." " Ohh really? If you feel so sad why don't you tell Papa about it?" " I can't sense it will be dishonesty to Mom. But I don't understand what was she doing?" " Well. I think she is doing some job." " But why? Do we have financial troubles?" Rita began to feel scared. She never thought that her Mom might be doing job to save them. Rita " This is horrible." Charu " But if we are poor then they will not give us chocolates!!" " We are not that poor. We can still afford chocolates. They are not costly things. We don't afford things which rich people buy like flat or jewelry." Charu " I don't think we need them now. We have flat and we are not going to any marriage so we don't need ornaments." " Why don't you understand? Well we might have taken some loan and have to pay?" Now Charu started crying. Rita wanted to cry too but she didn't since she was elder sister. Rita " Don't worry. We will manage." Then suddenly Grandma entered. Grandma " What happened? Why are you crying?" Charu hugged Grandma and asked " Are we going to become poor?" Grandma " No who told you that rubbish?" Rita " I did. Why else Mom needed to do that job?" Grandma looked nervous then she started laughing. " You are not becoming poor. Actually your Mom wanted to purchase something which your Papa might not permit so she is doing it." Rita " But why Papa will not permit?" Grandma " Since it seem like wastage of money." Charu "Then why did Mom want to buy it?" Rita smiled and said " It must some expensive saree or beauty product?" Grandma nodded. Rita " Mom is too much she must not waste money like that!!" Then Rita started explaining her requirements to Grandma who immediately told them where their Mom had kept every thing. They knew their Mom cared for them. She did everything in perfect way. Rita began to feel demand of little luxuries was not crime. She decided that her Mom deserved it. They began to do their daily things. Then Usha came exhausted as usual. She immediately changed dress and began working. Tarun was working in office. He never sensed that his wife was doing some job. He was working so hard on some project with Girish. He was so happy to get Girish as partner. Girish was so nice fellow. They both felt like brothers. It was hurting their soul in different offices when Girish was transferred. He was so confused. He couldn't understand how he could trust with job. He kept insisting for Girish. Finally he got promoted. Then his Boss said with smile " Now you can get staff of your choice so get Girish." After that his race to success was running fast. Girish was greatest help and partner in success. Girish was partner in rewards too. Tarun was so happy. His life was approximately perfect. He could easily forget little defects. That day he decided to clear his desk. He started to clean desk. Girish joined him. He was cleaning his shelf. When he noticed that Girish was watching some photo frame with shock. Tarun stood up slowly behind him. He noticed that Girish was watching his marriage picture. Tarun " What happened?" Girish looked so scared. Tarun gave him strange look. Girish " Nothing." " Come on tell me. Why you are looking at my wife like that?" Tarun was clearly angry. Girish was truly scared. Tarun was jealous. Girish was like his brother. Girish started to stammer " shhe looook like mmmy mmmaid..." Tarun started laughing. He thought that it was just joke. For few moments Girish didn't laugh but then he laughed too. Tarun sensed something was wrong.
Tarun wanted to forget Girish's joke but it kept coming in his mind. It was so strange. Girish was not person who could joke this way and he was sure that he recognised his wife. He started thinking about places where Usha might had met Girish. But he didn't find anything common in them. Girish was lot younger than Usha and he never studied in this city while Usha spent his entire life in this in fact she never left it. She was so shocked when he suggested sending girls to hostel in another city for education. He even got angry on her regarding her childish attitude. He said that people sent their kids in foreign for education and she was not ready to send them within her country. She said that she never went out of city except on picnic. Now he began to think again. He felt that it was right track. He began to imagine how could they had met on picnic. He began to imagine their romance something he had seen in movie. He began to imagine their candle light. He began to think himself as husband whom wife didn't love. She never gave him clear smile since she missed her first love. He was so sad. He could never imagine way out now. He didn't desire to fight for love. If Usha didn't love him after all this time then she would never do. But it was not easy now. They had two daughters. He could not tolerate fear of losing girls. But if they chose their Mom over him, he would lose everything. When he was thinking, he suddenly felt touch on shoulder. Girish " Sorry to distrub you. I am sorry but your wife looked just like my maid. Sorry I didn't want to insult you. You can see her yourself." Tarun was so angry. He wanted to kill Girish with his hands. He knew that Girish was pretending to hide his lie. Tarun " Enough!!" He screamed so loudly that entire office staff started looking at them. Girish clearly had sorrows in his eyes. Girish was feeling sad for losing friend. Girish " I want to prove it. My wife will show photo. " Tarun " I said enough. You told this to wife?" " No I said it for official work some bonus for maid." Then Girish's phone rang. Girish smiled and immediately pushed photo to Tarun. Tarun didn't want to see but his curiosity won. He was shocked. She just looked like Usha. Her duplicate!! He started laughing. He never thought that his wife could have such duplicate. But he heard lot about them. Now entire office was around. They all started looking at picture and Tarun's picture with wife. They were enjoying. But soon Tarun sensed that it was just to stay away from work. But he screamed and told them return to work. He started working. He felt that every thing was over. When he returned home, he sat with family for dinner. He began to tell them story of that maid. Suddenly he sensed that his daughters looked scared. He sensed that something was not right. Only Usha kept smiling. Usha " I want to see that maid one day." Rita was shocked. Rita didn't understand why did her Mom was not scared. She knew one thing that they were not so poor that their Mom needed to work for her junior. It was totally wrong. Usha gave her angry look when she looked at her with shock. Usha " Why are you looking at me like this?" Charu was so shocked and scared that she started crying. Usha began to look more angry. She kept smiling at Tarun. Usha " I don't understand what is wrong with them?" Tarun sensed something was totally wrong. But he didn't want to show it to Usha. He smiled and said "Don't worry kids are like that. They will back to normal in few seconds." " But they need to eat dinner. I will go and give it." Tarun knew that she was going to convince girls to keep quiet. He decided to let her play her game. He knew that she couldn't convince them. He saw anger in their eyes. But he didn't want to put them in situation where they needed one out of parents. Usha was shivering with fear. She never thought that it would come out like that. She had to hide it. Instead of going to her daughter's room she went in mother's room. Her Mom was taking rest. She didn't want to distrub her but she had to. It was all her mistake. She never wanted to marry but her mother forced her. She lied every day and she might be caught. She sat on her mother's bed and started crying.
Tarun was trying to find logic in this entire matter. He didn't see at all. His wife was not having affair but she was working hard as maid. He didn't understand how did he supposed to react. His entire office was going to know it now. But he didn't understand that why did she insulted him. He never acted in bad way with her. He always felt that she was happy with him. He never imagined that she had so much feeling of revenge in her mind that she was working hard just as maid just to insult him? But even this didn't seem logical. He was so confused. He decided that he must ask her. When he started going towards his daughter's room, he heard sound of crying. He slowly went near door. Usha was crying and blaming her Mom for forcing her to marry him. He felt sad. He sensed that it might be forced marriage but he was shocked when he heard her Mom's answer. " But you were in love with him and still you are so I felt that it was alright. It is just little sickness every one have some fault inside. No one is perfect." " Stop it Mom. It is not small sickness. It is big defect. A handicap which would destroy his life. I love him so I suppose to make sacrifice by saying no to him or at least telling truth to him." " But it all worked perfectly until now." " Mom it was not working perfectly. We were teaching kids to lie to their father!! Mom I only wish but I have died when I tried to cut my veins." "Don't ever say it. You have two kids and wonderful husband." " But I am nothing but burden to them." She started crying. Tarun sensed that something was totally wrong. He went inside. Suddenly Usha began to laugh and show every thing was normal. Tarun " What happened? " She smiled and said " Nothing." He was so upset. " Can't you trust me for once for God's sake!!" She started crying again. Finally her Mom started talking "College days Usha had little problem." " What kind of problem?" She just vanished out of house or even out of college for few hours and then she came back. When she came back, she always dressed in old used saree. I tried hard to cure her but nothing work." " So you don't try to know what she was doing during those hours?" Her Mom nodded. Tarun was so angry. Tarun " You have cheated me." Usha " I am sorry. I have fall in love with you at first sight so Mom did this. I confess it was my mistake but don't I have right on normal life? I am not doing anything wrong during those hours I have confirmed it. I went to Doctor he told me that I am doing something in water might be hard job of labourer." Tarun "But didn't he suggest treatment." She kept quiet. Tarun sensed that they had never visited Doctor. Then suddenly their daughters entered in room. Tarun wanted to control emotion in presence of daughters. But Rita came towards him and asked " Do we have need of money? Are we so poor that Mom needed to work as maid?" " Not at all!!" He turned angrily towards Usha and screamed " Tell them." She shivered and started telling. Rita and Charu started laughing. Rita " This is joke, right? Such things just happen in movie on TV not in real life." But no one supported her. But suddenly both girls looked excited. Charu " I want to see Mom as maid." Tarun was so angry. Tarun " This is not joke." But they were so excited. Rita " Papa don't scream on us. It is not our mistake. We are just curious. Don't you feel curious too." Tarun smiled. Suddenly entire situation started to look like thrill. He sensed that he had to face troubles so why he had to cry during it. Those little girls were showing him positive way to handle situation. Tarun smiled. " We must meet this maid too. I will call Girish and confirm time." Charu started laughing. Rita " This is going to be fun." Tarun started to get thrilled too. It seemed like adventure now. Usha came to him and asked angrily " Are you mad?" Then she stopped herself. " Sorry I am the one who is mad." Then suddenly every one started laughing. They decided that they could manage it with fun. Usha was still upset. Tarun was still hurt but they sensed thrill could reduce their pains. Tarun decided that he could contact Girish and must meet this maid. He was so confused but he controlled his emotions and went ahead. Usha was standing beside him. She suddenly hold his hand. He wanted to push it away but then he looked in her eyes. They were pleading to him. He let her hold his hand. He loved her and he couldn't left her in these crisis. After all she did everything for him and he couldn't forget her devoted attitude towards him. He decided that he could manage crisis.
When Tarun went in room, he called Girish and told him everything. Girish was shocked. Girish " You must stop at home and follow her to see where she is going?" Tarun " You are right." Girish " But where did she keep salary?" Tarun was shocked by practical thinking of Girish even in those crisis. Tarun " You are so nice. I never thought about it." Girish " I mean it. According to my knowledge she was working at least in three houses. Her salary is not less." Tarun was shocked. He disconnected call. Tarun " You need treatment otherwise you will harm yourself with that work." Usha smiled and said " No. I am fine." " You are not. You are working for three houses and someone is taking your salary. Tomorrow I will stay in home and see what is happening. Then we take appointment and go to Doctor." She nodded. But in her heart she hoped that it would not happen. Next day even their daughters didn't agree to go to school. They all sat with patience. Entire time Usha was perfect. Then they took lunch and they went to take rest. Usha came in bedroom. Then she decided that she should sit with others. They sat together in hall. Everything was fine. Then slowly Usha began to feel sleepy. Usha didn't want to close eyes but she began to feel such pressure that she closed her eyes. Soon they all sensed that she was sleepy. Tarun " Why don't you just go and sleep?" " No..no I want to stay awake." Then slowly she went to sleep in chair only. When she woke up, she started walking in different way. Tarun tried to call her but she didn't sense. She just kept walking ahead. When she came out of room her dress was changed. She was looking totally different. She was looking like some poor woman who didn't have much money. She didn't response to anyone at all. Finally she reached on road. Tarun tried to stop her. She slapped him and started cursing him like some woman who belonged to lower background. She was even trying to kick him but he ran away from her. He ran inside society but she kept cursing. Then she started walking. He was so scared. He didn't dare to follow her. This was too much thrill for them all. Charu " I never thought Mom would kick anyone like this." Tarun " I sense one thing. She needed Doctor, psychiatrist." Her Mom " But he would lock her up." " No. He will admit her and cure her then they will send her out." Her Mom nodded. Tarun called family Doctor and told him entire situation. Family Doctor " I can't believe it. You don't sense anything wrong until it don't come to this situation." " Sorry but I can't. Kids never mentioned it." " Really? What about you? Don't you feel that her hands are too rough. She is getting too tired." "She never looked tired. I thought her hands were rough but she gave excuses." " Okay fine. I will give you number of psychiatrist. Take appointment as soon as possible." He agreed. He disconnected call. He was about to call psychiatrist when Girish called. Girish " Are you alright?" Tarun " Yes. Why?" " Actually my wife called. Rakhama I mean your wife.." " ohh this is her name. Let me guess. She must be telling how did she hit me. Don't worry I am fine." Then he told entire episode. " So I am calling Doctor." " Good decision. Bye and all the best." Then he called psychiatrist. He got appointment after few days. It was normal for them. He sensed one thing that Usha needed to work for few days. He sensed another thing. She was going to vanish in eyes of her employers but he had no option. He went to search inside her cupboard. Soon he found receipts of money transfer to some one in name of Rakhama. He saw every thing. He asked Usha's mother " Do you know this woman?" Her Mom shivered and said " She was witch who use to babysit Usha!!" He started laughing. His mother-in-law told him story of Usha's childhood. She told him that this baby sitter use to do black magic. One day Usha found her doing it. She told it to all. Rakhama was thrown out of house. " It is so strange such a horrible thing." Tarun " May be madness started due to this belief." His mother-in-law looked confused. Then Usha came back. She asked them what happened but no one told her much. For few days they kept moving ahead same way. Finally that day came when they reached to psychiatrist. Usha couldn't able to tell much. She just didn't remember. But Tarun told all. Usha started crying when she sensed that she hit Tarun. Psychiatrist " Relax. You have Dissociative Identity Disorder. It developed due to fear which Rakhama created on your childish heart. Don't worry. You have just one more personality. I have seen patients who had multiple personalities. I will not lie to you. It will take time but you will be fine." She nodded. Tarun " So I need to keep her here." " No..no she could go home. We will slowly stop it by treatment. Just remember one thing she was doing it before it didn't harm us. But we will cure her and she will be normal. Just keep attention on her soon you sense she stopped it." Tarun smiled. They both went out with hope. Now they were truly holding hands. They didn't have secret between them. They went out with promise to help each other on each way.
The End
Tarun started to count money. It was perfect. He gave that money to Usha. " Usha keep this on one side. This is for Rita's fees." Usha nodded. She did as per his instructions. He always had to tell her every time what she supposed to do many times he wished only if she had little bit independent thinking. But Usha always behaved like obedient child. He never forced her to listen him.But she was never fond of thinking in her own way. He had to tell her all. It was so tiring for him. He had to daily manage entire budget. He wanted to her to manage many tasks. But she never did. He wanted to accept her as she was but he still kept hoping every time she would act more like human than robot one day. But she never changed. She kept moving ahead same way on each day.He smiled at her. She returned that smile. She did it automatically just like robot. He loved his wife but he kept feeling something was just not right with her. He knew that he couldn't discuss this with anyone. They would just consider him complaint box. He gave next instructions. He had nice family and perfect house with two daughters. He had to accept that everything was fine. It was his general fear. He managed to divide his salary in right way. He asked about his mother-in-law. His mother-in-law always stayed with them. At beginning when she came to stay with them he was upset. But then he felt that he was doing wrong. His mother-in-law was nice lady. She was living alone in village. After all Usha was her only child it was wrong to deny her responsibility. Soon he sensed that it was practical too. After all his mother-in-law didn't have much earning. He would have forced to run two houses if he didn't took her responsibility while she was staying in village. Any way his parents were never happy with this arrangement. They kept taunting and insulting Usha. But Usha or her mother never reacted in anger. They tolerated it with smile. At that point he was not even happy with this arrangement. He wanted privacy with wife. They kept tolerating slowly he began to feel sorry for them. He started convincing his parents practical aspects of situation. Slowly they began to agree and finally his mother-in-law became permanent member of their family. It was that arrangement which looked wrong at beginning but it proved wonderful in end. His mother-in-law was biggest help in his household. He was tense now, since she was sick and Usha needed to manage all. Usha smiled. "Don't worry Mom is fine. She is helping me in all." " I don't understand how could we survive a day without your Mom?" Usha smiled. " Now don't smile on this issue. This is not right. You need to take responsibilities. Your Mom can't do all for us." Usha nodded. He knew that she was going to nod for everything. Sometimes he just wished only if his wife curse him for something. He knew that fights were not good thing for married life but she was accepting everything so devotedly that it started to get irritating. He wanted to know her views too but she didn't seem have any view over anything. He decided that he might need to ask her little bit sweetly about those views. He had tried it many times but it never worked. Still he decided to give another try. Tarun " Why don't we discuss budget?" She gave that sweet smile which always managed to melt his heart. Usha" May be we should do it tomorrow?" He knew that this tomorrow was never going to come but he desired to spend sometime with his wife for pleasure. He smiled. " Okay we can do it tomorrow." After all his life was not that bad. He began to create packets for every need. He arranged it all. He started to plan every thing. Tarun " So we arranged all. I wanted to keep my both daughters happy." Usha " Of course your budgeting is so perfect. I can't stop admiring it." Tarun sensed one thing. Normally his wife worked like robot but whenever she desired she admire him so much that he began to feel he was most intelligent man on earth. He loved her attitude. He knew one thing. She was nice and sweet that he didn't mind doing budgeting for her. He smiled and his determination of teaching her budget was completely forgotten. They were so much in love with each other that he didn't want to taunt her little defects. He smiled happily.
Rita was frustrated. Her grandmother was ill and her mother was not paying full attention to her needs. She started discussing matter with her younger sister Charu. Rita " I don't understand why Mom had to go out every day?" Charu " True and I don't understand why she wore that used and dirty saree. Then she cleaned house every day. Then she didn't come for few hours. When she returned, she looked so scared. " " Yes and then grandma came out with her saree. They are doing it every day. " " And we never supposed to tell Papa." Charu smiled and every day we get bribed for it. Why did you want to know about it?" Rita " Since I am not greedy like you." Charu gave her angry look. Charu" I am not greedy. I never ask for it Grandma gave it by herself." Rita " But still we are not telling truth to Papa for those chocolates!! This is wrong." " Ohh really? If you feel so sad why don't you tell Papa about it?" " I can't sense it will be dishonesty to Mom. But I don't understand what was she doing?" " Well. I think she is doing some job." " But why? Do we have financial troubles?" Rita began to feel scared. She never thought that her Mom might be doing job to save them. Rita " This is horrible." Charu " But if we are poor then they will not give us chocolates!!" " We are not that poor. We can still afford chocolates. They are not costly things. We don't afford things which rich people buy like flat or jewelry." Charu " I don't think we need them now. We have flat and we are not going to any marriage so we don't need ornaments." " Why don't you understand? Well we might have taken some loan and have to pay?" Now Charu started crying. Rita wanted to cry too but she didn't since she was elder sister. Rita " Don't worry. We will manage." Then suddenly Grandma entered. Grandma " What happened? Why are you crying?" Charu hugged Grandma and asked " Are we going to become poor?" Grandma " No who told you that rubbish?" Rita " I did. Why else Mom needed to do that job?" Grandma looked nervous then she started laughing. " You are not becoming poor. Actually your Mom wanted to purchase something which your Papa might not permit so she is doing it." Rita " But why Papa will not permit?" Grandma " Since it seem like wastage of money." Charu "Then why did Mom want to buy it?" Rita smiled and said " It must some expensive saree or beauty product?" Grandma nodded. Rita " Mom is too much she must not waste money like that!!" Then Rita started explaining her requirements to Grandma who immediately told them where their Mom had kept every thing. They knew their Mom cared for them. She did everything in perfect way. Rita began to feel demand of little luxuries was not crime. She decided that her Mom deserved it. They began to do their daily things. Then Usha came exhausted as usual. She immediately changed dress and began working. Tarun was working in office. He never sensed that his wife was doing some job. He was working so hard on some project with Girish. He was so happy to get Girish as partner. Girish was so nice fellow. They both felt like brothers. It was hurting their soul in different offices when Girish was transferred. He was so confused. He couldn't understand how he could trust with job. He kept insisting for Girish. Finally he got promoted. Then his Boss said with smile " Now you can get staff of your choice so get Girish." After that his race to success was running fast. Girish was greatest help and partner in success. Girish was partner in rewards too. Tarun was so happy. His life was approximately perfect. He could easily forget little defects. That day he decided to clear his desk. He started to clean desk. Girish joined him. He was cleaning his shelf. When he noticed that Girish was watching some photo frame with shock. Tarun stood up slowly behind him. He noticed that Girish was watching his marriage picture. Tarun " What happened?" Girish looked so scared. Tarun gave him strange look. Girish " Nothing." " Come on tell me. Why you are looking at my wife like that?" Tarun was clearly angry. Girish was truly scared. Tarun was jealous. Girish was like his brother. Girish started to stammer " shhe looook like mmmy mmmaid..." Tarun started laughing. He thought that it was just joke. For few moments Girish didn't laugh but then he laughed too. Tarun sensed something was wrong.
Tarun wanted to forget Girish's joke but it kept coming in his mind. It was so strange. Girish was not person who could joke this way and he was sure that he recognised his wife. He started thinking about places where Usha might had met Girish. But he didn't find anything common in them. Girish was lot younger than Usha and he never studied in this city while Usha spent his entire life in this in fact she never left it. She was so shocked when he suggested sending girls to hostel in another city for education. He even got angry on her regarding her childish attitude. He said that people sent their kids in foreign for education and she was not ready to send them within her country. She said that she never went out of city except on picnic. Now he began to think again. He felt that it was right track. He began to imagine how could they had met on picnic. He began to imagine their romance something he had seen in movie. He began to imagine their candle light. He began to think himself as husband whom wife didn't love. She never gave him clear smile since she missed her first love. He was so sad. He could never imagine way out now. He didn't desire to fight for love. If Usha didn't love him after all this time then she would never do. But it was not easy now. They had two daughters. He could not tolerate fear of losing girls. But if they chose their Mom over him, he would lose everything. When he was thinking, he suddenly felt touch on shoulder. Girish " Sorry to distrub you. I am sorry but your wife looked just like my maid. Sorry I didn't want to insult you. You can see her yourself." Tarun was so angry. He wanted to kill Girish with his hands. He knew that Girish was pretending to hide his lie. Tarun " Enough!!" He screamed so loudly that entire office staff started looking at them. Girish clearly had sorrows in his eyes. Girish was feeling sad for losing friend. Girish " I want to prove it. My wife will show photo. " Tarun " I said enough. You told this to wife?" " No I said it for official work some bonus for maid." Then Girish's phone rang. Girish smiled and immediately pushed photo to Tarun. Tarun didn't want to see but his curiosity won. He was shocked. She just looked like Usha. Her duplicate!! He started laughing. He never thought that his wife could have such duplicate. But he heard lot about them. Now entire office was around. They all started looking at picture and Tarun's picture with wife. They were enjoying. But soon Tarun sensed that it was just to stay away from work. But he screamed and told them return to work. He started working. He felt that every thing was over. When he returned home, he sat with family for dinner. He began to tell them story of that maid. Suddenly he sensed that his daughters looked scared. He sensed that something was not right. Only Usha kept smiling. Usha " I want to see that maid one day." Rita was shocked. Rita didn't understand why did her Mom was not scared. She knew one thing that they were not so poor that their Mom needed to work for her junior. It was totally wrong. Usha gave her angry look when she looked at her with shock. Usha " Why are you looking at me like this?" Charu was so shocked and scared that she started crying. Usha began to look more angry. She kept smiling at Tarun. Usha " I don't understand what is wrong with them?" Tarun sensed something was totally wrong. But he didn't want to show it to Usha. He smiled and said "Don't worry kids are like that. They will back to normal in few seconds." " But they need to eat dinner. I will go and give it." Tarun knew that she was going to convince girls to keep quiet. He decided to let her play her game. He knew that she couldn't convince them. He saw anger in their eyes. But he didn't want to put them in situation where they needed one out of parents. Usha was shivering with fear. She never thought that it would come out like that. She had to hide it. Instead of going to her daughter's room she went in mother's room. Her Mom was taking rest. She didn't want to distrub her but she had to. It was all her mistake. She never wanted to marry but her mother forced her. She lied every day and she might be caught. She sat on her mother's bed and started crying.
Tarun was trying to find logic in this entire matter. He didn't see at all. His wife was not having affair but she was working hard as maid. He didn't understand how did he supposed to react. His entire office was going to know it now. But he didn't understand that why did she insulted him. He never acted in bad way with her. He always felt that she was happy with him. He never imagined that she had so much feeling of revenge in her mind that she was working hard just as maid just to insult him? But even this didn't seem logical. He was so confused. He decided that he must ask her. When he started going towards his daughter's room, he heard sound of crying. He slowly went near door. Usha was crying and blaming her Mom for forcing her to marry him. He felt sad. He sensed that it might be forced marriage but he was shocked when he heard her Mom's answer. " But you were in love with him and still you are so I felt that it was alright. It is just little sickness every one have some fault inside. No one is perfect." " Stop it Mom. It is not small sickness. It is big defect. A handicap which would destroy his life. I love him so I suppose to make sacrifice by saying no to him or at least telling truth to him." " But it all worked perfectly until now." " Mom it was not working perfectly. We were teaching kids to lie to their father!! Mom I only wish but I have died when I tried to cut my veins." "Don't ever say it. You have two kids and wonderful husband." " But I am nothing but burden to them." She started crying. Tarun sensed that something was totally wrong. He went inside. Suddenly Usha began to laugh and show every thing was normal. Tarun " What happened? " She smiled and said " Nothing." He was so upset. " Can't you trust me for once for God's sake!!" She started crying again. Finally her Mom started talking "College days Usha had little problem." " What kind of problem?" She just vanished out of house or even out of college for few hours and then she came back. When she came back, she always dressed in old used saree. I tried hard to cure her but nothing work." " So you don't try to know what she was doing during those hours?" Her Mom nodded. Tarun was so angry. Tarun " You have cheated me." Usha " I am sorry. I have fall in love with you at first sight so Mom did this. I confess it was my mistake but don't I have right on normal life? I am not doing anything wrong during those hours I have confirmed it. I went to Doctor he told me that I am doing something in water might be hard job of labourer." Tarun "But didn't he suggest treatment." She kept quiet. Tarun sensed that they had never visited Doctor. Then suddenly their daughters entered in room. Tarun wanted to control emotion in presence of daughters. But Rita came towards him and asked " Do we have need of money? Are we so poor that Mom needed to work as maid?" " Not at all!!" He turned angrily towards Usha and screamed " Tell them." She shivered and started telling. Rita and Charu started laughing. Rita " This is joke, right? Such things just happen in movie on TV not in real life." But no one supported her. But suddenly both girls looked excited. Charu " I want to see Mom as maid." Tarun was so angry. Tarun " This is not joke." But they were so excited. Rita " Papa don't scream on us. It is not our mistake. We are just curious. Don't you feel curious too." Tarun smiled. Suddenly entire situation started to look like thrill. He sensed that he had to face troubles so why he had to cry during it. Those little girls were showing him positive way to handle situation. Tarun smiled. " We must meet this maid too. I will call Girish and confirm time." Charu started laughing. Rita " This is going to be fun." Tarun started to get thrilled too. It seemed like adventure now. Usha came to him and asked angrily " Are you mad?" Then she stopped herself. " Sorry I am the one who is mad." Then suddenly every one started laughing. They decided that they could manage it with fun. Usha was still upset. Tarun was still hurt but they sensed thrill could reduce their pains. Tarun decided that he could contact Girish and must meet this maid. He was so confused but he controlled his emotions and went ahead. Usha was standing beside him. She suddenly hold his hand. He wanted to push it away but then he looked in her eyes. They were pleading to him. He let her hold his hand. He loved her and he couldn't left her in these crisis. After all she did everything for him and he couldn't forget her devoted attitude towards him. He decided that he could manage crisis.
When Tarun went in room, he called Girish and told him everything. Girish was shocked. Girish " You must stop at home and follow her to see where she is going?" Tarun " You are right." Girish " But where did she keep salary?" Tarun was shocked by practical thinking of Girish even in those crisis. Tarun " You are so nice. I never thought about it." Girish " I mean it. According to my knowledge she was working at least in three houses. Her salary is not less." Tarun was shocked. He disconnected call. Tarun " You need treatment otherwise you will harm yourself with that work." Usha smiled and said " No. I am fine." " You are not. You are working for three houses and someone is taking your salary. Tomorrow I will stay in home and see what is happening. Then we take appointment and go to Doctor." She nodded. But in her heart she hoped that it would not happen. Next day even their daughters didn't agree to go to school. They all sat with patience. Entire time Usha was perfect. Then they took lunch and they went to take rest. Usha came in bedroom. Then she decided that she should sit with others. They sat together in hall. Everything was fine. Then slowly Usha began to feel sleepy. Usha didn't want to close eyes but she began to feel such pressure that she closed her eyes. Soon they all sensed that she was sleepy. Tarun " Why don't you just go and sleep?" " No..no I want to stay awake." Then slowly she went to sleep in chair only. When she woke up, she started walking in different way. Tarun tried to call her but she didn't sense. She just kept walking ahead. When she came out of room her dress was changed. She was looking totally different. She was looking like some poor woman who didn't have much money. She didn't response to anyone at all. Finally she reached on road. Tarun tried to stop her. She slapped him and started cursing him like some woman who belonged to lower background. She was even trying to kick him but he ran away from her. He ran inside society but she kept cursing. Then she started walking. He was so scared. He didn't dare to follow her. This was too much thrill for them all. Charu " I never thought Mom would kick anyone like this." Tarun " I sense one thing. She needed Doctor, psychiatrist." Her Mom " But he would lock her up." " No. He will admit her and cure her then they will send her out." Her Mom nodded. Tarun called family Doctor and told him entire situation. Family Doctor " I can't believe it. You don't sense anything wrong until it don't come to this situation." " Sorry but I can't. Kids never mentioned it." " Really? What about you? Don't you feel that her hands are too rough. She is getting too tired." "She never looked tired. I thought her hands were rough but she gave excuses." " Okay fine. I will give you number of psychiatrist. Take appointment as soon as possible." He agreed. He disconnected call. He was about to call psychiatrist when Girish called. Girish " Are you alright?" Tarun " Yes. Why?" " Actually my wife called. Rakhama I mean your wife.." " ohh this is her name. Let me guess. She must be telling how did she hit me. Don't worry I am fine." Then he told entire episode. " So I am calling Doctor." " Good decision. Bye and all the best." Then he called psychiatrist. He got appointment after few days. It was normal for them. He sensed one thing that Usha needed to work for few days. He sensed another thing. She was going to vanish in eyes of her employers but he had no option. He went to search inside her cupboard. Soon he found receipts of money transfer to some one in name of Rakhama. He saw every thing. He asked Usha's mother " Do you know this woman?" Her Mom shivered and said " She was witch who use to babysit Usha!!" He started laughing. His mother-in-law told him story of Usha's childhood. She told him that this baby sitter use to do black magic. One day Usha found her doing it. She told it to all. Rakhama was thrown out of house. " It is so strange such a horrible thing." Tarun " May be madness started due to this belief." His mother-in-law looked confused. Then Usha came back. She asked them what happened but no one told her much. For few days they kept moving ahead same way. Finally that day came when they reached to psychiatrist. Usha couldn't able to tell much. She just didn't remember. But Tarun told all. Usha started crying when she sensed that she hit Tarun. Psychiatrist " Relax. You have Dissociative Identity Disorder. It developed due to fear which Rakhama created on your childish heart. Don't worry. You have just one more personality. I have seen patients who had multiple personalities. I will not lie to you. It will take time but you will be fine." She nodded. Tarun " So I need to keep her here." " No..no she could go home. We will slowly stop it by treatment. Just remember one thing she was doing it before it didn't harm us. But we will cure her and she will be normal. Just keep attention on her soon you sense she stopped it." Tarun smiled. They both went out with hope. Now they were truly holding hands. They didn't have secret between them. They went out with promise to help each other on each way.
The End
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