Her Master “What happened in the High Court today, Master?’ asked Selvi. “It’s all over, Selvi. She came in a matter of fact manner and never even looked at me. The judge asked us the history of our marriage. Of course, the lawyers had prepared us for the questions and had even given us the answers. The divorce judgment had an air of inevitability about it,” Dinesh said and ended his reply with a yawn. “Was that fellow there?” Selvi asked.
“You mean her lover? He was also there. They were talking very intimately and he was full of spirits,” he said.
“You must have felt very bad,” she said.
“No, it had to happen,” He washed his face and sat at the table.
“When did their affair begin?”
“A few months after our marriage. She must have met him somewhere. Anyway I was not meant for her.”
“Then why did you marry her in the first place?’
“No choice. I joined the software industry and my parents were looking for a bride. They knew her parents well, though not her.”
“And after marriage?”
“You know Selvi, I don’t belong to Chennai. I come from a village. And our values differed.”
“Quarrels?”
“Not so many. She did have a lot of hatred towards me. It was like a volcano waiting to erupt. What have you prepared for breakfast? I told you to give me fish. Where is it?”
“No fish today, master. It was a downpour day before yesterday.”
“Oh! Can’t I get even that?” He beat his fist on the table.
“Master, I can’t get sea fish tomorrow from my relative’s shop.”
“Tomorrow then.”
“Why didn’t you both have children, Master?”
“We planned.”
“I wish you didn’t.”
“No, Selvi, you won’t understand. This had to end. We were poles apart. I don’t blame her. I was just too old-fashioned. She of course was busy at her job as a software programmer in a better company, and was rising high slowly. I just couldn’t stick to any job, had too many problems with my boss wherever I went. I used to return home depressed. She loved going out – enjoying life. I was too dreamy, too aloof.”