The pass code

 

 

It had been long  Kritika and Rohan  had been married after falling in love during their college days .  It was a long battle against parents on either side,  to some extent the revolt of young blood had united them more than the love. Eventually , the parents gave up and this was a victory to the couple . The trophy was finally in the showcase .

However , the spark of fresh love gradually got doused by daily chores and maintaining life work balance. The trophy was covered by dust of negligence and taking the other one for granted. Then the fights started, where the involvement of the spouse started causing irritation rather than affection.Slowly but surely the trophy had  moved from shelf to the catacomb. What a pity !

But the world around them was oblivious of discord.  We often mould public opinion by showing them what ought to be rather than what actually is . It is a dangerous platform to twist emotion , time, complexion , form, opulence and the like. A lonely and gloomy evening is masked by the most convincing smile on social media. A dear one can be conjured up  by blending his past images on the photograph clicked in the present. One can morph and alter images to appear better looking or muscular or slender . Some pauper can appear to be draped in the most expensive branded garments.  It is obvious that we can easily befool the world , though eventually there is a mirror that reflects inwards to show who is being tricked. It is like window shopping  with a shoe string budget. You generally end up regretting for not being able to buy so many items  rather than feel happy on what you could eventually afford to. The glamour of striking a perfect pose with only thirty two clicks available in a camera will always turn these unlimited options available  bland.

So, coming back to Kritika and Rohan , their friends and relatives would not know what was simmering beneath the surface. It was only social reputation that made the couple tolerate each other. As a mutual convenience they minimized interaction and started living in their respective cocoons .

When the lava does not erupt, there is  increased risk of an earthquake.  The stifled emotion and loneliness made them start looking for solace outside the marriage.  In fact they starting exploring options in an event of divorce . Both starting developing friends they shouldn’t have done and started spending time where they found more relief than the cobwebs at home. They would chat with these friends for hours together even at home to fill the emptiness.  Rohan and Kritika had in a a shortwhile established a justification of a parallel life , beyond the monotony of matrimony . Their phones that were used interchangeably during courtship were now secured by pass codes  even as they sensed mutual insecurity.  This pass code was applied more in their demeanor where they stopped trying to solve the complex algorithm and explore each other again.Time flew in this morbid equilibrium, the volcano was now a passive one. There was sheer callousness where even the cactus had dried up. The secret disloyalty of spouse had convinced each one more to retaliate in an equal measure.

One day, Rohit met with a terrible accident. His car had rammed into a truck moving in the opposite direction.  He was rushed to a hospital , crushed in his car and shards of glass puncturing all over his body. Some passerby had called Kritika and she came rushing to the hospital.  The doctors tried their level best to delay the inevitable . Rohan and Kritika knew these were a final few moments together. The hospital staff left them alone realizing it. They looked each other in the eye, words were failing and tears were overflowing.  Rohan folded his hands seeking forgiveness and Kritika knew not whether to forgive or to repent. Rohan finally heaved his last breath and mustered strength to utter his last words. Kritika was inconsolable. Rohan said “100520” . He wanted to die with a clear conscience.  Kritika realized this was the date they had first met. Incidentally this was the passcode of her phone. She was devastated . Incidentally she knew this was also the passcode of Rohan’s phone. What Rohan knew will always remain a secret . About the secret.

 

7.6.24