Chapter 3 - Deception

"Hello. I am Rubiya.. we need to talk.. are you free?"

"Can we make a date for lunch tomorrow?", I asked as if in a daze.

"Sure thing", she said and hung up.

**********

I was very confused by the way Dr. Ananth had given Rubiya's phone number. Also the promptness with which Rubiya had called me. I would have loved to wait for some days before I contacted her. I planned to heavily to count upon the surprise of the visit. I knew she would be now be in a very defensive position and it would be hard for me to make her trust me and sift the truth from the lies. For there seems so much going on.. so many emotions.. such contradictions and yet said with such sincerity that I was totally flummoxed. I knew this would be one of the most important cases in my life. How important., even I didn't know.

It wasn't hard to talk to Rubiya. She was a petite woman with winsome smile. Her henna dyed hair glinted in the sun. But her eyes were brown and so direct. Witchy eyes. It seemed like she looked through you and knew what was hidden deep inside you. One can never believe this person ever needed therapy. Such was her personality!

And I had to ask no questions. She was angry and she wanted to be heard. She didn't exchange any pleasant talk with me.

She said, " I have something to say to you and please listen. That woman has manipulated him enough. I guess she wants him to lose his sanity like she has. All she says is bunch of lies. He is one of the most amazing person I have ever met. I love him yes. And yet he never in anyway tried to take advantage of my vulnerability, believe me, I wouldn't have complained. Nor would have any body else. The irony is that he loves her"

She softened up when she talked about him. I could then ask her few questions and she readily replied. She simply spoke about how he had helped her when she came out of a deeply abusive relationship and how he was her pillar of support. Other females, his colleagues, their common friends every one kept saying the same thing .

I wondered how a guy can be loved so thoroughly by everyone. How can there not be atleast one person who had some grudge on him.. And yet the consensus was that she was a mad hatter and he was universally loved. And yet Akriti's words, her story affected me. I felt I was missing something. Even if the Doctor was innocent, there has to be some basis for Akriti's delusions.

I decided to hypnotize Akriti and applied for the permission from the department. I was surprised to see that Akriti readily agreed for the tests and yet, Dr Ananth resisted. I tried to reason with him and even tried to force him and yet he was adamant that as her husband and psychologist, he cannot allow it. Thats when I felt something is wrong.

Read more...

Deception - Chapter 2

" Why did you marry her?" I asked . We were sitting in the roadside deli near Mr Ranganathan's Clinic. One week after our first meet, I finally decided to pay him a visit.

Akriti and I were on talking terms. Thats just about it. The relation was strained, almost on tethers. I was stressed out . She was mercurial and exacting . Could say frequently exasperating.. however I cannot deny I had a blast with her. Her wry sense of humor and heavenly cooking compensated for everything. I needed a break! And gentle and warm nature of Ananth was just that....

It was a beautiful morning .. birds chirping.. a nice day for picnic and Ananth was an interesting person.. still charming..I could feel that I am being sweet to him.. and knowing that didn't stop me either.. such was his charm...No wonder he was successful... his patients responded to him really well... Not surprisingly most his patients are women ...

So I asked, " What made you marry her? I know she seduced you".

" You should understand.. she couldn't have seduced me if i didn't want it.. but I did. I fell in love her"
" Akru did tell me about your love story... But I am interested about after the marriage thing.. When did this accusations start?"

" Around 5 years after we married. She started playing mind games with me initially. She was bored of marriage. Wanted some fun.. but only with me"
" What do you mean by fun?"
" Well.... She would make me beg for sex and yet won't sleep in my bed. be jealous of each of my patients... and when I became really angry... she would continue to tease me.. till I cudnt bear anymore... thats when I would force her.. and then it would be amazing... "

I gazed at him for sometime trying to gauge if he was saying the truth. He convinced me.

" So.. she forced you to rape her and you did... and what was amazing about it?"
" I didn't rape her! She is my wife for god sake! I did act rude.. but eventually it was mutual... a little rough than usual may be but not rape..."
" Okay. Please continue. You know what I want to hear.."

He sighed but continued in a dispassionate and pinched voice..

" You don't believe me do you?"
" I don't know what to believe. I am just trying fit the pieces to get the whole picture"
" Well I don't blame you. I know its hard for you.. you like us both", he said understandingly.

For some reason, this made me defensive.

" I try hard to not get involved with my work emotionally."

" But you are failing right now. My wife has this effect on everyone. I still couldn't figure out why..."
"Excuse me!!", I said exasperatedly.. I didn't like his high handedness!

" Sometimes, I believe in what my wife says. She is so mesmerizing "

I stopped and let him talk.. coz he was saying the truth.. she was that.. a master story teller!

" She was such an beautiful wench.. and willful.. and hurt.. but like a lioness.. vicious.. the things she has seen and undergone.. we cant even imagine.. even if we r psychologists.. that experience is hers.. and she is marked for life.. she needs help yes... I give the best thing possible.. I give her love" , he said that looking into my face.. with tears in his eyes.. with utter sincerity that left me shaken..

" I... don't know what to say.." I said.

" I am sorry. Its just that I love her so much.. but she is so hurt that.. she doesn't understand the language of care.. just that she needs time.."

He was getting emotional I could see.. just to change subject I said, "Tell me about your kids.. how do they take all this stuff?"

"They don't know anything.. "

"You know thats bull crap"

This was a wrong thing to say coz he visibly closed up.. I wonder why I neevr realized how shoddily I handled this case... If anyone else did notice no one said anything...

He said, "They are safe and in boarding school. I never ever would let them be affected by this.."

"And you think that being away from family would help them achieve that? "

He decided to keep quiet...

The silence was broken by a phone call... his mobile rung...

"Hi, How are you Rubiya? Oh thats just gr8! Am so proud of you..." I was not paying attention but the name caught my mind.. it was one of the lady Akriti had mentioned in her story.. one who was supposed to be in love with him and one with whom he had affair...

"Hey I am with.... you know... So I will call you later okay? Yes I will be there in the party and yes I will come alone.. I wont spoil your party dear.. I promise.. bye"

"I want to meet her" I said.

"Who?"

"This Lady Rubiya! She is the one mentioned in your wife's statement"
"I am sorry, I cant make you meet my client"
"I can ask her permission. Let her choose"
"She has nothing to do with this.. My wife is lying! I told you why..She is insecure and delusional.. you know this is clear cut kleinian situation!"

'
--In those cases in which the significance of reality and real objects as reflections of the dread internal world and images has retained its preponderance, the stimuli from the external world may be felt to be nearly as alarming as the phantasied domination of the internalized objects, which have taken possession of all intuitive and to whom the ego feels compulsively bound to surrender the execution of all activities and intellectual operations, together of course with the responsibility for them'

This is exactly whats happening with her! She fears me coz in our relationship I am the giver.. So in rebellion she cries foul and when I nurture her she is back to normal!"

"Dr. Ananth. I know you are more experienced than me. However, I do not have any back ground knowledge about your wife. I am here to investigate if there is any truth in her claims. And I plan to find that out. I dont care about what you think. I need answers and I will get it whether you are comfortable with it or not"

My voice had a timbre more than my usual one. I was irritated and it showed... I felt more drained than I usually am!

Soon I left the deli and went for a walk.. I had to clear my mind there were just too many impressions.. What exactly is true.. their love or the ugly scar on her face??

I received an SMS.. it was Dr Ananth.. he had sent Rubiya's phone number and few others too.. The ladies he was supposed to have relations with....

It was late in the evening around 8:00 I was out with Shlok having dinner when I got a call..

"Hello. I am Rubiya.. we need to talk.. are you free?"

Read more...

Deception

Prologue

=========

I am 60 today. Not that it should matter in any way to the story... but well I am getting awarded achievement award from the President of India. I should be glad. I am not. I am psychologist. Par excellent in everyone's opinion but me. Like every successful psychologist, I have a string of books in my name. I have done my duty by the society by helping police in many ways. I freelance for some NGO and counsel the abused kids and women. I should be happy. I am not. I feel incomplete. Thats why this story.

I wouldn't have written this story, if it wasn't for Myra. Myra my daughter... The one i love the most. The one i have done injustice to. That's the reason,I am gonna put all the truth here. I hope she finds strength to forgive me. I did the best I could.

For the first time in my life.... the only time . I lost my objectivity. I got involved with the subject. She was Myra's mother. Yes Myra is adopted.

I was soo happy back then. Had received my first award. Doing the work I loved and doing well. I know there is nothing much I could have done. The psychologist in me advices me to let go.. The woman in me can't...

I have to do this.. before I receive my award I have to do this!

Read more...

Deception- Chapter 1

It was one of the most dismal morning! Like Bangalore is known for .. we had unexpected rains. The traffic jam that ensued had made me upset. I wanted to be home. No I wanted to be with Shlok. My love. and now my husband.

Finally 3 hours late, I reached Kanakpura road where she lived.

Akruti... The victim or the villain? In her case everything is so muddled. You cant help but love her charm..her humor.. her concern.. Such a warm host she was... Even while sporting a huge patch on her eye. she has this huge grin plastered on her face.

" Ah you are completely wet and late", She said tongue in cheek.

" The traffic uff! I am sick of it!" , I replied rolling my eyes.

" Why don't we sit in the kitchen? It is warm and I can make something for you. You must be hungry"

" Oh starving! "

I sat on the dining table as she made coffee. Over coffee and yummy home made bhajiyas we started talking.

" Akruti. You know why I have come here don't you?"

"Yes Dr Rao I know. You guys dont trust my words"

" You have an history with us and not all very good . This time it wont be easy. It will take hard evidence for you to convince me. This is the last time you know"

"Believe me I know. I have lived in the system all my life!"

" Mr Ranganathan is a very respected man. He is my counterpart you know. " , He is a psychologist.

" As if I would forget that! Thats how we met you know. "

The equanimity with which she took my words kind of surprised me. I put it to the fact that she wants to impress me. I decided to play along and said, “ Tell me about it”

“ He was such an handsome man. He still is”, she smiled.

I didn't turn the recorder on. I wanted her to trust me first. We were quiet for some time.. it was as if she was dreaming.. remembering the past. I took the time to observe her properly.
It is very hard to tell much about her features as her eyes was swollen with a black eye, but her mouth was sensitive and with a pout that many would sell their soul to have. Slim and lithe she was still very beautiful. Long eyelashes and intelligent face that was live with good humor and fun.

She was wearing a very pleasing floral saree. And an apron tied to her waist. She looked like any other housewife happy in her life save her face.

“ So serious and so helpful”, she continued.

“ The first time I saw him I fell in love. He didnt want to love me.. but he couldnt resist me”, Still dreaming she started giggling.
“ I seduced him you know. And he drooled like a dog seeing a piece of juicy bone”, she guffawed.

I already started liking her. It became more like talking to a friend.. somewhere down the line we both forgot for what I have come until.....

“ You know he didnt want to marry me. He said I am not his type. He liked his ladies a bit servile and a lot dependant on him. That I am just too independent....” , she said

“ Bull!”, I was indignant! “ Why did you marry him? And how did it happen? “

“ I loved him. Even after all I have faced I still love him. We got married because he loves me. I told you.. I seduced him” she replied.

“ So how many kids do you have? “

Without knowing the bond that we had broke. And this always would be the tone of interview. Somehow we were back to the actual relationship.

“ Don't you have it on file? “, she asked shortly.

“ Yes, I do. I want you to tell me though.”

“ 2. My boy is in 4th std and one girl. She is 7 years old.”

“ Where are they? “

“Both are in boarding school. We didnt want them to be affected by the issues we are facing.”

“ Whose decision was it?”

“ Ours. We decided it unanimously.”

“ Do children like it?”

“ They cannot decide what they want.”

I had antagonized her. I wanted to make amends but her husband came home. I was waiting for her to explain me off as her friend. I wanted to see fear, guilt and servitude that is common in most abused women.

I saw none of those. What I saw was a romantic union of two people so amazingly intune with each other.

They hugged smilingly thats when he noticed me. I saw a change in emotion here. I could see the man visibly closing up. He came to me formally with no smile and yet seemed warm.

“ Ah Dr Rao, pleased to meet you. Congratulations for your award”, he said as we shook hands. He had a firm grip.

“ Thank you. Didnt expect you to recognize me Dr Ranganathan.”

“ Call me Ananth. We all need to keep tabs about the competition don't we?” He laughed.
“ Quite true”, I replied laughingly.

“ I hope you would stay for dinner”

“ Oh no. I have already taken too much of Akru's time. I got to go.”

“ Please stay. It was fun”, Akriti said without any enthusiasm.

“ I insist. Lets have dinner in some restaurant. We have one nearby. The food is awesome you got to taste it”, he said.

Somehow I suddenly wanted to leave. I couldn't possibly like both of them. They were a very likable and warm couple. I wondered what evilness lurked behind the man to hurt the wife he loves so much. Thats what interests me in my field. The complexity of human mind.

“ No some other time.” I replied. “ We will keep meeting for next few weeks. Why don't we meet for lunch. I would like to ask you few questions” I was all business.

“ Sure. Anytime you would like.” he complied.

Soon I left their house with a very warm send off. Akriti even gifted me a casket of wine. I hadnt had fun for a long time. I even shared my life with her. She was so easy to talk to. I missed my girlfriends who had become busy with life kids n family.

Dr Ranganathan seemed to know what I was there but he didnt seem angry at all. Akriti was very friendly initially, but asking her more than what she wanted to say made her angry. I couldn't peg both of them. I should be able to. I am a psychologist!

Soon I received Shlok's call and I forgot all about them....

Read more...