Fate...

Out of Syllabus 33

"Life moves very fast.  It rushes from heaven to hell in a matter of seconds." - Eleven Minutes by Paulo Coelho

[Disclaimer: All characters appearing in this work are fictitious. Any resemblance to real persons, living or dead, is purely coincidental.]

Anitha lead a nearly perfect life. A good job, loving husband, a cute child to take care and a small house to live in. She led simple but happy life. Everything was going fine until that day. When she saw the news she was shell shocked.

Few years back. Anitha was doing her post graduation in Social Work. As usual she was the heart and soul of the college. Bubbly, live, charming, active, union chairperson.. she was an all rounder. If there was one defect in her, it was her looks. She was average looking, but her character over rode that particular defect. Job was her lecturer. He was perfect looking gentlemen in late 20's and too young for a lecturer. As if it was meant to happen, Job fell in love with Anitha. On the Valentine's day of the final year of Anitha, he proposed her. But Anitha being sensible that her Brahmin parents won't allow her to marry even from other caste, let alone a christian, politely rejected the proposal. Job was devastated.

Time went on. Anitha got a job as counselor in the famous hospital of the city. She got married and became well settled. Anitha's main job was to counsel the patients who are suffering from Sexually Transmitted Diseases (STD). Toughest part of her job was to inform the patients about the disease they are suffering from, which in many cases may go to extreme like AIDS. It was her job to help patients recover from the shock. On that day, she got one such extreme case where a patient suffers from AIDS. When she called the patient to her cabin, she was shocked to see him, it was Job. He was equally shocked to see her. May be because it was his Anitha, Job opened up.

After that fateful incident in college, Job felt so devastated that he found refuge in alcohol. Slowly alcohol turned into drugs. It was in the effect of drugs, he found out his passion for sexual pleasure. He sought pleasure in other women including prostitutes. He was so addicted that many a times he didn't take protective measures. As it was inevitable, he too succumbed to the hands of AIDS.

Anitha didn't know what to say. She just gave the medical report to Job, who felt numb upon seeing the disease. Without uttering a word, Job left the hospital. 

Next day Anitha saw the news that Job had committed suicide. She felt responsible. Remorse was pouring through every inch of her body. She told her husband that she wants to pay respect to the departed soul. At the graveyard she laid a rose on the grave and told

"I too loved you dear, but society will never accept us. Had I sacrificed that acceptance, I wouldn't have to suffer a lot today. I am sorry."