Psychology of a Woman-ii

Read part one@ http://beyondjane.com/family/psychology-of-a-woman/

Part 2:

The news spread like wild fire once it came to light. A good two hours had passed before Basheer’s parents and sister ascertained the worst and decided that it could not be kept a secret forever. Fatima, their neighbor and her unmarried daughter, who was also a close friend of Aisha, were the first ones to see Aisha’s body. Fatima’s daughter fainted at the sight. Within no time, their house was swarming with people. Aisha’s father, who was a religiously active man of our neighborhood, and who was a mediator in the local disputes of any nature, was heartbroken on more than one account. Firstly, he had lost the child he loved the most, she being their first born. Secondly, it wasn’t a natural death and thirdly, he was worried sick for his daughter’s life after death, as it was a big sin (which also meant a confirmed ticket to hell) to end one’s life. Speculations were rife as to the reason for the extreme step and many theories were doing the rounds. No one knew what to believe until three days later, a letter addressed to Aisha’s mother found its way to their house. Her mother started crying even before she opened the letter as she well recognized her beloved daughter’s handwriting. The postman was curious and hung around till he realized that he wasn’t going to get the inside story. He then did the next best thing and gave this piece of news to Fatima next door who in turn wasted no time and rushed to Aisha’s house to uncover the mystery.

It turned out to be the confessions of the unfortunate girl which she thought she owed in the least to the people who brought her into this world and for reasons best known to her, posted it before pulling the noose. She admitted in the letter that she had grown particularly fond of a boy in the husband’s relation about a year after her marriage. The boy stayed close by her in-laws place and was often called upon to accompany Aisha, along with her mother in law, to the doctor for her routine checkups. He was in the hospital throughout when Aisha was in labor and later when she delivered her daughter. The hospital staff, seeing his anxiety, mistook him for her husband. He was always there when she needed support. He was a bus conductor and took the day off whenever the family required him. Every one considered this as his good nature and appreciated his help. He was welcome at their house any time of the day.  All was well till he disclosed his deep love to her. Though she herself was very fond of him, she avoided him for some time so as not to give him any hope. This did not last long as situations threw them together. When her daughter who was about 6 months old now, was admitted in the hospital for dysentery, he was at her side throughout the night and before long she reciprocated his feelings. Though they enjoyed their newfound love and talked into the night on their mobile phones, their relation was strictly platonic until five months after the birth of her son. Emotions took control of their combined guilt which had managed to keep the relation platonic for about four years and they brought it to the much awaited and obvious conclusion. They secretly enjoyed this status till two days before she took her life. They were caught red-handed by the sister in law who came visiting without notice. As the boy was a relative, it was hushed up but nevertheless the sister threatened of dire consequences when Basheer came back in two days. She asked Aisha if the children were indeed her brother’s. This was a little too much for her and because she lacked the courage to face the situation, she opted for the only other way out.