A Butcher knife

The maid came in switched on the light. She looked at Akshara sitting very still and said softly, "Madam you had been sitting like this whole day. Please, drink this Tea.  I assure you, Madam, Sir will be all right"

 Akshara looked up. The concern of her maid Malathi touched her heart. She silently took the Tea and sipped it. The tea really did some good. She handed over the empty cup to Malathi, and went to the washroom and washed her face with cold water. She looked at her reflection.

She was looking still very pretty at the age of 34. She never looked one year older than twenty. And how much her husband Aravind loved her! Four months of happiest marriage! What could have driven Aravind to this end of trying to take away his own life? Why did he not share his problems with her? Endless questions burst into her head with no answers.  

She decided to freshen up and started changing. Her cell phone started ringing. She picked up and said in trembling voice, anticipating bad news. But it was Nitin, her PA from the hospital. He said, "Maam, Good news. Aravind Sir had come back to consciousness. You can come and meet him" 

The maid, listening to the one side conversation understood the massage from the relief in her Madam's face. She called the driver and then got into the car with her without being told to do so. 

As the car rushed towards the hospital waves of the memory of her past life kept flashing in her memory--- Her short spell of interaction with Aravind and her quick decision for marriage. Though she had never taken interest in any men earlier in her life, frequently seeing Aravind in so many charity events, blood donation camps, books distribution for poor children, etc somehow made her take an interest in him.

He was an Engineer and was earning a very average salary most of which he was spending for the poor. She had never seen a young youth taking so much of his time for the welfare of the poor and needy. Her heart softened towards him without her knowledge. She was the Vice President of an international Bank.  She was the one who proposed to Aravind while he hesitated pointing at this difference in their status. But Akshara was adamant and they married. Four months of blissful married life. Being an orphan and having grown up in the hostel she had not seen much affection in life. This boundless love that Aravind showered on her made her life heaven. But suddenly everything seems have come down crashing 

Today morning she had an early Bank meeting. She was getting ready at 6.30 A.M when she heard the scream of Malathi. Rushing to the office room she found Aravind sprawled on the sofa, his mouth frothing. The quick-thinking maid called the driver and with his help got him into the car and they rushed him to the hospital. After the painful waiting in front of the critical patients' room for two hours, the doctor came out. He said that though they had washed away the poison from Aravind's stomach still, his condition was critical and they have to wait for the next 24 hours to assure that he is out of danger. Earlier Akshara's office staff had already rushed to the hospital to help their kind boss. Now they convinced her to go home and they took charge of sitting in the waiting room by turns. 

The car jerked as it pulled in front of the hospital. As they entered Aravind's room, the doctor examining him looked up and said, "He is still not out of danger. So please take care and no emotional talk please!" 

Akshara looked at the pale white face of her husband. Aravind's eyes looked at her. His eyes filled with a tear he as he said, in a feeble voice his lips trembling, "I am very sorry Akshara" 

She smiled warmly and gently patted his hand and said, "Don't worry about anything Aravind. Get well soon and come back home " She left the room. 

One week passed. After his discharge from the hospital, Akshara took leave from the office. She spent all her time with him, nursing him, taking care of every need of him. Not a single time she asked him about the reason for his suicide attempt.

Akshara started working again. One fine morning during breakfast Aravind on his own, talked in a stammering voice, all about his problem. He said that a month ago he was fired from his job. He and two of his friends together decided to start a software business. Since he did not want to burden Akshara, the three of them took a loan from one of the money lenders. One fine morning Aravind found that his two friends had cheated him, sold away from his office and all the furniture etc and vanished with his money. So the heavy loan from the moneylender was on his head who was giving threatening calls to him because there was no more any office left. To avoid being humiliated he decided to end his life. 

Akshara said in a soothing voice, "Arvind if you had asked me I would have arranged for a loan properly from the bank. Why did you get entangled with the money lenders who are mostly illegal operators? By way, now tell me how much loan you own to that man?" 

Aravind swallowed hard and said, "Three crores of rupees" 

Akshara was shocked. She said, "Such a huge amount just to start a company? Even I cannot raise a loan for this amount. Neither I have liquid cash or investments which I can liquidate immediately! But still, don't worry. I will find a solution in two days" 

Next day when they were at the dinner table Aravind started, "Akshara, I have an idea provided you don't get me wrong! But, I can give you an easy solution" 

A surprised Akshara said, "What solution you have Aravind?" 

Aravind cleared his throat and with a little hesitation started, "Akshara, I heard that our CM had sanctioned huge cash of 30 crores to your Bank. This is for the distribution to the poor families of farmers who had committed suicide. I understand that you are the head of this entire operation. From this fund, you can easily give me three crores against any false farmer's family name and no one ever know about this" 

Akshara was shocked beyond words. She looked at him in disbelief. After a few moments, she said, "How could anyone misuse a fund so easily Aravind? We have to show so many records of transaction like the signature of the family members and the witness also for the same, It is not done in isolation. Fund distribution has rigorous rules for implementation. It is not easy as you think" 

Aravind now laughed mildly. He now looked a completely changed man. He said "Akshara, leave all that to me. I can get a dozen farmers' signatures and three witnesses for everyone at the flash of my hand. I can manage it all in no time." 

Akshara, too stunned sat like a statute blankly looking at him unable to believe her ears. After five minutes she got up abruptly and said, "OK Aravind, I will think over it tonight" She quickly went to the bedroom and locked herself in-- the first time in their married life. 

Next day morning when Aravind came to the breakfast table, she was waiting for him, already dressed up for a meeting. She said, "Aravind I got an early meeting to attend. You ask the money lender to come to the Red house at eleven AM today. I will give him the money there" Before Aravind could talk anything she turned and left the house. 

Aravind asked Malathi, "Which is this 'Red house' she is mentioning?" Malathi said, "That is the small apartment No 303, next to the "Steaming Coffee House" on the main road. I will get you the key. She brought the key and gave it to him. 

At 11.30 AM, Aravind got an SMS from Akshara asking him to meet her in the Coffeehouse at 11.45 A.M. When Aravind reached the hotel, he found her sitting at a table, all alone and sipping a coffee. Her handbag was on the table half-covering a red stole, she was wearing in the morning.  

Aravind reached her in two steps and pulling a chair sat down. He asked in a hurry, " You gave the money? I hope you gave him the money in cash. You know these transactions cannot go by cheques." She continued to sip her coffee coolly and nodded her head. He asked impatiently, "Tell me how it went. Did he argue or took it quietly" 

Akshara spoke calmly, "You have nothing to worry now Aravind. He cannot trouble you anymore. Because. I had killed him just now with this" 

 Saying this, she moved her handbag and pulled the stole away. Aravind almost screamed when he saw the blood-soaked butcher knife. Akshara continued calmly, "You don't worry about me. It was a perfect murder. I came out in between the meeting and within five minutes was back in the meeting. Thus I have the perfect alibi.  You should be happy dear as all your problem with money is over permanently now " 

Aravind burst out in an angry tone, "You killed my friend? He only knows the password for our money in the locker. Now how will I get that money? You stupid lady...." 

Akshara interrupted him in a surprised voice, "Which password my dear?" 

Aravind suddenly realized his mistake and said, "Oh! I was worried actually about you and...." He stammered to continue. 

Akshara smiled and said, "Aravind, I have not become the Vice- President of a Bank just like that by chance. We study a lot of frauds and cheating in our MBA. You men think that a single lady, bonded with marriage, will do anything for you? Though I will send you behind the bars anyway still, I would have even forgiven all that drama of your false charity, your drama of a suicide, paying the doctor to act as per your wish everything as a common con man's drama. But what I can never forgive you is,  that you wanted to steal from the fund allotted to the poor farmers" 

As Aravind scrambled to get up and run, the iron hands of the Inspector who standing behind him quietly so far, caught him and promptly handcuffed him. The Inspector said, "Thank you, Madam, as per your phone call we had already arrested the three criminals who were hiding your Red house thank for your cooperation and help" He dragged Aravind away. 

Akshara called the waiter. When he came she said "Thank you so much for your meat chopping knife"  The waiter smiled. She kept a heavy tip on the plate and stood up. Akshara, the modern educated Indian girl, walked away with a smile on her lip and her head held straight with pride.