Chap 5 - Green curtains

Green color symbolizes nature/life/growth

“So what do you think happened that day?” Shalini asked Vipin. They were once again in Pawan's study. Vipin had kept the window open and she could feel a draught in there but she didn't complain about it.

“I will come to that when I get adequate proof for the same,” Vipin replied. “But I do feel that someone stepped out of the room that day without alerting you and he went out through the window across the lawn.”

“I think you are insinuating that Pawan borrowed Mohan's shoes and went out that way,” Shalini summarized it neatly. “Am I correct?”

Deepak was taken aback by Shalini's words but Vipin was left pleasantly surprised. Shalini's stocks went up high in his esteem.

“I am indeed suggesting the same,” Vipin admitted.

“He could have done it,” Shalini sighed. “He knew that I wouldn't check in on them. Even if I had made an exception that day, it would have been explained easily.”

“Come on now,” Deepak blew up. “What would Mohan do here all alone?”

“He brought a book about classic games of chess, didn't he?” Vipin replied to Deepak. “He would set up the board and make the moves trying to understand the game he was studying while Pawan would head out. When Pawan would return, Mohan would get his dirty shoes back and then he would dirty the hallway of the house. All the time he would be looking at Shalini to either apologize to her for dirtying her house or pitying her for not realizing what her husband was up to.”

“So the question is that,” Shalini interjected, “where would Pawan go wearing Mohan's shoes?”

“Let us head out this way,” Vipin suggested, “and check.”

Within minutes, all three of them were out on the lawn.

“Pawan was back within an hour,” Vipin mused aloud. “That suggests that he went somewhere nearby.”

There were houses on both sides of Shalini's house.

“He couldn't have gone to the right,” Shalini told them. “From where I sit watching TV, I have a view of the road on this side. He must have gone to his left.”

They decided to check the houses on their left side. They walked in silence for some minutes.

“What are we looking for?” Deepak asked his companions. He was snubbed by both his companions.

Shalini stopped after walking for about 20 minutes.

“If we follow the principle of 20:20:20,” she addressed Vipin, “this is as far as he could come.”

“Please include me in your cryptic chat,” Deepak requested them.

“20 minutes of walking to the house, 20 minutes of spending time in there, and then 20 minutes of walking back to his own house,” Vipin informed his clueless friend. “I believe that Pawan might have walked faster than us but he wouldn't have dared run out on the streets. Someone might have noticed him running and that might have thrown a spanner in his works.”

“It was all a game for him,” Shalini spoke softly but Vipin could sense her pain. “He wanted to keep me in the dark while all the time sneaking out of his own house to carry on an affair.”

“He was a lousy husband,” Deepak spat out.

Vipin didn't comment.

“So do you see any house which he could have visited?” Deepak asked her. When she shook her head, Deepak looked toward Vipin for an answer.

“Let us go about and ask the owners of these houses,” Vipin suggested. Deepak's chagrin didn't go unnoticed by Vipin but he shrugged it off.

“Please, let's not,” Deepak begged them. “Let us not disturb these people.”

Vipin and Shalini ignored him. For the next 30 minutes, they went from one house to another calling on the indignant residents. Most of them recognized Shalini and tried to engage her in small talk but some of them were quite rude at being disturbed in that cavalier manner. Deepak stayed behind Vipin and sometimes he wouldn't even step out to meet the owner, preferring to stare at the plants. Vipin noticed Deepak's discomfort with concern.

The only house they couldn't check was the house numbered 7/2D for it was locked. The old lady who lived in the adjoining house informed them kindly that the house had been rented out by a pretty young girl who would sometimes visit the house to air it.

“She likes green curtains,” the old lady smiled. “She has green eyes too. Beautiful eyes. And she has a great smile.”

When they stepped back on the road, Shalini stared at the locked house with undisguised hatred.

“This is the house,” Shalini spoke with vehemence. “I just know it.”

From where they stood, the pale-green curtains looked beautiful. The green potted plants placed on the window sill accentuated the calming effect. It was a place full of life.