A Test of Faithfulness
By Lokanath Mishra:
Nita lay sleeping peacefully, exhausted from her long day at work and the intimate moments she had shared with her husband Abhisek. Abhisek, still awake, sat beside her, engaged in his Smartphone. OSuddenly, a Facebook notification caught his attention – a friend request from a woman he didn’t recognize. He accepted the request and sent a message asking, “Do we know each other?”
The woman’s response took him by surprise: “I heard you got married, but I still love you.” A wave of nostalgia washed over him as he realized who she was – Arunita, a friend from his past. Her profile picture showed she was still a very beautiful woman, and Abhisek couldn’t help but feel drawn to her.
However, as he gazed at his sleeping wife, he felt a surge of gratitude and love. Nita had left her comfortable life with her family to build a new life with him. She had placed her trust in him, and he was determined to honor that trust. The contrast between his past and present couldn’t be more stark.
Abhisek thought about how Nita’s family had always been there for her, providing comfort and support. Now, she relied on him for emotional support, and he was committed to being that rock for her. Despite the temptation to reconnect with his past, he knew what he had to do.
With a sense of conviction, Abhisek chose not to respond to Arunita, ensuring that he would not be tempted to rekindle a past flame. He turned off his phone, snuggled closer to Nita, and drifted off to sleep, his heart filled with love and gratitude for his wife.
In that moment, Abhisek knew that he had made a promise to Nita, to himself, and to their relationship – a promise to remain faithful and committed, no matter what life threw their way.
As Abhisek drifted off to sleep, his mind began to wander back to the past. He thought about Arunita, the girl who had stolen his heart in school. They had been inseparable, studying together until class 12th, and their love for each other had been strong. But fate had other plans, and Arunita had left for abroad to pursue higher education. They had lost touch, and Abhisek had often wondered what had become of her.
After graduation, Abhisek had landed a job as a clerk in a government office. He had met Nita, a simple and kind-hearted woman from a middle-class background, and they had gotten married. Their married life had been happy, with Nita being a faithful and loving partner.
But now, after ten long years, Arunita had reappeared in his life. She had risen through the corporate ranks, working for a multinational company with a hefty paycheck. Her message had been clear: she wanted to rekindle their romance, and was willing to pursue an extramarital affair with him.
Abhisek’s heart was torn. A part of him still yearned for the love they had shared in the past, and Arunita’s charms were still undeniable. But another part of him was deeply committed to Nita, who had stood by him through thick and thin. He knew that pursuing an affair with Arunita would be a betrayal of Nita’s trust, and would destroy the happy life they had built together.
As he lay in bed, Abhisek knew that he had to make a choice. Would he follow his heart and risk losing everything, or would he stand by his commitment to Nita and reject Arunita’s advances? The decision would not be an easy one, but Abhisek knew that he had to do what was right.
As Abhisek lay in bed, he couldn’t shake off the image of Arunita’s message, beckoning him to rekindle their past romance. But every time he thought of succumbing to temptation, he saw Nita’s innocent face in his mind’s eye. He remembered her kindness, her love, and her unwavering commitment to their family.
Abhisek’s heart swelled with emotion as he thought about the life they had built together. He saw visions of Nita’s bright smile, her laughter, and her tears. He remembered the countless sacrifices she had made for him, and the unwavering trust she had placed in him.
Suddenly, Abhisek’s eyes snapped open, and he sat up in bed with a newfound resolve. He reached for his phone and blocked Arunita’s number, closing the chapter on their past once and for all.
With a sense of relief and conviction, Abhisek lay back down beside Nita, wrapping his arms around her. He felt a deep sense of gratitude for the love they shared, and he knew that he would never betray that trust.
As he drifted off to sleep, Abhisek smiled, knowing that he had made the right decision. He had chosen to honor his commitment to Nita, and to protect the love and trust they had built together. The chapter on Arunita was closed, and Abhisek was ready to move forward, hand in hand with the love of his life, Nita.