An Affair and Its Aftermath - A Real Life Story

A Different Perspective, Surya!

Fortunately for your friend her strategy of talking directly to her husband worked out. But, honestly, Surya, I don't think it would work out in every case. In Malathi's case also she confronted her husband but it did not work. Men blinded by lust and infatuation will never listen to wife's reasoning.
As you said rightly Malathi should not have allowed her sister to stay with her. Every woman (and of course every man) should be constantly alert and avoid such tempting situations.
regards,
sridhar

 

Thanks Sushi For The Vehement Reply, but...

Dear Sushi,
I am very happy to note that this story has impacted you so much to come out so vehemently against Malathi. Now these are my replies
a) Agreed, if not for Latha, Balan could have gone astray with his secretary or his female colleague. But to tell you honestly, after having moved with many people, I do find that people like Balan are not normally womanisers. But given an opportunity they will always try to wag their tails. All said and done, Malathi bringing in Latha and creating circumstances for Latha and Balan, is not a prudent act.
b) I have never said that Malathi has gained her 'paradise back.' If you read the last paragraph (again) you will find that she still remains a frustrated woman. She keeps an emotional distance from Balan and does not want a second child. She is not the old Malathi. Then why should she scheme to win Balan back? Well, I have answered this question a thousand times. Will do one more time for my dear friend. Now Malathi is betrayed by her husband and her sister. She is more hurt by her sister's actions (than her husband's) as they have grown up together as friends. Again when caught red handed the sister does not show any sense of remorse. Instead she was smiling, blushing and was taking Malathi for granted. So the foremost thought of revenge in Malathi's mind is against her sister. So in order to ruin her sister's life she 'wins' her husband back. If you ask me whether it is a rational decision, I'll say no. When in the height of emotions, while in the depth of despair caused by the worst possible betrayal, it's almost impossible for any normal human being to take a perfectly rational decision.
c) Yes there are many Ramas and Sitas and an equal number of Balan's and Lathas. That makes the world interesting.
thanks for joining (though late)and thanks for the strong replies.
regards,
sridhar

 

When I thought it was all over...

Purnima,
when I thought it was all over you have butted in with your strong views. First my heartfelt thanks for your nice words. We writers could survive without food or water but not without nice words of praise.
Whatever CV said was voiced by most of the members that they wont accept such a husband back. I always pose this question. Suppose the woman has an affair with the husband's brother or cousin and after a while she comes back, will any man accept her? Not at all. But a woman always or at least most of the times, accepts an errant husband.
But in this case I did not have any choice as Malathi was not a character created by me but a real life character. And she wants badly to take vengeance on her own sister Latha. Accepting her husband (or I would say pretending to accept her husband) is part of her overall scheme. If you see the last few words of the thread you will know that her acceptance is not total but only partial.
thanks for your views, Purnima.
Now go to the Malathi-mother-in-law thread and let me have your views.
regards,
Varalotti

 

Ideal All Right, But Impractical.......

Akshara,
(Incidentally yours is a very good name. It means "undestroyable" and I am sure, Akshara, that you have an indestructible will to match your name.
The Affair Malathy and the Mother-in-law Malathy are two different persons. About the affair Malathy I read her interview in a magazine several years back. I had stored the main points in that interview in my system. Then I constructed a story out of it for IL. The essentials are real while I took the typial writers' liberty with the details.
The mother-in-law Malathi is very real. I saw her in person and heard the story from her, as they say heard it from the horse's mouth. I do agree Malathi is an ideal person but not impractical. Akshara, if we rule out all idealits as impractical persons then the world will be populated only by practical crooks. Agreed it is very difficult to be like that Malathi. I honestly confess that if my daughter or sister is placed in a similar situation today I won't advise them to follow Malathi's footsteps. But her days were different and given her circumstances she did her best. The best thing about her was that she made a clear distinction between hating the actions of a person and hating the person herself.
I am grateful for the nice words you have expressed about my writings. Now that you are in a proper mood, why don't you go to the Anatomy of an Indian Marriage thread and give your views?
regards
Varalotti

 

Malathis may be Impractical, But They Are Real, Akshara!

Thanks for the response, Akshara. I have been in the world of fiction for donkey's years. But these two Malathies have nothing to do with my imagination. They are real, and one Malathi (the mil thread Malathi) I have seen in flesh and blood and have interacted with her. The other Malathi I picked from a womans magazine several years ago.
At the same time, Akshara, I do agree that we cannot be like those Malathies. The only reason we are glorifying these Malathies is that they did something which normally people of our stature cannot do.
Thanks for the response, Akshara.
Varalotti