UNDER THE OATH

Wow! Hey Shikha, what a pleasant surprise? What hell you are doing here Shikha?

Shekhar a college colligue of Shikha became over enthuastic on seeing his college best friend after a long gap. But realised soon that something is very serious with Shikha on seeing the pale face of her. She was looking as if she is in infix in answering Shekhar's question. But he was equally surprised to see Shikha in the hospital lawn.

He suddenly changed his question and asked "what is wrong Shikha? With whom you are here in the hospital of psychic patients?

Shekhar here I am with my husband, who is a patient of Dr. Batra and right now is with Dr. Batra in his chamber, Shikha murmurred shyly.

Oh Shikha! sorry I forgot to tell you that after comleting my degree I got job in this hospital as a psychiatric. If you need any help please do not hesitate.

Come Shikha let us sit in the garden of this hospital till your husbad comes back, Where I would like to know the problem with your husband, may be I can be of some help.

Both went to the small garden.

Ya Shikha now tell me, what went wrong with your husband Shudhir? I saw him at the time of your marriage, he was looking smart and energetic at that time, even I had a little chat with him and foud that he was reasonably humorous, generous and friendly.

Shekhar mine was a lovely married life. I and Sudhir were enjoying life to the fullest. We have a beautyful son 'Shiva' who is now five. Sudhir was so caring husband any woman can proud. Sudhir was professor in 'Kumayun University' and was the choice of his students and college management because of his teaching skills and generous behavior. I was on the seventh sky, but suddenly everything went in the air. For last six months Sudhir is behaving ambiguously. He stopped talking me, even not loving Shiva who use to be his whole universe. He even left the college without taking proper permission from the college authorities.The college management is so kind on me that they understood my problem and consented to keep him with the college once Sudhir becomes ok. My father in law and mother in law are also not getting proper answer from Sudhir for his such act. They both love me like their own daughter.

Shikha you are a literate lady, have you assessed the reason behind Sudhir's such behavior? Shekhar enquired.

No Shekhar I am not getting a single clue for his such behaviour except when Dr. Batra made certain querries with me which now seems to be the reason, even he never uttered a word in this regard despite I questioned him several times.

Was he having any extra marital relations outside? Shekhar showed his suspicion.

No not at all Shekhar, he was so caring that I was a proud wife. Despite handsome persona, health and wealth he was scared of such relations, and this was the talk of the town in the college, some of the lady professors were calling him 'Joru ka gulam" ( wife's slave). In the club meetings his colligues were teasing me that I know some "Vashikarna" (the Mantras to make some one slave). I have never heard any of such illicit relations of Sudhir.

Shikha now a very personal question, you may avoid answering if want. How was your sexual life. I mean was he a perfect partner on bed?

Yes of course, he was, to the extent that any woman would have envy. But Shekhar tell me that why all the psychiatrics are asking this question? During second sitting with me, doctor Batra also asked me the same question. What relates the sex with mental sickness?

Shikha! most of the mental sicknesses are the product of sex hazards, be it a incompetency, be it extra marital relations of the spouse or own or the fear of losing his or her lovely partner to others because of own incompetency.

Shikha what were the other questions Dr. Batra asked you during your second sitting? Dr. Batra is the most respected psychiatric of the country, he is ideal for many doctors like me. His failure in the world of psychiatry is almost zero, you are lucky that you got an appointment from a person who is the guarantee himself.

Shekhar! he asked me a question rarely a lady can answer, but since it was the question of well being of my husband I replied word to word. Dr. Batra asked me whether I was having extra marital relations? and when I replied in negative, his second question was 'whether had I had sex with a person other than my husband?'

I narrated one instance which happened with me. When I was just fifteen and my brother in law (husband of my elder sister) had had forcefull sex with me in dark when he visited my house and I was alone. But it happened never again because of my anguish.

Doctor Batra's third and last question was " had I ever disclosed it to my husband?" I replied in affirmative.

Shikha how fool you are? Shekhar yelled, this should have been avoided, you are an intelligent, highly literate lady.

Shekhar! I was forced to tell everything to Sudhir as Sudhir kept my hand on his head and asked me to tell the truth under the oath wether I had had sex with other man than him or not? As such I was compelled to tell the truth.

Shit! Shikha what a rubbish? Such ridiculous and orthodox mentality? Shekhar was shocked.

Mean while both saw that Dr. Batra is coming towards them with Sudhir. Both stand up and marched towards Dr. Batra. Sudhir looked angrily at Shikha and ignored Shekhar like a street dog.

Doctor Batra took Shikha separately and advised her, her further role and left for his chamber after asking the couple to visit him after a week time.

On very night Shikha when was laying beside sudhir tried to talk to Sudhir but all in vain. Sudhir however shouted that she should lay beside the person she was with in the hospital garden. Now Shikha was happy that everything was going according to the plan of doctor Batra.

Doctor Batra already explained her, the scenes one by one about the act and the behaviour of Sudhir there on. Doctor Batra told her that seeing you and doctor Shekher talking in loneliness will work as fuel to the fire and your character will worsen in the eyes of Sudhir and there will be a situation when iron will be hot to hammer . Such patient only reacts when the things reach to their extreme.

Doctor Batra also suggested Shikha, that if still Sudhir remains calm, try to persuade him by praising Dr. Shekar using some ingredients of jealous. Dr. Batra also warned Shikha that such patients some time become violent, so be alert.

Next night, when the couple was alone in their room, Shikha tried to attract Sudhir through many advances to have sex but she got cold response. Suddenly Shikha adorned his neck with her arms and taunted Sudhir that he never loved her.

Sudhir shouted "if it was so, either of two would have remained alive till now". Feel lucky that we both are on the same bed. I loved you more than anything in the universe and got such mistrusted behaviour.

Shikha like an expert heroen again taunted 'why because of my one lie?'

Which lie? Sudhir again shouted.

The very same lie which I told you under the oath that I had had sex with my brother in law.

Oh Shikha! what hell are you saying? was that a lie?

Thousand time lie, I was just testing you 'how much you love me'.

Can you say that under the oath, Shikha?

Shikha instead of her one hand kept her both the hands on Sudhir's head and told that whatever she told on that night was just a testing gesture and now the testing is over, that's why she is revealing the very truth that nothing had happened of that short. You are the only man on the earth to touch my heart and soul.

The couple even not waited to complete the week and next day only they were in the chamber of Dr. Batra to thank and tell Dr. Batra that everything is fine.

Sudhir resumed his college.

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