When news about Tiger Woods broke out, once again it diverted people’s attention towards infidelity. Newspapers, Women’s blog, general discussions included the topic of adultery. Not many people were surprised; somewhere the reason here was, it is something you expect from celebrities.  Their lifestyle is such that, it would be very rare if one of them was loyal to their spouse.  But, when the same news comes from a friend or a neighbor it still does shock us.  Oh, that guy… Oh that lady they looked so much like made for each other, just so unbelievable!

 

Is divorce the only solution to adultery? Or is there a way out?

 

Listen to Sheila’s story and decide.

 

Sheila married her college sweetheart Varun.  As days went by they both got busy with work and household responsibilities.  Two years after marriage, Varun was sent to Canada for six months, on official visit.  When he came back, Sheila noticed the communication between them had got worse than before.  Gradually, Sheila discovered there was someone in Varun’s life.  Natasha, Varun’s colleague in their Canada office.  Sheila read one of Natasha’s emails to Varun and sensed danger.  On reading more of her mails, it got obvious that they shared more than just professional relationship.

 

Sheila couldn’t believe it was happening with her, someone she had married against all odds, someone she couldn’t imagine her life without has found someone to replace her!  The feeling was mixed… anger, depression, sadness, all together had hit Sheila.  It took one week for her to return to her senses.  Next day she told Varun in a very cold tone, that she wanted to go to Bangalore, their hometown.  Varun felt strange, because after marriage this was the first time she had shown such keenness in visiting Bangalore.    Sheila asked Varun if he could join her… work was not too much but yet in other circumstances Varun would have refused but Sheila’s straight and emotionless tone made it difficult for him to say no.

 

Two days later both took an early flight to Bangalore.  On reaching Bangalore, Sheila first took Varun to their college, the movie theatre, the mall and all those places they spent time in their courting days.  The feeling of nostalgia could be seen on Varun’s face as much as it was in Sheila’s expressions.  By the end of the day, they reached their hotel room Varun’s mind and heart was again in love with Sheila. 

 

Next morning, when Varun woke up, Sheila was all dressed up.  Quickly Varun headed to bathroom for a shower.  When he came out of the bathroom he saw next to his clothes were some papers, he got his glasses to read. 

 

What he saw after that was enough to give him a heavy nudge on his head.  It was the love emails sent to him by Natasha.  Even before he could complete reading the mails, his eyes started looking out for Sheila, but she was no where around and then his eyes fell on a post-it on the bed. 

 

The post-it read “Today make a choice Natasha or Me, if it’s me, I am waiting for you at our college canteen - Sheila”

 

This was the NUMB moment for Varun as it was for Sheila when she discovered about Natasha.  Suddenly he got up, started dressing and ran out of the hotel room only to come back again and lock the door.  In the next 20/25 minutes he was in the college canteen.  It was Sunday and the canteen was closed he saw Sheila waiting outside the gate.

 

Varun walked up to her and whispered into her ears, “Can we go back to the hotel and talk?”

 

Sheila nodded in affirmative and both reached their room.  In the room, after a little drama both hugged each other.

 

Its four years to that episode, Sheila and Varun are still together and happy, one more reason to their happiness could also be Sneha their adorable daughter.  Now whenever Varun has to go abroad, he makes sure Sheila and Little Sneha joins him.

 

Today Sheila has only one thing to say to the women community here and to people in her situation.  Everything in life is about right timing, and it pays to create the right time instead of waiting for it.  The day I knew about his affair with Natasha, had I confronted him then, matters could have turn worse.  Keeping quiet also would not really help, but creating a right time to confront, did the trick!

 

Infidelity in a marriage is something no one wants in their marriage but it’s said that, in the life of every married person, there comes a time when they are tempted to cheat, some give in to the temptation while some don’t.  I am not sure how true it is, but after learning about Sheila’s story, I believe that love and patience conquers all!

Neha Skeletons in the Closet