Supriya sat down with a cup of tea and book in her hand looking out of her bedroom window at the faint drizzle. She could see the tiny drops of water on all the rose shrubs that she had carefully planted and tended to. Some of the roses were blooming from their budding state. It was her day off from work and Vishwaas was going to be late as it was his gym work out day. She closed her book and kept it aside. She rested the tea cup after taking a few sips....thinking "Oh!! its still piping hot, a few more minutes and I shall be able to relish it." With her hands cupping her cheeks she continued to look out through the window at the neverending green plains and skies of english countryside.
 
Thinking of the countryside brought many memories back. Six long years of being married to Vishwaas had taken their toll on her. It had changed her completely as a person. She an extrovert, gregarious and an outgoing girl had learned to curb her enthusiasm and excitement at every small thing. Marriage had taught her many lessons and she had learnt to face all the tough times alone. She learnt not to speak her mind and had eventually become a pretender. Her old friends from school and college were shocked at her transformation but she tried to show as if it was a compliment and took it all very lady like.
 
"Suppi !! How do you like the name Vishwaas? He works in London, very highly educated, pleasant boy and his family is so nice. I just spoke to them over phone. And most importantly your horoscopes have matched." Dad had said.
"What is his zodiac dad? I can't stand some sun signs, please tell me he is Leo, Saggi, Aries or Aquarius." She quipped at that time. Thinking now 6 years later she felt how immature she was even though she was 22.
"Comeon,..sun sign??..are you serious ??, He is apparently a thorough gentleman. He is considered such a good boy in our community. As it is you have told me that there is no one in your life and we really want to get you married soon. You can talk to each other on phone till he comes to India, get familiar with each other and then decide." dad had continued.
 
Suppi had agreed thinking there was no harm in that, after all dad seemed like he had done his homework properly.
 
Then she remembered how Vishwaas would call her regularly and talk to her for long hours about anything and everything under the sun. He seemed decent enough in his thinking.
"Vishwaas, there is only one thing ....always treat me as a friend first, if you have things to say that you find uncomfortable, even then please go ahead and tell me as I am not judgemental at all and nothing really shocks me. So, if you have gone to see lap dancing that's cool with me, hehe.. maybe we both can go too!!" Supriya remembered how shocked Vishwaas had been when she had mentioned the lap dancers.
 
Vishwaas was sure he wanted to marry Supriya even before seeing her. Supriya felt the same. She thought that more than looks their ideas, thinking, outlook towards life had matched and she felt sure that this was the man for her for the rest of her life.
 
"Will you marry me?" Vishwaas had called her and asked as soon as he reached Mumbai airport. Supriya laughed and kept saying the signal was poor and she couldn't hear him, her usual naughty streak. Finally she decided to give the poor man a break after he asked her thrice. "Yes!!" she had shouted loud and clear. He was ecstatic and so was she.
After a few minutes Vishwaas continued " Suppi, there is something I forgot to mention to you before. I hope you don't mind. I smoke around 20 fags a day."
 
"Hmm....its ok, I understand...we will work together and help you cut down. I won't nag you, but we will try for your good health." That same day Suppi had her first doubts as to why did he have to hide. She had told him everything. She wasn't going to judge him as a bad human being just because he smoked. But she let those thoughts drift away.
 
A few months later marriage took place. All was hunky dory, except that even after 4 months of marriage Vishwaas was still in India waiting to go back to London. Suppi knew something was amiss and she asked him. "I have been laid off at work, this happens ...don't worry we will manage it some other way. Maybe you could start writing your entrance exams for work and you could try for a job first and I'll join you later."
 
Suppi took it in her stride and agreed with Vishwaas. After all as long as you have good education there is no real reason to panic "Swadeshe pujyate raja, vidwaan sarwatra pujyate." She thought.
Soon enough Vishwaas got another job and they moved to London. Suppi was preparing for her exams and enjoying the bliss of married life.
 
"Oh my !! Vish and his paperwork..so much clutter. Let me organise everything and give him a big surprise. He will be so pleased for this help." Suppi thought and started going through his work papers, income tax statements, bills and bank statements. She stacked them all into neat piles, found some folders and started clipping them...smiling to herself at the look that Vish would have once he reached home.
 
" Whats this!! every bank statement has so many hundreds of pounds of money being deposited almost every alternate day to this William Hill or Ladbrokes" Suppi thought to herself.
" Who are these William Hill and Mr Ladbrokes???, I better ask Vish once he comes back."
 
" What are you doing ?? Why are you going through my paperwork??" Vish shouted as soon as he entered the bedroom.
" I was just arranging everything for you Vish!! please dont get angry. If you don't want me to touch them, from next time I will not. But, tell me who are these William Hill or Ladbrokes?? They seem to be getting plenty of money from you, any particular reason?" Suppi asked in a quiet tone.
 
" Never touch my papers again, and please don't interfere in my matters. Just concentrate on your exams and try to get a decent job...you don't need to trouble your mind with these matters" Vish continued his outburst.
 
" Okay....I won't touch anything again, but it still doesn't answer my question" Suppi tried again.
" Its none of your buisness Suppi...let me handle all this...you just think about your career honey." Suppi was shocked at Vish's anger, his glaring eyes, the sudden coldness with which he had reacted.
 
If Vish had given her some explanation she would have calmed down. The fact that he continued to dodge the question sent alarm bells ringing and she was sure something was not right. That night and a few more days of coaxing, cajoling, seducing still didnt work any magic on Vish and he just would not budge.
 
A few days later Suppi went for her grocery shopping and found the names William Hill and Ladbrokes. She stood there bewildered, shocked. These were online betting shops for sports. Betting was legal in UK. Her husband was losing his hard earned money pathetically to these guys. Her whole world came spinning down, she felt unsteady.
 
She sat down at a nearby bench and memories flooded. " Dad!! I don't want to play rummy..if we have to play a game why not play scrabble." She was 14 when everyone at home wanted to play cards and she had refused. " And why is that...we are not playing for money..its only for entertainment !!!" Her dad had asked. " Huh..money or no money I can't do gambling...its not me...you guys carry on ..I'll read a book instead." Her dad was so proud of her that day that they all ended up playing scrabble.
 
"What an irony...and now I have ended up with a gambler, of course no one tells such things before marriage." She clutched her grocery bag and started walking alone, thinking she needs to get a job soon to keep them out of trouble.
 
A few days later she confronted Vish, begged him, fought with him, cajoled him, threatened him to stop. He promised he will never ever do this again.
 
Six years have gone and today as she looked out of the window, she realised...promises were meant to be broken. Vish was never going to stop. It was a bad disease that kept eating him. She helped him as much as she could, but she knew in her heart of hearts Vishwaas had broken her trust. He had cheated her and tricked her into this marriage.
 
She sighed and looked at her tea cup. It was cold. Time to make another cup of tea and move on...