The Ideal Man

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The sound of the leaking faucet drifted in from the bathroom. Remind the watchman to get it fixed, I made a mental note for the umpteenth time. Yet I always forgot only to be reminded of it just before I went to bed. The sound of the dripping water, tonight was however, strangely comforting. 

Drip. Drip. Drip. 

On other nights it would have annoyed the hell out of me. Yet tonight, as I wallowed in self-pity over the state of my life that seemed to be spiraling out of control, the sound reminded me that some things never change. That it would never take you by surprise. And it would continue to be just that - a strangely monotonous routine that was here to stay. 

Such things grow on you, slowly creeping over you before you realize that you have actually started enjoying its company. Like a bad habit. Much like how you light that first cigarette, justifying yourself as you feel the smoke absorb in your lungs saying that it was just the one. A phase. But before you know it, the pack of cigarettes quickly turn out to be the high-point of your day. You look forward to those precious few minutes when you feel in control.

He was like that too, a habit that was difficult to break. What was it about him that I noticed first? Was it his warm smile that somehow reminded me of a bright yellow sun? The kind that my five year old niece drew with a smiley face and sunshine radiating from its face. Or was it the way his hands grew animated when he spoke about something he loved? Or maybe it was none of it. Maybe I took interest when he decided to shower his warmth on me. 

But this was not how things were supposed to end between us. We were supposed to get married, visit Maldives for honeymoon, have two kids- one boy and one girl. Things were supposed to be perfect. He was supposed to be the ideal man. One who would have my back at all times. But then, he had gone and screwed it up. 

It was supposed to be just another day at work; but my world fell apart on that wretched day. Working together in the same office meant that we got to spend a lot of time with each other. After all, that was really how I came to know more about him and then fell for him. 

It was in the pantry that I saw him laughing with her. Sonia. The bitch. Did he really expect me to believe that they were 'just friends'? Of course, I couldn't let my feelings betray me. So I smiled and brushed it aside. All the while seething inside. When he said that he wanted a break, to think things through before we took them any further, I did everything I could. I begged, pleaded and cajoled. I even threatened him. But nothing seemed to work.

Later that night, I saw them leaving the office together. His hands on her waist. I had seen that look on his face before. When he was with me. This was not how it was supposed to be. They thought they were so cute with their stupid fake smiles and behavior. He even held hands with her. He had never done that when he was with me. Of course, when he said that he was not into public displays of affection, I had believed him. How could I not when I was head over heels in love with him. 

But when he took her home that night, that did it. That was the last straw. I had had enough. I was hardly thinking straight as I broke into the apartment past midnight. There they were, lying so peacefully sleeping. Without a care in the world, not realizing that mine was falling apart. 

The blade of the knife that I kept in my purse glinted in the moonlight that was seeping in through the lace curtains. A gentle breeze drifted in. A quick slice and it was done. A muffled scream and she lay bleeding and writhing before coming to a complete stand still. Not so pretty now, are we? I smiled.

There he sat with a terrified look on his face. Oh. That sure got his attention now. I see a brief look of confusion on his face as I pulled open the syringe and pushed it up his hand. Maybe I caught him by surprise or he was in too much of a shock to retaliate. Either ways, he now lay heavily drugged. At my mercy.

Dragging him into my car and driving home didn't take much time. I was surprised at my strength. I was not as weak as everyone had thought, after all. Locking him in the bathroom and keeping him there seemed like the only solution at the time. And when he gained consciousness and tried to fight me, I had run the knife along his hand, a small gash but deep enough to draw a lot of blood. That sure shut him. 

It's been over a week and I enjoy the power that I yield over him. Of course, it's only a matter of time for him to realize that we are meant to be. He was my soul mate, the one person in my life who was supposed to stay forever. From the bathroom, there came a whimper. I smile.

Drip. Drip. Drip. 

The bathroom must be colder than before. It must be freezing. I turn off the light and go to bed. Tomorrow was going to be a busy day.

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