Short Story: The Gambler

'Need to tell you something. Please call me, once you are free.' I received a message from Payal.
'I am in the middle of an assignment. I will call you once I am free.' I texted.
'Okay.' I received an instant reply.
I got busy with my work and almost forgot about this. But while I was having my dinner, Payal's message crossed my mind. I finished my dinner and then quickly finished the kitchen stuff.
I rang up Payal. She received my call in just one ring. It seemed she had been waiting for my call.
'Hello, Arpita.'
'Hello.' I replied back.
'My friend wants to talk to you.  She needs some advice or rather a counselling session. Will you have time to meet us for an hour this weekend?'
I could never say no to Payal. So, I promised to meet them at Cafe Bistro.
I found them there when I reached. They were having coffee. I felt as if meeting me in time that was what mattered to them.
Payal got up and gave me a hug. She then introduced me to her friend, Mousami Roy.
I shook my hand with her and settled down on a chair opposite to her.
'What do you want to have?' Payal asked as she pushed the menu towards me.
'Caffe latte.'
I waited for my coffee. But till then, there was a silence. Only we exchanged smiles.
I took few sips of the hot coffee. And I thought of initiating the conversation.
'So... Mousami, how can I help you?'
'I am in a dilemma. I don't know what to do.
I heard about you from Payal. And so I thought of meeting you.'
'I am not a professional counsellor. My advice and suggestions sometimes work for my friends. I can't say how far I will be helpful. Tell me, why are you confused? What is troubling you?'
Mousami then narrated me her story. Two years back, her next lane neighbour brought the proposal of their only son for her. The boy,
Rupam Sarkar, was also known to them all. She had seen him many a times in her growing years. Rupam completed his graduation in Guwahati and then went to Kolkata. He got a job in a reputed bank and was settled there. He visited his parents during festivals. Mousami's parents were happy to get a proposal from a family in the neighbourhood. Moreover, their younger daughter would not be too far from them, unlike their elder one. Mousami's elder sister, Reesha, was settled in Cochin. Reesha was happily married to a guy from West Bengal and was a proud mother of a one year old boy.
Mousami's mother discussed about the proposal with Reesha over phone. They were happy and decided to take the proposal further if Mousami gave her consent. Mousami asked some time to know the guy. Both the families agreed.
She began talking to Rupam over the phone. After two months, they met. It was a fairy tale for her. Rupam appeared to her like the Prince of the many stories she had heard of. Rupam was a very decent, loving and caring person. Within a year's time, he bonded very well, even with her sister and her brother-in-law. She felt lucky. She could share with him everything without the fear of being judged. He wanted to give her all the happiness on earth. So, he thought of starting a small venture. He told her that he was working overtime to make his business grow.  She felt happy that she had a hard working life partner.
Months passed. Her relationship with Rupam became strong and her love for him increased with passing day. And finally their marriage got fixed. It was scheduled on 20th July, 2018.
She was busy making plans for her future life. Everything was going as planned. A month before her marriage, Rupam told her that his shares were in great loss. He was in need of financial help. He even added he could not ask from his parents as they had been arranging stuff for marriage.
Mousami was a front office executive in a car showroom. And she had used her small savings in the marriage arrangements. So, she told Rupam that she could only help him with Rs 10,000. Rupam wanted around Rs 50,000. And with Mousami's help also he would not be able to compensate his loss. Rupam then sought help from Reesha's husband who readily agreed. Things got sorted out and every arrangement of her marriage was done without any hurdle. On 19th July, 2018 her mother got to know about all this. She did not like Rupam's act. She did not get a good feeling. She even asked Mousami if she wanted to give a second thought for Rupam. Mousami assured her mother that everything would be alright. It was her concern for Mousami that resulted in such thoughts. And on 20th July, Mousami and Rupam got married in a grand way.
After all rituals, Rupam left for Kolkata and Mousami continued her job in Guwahati. She stayed with her in-laws. She would visit her parents twice a week and sometimes even stayed with them.
After about a month, Mousami's father was diagnosed with cancer. So, her parents left for Chennai in the middle of September.
Mousami was going through emotional crisis. Rupam came to Guwahati for some personal work. Rupam at that time insisted her to open a locker and keep her jewelry there. She agreed and did the same. Mousami expressed her desire to be with her parents during Pooja vacation as her father would be going through chemotherapy. He agreed.  He told that he too would join. Mousami was happy and felt proud of his gestures.
In the end of September, Mousami asked Rupam to do her travelling arrangements. He told her that he was in short, of fund. So, she transferred Rs 17,000 in Rupam's account.
After two days, she asked him whether he had arranged the flight tickets. He told her that he had. She was about to board flight on 15/10/2018 from Guwahati.
On 12th of October, she asked Rupam to mail her the tickets. And that day, he told her that he needed the money urgently and had used for his work.
She was shocked. She did not ask for any clarification. One of her colleagues made the arrangement, and she left for Chennai in the scheduled day. She was received by her father at the airport. She felt helpless when she hugged her dad, her real hero who cared for her even during his illness.
Rupam joined her in Chennai on 21st October. And once she returned to the lodge after a tiresome day at the hospital, he became desperate to have sex.
She was silent. She did not speak a word. Next morning, when Rupam was trying to become cosy with her, she pushed him. She asked him what he did with her 17000 rupees. He casually told her that he lost that money by chance in gambling. She got the shock of her life.
After two days, Rupam left for Kolkata and she resumed her work in Guwahati. There were many things going on her mind. She had to find answers. After a few days, she went to the bank and checked her locker. To her surprise, it was empty. She asked Rupam about this. He told her very casually that he sold them off.
She left her in-laws house and came back to her house because her mother in law did not want to hear a single word against her son.
She was helpless. She called Reesha and told her everything. Reesha asked her not to worry since she would look into the matter.
Reesha and her husband called him and asked him to return their money urgently. He said he would give them in two days. But after that, he stopped receiving their calls. Reesha's husband tried to find Rupam's details. He was shocked to know the details.
Rupam was an ex employer of the bank. Due to his irresponsible ways, he was terminated from the job. He had lost a huge amount of money in gambling.
Everyone in Mousami's family was in great shock after knowing about Rupam. His parents did not accept the fact that their son was a fraud. They indirectly put the blame on Mousami. They believed that Mousami brought misfortune for Rupam.
She left her in-laws house and came back to her parents place. Her parents had not returned from Chennai.
She began sobbing loudly. I put my hand on hers.
'Have you filed a case against him?' I asked.
'No.'
'What do you want to do? How can you live your life like this? Don't you deserve a better life?'
'I do deserve a better life. I have known him for more than two years. I have made moments with him. Now, suddenly I am asked to leave him. I am advised by all to file divorce case.  But no one can understand what I am going through. Tell me, is divorce the only solution. Will my life be same after divorce? Will I be allowed to live a life without being tagged as divorcee? Don't you think life is a big gambler than my husband?'
I was speechless. Truly, do I have answers to her questions?