OFF LIMITS. Authorized Personnel Only.’ It read.

Leila drew a deep breath and pushed the curtains aside. ‘You’ve come this far, so might as well…’ she thought. She smoothed her skirt, not wanting to think ahead. Then, she walked on, swiftly turning her back as she heard footsteps in the hall. Quietly turning to make sure the coast was clear, she then quickly found the door and pushed it open. There they were.

She grabbed a plastic cup and joined them. The TV was on; on one side some women were giving each other manicures. But it was this table she wanted to sit at. It was their one night when they forgot about the measly pay or the grouchy bosses. Or in her case, the perpetually drunk boyfriend of 8 years who liked to hit her a little too often.  The head cook, Roma, knew she might fall into more than just a little trouble with this set-up in the pantry. But Roma knew what it meant to the women.

‘Was this punch spiked? Oh, what the hell!’ Leila chuckled, for all we know, the bosses could be at wits end and looking for them. Soon someone would notice the women secretaries, clerks, all disappearing for breaks at the same time for an hour. But till then, this was their haven. And this table, her guilty pleasure – the Wednesday night poker table. Who said it was a men’s game, again?

I could see their lives unfolding in front of my eyes – just moments ago, so perfect. And now, it was like the whole world had come crashing.

Beth was perfect. I had come to like her from the very moment I came across her. She was charming, effervescent.  And Jude was her soul mate in every sense of the word. Just to see them together was a joy unto itself. It was like they were coordinated – the twinkle of her eye that only he read, his smile to her across the room that only she saw, and knew was for her alone. And I, on the wrong side of the big ‘30’, felt admittedly jealous of this sort of love I hadn’t felt in a long time, if ever.

It had just seemed another ordinary day. Beth came home from her teaching job at the local school when she found the doors unlocked. Panicked, she walked in on them. The image of her husband, her Jude, sprawled onto her? Vanessa? The nanny? She reeled onto the doors for support. It was only then she noticed the blood.

The detectives found Beth still clinging onto the walls, ashen faced.

Everyone in the neighborhood tried to be there for her. But she seemed to be… unhinged, disconnected. The rumors were strife, yet Beth seemed too calm. And then they came for her.

This was just unbelievable! No one could believe it could be Beth… and yet the evidence. At this point, I found myself thinking hard, contemplating on what I could do. Should do.
‘Should I? Shouldn’t I? Oh Hell. The very last time I am doing this.’ Then I press END. Straight to the last page of the PDF eBook.

What? It’s the spurned lover of the nanny who..? And wow! Beth ends up doing the detective. Great! And the author so couldn’t resist the whole Jude – Nanny angle.

This is the absolute LAST time I am reading a bloody chick lit.

Now who the hell did he think he was, barging in at this time? Is there no sense of time, no manners that these city boys harbour?

“Dinner, by any chance?”

This is a home. There are rules! And am I just supposed to wait up each night?

“Uh… thanks, you’re a doll!”

Oh, now he smells of liquor too. Great! Wait till Mum is up and…

“Well, I’ll be off then.”

Oh Gawd! Some friends dad kept… and now we harbour this idiot son of his friend, from ‘NYC’. One fortnight is like a year! We’re simple folks - We like our timings, our TV dinners, our soaps. We like our tea time, our knitting. This is the exact kind of thing we don’t want.  And then he comes so late from god knows where and he…  Ughh, don’t shout so loud!!

“Hey, could you help me out with these clothes if you’re still up? I’d be screwed if I don’t sort…”

Anything to stop the shouting down the stairwell. Well, it is his last night. Ok… packed the jeans, shirt, pants… eww! Dirty undies! And would he just STOP coming my way? I can’t handle that breath… and that T-shirt. Is there no grammar rule you adhere to? What the heck is ‘Badder and baddest’? Whoa!  What’s that sticky, bloody stuff on top? Sauce? Wine? Blood?

A whisper. “You smell awfully nice, you know.”

And you smell awful. Period. And you’re slurring. In my ear. Hey! Don’t go playing with my hair. It’s not like you notice me.

“Wait… I won’t hurt you, hmm?”

That smile. And that mouth. Oh please, stop. STOP.

“How old are you, anyway?”

Like it matters. Will you please shut up and NOT stop? Oh don’t stop. I can’t breathe, I… Oh that feels good too…Whaa..? OK. Umm… Uh!

What the heck, Mom always said to be gracious to guests.

And I did say I like it simple.

The sky, witness to the day’s lost vigour

Enveloped in grey

Inches from its death

And the dark beast shall rise again

To find its prey

I see the light fading slowly

Another glow shall come alive

First it was the sun, and now the night’s light

They play with the glass, enveloping it gently

Yet, in a quiet tussle

To surpass the other, with all their might

Every day, every night

This play I see, I smile

Then I gaze over the ocean

Its mighty silence that stretches for miles

As silent, as lonely, as I

With no one at all,

But for my wine

Yes, another day has passed me by.