She remembered the story of his patience and stubbornness. One winter night, they had little fight over the motives of lovers in a romantic movie. In the movie, the girl ran away from her home to live with the boy, without even consulting the boy. When she arrives at his place, he denied to accept her proposal of getting married and to settle down with her. She couldn’t go back to her home; she didn’t know how her family would behave. So, she started doing some menial labour at a yarn spinning factory. In this story, he took the side of boy saying that the boy did the right thing by denying her and sending her back home, as her parents would be worried. Then, when he saw her changing facial expression, he added the boy shouldn’t have made the rash decision of telling he to go away. She had said that boys are commitment-phobic and because of this very reason the poor girl had to suffer. She gave up everything to be with him. And he let her go. Now, how can one have faith in love? He said to her, the girl should have asked her. She said, what’s there to ask, when they both had slept together and promised to have the life together. The discussion went on. They had heated argument that other person was wrong. How often do you spoil your day or night because of good movie or story? But they did. He stormed out. She sulked inside their apartment. She thought he had gone to his friends’ place for sleep over. Sometime later, she got up, cooked dinner, ate and slept. She got up early in the morning and got out the apartment to get the newspaper, she found him crouched on the marble floor in front of their apartment. His ego and his soft heart were always in conflict with each other. And he could never be sure who his ally is, he told her often.
In Defense of a Cheater
She moved out of their common apartment and slept on Carmine’s couch as she searched for a new apartment. Carmine poured her the coffee. Just like the night before, she continued to talk about her relationship and how did it end the way it did. The coffee made her hyperactive. Her thoughts took off in multiple directions. She told Carmine that she would be going to see that bitch, who lured and ***ked her boyfriend, and telling her what she had done to their relationship.
“Why would you yell at her? She just offered herself. It’s for Ace to decide to accept or not.”
“Why can’t he control himself?”
“Now we’re talking.”
“Is it too tough to control oneself, when he has a girlfriend?”
“I don’t know but it happen. There are a lot of factors that play a part in decision making.”
“Like what?”
“Were you there for him: emotionally or physically? Did you release him from your emotional reins? Did he feel that you don’t need him anymore? Did you decide things on your own, without consulting him, at least on the matters that are close to his heart?” Carmine sipped her coffee.
“Why do I feel that you are trying to defend him?”
“Why would I? I’m your friend. Not his.”
“Still?”
“Didn’t he confess to have sex with her?”
“So you’re saying that I forgive him?”
“I can’t decide that for you.”
“Should I just sit and do nothing?” She gritted her teeth.
“We’re young. Mistakes happen. Everyone makes them.
Liquor can do wonders, babe.” Carmine put a hand over her shoulder.
She was amazed at Carmine’s rationalization.
“Really? Would you feel the same, if your lover does that you?”
“Probably not. I would be seething in anger. You can’t be critical of your own emotional problems. But I can see your problem clearly or as they say, it’s easy for us to analyze others than ourselves.”
“Still you say tell me to forgive him? Why?” She kept her coffee mug aside, on the table.
Carmine closed her eyes for a moment and gulped some air. “Trust me. You won’t find a person like him. You may feel I am taking his side, but I know both of you. You flirted with that good-for-nothing guy at my party last month. Didn’t you?” Carmine kept on speaking and she kept on listening.