Looks are deceptive, aren’t they, thought Malathi as she pulled out a Golf club from her husband’s Golf Kit resting behind the door. The smallest club seemed to be the heaviest, she thought to herself, weighing it in her hand. What all could it do, besides hitting a ball, she wondered?
Kill a cockroach? Crack a skull, perhaps?
Looks are truly deceptive, she smirked again. After all, who would have imagined that her Veshti wearing, burping after every meal, napping whenever and wherever possible husband would turn into a smart trouser wearing, energetic, English speaking and Golf playing gentleman overnight?
He had now started subscribing to a famous English newspaper (‘no regional paper for me, Malathi, they write rubbish!’), had stopped eating rice (‘not good to eat rice everyday’) it seems, she rolled her eyes each time she thought of that statement! She still hadn’t come to terms with the fact that he spent more money than she did on the household expenses for a month, on just a few pairs of clothes and funny-looking shoes!
When she asked him how much the Golf Kit had cost him he had laughed it off, adding, ‘Don’t want to give you a heart attack, Malathi’.
As if she was that weak! When she had survived the manipulations of his mother, his aunts, and his sisters, what was the cost of some stupid game accessory going to do to her, she harrumphed!
As she went about her chores, she could hear his soft snores coming from the bedroom. The rain had forced him to cut short his game of Golf and return home unexpectedly.
Disappointing Malathi.
She wasn’t prepared for him being home this early.
After being abandoned for Golf, Malathi had first sulked and later set her own routine. As soon as her husband left for his game, Malathi whizzed through the house finishing her chores. She then called up her best friend and they both discussed everything they couldn’t discuss with others, for an hour. Then Malathi watched her favorite serials as she lunched, without any interruptions. A short nap later she was ready and refreshed to wait on her husband, who left a trail of mess and rattled off a list of demands as soon as he stepped into the house.
For the first time in her life, she was doing what she wanted to and had time to herself. And it felt good.
At this unexpected change of routine, Malathi’s annoyance turned to anger.
Why didn’t her feelings ever matter? Why didn’t her wishes count? Her children too didn’t care for her, and her grandchildren were following their path. All anyone ever looked forward to was her cooking, ‘Amma make this! Amma make that! Paati make me this! Malathi make that!’ That was all she was remembered and needed for.
Anger and hurt vied for the No 1 spot in her brain.
Malathi tiptoed towards her sleeping husband, Golf club in hand. He was snoring away. Should she? Shouldn’t she? She looked to confirm that the main door was shut. She tightly clutched at the handle of the club as she felt the sweat from her palms making it slip a little.
She took a deep breath, lifted the Golf club high, and swung it down with all her might.
Thwack!
The skull split in two.
Malathi picked up the twin halves of the coconut, as she brushed away the twinge of guilt for bruising her husband’s precious Golf club, once again.
This post is a part of Blogchatter Half Marathon.
My theme for the same is Navras – The Nine Emotions of Life. I am writing Fiction for this theme.
This story is written for Rudra which means Anger.
Read my story for Karuna here
Read my story for Hasya here
Read my story for Bibhatsa here
Read my story for Adbhut here
Read my story for Bhayanaka here
Read my story for Shringara here
Read my story for Veera here
oh my goodness, for a second I thought Malathi smashed her husband’s skull..what a narration M…you are amazing with your words, hats off!!
OMG.. I thought the same Priyanka. Absolutely stunning narration. Your are blessed with words.
Amazingly written and really cool ending!
Amazing. Just wow. I am in awe how you weave stories, Mayuri. I want to learn from you, seriously. Whenever I read your stories, my eyes get glued in your words and a suspense continues till I reach end of the story. Absolutely loved it. And what a powerful message this story conveys to all. Very nice.
Oh my! The ending made me laugh! You have a quirky hand for a short story!
Thank you, Brinda. I really do enjoy writing them!
Phew I thought he was done. Thank god.. It was thrilling to read about malathys thoughts.
I knew women would love Malathi’s thoughts!:))
OMG!! Complete U-turn. The ending was jaw-dropping. Amazing narration and beautiful twist to Navrasa ‘rudra’.
Thanks so much, Debi.
Woah…fooled me at the end!
Hahahaha!
Ohh My God !! You had me this time… I thought Malathi really .. you know and the twist at the end. just too good:-)
This is a compliment I cherish, as it comes from a brilliant writer herself.
OMG I thought everything was finished! What a suspense you’ve created. I couldn’t stop reading till end. But hahaha, it’s quite a cool ending. You’re just amazing.
Thank you, Shreemayee. It always thrills me when a reader reacts the way you have.
Hahaha…love the twist in the end….it was well hidden..superb writting…loved it
Thank you, Jigna.
The use of club mentioned at the start and then swinging it to break the skull did got me… I thought her husband was hit.
Ooh la la!!! You actually thwacked me, Mayuri 🙂 What an ending! Golf players wives are known as Golf Widows! How many of them must be feeling the same!
Goos God, Mayuri! That was too good. Reminded me of your series during the 2020 My Friend Alexa. It is difficult to decide whether I love your fiction more or the musings.
Good God, Mayuri! That was too good. Reminded me of your series during the 2020 My Friend Alexa. It is difficult to decide whether I love your fiction more or the musings.
Oh My God! What an ending. I really thought that she killed him . Wonderful story, Mayuri.
Ohh this captures emotions so beautifully. I am sure in her head deep inside she was probably imagining how it would really feel…but using a golf club to crack open a coconut is revenge enough too
Ha ha ha. Poor coconut& golf clubs had to bear the brunt of her anger! And lucky husband – who escaped time & again. At the ‘Twack’…..i went oooppps…..till I read the next line 🙂
Phew!! That was close!!! Awesome writing and thoroughly surprising ending…You had us mayuri!!!
Omg I thought game over… superb writing!! Keep it up!
You sure fooled me. I thought it was the husband’s skull. You write really well, kept me hooked until the end.
Nice ending, Mayuri! You exhibit expressions so well that the reader gets completely absorbed in the story.
Wow! That was an awesome twist! Had me cracking up! Loved it!
Again a wonderful story and a surprising ending. Loved this one.
What !!! For a second I thought she smashed her husband’s skull. What a beautiful narration. Loved it .
I laughed out at the end… Hahahaha
My goodness, you gave me a scare Mayuri. I really thought that Malati has done it really. Your narration is really that attractive.
Your words are awesome, for a moment I thought malathi smashed her husband’s head and split it in 2. It was just wow…
Oh my, you had me with bated breath… and then it was a coconut 😀 Really enjoy these twists at the end of your stories.