Diamonds are for Forever - or are they?

Inspired from Roald Dahl’s Mrs. Bixby and the Colonel’s coat

          Ria struggled to maintain a neutral expression as she packed Vikram’s lunch.  It was difficult when she really wanted to burst into laugher, sing as loudly as her voice would go, jump up and down till she was exhausted, or dance in the driving rain.  But years of experience had taught her that overt emotions would irritate Vikram, and only lead to an argument.  He was quicker with his tongue, and she would be left wiping her tears on the kitchen napkin while he zoomed away in his chauffeur-driven car, a satisfied smirk on his pudgy face.

          “What are your plans today?”, he asked, wordlessly holding out his glass for a second helping of the fresh-squeezed orange juice he insisted she make every morning.  That wouldn’t leave any for her, but it wasn’t Vikram’s way to be concerned with mundane matters. 

          Why was he asking, she asked herself anxiously.  Did he know something?
         “I am going to volunteer at the Veterans Home”, she replied, concentrating on keeping her voice steady.  “I told you yesterday.”

          “I was wondering if you could pull together a dinner for my coworkers tonight”, he went on, as if she hadn’t spoken.  “It would be good networking for the partnership”.

          No, no, screamed a voice in her head.  Today is the only chance.  You can’t let him trap you.
         “I already signed up, Vikram”, she responded.  “They are counting on me to show up.”

          He threw an irritated glance as he pushed back his chair.  “Fine.”, he ground out.  “I’ll take them out myself.  Don’t expect a present when I get promoted”, he added.

          She rushed about the house to get ready the minute he left, and was knocking on the hotel room door even before Vikram got to work.  It opened so quickly, she knew Rahul had been waiting on the other side.  As he pulled her into his arms, it was an hour before they exchanged a coherent sentence.  It had been six months since a brainstorming session with the attractive Captain to raise more funds for the Veterans Home had turned personal. Ria’s only regret in that time had been her marriage to Vikram.  She would have divorced him in an instant, but the thought of her parents’ shock and the fact that Rahul could only meet infrequently due to military obligations held her back.  Perhaps in another life, she sighed.  Right now, Rahul was giving her the love and sex that she had been craving from Vikram in their three years of marriage, and she intended to hold on to it as long as she could. 

          She gradually became conscious of Rahul’s gentle voice.  “… transferred and not sure when I will be back…” 

          “What?”, she started.  “When??”

          “I leave in the morning”, he murmured.  “I am so sorry, sweetheart.  But they are the Army’s orders.”

          Back at home, Ria nervously fingered the antique diamond pendant Rahul had insisted on gifting her.  Vikram had a sharp memory and no sense of his wife’s privacy.  Even if she didn’t ever wear it, there was no guarantee that Vikram wouldn’t go through her jewelry some day just because he felt like it.  And if he did, it would be difficult to explain the expensive locket’s presence.  Vikram had never allowed her any income or assets of her own, and gave her a monthly allowance that just covered household necessities.  But she wouldn’t give this up, she decided.  Vikram already had her life; she was entitled to this one symbol of what could have been.

          Leaving her friend’s house, Ria was elated.  Tina ran a small marketing promotion firm, and would ensure that Ria won the diamond ornament in a contest from a magazine Vikram knew Ria subscribed to.  Tina’s professional ties would even ensure that the pendant came in the official packaging.  To top it off, she would send it to Vikram’s work address, a masterful finishing stroke that Ria had suggested.  Get the pendant while giving Vikram no reason for doubt, she thought excitedly.  She couldn’t have planned it better.

          A few days later, Vikram handed her a packet with the magazine insignia.  They were having a party, and as always, Vikram had been one of the last people to arrive.  As she eagerly ripped open the package, the doorbell rang for the last guest.  Tina!, she thought.  Perfect timing to show off her genius plan.

          As Ria drew back from her ecstatic hug, a familiar pendant glinting at Tina’s throat caught her eye.  Ria’s expression gradually turned to shock as her own package revealed a plain silver chain. 

          “Beautiful pendant, Tina”, said Vikram, breaking into Ria’s dizzy thoughts.  “Is it new?”, he asked, a suggestive smile on his face.