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Unit 7: The Agony of Win by Malavika Roy Singh

However, Amrita is aware that she is not doing the right thing but is completely smitten by the Notes
charms of her brother-in-law. Without thinking of the consequences, she comes closer to Sunil,
betraying her twin sister and family. What happens to her clandestine relationship is the crux of
the story.

7.3 The Agony of Win – Story

“Why is the measure of love loss? Why are there more downs than ups in love? Why is there
more dejection than affection?” The questions in her mind were endless and tearing her apart.
Amrita slumped on to her revolving chair. As she probed into the disturbing episodes of her life
with Sunil, she kept on questioning the integrity of her futile attempts.
Shaking her head, a swollen eyed Amrita looked up and asked, “Have I been too foolish to judge
him or is it simply a one sided affair?”
Seeing her friend in sheer distress, Sangeeta looked at her and sighed.
“Look, I think you know what it is, so there’s no point in starting it all over”, Sangeeta replied
coldly, who was now pouring a cup of coffee from the coffee machine.
Half-choking, Amrita replied, “What do you mean starting all over? You think it’s my entire
fault, isn’t it?”

“As a matter of fact, I do”, replied Sangeeta calmly, who sat with the steaming coffee, flipping
over the pages of a women’s magazine. No sooner had she said those words that Amrita burst
into tears again.
The whining and wailing continued to the point of hitting Sangeeta’s nerves. Irritatingly, she
got up, threw the remaining coffee into the sink and banged her fist on the kitchen slab. She
turned around and shot back, “For goodness sake, get a hold on you. Do you have any idea of
what a mess you’ve made of your life?” “When I tried to get you back on track, you did not
listen, so at least now you should not be whining, complaining or even expecting me to support
you in this muddle.”
Sangeeta picked up her bag hurriedly and said, “I’m out of here because I don’t really think you
need my advice or support. You will do what you feel is right, no matter how wrong it is, so let’s
just not waste each other’s time”. Saying this, Sangeeta, who looked half-angry, half fed-up,
threw the magazine on the table and closed the door behind her with a loud bang.
More than the sound, the words made Amrita flinch. They had hit the target at the right spot and
they had because they were absolutely true and spoken from the heart.
Brooding and now almost regretting over her acts, Amrita zoomed into her past, the day when
she had first set her eyes on Sunil. It had been the day when Sunil, with his family had come
home, seeking hand for marriage. However, the proposal had been for her twin sister, Madhu
and not hers.
Amrita was never approached with matrimonial subjects as then, she used to shun the concept of
matrimonial bliss. A young Amrita, who had remained quite unapologetic and unabashed after
refusing several marriage proposals, did regret later when she found a charming man in Sunil.
Good looks and educational qualification had bowled Amrita head over heels. After all a
management graduate in late seventies was a big deal and charming enough for her middleclass
household.
As for Sunil, his physical attributes had done him quite good in the past and he had sailed quite
smoothly. A fling of affairs was prima facie to that. However, no option had looked as lucrative
as Amrita as she was a perfect, unsuspicious plot, allowing him to exploit her financial and
emotional resources to the fullest.

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