‘Which course could it take then?’ she turned inquisitive to gaze at the crystal ball. ‘Roopa for all that may never cross the threshold of her romantic leanings, and might forever remain within the bounds of marital fidelity. In that case, our coming together will restore to us what we’ve been missing in our separation. Even if Raja gets attracted to her, unable to cross the hurdle of her fidelity, he would still confine himself to his lane of platonic love.’

As she wondered whether man-woman attraction could be bound by sentimentality, she ventured on the path of adultery, ‘should Roopa itch for a romantic escapade, then Raja could easily out-tempt every other suitor of hers, given his personality as well as proximity to her. Let it be so, if that’s the way it should be to keep her away from any amorous misadventure. Though I might have liked to keep my man all for myself, accommodation seems to be the only mode of my atonement, does it not? Won’t that bring cheer into her life and unburden my guilt as well. It’s all about my sharing my better half with my other half, as much for their satiation as for my salvation. So be it. Well, won’t that seem logical even, given my lesbian relationship with Roopa? More so, that would ensure that her amours are kept in-house. Well, the ménage a trois we were jesting about so much all along seems to be on hand, after all! What myriad amours we three could bring into our orgies.’

‘After all, would it be fair to Sathyam?’ she thought as her sympathy and affection for him came to the fore. ‘But, how could it be helped? Maybe, it doesn’t help man taking a lively wife if he’s not up to the mark. What a fine soul Sathyam otherwise is! What a pity love doesn’t take one’s character into account for its leanings. If Sathyam were destined to be cuckolded, would it not be in order that Roopa is cajoled in Raja’s arms. In a queer way, won’t that ensure she remains in the family fold?’

As she couldn’t help but envision the love life in the offing for three of them, she thought, ‘Once we shift there, they wouldn’t be able to hide their infatuation from me for long. It would be a great fun intercepting their signals and deciphering their gestures. I could even scare them by dropping hints that I was spying. Won’t that pep up their sense of adventure before I pave the way for their lovemaking, only to envelop them in an amorous triangle? How marvelous would be those uninhibited orgies with the man and the woman I love!’