Mala did not know what to do. Her heart was hammering hard. She could hear her husband opening the main door. What would she do if he smelt the air hard. The scent of amour!

Preetam was opening his socks. He worked in a factory. They made detergents. He always smelt of chemicals. His feet smelt too. She was relieved. He would not be able to take in anything different through his toxic nose buds.

Preetam smiled. She smiled too, hesitantly.

"Who is the man?"

Mala was scared shitless.

Preetam went into the bathroom. Minutes passed. He came back. Mala was sitting at the dining table. Perspiring and afraid.

Preetam smiled again. "You must be thinking how I found out. Easy. You have never looked so satiated and happy all these years with me. Does not take Astronomy to put things together, does it?????"

Happiness betrays too!