Betrayal
Y Jaldin
Paul a millionaire, passed away leaving his wife Celie a legacy. The
young widow at forty years became the sole proprietress of a chain of
wine stores and estates. She employed Eric as her Accountant, a young
man in his early twenties. Eric was a spendthrift and spent his pastime
in the company of the fair sex.
He lost no time in falling in the good books of his employer. She
placed all her confidential matters in the hands of the young Accountant
having complete trust in him. Eric lost no time in ensnaring the widow
too, and after a brief encounter, to everyone’s amazement they got
married.
By and by, Celine handed over most of her business to be managed by
her young husband. He took the opportunity of getting the wealthy widow
to fulfill his whims and fancies, especially in monetary dealings. They
spent extravagant holidays at home and abroad and their pet past time
was swimming.
After a few months of marriage, Eric was getting bored of wedded
bliss when he heard the remarks made by his friends about his wife being
too old and flabby; that he became disgusted of the affair and he
pondered a plan to get rid of her. The thought of a separation would
mean returning to his penniless days. Now that he enjoyed life in the
lap of luxury being poor again made him shudder. Celine was unaware of
the evil Eric had in mind since he pretended to be his usual self and
showered his love on her.
A week-end at Unawatuna a very quiet place which did not attract many
holiday-makers could fulfil his plan was his thought. One week-end, he
suggested that they spend their holidays at Unawatuna away from Galle
where there was a beautiful hotel set in a quiet environment. So they
set off to enjoy the holiday. While checking into the hotel, Celine was
confronted with Prof Shanker an old friend of her deceased husband. The
Professor was a reputed skin specialist who had decided to spend his
holiday at the same venue.
He told the couple that he chose this idyllic place to concentrate in
writing his thesis. Early next morning, they set out to the lagoon.
Bathers have been repeatedly warned that the exterior spot where the
lagoon was situated was infested with crocodiles. Eric was aware of this
danger and hid it from Celine. For about two to three hours they enjoyed
the swim when Eric spotted a crocodile entering the pool. His vicious
plan was taking root and he swam ashore as expeditiously as possible
telling Celie to enjoy her swim; complaining of a severe headache he
raced back to the hotel. Innocent Celine waved back at her retreating
husband unaware of her predicament.
Meanwhile, the crocodile was stealthily approaching and was now a
stone’s throw from her. Having sensed something afoot, Celine thought
she knocked her foot on a piece of wood when she tried to shove it, but
the beast had already caught her right leg. With her fists she did her
best to ward off the beast which was now trying to bite her hand. She
was now grapping between life and death. Her loud cries could not be
heard since the hotel was three kilometers away from the lagoon.
Prof. Shanker to decided to take a dip in the lagoon and on his way
he met a speeding vehicle with Eric at the wheel. He smelt something
amiss and to his dismay, heard eerie shrills of a woman; unable to
fathom from where it came he paced his steps as swiftly as possible to
the cries from the lagoon and the macabre scene which confronted him
sent shivers down his spine.
Losing no time, breaking a strong twig from a tree and being a good
swimmer he dived into the lagoon and hit the beast with all his might
until it slithered away. The Professor brought the unconscious Celine
ashore. The beast had torn the flesh of the right side of her face upto
the neck.
The damage caused was severe and her face was disfigured. The learned
Professor sensed the plot laid for Celine by her husband’s absence. She
recovered very slowly and the Professor being a reputed skin specialist
undertook the responsibility to restore her disfigured face. Meanwhile,
Eric was lounging in the high spirits thinking with glee that Celine was
dead by now and he could live in luxury, his plan was asunder. On
interrogation his plot was revealed. He was charged with conspiracy to
kill his wife and was sentenced to rigorous imprisonment for twenty
years.
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