A temporary matter

Beginning:

Shoba was still depressed with the stillborth of her child six months ago. There then had an
announcement of that the power will go out for an hour every evening for the next five nights. Shoba
initiates a game where she and Shukmar will have to tell each other something they’ve never told the
other before, every night of the power failure.

Middle point:

First night of the outage, they recall falling in love and knowing he was going to marry her. Second night,
Shoba comes home early, and Shukumar feels a sense of hope instead of despair.

Second point:

On the second night, Shoba reveals a time when she lied to him; he reveals cheating on exam. They lay
bare their ugly truths.

Climax:

Their game comes to a sudden end because the power is restored one day early. Shoba tells him she’s
moving out. Hurt, Shukumar reacts by telling her the gender of their baby, which she had never wanted
to know.

End:

Shoba turned the lights off. She came back to the table and sat down, and after a moment Shukumar
joined her. They wept together, for the things they now knew.

Quote:

"They wept together for the things they now knew. "