A matter of routine

Trifecta: Week Sixty-Five

After letting us have some fun with Hyperbole ,this week Trifecta has decided to let us exhaust ourselves;-)

 

this week’s one-word prompt:

EXHAUST (transitive verb)
1a : to consume entirely : use up <exhausted our funds in a week>
  b : to tire extremely or completely <exhausted by overwork>
  c : to deprive of a valuable quality or constituent <exhaust a photographic developer>
2a : to draw off or let out completely
  b : to empty by drawing off the contents; specifically : to create a vacuum in
3a : to consider or discuss (a subject) thoroughly or completely  

  b : to try out the whole number of <exhausted all the possibilities>

Please remember:

• Your response must be between 33 and 333 words.

• You must use the 3rd definition of the given word in your post.

• The word itself needs to be included in your response.

• You may not use a variation of the word; it needs to be exactly as stated above. 

• Only one entry per writer.
• Trifecta is open to everyone.  Please join us.                  

 

So,after spending some time trying to exhaust all ideas,I fell back on my exhausted brain to churn up something & here is what it  produced  😛

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A matter of  routine

 

Everything was spick & span-just as Paul liked & expected.Stella looked at herself in the mirror & smiled.Her new hairstyle suited her .Her heart fluttered-in a mix of anticipation,fear & hope.

 

She trembled thinking of what may happen if she failed.Bracing herself ,she shook her head,as if that would clear the cobwebs of panic that tried to cling to her  fragile self confidence.But,she told herself,she would not let these thoughts exhaust her.This time she was ready.

 

She heard a taxi stop & then the door opened.It was time for it to all begin-or end..

 

“What the hell is going on here?I leave for two days & you go get yourself  made up to look like a harlot?” Paul hurled abuses at her & Stella could see his fists curling up.She knew what was coming & cringed.

Within minutes,she felt his fist smashing into her face & blood poured out of her nose.She fell to the floor,The sight of blood delighted Paul & he rained a few more punches & kicks on her prone form.Stella did not utter a word.

 

She heard him pouring a drink & switching on the TV.She slowly dragged herself to her feet & stumbled to the bathroom.After cleaning herslf up,she went to  check  on the dinner & started setting the table.

 

She heard him get up & run the bath.She held her breath.Soon,the door closed & she could hear him humming-everything was always a routine for him-any discrepancy with his orderly world meant punishment for Stella.

 

An hour later she was on the phone calling up the Police.Her husband was not opening the bathroom door & neither answering her,she  sobbed.

 

The Police broke open the door-to find her husband,lying dead on the floor.His drink had spilled on to the floor & the almost empty bottle of whisky stood nearby.It seemed that  in his drunken stupor he had failed to realize that the Geyser had a leakage &  he had died of electric shock.

Poor Paul….

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