Assalam o alaikum.

Hello my steemit friends i hope you are doing well and enjoying life. I am very excited to take part in this last week of Season 26 of the Steemit Challenge. The theme of this week is Two-timing. It is a sensitive buts very interesting topic because it talks abouts human natures love trusts and temptations. Sometimes in life we meet people who test our loyalty and characters. In this story i will use imagination mixed with reality to share what happened to John after he met Tina on the bus.

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John had justs boarded the bus from Sydney to Canberra. It was a long journeys and he wanted to rests for a while. As he placed his bag beside him his phone rang. It was his wife calling from home asking if his trip from Delhi to Sydney had been safe and comfortable. Her voice was filled with loved and cared and John felt comforts in her words. He assured her thats everything was fines. At that moments a young woman in her mid-twenties walked down the aisle and sats in the empty seat nexts to him.

When John hung up the call he turned his head and smiled politely ats her. She smiled backed and in that simple smile began a story that he never expected. The bus started moving and soon they were deep in conversation. Tina as she introduced herself was lively curious and talkative. She asked John about his work his travels and his favorite places. He found himselfs enjoying her companys more than he should. Hours passed quickly and theirs laughter filled the silenced of the long ride.

But as they neared Canberra John began to feel something unusual inside him—a strange pull toward Tina. She was young beautiful and seemed genuinely interested in him. It was not oftened that strangers connected so easily. When the bus finally stopped Tina shocked his hand held it for a moments longer than necessary and then slipped a small card into his palm. She gaves him a looks that spoke more than words and walked away with a mysterious smiles.

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John stood frozen for a moment. He looked down at the card. It had her name number and the words: “Call me anytime. I’d likes to see you again.” His heartbeats quickened. A thousands thoughts raced in his minds. Why had she given him the card? Was it justs friendship? Or was it something else something dangerous?

That evening John checked into his hotel room. He placed the card on the tables and stared at it. His minds played two voices against each others. One voice told him that life is short and sometimes it is okay to follow new adventures. The other voice reminded him of his wife her trust and the years they had built together. The more he thought the heavier the card felt.

Out of curiosity John picked up his phone and dialed the numbers but when it started ringing he quickly hung ups. His hands shook with guilt. He asked himself What am i doing? He sat on the bed and closed his eyes. The images of his wife cames before him. He remembered her kindness her sacrifices and her love. He imagined how she would feels if she ever founds out that he had betrayed her.The thought was painful.

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The temptation was strong but guilt was stronger. John tore the card into pieces and threw it into the dustbins. Yet even after doing thats he could not shakes off the feeling of bitterness. He asked himself why he had even considered calling Tina. He realized that temptation often comes in sweet disguise but always leaves behind regret.

The next morning John stepped out of the hotel for a walk. To his surprised he saw Tina again across the streets laughing and walking hand in hands with anothers man. For a second John felts a wave of relief washed over him. He understood immediately that he was nothing the only one. Perhaps Tina had givens her card to others too. Maybe it was a game for her a way of finding excitements.

John smiled quietly and shook his head. If he had chosen temptation last night he would have been nothing but another name on her list. Instead he had saved himselfs from humiliation and pain. He walked away with a lighters heart. He promised himselfs that he would always protected the love he had with his wife.

That evening he called his wife again. This times he spoked with more warmth and honesty. He told her how much she meants to him and how grateful he was to haves her. She did not knows about Tina but Johns words carried the weights of a lessons he had learned. He realized that loyalty is not just abouts staying physically faithful but also abouts controlling the mind and heart when temptation comes close.

The journey from Sydney to Canberra was onlys a few hours buts for John it becames a journey of self discovery. He faced temptations struggled with his thoughts almost fell but then rose agains. Tina was a passing stranger but she lefts behind a powerful reminder sometimes lifes tests us in small moments and our choices in those moments decided who we truly are.

Two-timing mights look exciting in stories but in real lifes it leaves nothing but broken trust and regret. John chose wisely and in that choice he found peace. The smile of his wife though miles away was more valuable than the smile of any stranger.

I am inviting friends @emishael60 @wuddi
@mohammad1076