Ch 10
The shanty had an unusual visitor the next day.
Dodging the miscompilation of potted plants, utensils, two wheelers, footwear and spare furniture, the woman, clad in a fancy saree, made her way to her destination. The door was slightly ajar.
She was about to knock just as she heard voices from within. Shiva! He was talking to someone. She was startled at the mention of her own name.
âYes, my latest client is Patralekha SalunkheâŠwife of Major Samrat SalunkheâŠâ
ââŠ..â (the other side)
âOh yes, from the famous Chavan niwas..â
ââŠ.â
âYes, she is in love with me. I canât help it. My physique, personality is such that anyone would be floored. Moreover, that woman is an eternally sex starved nymphomaniacâŠ
ââŠ.â
âShe will fall for anyone who is male. But no, I havenât yet shown her any interest yetâŠâ
ââŠ.â
âUurggghhh. Spare me that woman. She is totally cringeworthy. She has this misconception about herself. That she is very beautiful..very virtuousâŠand that all men would be impressed by her. In reality she is a cheap flirt, a woman of loose moral values. I feel like puking when she smiles at meâŠâ
ââŠ.â
âI tell you, she doesnât miss a single opportunity of touching and fondling me. The way she looks at meâŠI feel as though I am being stripped virtually. I still donât know how her husband can stand all this. Poor fellow. Madly in love with her!â
ââŠ.â
âNo, I donât think I will be going back. I just told her that I am not keeping well and she, a stupid baffoon, swallowed the whole thing. I have never seen such a dumb person.âŠâ
ââŠ.â
âNothing to worry. After I go back, I will spin a yarn of some illness and close the chapter. Its so easy to convince her: she practically eats out of my hands!â
ââŠ..â
âWhat to do..thats the nature of our job. Flattery, flattery and pure flattery! These rich housewives, I tell youâŠjust one glance and they go hornyâŠâ
Patralekha couldnât believe her ears. ShivaâŠher trainer! The person she had idolizedâŠmade love in her dreams..had such a low opinion of her. Practically called her a cheap woman, a nymphomaniac. She cringed at the memory when he had placed his hands on her hips to stabilize her, she had looked in his eyes and seen passion. Passion? Was it? She shook herself out of the cocoon. It was not that. It was certainly not that. How could she be taken for a ride to this extent?
She never knew when she turned back and walked away from the room. From the memories, from her desire to loose weight, from her desire to impress Virat, from the desire to outshine Sai, and many more illusions. Tears streaming on her cheeks, she never knew when and how she found the correct way out of the labyrinthine network of houses. She never knew when she opened the door of the passenger side and hopped in the car. Samrat, her husband, looked at her quizzically.
âWhat happened? Met him?â
No answer. Samrat put on the reading lights and turned toher.
âHeyâŠWhat happened?â
She turned away from him in an effort to hide her tear streaked face.
âPatralekhaâŠâ
She wiped her face clean and stepped out, walking away aimlessly. He ran after her, caught her arm and turned her around.
âWhat happened? Did he say something?â
It was then that she burst out in anguish.
âAm I that bad? A fat slob..good for nothing. Is that what you think about me?â
Samrat was taken aback. What was she talking about?
âTell me frankly. Is that the reason why you got this fellow to advise me?â Eyes flashing in pure anger, finger wagging at his face, she had no idea about the spectacle she made to him.
âNo..â Samrat decided to play the frank tune for the time being. âI just got him because you wanted to trim down. And the nearest gym to our place recommended him. I have no idea why you wanted to slim down first of all. To me, you are perfect!â
She cooled down with that. Samrat continued.
âI have no idea from where you got into this fad. I fell in love with you the day I saw your photograph. You were just the one for me. A God sent surprise. And when I saw you first, I couldnât believe that a human being could be so beautiful. Both on the outside as well as inside. That dayâŠI can never forget, Patralekha..
âSamratâŠâ Her voice was hoarse with clogged emotions.
He grasped her and looked deep in her eyes. âSince the day we got married, I am yearning for this moment, when I can..confess my feelings to you. Never mind what happened in the past. I still love you. And ache for the same from your side. But thenâŠâ he left the bitter part unsaid. âI donât know what else to expect of you..or from myself given the situation..â
She sushed him with a finger on his lips. He grasped the finger and kissed it. Eyes locked with hers, he cupped her face and slowly lowered his lips to hers till a miniscule space remained. As if waiting for her permission? He was willing to wait till eternity!
Then he felt her arms around his neck. Yes. His lips crashed on hers with a pent up passion of so many years. He didnât just kiss her, he simply devoured her. She was his.
The horn of a passing vehicle brought them to the ground. Samrat hastily drew back, taking Patralekhaâs hand in his hand, promised her something quite solemn.
âPatralekha..dont ever worry about how you look on the outside. For me, you will ever be the same beautiful one who took my heart away. And never returned it. Now, may I call you Pakhi?â
She hugged him tightly in reply.
âSay it again?â
âPakhiâŠâ Tears brimmed in her eyes at that. This was her man. Her anchor, her soulmate. He had not flinched at her unabashed bodily emissions because of her diet. And how had she treated him so far. Like a burden? An unwanted baggage. Was it too late to apologize? Would he forgive and forget?
He read her thoughts.
âPakhiâŠdonât remember the past now. Letâs start afresh. From today onwards!â
They walked, hand in hand, to the place where their car was parked.
A pair of eyes watched them from a distance. The unseen person spoke on her mobile.
âThank you, SadaâŠfor all you have done for me. Now go back to your professional life. Your past will be buried forever. I am deleting the voice clip from my phone. Donât worry!â
Sai smiled to herself. She had known sooner or later Pakhi would visit the shanty where Shiva lived. A little arm twisting from her side and Sada, or Shiva, was more than willing to help her out. He was in fact, miles away when Patralekha was about to knock on the half open door. The stage had been set the previous day itself with Virat sir talking about the harassment cases on the dinner table. It had been further highlighted during their bedroom discussions. She had known that Patralekha would be listening to their conversation, and had hit the bullâs eye. The giveaway shadow couldnât be missed.
Was Virat a part of all this? She had pretended to be fast asleep when he went through her phone. It was an unspoken agreement thereafter and the rest fell in place.
It was a peaceful era at Chavan Niwas thereafter. Patralekha ultimately accepted Samrat as her soulmate. She wouldnât be eavesdropping on them henceforth. And of course, Samrat dada got his due. Dadho Sutto!