Adultery The Possession

[Henry]

It has been a week since Subir went to Delhi. And just a few days later Santu's secondary examination. Subir called Soma when She was leaving for her school. This is the busiest time for Soms. She gets annoyed when someone calls. But Soma picked up the phone. Annoyedly said---Why you call at this time?
---Getting ready to go to school?
----Hmmm. Tell me what to say. Today we have class in first period at school.
---Saying, when is the exam of Santu?
---March 4th.
--- That means after only three days. Do you think anything to leave him in the exam hall?
Soma said----I will go on the first day. I don't know what to do after that till now. I don't get school leave.
Subir advised---You can do one thing, rent a car. To leave and fetch him.
---Where can I get a car now? Besides, you didn't try it when you were at home.
---You can tell your colleagues. They can certainly rent a car.
Antu is ready to go to school. He hurriedly said---Mom, it's getting late. The school bus will come.
Soma said holding the phone on one shoulder while pinning the saree---Let's see. How much to do with one hand? I did not get any helping hand. I will cook in the morning. I will get the boys ready. I will be ready myself. Now there is more trouble.

Subir said---that's why I asked to keep a maid. You don't like maid's cooking.

Today is getting late. So she said---I'm keeping it now, I don't have time. When do you go to office?
---Hey, I'm calling from the office.
--- Have you eaten?
----Hmmm. keep it. Take care.

Soma hung up the phone. While going out, Soma said to her elder son---Take a bath and eat rice in the afternoon. Food is covered on the dining table.
While going down the stairs with her son, she looked at the room under the stairs on the ground floor. That room is Allocated for watchman. Dawa Sherpa is sitting on a plastic chair in front of this room. When Soma see the man, She always think he belongs to a gang of robbers. Who wouldn't be afraid to see a man who is really about six feet tall, with a monstrous body, and a tough, raspy face? Not only that, also the man's eyes and face have an impression of brutality.

Sitting in the staff room during the fourth period, Soma was telling her colleagues about her son's exam. Although Soma's school is govt. Yet it is not very big. There are total number of teachers is 19. Among them her junior math teacher Atanu babu, history teacher bandana di are Soma's close. Soma couldn't trust that anyone in particular would be able to help with the car rental.

After lunch when Santu was going to take some rest suddenly the bell rang. When he opened the door, he saw Dawa Sherpa standing in front of him. Santu said calmly---say something uncle?
----Lighter have?
Santu brought the lighter from the kitchen. Dawa Sherpa lit the bidi and said---no one at home?
---No. Mom went to school. My brother is also in school.
----You don't go to school, babu?
----I have exam after some days, so.
----Which class do you read?
---Class ten. I have secondary exams.
---You will give secondary examination. Bah! Bah! Dawa Sherpa blew the smoke of the bidi and gave a shout. He said again---Babu, I am an uneducated man. I have studied up to class four. I can write the name just. But my daughter Keshavi also passed Madhyamik exam. Her exam center was in Darjeeling school. Where is your exam center?
---in Jadavpur.
---Then you have to go by car. Do you have a car?
---Yes we have. But dad is not at home. Hence the problem.
---Why? i can drive. I have been driving on mountain roads for two years. Tell your mom, I will deliver you if possible.

Santu smiled softly. He thought the man was as evil just like her mother said. But talking now, this man did not feel bad. Santu said---Uncle, if you want to come in, come.

Dawa Sherpa came inside the house. Pulled the chair himself. He said---You have a very beautiful house. What does your father do
---Engineer.
---And your mom is a school teacher?
---Yes.
---Your mom-dad are very good people.

After that, there was a story between Dawa Sherpa and Santu for quite some time. He liked the man. The man told him about the mountains and the forest. Santu also said that he had seen a red panda at Sandakphu.
Dawa said---Babu now you have exam. I should not disturb you. When your exam is over, one day I will tell you more stories about mountains and forests.
Santu was happy. Said---Dawa uncle, can i say something?
Dawa stood near the door when he came out and said---Say.
---You are very good. I thought you were a bad guy. Mom was saying you look like a robber. But you are really good.
Dawa laughed. Said---your mom called me a robber?
---Yes. But if mom talks to you, she will understand that you are a very good person.


Soma returned home from school by five o'clock. Winter is gone. It's getting hot slowly. Whether it's hot or cold, Soma's habit is to go to the bath after school. She took off the saree and spread it on the sofa in the drawing room and went to the bathroom wearing a saya-blouse. After bath she came out wearing light cotton nighty. Rested a little and went to bed. Then she heated the milk for her two sons. While sitting on the sofa sipping tea, her eyes suddenly caught on the bottom of the table. A piece of bidi is lying. That means someone cames her house. Who smoke Bidi here. Soma shouted and said---Santu?
Santu said to let him sip the glass of milk----say mom.
----Who came home after I left?
----Dawa Uncle?
---Who?
---The new watchman uncle.
---What? There is no one at home, why did you let him in? Soma said angrily.

Santu is afraid of his mom. He Said---He wanted lighter,
----The man is not short of courage. So you let him enter the house.!
Santu realized that if mom found out that he had invited the man to their house, she would have to grumble even more. So he said to clarify---- Mom, Dawa uncle was asking in which class I studied.
---means? A lower class watchman come to our house and talk! Raghu Da was never like that. What else were he asking?
---He asked me where my exam seat was.

Soma fumed in anger. Soma quickly telephoned Subir in anger. Subir's office ends at eight o'clock. So Soma called his office. A clerk of Subir's office caught the phone first one. Soma said---Mr Mukherjee is there?
---Who are you talking about?
---I am his wife.
---Ok Mrs Mukherjee. I am giving the phone to sir right away.
Subir had to hold the phone for a few minutes. Santu is standing crouched in front. Looking at her son, she said in a stern tone----I see how big have you grown. Allowing a stranger to enter the house!

Subir knows that Soma never calls during this time. So he picked up the phone and said practically in surprise----What's the matter? If you call now?
Soma uninterruptedly told Subir all the happenings. Subir himself did not take Dawa very well that day, but he was not as anxious as Soma. He smiled and said--Keep cool Soma. Do one thing, you make a complaint to Mr. Mitra.
Soma is still angry, said--You call Mitra Da and tell him. That man should be kicked out tomorrow.

Subir is a cold-headed person. He knows his wife well. Actually Soma manages their family with two sons lonlely. So she is worried. He said---Ok ok. I will call. After back to quarters from office. I will call Mr.Mitra then. Is your head cold now, darling?
Soma remained unresponsive. Subir said---are you rent a car for Santa's exam?
---And where did I do it? I told Atanu, you know he is my colleague. He said "Soma di, you know I'm not from Kolkata. I don't know anyone like that yet". I can't."

Subir said---Then what can we do. How I Can try from Delhi? Let's see what can be done.

As Soma hangs up, she notices that Santu is still standing. Soma's anger subsided. She said----Why are you standing? Finished drinking milk? Go study.
Santu said---Mom will I say something?
--- What?
--- Dawa uncle was saying, he knows driving.
--- What to do about it?
---I mean, he was saying that he can drive our car and take me to the exam.

It is eight o'clock at night. After cooking, Soma turned on the TV. Monotonous serials are playing on TV. Se watched only one serial, and it is by nine o'clock at night. Besides, the TV is often off in their homes. Of course, the TV was bought only to watch Santu-Antu's cricket game. Soma started thinking about Santu's words. Can she really trust that dangerous looking man with a monstrous body to send Santu to the examination hall? Now Soma is helpless. Only one day left. It will be difficult if nothing happens by tomorrow. Meanwhile, if Subir has already complained to Mr. Mitra against Dawa! So will call Subir again and tell?

Subir returned from the office to the quarters. After washing his hands and face, he sat down with some documents from the office. Just then the quarter's telephone rang. He understood Soma's voice by picking up the phone. Said---What happened? If you call again?
Soma softly said---I called to say, have you complained to Mr. Mitra about Dawa?
---No, I didn't. Don't stress. I will call and tell him.
---No. Then don't say anything.
Subir was surprised. He Said---Why? What happened?
---Santu was saying, Dawa Knows car driving. He said that he can drive our car and deliver Santu to the examination hall.

Subir smiled. He said---So now you don't want to complain about him?
---Look, is there any other way? But can we trust the man?

Subir thought for a while and said---Why not? He is not a child lifter. Besides, on the first day of the exam, you yourself are going with Santu. I think if help is available from him then we should accept it. Cause we gave him the job.
Soma agreed. Subir repeated----But you talk to him yourself. Santu is just a kid, he may not say everything right.
---Hmmm. Soma said worriedly.
Subir joked again----then will Darling withdraw the complaint about him?
Soma said---don't joke. I talk to him
tomorrow morning.
---Okay.
--- When will you have dinner?
Subir looked at the wall clock and said---It's half past nine.
---Okay good night.
--- Good night.
++++++


dice number order
Dawa Sherpa
Age: 52