Adultery The Old Toothbrush by Trambak

[Ramesh_Rocky]

Me: So, what have you decided? I think you should go. Someone's marriage anniversary or what?

Her: I don't think so. I wanted to ask you but your mobile was switched off. I presumed that you will say the same. Actually, Aditya is here to pick me up. Talk to him.

Aditya: Good evening, Sir, what's happening at Delhi?

Me: Hi, Adi! And where are you taking my wife? What's happening?

Aditya: Sir, it's just a get-together at Pune club. I am here to take Ma'am. With great difficulty, I have convinced her.

Me: And I have never been able to do that. Congratulations. When will you be back?

Aditya: Sir, definitely by 10. I will drop her.

Me: Okay. Enjoy.

Aditya: Sir, over to Ma'am.

Her: What about your food?

Me: I have no party to go!

Her: Don't get jealous. Both of you go and enjoy, Fatty Bao or Monkey Bar.

Me: Hmmm. Okay! Take care.

I switched off.

Some minor change in plan was necessary. I was still about 20 minutes from home. Surely, I would miss them. I had a pair of keys. I had some funny plans but that needed to be shelved for the time being. I reached home uneventfully and quietly climbed the stairs and opened the doors. The guard didn't see me.

The inside of the house was exactly as I had left it three months back when I had visited last. It was intended to be a similar surprise visit. But to my great dismay when I had knocked the door, she had opened immediately and had asked me to come in and have food. Apparently, I had left multiple loose ends that had given my stealth away.

This time the preparation was better.

I settled in the armchair and thought for a while. I had two hours to kill. I was hungry. So, I carefully hid my bag and left the premises being careful not to leave any tell-tale signs. I avoided the watchman again and left for the MG Road in an auto.

I reached "Pulp Joint" and ordered many 'usually avoided nowadays' items and stuffed myself while washing it down with two glasses of 'cane sugar juice'. Then I had 'mango pulp' followed by the glorious 'India Kings', both strictly forbidden.

Heaven.

Chapter-2

Well, "Pulp Joint" was the place where I and Suhasini had decided to unite. Two energetic youngsters woefully short of cash spoke at length about the Niagra falls but could afford only the sunrise at the 'Katraj Ghat'. This is where they got so animated about the romantic 'Fort Kenilworth' that they ended up visiting 'Fort Purandhar', the next Sunday itself. That was us and that was more than 20 years back. Today, she was 41 and I was 44.

'Katraj and Purandhar' evoked the same nostalgia, much greater than Niagra, even today.

It was 2145 hours and I casually walked to the Pune Club. Intention was to spring the surprise there. As I entered the gate, I found Aditya's SUV moving out with Suhasini sitting in front. I felt foolish. I cursed my greed for the pulp and the fag that lost me precious time.

I needed to change my plans, once more!

I loitered around for another half hour, caught a Pune city bus (what nostalgia!) and reached home at 2300 hours sharp. The watchman was there but looking elsewhere. I climbed the stairs for the second time and stood in front of the door.

It was time. I took out the keys.

For some time now, I was increasingly getting enamored by the qualities of WD-40, the one-stop solution for many household activities. I had generously applied it in the hinges of the double door 3 months back and it worked. The door opened silently like a Rolls and I entered planning to spring the ever-elusive shock.

There was a single dim light in the living room accentuating the darkness in the corners and there was the noise. From my bedroom.