Adultery The Old Toothbrush by Trambak

[Ramesh_Rocky]

"Doing what he does better than you." The Dracula replied.

The slant was not to be missed.

"Not some firsthand experience, I hope?" My turn to rub it in.

"Why not? Keep guessing!" She was relentless.

Not to be outdone, I said, "It is just your personal view otherwise I am much sought after."

"Yes, by monkeys and gorillas! Be careful." She was obviously enjoying the banter. So, I changed the track.

"Okay! So, Probal is busy, then, where is Ahana?" I asked, pretending ignorance.

She winked at me suggestively and concentrated on the prawns. I licked my lips and waited patiently for the crabs.

A rustling sound caught my attention. It was Ahana, in her swimsuit with a towel carelessly wrapped, freshly sea bathed, looking ethereal.

I placed my hands over my eyes.

"What happened dada?" asked Ahana?

"Don't scorch my eyes, go away." I cry.

Difficult to fool the Drac! With utter dryness, she comments, "I can see your eyes through your fingers, dammit!"

Ahana laughs aloud, "didi, at least someone is looking at me."

"Why, I thought you two lovebirds were at it." I poked.

"Who? Probal? Catching up with sleep that he missed during his college days." Ahana sighed.

I said with sufficient seriousness, "Look Ahana, it's not a matter of joke. If you permit; I and this lady can jointly kick Probal's butt. Only you, have to say yes."

"Can I contribute too?" There was plenty of eagerness in Ahana's voice.

Precisely at this juncture, the prodigal man with some supposedly extraordinary prowess named Probal made his entry exhibiting all the 32 teeth and holding a double bowl of chili crab, almost empty. He gallantly offered the last two to his legally wedded wife evoking in me an intense urge to cause him some appropriate physical damage e.g. reduction in the number of exhibitable teeth and/or kicking a sensitive area below the

belt.

"The waiter was looking for you and I offered to carry the bowl. Sorry boudi, it is almost finished." He explained patiently.

The ibid 'boudi' launched into a mirthless laughter; her entire body shook and made me tremble like an aspen, in anger. (Confession: This sentence has been partially plagiarized from a PG Wodehouse novel)

I became philosophical post this trauma. A great calm descended on me and I condoned the follies of all including the truant hammock.

What truly pained me was the behaviour of Ahana who a moment ago had been actively conniving to inflict injury to the backside of Probal had now completely changed sides; thanks to the two pieces of crab at my fu...ing expense and further sharing a single hammock with the culprit. Life was cruel.

I concentrated on the coconuts above while Probal shamelessly flirted with the female folk.

"What a relief from the politics of the college," Ahana volunteered.

Probal added with gusto, "Why doesn't your Director stop this? And what about you, the Vice Principal?"

Ahana sighed, "The Director is a perfect asshole. You just don't know whose side she is. Anyone with a fancy name like 'Adishakti' would be creepy!"

The husband-wife couple almost fell off the hammock in laughter while Countess Dracula quietly mopped up the remaining gravy from the bowl.