Adultery The Old Toothbrush by Trambak

[Ramesh_Rocky]

Probal and Ahana looked at Shakti with admiration and nodded in understanding. It's morally so uplifting not to understand an iota of what has been said.

Probal was essentially quiet, he suddenly turned towards me and said, "Dada, do you believe in coincidences or do you think that there is more than what actually meets the eye?"

"What is in your mind, Probal," I asked in consternation?

He was hesitant but then just blurted out, "I mean, say it's true that your characters sometimes come to meet you, how do they do it? I mean get a physical form!"

I too was flummoxed, it was indeed a strange situation. But I allowed myself some leeway and said, "Look, I have never met them in physical form. I dreamt them. Today Ahana has apparently met people who fit the bill and have identical names. In all probability, it's a chance occurrence. But if it's true then I could consider them to be very powerful memories who have the capacity of 'ectoplasmic condensation' and acquire a physical form."

Ahana looked very pale and I hurriedly added, "But in our case, we are not dealing with ghosts, they don't exist. It's a hypothetical situation. Anyway, my characters may be a bit annoying but not harmful."

The night grew deeper and darker. The weather was salubrious, neither warm nor cold. The bright full moonlight filtering through the tall coconut trees made the atmosphere absolutely sublime.

The fabulous food and the wine was slowly percolating our faculties into a state of intense happiness and contentment. It was time to call it a day.

That's when I found Shakti looking towards the hammock next to her. It was swinging as if someone was on it. The sound of the swing was unmistakable. Slowly, a silhouette of a short female form in sari appeared, sitting on the hammock and swinging both her legs. She smiled brightly at me, ignoring others.

Shobha had arrived.

It was time for the others. Keya and Karan were already occupying the two vacant chairs chatting animatedly and Avni was standing by the coconut tree behind Probal and Ahana looking at the moon.

I motioned Avni to come and sit with me. She was the least complicated of all.

I felt light and I was with my own ones.

All of a sudden, I was in perfect control.

With a flourish, I made introductions.

Twists in the tail-3

Brass tacks

I concluded the introductions. It went smoothly except the fact that though Keya and Karan were very civil, neither recognized Ahana. Shobha looked at Adishakti with a bit of suspicion who in turn glanced back at her with equal mistrust. An eye for an eye.

Interestingly, apart from the original four of us, the new quartet failed to perceive the fact that they had just arrived. They continued with their work as if they had been here for long. Actually, they were surprised that introductions were being made in the first place.

Ahana and Probal were the worst affected. They continually looked at each other and the rest of the newer entrants. Avni was calm while Shobha was restless and fidgety while Karan was very attentive to Keya. And Keya was at her best corporate efficiency.

We waited patiently for the proceedings to start. I was feeling a strange excitement.

History was repeating itself. I was expecting Keya to start but it was Shobha who said, "What Sahib! Some lafda again?"

That captured everyone's attention. I said nonchalantly, "Lafda? What lafda?"

Shobha was not troubled by my cold stance; she banged on, "Keya madam was telling Avni madam that you are again trying something funny?"

I was justifiably annoyed. To discuss a contentious point and making meaningful arguments was one thing and rubbishing all acceptable processes and just calling it 'lafda' or a funny activity to be precise was highly objectionable. But I condensed my anger in one small word and asked politely.

"How?"

Shobha offered her thought-provoking comments, "Sahib, you are saying that the 'tuth-burush' is like a man or woman who can be kept or thrown if someone has some lafda at Goa."

There was no point explaining the aforementioned statement. So, I asked her benevolently, "Shobha. Where is Nandan? I don't see him."

Karan coughed, we all looked at him. He said with embarrassment, "After knowing the gist of your story she has put Sumit under constant surveillance lest he is tempted to cheat again. Once a cheat always a cheat, if the temptation arises. That's Shobha's point of view."

I looked at Avni with indignation. How was she allowing such a humiliating act?

Keya interjected, "Look Trambak. Err... sir. I agree that the action is rather unusual but we took this decision jointly. Both Nandan and Sumit are together whenever both Shobha and Avni are out. You know, just as a cautionary measure. For both of them."