Adultery Some Short Stories... From Internet

[usaiha2]

Secret Formula for Marital Bliss

by = mintabal3239

"Your husband's eyes light up when we mention your name, Subbu" said the lady, "you have to tell me what you do to make him love you so much." 

"Do they, Kiran madam?" Subbu was immensely pleased to hear that. 

"They do without any doubt. How do you manage that?"

The questioner was in her early forties. Though plainly dressed, she had the bearing of a person with considerable means. Appearances in this case did not belie; her husband was the owner of two of the largest cotton mills in Mumbai. 

The scene was the drawing room of the lady's bungalow. 

Subbu's husband was assistant manager in the mill. It is not usual for mill owner's wives to be interested in the brightness level of the eyes of their assistant managers, nor is it a common practice for their wives to sit in the drawing room of the owner's house on terms of equality. But assistant manager Raman's duties were mostly to attend to the various needs of the owner's household. He was so popular with members of the family that he held the brevet rank of a close relation. He was in a way closer than close relatives, for he being a Tamilian he did not know Gujarathi, and they could speak freely in his presence with no chance of family secrets leaking out.

--

Subbu arrived in Mumbai four years ago as a nineteen-year-old fresh bride. She was a surprise. Her husband had the deportment and bearing to move in elite circles with ease, but his wife was straight from the village. She, with training, learnt the use of the spoon; the fork however still remained a mystery. 

She was so unselfconscious and genial that the owner's wife took a liking to her. Her English, spoken with Tamil syntax, was fun to hear, but her attempt to speak Gujarathi made even the stoniest of faces to break into a smile. 

On occasional afternoons when she was free the mill owner's wife invited Subbu to her home to prepare South Indian savories, which Subbu did expertly. It was in one of these sessions that the tendency for the assistant manager's eyes to light up when someone mentioned his wife's name became the topic of discussion. 

--

This was not an easy question to answer. Subbu stared knowing not what to say.

"Subbu, I have to explain; I have been too abrupt. My husband and I are drifting apart. This is sad but it is so. He is a lonely man. He has lately taken to drinking more than is good for him. A man with a wife and child has no business to be lonely. Subbu, I want you to change that. You have to tell me what I should do."

"I would be most happy to help you madam, but I am so inexperienced that it is funny that you should ask me." 

"I feel you have the secret formula to keep husbands happy. You tell me what you do and I will do the same. I have been thinking about it for some time now. I have framed some questions to ask you. You have to answer that. It is as simple as that." 

"Yes madam. But I must tell you that you are putting me a very embarrassing position."

"No, Subbu. For the moment you are not the assistant manager's wife. You are my teacher and I am your pupil. Now tell me what is the most important duty of a wife to her husband?" 

Pat came the reply.