Adultery The Possession

[Henry]

When the telephone rang, Soma washed her hands and picked it up. Subir's voice from the other side---Soma, were you cooking?
---Yes. Just you returned from the office?
---Yes. Today is a little late to return. There was an urgent meeting.
---Now you eat something? Soma asked.
---No, I haven't eaten anything yet.
---Why? Make the tiffin. It is only half past eight. You will be 9:30 for dinner.
---Hmmm. I drank tea. Not so hungry now.

Soma scolded her husband--First you eat something light. Then call.
Subir smiled---Ok darling, but I had an urgent matter with you.
---Say?
---My loan repayment will compleat on next month. Accountant Chauhan was saying whether to make a new loan or to close it.
---Why should you take a loan again? Soma asked in surprise.
----Tell us to make a loan to buy that flat?
---O ma! Why just take out the loan now? Mitra da' are still there.

Before this, Subir had made a definite plan to buy a flat a year ago. Soma used to do the loan. Their neighbour Mr Mitra lives in the second floor flat above their first floor. The third floor is empty. Subir thought of buying it. But after talking to the manager of the developer company of their flat building, Subir comes to know that Mr. Mitra, the owner of the second floor, will leave near his son in America within a year. They will sell their flat before that. Buying it will benefit for Subir. In that case, the second floor is next to their flat. Moreover, the price will also be lower. Subir also liked the advice of their flat building developer manager. Soma also agreed. Finally a year passed but Mr Mitra still did not leave to his son.

Subir said to Soma---I has been hearing for the last one year that Mr. Mitra will leave for USA.
Soma said---If you have waited so long, let's not wait any longer. Need a loan now?

Soma, however, was not wrong. Subir also felt that a little more wait could be given. Their sons are still young. Who can say, they will not stay in Kolkata in future.

While Subir and Soma are talking on the telephone, after finishing his studying Santu also appeared in the living room. They are chatting loudly with their Dawa uncle. The voices in the living room reached Subir's ears. He said - Has anyone come home?

Soma smiled and said very casually--They are talking with their Dawa uncle.

Subir was surprised. He said---Dawa has started coming to our flat again?

Soma lowered her voice and said---Ah! Why are you saying that? The man helped so much that day, then when he come our house, will I drive away?

Subir did not answer. He said very seriously---Hmm. Then again he said---Is your cooking complete?

----Only the rice is left.

Subir's mind became restless when Soma put the phone down. He doesn't like the Dawa Sherpa visiting their flat again. He can't take it too easy. The man proposed to Soma with bad intentions. Surely that evil thought will not go away from his mind so easily. And Soma is showing a very normal attitude about Dawa coming to their flat, even after Dawa makes this bad offer to her. Soma doesn't mind it, because Dawa helped her in the day of trouble? or is Soma has also developed a penchant for her Dawa ji? Subir understands that there is something wrong.

Soma finished the kitchen work and said---Dawa ji, you will dinner here tonight.

Dawa smiled. He had no difficulty in understanding the indulgence in the invitation to dinner on this night from Soma. Santu-Antu, however, remained unaware of their mom's affair with Watchman Uncle. They are only teenagers, it is not possible for them to understand the psychophysical aspects of adults. Rather they both are happy that Dawa Uncle will have dinner at their house today.

Antu said---Dawa uncle, can Everest be seen from Sandakphu?

Dawa looked at Soma and was distracted. Said---If you ask something, Antu Babu?

---Can Everest be seen from Sandakphu?

Dawa smiled. Said ---'Deodhunga' can be seen from Sandakphu. Now Antu Babu tell me, 'Deodhunga' is the name of which mountain?
Dawa uneducated, but he is Sherpa by race. So he has knowledge about mountains. Each Himalayan peak has a local name. Dawa said something like that.

Antu and Santu both became curious. Soma's difference from Dawa is here that Soma is educated, and a teacher of geography. Her knowledge of mountains depends on education. She said---Everest's Nepali local name is 'Deodhunga'. What did I say right?


Soma looked at the clock and said----It's late at night. We have to dinner now. Santu-Antu are no more stories, go and wash your hands and face.

After washing their hands and face, Santu-Antu sat down on the dining table's chair. Soma went to the kitchen. Subir finished his dinner and started walking on the balcony of the housing quarter to smoke a cigarette. The walls of this government housing are quite high. It is surrounded by Devdaru trees. The light of the big lamp post of the campus is spread all around. However, Subir feels dark. He turned on the big light of the balcony. Mr. Mukhotia's family lives in the neighbouring quarters. Their baby cries at night during feeding. Subir decided to call home one more time.

Soma arranged the rice on a transparent porcelain plate. As the telephone rang, Santu went and picked it up immediately. Subir said after hearing his elder son's voice---Where is your mother?

Holding the receiver of the telephone in his ear, Santu shouted----Mom, Dad has called.

Soma was annoyed. What happened again? Subir never makes a second call at night unless absolutely necessary. Soma washed her hands and picked up the phone.

---Were you busy? Subir spoke in a serious tone.
---Hmmm. I was preparing dinner. Tell me, why call again?

Subir himself can't think properly why he called again. Suddenly he said---Dawa ji is gone?

Soma once looked at Dawa Sherpa sitting on the sofa in the living room and said lied with a smile----Yes.
---He did not bad behave with you in any way?
Soma laughed out loud. She said---Don't fear. He's not such a bad guy.

Subir got hit again. Why is Soma so confident about the guy who gave Soma a dirty offer! Soma said---That's why you called?

---No, actually in the morning you said your body is sick. So I thought I ask you about your health.

Soma said with a heavy heart----Who else is looking for me, working all day in the family...
---Ah Soma! That's why I'm telling you to travel somewhere outside for a few days.

Soma said in annoyance---where is the college holiday? And without you I ever went anywhere outside?

----I didn't go. You have to go now with Santu-Antu. We are getting mid life Soma. We have to understand our own good and bad.

---You said it so easily. The responsibility of being a father you never handled properly. You only think about your office in your whole life.

---Should I quit my job and stay at home? You can quit your job if you want.

Soma got angry. She said---I do a job, which is my only support, you object to that too!

--- Did I say that? Have I ever objected to your job?

---You know Antu insists on getting into cricket coaching. Meanwhile, his drawing class. Cooking at home, son's tuition, chooling of boys. Have these ever hindered for my job?

---Ah Soma you are quarreling.

---Am I quarreling? You are the one who started the arguing by calling.

Quarrels between husband and wife are normal. Also occurs between Soma and Subir. Of course, in these cases, like every husband, Subir has to be defeated. As it is today. But Soma also quarrel is not like to continue for long. Soma said---Have you eaten?

----Hmm I ate. The cook has cooked the mutton kasata well today. Subir smiled.

---Look, you have the problem of acidity again. Remember to take the medicine.

Subir smiled. Soma is like that. Like a dutiful wife, she does not forget her duties even during quarrels. Subir's mind became lighter.
Soma put the phone down thinking that she is lying to Subir today. She is feeling a little uncomfortable. Then she might have to lie more. She will must become very desperate to taste taboo affair. This is the fear of Soma.
The food was brought and arranged on the table. Dawa Sherpa is still sitting on the couch. Soma said---Dawa ji, why are you sitting? come on.

Their dining table has four chairs. Santu and Antu are sitting on the two chairs as usual. The other two chairs face each other at opposite ends of the table. Soma sits on one, Subir on the other. If Subir is not at home, that chair is empty. Dawa Sherpa sat on Subir's chair.
The four of them started eating while talking at the dining table. Dawa have not habit to eating in Upper middle class Bengali family's dining table. Sitting in Subir's chair, it is as if he has taken the seat of the head of this family. Now it seems like they are a family, whose master of the family is an uneducated mountain Gorkha tribal, a low class watchman Dawa Sherpa, mistress is well-educated high college teacher Soma Mukherjee, and their two teenage children.

After the conflict for a while, Subir went to sleep peacefully in his bed, then he did not know how big changes had happened in his own house in his absence. How far this change can go Soma, Subir, Dawa no one knows.

After dinner, the two boys sat down in front of the TV again. There is no end to their stories of mountains, forests, animals and birds with Dawa. Soma can hear them working in the kitchen. She is smiling softly in her mind. Her body heat is rising, turbulent worm is biting in her cunt. She knows Dawa ji is anxiously waiting to fuck her tonight. But she is a little afraid. Everything that will happens today is in her own bedroom. Two boys will sleep in the next room. She has to be careful. There is no alternative. Going to the Dawa's room is too risky for her. Better than that in your own flat.

To be continued...