Adultery Avi's Sexual Marathon: Family, Village, College, City

[lee.jae.han]

## Update 15: The Price of "Beta"


I sat on the sofa, feeling the tension rise. Komal and I were in the same class, but she always treated me like air. I knew why: Neha Bua had expressly forbidden her from talking to me because I had repeated a class.

Neha Bua walked in, and my muscles tightened. She was smiling—a wide, unnatural expression—and her voice was saccharine sweet.

"Avi beta, how are you?"

What happened to Bua? The sudden, affectionate address was jarring. I sat up straighter, wary. "I'm fine, Bua. How are you all?"

"We're all fine," she chirped. "You just never come here anymore."

You always told me to leave and not come back, I thought, the bitterness a metallic taste in my mouth. I kept my voice polite. "Well, Bua, I have a lot of studies, so I don't have time."

"Yes," she said, her eyes narrowing slightly. "Komal told me you came first in Math and that you're studying with your Madam."

"Yes, the Principal asked Madam to help me."

She leaned in, a hint of accusation now threading through her voice. "You don't pay any attention to your sister."

"That's not true," I said, my voice immediately defensive.

She pulled a report card from behind her back, snapping it open. "Look. Your sister topped every subject, but in Math, she only got 40 out of 100." She sighed dramatically. "What am I supposed to do?"

"I can give Komal my notes," I offered, trying to deflect the true request.

"She has notes," Bua dismissed. "But she needs someone to teach her."

"Yes, that's true," I conceded.

"Beta," she continued, her voice now dripping with exaggerated kindness, "won't you help your sister? Can't you teach Komal?"

I knew it. The moment of realization was cold and clear. She wants something, that’s why she’s calling me 'beta'. "But Bua, I don't have time."

"I'm not asking you to do it now," she said quickly, waving her hands. "Komal said Madam is leaving next month. You can teach her then."

I realized there was no easy way out. "Okay, Bua," I said, resigning myself to the task. "I'll help Komal with her studies next month. I have to go now."

"Wait!" she insisted. "You came after so long. Have a snack." She clapped her hands. "Komal made them herself."

Komal returned with a plate of samosas. Her face was flat, betraying no emotion over having to serve me. "Avi, here," she said, holding out the plate.

"Thanks," I said, taking one.

After the quick, tense snack, I left. I walked straight to the field, but my heart wasn't in it. I knew Mona had probably stopped coming to the storehouse. The excitement of watching secrets was over, replaced now by the burden of keeping and managing them.

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