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

[lee.jae.han]

## Update 16: Confession and Forgiveness

When I got home from Neha Bua’s place, Suman Chachi (the eldest, my paternal aunt) met me at the door, showering me with questions.

"Where have you been all this time?" she asked, her voice tight with worry.

"I was playing at the ground," I replied.

"Where did you go after Madam's house?" she pressed.

"I went straight to my Aunt Neha's place," I answered.

"Couldn't you have told us before going?" she questioned.

I didn't share my thought—that going from Madam's house to Bua's was closer than coming back home first—but just shook my head.

"What was Neha saying?" she asked, her tone softening.

"She was asking me to help Komal with her Math," I said.

She peered at my shirt. "And what's this stain on your clothes?"

"Aunt gave me samosas to eat, and it got on my clothes then," I explained.

"Alright, go and change your clothes," she said, visibly relaxing.

"Okay," I said.

She pulled me into a quick, tight hug. "Son, we were worried about you, that's why I was angry. Please forgive your aunt," she whispered, then told me to change.

Later that night, as I was lying in bed, I thought, I put the book back, but I shouldn't have put it under the bed. Madam must have looked for the book in that exact spot when she realized it was gone. If she found the book in the same place today, she’d know I was the one who put it back. Tomorrow, I'll tell her everything before she even asks.

The next day at schoool, Komal spoke to me for the first time—she was suddenly friendly, likely due to her mother's request. We even ate lunch together. She was different from what I had imagined; she seemed like a genuinely good girl.

After schoool, I spoke with my Chachis, ate dinner, and then slept. The following afternoon, I went to Madam's house, a knot of fear still twisting in my stomach. Even though she had been nice to me at schoool, the memory of her questioning me yesterday still made me nervous.

I sat on the sofa. Madam was wearing a nightgown.

"Avi, would you like some coffee?" she asked, her demeanor easy and relaxed.

"Yes, why not?" I replied, the routine feeling oddly comforting.

A little while later, she came back with the coffee. I started drinking it silently, feeling the moment of confession drawing closer.

"Madam, I need to talk to you," I finally blurted out.

"Yes, what do you want to say?" she asked gently.

"Well... it's... it's that, Madam..." I stammered, unable to find the words.

"Come on, tell me what's on your mind," she prompted.

I took a deep breath. "I took your book," I finally confessed.

"What?" she asked, but the surprise was clearly feigned.

"Yes. By mistake, instead of putting it on the table, I put it in my bag," I explained, sticking to the prepared lie.

"But you told me you didn't take it," she said, a hint of a smile touching her lips.

"I was scared," I admitted, my voice small. "But yesterday, I put it back."

"Why are you telling me now? I already found the book," she said.

"I thought that by putting it back in the same spot, you would know I was the one who took it," I explained honestly. "That's why I wanted to tell you before you asked."

"It's okay," she said simply.

"You're not mad at me, are you?" I asked, full of dread.

"No, why would I be mad at you? You returned the book," she replied, her outward calmness a stark contrast to the thoughts she was clearly suppressing.

"You've forgiven me?" A huge wave of relief washed over me, making my muscles weak.

"Yes, I've forgiven you, but don't tell anyone about this book," she said, her voice dropping to a confidential whisper.

"I won't tell anyone," I promised immediately.

"Good. Now you can go. It's Sunday tomorrow, so come at twelve, so we have more time. Okay?"

"I'll come," I replied, standing up and heading for the door. I left with the feeling that I had exchanged one secret for a shared, binding one.

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