Adultery Life of Avi Singh

[lee.jae.han]

## Update 175: The Power of the Phone (Avi, Meena Chachi, and Chacha)

After leaving Pankaj's house and riding the bike back to the village, I felt a lightness in my chest, still replaying the brazen conversation with Heena. The thought of finally having a mobile number to exchange with her made the ride home feel too slow, fueling my excitement.

As soon as I walked into the house, Meena Chachi was waiting, her arms crossed and a familiar knowing look on her face.

"I haven't seen you anywhere since the bike arrived, Avi," Meena Chachi tapped her foot lightly on the floor, questioning me.

"I went to Karim and Pankaj's houses," I explained, meeting her gaze calmly. *(I had already told Meena Chachi all about my new friends.)*

"You're spending a lot of time at Karim and Pankaj's houses these days," Meena Chachi tilted her head, her expression softening slightly. "What's the real matter?"

I shrugged, walking past her to set down my bag. "College hasn't even started yet. I'm just hanging out until classes begin. After that, I won't have any free time for months."

"Okay," Meena Chachi conceded, following me into the main room. "By the way, what exactly do you do when you go into the city every day?"

"I'm learning about the city, Chachi," I turned to face her, a slight smile playing on my lips. "I'm finding out how life works there, how one has to act, what city girls like... just learning these small things."

"What will you do after learning all this?" Meena Chachi's eyebrows rose, surprised by my detailed answer. "You're fine exactly the way you are, Avi."

"What do you want?" I challenged softly. "For me to stay like a nervous village boy when I get to college?"

"I certainly don't want that," she shook her head firmly.

"Then why are you asking me such questions that make me feel guilty?" I pressed gently, stepping closer.

Meena Chachi sighed, dropping her gaze. "I was just... leave it. Forgive me. Do absolutely as you please. But living in the city, don't ever forget your village and, most importantly, your chachis here."

I stepped toward her, taking her hands in mine. "I can't even think of that, Chachi. I consider you less of an Chachi and much more of a mother. Forgetting you is impossible."

Meena Chachi's eyes softened, glistening with happiness at my words. She pulled me into a tight, warm hug, squeezing me close. "It's okay that you go to the city, but you need to be very careful about one thing there, Avi."

"What thing, Chachi?" I pulled back slightly, looking into her face, sensing her worry.

"Don't pick up any bad habits in the city," she warned, her tone serious. "Bad habits stick quickly in that kind of environment."

"Bad habits?" I repeated, confused by her concern.

"Like drinking alcohol, smoking cigarettes, using drugs..." she listed, her voice dropping to a serious whisper, her eyes wide. "Stay far away from all of that nonsense."

"I already stay away from all those things," I nodded firmly, giving her hand a gentle squeeze.

"And there's one more thing that is much worse than all of that," she added, her eyes darting nervously toward the door, checking for listeners.

"What is that, Chachi?" I asked, leaning in, curious about the hidden danger.

Meena Chachi gripped my arm, her fingers tightening slightly, showing her fear. "Stay away from spoiled boys and rich boys. All they know is how to have fun, and they have fun in a way that the matter reaches the security officer and the newspapers. They have money and power to escape trouble, and we have nothing like that. That is why you must stay away from them."

"I'll stay away from them too," I promised, respecting her genuine fear and political sense.

"And yes," she added, her voice dropping again, "take special care of Komal. Boys in the city trap village girls and corrupt them. Komal knows nothing about life outside of books. She will easily fall into the hands of city boys. You have to watch out for her."

"Komal is not what she seems, Chachi," I chuckled softly, shaking my head. "She takes after Neha Bua—she’s tough. She's only sweet with me. It’s far from her falling into the hands of any boy; she won't even talk to them."

"Still..." Meena Chachi insisted, worry etched on her face, biting her lip.

"If anything like that happens, I'm right here, aren't I?" I reassured her, giving her shoulder a squeeze. "I'll handle it immediately."

"It's precisely because you're here that I feel so much happiness and peace," Meena Chachi released a deep breath, her tension easing completely.

I decided this was the perfect moment to ask. "My dear Chachi, I really need a mobile phone."

"What do you need a mobile for, Avi?" she frowned playfully, teasing me.

"Komal has already gotten one, you know," I pointed out, using my cousin as an example of necessity.

"But why do you need one?" she asked again, her eyes searching mine for the real reason.

"Today, Karim's sister, Heena, asked for my mobile number," I leaned in, making sure my voice was just for her. "I felt terrible that a girl has one and I don't. Please, Chachi. You have to get me a mobile."

Meena Chachi caught my implication immediately, a wide smile spreading across her face. She raised an eyebrow, challenging me. "You need it just so you can talk to a girl, then?"

"Something like that," I admitted, grinning widely.

"Okay," she declared, making a decision with a sharp nod. "Consider it done. You've got a mobile."

"I want a good one, though," I pressed, wanting something modern and powerful.

"I said you'll get one," she waved her hand impatiently. "Now go and call your Chacha in from the fields. I need to talk to him right now."

I ran out and called Chacha in from the fields, and he walked in, wiping sweat from his brow, looking tired.

"Listen to me," Meena Chachi crossed her arms, her stance already prepared for an argument.

"What is it now?" Chacha sighed, annoyed by the immediate confrontation.

"I was saying that we absolutely need to get a mobile phone," Meena Chachi stated clearly.

"Now what do we suddenly need a mobile for?" Chacha looked annoyed, rubbing his temple.

"One for Avi, and one simple one for the house," Meena Chachi clarified quickly, separating the requests.

"I asked what purpose we need it for, not who we need it for," Chacha snapped back, his voice rough with fatigue.

"Today, my pills ran out," Meena Chachi shifted her weight, preparing her argument. "Avi was in the city all day. If we had a mobile, I could have just called Avi and told him. He would have brought them back then."

"So what?" Chacha dismissed the point with a wave of his hand. "Send him now. He has a new bike, doesn't he?"

"You're completely missing the point," Meena Chachi insisted, her voice rising with urgency. "We might need to call for something from the city at any time, instantly. What if essential pills are needed quickly? If we have a mobile, all the work will be done fast and without worry."

"We just bought a new bike," Chacha said, rubbing his temple, exhausted by her persistence. "Now we absolutely cannot afford to buy a mobile phone too."

Meena Chachi stepped closer to him, her voice low and challenging. "You're worried about money right now, not about me, are you?"

"It's not like that, Meena," Chacha's eyes darted away, unable to hold her gaze.

"If it's not like that," she pressed, her voice hard, demanding action, "then give me permission to buy a mobile right now. Today my pills ran out. Tomorrow, Didi’s might. You don't care about us at all!" She delivered the final, devastating blow, her voice dropping to a deadly whisper. "If not us, at least think about your future child. What if something happens to him because we can't call for help?"

Chacha's entire body flinched violently at the mention of the baby, his eyes widening in terror. My heart hammered against my ribs, a knot tightening in my gut—the fear of the baby's safety was always his greatest weakness, crippling him. His face instantly drained of color. He stood there, silent and defeated, completely motionless.

"Okay. Avi, go to the city right now and get the mobiles," he finally looked at me, giving in with a sigh. "Are you happy now, Meena?"

"Yes," Meena Chachi smiled triumphantly, nodding sharply. "Avi, there's still plenty of time before the markets close. You need to go now."

"Now?" Chacha asked, utterly exhausted by the argument, his shoulders slumping.

"Yes," Meena Chachi walked over and gently pushed me toward the door. "You shouldn't look at the clock for good deeds like this."

I didn't need to be told twice. I grabbed my keys and left immediately for the city. I bought a high-end mobile phone for myself, costing ten thousand rupees, and a simple one for Chachi, costing two thousand rupees. I also bought two new SIM cards. The thought of finally having Heena’s number made the expenditure feel absolutely worthwhile and exciting.

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