02-01-2019, 12:00 PM
Mr. Rao
Mr. Rao looked at his reflections in the bathroom mirror. He was in pretty fine shape for someone about to turn fifty in a couple of months. He ran his fingers over the freshly shaved jowls and nodded in appreciation. It was smooth and clean. He dabbed the eau-de-cologne on his palms, wetted it and ran his hands over his hair. That way the fragrance lingered longer. He was all set.
Srilekha was waiting outside near the bed, on which a freshly ironed suit and matching tie were laid out. She helped her husband to get dressed up, smoothed an imaginary crease away. Her brows were creased.
“Aren’t you running late? It is already getting near eight.” Her voice held a slight tremor.
“All the better”, he answered, “Easy does it.”
He looked at her blank expression and felt a stab of pity.
“Things will work out Lekha, just wait and see.” He gave a squeeze to her shoulders.
“I will know that when we have our child”, she replied with the same fixed look.
“Best of luck”, she waved him a goodbye and he was off. Off to the dinner engagement with Ramesh and his saucy wife. The moment he had laid his eyes on her, he had known that she was the one, the one who would be able to fulfill their need.
The funny thing was that it was all by accident. Accidents are opportunities presented by fate – it was up to you if you care to take up on those. Same had been the case, when the bunch of applications for the London training program had landed on his desk for perusal and the family status of one had caught his eye – that was Ramesh – and he was married and without kids – the singular case in his office. For a moment he had held back his thoughts for he sincerely liked that mild manner young fellow, who was also a good worker and someone with whom the clients were most comfortable with. Then he shut the door on those thoughts. The world in which he operated was where the bigger fish always devoured the smaller fish. When he had been the small fish, he had been devoured plenty of times, chewed and spat out. Srilekha had seen two abortions and a couple of miscarriages, courtesy of bosses who had dangled a promotion or career advancement before him, and they had accepted the same, he rising a rung each time and she getting under another older man. And always had they deferred the family making to the last, promising that they would in fact the next year when he was settled. Next years ran into next and next to next till it came to knowledge that she could conceive no longer. The gynecologist had told them in a grave tone that her insides were so ravaged by the frequent barrage, that it would be no longer possible for them to become parents. Of course, they always had the adoption route open.
The shock of that disclosure had devastated her and she had retreated into herself. Several years more of counseling and she had started to thaw out and he had seen hope. He broached the topic of surrogate pregnancy and she had okayed it. Again hope had been ignited till that didn’t also work out. At the latest visit to the fertility clinic, he was told that his sperm count was declining with the implication that the deadline was approaching for him fast. It also didn’t help that he had a rare blood group of O –ve, which severely limited the filed of women who could father his child.
Day by day, Srilekha was hurting more and more inside and he wasn’t sure if she would again shut off again and for good the next time. So when Ramesh’s bio had turned up, he had made a surreptitious check on the group insurance information of dependents. Kajol was indeed a O –ve and he sat down stunned for a moment. It was providence beckoning him. For an instant the sincere face of the young Ramesh came up before him. Then he cleared his mind of such weak thoughts. He was the big fish now and he would exercise his prerogative. Of course, he would see to it that Ramesh was duly compensated. He however would have her father his child, if he could help it. He had done one more thing and managed to get invited by Ramesh to his residence on a ruse and was pretty disappointed not to be able meet his wife there. However, when he was returning, fate had smiled on him as had she herself, in a stunning vision and he knew at that moment that that was the accident that fate had meant for him. The chocolates and the invitation to dinner at a discreet club where such assignations were possible, his special instructions to set the semicircular sofa type dining arrangement and his delayed entry – had all been part of a well crafted strategy.
He observed the couple from the distance. Ramesh was stealing a look at his watch for he had been over 45 minutes late. Kajol, however sat resplendent in a green saree, which contrasted her complexion perfectly and with that look of awe at the plush décor. “My breeding mate”, he muttered under his breath and walked over.
Both of them stood up at his approach and he waved them down with a smile. Kajol was looking behind him with a question.
“Sorry, my wife couldn’t make it. She sends her regards”, so saying he chose the end near Kajol and they sat down. Finding herself flanked by both men, she shot a look at Ramesh and then tried to cover up her embarrassment by latching on to a glass of water.
Very solicitously he asked her for her choice of wine and when she expressed her ignorance, he opened the bar menu and pointed at an expensive one making sure that she saw the price on the right hand column. She nodded and he flicked his fingers. They made small talks while steward poured out the bubbly stuff and left them.
“So Kajol, this is a thanksgiving for spoiling a holiday.”
She giggled nervously and shot a look at Ramesh before replying to him.
“Not at all sir. We weren’t doing anything special.”
Then he started unreeling the bait.
“Ramesh is a very dedicated worker. You should be proud of him.” A pause later, “Or should I say he should be proud of you!”
The wine was getting to her and it showed in the rising colors of her face. She laughed brightly at his joke.
Now that the ice had been broken, he changed tack. “But tell me about yourself. We men lead such boring lives. How do you keep yourself engaged?”
She made a brief statement about her doctoral program and he raised his eyebrows in appreciation. From the other side, Ramesh added enthusiastically, “She is a gold medalist.”
He raised a toast to her academic excellence and clicked his glass with both Ramesh and Kajol, taking care that his fingers did brush slightly, ever so slightly against hers. They drained their glasses together and set he set his on the table. A waiter hovered nearby respectfully and caught his eye. They ordered the dinner with the glasses refilled.
“In fact, I can see a bright future for Ramesh”, he resumed, this time giving a slight squeeze on her palm, “having you around. It is a known fact that the Indian wives are the most unnoticed component of a man’s success.”
She smiled brightly showing her perfect teeth. The wine had started taking its effect and she had overcome her inhibitions. When he queried her on her other interests, she spoke effusively about paintings and sculptures. Ramesh who was half listening to the conversation, looked away and started examining the label on the bottle. Evidently, this was an area he had no interest in.
He seized the opportunity. “How wonderful! My wife loves art. She has, in fact, made plans for going to the opening of the new gallery on Friday. Why don’t we finalize a program for coming Sunday? Ramesh, would you like to accompany the ladies to the gallery?”
Ramesh blurted out, “Do I have to?”
“No, no” he was at his reassuring best, ”not unless you are interested in the stuff.” He smiled.
“Thanks”, he said, “I think I will give it a miss sir. Let the ladies enjoy it.” He added as an after thought, “How about you sir?”
He made a long face. “Much as I would love to accompany these pretty ladies”, he squeezed her palm again, “I am afraid; I would be out of station. That rules me out.”
Then he declared. “It is settled then; my wife will come to pick you up, say around ten. That will give you time for the viewing and have lunch as well.”
“Oh! Thank you sir”, Kajol said suddenly remembering her manners, “It is extremely kind of you.”
“Not to mention”, he waived away her thanks.
The waiters arrived with the food trolley and started serving …
He leaned back on his chair and let out a deep breath. His plan was working.
It was just a matter of time!
Mr. Rao looked at his reflections in the bathroom mirror. He was in pretty fine shape for someone about to turn fifty in a couple of months. He ran his fingers over the freshly shaved jowls and nodded in appreciation. It was smooth and clean. He dabbed the eau-de-cologne on his palms, wetted it and ran his hands over his hair. That way the fragrance lingered longer. He was all set.
Srilekha was waiting outside near the bed, on which a freshly ironed suit and matching tie were laid out. She helped her husband to get dressed up, smoothed an imaginary crease away. Her brows were creased.
“Aren’t you running late? It is already getting near eight.” Her voice held a slight tremor.
“All the better”, he answered, “Easy does it.”
He looked at her blank expression and felt a stab of pity.
“Things will work out Lekha, just wait and see.” He gave a squeeze to her shoulders.
“I will know that when we have our child”, she replied with the same fixed look.
“Best of luck”, she waved him a goodbye and he was off. Off to the dinner engagement with Ramesh and his saucy wife. The moment he had laid his eyes on her, he had known that she was the one, the one who would be able to fulfill their need.
The funny thing was that it was all by accident. Accidents are opportunities presented by fate – it was up to you if you care to take up on those. Same had been the case, when the bunch of applications for the London training program had landed on his desk for perusal and the family status of one had caught his eye – that was Ramesh – and he was married and without kids – the singular case in his office. For a moment he had held back his thoughts for he sincerely liked that mild manner young fellow, who was also a good worker and someone with whom the clients were most comfortable with. Then he shut the door on those thoughts. The world in which he operated was where the bigger fish always devoured the smaller fish. When he had been the small fish, he had been devoured plenty of times, chewed and spat out. Srilekha had seen two abortions and a couple of miscarriages, courtesy of bosses who had dangled a promotion or career advancement before him, and they had accepted the same, he rising a rung each time and she getting under another older man. And always had they deferred the family making to the last, promising that they would in fact the next year when he was settled. Next years ran into next and next to next till it came to knowledge that she could conceive no longer. The gynecologist had told them in a grave tone that her insides were so ravaged by the frequent barrage, that it would be no longer possible for them to become parents. Of course, they always had the adoption route open.
The shock of that disclosure had devastated her and she had retreated into herself. Several years more of counseling and she had started to thaw out and he had seen hope. He broached the topic of surrogate pregnancy and she had okayed it. Again hope had been ignited till that didn’t also work out. At the latest visit to the fertility clinic, he was told that his sperm count was declining with the implication that the deadline was approaching for him fast. It also didn’t help that he had a rare blood group of O –ve, which severely limited the filed of women who could father his child.
Day by day, Srilekha was hurting more and more inside and he wasn’t sure if she would again shut off again and for good the next time. So when Ramesh’s bio had turned up, he had made a surreptitious check on the group insurance information of dependents. Kajol was indeed a O –ve and he sat down stunned for a moment. It was providence beckoning him. For an instant the sincere face of the young Ramesh came up before him. Then he cleared his mind of such weak thoughts. He was the big fish now and he would exercise his prerogative. Of course, he would see to it that Ramesh was duly compensated. He however would have her father his child, if he could help it. He had done one more thing and managed to get invited by Ramesh to his residence on a ruse and was pretty disappointed not to be able meet his wife there. However, when he was returning, fate had smiled on him as had she herself, in a stunning vision and he knew at that moment that that was the accident that fate had meant for him. The chocolates and the invitation to dinner at a discreet club where such assignations were possible, his special instructions to set the semicircular sofa type dining arrangement and his delayed entry – had all been part of a well crafted strategy.
He observed the couple from the distance. Ramesh was stealing a look at his watch for he had been over 45 minutes late. Kajol, however sat resplendent in a green saree, which contrasted her complexion perfectly and with that look of awe at the plush décor. “My breeding mate”, he muttered under his breath and walked over.
Both of them stood up at his approach and he waved them down with a smile. Kajol was looking behind him with a question.
“Sorry, my wife couldn’t make it. She sends her regards”, so saying he chose the end near Kajol and they sat down. Finding herself flanked by both men, she shot a look at Ramesh and then tried to cover up her embarrassment by latching on to a glass of water.
Very solicitously he asked her for her choice of wine and when she expressed her ignorance, he opened the bar menu and pointed at an expensive one making sure that she saw the price on the right hand column. She nodded and he flicked his fingers. They made small talks while steward poured out the bubbly stuff and left them.
“So Kajol, this is a thanksgiving for spoiling a holiday.”
She giggled nervously and shot a look at Ramesh before replying to him.
“Not at all sir. We weren’t doing anything special.”
Then he started unreeling the bait.
“Ramesh is a very dedicated worker. You should be proud of him.” A pause later, “Or should I say he should be proud of you!”
The wine was getting to her and it showed in the rising colors of her face. She laughed brightly at his joke.
Now that the ice had been broken, he changed tack. “But tell me about yourself. We men lead such boring lives. How do you keep yourself engaged?”
She made a brief statement about her doctoral program and he raised his eyebrows in appreciation. From the other side, Ramesh added enthusiastically, “She is a gold medalist.”
He raised a toast to her academic excellence and clicked his glass with both Ramesh and Kajol, taking care that his fingers did brush slightly, ever so slightly against hers. They drained their glasses together and set he set his on the table. A waiter hovered nearby respectfully and caught his eye. They ordered the dinner with the glasses refilled.
“In fact, I can see a bright future for Ramesh”, he resumed, this time giving a slight squeeze on her palm, “having you around. It is a known fact that the Indian wives are the most unnoticed component of a man’s success.”
She smiled brightly showing her perfect teeth. The wine had started taking its effect and she had overcome her inhibitions. When he queried her on her other interests, she spoke effusively about paintings and sculptures. Ramesh who was half listening to the conversation, looked away and started examining the label on the bottle. Evidently, this was an area he had no interest in.
He seized the opportunity. “How wonderful! My wife loves art. She has, in fact, made plans for going to the opening of the new gallery on Friday. Why don’t we finalize a program for coming Sunday? Ramesh, would you like to accompany the ladies to the gallery?”
Ramesh blurted out, “Do I have to?”
“No, no” he was at his reassuring best, ”not unless you are interested in the stuff.” He smiled.
“Thanks”, he said, “I think I will give it a miss sir. Let the ladies enjoy it.” He added as an after thought, “How about you sir?”
He made a long face. “Much as I would love to accompany these pretty ladies”, he squeezed her palm again, “I am afraid; I would be out of station. That rules me out.”
Then he declared. “It is settled then; my wife will come to pick you up, say around ten. That will give you time for the viewing and have lunch as well.”
“Oh! Thank you sir”, Kajol said suddenly remembering her manners, “It is extremely kind of you.”
“Not to mention”, he waived away her thanks.
The waiters arrived with the food trolley and started serving …
He leaned back on his chair and let out a deep breath. His plan was working.
It was just a matter of time!
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