Women of Substance

Kavita, Pushpa and Poonam

Mr. Bose thought some more; then he said: ‘I’ll tell Mr. and Mrs. Bhalla the reason for you discontinuing your work at their house. And you will tell your parents everything when they come home in the evening. I would also like to talk to your parents. Now, don’t worry; go and do your work.’

So, that evening, Mr. Bose went to talk to Mr. and Mrs. Bhalla. Their house was a five-minute walk from his house. When he reached the Bhalla house, he found a crowd of people gathered outside, and several people inside the front courtyard. There were several Policemen around also. A couple of Police Jeeps and an Ambulance were parked along the road at a little distance from the house. Mr. Bose was much intrigued by what he saw.

‘What happened here?’ enquired Mr. Bose of one of the on-lookers.

‘Mr. Bhalla’s son has been murdered,’ said the onlooker.

‘What? Did you say he’s been murdered?’ asked Mr. Bose in disbelief.

‘Yes Sir, he has been murdered.’

‘My God!’ exclaimed Mr. Bose. ‘When did this happen?’ he asked.

Deepa

They had been living in Cuttack for nearly six months now, when Deepa suddenly realised that she was probably pregnant! Her visit to her Gynaecologist only confirmed what she suspected. She was not surprised, because she knew that Rahul at times did not take the necessary precaution – a possible effect of extra intake of alcohol? She did not know how he would take the news, though! Personally, she was quite happy, although she would have to leave her job again! She had decided to go to her parent’s house at least three months prior to the expected date of delivery.

When Rahul came to know, a storm blew over Deepa. He berated her for not taking adequate precaution. He then took her to her ‘Gynae’ for a foetus check to determine the sex of the foetus! Deepa was furious.

‘I’ll not undergo the test,’ she told the Gynaecologist. ‘To me, it makes no difference whether I have a son or a daughter. If I undergo the test, and it turns out that a girl is growing inside me, Rahul will pressurise me to abort my pregnancy. He will even coerce you into doing it, Doctor. I will not permit it,’ she said, stamping her foot for emphasis. She then walked out of the Nursing Home.

Rahul came rushing after her to try and make her understand. But, she had made up her mind. Rahul and Deepa returned home in stony silence.

Rahul broached the topic again at dinner. It developed into a heated argument. Rahul slapped Deepa hard in frustration. That totally ruined the dinner for Deepa. Her Mother-in-law remained a mute spectator!

Charu

They switched off the lights, and started to feel for each other, tentatively. Then, he took over the play completely; she let herself relax and enjoy her inner-most feelings as his hands explored her body softly. His fingers played on her bosom; her bosom responded by swelling up, her nipples had become tight and hard; his fingers played with them for a while; that sent a delightful, tingling sensation down below. Involuntarily, she spread her legs apart. His fingers now played with her stomach and her navel under her dressing gown, while his mouth sucked her nipples through it. Her body was like a virgin land; a farmer has to put in very little effort on a virgin land to get high productivity; he has to put in a lot of effort to get the same kind of response from a much-used land; he has to innovate then, all the time. Every pore of her virgin body seemed to respond to his touch even through the night-gown. The feeling was heavenly; a pleased moan escaped her lips as they parted. He kissed her lips softly; then harder, and harder, and harder.

But, they could not consummate their marriage that night. Both of them came down to the normal state after some time.

What happened? Why did he not enter her? Probably he messed up with his timing, thought Charu. He will be better next time, I am sure, she thought.

Aru and Madhuri

Aru had a few sips of water and whipped her face with her dressing gown. Through one or two hiccups, she said: ‘Baba had come here. He talked to me.’

‘Are you sure he was Baba?’ asked Swapan.

‘Of course, I’m sure,’ shouted Aru, emphatically. ‘Haven’t I seen his photograph? I see it every day, and bring my palms together in obeisance. I even saw the small mole that he has near his left ear. When he talked to me I saw his single gold molar on his right upper jaw.’

‘My God!’ exclaimed Swapan in bewilderment. ‘But, his photograph does not show any mole and his mouth is closed in it!’

‘But I definitely saw him,’ repeated Aru, with conviction, ready to argue the point.

‘Yes, Aru, I’m also convinced that Baba had come. Because, he did have a mole, and he did have a gold tooth, exactly as you said you saw it! You could not have known those two facts. You had never known him during his life time.’

‘There - - what did I tell you?’ cried Aru triumphantly.

‘OK! What did he say?’

‘He said that he had come to me as my baby, but I didn’t know and, therefore threw him away. But he’ll come again, he said.’

‘I think we’ve to tell this to Ma,’ decided Swapan.

‘There is something strange, that Baba said - - - something about - - - having a mission to do. I didn’t - - - understand - - - that part,’ added Aru, haltingly.