Threshold...Homecoming
The return journey went in a daze. Sujata was happy to have been able to help her friend and also a little apprehensive about lying about the dream. The fact that she had to use her daughter and God as an excuse goaded her. For the umpteenth time she consoled herself that the Lord after all knew that she had used his name only for a good cause.
Before she knew, the familiar arrogant gates of the bungalow were there before her. they opened almost automatically, the guards having spotted her car at a distance and she was engulfed once again in the beautiful, lifeless existence she called life.
Amit came home a little early; he gave himself a few reasons for this unusual behavior. He felt he wasn’t feeling well but couldn’t locate what exactly was the problem. Then he rationalized it by thinking he needed to pack for his trip the next day, which wasn’t true since he never packed, the servants did the needful supervised by Sujata.
'Ah Sujata! She would be home by now'. This thought came unbidden to his mind and caught him by surprise. She had been gone just a day, it couldn’t be that he was missing her. After all their interactions were of the most polite kind…more to show a semblance of normalcy to the world than anything else.
The memory of that strange day so many years ago crept back. He had been frustrated driving about the city aimlessly, hoping nay praying some vehicle hit him and ended his torment. And that’s when he had spotted Sujata on the road. She had provided him the much needed solution. No, not that she said anything; it was divine providence that he spot her and the solution to his problem pop up in his mind at the same time.
The deal between two equally desperate people had been honoured. Sujata had been a model wife in front of the world and had discreetly been out of the picture in his personal life. She knew that his frequent trips were not always about business and she packed in the condoms herself so that the servants wouldn’t gossip.
Her daughter had rounded off the farce well and truth be told he loved the child as his own. She was God’s greatest blessing in his otherwise topsy turvy life. The only son of a famous father, he had no business being homosexual and bring dishonour to the illustrious family name. His daughter not only filled his life with love and innocence she also stopped the slanderous tongues from wagging by her very presence.
He knew he loved the little girl but this urge to see Sujata had taken him by surprise. Perhaps he had just got used to her presence in the house he mused.
Walking into the bedroom he stopped embarrassed, Sujata who had not expected him this early was changing her clothes. She looked up to find him standing there uncertain and quickly covered herself. They both stood uncertain till Sujata recovered herself enough to say ‘do walk in and close the door, the servants will see.’
Amit walked in looking ashamed, his evident discomfort made her laugh forgetting her own unease, ‘don’t feel so ashamed you are my husband after all’ she managed to say between giggles.
Amit went straight to the bathroom, emerging a full ten minutes later. Sujata was not in the room, he walked out to the living room to find her waiting with the tea set infront of her. It was a reassuring sight, something he had grown accustomed to over the years. Almost taken for granted. He thought of telling her his thoughts but then just took the proffered tea and moved to his place next to the window.
He felt a need to talk to Sujata though he didn’t know what about. her trip seemed a safe bet. He turned around to ask and both of them spoke at the same time.
your…
My…
Sujata started laughing again, he stopped not knowing how to proceed. He looked at Sujata who was finding it hard to keep her laughter under control, she looked a lot younger. Her trip had done her good. Normally the best of jokes elicited only a polite smile from her and here she was giggling like a school girl. He was glad he had let her go after all.
Finally Sujata got her giggles under control and said, ‘sorry you were saying something’.
‘Nothing much, just wanted to know if your trip went well’, suddenly talking to his own wife seemed like an arduous task.
Sujata looked up at him a little surprised, he usually didn’t ask about her activities at all.
‘Yes all was well. Am grateful that you let me go’ she answered.
Amit smiled in answer and Sujata taking sudden courage went on, ‘ I have arranged with a friend to ensure that the offerings to the deity would be made in our daughter’s name for a year. I will go every few months to see to the arrangements and ensure that everything runs smoothly’. She looked at Amit intently waiting for his response.
He kept quite for a while then just nodded and walked off to his library. She watched after his back for some time and then went up to take her usual place by the window.
She was back in her prison.
Before she knew, the familiar arrogant gates of the bungalow were there before her. they opened almost automatically, the guards having spotted her car at a distance and she was engulfed once again in the beautiful, lifeless existence she called life.
Amit came home a little early; he gave himself a few reasons for this unusual behavior. He felt he wasn’t feeling well but couldn’t locate what exactly was the problem. Then he rationalized it by thinking he needed to pack for his trip the next day, which wasn’t true since he never packed, the servants did the needful supervised by Sujata.
'Ah Sujata! She would be home by now'. This thought came unbidden to his mind and caught him by surprise. She had been gone just a day, it couldn’t be that he was missing her. After all their interactions were of the most polite kind…more to show a semblance of normalcy to the world than anything else.
The memory of that strange day so many years ago crept back. He had been frustrated driving about the city aimlessly, hoping nay praying some vehicle hit him and ended his torment. And that’s when he had spotted Sujata on the road. She had provided him the much needed solution. No, not that she said anything; it was divine providence that he spot her and the solution to his problem pop up in his mind at the same time.
The deal between two equally desperate people had been honoured. Sujata had been a model wife in front of the world and had discreetly been out of the picture in his personal life. She knew that his frequent trips were not always about business and she packed in the condoms herself so that the servants wouldn’t gossip.
Her daughter had rounded off the farce well and truth be told he loved the child as his own. She was God’s greatest blessing in his otherwise topsy turvy life. The only son of a famous father, he had no business being homosexual and bring dishonour to the illustrious family name. His daughter not only filled his life with love and innocence she also stopped the slanderous tongues from wagging by her very presence.
He knew he loved the little girl but this urge to see Sujata had taken him by surprise. Perhaps he had just got used to her presence in the house he mused.
Walking into the bedroom he stopped embarrassed, Sujata who had not expected him this early was changing her clothes. She looked up to find him standing there uncertain and quickly covered herself. They both stood uncertain till Sujata recovered herself enough to say ‘do walk in and close the door, the servants will see.’
Amit walked in looking ashamed, his evident discomfort made her laugh forgetting her own unease, ‘don’t feel so ashamed you are my husband after all’ she managed to say between giggles.
Amit went straight to the bathroom, emerging a full ten minutes later. Sujata was not in the room, he walked out to the living room to find her waiting with the tea set infront of her. It was a reassuring sight, something he had grown accustomed to over the years. Almost taken for granted. He thought of telling her his thoughts but then just took the proffered tea and moved to his place next to the window.
He felt a need to talk to Sujata though he didn’t know what about. her trip seemed a safe bet. He turned around to ask and both of them spoke at the same time.
your…
My…
Sujata started laughing again, he stopped not knowing how to proceed. He looked at Sujata who was finding it hard to keep her laughter under control, she looked a lot younger. Her trip had done her good. Normally the best of jokes elicited only a polite smile from her and here she was giggling like a school girl. He was glad he had let her go after all.
Finally Sujata got her giggles under control and said, ‘sorry you were saying something’.
‘Nothing much, just wanted to know if your trip went well’, suddenly talking to his own wife seemed like an arduous task.
Sujata looked up at him a little surprised, he usually didn’t ask about her activities at all.
‘Yes all was well. Am grateful that you let me go’ she answered.
Amit smiled in answer and Sujata taking sudden courage went on, ‘ I have arranged with a friend to ensure that the offerings to the deity would be made in our daughter’s name for a year. I will go every few months to see to the arrangements and ensure that everything runs smoothly’. She looked at Amit intently waiting for his response.
He kept quite for a while then just nodded and walked off to his library. She watched after his back for some time and then went up to take her usual place by the window.
She was back in her prison.
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