Short story by Usha Thakur, from Montreal (Canada)


After lunch, Roger came out in his backyard to read the last quarter of his novel. For some reason though, he did not sit on one of the chairs by the picnic table, but instead he sat on the ground, and leaned his head and back against a huge maple tree. In less than 10 minutes that Roger had been there, he slapped on several flies, beat up on a couple of ants with the maple branch he had in his hand, and was about to slash down a dandelion flower when he got distracted by someone behind his neck. Swearing, he slapped hard at the back of his neck and grabbed hold of whatever it was but could not tell because he had mutilated it so badly.

“Why is everyone after my blood,” yelled out Roger
“Because you are after there’s!” came a reply

Roger stood motionless. He circled around to see who it was but did not see anyone. Just as he was getting his thoughts together, he sneezed a few times. Wiping his nose from the end of his T-Shirt, Roger’s eyes got focussed upon the one and only dandelion flower in his backyard.

“I am going to take care of you right now!” said Roger to the Dandelion. He marched inside his house quite furious and returned carrying a can that had the symbol of poison. Just as he was about to spray on the Dandelion, Roger heard the same voice say “You Coward!” Roger froze like statue.

“If you think” continued the voice “you can be happy, healthy, and content by destroying all the other species around you, then you are digging your own grave.”

Roger’s initial reaction was total amazement that a Dandelion was talking to him, but very soon that changed to arrogance.

“Do you have any idea Mr Weed what I have in my hands?” ask Roger with a sniff up his nose.

Looking at the can and then at the Dandelion, he continued “All I have to do is just press once on the can and you will choke to death before my eyes.”

“And so will my little ones” said the Dandelion. Roger noticed that there were a couple of little shoots coming up near the Dandelion flower.

Following a few minutes silence, the Dandelion asked almost in a pleading voice “Could we ever co-exist?” This was a bit too deep for Roger, but since he did not have an answer, he posed a question hoping that the response would soothe his ego “Why did you call me a coward?”

“Because” replied the Dandelion rather calmly “there is no bravery in destroying anyone over whom you already possess physical strength. Moreover, only cowards take by force or manipulation what does not come to them voluntarily.” Roger repeated this statement twice before he got it, and just as he was about to respond, he noticed an army of ants approaching him. Roger picked up the poison can and was about to spray on the ants, when the Dandelion said “Don’t! Just step aside to your left,” and to his surprise Roger did, and began to watch the ant show. They were coming out of a hole from behind the Dandelion and racing in a straight line towards his house and entering into another hole. Occasionally he saw a bulge in the rank and file and when he bent down to see, it was a mama ant giving a ride to her little ones, and whenever the little ones fell off her back, they would crawl over the adults before getting back up on their mom. The little ones seemed to be having a lot of fun. Within less than five minutes, there was not a single ant to be seen.

“Your see,” said the Dandelion philosophically, “most of the times you and your kind are in our path; we are not in yours.” Just then Roger sneezed again and he remembered why he disliked Dandelions so passionately. “Well, what about when you are virtually killing me?”

“We have been around for thousands and thousands of years and have nourished many creatures on earth. We and our kind are not destroying your health; that is something you are doing to yourself!” said the Dandelion

“How so?” shot back Roger.

“Well,” reasoned the Dandelion “your immune system is so weak that anything and everything can get you.”

“Oh! So now you are a doctor?” said Roger sarcastically. Cutting Roger off, the Dandelion asked “What do you know about my healing properties?” Roger’s smirk turned to desperation. He tried hard to think of something intelligent to say but could not really come up with an answer. So he said, shrugging his shoulders “Why don’t you educate me Mr Weed?”

Ignoring Roger’s attitude, the Dandelion spoke seriously “You and your kind only know how to use all the other species for yourselves, as if we were put on this earth only for your use. Has it not ever occurred to you that before you landed amongst us we all existed? That we did not and still don’t need you for our existence?”

Roger was still processing the Dandelion’s words, when the latter continued “You don’t know this so let me tell you. Thousands of years ago when the earth was abundant in everything, we prayed to the Universe to add another species, and since we had co-existed for thousands and thousands of years with so many types of species, we thought it would be the same with another one. We were so thrilled when we first saw your kind on earth. In fact, by the time you arrived, the Universe had everything in place for your maintenance: plenty of clean water and air, ample plants to serve as food, and enormous amount of space for you to move around. We also noticed that the Universe gave you something that it did not give any other specie: it gave you the intelligence to create, but very soon we found out that it also gave you twice the intelligence to destroy anything or anyone that you cannot control and dominate. And, if you look around honestly, you will see and sense how much of that clean water, air, and fertile earth (and the species that live in those environments), you are choking to death.



Roger was definitely in the listening mode, although he did not have a clue how to absorb all that was being thrown at him. Intellectually, however, Roger could relate to what the Dandelion was saying, and he did try to think of at least one moment when the human specie consciously sacrificed for another, but he could not remember such an instance, as if that would have set the record right.

“For you” continued the Dandelion, “I am just a weed to be gotten rid of but in many part of this Universe I am revered and thanked for my nurturing properties. Why don’t you visit a real forest and witness how we all co-exist, how we accept the cycle to life and death, how we allow the old to die and be born as new life, and how we rejuvenate the earth. We make each other stronger not weaker. Just look at this maple tree you are sitting under – I did not destroy it and it has never tried to destroy me!”

“OK enough! Give me a chance to breathe” said Roger in an anxious voice. He used the silence of the next few minutes to reflect upon what had just been said. Roger’s thoughts went to the company where he worked as Director of Innovative Research. His department’s mandate was to bring together the best minds in the country in all the disciplines with the aim of figuring out how the virgin areas in each discipline could be exploited for the maximum benefit of ‘mankind.’

“Are you still there?” asked the Dandelion

“Yes, I am still here” said Roger in a very calm voice. A few more minutes passed and Roger asked in a gentle voice “How do you suggest we co-exist when for our survival we need to destroy at least a bit of the other species?”

“Why do you believe so?” asked the Dandelion. When Roger did not respond, the Dandelion continued “The Universe has bestowed in you and your kind the capacity to create and also the responsibility of nurturing all species living on this planet.”

“That is a huge responsibility” said Roger a bit horrified.

“Isn’t it?” responded the Dandelion.

“But you have still not answered my question” insisted Roger.

The Dandelion responded with a question “When your 14 month son feeds at his mother’s breasts, does he destroy his mother?

Roger remained quiet, and the Dandelion continued “When you pluck fruits and vegetables, do you actually destroy the plants? If, to obtain what constitutes food for you, you have to destroy one or more species, then have you and your kind ever considered doing without?

By now the Dandelion had earned a lot of respect from Roger. In fact, he was surprised to find that deep down he actually agreed with the Dandelion. Looking through the trees into the light blue sky, Roger asked the Dandelion “If you could ask our Creator to grant you one wish what would it be?”
Without hesitating for a moment, the Dandelion said “I would pray that our Creator devour ALL except the human specie.

“What?” yelled Roger.

After a moment’s silence, the Dandelion continued “Alternatively, I would pray that the Universe devour only the human specie so that the rest of us could breathe and co-exist as we used to.”

Roger could not believe his ears probably because he had been going through live as if nature was totally passive and his kind was all that mattered. Before he could respond, the Dandelion asked “What would you wish for?”

Staring at the Dandelion, and still in shock, Roger said “I would pray that I be given another chance to prove that we can co-exist.”

“Why should I believe you? asked the Dandelion.

“That is because until today…..” Roger stopped and starred at the Dandelion

“Go on I am listening” said the Dandelion.

Clearing his throat, Roger made another attempt. “Well, that is because until today I was not even aware of the beautiful garden in you and the weed in me and in my thinking.”

For the next few minutes there was pin drop silence. Then, Roger broke the silence by asking in a gentle voice “Is it too late to me and my kind to undo what has been done?

The Dandelion still did not respond and Roger kept staring at the Dandelion with pleading eyes, hoping to hear a positive response, but instead what he heard was his wife “Honey, the dinner is ready!”

A few minutes passed and the Dandelion had still not said a word. “Well,” said Roger as he stood up “Think about what I said and we’ll discuss it tomorrow morning.”

Before he entered the house, Roger turned to the Dandelion, lifted his right hand with one finger up, and yelled “Just one chance!”

THE END!

We will be posting original poetry on this page. If we get a good enough response we'll start a new blog just for poetry. We want to thank Ranjit Sinha Roy for getting us started with poetry.

Poem by RANJIT SINHA ROY


If you are the dawn,
I am the dusk.
You are in morning glory,
I am in twilight zone.
You have flowering buds,
I have falling petals.
You have dreams,
I have memories.
You have promises,
I have failures.
You wait for a bright day,
I wait for the endless dark night.
You are half the world away,
and I can never reach you.
I call you from far and far
But you cannot hear me.

You look at the blue sky,
at green grass with glistening dew drops,
and budding flowers,
and quiet flowing rivers,
and mountains with snow white peaks.
You listen to morning birds,
singing welcome songs to the rising sun,
the coming day, the happy moments.
You have no time for the dusk,
who completed the day,
and soon shall enter the dark night
vanishing in space, disappear forever.

You cannot hear me, who am miles away.
You wait for the coming bright day,
with promises for a beautiful and pleasant time.

Short Story by VictorM

It’s summer time. The warm morning sun shines on the house with an overgrown grass lawn and paint peeling around the windows. Inside, a young man rises. Posters of Hitler and the KKK adorn his room. His black outfit and dour personality complete an all too common stereotype: the suburban white boy with hate in his heart. He places his KKK ring on his middle finger and steps outside. He puts his sunglasses on and smiles an evil grin.

The house next door, with manicured grass and immaculate curtains, conveys a sense of contrast. Gina, a 16-year-old girl, rises. Her room is messy. A burner, flasks, test tubes, matches, firecrackers, and how-to books clutter her desk. Strange books like Practical Uses for Manure and Clorox. Her face shows the strain of restless sleep. She brushes her teeth, drags a brush across her hair and gets dressed. She stuffs the pocket of her jeans with money she earned from baby-sitting. She picks up a brown paper bag and heads out the door.

Once outside she comes face to face with King, the boy next door. He stands in front of Gina, shoves his KKK ring on her face and twirls his fingers. “Remember, these fingers will rule the world!” he says with his usual arrogance. Many times before Gina ran away to avoid this type of confrontation. Today, however, her eyes, cold and indifferent, glance at him for a few seconds. Without a word, she just walks past him. He does not follow her but dishes out his usual barrage of insults and threats. As he walks away, he smiles an evil grin.

Gina enters the restroom at the bus station. Closing herself in a stall, she removes the contents of her brown bag. She sits back for a minute contemplating her decision. She sighs. In a move full of determination, she places the brown wig on her head, adds a touch of blush and lipstick, just enough to make her look a bit different. Stepping outside, she boards the bus that will take her to a few towns over.

Sitting quietly towards the back of the bus, Gina’s determined exterior camouflages a mind that races ferociously for justification to what she’s about to do. Her eyes tear slightly as she recalls King’s oppressive behavior for over one year. She remembers the cries for help that fell on deft hears of school officials, police officers, and even her parents. As she searches her mind for assurances that she tried all she could, there is something that strengthens her resolve: she senses King’s stench of hate.

She tries in vain to stop thinking about that night. She can’t even recall all of it, just bits and pieces. Her parents were out of the house for the night. She remembers hearing the noise behind her… King stepping into her room… his voice uttering “I rule you”. She remembers delivering a stiff knee to his crotch… the feel of his hand grabbing her t-shirt as she tried to run away. Her memory starts fading at this point. She remembers pain, but mostly she remembers the feeling of hopelessness. Her mind is filled with blanks. Next she vaguely remembers her skin wrinkle in the shower from spending too much time scrubbing herself, wanting to wash away that revolting stench. One thing, however, she recalls vividly -- his evil grin.

Gina’s mind returns to the present as the bus reaches her destination. She wipes the tears from her eyes and descends from the bus. She wonders downtown looking for the pawnshop that she read about in a newspaper. She can’t find it at first, but is determined not to ask anyone. Finally, she finds it and walks in. She knows what she’s after. She stops in front of a globe. A pretty globe. A hallow globe. She trades it for her money.

As she walks home with her package, King comes out to meet her. She controls herself as she feels that stench again. King claims he does not hate blacks or Jews or other minorities. He simply thinks they are inferior. But Gina, that’s a different story. He hates her with passion because she’s the worse kind of all: a white girl who dances to nigger music, sympathizes with Jews, runs around with spicks. She is a traitor to the cause. He doesn’t hesitate to let her know of his relentless hate for her. Using his much bigger size and vicious mind, he has succeeded in intimidating her. But not today. Today she walks firmly, determined, confident. Somehow, he senses it. Something is different about her. Her eyes show no fear. She walks by him as he simply shakes his head and smiles his evil grin.

Always an excellent student, Gina’s grades plummeted over the last few months. With the exception of an “A” in Chemistry, all her other grades were “D” or below. She must attend summer school to make up for the failing grades. Apart from the time spent at school, Gina has pretty much secluded herself to her room. She often sneaks out in the middle of the night, riding her bike for several miles to the abandoned quarry where she conducts her experiments.

As the summer vacation nears the end, and much to her parent’s relief, Gina seems to have snapped out of her slump. She has gone on a cleaning rampage. Much of the debris that adorned her room has been removed. All the strange books are gone. Piles of garbage were dumped in the city dump. She scrubs clean every inch of her room. Her parents don’t question this change – they welcome it. They are happy to see her back to normal. Her room is now spotless.

It’s the day before regular school is to start. King answers his doorbell but sees no one around. Stepping outside he notices a box on the porch. Puzzled, he opens the box. It’s a globe. A pretty globe. A not so hallow globe. He grins as he reads the note that simply says: “Rule this!” He doesn’t notice the faint tick, tick, tick sound until it’s too late.

The incident was a shock to this quiet suburban town. The media attention was intense but short-lived. And so was the line of questioning by a police department inexperienced at dealing with bombs. She remembers the visit by Lt. Moosie. He seemed more interested in sounding like a movie character than doing his job. He apologized for the inconvenience and stated that the questioning was just a formality. In fact, they had reason to believe that due to King’s affiliations, there were explosives in the house. They ruled his death an accident.

As she takes the test back from the teacher, Gina takes a deep breath, then looks. Another “A”. The teacher stands over her, pats her shoulder and says, “It’s amazing what you can do when you put your mind to it Gina. Congratulations.” Many of her friends rejoice at her turn around. This is the Gina they all knew. She smiles and thanks them.

When she gets home, Gina reads her mom’s note to do yard work. Autumn has come early. Gina grabs a garbage bag and a rake. She starts raking the leaves from behind the bushes. She notices a strange object. She looks closer. It’s a charred finger with a KKK ring around it. “Um..” she mutters to herself. She tosses it into her plastic garbage bag and walks way, smiling an evil grin.

Short Story by RANJIT SINHA ROY

Aravind jogged around the park five times. Now sweating and feeling tired he looked for a place to sit. But all benches were occupied except one where two elderly women were busy talking. With their permission Aravind occupied the vacant place.

He was fifty-two. Took voluntary retirement two years ago. He was a bachelor and lived alone. Before sunset he would go for daily jogging to the nearby park. He would be there until dark. Aravind maintained himself fit and agile. Except for few gray strands, the age did not show. His body was trim, more active and agile than many young were.

Arvind liked this part of the day most. He watched children playing and liked the soft green grass, flowerbeds around and shady trees over the jogging track. The park was small compared to other city parks. But, it was well maintained. This particular park was a favorite of small kids. Playing football or cricket or such other games were not permitted. Baloon and icecreme vendors were not allowed in. One watchman at the gate and other inside strictly followed the rules. The park was kept open from four to eight in the evening. Aravind liked the place.

With amused smile he watched the kids playing. They walked with unsteady steps, giggling, tried to run away from parents and tumbled on the soft grass. Some had large colored plastic balls and they played with other children. One would feel refreshed watching the kids.

After sometime the two elderly ladies finished gossiping for the day and left. Aravind was absorbed in watching the kids, when someone said,
“May I sit here, sir?”
Startled, he looked to the side and saw a smiling young girl of about twenty-five asking him. A small kid with a large red plastic ball in one hand was holding her finger.
Arvind said,
“Oh, sure. Please sit down.”
The girl sat on the bench and the child played on the grass. He tried to kick the ball and fell. Both Aravind and the girl were smiling. After several failures, the girl asked him to throw the ball to her and they played back and forth. Few times the ball fell on Aravind and he returned with smile. He also enjoyed playing.

Aravind had seen the girl with the kid earlier also. There were so many like them coming to the park and there was no reason to remember them. But this particular girl had something indefinable in her face or stature that made her distinct from others.
The boy and the girl played with the ball and enjoyed. After sometime the boy was tired, stopped playing and quietly sat beside the girl.
Aravind asked,
“Your son?”
The girl blushed.
“Oh no sir. He is my brother’s son. I am not married yet.”
Aravind felt slightly embarrassed. He should have noticed.
“I am sorry.” He mumbled.
They silently sat for some more time and when the streetlights were on, the girl said,
“Sir, we should go now.”
Aravind nodded and said, “OK” and they went away.
He sat for some more time and when it was dark, he walked back to his apartment. For some unknown reason he felt elated that evening.

Next day the girl with the child was there again. One space was vacant in the bench and she sat there. Smiling she said,
“Good evening sir. How are you?”
“I am fine, thank you.”
They played with the child. After sometime he played football with another boy of his age. Several times they tumbled on the grass, but they giggled and laughed. The girl kept an eye on him. Aravind asked,
“Do you come to the park every evening? I have seen you earlier also.”
“Yes, he will start crying if I do not bring him here. Both my brother and sister-in-law are working. I look after the child all day. There is no one else and by evening he gets bored and wants to come to the park. It is alright, I also get some fresh air.” She smiled.
“By the by, I do not know your name.”
“I am Nandini.”
Aravind told his own and then said,
“Excuse me, you said whole day you are alone with the child. Do you not work or go to college?”
“No sir, I have completed my Post Graduation in Comparative English Literature and have not joined any service.” Then shyly added, “My brother is trying a good match for me.”
(Arranged marriages with elders fixing the match are common in India)

“What your parents say?”
“They are no more. I stay with my brother and sister-in-law. They are very nice. I never felt the absence of my parents.”
Aravind thought about his own brother and sister. How much he loved them. He even sacrificed his personal pleasures for their sake. He said,
“In absence of father, the elder brother should look after the siblings. But few only do that. You are very lucky to have a brother like him. You are doubly fortunate to have a sister-in-law like yours.”
Nandini’s face became soft. “Yes I am very fortunate. She is like my own elder sister.”
After a pause she asked,
“Sir, I find you here alone everyday. Where is your better half? Why do you not bring her along? I would like to meet her.”
“There is no other half, Nandini. I am a bachelor.”
Surprised Nandini asked,
“Why did you not marry sir?”
Aravind softly smiled at her, and then said, “It is already late for you Nandini. I shall tell you tomorrow.”
“Promise?”
“Yes, promise.”
Reluctantly she got up. Holding a hand of the boy started walking back home.
Once she looked back and smiled at Aravind. He watched her with a tender affectionate smile.

Next evening she came a little early and smiled when saw him from a distance. No vacant bench was available that day and they sat on the soft grass. Few feet away the boy played with his newfound friends. They sat silently for few moments and then Nandini turning towards him said,
“Sir, yesterday you promised to tell about yourself.” She was smiling with expectation.
“Yes, but there is nothing much to tell. I had a very uneventful life.”
“No! But still you say whatever it is.” Nandini insisted.

“Well, Nandini, after post graduation, I was only two years in service when my father expired. Alone I had to support my mother and two college going brother and sister. My brother graduated in computer engineering and got an opportunity in a US firm. He is now a permanent citizen there, married and well settled. My sister, also an MCA married her colleague, a software engineer. They tried and managed a posting in USA. Now, both my siblings are away from the country. We maintain regular contact over phone and e-mails. Earlier, when mother was alive, they used to visit India once in a couple of years. But now, visits are less frequent.”
Aravind was silent. So also Nandini for few minutes. Then she said,
“But, why did you not get married? Was there any heartbreak sir? You are so handsome even at this age. I do not believe that you had no affair.”
She smiled mischievously.
Laughingly he said,
“Thanks for the compliment. But frankly speaking, I never got time for an affair. None was to my liking. When alive my mother was insisting for marriage. But after her death the chapter was closed forever. Taking housing loan I purchased an apartment. I spend time reading, watching TV and listening to music. One elderly lady comes early morning, cleans everything and prepares food for me. She leaves by ten and I am left all to myself. And, now you know, I do some jogging in the evening. I am quite happy with my life.” Aravind smiled. But to Nandini it appeared to be somewhat sad.
After few moments Nandini asked,
“Why not try now sir? You may find someone to your liking.”
“No Nandini, it is too late now. Rather, we should try to find a suitable boy for you. Are your people looking for a good match?”
Nandini looked down,
“Yes sir. My brother advertised in the newspaper matrimonial column and yesterday we received few responses with details and photographs.”
“Very good. You must have seen those. Could you select any?”
Nandini blushed and then said,
“Yes sir. One of them is good. I have already given my consent. Tomorrow evening the groom’s party will come to our place and decide everything.”
“So, tomorrow evening you are not coming to the park?”
“No sir, but day after I shall be here and tell you the details. I shall bring the boy’s photograph also. Oh, I must go now, it is getting dark.” Nandini got up and smiled at Aravind. She looked very happy with the prospect of a good marriage. She left.
Aravind sat for some more time. He had a mixed feeling. He was happy that the girl was getting married. At the same time he felt sad to miss her company. She was a nice girl. He slowly walked back home when it became dark.

They met day after. Nandini showed him the boy’s photograph. A handsome young man. Tall and well built with a broad smile. While he was looking at the photograph, Nandini told him about the boy’s qualification, service, family etc. and eagerly awaited his reaction. Aravind returned the photograph and said,
“A very good match Nandini. You are lucky.”
Nandini looked happy with his comments. Then said,
“Thank you sir. I value your comments most.”
Aravind wanted to know if the marriage date had been fixed.
“Yes sir, on fifteenth of this month. Another ten days. You will attend sir. Will you not? I personally invite you.”
Aravind was silent for a minute. Then said,
“See Nandini, I do not know any one except you in your family. You will be busy with the ceremonies and can not even introduce me to others. It would be very odd. Anyway thanks for the invitation. What time is the marriage?”
Nandini told the time.
“I shall bless you both at that time.”
Silently they sat for some more time. Then with a deep sigh Nandini got up ready to go.
“Sir, I am not supposed to go out till marriage. So we may not meet again. Sir, I shall miss you.” Her eyes were moist.
“Me too.” His voice was heavy.
Nandini started walking towards the exit gate. She looked back once and waved at him.
Aravind waved back and kept on looking, as long she was visible, then got up with a sigh and slowly walked back home. He had a peculiar feeling, as though some very near and dear one had departed forever.
He unlocked the main door and entered a lonely house.

Aravind had a strange feeling. He remembered to have similar emptiness when his mother died. But that was mother. Nandini was a young girl full of hopes and going to be happily married to a handsome young man. Soon she would forget the casual acquaintance. An elderly person whom she used to address ‘Sir’. Not very successfully, he tried to put her away from his thoughts.

Aravind continued to go to the park for jogging as usual. For first few days he occasionally thought of Nandini. On few occasions, he was startled when some girl would call someone ‘Sir’. Sometimes he would remember how much he enjoyed her company. They had common interests in literature and arts and discussed various subjects. Mentally they were matching well, though she was half his age, calling him ‘Sir’ and meeting for a short time every evening. The feelings reduced as days passed.

After about six months, one day Aravind went to the bank. While coming out he suddenly noticed Nandini at one counter. Pleasantly surprised he went near her and smilingly said,
“Good morning Nandini.”
Startled she turned to him and said,
“Good morning sir. Will you be going now? My work is over, I shall also come along.”
They came out and started walking on the footpath towards their apartments that were in the same area.
While walking side by side, Aravind tried to initiate some conversation, but Nandini responded only in monosyllables. Something was amiss. She was not the usual effervescent young girl. Perhaps she became reserved after marriage. But why should she look gloom and run down? Was she not happy? He was puzzled.
They reached Aravind’s apartment building and stopped.
“Here is my apartment. Would you like to have a cup of coffee with me?” Aravind asked.
A moment’s hesitation then she nodded “Yes.”
Aravind unlocked the door and asked Nandini to come in and sit down. He went to kitchen to prepare coffee. She sat on the sofa and looked around. The apartment was fairly spacious and well furnished. But things were not arranged properly. Absence of a woman’s touch was evident.
“Should I come and help you sir?” Nandini called.
“Oh no, coffee is ready. I am bringing the cups.”
They silently sipped coffee. Aravind was watching her and she avoided his eyes.
She looked thinner and there were shadows under her eyes. She was unusually silent.
Definitely something was wrong. He was curious to know.
Coffee was finished in silence. Then a little hesitantly Aravind asked,
“Nandini, you look unhappy. Why? Are not the things all right with the marriage? Tell me Nandini. May be I shall be of some help.”
Head down Nandini was silent. When she looked up, her large eyes were filled with tear.
“No sir, no one can help me.” She started sobbing, teardrops rolling down her cheeks.
Aravind watched her silently, she avoiding his eyes. He made no attempts to console or even ask her the reason. He thought it would be better to let her cry. That way at least some of her accumulated sorrow will be washed away. She would be partly relieved.
After about five minutes Nandini wiped the tear and smiled at him. It was an embarrassed, sad and helpless smile.
Aravind watched her silently for few moments, then said,
“Unless it is an absolute secret, you can tell me now.”
After few moments of hesitation she came out with the happenings after marriage.

It seemed that despite his being handsome and otherwise healthy, the boy was incapable of performing as a man. He was a total zero. This defect was very much known to his parents and of course to himself. They consulted renowned medical experts on the subject and after conducting various tests and trials they all concluded that he could never be a man in the real sense. Marriage was meaningless for him.

“If that was the case then why did he get married?” Aravind was puzzled.
“His parents consulted their Gurudev (family priest/advisor), who advised to get the boy married. He predicted that everything would become normal then. So I was chosen to be the sacrificial animal and my life was ruined.” Nandini wiped her eyes. “My brother and sister-in-law had no inkling of the things.”
Silently they sat for sometime. Watching her sad tear filled eyes he could imagine the extreme mental torture she underwent on those miserable days.
“What happened then?”
“After a month I could tolerate it no more. My in-laws were not bad people otherwise and my supposed to be husband was a simple man. He once showed me the medical report in detail. Quietly and secretly I managed to get a copy of the report and then one fine morning I packed up my things and returned to my brother. My in-laws silently watched the departure and did not try to stop. Perhaps they were afraid of any publicity”
“Then what?”
“My brother and sister-in-law were furious on learning the things. I showed them the medical report also. My brother termed them ‘cheats’. Next morning he consulted an experienced advocate and filed a suit for concealment of facts and cheating. We asked for annulment of marriage.”
“Did they not contest?” Aravind asked.
“No sir. The medical report was proof enough. I was also clinically examined and confirmed to be a virgin. There was no contest at all. They avoided publicity. The matter was decided quickly.”
“In three months, I was declared a single woman. This is the story of my married life sir.” She smiled sadly.

Aravind was silent for sometime. Then asked,
“What will you do now. Have you decided?”
“I am trying for a Lecturer’s job. But my brother is asking me to re-marry.”
“Yes, why not. You can do both.”
“No sir once is enough. Who can guarantee that the next one will also not be same? One can not check these things before marriage. Can you!” She blushed and put her eyes down.
“True you can not, but such cases are very rare, once in few thousands. You need not be afraid Nandini.”
“No sir, I am really scared.” She glanced at the watch and got up. “I must go now.”
“OK. By the by, how far is your place?”
“Very near. Third apartment block down the road.”
“I see. Then drop in sometime. We shall have coffee together. How is your nephew?”
“He has been admitted in the Nursery. Almost every morning I take him there, and then purchase some vegetables or small provisions. Afternoon I go out again and bring him back from Nursery.” Nandini picked up a book by Ian Rand from the well-stocked bookshelf “May I borrow this book sir?”
“Oh sure. When will you come again Nandini?”
“Sir, would you mind if I come same time tomorrow morning? I am thoroughly bored alone in the house.”
“Mind! I shall be extremely glad. You are welcome everyday.” Aravind opened the door for her.

Nandini came next morning. She had a shy smile entering,
“Good morning sir. Today I shall prepare coffee. You don’t come to kitchen.”
Aravind smiled. She looked much fresh today. The sadness, the pathetic look, has vanished. She was almost her former self.
“All right, I shall only show you the things in the kitchen. It will then be easier for you.”

While sipping coffee they talked about books, films, TV serials and various other subjects. They laughed, mildly argued, expressed personal opinions, sometimes disagreed but mostly agreed. All through Aravind carefully avoided touching the topic of her marriage or future plans.
Time passed by silently. They were absorbed in talking. Then looking at the clock, Nandini jumped up.
“Sir, I shall make a move now.”
“Would you come tomorrow?” Aravind asked at the door.
Nandini looked at his eyes for two seconds, then moving a step nearer and as though consoling a small boy, she said softly,
“Yes sir, I shall.”
Nandini came next day. Then next and next. She was coming every morning except on Sundays. She would be in his apartment for about an hour. They would discuss various subjects and what not over a cup of coffee prepared by Nandini. Every morning Aravind would eagerly wait for her and feel bad when she left.
Sundays he felt dull and bored.

One day after coffee Nandini wanted to see the family photo album if he had any. Aravind took out two thick albums and gave her for viewing. He was in the opposite sofa. Nandini asked him to explain the photographs. Aravind went beside her and showed the photographs of his mother, brother, sister and their children. There were some snaps of his own school and college days with typical hair and dress styles of that time. Seeing a schooldays photograph of Aravind in shorts, Nandini started laughing.
“Sir, you look so funny. Were you really that young?”
“Yes, once upon a time I was.”
On another photograph when he was in college, she was admiringly looking at the photograph for a long time.
They sat very close. Her shoulder and thigh were pressed against his. Aravind could feel the warmth of her body through the dress. Occasionally in the fan breeze, her hair would fly over his face and he could get the wonderful feminine smell of her hair, her body and her breath. These were all new to him. Never before he had the chance to sit so close to a young, pretty girl.

“You were very handsome in your younger day’s sir.”
She looked full at him for a long time then added,
“Of course even today you are. Far better than many of the younger people.”
Aravind was pleased. He said,
“Thanks for the complements.”

Nandini continued to look at him and then asked,
“Do you not feel lonely sir, living all alone?”
“I used to. But it is alright now.”
“Why is it different now?” Nandini asked.
“Because of you Nandini. Every morning we spend some time together and that keeps me going for the rest of the day. Some nights I even dream of you.” Aravind was frank.
Nandini had a far away look then almost whispered,
“Why only for few hours sir? Can we not stay together for days, months and years?” She looked away and her lips were trembling.
“You may think badly of me, but I love you. I can not live without you.” Her voice broke.

Aravind could not speak for a long time. He had some kind of tender love, mixed with strong rousing passion, dormant for fifty-two years. He put one arm around her shoulder and said,
“Nandini you have told me exactly what I was trying to tell. For a long time I wanted to express my feelings to you. But thinking of the age difference and what you would think of me, I hesitated. Nandini you are exactly half my age. People would say that I am a cradle snatcher.”
Nandini leaned and put her head on his shoulder.
“Does it really matter sir?” She moved closer and put her face up.
Aravind was unable to control himself any more. He lightly kissed her forehead, soft cheeks, and the chin and then deeply kissed her grape soft red lips.
Eyes half-open and writhing Nandini bent backward. His strong hands moved over her soft young body.

Unable to wait any longer they stood up. Photo albums slid from her lap to the floor. Lips locked and embracing they walked to the bedroom. Aravind pulled the curtains down turning the room in semi darkness and holding each other they fell on the bed.
They forgot the world outside. It was only a man and woman, deeply immersed in the ultimate pleasure of life.

There was a momentary sharp cry of pain from Nandini and then the room was silent except for his rhythmic breathing and her incoherent soft moaning. The fan whirled above. About half an hour later satiated and exhausted they lay side by side.

Few minutes later, Nandini went to bathroom and put on her dress. She came near the bed and asked,
“Are you sleeping?”
“No,” then holding her hand he asked, “Are you alright Nandini?”
“Yes, I am perfectly alright,” then shyly added “I did not know that there is so much pleasure in pain.”
Aravind smiled and tenderly caressed her.
“I should go now.”
“Okay, you go to the front room, I shall be there in a minute.”
Aravind dressed up and coming near said,
“Must you go now?”
“Yes, it is already late.”
She opened the front door, and then turning said with a twinkle in eyes,
“Sir, this evening I am going to tell my brother.”
“Tell what?” Aravind was apprehensive.
“Tell him to arrange my marriage, I have found my life partner.”
Laughing she went out. Aravind stood speechless.