Chapter-1
- What do you mean one month? I cant believe that you had agreed without asking me!!
I couldnt hear any answer to my question
- Can you hear me?? I am asking you!!! I was almost yelling!
Still no answer
My frustration made my eyes blur. This is crazy my husband of 15 years was outside the toilet and was acting as if he didnt hear me at all! What the heck was going on in his mind? I was getting angrier by every second with the news that he just popped few minutes back. I was supposed to go and stay at a place somewhere in the outskirts of old city of Pataliputra nearby a riverside; and that was for a month for some sort of his annual family social service.
Recap:
Earlier today, I left from my office by afternoon with two of my assistants for a short client audit. It was on my way to the client office that my mind started to wander a bit. Being a career woman in an MNC bank as a chartered accountant with 12 assistants and having two teenage girls with husband was not a joke in any sense. The work and home carried its toll to my body as well. Was I still attractive? and why am I thinking about this right now? My assistants Rahul and Uma were sitting in the front seat of the car busy chatting office gossips, I think.
I was no longer interested in the outside view of Gurgaon skyscrapers and without realizing my gaze fell to my feet that were in a open toe T-strap black heels, my toes and fingers looked a tiny bit erotic with the dark red nail polish and the smooth white skin. Were this feet still attractive? my mind slipped into my own thoughts again Now, my husband expressess his interest in my body every weekend night after haven his usual round of whiskey. Once his drive and desire getting released in few minutes, the next sequence from him was to move from my body and turnover to his side of the bed with an annoying snore. Reality was that my body havent witnessed an orgasm from my man for more than six to seven years. This added a lot of fuel to my frustration as the only relief was my fingers and even that seemed to be not helping much during these days.
I had received all the required attention from my husband Haresh during the immediate years of our marriage and the result was that I got pregnant twice during the consequent years and secondly my girls got my attention more than the advances from Haresh. Inside my heart, I knew that a lot of no-sex situation" that I faced now had a lot to do with my attitude as well.
Further during the later years, I joined a bank to pursue my career and got busy with the new chores of life with kids, job and a husband. My body had its own story to say as after the kids, my interest fell more into the daily job and chores and ignorance was the explanation that I could give to my body. I used to be a fair and fairly proportioned girl with five feet eight inches height and further down the years, my maturity made me a woman with ample buxom and shapely buttocks.
I cant say that I look great, but with my height of five feet seven and not so hourglass figure; more or less I still receive stares from male population at work and the locality that we live by. Inside story is that, after my shower, I usually stare at the flab that I have on my waist, the slight boob sag and also recently I started to notice my butt shape had also started to change. However, fact is that secretly I did enjoyed the stares that guys gave me; biggest challenge was one of my husbands uncle who I think was older than 70 and the way he stares at me almost makes me feel like I was not wearing a single dress while in front of him.
Anyhow, that was not the problem that I had in hand right now. Once I finished the client audit and reached home, my husband was sitting inside the kitchen and sipping a coffee, which was quite unusual as his normal time to reach home was 8:00pm to 9:00pm.
- What happened to you? How come so early? I asked my husband as my curiosity couldnt wait
- Nothing much, I wanted to tell you something and thought it would be better to have it before our girls reach home. He replied.
- Okay, in that case, just let me change my dress and come back, I said.
- No, hold on I have made you a coffee. Have this and sit here. I need to talk now, his tone was a bit low voiced and serious.
My mind started to race ahead did he loose his job? was that this problem? or did any of his investment went terribly wrong? or was it his mother? was she alright? or is there anything wrong with Megha and Namrata? did anyone got hurt? the questions were rising from hundred to million by every slow second.
- Keerthi! the questions in my mind stopped as I head Haresh calling my name.
- Keerthi, my mother came here today morning and left back by afternoon. I have been here since morning and deciding what we have to do with the situation in hand.
- What? your mother was here? and why didnt you called me or at least why didnt she called me? and, what is the situation that we have, I asked him.
- Well Keerthi, the situation is not a simple one. And part of it is mother needs to be back at home by tonight, that is why she came and left. An explanation of some sort came from his side!
- Haresh, what the hell are you blabbering for last few minutes? you are here early from office, and you made a coffee, plus you are telling me that we have a situation in hand and on top of all this, your mother came and left without even telling me!!! I hope, you start to tell me right now what exactly is going on with you? I could almost feel blood running to my face and my hands were almost clenched and hurting my palms.
- Okay, you relax Keerthi. I will give you the full situation and please, please for our own sake, do not get agitated, okay. His eyes looked like they were almost begging.
- Alright then, you start talking then, I replied curtly.
- Keerthi, I hope you remember that every year, my mother used to be away from house for full month and we told you that she was away to look after her deceased father, right?
- Yes, I replied.
- Okay, in reality, my mother was going to a place somewhere near Gulabpur and it was not to look after any deceased. This is part of our community which has been ongoing for many generations. All the women of my family that reaches 35 years has to provide one month of social support service to a community of old aged people. This small community lives in seclusion and follows very old traditions in their lives and needs people during one month every year. That is why I said earlier that you may remember my mother going away for a month, right?
- Yes, I just mumbled and was trying to guess where this was going
He continued Keerthi, mother came to tell me that from this year, you also have to start this one month servicing because you are already 35 years of age.
- What??? my voice was almost a shout!! What do you mean Haresh?
Keerthi, relax, you relax please please let me complete .he was really begging, I could see.
- See Keerthi, the problem here is that we cannot escape ourself with any kind of excuse for this case. Reason is that, if we do not comply, I will be removed out of my entire family inheritance of the assets and you will be no longer considered as part of our family. On top of all this, our children will not be treated fairly as well. The only way out of this is, you need to go to this place and support the community for a month.
I felt that the time stopped! What kind of crap was he talking? I knew that his family had some sort of kings inheritance and was extremely wealthy, but it was never in my curiosity level to inquire more. But now, this revelation from my husband wwas totally paranoid what does he mean to go away for a month? how can I explain that to my office? and what does he mean by community service? Again, a million questions started to form in my mind. As an answer, I head Haresh saying something I tried to sharpen my ears.
- Darling, it was Haresh talking I know this is a bomb for you, but please believe me, its the same for me as well because I never knew this till mother explained today.
- Oh wow! how nice of her! my thoughts were loud enough that Haresh squirmed.
- So, my dear, please, I dont have any other option than agreeing. After she left, I had applied for a months local leave from my office and in the afternoon I had communicated with your HR department to explain this family predicament.
- What!!!!! What have you done Haresh? This is outrageous first of all you didnt call me when you got this news from mother and also she didnt gave me any leverage to explain this directly to me why? does she not have my cell number? I was almost screaming and I could feel the heat boiling to my head
- Haresh, I am going to have a shower and you just bloody slow down of this absurdness. With this statement, I walked to the toilet.
- What do you mean one month? I cant believe that you had agreed without asking me!!
I couldnt hear any answer to my question
- Can you hear me?? I am asking you!!! I was almost yelling!
Still no answer
My frustration made my eyes blur. This is crazy my husband of 15 years was outside the toilet and was acting as if he didnt hear me at all! What the heck was going on in his mind? I was getting angrier by every second with the news that he just popped few minutes back. I was supposed to go and stay at a place somewhere in the outskirts of old city of Pataliputra nearby a riverside; and that was for a month for some sort of his annual family social service.
Recap:
Earlier today, I left from my office by afternoon with two of my assistants for a short client audit. It was on my way to the client office that my mind started to wander a bit. Being a career woman in an MNC bank as a chartered accountant with 12 assistants and having two teenage girls with husband was not a joke in any sense. The work and home carried its toll to my body as well. Was I still attractive? and why am I thinking about this right now? My assistants Rahul and Uma were sitting in the front seat of the car busy chatting office gossips, I think.
I was no longer interested in the outside view of Gurgaon skyscrapers and without realizing my gaze fell to my feet that were in a open toe T-strap black heels, my toes and fingers looked a tiny bit erotic with the dark red nail polish and the smooth white skin. Were this feet still attractive? my mind slipped into my own thoughts again Now, my husband expressess his interest in my body every weekend night after haven his usual round of whiskey. Once his drive and desire getting released in few minutes, the next sequence from him was to move from my body and turnover to his side of the bed with an annoying snore. Reality was that my body havent witnessed an orgasm from my man for more than six to seven years. This added a lot of fuel to my frustration as the only relief was my fingers and even that seemed to be not helping much during these days.
I had received all the required attention from my husband Haresh during the immediate years of our marriage and the result was that I got pregnant twice during the consequent years and secondly my girls got my attention more than the advances from Haresh. Inside my heart, I knew that a lot of no-sex situation" that I faced now had a lot to do with my attitude as well.
Further during the later years, I joined a bank to pursue my career and got busy with the new chores of life with kids, job and a husband. My body had its own story to say as after the kids, my interest fell more into the daily job and chores and ignorance was the explanation that I could give to my body. I used to be a fair and fairly proportioned girl with five feet eight inches height and further down the years, my maturity made me a woman with ample buxom and shapely buttocks.
I cant say that I look great, but with my height of five feet seven and not so hourglass figure; more or less I still receive stares from male population at work and the locality that we live by. Inside story is that, after my shower, I usually stare at the flab that I have on my waist, the slight boob sag and also recently I started to notice my butt shape had also started to change. However, fact is that secretly I did enjoyed the stares that guys gave me; biggest challenge was one of my husbands uncle who I think was older than 70 and the way he stares at me almost makes me feel like I was not wearing a single dress while in front of him.
Anyhow, that was not the problem that I had in hand right now. Once I finished the client audit and reached home, my husband was sitting inside the kitchen and sipping a coffee, which was quite unusual as his normal time to reach home was 8:00pm to 9:00pm.
- What happened to you? How come so early? I asked my husband as my curiosity couldnt wait
- Nothing much, I wanted to tell you something and thought it would be better to have it before our girls reach home. He replied.
- Okay, in that case, just let me change my dress and come back, I said.
- No, hold on I have made you a coffee. Have this and sit here. I need to talk now, his tone was a bit low voiced and serious.
My mind started to race ahead did he loose his job? was that this problem? or did any of his investment went terribly wrong? or was it his mother? was she alright? or is there anything wrong with Megha and Namrata? did anyone got hurt? the questions were rising from hundred to million by every slow second.
- Keerthi! the questions in my mind stopped as I head Haresh calling my name.
- Keerthi, my mother came here today morning and left back by afternoon. I have been here since morning and deciding what we have to do with the situation in hand.
- What? your mother was here? and why didnt you called me or at least why didnt she called me? and, what is the situation that we have, I asked him.
- Well Keerthi, the situation is not a simple one. And part of it is mother needs to be back at home by tonight, that is why she came and left. An explanation of some sort came from his side!
- Haresh, what the hell are you blabbering for last few minutes? you are here early from office, and you made a coffee, plus you are telling me that we have a situation in hand and on top of all this, your mother came and left without even telling me!!! I hope, you start to tell me right now what exactly is going on with you? I could almost feel blood running to my face and my hands were almost clenched and hurting my palms.
- Okay, you relax Keerthi. I will give you the full situation and please, please for our own sake, do not get agitated, okay. His eyes looked like they were almost begging.
- Alright then, you start talking then, I replied curtly.
- Keerthi, I hope you remember that every year, my mother used to be away from house for full month and we told you that she was away to look after her deceased father, right?
- Yes, I replied.
- Okay, in reality, my mother was going to a place somewhere near Gulabpur and it was not to look after any deceased. This is part of our community which has been ongoing for many generations. All the women of my family that reaches 35 years has to provide one month of social support service to a community of old aged people. This small community lives in seclusion and follows very old traditions in their lives and needs people during one month every year. That is why I said earlier that you may remember my mother going away for a month, right?
- Yes, I just mumbled and was trying to guess where this was going
He continued Keerthi, mother came to tell me that from this year, you also have to start this one month servicing because you are already 35 years of age.
- What??? my voice was almost a shout!! What do you mean Haresh?
Keerthi, relax, you relax please please let me complete .he was really begging, I could see.
- See Keerthi, the problem here is that we cannot escape ourself with any kind of excuse for this case. Reason is that, if we do not comply, I will be removed out of my entire family inheritance of the assets and you will be no longer considered as part of our family. On top of all this, our children will not be treated fairly as well. The only way out of this is, you need to go to this place and support the community for a month.
I felt that the time stopped! What kind of crap was he talking? I knew that his family had some sort of kings inheritance and was extremely wealthy, but it was never in my curiosity level to inquire more. But now, this revelation from my husband wwas totally paranoid what does he mean to go away for a month? how can I explain that to my office? and what does he mean by community service? Again, a million questions started to form in my mind. As an answer, I head Haresh saying something I tried to sharpen my ears.
- Darling, it was Haresh talking I know this is a bomb for you, but please believe me, its the same for me as well because I never knew this till mother explained today.
- Oh wow! how nice of her! my thoughts were loud enough that Haresh squirmed.
- So, my dear, please, I dont have any other option than agreeing. After she left, I had applied for a months local leave from my office and in the afternoon I had communicated with your HR department to explain this family predicament.
- What!!!!! What have you done Haresh? This is outrageous first of all you didnt call me when you got this news from mother and also she didnt gave me any leverage to explain this directly to me why? does she not have my cell number? I was almost screaming and I could feel the heat boiling to my head
- Haresh, I am going to have a shower and you just bloody slow down of this absurdness. With this statement, I walked to the toilet.