On Sunday morning, I awoke to the sun's rays peeking through some openings in the wooden walls of my room. I looked at my bed-side clock and it was 8:40. I was about to get out of my room to use the toilet, but stopped when I heard voices outside my room (from the dining area). My room door was slightly open, so I could clearly here the conversation.
"You look radiant this morning, Rani-ma," Aayahmah complimented Mom, "such a happy and satisfied look. Your face and eyes tells a story of so much love."
"Ohh you! Don't tease me-lah, Sundari. A week away from the man I love. What did you expect apart from a passionate night of love-making?" laughed Mom.
"Yes, I would have expected that. Annan (translates as big brother in Tamil) would have missed you too and wanted you so much," said Aayahmah. "You two are truly made for each other" she continued.
"Yes, I am so lucky to have him," said Mom. I nodded in agreement.
"And he, you" replied Aayahmah. Again I nodded. "Here's your coffee, Rani-ma."
It was an interesting conversation between Mom and Aayahmah. They were so open with each other.
"I wish you could also enjoy the same womanly pleasures as I do, Sundari," said Mom. "You know that you are like my sister. And you know that I did try some years ago after your hubby died, to persuade my hubby to take you as his second wife and satisfy you as a woman, but he's not the least interested. He's never raised that issue again. Not that it's you - he's just not interested in any other woman. Says he's got more than enough woman in me," explained Mom further.
"I can believe that Rani-ma. He finds total satisfaction in you" said Aayahmah. "You two are the perfect couple -- blessed from the heavens. Long may you live as Man and Wife" she said in a truly sincere tone. "Not once in the last 27 years that I have been working for you has Annan ever tried to flirt with me, he only has you in his eyes" continued Aayahmah.
"I may have been unlucky to have lost my husband early and not be able to enjoy the pleasures of the flesh anymore, but in another sense I am really blessed to be a part of your wonderful family. The way you and Anna have treated Mala and me, what more could I ask for. I am truly happy here with you all" said Aayahmah.
There was silence for some seconds -- I assumed that they were just hugging and comforting each other. Then Mom said "I'll take his coffee up to him and after that we are going to the market. Anything else needed besides the shopping list we made yesterday?" asked Mom.
"No, I think we got everything noted" replied Aayahmah.
I waited for a while, till I heard Dad's car driving away. Then I came out of my room and went to use the toilet, after which I headed for the kitchen to have my morning mug of coffee. Aayahmah was making it for me and handed it over to me.
"Good Morning, Aayahmah," I wished. "Have Mom and Dad left for the market?" I asked.
"Good Morning, Mohan. Yes, they just left and should be back before 11:00. You know how crowded the market is on Sundays" replied Aayahmah.
"Did you have a good sleep?" she asked.
"Yes, a wonderful sleep," I said. "May I ask you something, Aayahmah?" I muttered.
"Sure, Chellam" she replied.
"How long have you known Mom and Dad?" I asked.
"More than 27 years, since your Mum was pregnant with Sheela" she replied. "We have shared a lot together. She's like my sister and your Dad like my brother" she continued.
Aayahmah was wearing a sari -- she always wore a sari around the house. Only when she did gardening, she used slacks and a shirt or t-shirt - she had a nice garden patch at the back, where she grew some green vegetables, as well as flowering plants like jasmine, hibiscus and daisies. She was around the same height as Mum, though she had a bigger frame, but she wasn't fat.
After the events of last night and the conversation I overheard this morning, I was seeing her in a different perspective -- as a woman. She was darker than Mum but beautiful, with sharp, lovely facial features and hardly any wrinkles. She had really nice, round eyes and sensual, thick lips and a pretty nose, adorned with a gold stud. Her hair was as long as Mom's and she always tied it into a bun at the back. Her sari was well draped around her body and didn't show any flesh. All I could make out was her wide, well-rounded buttocks.
"Do you miss your husband, Aayahmah?" I asked.
"As a husband, NO!" she replied with bitterness. "It was an arranged marriage and he seemed a good man when we were first married. But when I was pregnant with Mala, he lost his job as an attendant in the hospital, due to his drinking habit. Your parents advised him many times, but he never changed. Your Dad even found for him jobs as a gardener in the post-office, but his drinking destroyed everything. Life for Mala and me was hell. I never found any satisfaction from him as a husband and Mala never as a father. Only your parents kept us alive and well" she said with tears in her eyes.
"And, why are you so curious this morning, my son?" asked Aayahmah.
"Nothing really, I was just wondering. Why didn't you re-marry?" I asked.