I walked down the road to Aunty Reena’s house. Her older daughter Suma is Liza’s good friend. They study in the same school and her younger daughter Reema is a baby. She is such a cute baby with chubby cheeks. Aunty Reena always lets me play with Reema. I like to open the baby’s palm and place my fingers inside. Straight away she would grab it. I hoped to play with the baby for a little while today. I opened the gate and there was nobody outside.
I knocked at the door. I could hear footsteps and the sound of the latch moving across the wooden door.
“Is that you Nina, Look at you! you have grown much bigger than the last time I saw you”
I stared at Aunty Reena’s husband’s face. Nobody told me that he came back from Dubai for a visit. He was leaning on the door frame and looking at me funnily. He wore just a lungi(sarong) and no shirt. Instead of a shirt, he wore a long thick golden chain reaching all the way to his belly button.
‘Oh, he wants everyone to see his new gold chain, that is why no shirt today’ I thought to myself.
“Hello Uncle, When did you arrive from Dubai?”
“last night”.
“Mone, who is it outside?” I heard Ammachi asking from inside the kitchen.
I could hear her muttering” It is only 5 hours since my son came from Dubai, the vultures have arrived already to claim the ‘foreing goods’ bounty!”.
I wanted to tell Ammachi, I didn’t come to get any foreign stuff her son got from Dubai, I came to borrow some old Indian text books.
“So what brought you here Nina?” He asked
“I was wondering, if Aunty Reena has any of Suma’s old text books. I think she is busy. May be I will come some other day.”
“She is in the kitchen cooking lunch. Why don’t you go in and ask her?”
“I think I will come later.” I turned to walk back
“it is ok Nina, Nobody is getting married here today. She is only making fish cury for me. My mother made the rest of the food already.”
“Are you sure uncle?”
“I am. Go inside and ask her.”
“Oh ok.”
As I walked past him, he brushed his hands on my breast. I turned to look. He was grinning at me. I didn’t understand why he did that. It made me uncomfortable, but I didn’t understand why.
I quickly walked to the kitchen and aunty Reena was busy cooking fish curry.
“What is it Nina?” she wiped her hands on the end of her saree pallu and looked at me.
I thought of telling her that her husband just touched my breast. But I didn’t know how to tell her that. May be it was accidental. May be I imagined it. I consoled myself.
“Aunty, would you by any chance have Suma’s old text books?”
“Why Nina?”
“My Malayalam is terrible. So I thought, I would start reading from the beginning”
I saw uncle walking towards the kitchen.
“May be I can teach you Malayalam Nina, Anyway I studied Malayalam as a second language at the university and I have 2 months of vacation. Instead of wasting my time, I might as well do something good. What do you say Reena?”. he looked at his wife and asked.
“Good idea Achaya. You can teach Suma and Nina together.“
“I will have to get Amma’s permission first and then I will come.” I told myself, there is no way I am coming anywhere near you.
“Nina, I have Suma’s old text books. Can I give it to you later?”
“Ofcourse Aunty. I will come and pick it up some other time”. I turned to leave
“Wait Nina, I will get you some Chocolates.” he spoke
“Never mind Uncle, we have chocolate at home”.
“This is made in Gulf Chocolates, better than your Malaysian ones.”He laughed and walked to their bedroom to get the chocolates.
I walked to the living room. When he handed me the chocolate, he touched my breast again. He was still grinning
“Come again Nina, I will give you more chocolates”
I was so angry, I ran. I didn’t bother to close the gate.
‘Let him get out and close his stupid gate’ I thought.
I had 5 golden colour paper wrapped chocolates in my hand. I didn’t feel like eating any.
I ran all the way home. Liza and Sally were playing hopscotch outside.
“Here. Chocolates for you.” I gave it to Liza
Both of them counted the chocolates.
“I will take three, because Nina gave me first.” Liza said
“I am the youngest, so I take 3” Sally spoke
“In that case, I am not sharing with you any.” Liza took off and Sally ran after her.
I saw them fighting and I didn’t interfere. Somehow their fight made me feel better. When they fought, I felt less ashamed of the fact that, I paid more for the chocolates.