A Good Vacation

 

I was smiling from ear to ear. I was there. In the place that I would spend the next couple of days. I stepped out of the car. Two elderly people appeared grinning endlessly and scooped up my kids in their arms. My kids, aged seven and two, went to them readily and started demanding for toys and sweets. I looked at the lady and smiled. She was looking at me with a twinkle in her eyes and asked me if I would like some tea. I nodded. I looked at the 200-year old house. It looked magnificent with its wooden carvings, and long dark verandah and corridors. I went up to my room, kept the bags, and took a deep breath. The smell of old wooden furniture was intoxicating. My husband walked up behind me, gave me a hug, and asked me if I was happy. I nodded yes. Of course, the next two days went like a dream. We ate home-cooked meals on the verandah, wandered in the yard picking fruits, played games, horsed around with the kids, sat at the banks of the rivulet and chatted, watched the cow being milked, and sat up late into the night talking. Suddenly, it was time to leave. The kids were kicking and screaming, and refusing to come with us. The elder one wanted me to leave him there and pick him up the next weekend. My eyes welled up while peeling him off the elderly man’s arms. I could see the glimmer of tears in the man’s eyes. I hugged the elderly lady. She asked me when I would be back, and I said next weekend. And, I meant it. After all, what vacation can top my kids visiting their grandparents? 

Guilt

‘I have to go, David.’ She said, buttoning her shirt. She looked around the dimly lit room with a sense of urgency and guilt.

‘Whenever I come here to be with you, I can’t help but feel guilty.’ A tear welled up in the corner of her eye. Blinking out the tear, she checked her watch. It was 7. She immediately stood up. ‘Oh my God, I am late, he is going to be really pissed.’ She ran out of the room grabbing her shoes. A second later, she came back in, planted a kiss on his forehead and muttered a breathless I love you before rushing back out.

She was late. She drove home fast. Her life was a mess. She could not eat or sleep. Exhaustion had developed tiny brown circles around her eyes. It was becoming increasingly difficult to sneak out, but she HAD to do it.

She drove into the drive way and stopped the car. She took a deep breath. There was a light on in the living room, but everything else looked eerily calm. She braced herself and stepped out. Maybe she can sneak in unnoticed, she thought. Without making a noise, she removed her shoes and then gently opened the door. She looked around. No noise. Suddenly she was gripped by panic. What if something is wrong? She ran into Henry’s bedroom. She started breathing again when she saw Henry sleeping in his crib. She turned, hearing footsteps behind her. It was Ana, the baby sitter.

'Henry slept off about 20 minutes ago. He had his milk.' Ana smiled a knowing smile. Suddenly, she felt ashamed again. She quickly felt around in her purse. “I am sorry for taking more time than discussed.’ She paid Ana more than the usual. Guilt money, she thought.

‘I will leave then,’ Ana said. She nodded.

The bell rang and Ana opened the door. It is your husband, Ana announced while leaving. David came in with a naughty smile on his lips. ‘So, Henry slept off, huh?’ He asked, hugging her.

'Yes.' She sighed with relief. 'I love him so much!' Her eyes welled up again. David’s eyes started glistening. ‘Let us go check on Henry,’ He said and they walked into Henry’s room hand in hand.

Chotu

Chotu waited for the light to turn red. Then he stepped onto the road, clutching his bundle of sun shades, his ware, in one arm, holding one in his right arm for display. His feet burnt on the tar. He approached the cars that were stopping at the signal. Some looked at him in disgust. Some shooed him away. Some took the sunshade from him, looked it over. His face rose with expectation. How much? "25 Rs. sir." He would make five rupee profit. His heart beat at the prospect. "No, 10 rupees," bargained the driver. "No saab." He took the sunshade back. The driver started abusing him about what a rip off he was. Chotu saw another car stopping ahead. He rushed to them. Four gentlemen wearing formals were inside. "How much?" "25 Rs, sir." The sun was parching his skin. He had not had a drink of water for hours now. He usually had some kanji in the morning and set out early in the morning, ever since his father had failed to return home 2 years ago. He would sell the shades his mother made, buy rice for dinner and some sweets for the little ones if his sales for the day was good. The gentleman sitting in the backseat reached for a sunshade and started examining it. "Give us four." Chotu was ecstatic. This meant 20 Rs! He gave them the shades. "Oh! oh!" said the driver and took the car ahead. The signal had changed. The faces of his mother and the little ones flashed across Chotu's mind. Terror flashed across his heart. If I don’t get the money, how will amma get the raw materials? He ran behind the roaring car, calling out. He could not remember how far he had run. The last thing he remembered was the jeering face of the gentleman at the back seat who had looked at him with fun in his eyes.

So, will you marry me?

Will you marry me? He asked. She looked at him, her eyes unfathomable, a sardonic smile on her face.

Why, why do you want to marry me?

You are pretty, intelligent, broadminded, you have a great humor sense, and an amazing character. What else could a man ask for?

Yes, what else could a man ask for? There was curiosity and venom in her voice.

Well, so, is that a yes?

You have to tell me why you like me.

I told you.

Well, then, no.

Why.

You don’t know me.

I have known you for a year.

But what do you know about me?

I told you.

Oh, what you said, anyone can say. Why do you think am the one?

I don’t know, I fell for you.

Why?

I don’t know.

What if I say no?

I will be devastated.

How devastated?

My heart will break.

Are you sure you have not fallen in love with the wrong person?

Yes.

What do you know about my past?

Not much. But, past is in the past. I don’t care.

Are you sure?

Yes.

Can you keep a secret.

Yes.

Well, what if I were to tell you that I was raped as a child?

<silence>

<She smiled. >

Do you still want to marry me?

<silence>

Broadminded, my ass! <She gets up and leaves.>