Father of one of her children

This happened many years ago. When we were in the prime of youth. Not that we lost any of the tinge now. I am only saying this to emphasize that this happened many years ago. D.S (794).  was/is a busy man, but ensures that he allocates some time to his good friends like me. He normally gives me the time between 8.0PM to 8.30 PM every day. We have an Irani tea together and then he goes his way and I go home. But one day it was different. He bought a new car, it was not just a car, and it was a caaaaaar. And I wondered why he darkened his windows with a film so dark that it is impossible for anyone to see what is inside and for those inside, what is outside. Ok! That was his taste, I thought.

And many years after I was in a super market to make some purchases and was standing in the long queue for payment. I observe that a young lady was frantically waving at me as if asking me for my attention and was saying a “Hallo”. I was taken aback, because a very good looking lady was actually waving at me and wanted to say something. Her face was vaguely familiar, but I could not place her anywhere in my life.

“Sorry, do you know me?” I asked. It was more a surprise than a question.

“I may be mistaken, but I thought you may be the father of one of my children” she replied.

I was shocked beyond consideration. My mind raced past to that one day, that one and only one day I had been unfaithful.

That day we were in his car proceeding to the favourite Irani tea stall. And our conversations sometimes tend to lean towards being dirty. He was ogling at every female that we passed. And I as a typical psychologist was feeding him more details about that female, like where she was coming from, where she was heading and how satisfied she was at home. That was not any Shylock Homes kind of investigation. It was only on intuition and we were just passing our time like good friends.

We were driving slowly and DS was even whistling when we passed any female. Suddenly, we spot a young lady dressed in white. Her sari wound tight over her body, which glistened in the car lights. High heels and a rather heavy hand bag over her shoulder. Her oscillatory motion of her back had a ‘forward error correction’ on DS. He stopped the car just about ten meters after crossing her.

“It is definitely a ‘case’” I said.

“Case, what case? He asked.

“Caaase” I replied, I thought it was a universal word that can be understood by all.

We watched her from the rear view mirrors, she came closer, and she was even better looking from front. She almost bent a little to look into the car as she walked past. Dropped her bag on the road and bent forward to pick it up. It was obviously deliberate.

“Let’s follow her” DS said, and was driving behind her slowly.

“Stop, stop here, I’ll buy some fags and be back in a flash” I said.

It took me a little while, to be back, and was flabbergasted and utterly shocked to see that same lady sitting in the back seat.

“What?” I said, "How?" I blurted, and nothing else poured out of my stunned mind. I was shocked, not by his action but the speed of it.

“You are right, about the ‘case’” he said, with a smile that would put a chimpanzee-on-heat to shame.

“What do we do now? I asked.

Our conversation was in a hushed tone, but in a closed car, I was sure that lady was listening and was amused.

“You get down and go home” he said as coolly and as if in total control. It was more of a request than an order. 

“Don’t be preposterous” I lamented. “You can’t dump me like this”

He just did not reply, but looked at me with eyes both pleading and equally threatening to end our friendship, if I did not comply.

“Ok“I said and slapped my own thighs in disgust.

We drove in silence for a while. He stopped the car in a secluded place.

“You wait in the car, I’ll be back in 5 minutes” he said and hurried out. Maybe he was on a look out for protection.

But what do you expect from a young man seated with a young lady, ready to extend the pleasures of life? That was the only time, when, I had been unfaithful in life.

Then there was a knock on the window. It was police. What followed is another chapter.

So, now I am confronted in the super market by that lady after so many years and wanted to know if I was the father of one of her children.

“Oh! Yes, I remember, you are…?

“Lakshmi Rao” she said

“Yes, yes, Laksmi” I blurted. “Now I remember, but you were missing by the time I came out of the police station?”

“No” she replied “I am your son’s English teacher, I wanted to tell you that he has not been doing his homework lately”. 

(Some names have been changed to protect their identity.)