Forbidden Desire - Ritesh Prasad (uplifting novels txt) 📗

enquired.

 

I felt a little hesitant, I should ask Kaushik to look for an HOSTEL immediately, I said to myself. I am finding this hospitality a little awkward, he had put me into a difficult situation, I will definitely move tomorrow, I convinced myself.

 

“What happened, not feeling well?” She asked interrupting my thoughts.

 

“No I am fine Aunty” I said promptly to avoid any further questions.

 

“Freshen up and come to the dining table, I will serve you the lunch.” She said and went out the room.

 

I went to the bathroom and got freshen up quickly. While I was walking towards the dining table I had an eye contact with Sakshi, she got conscious about my presence and immediately kept the remote on the table and went straight back to her room. I felt a bit awkward and move ahead to the dining table.

 

“Do you like chicken curry?” Aunty said while serving my plate.

 

“Yeah Aunty.” I replied while taking my seat on the chair.

 

“Don’t feel shy and eat properly, in the morning also you didn’t have proper breakfast, feel like home.” She assured.

 

“Yes Aunty.” I replied in crisp.

 

“Sakshi! Pass me the chilled water bottle from the refrigerator.” She said.

 

The young girl came with the bottle in her hand; I became silent and started eating without making any eye contact with her. “She is my daughter Sakshi,” Aunty said introducing the girl to me.

 

“Hi Sakshi” I said avoiding as much eye contact as possible, but she was beautiful I must say.

 

“Hello!” She replied with a short smile.

 

He is Kaushik Dada’s childhood friend and came today in the morning.” Aunty said looking at me.

 

I smiled while eating, now I was finding this situation more embarrassing, I don’t know why, may be the presence of her made it more awkward. I have always been an introvert throughout my life, especially when it comes to speaking with girls.

 

She went back to her room; I had a sigh of relief, now I can finish my lunch at much ease.

 

“Want some more rice?” She enquired taking her seat by the opposite side of me in the dining table.

 

“No Aunty, I am done.” I said

 

“What done? Have some more.” She said and filled my plate with more rice and curry.

 

“Don’t feel shy and eat properly.” She said, I just looked at her and smiled.

 

“You are a young boy and should eat more, what will your mother say when you return home after few months. So don’t hesitate and eat properly.” She made a repeat telecast of her statement.

 

All Mothers are same I murmured while eating and tried to finish my lunch quickly before it gets more embarrassing. After lunch I sat on the sofa in the hall, by the time Raju came near me and said.

 

“Dada’s let’s play carom now.”

 

“Little later,” I said to avoid his proposal. But before I could relax, he grabbed my hand and pulled me towards Sakshi’s room. She was there doing something near her dressing table. When she saw me entering her room with Raju, she got hesitant and moved out of the room immediately, I too felt awkward.

 

I sat on the bed quietly and Raju brought his small carom board, Aunty was busy with her chores in the kitchen. I played with Raju for a while, during this time Sakshi never enter her room and was in the hall watching TV. She was aware of the stranger’s presence, so this time the TV volume was moderate.

 

Some time later Aunty entered the room while I was still playing with Raju. “Hope you aren’t feeling bore?” She enquired.

 

“No Aunty, I am okay.” I replied.

 

“Kaushik comes around six in the evening and his Dad comes late at night, Raju’s school is over by 12 noon and Sakshi comes around 2:00 pm. So I am left all alone in this home till noon.” She said smiling.

 

“Okay” I said not knowing how to respond to her conversation. By this time Sakshi came to the room again looking for something and went back immediately, she was least bother about my presence. She did not like a stranger in her house or it might also happen she was feeling the same awkwardness the way I did, I thought to myself. I had some more conversation with Aunty about my hometown, my family and also about how long I have known Kaushik. All this went for around half an hour and then I came back to my room and called my Mom once again to confirm her that I am fine.

 

Kaushik came home a little early around 5:00 pm in the evening, I felt a bit better to see him.

 

“So how was your day?” I enquired.

 

“As usual.” He replied in crisp.

 

“Wait for a while I will freshen up and then we will go for a walk to the nearby park.” He said walking towards the bathroom.

 

Sakshi was still there in her room, during the whole day. She hardly came near to me and just spoke once, when her mother formally introduce her to me. Raju and I were watching TV by this time Kaushik joined us. Aunty bought us some tea and snacks and joined us there.

 

“So can we go for room hunt now?” I said to Kaushik.

 

“Not today Yaar, it’s already late, by the way I have spoken to some of my friends here they will get back to me in few days, it will take some time.” He said.

 

“What about hostel?” I probe him again.

 

“Let see, what we can find best at an affordable price.” He said stretching back on the sofa.

 

“Day after tomorrow is Sunday and my off, we will go on the same day.” He said.

 

“Why so hurry? Stay with us for few days you will also feel nice,” Aunty interrupted us.

“It’s a new city and you need some time to adjust,” she added.

 

“Yeah that’s what I am also telling him,” Kaushik said looking at her face.

 

“No Aunty” it doesn’t look nice bothering you this way,” I said.

 

There’s no question of bothering,” She replied.

 

“I don’t want to hear anything, Kaushik he is going to stay with us till you find a better accommodation for him, and there’s no hurry.”

 

“But Aunty” I tried to protest.

 

“No argument, what I said is final.” She ordered.

 

There was no point of saying anything further on this, so I thought it’s better to be quiet.

 

“Sakshi, Oh Sakshi,” Aunty raised her voice from the hall itself.

 

“Yes Mamma,” she replied with her soft voice and came near to her.

 

“Call your Dad and ask him to bring 1 kg mutton while returning” she said to her.

 

“Today we will have mutton biryani for dinner, Rohit do you like it?” She enquired.

 

“Yes Aunty,” I said shyly.

 

I was surprise to see Sakshi sitting on the nearby sofa by the side of Kaushik and facing towards me, instead of going back to her room what she had been doing since afternoon.

 

“Did you find a tutor for me?” She enquired him.

 

“Ohhh Sakshi I forgot, I will definitely tell my friends today while going down.”

 

“That’s your problem, you always forget,” She said in complaining manner.

 

“I am sorry but I will do it today for sure.”

 

I was looking around and made least eye contact with her, she was busy playing with her Mamma’s fingers and didn’t care about my presence but I was finding this interesting. She was a young bubbly girl. For the first time she was there in front of me for so long or rather say us. She might have vanished by this time, if I was there alone, like she has been doing since afternoon.

 

After tea Kaushik and I went to the nearby park for a walk. We had long conversation about our old memories, our childhood and our life in hometown etc. He was a Computer Science student and was two years senior to me. I did my graduation in Commerce. We had somewhat lost our contacts after I joined college as he went to a different college.

 

We went to the nearby Panshop where I bought a small packet of Gold flake. I didn’t have had a single cigarette since I had entered Auntie’s flat, so I was feeling a strong urge for smoke.

 

“So how do you like this place?” He enquired.

 

“So far so good.” I said lighting the cigarette.

 

He took one from the packet as well. “Buddy don’t worry you will get used this”

 

“Yeah”.

 

“Auntie’s family is really very nice” I said while thinking about Sakshi’s behavior.

 

“Yeah, they are friendly and nice people, though they are my far end relatives from my Mom side but Aunty has always treated me like her own son.” He added.

 

“Uncle is little hot temper but overall he is nice, only when his mood is off everyone keeps aside except Raju.” He added.

 

“Even I am scared to say anything,” he said. “But he never scolds at Raju, no matter what mischief he does.” He added.

 

“Yeah he is a cute boy,” I said. “The whole day he entertained me a lot.” I said smilingly.

 

“When I first came here in Kolkata few years back, Raju was just a little kid, he has grown up quickly. Sakshi mostly keeps confined to herself and talks little, especially with stranger, but she is mischievous too, all depends on her mood like her Dad.” Kaushik added while releasing smoke in the air.

 

Yeah I know very well by this time, I said to myself without uttering any word.

 

We had some more casual conversation and thereafter came back home. We sat in the drawing hall and started watching TV, some English movie. Soon Raju came and joined us and was playing with Kaushik, Aunty was busy with her daily chores and Sakshi was as usual busy in her room. Around 10:00 pm Raju’s Dad returned home while we were still sitting in the drawing room.

 

“He is my friend Rohit,” Kaushik said introducing me to his Uncle.

 

“Hello young boy.” He said with a husky voice.

 

“Namaste Uncle,” I gestured.

 

He was a strong build man around mid-40; he was a bit introvert by nature that I understood at the time of greeting from his not so smiling expression. He sat on the sofa facing us and Aunty brought him a glass of water, which he gulped at one go. He directed Raju to take mutton packet to his Mom.

 

“So how do you like this city?” He said relaxing on the sofa by crossing his legs.

 

“Good Uncle, trying to get used to with this place.”

 

“It’s hot here, what about your place?” He asked.

 

“Silchar is better than here atleast in terms of weather, that I can vouch.” I said with half smile.

 

“Good, you will soon get used to with this weather like Kaushik.” He said and laughed loud.

 

I smiled too.

 

We had little more conversation and he went to his room and we continued watching TV.

During this period Sakshi came out of her room just few times, sometimes she sat for a while and watched TV and again went back to her room. She was more confined to her own room, may be because of studies or chatting with friends on mobile. The dinner was ready around 10:00 pm and we all had dinner together on the dining table and after a while departed to our respective room for sleep.

 

The next day started in similar fashion Kaushik went to office around ten. I was there in home with Aunty. Sakshi and Raju had gone for school and Uncle to his office.

 

After having breakfast, I was sitting idly in the room with nothing to do, Aunty was busy with her household chores, strange how women can keep themselves busy for the all the day. I went to Aunty to seek permission, if I could use the computer for the time being to keep myself busy, she obliged.

 

I went to Sakshi’s room though I felt a bit awkward but had no option. I switched on the

Computer and was happy to find there was internet connection; I started with checking my emails, not anything important though. After some time I don’t know what urge me to check through different folders saved