Malai Ch. 01

The initial settlement at a rented apartment in Khardah town had sown the seeds of transformation already. This is how things started to evolve.

It has been 2 years now that we have been living as a tenant in the house of a middle-aged widow named Kamala. Respectfully and as per ethics, I addressed her as Kamala aunty.

This house was situated in the suburbs of the city of Calcutta, and this part of the town was known as Khardah town. My husband, Animesh, had rented the upper portion of the house, and it was a nice, spacious two-BHK apartment.

Initially my husband, Animesh, a 28-year-old lean and lanky software engineer, had approached Kamala aunty through a broker. The tenancy was then finalized, and within a few days we shifted to this new rented apartment in Khardah town.

My husband, Animesh, had introduced me to Kamala Aunty.

"This is my wife, Mala," he told her.

However, the very first day when Kamala aunty saw me, she had a frown on her face, but interestingly, you have been very nice to me since the beginning.

As far as the frown was concerned, I came to know about it within a few weeks, and in fact it was Kamala aunty who told me the reason why she had that frown on her face that day.

Was it coincidence or was it destiny? I was never able to know.

Kamala aunty slipped and fell in her bathroom one day, and the injury to her right wrist was quite significant. Her hand had to be plastered to heal the injury.

Kamala Auntie's income was from multiple sources. She was still receiving her late husband's government pension, and she had opened a small shop in the market, and she used to sell items related to traditional and religious worship and rituals. Furthermore, she had given the top floor of her house on rent to us.

With her hand plastered, it was difficult for her to manage the shop as well as her day-to-day activities.

I offered to help.

I started to take care of the household chores, including cooking and cleaning. Since her hand was injured, I used to comb and braid her hair as well. Further, I also volunteered to assist her at the shop. Now this was not acceptable to my husband, Animesh, initially. However, I was able to convince him.

During those days and as always, Animesh was very busy. He used to work the night shifts, and often he would go on official tours to various cities that would last for days and sometimes even weeks.

I explain to him that I used to get bored sitting and doing nothing in this house... and as a result, after a little initial grumbling, my husband, Animesh, agreed. I started to go to the shop with Kamala aunty and assist over there.

This gave me a chance to get closer to Kamala aunty emotionally. She even lovingly nicknamed me "Malai." My name is Mala, which means 'rosary,' and Malai actually means 'milk cream.'

And it was then that I learned the reason for her initial frown... A thing that had been bothering me for a long time, like a splinter at the back of my mind.

Kamala aunty regarded me as a fully bloomed young woman. I was 25 years old at that time; however, she said I looked no more than 20. I have long, curly hair that reaches even below my hips. And my statistics are 34cc-30-36...

As compared to that, my husband, Animesh, was suffering from hyperthyroidism. He was thin and frail. Kamal aunty thought that I deserved better. This was the reason that she had frowned.

***

It has been 2 years now that I have been living in Khardah town, and even though Kamala auntie's hand healed a long time ago, I continue to assist at the shop. During these two years a lot has happened. Not only have I and Kamala Aunty become close, but also there were developments that I thought would never happen and things in life that I would never experience.

And these things my husband, Animesh, should never ever know...

In our parts, shops have the highest sales on Dussehra (the festival of Goddess Durga). Kamala Aunty said that my presence at the shop has probably brought Goddess Lakshmi (the goddess of wealth) to the shop and that is why the shop's income increased a lot last year.

I don't know why Kamala Aunty used to tell me to wear only a saree and blouse during Dussehra and keep my hair open.

I understood that wearing ethnic clothes like sarees and blouses is traditional, and it is also a fashion trend during festivals. But I did not understand why she wanted me to keep my hair open.

I had even asked her about this, but she smiled and caressed my cheeks lovingly and said, "It is like magic; just wait and watch... now how much our shop's sales will increase..."

And it is a matter of great surprise; ever since I started to follow her advice, there was so much crowd at the shop, the sales increased, and I was very busy the whole day, and by the end of the day, I was completely exhausted, and my whole body would be aching.

I remember that day when we reached home; Kamala Aunty said, "See how many customers came to our shop today... everyone bought so many things..."

I looked at her with surprise and asked, "But Aunty, how did this happen?"

"If you do as I say... if you follow my advice, then believe me, it will be good for you and you will enjoy life... I am your Kamala Aunty, and I will ensure that you live your life to the fullest." Saying this, Kamala Aunty kissed me lovingly.

At that point in time it was implicit between the two of us that most people actually gathered to see me, and as a result they ended up purchasing things that they would have done from other nearby shops.

And then she took out a bottle of beer from the fridge and a painkiller medicine pill and gave it to me.

I was surprised, and I asked, "What is this, Kamala Aunty?"

She replied, "This is nothing; it is just a bottle of beer and the painkiller pill. You have been working very hard at the shop. I know that your whole body must be exhausted and aching. The pill will take away your body pain, and the beer will ensure that you have a good night's sleep. You are attracting a lot of crowds at the shop, and the coming few days will be busier than ever."

At the back of my mind, my upbringing and traditional ethics started to ring a bell. It was said that 'good housewives' do not drink. Although, during my college days, I had my chance to attend parties and consume my share of alcohol. However, as of now I was a married woman who was bound by tradition.

So, I asked, "If my husband, Animesh, comes to know about all this?"

Kamala Aunty playfully chided me, "Do you have to tell everything to your husband? He is not here now, and he is busy with his official work in another city. You and I both know that he will be back only after a week. Like I told you, if you do as I say... If you follow my advice, then believe me, it will be good for you, and you will enjoy life... I am your Kamala Aunty, and I will ensure that you live your life to the fullest.

To be continued