A Moment of Weakness - NotionPress

A Moment of Weakness

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A Moment of Weakness

Shivkumar Mohite

NotionPress 5 Muthu Kalathy Street, Triplicane, Chennai - 600005 First Published by NotionPress Copyright © Shivkumar Mohite 2013 All Rights Reserved. ISBN: 978-93-82447-69-6

This book is sold subject to condition that it shall not by way of trade or otherwise, be lent, resold or hired out, circulated and no reproduction in any form, in whole or in part (except for brief quotations in critical articles or reviews) may be made without written permission of the publishers. This book has been published in good faith that the work of the author is original. All efforts have been taken to make the material error-free. However, the author and the publisher disclaim the responsibility for any inadvertent errors.

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arshan returned back home from work on time as usual. The coffee mug and snacks were ready on the table when he went to it after freshening up and changing his clothes. His father, mother, wife and the two children, a boy and a girl aged ten and fifteen respectively were sitting around on the four sofas. He took some snacks and the coffee mug and went to the sofa facing the television. His dad was narrating some stories of his experience as a soldier and the action he had seen in the past. The children were listening with rapt attention. “That major was yelling that we have to march ahead and capture a town and urged us all to go forward. We were already going ahead firing our rifles and that Major was behind us all ordering. Suddenly heavy mortar shell and heavy machine gun firing started from the Pakistanis up front. From behind us there was a continuous return fire of our mortar shells. The shells were whizzing over on the top of our heads and exploding behind and in front of us but we were safe as both the enemy’s and our shells were landing and exploding at a safe distance. All were apprehensive that some of those shells might lose their height and

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explode in our midst. I was very sure that I shall not be going back home alive. All were scared but we marched ahead with our rifles firing continuously. That Major shouted another command with fear in his voice to march ahead and capture that town. We all went with our rifles firing at random dodging here and there, sometimes lying down and crawling. Soon we captured that town and the enemy was driven still behind. We had lost five men. We looked around for our Major but he was not to be seen. We searched all the corpses of the enemy’s and ours that were strewn around that town. Our major was not amongst them. Then we went to the field that we had crossed and found him in a pit shivering with fright. He had wet his pants and had dirtied it too from behind.” He stopped as the laughter of children reverberated in the house. The girl asked, “What happened then?” Dad continued his exploits in the Indo-Pak war of 1965 after a glass of water, “When we told our major that we have captured that town, he came out sheepishly. His pant was wet and he had also shit in it. You know what happened; he got the Vir Chakra to our amazement. That man, who was leading us from behind and had hid himself when the firing started, got that award for valour.” Darshan, a thirty-five year old athletic five feet-eight handsome looking man had finished his coffee and was enjoying the joyful atmosphere in the house. This happened whenever his parents visited them and the whole day was spent in merriment. Added to that was the variety of eatables that his mom and wife, thirty year old pretty Shushma, dished out together in the kitchen all day. The children enjoyed the most as there was always something to do and never a dull moment. Darshan also enjoyed it to the maximum but when it came to going for outing almost daily in the evenings, he got a bit irritable as after spending the entire day at the office, he wanted to rest a while. Since he was the

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only one who could drive the car and take everybody to whichever place they had planned to visit that day, he had to go along. “Well, what is the programme for today?” he asked placing the empty mug on the table. Akshay, his ten year old son jumped up, “We are going to the exhibition daddy” he shouted. His sixty-eight year old dad - sporting a big greying moustache in a wiry frame, Prithviraj said, “No Akshay, we had agreed on going to a movie, remember” “No. I want to go to the exhibition. You can watch movies here at home on the television.” Akshay said jumping up and down frantically. “You are forgetting all that I told you about cinema hall experience in the afternoon and you had agreed to go to watch a movie in the cinema hall” his father said with mock anger. “You go to the movie, we shall go to the exhibition” Akshay became adamant. Roopa, his eight year old sister shouted at Akshay annoyingly, “Have it your way all the time. Grandpa says this movie is good and you will enjoy it and I too wanted to see this film but you change your mind and go to a different place now” she turned to her mom, “Look here mom, if you are going to the exhibition, count me out.” Grandpa said, “Now don’t fight over these silly matters. We shall toss the coin and whoever wins, we shall go wherever they tell us right?” Roopa said, “No I don’t agree. We shall have a vote, the majority wins.” Grandma came in support of her grand-daughter, “Absolutely right. We shall have a vote.” Shushma, the wife and mom also butt in, “I also support the vote” she said standing up and coming to the centre, “Now who all want to go to the exhibition?”

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Akshay’s hand was immediately up followed by Darshan’s the rest kept their hands down including Shushma. Roopa jumped up, “We have won grandpa. Let us go to the movie.” Darshan asked, “What movie?” Grandpa said, “That new 3D movie Shrek-3 in Chitra Multiplex.” Darshan said, “I am sorry” he said consulting his watch, “That movie has already started and the next show will begin late that is after three hours from now.” Akshay was jubilant, “Let us go to the exhibition then.” He said excitedly. Roopa was not convinced. She took out that day’s newspaper and frantically searched the ads column. The movie ad was not there. She then got her mobile phone and went out dialling. After a while she came dejectedly into the room. Grandpa asked, “What?” “Dad is right. That movie has already started. It is not the usual time.” Darshan said, “Well, it is settled then. Let us go to the exhibition. Tomorrow I shall return early from office and take you all to the movie.” Akshay cried out, “Yeah” and punched his hands in the air as the winners in a tennis match do. They all went to the exhibition and thoroughly enjoyed it. All were happy and so was Darshan. He was thinking about his parents who have to go after a week to his brother’s place. His younger brother, Sunil, stayed in another city and was settled there as he had a permanent job. He was also married with a small child aged two years. A male child who was very much attached to his parents as he remained with them all day while his brother and his wife went to work. His parents had come over a week ago after much persuasion and his brother’s wife had to take leave to be at home with their child. The news of

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that two year old kid was coming that he missed his parents and had become very adamant. Darshan’s wife, Shushma too wanted to take up some job as both their children had grown up and were away for school and play outside most of the time. She was getting tired of sitting at home expecting everybody’s arrival home in the evening. It was only twice in a year that Darshan’s parents visited them after his brother’s child’s arrival but before that they had stayed with them all the time. Shushma loved having them as she could spare some moments on her hobbies of reading and watching television. But now when the children and husband arrive from school, she had to be busy till the day was over. She had all afternoon to herself but she devoted herself to studying as she had joined the distance education to complete her business management course. It was suddenly decided that Shushma and their two children will also accompany their parents when they left for Darshan’s brother’s house next week. They would be gone for a week and Darshan would have to be alone for that period. All preparations for the trip started and soon the day arrived when they all left for the Railway station to board the train. Darshan saw them off and returned home. He had longed for some quiet in the house on many occasions but after going around the house alone, he was missing his family already. Next morning as he was getting ready to go to his office, there was a knock on the door. The housemaid stood before him. She said coming past him, “Your wife had told me to come in the morning before you left and complete the cleaning job. I suddenly remembered only now so I got late. Should I do it now or come later in the evening?” That housemaid, Pratibha was about thirty year old shapely good looking woman. He only rarely saw her on his off days when she came and went during afternoon hours as he busied himself in his room on his computer

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or was taking a nap. Pratibha was engaged only a month ago by Shushma when the former old lady quit service. Now he had an eyeful of her and was feeling uncomfortable standing with her. He said, “Go right ahead and finish your job. I still have some time.” Pratibha went in to the kichen where he had left some utensils unwashed after making his breakfast and tea. She finished cleaning up the kitchen and came to clean up the rest of the house. Darshan looked at his watch; he would get late today if she took more time. He asked, “How much longer you will take?” “It will be another half an hour sir.” She replied from the other room. “No, that won’t do. You will have to finish in five minutes. Just clean the front room and leave.” Pratibha came over with her broom and started sweeping the floor of the front room. He watched her behind and was getting excited so he stood up and went out. He told himself, ‘I should be careful with these ladies they are trouble’. He stood at the gates and waited watching the outside traffic on the road. Pratibha came out in five minutes, “From tomorrow I shall be earlier and finish off everything before you leave.” She smiled seductively at him and left. Darshan also got dressed hurriedly and left for his office. He worked as a senior executive in an insurance company and he had his own office. At the office too Pratibha was in his mind and however hard he tried not to think of her, he could not concentrate on his job. He had to do several things again and again and was getting everything delayed. One of his colleagues asked him whether he was okay and he had replied there was nothing wrong. As soon as he began to concentrate on the computer before him, Pratibha’s words ‘from tomorrow I shall come earlier and finish the job before you leave’ rang out again and again. He had to sit late to finish his job and reached home late. The night was difficult for him to sleep and Pratibha’s smiling face

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kept him awake. He sat up and caught his head and banged it with his hands repeatedly to dispel Pratibha’s ghosts but found it difficult. He got up very late in the morning and quickly finished his shave and bath. He got dressed and was just going to light the stove to prepare his breakfast of noodles and tea when the tap on the door sounded. With his heart beating faster, he went to open the door and stood looking at Pratibha who also seemed to be nicely dressed with some strands of loose hair on her forehead. She was dressed as if she was going for some picnic. She said smiling at him, “Sir, let me come in. You will be getting late to office so I came this early.” Darshan hastily withdrew from the door and walked towards the sofa her perfume following him and filling up the room. Pratibha went directly to the kitchen and saw the opened noodle packet and milk. She asked, “Should I prepare your noodles and tea?” He sat down on the sofa sweating, “Yes. Yes, please.” Within minutes Pratibha served the noodles and tea on the table and said, “It is ready sir.” She went back to the kitchen to wash the utensils and start sweeping the floor. The noodles never tasted so good to Darshan as he watched her clean the floor of the other room and go to another hurriedly. Darshan suddenly realized that he was staring at her constantly and she would also become aware of it. He averted his gaze and finished his tea. He also finished dressing himself and was ready to leave. By that time Pratibha also swiftly completed all the job of sweeping and mopping and left. At the office, Darshan thought that he was unnecessarily bothering with that housemaid. She may be a married lady and he should stop thinking about her like that. As he was immersed in his thoughts, he did not notice that his friend, Sundar had come in and had sat down before him. He was also a thirty-five year old handsome looking individual and worked in another

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office opposite to the road. He was an ex-police officer and ran a private detective agency. “Hey, Darshan, daydreaming or some problem nagging you?” he asked affably. Darshan got away from his reverie and said, “Yes. Hello there, Sunder. How are you? I am sorry I was lost in some thought.” “Are you in some difficulty?” Sundar asked concerned. “It’s nothing yaar” Darshan replied smiling, “There is a housemaid in my house, good looking and I think available too.” “Enjoy yourself but don’t get involved. You have a nice family so just don’t fool around with a housemaid.” Sundar advised as he laughed. After having some coffee, he went away and Darshan felt that he could concentrate now on his work. His mind became free of her thoughts and he could concentrate on his job. When he reached home, he changed his dress to casuals and left to his friend’s house in his neighbourhood who was also alone. They both had a nice time and Darshan returned late in the night. He was glad that Pratibha was out of his system. He thought, he would not think of her again and behave normally whenever she was at home.

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ratibha reached home that was just a kilometre away from Darshan’s bungalow. Vikram, her thirtytwo year old athletic looking husband was waiting for her smoking a cigarette. He was dark complexioned and stood five and half feet tall. He observed his fair complexioned shapely wife as she swung her hips and walked in. He felt a twinge of jealousy when he thought how other men would be watching her walking on the street. “How was it today? Any improvement?” he asked throwing smoke rings on the air as he lay on the cot. “I could see the blood rush to his face when he saw me at the door. He was uncomfortable so he went out and stood near the gates. I think I did have an impact on him.” She said laughingly. Vikram pondered for a while, “You should wear some tight fitting clothes and a low neck blouse. He should be able to see your hips swaying and your breasts bobbing up and down. He will make an advance within a couple of days. You position your purse so that the mobile camera in it is able to record some nice videos. You should not worry about the camera as it can record up to one hour easily.”

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Pratibha took out the camera phone from her little purse bag and handed it to her husband. That phone would fit snugly into a specially made slot and a tiny hole in the purse through which the lens of the camera could see everything outside. He first thought of getting a camcorder but that in spite of being expensive, occupied a lot of space. Small sized camcorder did not have that much clarity. Their batteries also got exhausted soon. He had used a cell phone with three mega-pixel camera in the last job. It had given him some videos that was just manageable as the faces could be recognized. He then purchased another cell phone with eight mega-pixel camera and a memory card capacity of eight gigabytes. Vikram saw the replay as Darshan was looking very much uncomfortable but looking in the direction of the kitchen every now and then. He then went out and Pratibha was seen sweeping and mopping the floor. That was the first video shot of Darshan and Vikram was impressed as he looked at that tall handsome looking man. He erased the video file and put the phone on charge. ‘let me get one good video when he attempts something with my wife and I shall move in’ he thought. He looked at Pratibha who was getting ready to prepare their lunch. “What do you feel, can we trap this customer?” She smiled at him, “Sure, why not. This is only my second attempt so I am being a little careful.” Vikram laughed, “We surely got that fat old babumoshai entrapped in our very first attempt. That Banerjee fellow paid up without any persuasion and he will definitely not open his mouth to anyone.” “Can we get something more out from him?” she asked laughing. “Sure, but we shall let some time pass. I shall give him one more copy of that video CD after some time. Meanwhile you continue there as if nothing has happened.”

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“That fat old fool doesn’t even look in my direction now and keeps away as if I have leprosy.” “Tell me more about this Darshan fellow. He looks tall and handsome.” “Sure. He must be six feet tall and weighing around eighty kilograms. He is handsome man no doubt. He speaks well and has good manners. He may be thinking that I shall be definitely charmed by him and I am sure many other ladies would.” “You are sure he can pay easily some eight to ten lakhs?” “I think so, perhaps a lot more than that. His wife had not responded so much when I probed his financial position but this much she said that he works for some very big concern as a General Manager and his income may be over a lakh per month.” Pratibha thought for a while as she was cutting the onions and peppers then asked, “How far would you like me to go with this Darshan bastard.” “Go all the way if you can. We can extract some good initial down payment and then we shall milk him slowly for more. That was a brilliant idea you planted on his wife to go with her children on vacation. When are they returning?” “She was not ready to go but I told her that I shall take care of the house as I was staying nearby. They are gone only for five days plus a couple of days for the journey time.” “If we wait for some other time, it will be a very long wait. Two days have already gone. You have just three days to do something.” Vikram said worriedly. “Dont worry, tomorrow I shall make him touch me and then it will be a matter of minutes to get him on the bed.” She replied smiling. “Dont overdo anything and be near to and in front of the camera. You should not be an easy lay, which is important. I think tomorrow’s video will be worth watching.”

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“You bet.” She said laughing. Vikram lay back and thought of that Banerjee guy. Just before getting married to Pratibha, Vikram was doing some sundry jobs as a driver and caretaker in some private firms. Twice he was caught stealing petty things and lying and was thrown out. He had no father but a mother who did not care for him much as he was very adamant and foul mouthed his sister and brother often. Her mother thought he would improve if married so she got him married to a girl living in the adjacent chawl (slums). Once married Vikram separated and went to live on his own with Pratibha, his newly married wife. He immediately bought a second hand auto rickshaw on instalments and started driving it. With his communication skills, he could make some money to run the house. Pratibha had been working as housemaid even before marriage at some places so she asked Vikram if she should resume doing that. Vikram had initially refused as he suspected that she would go astray but after talking to another auto driver who was a little friendly, he had okayed it. That friend of his had seen Pratibha once and had suggested that his wife can be used to earn him more than what he could earn in a year. He could live comfortably if his wife was used in proper manner. His friend also told that for the poor there is no such thing as chastity or morals. After much thought, Vikram had told Pratibha that she could go and work to augment the income of the house. She had immediately secured an employment at a very posh house as a housemaid. After fifteen days into her job she had come home and said to Vikram, “That man Banerjee, where I am working, is trying to get fresh with me. What should I do?” Vikram had thought of that one thousand five hundred she was earning from that house. It will be such a loss. He had said, “These rich people are like that only. You have to be careful. Just don’t be alone with him.”

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He discussed that matter with his friend, Puneet. “You are unnecessarily bothering with that. If I were you and had such a pretty wife like that, I would use her and make a lot of money. Who wants to drive these auto rickshaws?” he spat and continued, “Look my friend, money matters in this world and nothing else. See the bigwigs who have shot to fame and are constantly in the news for some scam or the other. They do not bother going to jail for a few days. They have amassed so much wealth that they can easily relax in the old age doing nothing. Their children also need not earn a paise all their life and live comfortably. They don’t give a damn for morals or honesty.” Vikram asked, “But they have not used their wives?” “What do you mean? Many such rich people use their wives as call girls if they are not able to make millions through scams. Forget wives they even do not hesitate to send their daughters to earn like that if the amount is right. Many young girls themselves indulge in such activities. I know of some highly educated girls of well to do families in such business. Money is everything man.” He paused and continued after a while, “Alas, I don’t have a wife like you have neither a daughter else I would adopt this method to get rich quick.” “You just bother about anything of what others will say? We stay in a society man and there are some unwritten rules we have to follow.” “I don’t say that you should force your ladies to make some easy money but they can be convinced when you tell them how some others have been making a lot of wealth. I also hate this kind of thing but we men cannot do things that these ladies can do but they should do such things voluntarily and never are they to be forced to do it.” After giving much thought, Vikram lay on his bed wondering if he should ask his wife to do such things. Next day his wife solved that for him as she asked,

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“That Banerjee seems to be getting too interested in me. He will be alone for about three days in the house as his family is going out. Should I stop going there till they return?” “What do you think?” Vikram had asked looking at her intently. I do hope she volunteers. “Look, what if I allow him to touch me and fondle me. I think he will not go further than that as he is a heavy man and would not be capable to take on a woman. I shall demand some extra money to put his hands on me. We do need something extra. Don’t we?” she had asked quizzically and with a little hesitancy in her voice. Vikram had said remembering Puneet’s words, “No not at all. If you are agreeing to that then why should I mind? And yes we do need the money.” Pratibha got a little bolder, “What if he wants to sleep with me?” “Still I would not mind but yes you will need some protection” “What kind of protection?” “To avoid getting pregnant damn you.” He got a little angry. Pratibha had smiled, “Dont worry about that.” She came to him and put her hand around him, “We can make a lot of money. Just your co-operation is needed.” Vikram had said, “Okay. Okay. I shall work out some strategy to tackle that Banerjee fella once he falls into the honey trap.” He smiled and embraced his wife. That night he had thought about a plan and was satisfied that it will work. Next day morning he gave a mobile phone to Pratibha, “You may know how to operate this. There is an extended memory card that can record for a little more than an hour and gets a fairly good quality videos and pictures. There is no SIM card on this phone so you will not be interrupted. Just keep the camera on when you go inside and place it some place where you

A Moment of Weakness