STORY-CHESS CLUB

STORY-CHESS CLUB I used to go to the local chess club every evening after office hours and tell my wife that I was doing overtime. She was happy, because I get extra money, which I extracted from contractors. There I got acquainted with a lady, much elder than me. She is fair and has an aristocratic look. After preliminaries , she asked me, why I came there every day, without playing the game. “My wife is autocratic and wanted only my ATM card. Children quarrel always and I have no peace of mind at home. I have no friends. Where shall I go? Occasionally I do play, only to be defeated.” She studied my face or some time and I asked:”Have you ever loved any one?” “I am not beautiful. Who will love me?” “This is not cinema, where only good looking girls and men love. Are all around us heroes? Do not daily worker love? Love may come after marriage also. Which is your native village or town?” “My parents live at Paravur, near Kodungalloor. Both are retired civil servants.” “So you are my neighbor , so to say. I live at Irinjalakuda. Here I stay with my sister in Aranatukara.” I wanted to enquire whether she is married, but refrained myself. She invited me for a cup of coffee and we went to the Indian coffee house. We ordered coffee and began to chit chat “Your name?” “Suchithra Sen; my father is a Bengali . I studied music in Shanthiniketh n ” “I love Hindi music . Geetha Duth is my favourite. Will you sing for me?” “Not here; come to my house and my sister too will be happy to meet you.” I was in two minds; the time was already ten. Seeing my hesitation, she offered to drop me in her car. I felt a glow in my heart, as if I am already in love. I did not invite her. But bid farewell at the gate itself. I didn’t have the guts to take her into my house. The next day, She directly took me home, without wasting time in the club. It was a modest house, with just two bed rooms. Her sister and her husband received me well and they brought snacks and coffee. It was then that I asked:”Where is her husband?” Their expression became grave. I thought I made a mistake. Suththra came, looking fresh and smiling. After coffee, she brought her guitar and played it for some time. I told her to sing a song and she began with Rabindra songs . Then I suggested “mera sundara sapna toot gaya” Oh! I have never heard such sweet sound, endearing and sexy, at the same time. I felt I am in heaven. If alone, I would have kissed her then and there and now itself! Her sister and her husband had left after some time. She asked me” Can we got to the park?” Thus we became free and in the park, w sat side by side, enjoying the atmosphere of love. I thought all people in the world are in love. We did not say a word, but understood our feelings as if we are talking. I held her hand and kissed it. We did not like to move even, as though our action may disturb the mood. At last, she broke the silence:”Our divorce proceedings are in the process. In another month I shall be free Our courting went on for years, without any sex. I have my wife, but how did she remain unmoved, even when we are so near, physically and spiritually? One day she said:”I do like sex; but I can do without it. If you can separate from wife, perhaps, the time will come for our union. Take me to your home and let me study her.” So she came to my home and she was gladly received by my wife. I told her a lie that she works in my office. During tea, she saw my daughter, now a fully grown woman and she commented:”Such a beautiful flower and you never told me?” She called her and told her to sit in her lap. “Betty, I am your mother. Tell me what sort of a boy you like to have? I have a plenty of friends. What are you doing?” I am unemployed; studied computer science, after graduation.” She told me:”Give her photo and bio-data; if she is not married in two months, my name is not Suchithra.” Thus began our new friendship, this time, between families. A great burden was off my mind. True to her word, Suchithra brought several cases. One only appealed to my daughter. He is a medical graduate, fresh from college, doing house surgeon course. He belongs to Panchab and studied at Manipal Hospital. Does not know Malayalam. They met in a restaurant. We all went here and left them alone, after introductions. The okayed the deal. The marriage was solemnized at Paramekavu temple at Thrissur. The fst was grand and two thousand guests attended it. A lot of money was spent by my beloved girl friend, who had purchased a flat and gave it as dowry, though, the doctor had not demanded For our own secret life, she had bought another one near Peechi dam. A daughter was born to Suchithra. A vigilance inquiery is on against me for taking bribery from a contractor