He stared at the docket with trepidation. It was another of the legacies left by his erstwhile partner. He enjoyed the additional work but somehow he just could not vibe with her clients. What disturbed him more was the conversation he just had with Sarah.R over the telephone. He remembered her vividly and was reminded that he obviously lusted after her. He had often seen her with his partner and had been attracted to her from day one. She carried herself with grace and always wore a Sari ; invariably of bright color. She was tall for a lady, about 6 foot and had a well proportioned body. She always wore high heels and walked with a straight back. Her breasts jutted through the silky sari and her low-back blouse left nothing to imagination, revealing strong shoulder muscles and a straight spine almost resting in a recess. Her haughtiness was evident from her face and the general feeling she gave was of a strong mind in a strong body. The large spectacles and the big round bindi on the forehead spoke of an attitude not susceptible to normal social norms. He liked her for he was of the same ilk, aggressive and bold. He wondered why it was said that the opposites attract. The only difference was in appearance, though not short she was taller at 6 to his 5' 8".
What disturbed him was the wordy duel he had with her just now on the telephone. She wanted him to do her divorce and claimed to have paid the firm money in advance. He did not seem to have seen any of it. But it was not as much the monetary aspect that needled him as her overbearing manner. He had the standing to say no to any client but this was one he did not want to say no to though he had little experience in divorce courts. That was a Catch22 situation. He was provoked by her manner but wanted to see more of her and was worried whether she'll take his advice and go away. Anyway they were to meet in the evening. However much he tried he could not dismiss her from his mind. Even in Court he was distracted.
By 4'o clock he was at the office and being a Friday there was none at the Office. At 4.30 he heard the unmistakable click of high heels and she opened the door. Instinctively he got up, but caught himself halfway and collapsed back on his seat. He gawked at her tall frame clad as always in a silk sari and today in a sleeveless blouse.
"Sammy!" she exclaimed as she removed her goggles. Though he wanted to protest against the familiarity, he gulped the protest down and stared at her exposed under arms. She proffered a card and he took it with shaking hands. He just couldn't understand his behavior but gritted his teeth and read the card. She was a Journalist, which he knew, but now has moved into a national news paper. He gathered his thoughts and looked at her; still standing looking down at him.
"Please take your seat." He managed to say without a tremor. She fell into the chair and crossed her legs.
"I know your partner called you Sammy. We were good friends more than the client relationship. Then she married and moved out."
"But..." he started, she interrupted and said," Let me first apologize for what I said over the telephone. I want you to represent me because Sheila had a lot of confidence in you and that is what I need now."
"But, I have little experience in divorce and not being a family man, I may not be able to understand your problems." He said hoping she will not take his advice.
"Leave that to me. I can make you understand and I believe I am in good hands. The trial starts next Monday and you are familiar with the file."
He agreed reluctantly and opened the file. He read through the file for half an hour as she waited patiently. The brief made out an excellent case of cruelty but he could not believe that a woman like her would suffer it for more than 10 years. He looked up and asked her, "Is all this true?"
"No!" she answered with a smile.
"Will you be able to stand by your story?"
"Do you doubt it?" she asked and he again became unnerved.
"Why do you want to split?" he asked.
"Well he's pathetic! I suffered him for 10 long years. He's successful financially but so am I. I like aggressive men and he's so submissive."
He jerked his head up and saw a naughty smile on her face.
"He is so afraid of me but he also is afraid of his mother. I am sick of fighting with his mother and the fight is not worth it, because he's not good enough."
He was confused but looked away from her and immersed himself in the brief.
"You are aggressive, I have seen you in court," she made a statement and he returned with, "So you like me?" almost mockingly.
She fell silent and looked hard at him. The mockery in his eyes disappeared and as he gazed into her eyes he wondered whether he had overstepped his limits. She continued staring and he felt a fear grip him.
As if in a dream he heard her ask, "Can I use the toilet?" to which he silently nodded.
She walked out and he breathed out in relief. Gazing through the brief without concentrating he wondered at her change in manner. Hearing her walk back, he looked up to see her opening the door and pausing there with her outstretched hand keeping the door ajar and staring purposefully at him.
"Well that would depend on whether you really want me to like you and the pains you are ready to take."
He gulped and stared at her. She stood there for a moment and came in and slowly resumed her seat.
"I think the flush is not working, would you please see to it?" He got up quietly and went past her and opened the cabin door. Turning around he saw a playful smile on her lips. Walking to the toilet he wondered why he was doing it. Surely he was trying to get ahead with her and he felt an urge to please her. Entering the small toilet her smells hit him and he tried the flush which worked at the first attempt. Was she lying or was it deliberate, he wondered. Pausing a moment he suddenly saw her towel on the rack . He extended a trembling hand; took it and slowly brought it to his nose. It had a womanly smell with a soft perfume and it filled his head. Remembering that she was sitting in his cabin he placed the towel back and hurried out.
He re-entered his cabin to see her sitting there still smiling and the left leg crossed over her right.
"It took some time, did it not?" he jerked his head up to see a mocking smile on her face. Nodding rapidly he sat down feeling ashamed.
Just as he was about to sit down he heard her exclaim,"Ohh...where did I keep the hand kerchief."
"It's in the toilet," he heard himself say as he rushed back to retrieve it.
He opened the cabin door and proffered it to her. She sat there with her legs crossed and staring at him as he felt his hands tremble. Extending her hand, she slowly took the towel out of his with her nails grazing his palm.
"I will stick by the story and now that you are taking the brief you may prepare it thoroughly by tomorrow. I'll be here by 11'o clock."
He was still standing and nodded as she got up.
"Behave yourself." She said as she walked out.
He was a bundle of nerves as he collapsed in his chair and sat there with his face buried in his palms, wondering at her last comment.
He looked up as the cabin door opened again and saw her standing there. He slowly rose from his chair as she gestured him to sit and said,
"You know I think I want you to make me like you."
She went away as fast as she came and he sat there confused for a few moments. Looking at the file before him; the words Sarah.R Vs R glared at him. Accepting the brief had been automatic without his saying so and this was not going like any client-lawyer relationship he was accustomed to.
But he knew that he must look the case up and he immersed himself in the file. Time flew as always when he was immersed in work and he could see himself cross examining R. He had to see him and know what type of a person he was. She could tell him that. He heard the telephone ring and jerked it out of the cradle and barked a "Hello" into it.
"Don't tell me you are still studying my file," he heard her say and looked at the clock to see that it was past 9'o clock.
"Yes," he said 'I would like to know what type of a person R is."
"Pathetic, as I told you. He was at my beck and call and he says he can't live without me. But I have had enough of the slop. He's only a momma's boy, wanting to remain that."
"But how is he as an individual in the outside world."
"Meek. But very sharp with finances and he has made real bucks; a chunk of which I hope you will get for me. Well talk about it tomorrow and being the client, will buy you lunch tomorrow. Till then adios and behave yourself."
He heard the click and felt frustrated and angry at the way she was treating him. He closed the office and went home.
He woke up in the night and felt a hard on. He just could not drive her away from his mind. The picture that was etched in his mind was her sitting cross legged and himself on his feet with his trembling hands proffering her the towel. He had this urge to please her but was surprised at his submissiveness to her. His hands moved up and down and he slowly got up and went to the toilet. He reached a shuddering climax and came back and collapsed on his bed.
Work was always good in the wee hours of morning and he was in the office early. By the time his staff came he had gone over Sarah.R.Vs R once more and he was thorough with every word in the brief, He rolled the facts over in his mind and went over and over the questions for cross examination. After breakfast he was neck deep in other work and at 1, he waited for her, having cleared the table over of all other work.
With mounting anticipation and anxiety he waited for her, eventually a bundle of nerves when she walked in at 11.30. This time he pulled the chair for her and as she sat down he breathed in her new smells and circled her to his seat and sat as she nodded. He felt funny but enjoyed the sensations and was glad that she obviously enjoyed the attention.
"You behaved yourself?" At one stroke he was perplexed and felt like putty in her hands.