Episode 1 -- The beginning
Hello guys, hope you read my previous stories and liked it. This is a fantasy story that just came in my dream one day because I would never think of anything as such when I am sober. So, here goes. Hope you like this.
To begin, My name is Ashok, I am a 30 year old guy living in Chennai with my parents. I am an only child but was brought up in a very strict manner by my father. He started off in the Army but quit and joined a family business. Even though he earned well, he never let us enjoy life and always lived a middle class lifestyle and surrounded ourselves with similar class people.
I had a limited set of friends in my area where I grew up since beginning and even though Chennai is so hot, we played outside all day long and would become sun burnt and dark but never worried about it.
We used to meet every day post school and play till dark and on weekends barely came home.
We were very thick friends and supported each other through all hardships.
Fast forward 20 years later, life totally changed for all of us.
Most of my friends got married and started having kids, I got a good job and was earning well and couple of my friends were also planning on getting married.
We made a few more friends as time flew and they became our closest gang who drank together, went on trips together and we were all present for everyone's wedding and child births too. We all considered us one big family.
One day disaster struck my life as I got married and then got divorced too soon without even understanding each other and parted ways.
Nothing much to talk about the wedding or married life as it was a big mistake and it should not have happened.
I told the story to all my friends and their wives whenever we met and they felt sorry and pity for me. But I managed to make jokes about it and changed the vibes around easily.
We were all of a similar age group except one senior who was about 5 years older to me(us) in the gang. His name was Varun and he was from Bangalore. We knew each other for many years as he had married his girlfriend from Bangalore and came to Chennai and settled here.
She was almost 4 years senior to me but we always had a good bonding as we both knew Malayalam and varun did not understand a word of it.
We used to speak in Malayalam in front of him and irritate him playfully and she liked the kind of person I am. Soft and caring and always making her comfortable whenever we used to meet.
Before my disastrous marriage, Soundarya anni used to say -- Ashok, you are going to be a good husband.
Anni means brothers wife. Almost equal to mother.
She likes me calling her anni because everyone else used to call her akka, only I used to call her anni. Again one more unique thing to share between us.
Soundarya anni: Ashok, you're going to be a good husband ra.
Me: how can you say that anni?
Soundarya anni: hey, I see you talking to women and the way you respect them and making us feel comfortable always, I can tell clearly that you are a gem of a person and will take care of your future wife very well.
I used to blush and say thank you anni and slightly hit her on her arms and she used to hit me back playfully saying -- "ayyo shy is coming ah?" and everyone would laugh.
I learnt a little Malayalam from my Ex and so I was able to communicate with her little bit and she liked that uniqueness in me.
But after my ex-wife applied for divorce, she avoided me for almost a year as we did not meet often after that incident.
After almost a year and me slowly coming out of my depression, I spoke to my parents and wanted to stay alone for some time. After a lot of convincing they agreed to stay 1 km away and I took a rented house and stayed there and used to visit my parents often but I wanted to clear my mind.
So, after few months of my guy friends coming to my place, one day while boozing someone said lets all have a get together some time soon. Everyone were high and agreed instantly.
So, we fixed a date and invited everyone over, me and my guy friends cooked chicken gravy and rice in my house and fried a little kabab and everything was set by evening.
Slowly one by one couple started coming in and settled down late evening.
Everyone greeted each other and sat down and made themselves comfortable.
We talked, laughed, made fun of each other and had a good dinner and everyone started leaving and I was alone again.
While I wrapped up and cleaned everything my friend went to drop my other friends in car near anna nagar and it was peak traffic but he left his wife behind to help me with the cleaning.
She was comfortable as she knows what kind of a person I am. But something did happen with her (will come in episode 2).
So, after everyone left, I was going through the day in my mind, the kids were making a lot of noise and having fun. Everyone saw some sadness in me I guess because they all had a little pity in their eyes when they saw me.
Suddenly I realized that anni was observing me a lot, she obviously felt sorry for me but since she did not speak about this to me for a year, she felt really bad and kept looking at me throughout the get together.
I used to see her sometimes and make eye contact, smile and turn away.
One time I even saw her dusky cleavage and she caught me and did not say anything.
It was weird why she was looking at me so much that day and I slept off and forgot about it.
Exactly one week later, anni and varun came to my house as a surprise visit. They had come in car and they honked from below and I was shocked but invited them over along with their daughter Sushmitha.
I greeted them and welcomed them inside, offered cold drinks and was playing with the kid for some time.
Me: what is this surprise visit for?
Varun: why? Should we not visit you?
Me: hey, not like that, just asked if you had any work this side and decided to drop by or something.
Varun: since it's a weekend, we had lunch outside and thought of visiting you and a couple of folks nearby and head home at night.
Me: oh, that's what I thought, why would you visit me purposely, you came to visit some relative so you came to my house is it? Ok. Understood.
Varun: hey, nothing like that. Our daughter wanted to visit her friend who stays in the next area, so thought will see you also.
Me: hmmm ok, for few minutes you made me feel special, thanks for that. (I said sarcastically)
Till now Soundarya anni was silent, which was not her usual behavior.
Then, I turned towards her to loop her in the conversation and she was signaling varun to go out. I did not understand and ignored as I thought some communication/telepathy between husband and wife.
Then he suddenly told,
Varun: ok Ashok, we are leaving, we will go to sushmitha's friends house and come back.
Me: ok, carry on enjoy. We can meet some other time, why coming back in this traffic, you head to your home straight.
Varun: oh, then who will drop my wife to my home?
I had a confusing look and looked at both of them and did not know how to react.
Then varun interrupted me and said,
Varun: only me and sushmitha are going to her friends place, your anni will be here only, she needs to talk to you about something itseems. so I will be back in few hours to pick her up.
Now I really did not know how to react and by the time I reacted, they both said bye and left the house and drove off.
I then looked at anni and told,
Me: I don't understand, why you did not go, what you want to talk to me?
Soundarya anni: oh you don't want to talk to me? Shall I also go then, ok bye.
And she started walking angrily towards my door and I realized what I did and said,
Me: no no, that's not what I meant. You did not talk to me for about a year and you only felt sorry for me during get together, you were not normal. So what is it that you want to talk to me?
Soundarya anni: dey, you know why I did not talk to you all those days? Because I cannot see you in a sad/depressed state da. I will start crying if I see you that way.
So I controlled myself to not talk to you for some months and then come and talk to you.
Finally after seeing you in get together I felt like talking to you and came today.
Should I not have come today?
Me: ayyo, anni. Nothing like that, its all a surprise and I am shocked so only I am not understanding anything.
Soundarya anni: I understand. Now come sit, I need to talk to you.
I sat on a wheel chair in hall, she saw my house for a bit and went into the kitchen, bedroom and said.
Soundarya anni: nice da, neatly you have maintained. Good good. (she was slightly smiling)
Me: thanks anni, you want anything to eat or drink?
Soundarya anni: no da, I am full, thanks for offering. So how is life? How is it going?
Me: going on, gets really boring sometimes, but what to do. Watch some series/movies and timepass. That's all.
Soundarya anni: she understood what I was feeling and I controlled not to say that word.
She looked at me with soft eyes and sad face and said,
Soundarya anni: you can say it to me ra, you know I am your friend.
I knew she wanted me to say it but I controlled and did not say that word.
Soundarya anni: you know I used to tell my husband how lucky your wife is going to be, you are going to love her so much and you are a romantic guy and everything. I did not expect this ra.
I started feeling low as she was both complimenting me and also hurting me by saying that my marriage did not work out. But she had her intentions in the right place.
I controlled my emotions and started rotating my easy chair and said,
Me: yea, what to do anni, all fate. Can't help it.
Soundarya anni: she understood that I was controlling and she stood up and walked towards me.
Till then I did not notice anything, but I need to explain what I saw at that moment.
She wore a white saree with white blouse and red color roses on her saree as well as her blouse. Her tummy portion was visible as it was a transparent saree and the blouse was semi transparent as well as sleeveless. Since she was sitting all this while I did not notice properly.
She is about 5.4" and dusky skin tone and clean face with all the right features in the right place. She almost looked like Aishwarya rajesh (tamil actress).
I did not know what was running in her head as she came very very closer to me, stood right next to me, my face near her upper tummy and she took one hand and placed it on my head and massaged me slightly and asked.
Soundarya anni: you can tell me ra, you are feeling LONELY right?