Two years have passed since Sujitha's torrid experience with Chandran in the plantain grove. However, it wasn't easy for her to shrug off those horrifying images of a lusty young man, nearly managing to violate her modesty. But, her eyes always searched for her tormentor every time she ventured out of her house or clinic. He did show up on a few occasions, flashing mischievous smiles at her in the bus stop but suddenly he stopped appearing before her. Surprisingly, Sujitha began to miss him.
Being a doctor, she had some theoretical knowledge about human psychology. Chandran perhaps epitomized the typical rural youth who seemed more vulnerable to erotic provocations. He belonged to a generation which had bountiful of temptations with very little outlets. Like most young guys, Chandran might have been more than curious to know and feel a woman for the first time. It never matters to them if a woman would be pleased to let her body be felt in the way most boys preferred to do. They had images of sexy women exposing their cleavages more than anything else and obviously they had resolved about women's breasts as the ultimate sex trigger.
"Sujitha!"
Sujitha regained her senses hearing her aunt calling her. She turned around and saw Prema, her aunt approaching her.
"What are you doing sitting in the dark?" Prema queried with genuine compassion. Sujitha wryly smiled at her without replying. She knew she wasn't really doing anything except rolling back her memories about something she couldn't forget all these days.
"My sweet Sujitha," Prema sat down close to her niece and sighed. "You shouldn't be thinking about the past. Be brave and try thinking ahead."
"I wish I can," Sujitha murmured with a hint of despondency creeping into her voice.
"Look Sujitha, if I were you, I won't be thinking about what he did. There is no point in living in the past. We need to come to terms with the present. We have to survive and succeed. Forget it and just concentrate on your practice."
"Thank you Aunt Prema," Sujitha spoke with moistening eyes. Aunt Prema has always remained her source of inspiration for all these years.
"Cheer up," Prema gave a gentle pat on Sujitha's shoulders. "Get ready. Your cousins are planning to go to some movie. Go along and enjoy yourself."
"No, Aunt Prema," Sujitha stood up and said. "I have to go through some reference books. I am not interested in going to any movie."
Sujitha did not observe a mild cloud of disappointment settling on her aunt's face. She obviously couldn't realize that her aunt kept following her nervously till she entered the small room which she used as her study.
"Sujitha, just a minute," Prema sounded extremely tentative. Sujitha turned around and suddenly realized that her aunt looked pale.
"Yes, you want to say something?" Sujitha asked somewhat perplexed. She wondered what made her aunt look so uncomfortable.
"Yes I do," Prema quickly replied and looked around the house once. "Let us get into the room. I need to tell you something."
Sujitha was almost pushed into the room by Prema who hastily closed the door. Sujitha began thinking that her aunt really had something serious to tell her.
"You are a grown up woman. I don't need to tell you a lot," Prema began with a prelude. "I can't tell my children something because they are still very young. You are a Doctor and I know you can approach things practically."
"I am anxious," Sujitha intervened. "Please tell me straight. What is your problem?"
Prema went into a shell for a few moments. A deadly silence engulfed the small room before she finally looked up and began to speak.
"I lost your uncle when I was very young," Prema spoke in a firm but composed voice. "You know what a woman misses in life in the absence of her husband. I am not a saint to miss those moments. I need to pep myself up all the time to keep me going. I have been feeling the need for a man to make me happy once in a while. I have finally found him and he is coming today."
Sujitha stood stunned like a statue. Mixed feelings started flowing through her mind although she realized that it was the surprise which was overwhelming. She never felt anything disgusting about the frank admissions of her aunt. There wasn't anything immoral or unethical to be discovering some ways to keep one's life worthwhile which otherwise could be leading to frustrations. Amazingly, Prema had the conviction to disclose her true feelings without hiding behind the curtains of inhibitions.
"Hmm, now I understand why you are so particular in sending me to the movie?" Sujitha asked with a mischievous smile.
"I am glad you did," Prema said with a gentle blush. "I hope you don't think that I am a sort of nymph. It is just that relief I need and let me tell you he doesn't come very frequently."
"That sounds interesting," Sujitha said keeping the smile intact on her face. "I guess you are holding your breath."
"I hope so," Prema replied with a glee. "Now, you have to promise me that you will never disclose this to anyone."
"I promise," Sujitha touched Prema's right hand affirmatively. "It will remain a secret."
"Thank you," Prema came forward and gently hugged her wonderful niece.
"But I am not going to the movie," Sujitha said categorically. Prema shook off from the hug and looked at her with surprise.
"I want to watch something much more interesting," Sujitha said with a wink. "I want to see you making love."
"No, you can't," Prema stammered. "I can't let you do that."
Now, it was Sujitha's turn to hug her aunt. She gently gave a kiss on her aunt's cheeks.
"Please! Aunt Prema," Sujitha pleaded. "I want to see it once. Just today."
"Oh, Sujitha," Prema trembled in the hug. "It sounds very odd."
"Please listen to me," Sujitha said and relieved her aunt from the hug. "You know I am going through a tough phase as well. I really want to know if a woman can really get excited when someone makes love to her with genuine passion. I am curious to know how man and woman please each other. I can't be trying things myself."
Sujitha was persistent and Prema couldn't refuse for long. After lot of persuasion and pleading, she finally got her way. Prema eventually agreed to let Sujitha have her way. Things began moving in quick motion since. Sujitha's cousin happily left the house to watch their favorite 'Mohanlal Movie'. Both the women kept their fingers crossed as they began awaiting the man. In fact, Sujitha's heart was beating much faster than her aunt.
Prema still looked in reasonably good shape although she was nearing 45. Of course, she had those darkening rings beneath her eyes and her breasts weren't looking firm. She preferred the traditional 'mundu', the creamy strip of cloth with just the little contrasting border alongside the length on either side. She always loved wearing dark blouses and milk white bras which complimented to her otherwise ageing looks. Her waist did showed a deep fleshy curve, a sign enough to caution about her impending obesity. But, she was always worth a look or two if not more.
Sujitha kept watching her aunt who was waiting for her 'lover' restlessly. Suddenly, her aunt stood up like an upright spring. Sujitha probed into the darkness in the direction where Prema was looking at. She could see a dimming light of a two-wheeler approaching their house. Excitement took over Sujitha as she hurriedly stepped back inside the house. Prema looked around and followed her niece who had rushed inside like a flash.