Wild Wild Widow
Chapter 1: The Invitation.
Shobha sat on the edge of the bed, with a faint smile and wet eyes. A teardrops from her eyes fell on the photo frame of her husband Kishor on her lap. She was staring into nothing, but the waves of thoughts were colliding in her head. She was reminiscing about all the thirty years that they have spent together. Every movement of love, hate, especially of promises that they have made to each other. The promise of growing old together.
But nothing matters as of now, it had been a week since Kishors's passing, yet the grief hung in the house like a thick, oppressive mist. Surbhi stood by the doorframe, clutching the edge of her dupatta as she watched Shobha sicken with sorrow. The dim light from the single lamp flickered, poorly lit the room, but Surbhi's eyes were drawn only to one thing--Shobha draped in white
.
It clung to her full, motherly curves, falling effortlessly over the swell of her bosom, dipping at the small of her waist before pooling around her wide, inviting hips. The thin fabric stretched over her thighs, translucent in places where the light hit just right, revealing hints of skin underneath.
Manav, put his hand on Surbhi's shoulder as she was watching grief ridden Shobha. His face concerned, his gaze flickered toward his mother and back to Surbhi. With sad voice he said
"We will have to leave tomorrow for Bangalore, got a call from the office."
Surbhi, not wanting to disturb Shobha, pulls Manav into the courtyard.
"How can we leave tomorrow? It's just been a week since your father died, and your mother still hasn't recovered."
Manav moved his hand through his hair. "I know, but it's urgent." He put his both hands on Surbhi's shoulders "I know Aai still hasn't recovered, but anyways I can't help her much."
Surbhi is surprised by the apathy shown by Manav. But something is more concerning her at this point.
"But we can't leave Aai alone here...." Manva first confused, as if he wasn't expecting something from Surbhi's mouth.
"What's the problem, I mean, she is leaving here after a long time, she can manage." Manav was so casual about it.
Surbhi kept staring at him, as if she was confused, should she get angry over apathy of him towards his mother or should pity him for his oblivion. Surbhi being bold and outwardly, leaving in the men's world she learnt about the men's gaze. At 50, Shobha was still beautiful--too beautiful, some said, for a widow. Her curvaceous figure, once cherished by her husband, now drew lingering gazes from men around the village. She had noticed them before, the way their eyes trailed over her body, the way their words dripped with hidden intentions.
Surbhi bit her lip, hesitating. She had sensed the shift in the way men looked at Shobha since her husband's passing. The village was no place for a woman like her--alone, unprotected, and still in the prime of her beauty.
"Manav..." she began cautiously, "why don't we take Aai with us to Bangalore?"
He frowned. "Take Aai with us? But she won't agree. This is her home, and she's still mourning."
"I know," Surbhi said gently. "But this place... it's not safe for her. People here talk, they look at her in ways they shouldn't. And she--" she hesitated, lowering her voice, "she needs a fresh start. She needs us."
Manav sighed, rubbing his forehead. "I just don't know if she'll agree."
"Then we have to make her agree," Surbhi insisted. "For her own good."
Inside, Shobha remained lost in her thoughts, unaware that her life was about to change in ways she never imagined...
Manav didn't mind this, as he felt it as a win-win situation, He didn't think about it much. "Okay let's take Aai to Bangalore. Anyway, what's she going to do by herself."
Surbhi felt some unknown happiness inside her, she tightly hugged Manav as if he had fulfilled her desperate wish.
"Lets go and talk to Aai now" Manav hugged Surbhi back.
Both when they reached the door of Shobha's room, she was still in the same position as when they last saw her. They slowly approached her. Sensing her son and daughter in law coming towards her, she quickly hid Kishor's photo under the pillow, she wiped her tears and put a smile on her face.
Surbhi and Manav looked at each other when they stood in front of Shobha. Hesitantly Surbhi said
"Aai, Manav have to go to Bangalore tomorrow, and we are thinking, you should come with us"
"But bhau, how can I come, this is my house. I have lots of memories with Kishore in this house, how can I leave this."
"See, I told you." Manav spontaneously said. Surbhi looks with disappointment towards him, which he realizes quickly.
Surbhi sat on her knees near Shobha's feet, she held her hand, where she could sense the smoothness of her palm. "Aai, Papaji is in your heart, you don't need to stay here alone by yourself."
Manav continued, and with some authority in his voice he said "Yes Aai, you are coming with us and that is final."
Shobha sat in silence, her hands folded in her lap, staring at the floor. The weight of the past week had drained her of all resistance. She was too tired to protest, too weary to argue against Manav and Surbhi's insistence.
So, with nothing more than a soft, almost imperceptible nod, she gave in. Surbhi's eyes sparked, she put her head in Shobha's lap feeling her warmth, and softness of her thigh through the thin fabric of her white sari.
Chapter 2: Morning Glances
The unfamiliar noise of Bangalore traffic filtered through the apartment's windows woke up Shobha. Yesterday's long travel's exhaustion overpowered her grief, making her sleep deep for the first time since Kishor passed away. She sat up, adjusting the pallu of her saree over her shoulder, and glanced around the quiet apartment.
She glanced through ajar door of Manav's bedroom that made his absence obvious. He must have left for work early.
She stepped into the living room, saw Surbhi.
Surbhi stretched her body into a deep yoga pose, her arms raised above her head, her spine arching gracefully.
She was wearing a hot pink sports bra and matching leggings, the fabric hugging every inch of her toned, youthful body. Her curves, her firm stomach, the gentle thickness of her hips--it was all on display, unapologetic and breathtaking.
Shobha froze, her throat suddenly dry. As she never imagined her daughter in law, whom she saw in traditional attire all the time. She instinctively looked away, feeling embarrassed and thought to herself "What is she wearing."
But she is unable to stop her gaze from lingering over Surbhi's toned body, noticing how confident and beautiful Surbhi looks, and how effortlessly she moves in those tight clothes. She wondered to herself if this is today's fashion. Does Surbhi wear this to her office also? Her mind was flooded with questions and curiosity that kept her gazing at Surbhi's body as she was stretching it in different poses.
Then, suddenly, Surbhi turned, catching Shobha's gaze.
Shobha gasped and quickly looked away, heart pounding.
"Oh! Aai, good morning!" Surbhi grinned, reaching for a towel to dab the sweat off her chest. "I didn't wake you, did I?"
Shobha shook her head, keeping her eyes downcast. "N-no. I just woke up."
Surbhi walked toward her, still glowing from her workout, still wearing too little, revealing too much.
