I am Rupa, 27 years and married to Sam, who is 30 years. Sam is very loving and caring and very active on bed. We were married in March 2019. Sam is an engineer in reputed multinational company.
I am also in the same company and work in the advertisement section. In fact, I am the second in command of the advertisement cell of our company. My lady boss, Mrs. Nagpal is around 45 years and she is very decent so that in my four years of employment in the company under her, I never felt uncomfortable. Mrs. Nagpal treated me not as a subordinate but as a colleague. She showered motherly affection on me by offering me the delicious items she prepared at home. Soon exchanging of food between two of us became a regular affairs. She also showered equal motherly affections on Sam.
Mrs. Nagpal's husband, Mr. Suresh Nagpal was the VP (Production) of the same company and Sam was one of the 14 engineers who directly reported to him.
Usually, rank hierarchy matters much in the social intercourse among the employees of such companies. But due to the affectionate attitude of Mrs. Nagpal towards me and Sam, the barrier of official hierarchy broke down and we developed very cordial family terms with the Nagpals.
Mr. & Mrs. Nagpal has a son, who is working in Belgium. Last year, Mrs. Nagpal went to visit her son and it was at that time the lockdown was clamped in India and she got stranded abroad. As there was no certainty when lockdown would be eased, the company divested the full charge of advertisement section on me.
Sam had gone to Hyderabad during the same time with a team of engineers to look after the progress of major project. Their visit was actually for 4/5 days, but they too got stranded in Hyderabad due to clamping of lockdown.
I knew that Mr. Nagpal preferred homely food and always relished the items cooked by Mrs. Nagpal. So considering our family ties and the fact that she was not there, I used to bring meals for Mr. Nagpal in tiffin boxes quite often. He used to compliment me, "Beti, you're as much as good cook as your aunty (Mrs. Nagpal)."
To be frank, apart from official works, both Mrs. Nagpal and me were fond of cooking and experimenting new items. Since Sam was not at the station, Mr. Nagpal often told me to tell him if I need anything to be bought from the market. But I preferred to do it myself because I knew that however cordial our family terms might be, it was audacious to make a high level official like Mr. Nagpal to do marketing for me.
It was about a week later that Mr. Nagpal called me to his office. It was unusual for a production head to call the in-charge of advertisement section. Once I went to his room, he pointed out a major lapse of my section in respect of his production unit and scolded me left and right for the mistake, in front of two other officials. There was no indication in his reaction that we had cordial family terms and he was behaving like real tough boss. I knew he was professionally right and that personal relationship should not interfere in official matter, still I felt insulted and tears were in my eyes. I managed to admit my lapse and apologized for the mistake. My sobbing voice seemed to irritate him further and he roughly said, "Stop crying like a school girl and get the mistake corrected immediately."
I left his room humbly and instructed my colleagues to take steps to correct the lapse. In my mind, I decided never to bring meals for him nor talk to him unless it is an official need.
When the above incident took place, it was around 2.30 PM. Normally, our office closes at 6 PM. At 5.30, Mr. Nagpal rang me at my intercom. I responded in a serious formal tone, "Yes Sir?"
"Hope you have taken steps to correct the mistakes," said Mr. Nagpal, "I have also talked to the advertisers. They will withdraw it immediately and shall not charge for it. In return, in the next advertisement they will charge only 10% higher. So there will be no audit queries as to why the advertisement was withdrawn."
I knew he was trying to help me but I still felt insulted and angry and formally said, "Thank you, Sir."
"Now listen," said Mr. Nagpal, "It's the uncle speaking to Rupa. You are bringing me meals for so many days. So tonight I wish to host a dinner for two of us at our place. I will pick you up at 8 PM."
I was still angry at him and said courteously, "Sir, no need to host a dinner. I did nothing special by bringing the meals. It is just because aunty is not here, I shared a part of what I cooked for me. I gave no extra time and energy for it."
At the other end of the intercom I heard him chuckle, "Well, I can't cook like you or your aunty, otherwise I should have prepared the items myself. You will have to take meals to be prepared by a chef at our kitchen."
"Sir, please forgive," I replied as humbly as I could, "Let Sam and aunty come, you can host the dinner then. I have some works at home this evening and I'm not in the right mood today."
"I know," said Mr. Nagpal, "That's why I need to lift your mood. I also need to explain why I had to behave roughly at my office. Now remember, it is not the uncle but the boss asking you to attend the dinner."
I didn't like to continue arguing with him further and said, "Ok Sir, I will be ready at 8 o'clock."
Although I accepted his invitation, I decided that once at the dinner I will play gloomy and grave to show that I was not interested nor happy in the dinner.
I came home after office. I did not even dress properly that would have been fit for a dinner. Mr. Nagpal came at 7.45 to pick me up. I wished him a formal good evening and quite casually boarded the car. He was driving the car. So I took the seat beside the driving seat. On the way to his home, we hardly exchanged any word.
By the time we arrived at his home, the chef has prepared all the items. Mr. Nagpal took a look at everything and said to the chef, "Thank you for your service even in this lockdown. I can warm up the dishes, you better go now to avoid being harassed by security personnel on road."
He paid the chef his charges and the chef left. For a moment, I felt uncomfortable. Theirs was a big palatial house. It was not that I had not been to their place. But then either Mrs. Nagpal or Sam or both used to be there. That day only two of us were there - Mr. Nagpal and me. I didn't think of this earlier. I pretended to be more serious and reserved.
We were seated at the drawing room when Mr. Nagpal brought two glasses and a bottle of Frence Cognac. At family get together, it was not unusual for the four of us to drink. But in the absence of Mrs. Nagpal and Sam, I didn't like the idea. So I told him frankly that I won't drink. Mr. Nagpal said, "Ok, I don't insist. I just thought it might raise your damp mood. I hope you won't mind if I sip a little. If you wish you can enjoy the snacks or just for the sake of giving company can sip a bit."
He prepared two glasses, but left my glass on the table without insisting me to drink. He started sipping from his glass slowly as I sat serious faced just opposite to him. Then he spoke, "You see Rupa, I know I had been rough to you at office. It was not directly your fault but being the in-charge of the section, the responsibility is yours. Since your aunty is not in office, your workloads have increased. But remember whether it is you or my wife, the in-charge has to take the responsibility. Had it been your aunty, she too had been admonished by me like this."
I didn't say anything but sat passively listening to him. Mr. Nagpal started again, "About ten years back an officer of the section was sacked for similar lapse. I had to scold you in front of other two officials so that no wrong message of favouring you goes to them. I wanted to settle it at our level without going for disciplinary action. In that case, it would have gone to higher authorities and they could have taken drastic action against you. I too disliked the way I spoke to you, but I had to do it to keep the matter at my level."
As I listened, I understood the reason of his roughness. My previous angry attitude towards him started changing. I was feeling ashamed and said, "I'm sorry. I took it wrongly."
Mr. Nagpal smiled and said, "You may now take a bit of the drink to get relieved of the stress."
Drinking wine was not new. So I took the glass and started sipping. Mr. Nagpal mildly went on explaining the gravity and consequences of the mistake. The more he explained, more I felt ashamed for behaving insolently with him when he invited for the dinner. I stood up and went near him to sincerely regret my insolence. I was not sure if I had taken more than two pegs during the conversation. My legs stumbled and I almost fell on him.
I was not in my senses or I was in a state of trance. I couldn't recall when and how I and Mr. Nagpal shifted to the bed in one corner of the drawing room and when did his hands embrace me. I suddenly awakened to the situation when I saw Mr. Nagpal's face just near mine and he was about to kiss my lips. I screamed in shock, "Don't do this please. What we are doing is not right."
"Who decides what us right or wrong?" Mr. Nagpal asked sarcastically, "You fell on my lap showing your youthful treasures and you know how it could excite a man. Rupa, I have never seen a beauty like you and a glamourous body as yours. So I thought we might enjoy some intimate moments."
"Uncle please," I pleaded, "I am like your daughter. You often address me as beti (daughter). We should not do this."