Debdas woke up early, the stuffy air and the early rays of the sun breaking his sleep. He took a moment to get his bearings. He got up and did his morning ablutions. Looking out into the garden, he saw Neerja aunty walking around the perimeter in her trainers and working up a sweat. As she neared the window, he scooted inside.
He went out into the living area. Uncle was sitting in the patio, sipping a mug of coffee.
"Good morning, Debdas," he said.
"Good morning, Uncle!"
"Come, join me," he said, offering him the day's newspaper.
Uncle poured out a cup of tea as Debdas took in the day's happenings. In between studying the pages, he glanced at Aunty walking briskly.
Despite their advanced years, Aunty and Uncle were sexually active. He knew that there was nothing wrong with it but Neerja aunty was as old as his mother, Sarmistha. Uncle was much older than his wife. Debdas could not imagine his mother making those sort of noises. He had never even seen her naked. I had been a few years since she had bathed him or seen him naked.
For Debdas, any comparison with a woman was limited to that with his mother. Neerja aunty was not as thin as his mother but she was not fat either. She had a solid, motherly fullness to her. Her belly was 'healthy' with a small bump over her lower abdomen. Her bottom was plump but not obscenely so. Her thighs were healthy. As she walked away from him, Debdas was mesmerized by the rhythmic lift and fall of one buttock and then the next. Her breasts were definitely bigger than his mother's and even under the tee shirt, he could see that it sagged a bit. Farhidha madam had shown the boys real pictures of nude women of varying ages and body types. She had highlighted the changes that a woman's body underwent with motherhood and aging. Neerja aunty looked nice, he thought, much nicer than some of the other mothers. He liked her kind eyes, her soft voice and the way she took care of him.
Her moans again crossed his thoughts and he quickly glanced at Uncle who was concentrating on his crossword puzzle. He felt ashamed of having such thoughts towards Aunty right in front of Uncle. At its most basic level, it was a betrayal of trust. In a way, it was good that their passion was still alive.
Aunty finished her walk and joined them, breathing hard, collecting herself. She was all sweaty, strands of hair falling on her face. She seemed happy despite her toils. There was a glow on her face.
"Good morning, Debdas!" she called cheerily.
"Good morning, Aunty" he replied.
"Dear, why don't you get me the milk now? Get an extra glass for Debdas too," 'she told her husband.
Soon they were drinking delicious, cold milk.
"Where do you get this from Aunty?" he asked.
"From a nearby household. I go for a walk outside every day, early in the morning. I'll show you if you come with me. I start very early, but," she warned.
Debdas was game to start walking with her. It was a worthwhile way of spending time. It would give him much needed exercise.
"I am going to clean up the garden," said Uncle, folding his newspaper. "Would you like to join me, son?"
"Sure, why not?" said Debdas. He was eager to help in any way he could.
"Dear," said Neerja aunty, "why don't you start a bit later. Have breakfast first. I'll make some French toast. Are you hungry Debdas?"
"No aunty. I'll wait. You can take your time."
Aunty and Uncle went back inside taking the cups and mugs. Debdas sat alone, enjoying the stillness of the placid morning. It was not a bad thing, him coming here at the urging of Samar.
He needed to take a bath before breakfast. As he went into the corridor, he heard the noises from last night again. He froze, heart beating fast. It was coming from the master bedroom, the same as last night. In the day, the sounds were better accentuated, the moans louder.
"Ah!Ah!Ah!"
Aunty's moans wafted into the corridor and Debdas stood rooted to the spot. Aunty and Uncle were going at it again, this time right in the morning. Just minutes before Aunty had been drinking milk with him, all sweaty from her morning walk. Now she was engaged in coitus.