"Don't worry, she won't mind," Deb had told Rishi, lifting the suitcase with one hand. He looked around for a rickshaw and waved one passing by.
Rishi was nervous about meeting Deb's mother. His own parents had gone for a pilgrimage, leaving him alone in the educational institution. He had the option of staying back in the hostel and catching up on his lessons but as there were no friends staying back, the impending loneliness filled him with a sense of dread.
Deb had offered an invitation to his home for the vacations. He lived a few towns over. In fact, his mother had taught them as an educator in their childhood when they were in school together. He remembered her as a tall, thin woman with her hair wrapped in a tight bun. She would be immaculately dressed in a saree. She had been liberal with the ruler, spanking many a boy on his backside. Those days, Deb and his mother had stayed in a rented apartment near school.
Deb had been persuasive. So they bought tickets and got on a crowded bus early one morning, jostling amongst the peasants who were on their way back from the town with big bundles on their heads. By late afternoon bus dropped them under a dim streetlamp, all sweaty and dusty with aching bones.
Deb directed the rickshaw wala own a few winding lanes. The town was a small one, the dirt roads on the outskirts were lined with a jumble of huts. Gradually towards the interior, the old residential buildings and standalone houses began to appear. Most of the buildings were two or three storied, their sides discolored by time and nature. The lanes here were paved and scooters and autos dotted the junctions. A few cars were also parked on the road, besides the open drains.
The rickshaw stopped in front of a drab, gray coloured four storied building. One half of the gate was open. A dirty drain ran along the boundary wall and stray dogs were fighting over a garbage dump. There were no elevators. Deb helped him carry his bags to the top most floor. A door lead out onto the terrace and Rishi could see clothes drying on ropes and tanks of water. There was only one flat on that floor.
Before Deb could knock, the door opened.
Sharmishtha aunty stood there, hands clasped. She was wearing an apron over her salwar kameez.
"Come in, come in! I was just making Deb's favourite fish curry."
She seemed genuinely happy to see him. Deb did not have many friends and he had never brought anyone back home before.
Their flat was small but cozy. It was not teeming with opulence but it was home. The drawing room had a small TV set with a sofa facing it. A couple of chairs and a coffee table made up the tableau. The glass display cases held Deb's awards and medals and a there were a few pictures of Deb winning prizes as well.
The sofa was the de facto border between the drawing room and the dining room. There was a thick wooden table surrounded by eight dining chairs. More than half the area of the table was covered by books, workbooks, pens, scales and notebooks. A bookshelf in the corner was full to the brim with tomes.
"I apologize for the mess. My students have just started their vacations."
"Mother takes tuitions for the neighbourhood kids," Deb explained.
"Your house looks beautiful, aunty," said Rishi.
He had heard Deb talk about his mother's struggles. She had often worked long hours in the school, taking extra classes and then taught classes at home. Her drawing room and dining table doubled as a classroom during the evenings and nights. She had been asked to tutor a lot of the children in the neighborhood flats and houses and she was a well-respected educator in the area.
The dining area led to a small tiny kitchen which appeared clean and organized. The dining area also led to the two small bedrooms. One was occupied by Deb. There was a large steel almirah in one corner. On his table sat an old desk top computer.
Sharmishtha aunty's bedroom was slightly larger. The bed was larger and was topped by fluffy pillows. Her room also had an almirah and a work table that bore even more books and exam notes. It also had the only bathroom in the house.
The balcony had a few potted plants and some small bonsais. The kitchen balcony held another collection of larger flowering plants. It seemed that this was the one thing she had allowed herself to indulge in. Rishi had heard Deb often talk about the sacrifices his mother had made to educate him.
After the tour of the house Sharmishtha aunty insisted that they wash up and sit for dinner.
"Deb is always famished after these long journeys by bus. I hope you like paneer curry, Rishi beta. I made that for you," she said.
Sharmishtha seemed to have not aged one iota since the last time they had crossed paths. She looked the same but now instead of the severe expression that she had borne, she was all smiles. Rishi recalled, with some guilt, how some of the more immature boys had made ungallant comments about her physical appearance especially after being in the receiving end of her scoldings and punishments. They had been particularly cruel when describing the small size of her buttocks and breasts.
After the delicious dinner, she poured them buttermilk and started opening Deb's bags to collect the dirty laundry. When she started on Rishi's bags, he felt he ought to protest.
"Nonsense, beta," she said, "I will put it all in the washing machine.
He reddened with shame as she pulled out his hamper of used underwear.
"Ma, I will take a bath now. Is the water heated?" asked Deb.
"Deb," admonished Sharmishtha aunty, "You should allow your guest to bathe first."
"It's alright aunty. I can go later," said Rishi.
"See? He is fine with it," said Deb unbuttoning his shirt.
As he watched uncomfortably, Deb got naked. Rishi had been used to educators supervising them during pond bathes or group showers in the communal bathing areas but never had he seen a son nude in front of his lady mother. Rishi glanced at his crotch before quickly looking away. Deb's nunu was flaccid and thin and as fair as the rest of his body. His small scrotum was scrunched up and hairless. He took a towel and a bar of soap and marched to his mother's bedroom to bathe.
Rishi stood uncertainly as Sharmishtha aunty finished making a pile of his and Deb's dirty clothes. He had become aroused at witnessing Deb's nudity. He was not attracted to boys but seeing his friend nude in front of his mother had stimulated him.
"Beta, you rest for a while. Deb will take some time to finish."
After Deb had finished, he walked back to his room naked and started toweling himself. Rishi realized that he had not packed a towel for himself. Deb assured him that he would bring a dry towel once Rishi had finished bathing.
He went into the bathroom and closed the door and disrobed. The bucket filled with hot water with the steam rising. There was a knock
"Beta, please open the door," said Sharmishtha aunty.
Nervously, he grabbed his pant and covered his front with it as he opened the door and stood behind it for cover. Sharmishtha aunty walked in with a bundle of clothes and a large tub to wash them in.
"Beta, I have to wash these clothes so that I can put them up on the terrace. They will dry quickly in the night."
Rishi was non plussed.
Seeing his confusion, aunty explained, "I will wash clothes here while you take your bath over there," she said, pointing to the other end of the bathroom.
Rishi's tight grip on the clothes protecting his modesty refused to weaken.
"Rishi beta, don't be ashamed. I won't look, I promise," assured aunty.
Rishi was trembling with shame as he walked back to the bucket, careful to keep his backside turned towards her. Taking a deep breath, he started pouring water on himself. He then started soaping his body. Aunty got busy with washing clothes. As he soaped his privates, he could feel his arousal growing. Sharmishtha aunty's proximity was becoming intolerable. He soaped his bottom and took time washing off the grime off of his back, so nervous was he.
"Beta, why don't you give me the clothes you just took off," Sharmishtha aunty said.
Rishi froze. Clutching the mug in his hands, he covered his privates. He took the dirty clothes from the steel bar and handed it over. She was washing the clothes, sitting on a small stool and facing him. Had she been watching him all this while?
As she reached for his clothes, Sharmishtha aunty's eyes darted down for a moment. He turned around to conceal his sin and continued bating. Soon, the sounds of clothes being inundated in the tub, splashed, struck and scrubbed with soap reached his ears.
When he had finished his bath, he waited, hoping that aunty would finish and he could slip away but no such luck. He had to shuffle past her, keeping his hands in front of his privates. Luckily, Deb had switched off the lights and already fast asleep. Rishi could not imagine what would have happened had his friend seen his erection.
Rishi got up in the small hours of the night. He had to relieve himself. He also had a morning wood. It was slightly embarrassing for him, getting one in his friend's bed while sleeping beside him. He made his way to Sharmishtha aunty's bedroom.
He pushed open the door slightly. Aunty was sleeping with her back to him. She was in a white nighty. The balcony door was open and let in a cool breeze. He tiptoed into the bathroom. Inside, he struggled to get a stream going because of his erection. The bathroom was tiny. Sharmishtha aunty's underwear was hung on the pegs of the bathroom door, further distracting him. He managed to do his job and pushed the erection inside his underwear. After closing her bedroom door softly behind him, he slipped into Deb's bed.
