AN ACT OF LOVE
(In Memory of Riya Sharma Nampoothiri)
- Tapan Kumar Pradhan (India)
Mrs and Mr Namboori have been at it
since twenty years;
he on the wrong side of forty, she on
the right, still pretty,
though past prime - as for him, age not
a factor for a man
despite the balding pate, paunch in
waist, delay in erection,
it never dampened the love part a bit,
rather it just freed
one of the obsession with the latex,
the pills and calendar.
So it starts with a quick smooch on the cheeks – aw, how dry
and rough the
skin’s become – so smooth just a decade ago,
like Valsa’s – new office secretary, always in minis, all thighs,
all of twenty-two years, joined last
week only, and see old baldie
calling her to cabin ten times a day – bloody scumbag ! rascal
will promote her in six months as Personal
Manager. Just see,
bastard’s denying me promotion since seven years, Seven Years!
His blood boils, as he runs his fingers
through the tangled hairs,
sticky with oil
and sweat - Aw, how soft and silky were Pinkie’s,
light and brown -
His name was linked to Pinkie’s, whole college knew
Pinkie knew it too! But ahh, just he
could never express his feelings –
She married that fat lawyer, still she attends all parties,
still as fresh
as in college, Think! She could’ve been
all his! Ah, destiny, Destiny
His
heart beats faster,
and faster, as he bites
her, claws her, kneads
her
strangles her – all his yellow black angry biles he sprays onto her.
She also knows a thing or two about
love, though she never tried
those DVDs - she felt so disgusting
when Namboori showed her
those
picture books, when
they failed to do it even after six months
(then it happened suddenly, never stopped since) – she always
kept
things
simple, never liked to be on top, always
allowed him to take
Full control. And so every night the
story gets repeated – Ohh don’t
be naughty now, you oldie, your hairs
are all turning white. Today
milk maid came late, Minoo’s on long
leave, who’ll do the washing
and cleaning, Somu had fever, nah
didn’t go to school – Ranu’s
periods are delayed again, she had a
bad temper, should get her
married off at earliest. Savitri again
fought with neighbours, shame
matter gone to court. When are you
buying me that diamond earring,
you cheat, you’ve been promising for
last fifteen years... Ouch! aah,
don’t touch me there, you brute! It’s
hurting, swollen since last night,
you…ugly, why don’t you shave yourself
before you touch me, you...
*** *** ***
Oh…Aaah, it is drizzling outside – you
can see
the lightning before the thunder
strikes – umooooh!
The first time it was like an earth quake, oh me
Now it’s more like little tremors here and there
Oh my…, one does get
used to it…ummhh, oh!