Scattered Fates by Ram Garikipati (ebook reader ink TXT) 📖

a Pyongyang Circus clown.’

‘You mean the bright colors? You won't believe it, but Rajanikanth is considered a style icon here. He can pull off any dress, and his style immediately becomes a national sensation.’

‘He reminds me of Yeong-gu,’ she chuckled.

Yeong-gu was a hugely popular slapstick comedy character in Korean cinema, modeled on the lines of Charlie Chaplin.

‘Is he a popular actor?’

‘Yes, the best comedian we have.’

‘Rajanikanth is not a comedian. Remember that dark fellow in the movie who was afraid of ghosts? He is the comedian.’

‘Most people in the movie were dark. Anyway, I found Rajanikanth more funny.’

‘What do you know? I saw you dozing many times,’ he replied slightly annoyed.

‘Anyone will fall asleep with so many songs.’

‘That is the last Tamil movie I am taking you to. I thought it would help you understand the importance of movies, the hysteria they generate and the reason why so many actors become politicians.’

‘What do you mean? Hysteria, I saw. The reason they become politicians, I did not.’

‘Many of the actors have used movies to build up a reputation and then dived into politics on the strength of the goodwill.This hysteria is linked to their success as politicians. As I told you before, our four Presidents were extremely popular in South India; MGR in Tamil Nadu, NTR in Andhra Pradesh, Raajkumar in Karnataka and now Jayalalitha again from Tamil Nadu. They all acted in roles that helped them in their political careers later. They convinced people that their political values mirrored their film roles.’

‘What about Kerala?’

‘There was one popular actor from Kerala, Prem Nazir, who tried to join politics, but failed. Malayalam movies are not as popular as Tamil, Telugu or Kannada, so he did not have a nation-wide appeal.’

‘Rajanikanth has a nationwide appeal with that silly style?’

‘Sure, he will be our next President.’

‘From todays movie, I gather that he is just an action hero who fights, sings and dances in clown clothes. How will that help his political career? Don't tell me he will wear those clothes while in office.’

‘Unlike the other actors before him, he does not try to portray the image of a sinless God fearing man. So there are no ideological hang-ups, but he gives inspiration to the people. There are more than 200,000 fan clubs that engage in numerous social activities. The people love him for his humility.’

‘This would never happen anywhere else in the world,’ she retorted still confused.

‘I am feeling hungry. Where do we go now?’

‘I am sorry, I forgot about your early dinnertime. Why don't we order in? Chinese?’

‘Sure, I am in no mood to go to a restaurant now, the movie just killed my patience, just hope this traffic gets better.’

#

‘Do you want a drink? It will take time for the food to be delivered,’ Naga asked Maya as she emerged from her room wearing a tight blue top and short skirt. He had changed into an old T-shirt and shorts.

‘Yes, I could do with a scotch.’

She looks lovely in that skirt.

‘Exactly what I want,’ he said unscrewing a fresh bottle of Glenmorangie, his favorite single malt, while stealing a glance at her soft shapely legs. She had folded her left right under the right and he caught a glimpse of her red panty.

‘By the way, what happened to your roommate? I always meant to ask you but forgot. You said he would be back soon.’

‘Sunder? He will back on Thursday. You can meet him before we leave for Hyderabad,’ he replied trying his best to avoid staring at her legs.

‘What does he do?’

‘He teaches International Relations at Madras University.’

‘University? If he was here, he could have dug out more dirt on Professor Ganapathy.’

‘I know. I called him on his mobile, but he was not of much help. He said he needs to be on campus to fish out the details.’

‘Where is he now?’

‘He is in Colombo, attending a close friends’ wedding. Let me show you his photograph, it should be in my album,’ he said, walking towards the bookshelf. ‘Here he is.’

‘He looks quite old and different from the other Dravidians,’ she said looking at a fair man with a balding face sprinkled with a smattering of grey hair, sharp nose and steady jawline.

‘Yes, he is five years older than me, his family defected from Hindustan.’

‘From Hindustan?’

‘His grandfather sheltered a few Muslims during the communal riots, was prosecuted and must be languishing in one of the prison camps. His father defected fearing harassment.’

‘When was that?’

‘In 1975, the same year that my father disappeared.’

‘What do his parents do here?’

‘They are well off. At first they struggled to adapt, and there was a lot of discrimination, but now everyone accepts them; they own a restaurant serving Hindustani food in the city,’ he said, ‘Do you want ice or soda?’

‘Two cubes please. Can I meet them?’

‘I thought of that. We will wait for Sunder to return, as it will be more appropriate. Let me mark it on the calendar, July 23rd should be good for me, it is a Friday and I can get off early.’

‘What is the date today?’

‘Today is the 20th, it is nine days since you arrived here.’

‘Is it the 20th already? How could I forget?’

‘Forget what?’

‘Nothing...’ Maya said, as tears welled up in her eyes and she gulped down her scotch in one go. ‘Can I have more please? I prefer it neat.’

‘Maya, something wrong?’ he asked, refilling her glass.

She remained silent, and drank it in one go again. This time, tears rolled down her cheeks.

‘Is it something I said?’ he muttered, handing her a tissue.

‘I am such a horrible mother!’ she said sobbing uncontrollably, extending her glass for more scotch.

Puzzled, Naga topped her glass and emptied his own.

Did she just say mother?

The doorbell buzzed, and he got up.

‘Must be our food. I will be right back.’

He glanced back while walking towards the front door. She was sobbing uncontrollably now, and sniffing into the tissue. A part of him felt angry that she had hidden her marriage and child from him.

I am being used, just as I feared.

He returned with the food packets in hand, and noticed her holding her head down in her palms. He placed the food on the kitchen counter and hurried to her side. He couldn't control himself despite the negative currents in his mind.

‘Maya, is everything alright?’ he asked softly, yet shaking slightly at her betrayal.

‘No it is not,’ she replied sniffing back her tears, ‘How could I forget my son's birthday?’

‘How old is he?’ he asked hesitatingly.

‘Three years today.’

‘Do you want to speak to him now?’

‘It is too late. I promised to call in the morning. He would have been waiting at our neighbors house, my parents do not have a telephone at home.’

‘What about his father?’

‘I don't know.’

What do you mean you don't know?

‘We can call your neighbors, it is only ten.’

‘No, it will be late, I will try tomorrow morning.’

‘You never told me you were married,’ he muttered, sipping on his scotch, anxious to find out more about her marital status.

‘That's because I am not married, we separated two years ago, right after Dong-min was born. He was a jerk, even refusing to provide child support, I am glad he disappeared from my life.’

‘Do you have a photograph of your son?’

‘Yes, it is lying on my dressing table. Can you please get it for me?’ she requested, pouring another stiff drink. Her face was now flushed red.

Naga got up and walked towards her room. He still had a lot of questions to ask, and his mind was spinning. It was certainly not the scotch.

He gently opened the door to her room, and switched on the lights. It had been nine days, and he never attempted to peek in, respecting her privacy.

The room still retained her peach aroma, the smell that he longed for. It was a bit disorganized, the bed was unmade and the covers were bunched together, with a few books and articles scattered on top. Her used clothes lay in a pile on the floor near the bathroom door.

He eyed her folded undergarments on the clothes rack, and something stirred inside him. He had half a mind to pick up her bra, but resisted.

Spotting the framed photograph on her dressing table, he picked it up and hurried out, covering his guilt with a shy smile.

‘He looks cute. So his name is Dong-min Choi?

‘No. Park Dong-min. In Corea, the child takes the father's family name, while the wife retains her maiden name,’ she said caressing the photo and staring at her son lovingly. Tears once again began to force their way out.

Naga put his arm around her, ‘I know how you feel. You must really miss him.’

‘Poor boy must be so lonely. I hated to leave him back. I am so selfish for leaving my baby alone...’ she said, crying loudly and hugging him tightly. ‘Thank you Naga...thank you for your support.’

He felt her breath on his neck the sweet peach smell now grew stronger as her smooth hair caressed his cheeks. His shoulder felt damp as she continued sobbing and trembling, holding him tightly.

‘He must be all right. Don't worry, you can speak to him tomorrow’ he said, unable to control his feelings, as a tear dropped out of his left eye. As it splattered on her forehead, she looked up, and in one swift move pushed her mouth to his. Although taken aback, he couldn't let go of this opportunity and gently sucked on her rosy lips. Their tongues interlocked, his right hand caressed her back, while the left supported her face.

Feeling salty tears on his mouth, he gently licked it clean with his tongue, all the way to her eyelids, before kissing them. Her mouth now moved towards his right earlobe, which she felt with her wet tongue, before giving it a sharp bite. He hardly felt the pain, as his left hand pushed its ways into her skirt and she moaned. It only made him more excited.

With passions on both sides running high, he shifted his position gently, making her lie on her back as he straddled her.

Her mouth still slurping at his, her hands furiously ripped off the buttons on his shirt. With his left hand, he managed to unhook her bra and pulled the top over her shoulder. It was too tight to proceed further. He tried pulling it harder, but her soft wonderful mounds with pink stiff nipples standing erect, mischievously winked. She pushed his head down while her right hand wiggled inside his shorts.

His was still inside her, having managed to slip through the stubborn panty elastic. It kept advancing, like a snake in the grass hunting for its prey, until it touched the soft flesh, dripping with anticipation.However, his clumsy maneuver upset their balance and they rolled down from the sofa onto the floor, with a small thud, hearts thumping wildly.

Luckily for her, she fell on top. They froze for a millisecond, and then continued their game, tugging wildly at what was remaining of their clothes.She aided him, by pulling down her skirt, with her toe. Their naked bodies burned in lust, as they smothered each with more kisses and soft bites. This was the moment. Their juices were now ready to splurge and mix in harmony. Protection was the last thing on their minds.

 

 

Chapter 12: THE PLOT THICKENS

Thud! Thud! Thud! Thud!

Moon woke up with a start. Someone was banging on the front door, shouting something in Tamil. He looked at his watch, it was seven already and the sunlight was streaming through the window bars forming the pattern of a prison grill on the floor.

Thud! Thud! Thud! Thud!

Why is Professor Subbaiah not answering the door?

He painfully got up and tightened the knot of his lungi.

Although Subbaiah had brought his luggage from the hostel, Moon felt comfortable wearing the lungi. It provided for great ventilation in the hot and humid weather. The only irritant was the constant need to tighten the knot so that it did not slip away.

He limped to