“Cowards
like you will make such a choice. I am not the one to be intimidated like
that.” Arjun replied.
“What
did you do then Arjun?” Uncle asked. His face still had a look of disbelief.
“I
started to engage him in conversation. I felt that I should not make him defensive
or worried. On the other side he was trying convince, rather seduce me“ Arjun
started his play acting.
“Arjun,
why are you worried? Let us just have some fun. If you don’t want to go to the
beach we will go to my farm house. There is no body there” D’Souza was trying
to convince Arjun
“D’Souza
uncle. It is not that I am worried. It is just that this is not my taste or my
preference. I am not making judgements about right or wrong or about your
character. “ Arjun replied
“
But Arjun, you don’t have to do anything. I will do everything for you. When we
are back from my farm house, I will let you drive this car. In fact any time
you want have a spin on this car, you have the freedom to ask me”
“D’Souza
was trying to entice. He even tried to reach across and feel my thighs. I kept
my duffel bag in my lap and moved away” Arjun continued
“Uncle,
I don’t drive any way. I have heard that you enjoy all kinds of fun. That is
your life and your preference. It is just that what you suggest is not my cup
of coffee. I am not making a big issue of what you suggest to me. Neither will
I go around telling this to anybody. Just like you are a non-smoker I am not a
homo-sexual. You made an offer and I declined it that is all.” Arjun proceeded
with his play acting.
“Uncle
I heard that your club won the national boxing championship” Arjun changed
subject to distract the attention
“Oh
God this is scary” Fernando Uncle remarked
“Of
course, I was shit scared. I veered the conversation to other subjects, especially
about his boxing. I made my resolve clear. At the same time I also made clear
that I am not going to be a threat to his reputation. I made joke about the
stories that I have heard about his escapades. I talked in a tone of friendship
and not that of a scared lamb. He gradually realised that I was not going to
play ball. Further he realised that I am not even giving him the perverted
satisfaction of overwhelming an innocent pray. As I was not even trying to protest or make
threats that I would tell others, I managed not to rouse his defensive
behaviour or his animal instinct of overpowering a pray. Eventually his heat
subsided. But I had to talk non-stop for more than half an hour”
“Ok
Arjun. You are a spoil sport. I will drop you home” D’ Souza Uncle replied
despondently.
“Ok
that makes sense. Next time when you get horny don’t waste your time on me. You
are better off with David” Arjun replied in a joking manner
“He
turned the car towards my house. I continued talking to him and narrating
stories. I wanted make sure he does not get further ideas” Arjun continued
“You
are behaving like a saint and you talk like of these priests in the church. Now
onwards I am going to call you Archbishop” D’Souza replied in jest. He realized
that Arjun was not going to be threat to him
“Who
is this David” Chandy Asked
“Oh
he was a regular at the pool and a confirmed homo”
“I
am impressed by how you managed to control this beast on heat. But I have not
yet got the connection of Mrs Chandrasekhar or Ramya”
“I
am coming to it. As I told you, Ramya and her brother Rajesh used to come to
the pool on and off. They always came with their mother. We kids used to play
together. D’Souza uncle was their family friend. He even used to discipline all
of us kids to ensure that we do some serious swimming first and only then go and
play. “
“It
was a Saturday. I was already at the pool. Then I saw Ramya and Rajesh coming in
with D’Souza uncle. When they jumped into the pool I asked” Ramya
“Where
is your mom?”
“Oh
she could not come today. Uncle D’Souza offered to bring us and drop us back”
“Come
on guys. No playing around till all of you complete 10 laps” D’Souza uncle
rounded us up.
“We
obediently went about doing our laps. D’Souza uncle kept pace with us. As we
finished 10 laps I moved away for some diving practice. Then I saw Uncle and
Ramya at the far end of the pool. I realized what he was up to. Then I thought ‘What
I am to do about it. If she likes to have fun like this it is her problem. If
she did not like it she could just move away. There are lots of people in the
pool’”
‘”But
I was not feeling comfortable. I moved near to them and I realized that Ramya
was upset. When I reached near Uncle turned towards me and told”
“Arjun
Ramya seems to be upset. Just talk to her. You are good at storytelling and
that will cheer her”
“You
give me enough opportunities to tell stories” I replied mockingly.
“Don’t
act too smart. Just settle her” he wanted an ally to control the situation
“Come
Ramya, I will teach you diving” I caught her hand and moved over to the shallower region
“What
happened Ramya, why are you upset?”
“D’Souza
uncle is a bad man. He was trying to feel all over me. I am so upset.”
“Why
did you not move away?”
“I
was so confused and taken aback”
“Ramya,
D’Souza uncle is like this. He is infamous in the pool for such behaviour. He
is what we call a paedophile. He does not care if it is a boy or girl young or
old. He is a compulsive sex maniac. The only think you can do next time when
you come to pool is to make sure that you are not alone with him” I tried to
comfort her
“I
told her what happened to me. She was taken aback. We stood at the side of the
pool in the shallow end till the closing time. We talked about lots of things;
about our school, studies, what we plan to do after school and so on. She clung onto my hand. I felt very
protective about her like a little sister. I promised that I will be there to
protect her when she comes to the pool. We felt very close”
“How
sweet! Then what happened” Chandi asked
“Next
week when we came to the pool we heard the news that Mr Chandrasekhar died.
Apparently it was an un-natural death. The family moved back to the town from
where their father hailed from. I felt miserable”
“Ah
I remember Chandru’s death. It was a tragedy. The whole life just turned
topsy-turvy for the family.” Uncle butted in
“Did
you never meet her after that?” Chandy asked
