Scintillating Time With Neighbor’s Sister-in-law

This happened in 1996 when I enjoyed a woman living next to my flat.

I am married and me and my wife are residing in a flat in an apartments complex.

Here totally 21 flats are there in two buildings. I have taken a double room

flat and in my floor there are two other flats. One flat was owned by a couple

both of whom were Doctors and their children were away. (Now they have sold the

flat and gone away). The Doctor couple would be seldom found in their house and

only one old lady (his aunty) used to be found there.

The other flat next to me is owned by one person who is employed in a plywood

company. His name is Santhanam. He is living with his wife Gomathy and three

children. His two sons and one daughter were all studying in school then. Their

family became very friendly to us. My wife and his wife will meet many times a

day and gossip. On weekends I will play cards with him. On a few occasions I

have shared drinks also with him.

In my house me and my wife were there with one daughter of 3 years. When I go to

office my wife will be alone with the kid. So she will go and spend her time

with the next door aunty. Their children will come and play with my kid daughter

or she will go and remain there. Further my wife did not know much about cooking

and so the aunty will guide her in preparing many dishes especially pickles and

other snacks. They would move with each other very closely and the other people

will think they are sisters. Further when my wife became pregnant for second

time she will seek the advice of aunty in each and every matter.

In due time my wife went to her parents for giving delivery and my small girl

also went with her. I was living alone. It was not possible for my mother to

come and stay with me. As I knew some cooking I managed with it and was living

alone. It was not very difficult for me, but many times the neighbor aunty will

ask me to prepare rice only and she will provide side dishes to me. On some

occasions I had my food in their house also though I would avoid it to my best

as I did not want to trouble aunty.

One day Santhanam had to go to his native place because his father expired. As

he was short of cash I loaned him some amount. They all left to his native place

and while going they told me that they will be away for 15 days and requested me

to keep a watch on their house.

After some five days, when I returned in the evening at about 6.30 PM I found

lights were put on in their flat, TV playing sound was coming and also there was

some movement inside. So immediately I pressed the calling bell and the door

opened. I found there a woman of some 30 years. She was lean, dark complexioned

and wearing a simple sari. She blinked at me in confusion. I asked her who she

was. It appeared that she did not like my question and she frowned at me with a

look of distaste. Then in a very loud and rude tone she asked me “who are you

and why are you asking about me?”.

I had not expected such crude retort from her. I felt very much insulted and

became angry. I said “madam — give respect and be polite when you talk”.

She replied even more angrily “why should I be polite? — you are unknown person

— not only you ring the doorbell and trouble me — you also want respect — what

should I do? — should I do Bharata Natya Dance before you?”.

I was taken aback by her tone and manners. Then I told her ” madam – I occupy

the next flat. I am a friend of Mr. Santhanam. While going to his place he told

me that for 15 days his family will not return and I should take care of the

house. So I am surprised because the house is open and that is why I am

enquiring — please don’t mistake me”.

She immediately became soft and told me “I am very sorry I was rude to you-

please forgive me — I am his sister-in-law and I have come here to take care of

the children”. I was surprised and so I asked her “have the children come

back?”. She said “yes — they have come back to attend school”.

In the meantime Santanam’s daughter Sowmya came from outside. She then told me

that because she and her brothers had to write their examinations they had

returned after four days. She said her father and mother will return only after

10 days when all the rites connected with the death of her grandfather are

completed. She further said that the new woman was her mother’s younger sister

and she had come to take care of them during the absence of their parents.

She then told to the woman “Chithi (Tamil word for mother’s younger sister)-

this uncle lives in the next flat — he is a very nice person — his wife and

mother are very close — give coffee to uncle because he is now alone and his

wife has gone to her parents for baby delivery”. I said “no — thanks — I just

wanted to check all is fine”. Then I turned to go to my flat when the woman said

“please come inside and have coffee”

I hesitated and told her “it is okay — I do not want to trouble you — and also I

have already taken coffee outside”. She said “it is no trouble at all — further

I feel bad for talking very roughly to you — so if you come and take coffee I

will feel satisfied”. Then I said okay and entered the house and sat in a chair

in the hall. She went to kitchen to mak