Professor Ashutosh... another snippet from CLANDESTINE

Poonam felt the increasing chill in the night breeze. She had not yet unpacked her stuff except the small bag with essentials, required for initial comfort. She went inside again, least expecting to find some cover, but luckily found a serape on Ashutosh’s bedside table. She quietly took it, wrapped it around her body and stepped into the balcony again, convinced that this was going to be her favourite place in Ashutosh’s house. It was too early to call it her house or their house. Poonam didn’t feel anything for Ashutosh; nothing at all. It was neutral, as neutral as a co passenger on a flight. Poonam only knew that he was a Professor of English at the University, a learned man, and divorced for the last 16 years. He was of medium height, well built, had a handsome V-shaped face, most seductive eyes behind his expensive rimless glasses, a salt and pepper French beard and close cut hair. Technically they had known each other since childhood, as Ashutosh had been a batchmate of her brother back in school, but that was it. The Sharmas didn’t know him any better, until the ties were revived on the recent Old Boys Reunion for which Sandeep had specially flown in from Canada. The following morning, he had straightforwardly told Poonam that she could consider marrying Ashutosh as he seemed compatible for her; then ridiculing her idea of the perfect man, he had added, “He respects women, and believes in their personal space and all that blah…” Poonam was so madly devoted to Vishwajeet that  a marriage proposal sounded sacrilegious to her ears. She had smiled at Sandeep, reiterating what she had been for last ten years, “I want an equal partner, not a superior; and that happens only in love… not in a marriage. I want to be valued, not taken for granted. I want a lover, not a provider… someone who spoils me with too much love, and then thanks me too for being loved… someone who wants me more than he needs me.” Sandeep had argued, “Nimmi, Don’t you think you are too old for such foolish dreams?” “Yes. I am; and for marrying too.” She had wrapped a pashmina stole over her sleeveless royal blue blouse, kissed her mother, given a fist bump to Sandeep and had rushed out of the house, little knowing that she would accept this proposal within a month’s time.