Chapter 2

Next morning when his mother left to meet her friends, seeing his grandma alone he went and sat near her.

‘How’s your feet’ asked his grandma.

‘It is better after mother pressed them’ he replied.

‘Your mother was reluctant to go and I forced her. That woman does not understand her duties’ she said.

‘May be she presses Dad’s feet’ he said.

‘It is not the question of a father or son. It’s the man that counts’ she stressed the point.

‘You mean whoever it is’ as he asked the question a thrill went up his spine.

‘Yes and moreover she cannot say no to you’ she replied.

Hearing her words it excited him. ‘Next time I will see that she does not hesitate’ she said.

‘What if her feet aches’ he asked?

‘How can a woman ask a man? Well it would be different if he does it on his own’ she said.

‘But I will be more than happy to oblige her’ said Vinit

There was mixed emotions on her face. ‘But I wont force you to do it’ she replied.

Meanwhile Alka was showing off her things to her friends and cousins. All were impressed at the clothes she displayed and as she tried her high heels she slipped and sprained her ankle. Suddenly her son’s face flashed through her mind which made her blush and the next moment she forgot it.

As evening descended and they had their supper that his grandma opening up the subject asked ‘how are your feet?’

‘Much better’ replied Vinit.

‘So you don’t want me to press your feet’ asked his mother.

‘No thanks Mom’ he said though he wanted her to press them.

‘Don’t tell me I did not ask you’ replied Alka.

‘If his feet are not aching it does not mean you don’t put him to bed’ injected her mother.

‘Ma, I asked him no’ she said.

‘Yes you did but at least see if his bed is made’ said her mother.

‘At our place it is done by our ayah’ said Alka.

‘Here you don’t have an ayah and in the morning see that there is sufficient water for him to bathe’ saying this she went to her room.

‘She is a funny woman, now don’t laugh come on’ she said as Vinit was smiling.

Once inside the four walls of the room Alka was a changed person. Dusting his bed and setting it right she looked at him and said ‘the bed is ready your highness.’

‘Oh! Come on Mom’ saying it Vinit went down on the bed.

Alka sat beside him looking at his son. Seeing him spread on the bed she felt a vague sensation. Bending down she held his leg in her hand and started to knead it and as she tried to creep her hand up his leg his pants came in the way. Holding the bottom of his pant ‘are you going to sleep with pants on’ she asked.

‘No I will remove them later’ replied Vinit.

‘When in the morning’ she asked.

‘No after you leave’ he replied.

‘Why don’t you remove them now’ she asked.

‘I feel ashamed to remove them in front of you’ he replied gently.

‘Why should you be ashamed to remove your pants in front of your mother’ she said.

‘I have not done it before’ he replied.

‘What if blow the lamp will you’ she asked putting if off.

‘Yes’ letting it out mildly Vinit undid his pants and as he unable to remove them out from the position he was sleeping seeing this Alka took hold of his pants and pulled them out.

Alka was pleased to have removed his pants and as the room was quite dark she did not see much of his legs and thighs but could make out his light colored shorts. Having him lying, she took hold of his foot and started kneading his toes. Vinit was thrilled to have felt her soft hands on his toes and as his mother gradually moved up and started to massage his leg he felt himself growing there. He squirmed and wriggled trying to hide it but in vain.

Alka seeing him squirm continued massaging his leg and when he turned sideways patting him at the back of his thighs ‘is it enough’ she asked tenderly.

‘Yes Goodnight Mom’ said Vinit.

‘And tomorrow I will see you get hot water to bathe’ saying this she went out of the room.

Vinit had a good sleep as he dreamt of his mother. Next morning as he went to have his bath he was happy to see his mother had arranged hot water. Taking his bath leisurely as he came out he was pleased to see his mother standing at the door.

‘Shall I dry your hair’ she asked holding a towel in her hand.

‘Yes if you don’t mind’ he replied shyly.

‘Of course not. Why don’t we go to your room’ she said.

On entering the room Alka stood in front of him and taking hold of his head in both her hands she started wiping his wet hair. Vinit stood motionless enjoying her closeness. Alka continued brushing his hair and as she finished it placing her hands on his arms and feeling his bulging muscles said ‘I did not realize you have grown so strong.’

‘It is the result of the gym’ he said.

‘Oh! Yes I forgot that you used to attend it’ saying this she felt his biceps and said ‘it has worked wonders, can I see them.’

‘Yes’ saying this he happily removed his shirt.

Alka was surprised when Vinit removed his shirt as he was not wearing a vest. Seeing his well toned body she was thrilled. Feeling his biceps, his arms his shoulders and the muscles of his chest she felt excited. Moving her fingers over his chest in circles said ‘you have a very nice toned body.’

‘You like it’ he suddenly asked her and as he felt he should not have asked such a direct question and said ‘did Ma asked you to dry my hair.’

‘No, can I not dry my son’s hair without her asking me to’ she replied pinching his arm.

‘Yes you can’ he said.

‘Do you want me to press your feet during nights’ she asked.

‘Yes I would like that provided you don’t feel bad’ he said.

‘Why should I feel bad to press my son’s feet. On the other hand I love doing it’ she said.

‘Do you want me to do it for you’ he asked shyly.

‘Yes if need arises’ she said.

‘I would be glad to oblige’ he said.

‘How sweet of you’ saying this she planted a kiss on his forehead and brushing his hair said ‘come and have your breakfast.’

Vinit was pleased to have had this chat with his mother. He obediently followed her to the kitchen and his grandma seeing both enter together welcomed them with a smile.

‘So what have you decided to do today’ asked Alka’s mother.

‘I am going to meet my friends, why’ she asked.

‘I have thought of going to the woods with Vinit, want to come’ she asked.

‘No you take him’ replied Alka which made her mother happy as he did not object.

Soon Vinit and his grandma having trudged some distance reached the deep woods. The place was lush green, cool and serene. Both Vinit and his grandma were pleased as it was lonely.

‘This is so cool and so beautiful’ said Vinit looking at the lush greenery.

‘Yes it was this atmosphere which kept us going’ she said thinking of those days.

‘Was it very romantic’ he asked.

‘Yes this and the flowing rivers, they were so wonderful’ she said as she sat down under the tree.

‘Yes I can very well visualize it, you were lucky’ saying it he sat down next to his grandma.

His words made her look at him and smiling at him she said ‘what makes you say it.’

‘This place is so lovely one would feel thrilled to live here’ he said trying to influence her with words.

‘Yes, I see that you have the same feelings’ she said.

‘Why don’t you tell me about those days’ he asked moving closer?

‘Yes, what do you want to hear’ she asked.

‘You were telling me about gambling’ he said.

‘Yes the men used to gamble a lot using women as stakes’ she said.

‘Did the women not object to it’ he asked.

‘No it was the only opportunity for them to enjoy’ she replied.

‘What do you mean by that’ he asked.

‘As I told you the game had many levels and every level the odds were different’ she said and visualizing them continued ‘at first level the men used to pick the women, the second level she was asked to stand near him, the third level she was supposed to sit on his lap and knead his arms and shoulders and like that it continued.

‘What was there for the women to enjoy’ he asked.

‘They enjoyed doing it. They enjoyed being close to other man, whom they had a crush or liked him’ she replied.

‘So it was good till it lasted’ he asked.

‘Yes it was good and I see that you are curious to learn’ she said.

‘Who would not like to learn such things’ he said.

‘Yes and that is the reason why I am at back of your mother’ she said.

‘Meaning’ he asked.

‘I want her to teach you’ she said and looked for his reaction.

‘I fail to understand’ he said as he was really puzzled.

‘Don’t you like her to press your feet, press your legs’ she asked.

‘Yes it relieves the pain’ he replied.

‘Yes it relieves the pain and then what happens’ she asked.

‘Nothing’ he said shyly.

‘Come on don’t say nothing happens’ she said smiling at him.

‘It is difficult to tell you what happens’ he said seeing her waiting for his response.

‘Yes it is difficult to express such feelings’ she said.

‘What happened in the later stages of the game’ he asked changing the subject.

‘It is too early to tell you’ she said.

‘Why’ he asked.

‘The time is not ripe and moreover you have to learn a lot’ she said.

‘Why don’t you teach me’ he asked suddenly.

‘You want to learn from me, why not from your mother? Do you think I can teach you?’ saying this she moved closer.

‘Yes you can teach me’ he said getting excited by her move.

‘You are very stubborn, what do you want to learn’ she put the words in his ears.

‘Tell me everything’ he said feeling her cozying up.

‘You don’t know anything’ she asked nibbling his ear.

‘I know a little but then I don’t know how to proceed’ he said.

‘Yes at first it is difficult. You have to proceed slowly’ she said.

‘How will I know that I am on the correct path’ he asked leaning towards her.

‘That you will learn only by experience’ she said seeing him lean forward.

‘But how can I gain experience when I don’t know anyone’ he said.

‘Look around and you will find many’ she said putting an arm around him.

‘But I only see you’ he said looking into her eyes.

‘Oh! I had not expected it’ she said shocked at his reply.

‘Yes I want to learn it from you’ saying this he hugged her.

As Vinit hugged her she felt a strong current pass through her. This was totally unexpected. She had thought those sensations were dead but now seeing them kindle her body she was perplexed. Her intentions were totally different. She wanted him to know his mother well but he would get attached to her she had not dreamt of it and did not know how to come out of it. As she was wondering she felt him hug her tightly and this further fueled her emotions.