THREESOME THEME

THREESOME  THEME

      “Sir, what should I say about our relationship  to my friends in college” Sukesh looked at  Sujatha,the lady sitting near him in the car as he drove over a bend.  She stretched her right hand,pointed her two fingers towards her eyes and then in front. He understood the import and turned to just avoid a truck in front.     After everybody settled down with a big “OMG“ ,after evading the truck, Suja  retorted with a big smile  “what do you suggest? “ looking at the adolescent sitting in the back seat.             “ To be frank, I am fed up explaning the alleged our  'thou than holier'  relationship', raising a lot of doubts and criticism from all “.                             “Doubts “ both Sukesh and Suja, surprised asked in unison.  “They said in no uncertain terms that they could understand a live in relation between an adult man and women but where did you fit in”. Both in the front seat smiled  unable to fathom the live in relationship and her fitting in it, as it was beyond them.                                                                “ What do you think ? “ Sukesh turned to ask and also saw  Suja pointing in front.    “ I don’t know as  I am young. Why don’t you tell me as you are both an adult?“               “ Let us not distract the driver. We will discuss threadbare when we reach our destination” interposed Suja .                      “ When did I become a driver” Sukesh asked jocularly. “ Today morning “ replied Suja and all laughed at the pun.

        After the social isolation that they felt for nearly two years Sukesk decided to seek a transfer to a hillside college as he had found a vacancy as an Assistant Professor in the Department of  Commerce. Luckily the girl also got a post graduate seat  in the same college. Though it was easier for her to commute as their house was far off, , both going to the same college with the same address would certainly invite and need a relationship explanation ,to the satisfaction of the college.

     Late in the evening they reached their new house which was bigger than the previous one .Each occupied their rooms and then invaded the kitchen to prepare dinner. It was rather cold as the winter had set in and over the fireplace by the chimney in the hall they gathered with their buffet, munching and talking as they were all hungry.  The girl began as the social isolation and the rumor surrounding it had affected her the most, in the previous station.

      “ We all know that our relationship is our own choice or rather God’s, and not by way of convention or law” She started hitting the bull in the eye. Since all nodded, she continued. “ You are a confirmed bachelor and the lady of the house is a widower, staying in separate rooms. I am an orphan and I have joined you. We are threesome with a theme or agenda”.She stopped to catch her breath and after a long pause she started “ Our horrible and accidental family circumstances  brought us together by providence”.  She again stopped and looked at Sukesh with quizzing eyes. “ What is your reason for your die hard bachelor ship? “ In spite of his sorrowful past experience, he smiled hearing her benevolent satirical comment.   “ My own experience of not finding one happy couple including my parents made me decide it. My father was an alcoholic and beat my mother and she became hysterical.I  was small and suffered its consequences .After my fathers and mother’s death two years apart,I became an orphan. But luckily I had finished my Post graduation and could secure a job“ Both looked at Sukesh and his face spoke volume of his sadness and his resolve about marriage.

        Suja, not to be undone laid bare her problem. After the death of her husband one year after marriage she could not manage and hence became a maid ( she was a Post graduate) and continued to work and stay in Sukesh’s house., as she had no one to call a relation.

    Sukesh noted and said “ Our theme is simple. We are not bound by any relation, except by mutual respect and affection. We have no expectation, except to live by give and take in all fairness. We have the liberty to choose what we like except that it should not effect us all and we have the right to leave when we want. During the stay together we maintain our decency and decorum and share the chores in maintaining the house.  In a nutshell we are experimenting if three unknown unrelated people of different age, background and culture will be able to co- operate together to live tranqually; coping and adjusting with each other in a mature way.                                                     “ But there is no societal sanction for such a true relationship” that was the adolescent girl.                                          Suja responded “ They are unable to believe or accept that such a relationship  is possible when even blood relations and legally married couple are unable to cope with each other”  Sukesh after a far away look retorted “The problem is with the system where individual with less coping and maladjustments join in a relationship and spoil it “. “ Yes. In our theme of living we need to take extra measures to maintain it. We don’t take relationship for granted and we are not complacent” interposed the young girl. Then all lapsed into silence perhaps reflecting on their utterences.

      “ Tomorrow is a holiday and we can go for sight seeing in this abundant natural kingdom of God” All smiled and retreated to their room to sleep as they felt weary after a long journey by road.

        The next day they  viewed all the visual grandeur and glamorous, heart rendering bountiful natural beautiful landscapes and valleys. With photo graphs and selfies they returned after sun downing. They relished the outdoor catteries and the girl ate a lot of burgers and pizzas , but Sukesh and Suja  confined themselves to the traditional food. On the way back the girl discussed the options available to explain their relationship. First, they can pose as a family ; father, mother and daughter. Secondly, they can accept the truth and live as orphans in one roof. The second option had it’s hitches. As orphans they should have lived seperately in women's orphanage and not together. The togetherness was assumed to be morally wrong and smacked of sexual deceit. The society cannot accept a family of three by choice, when it is not bound by convention or legality. They will tolerate if  the couples married legally ,created problems for themselves or for their children.

      Finally they decided to pose as a family in order not to bring disrepute to the girl, through subtle character assasination.

         Their poser as a family did bring a change in the social status and they became friends with many families and attended their birthday parties ,marriage anniversaeies and all other auspicious  occassions.  The girl was very comfortable so was Suja as they could move more freely with no ackwards doubts or questions bothering them.

        Six months later the girl came back from college in a pensive mood and in the car, remained very silent and it was evident that something was effecting her. Sukesh  also was silent  and decided to ask her later. She went straight to her room and shut herself up. Sukesh enquired with Suja and dew a blank. At dinner she came and sat looking at both expecting them to ask her. Then she blurted out “ A new student from the old college where I studied joined in my class and told everyone about us . Everybody questioned me about it. Then the Assistant professor ask me “ I told him that you were both married after coming here and I was adopted. So, now all are quiet but I feel guilty. I should have discussed with you and then commented upon it” Suja looked at Sukesh.  “ I think you did the right thing . Just maintain the same theme” retorted Suja. Sukesh nodded. “ Why don’t you get married for real” she asked?

       “ Let us maintain what we believe in rather than be carried away by others silly selfish remarks. You said the right thing and quenched their curiosuty. We shall respect each other and live  the same way. If you don’t agree to it… maybe change your mind later ,you can go and be on your own. Let us part happily then”  Sukesh said  in all sincererity.     They  discussed further the pros and cons and took a wise decision.

              In the end , all felt that the matter was discussed,understood and solved permanently with no ambiquity .They would lead their life in whatever way they had believed in for so long and practiced successful. They were not so lucky as the  so called morally. outwardly upright  people were,to have a normal life and so they choose to live as they wanted to maintain their life agenda and wishful happiness and perhaps God had willed it that way for them.

I am unable to view my story  Threesome Theme which I pasted now and saved.