The Tenant

The train stopped at K station around 10:30 pm ...a girl of age 20 got down and walked through the muddy Street. In the dark gusty night the street lights evicted dim light, that even a firefly seems more brighter than it. May be the nature felt pity for her that the moon came out from the cloudy sky and lit bright, the silver sequin stars flashed and flickered as if teasing her in the darkness.... The hooting sounds of owl and chirping sounds of crickets made the night ghostly ... The fragrance of jasmine and white jade Orchid flowers enhanced the ambience , a mild wind blew her silky long black hair as she strode forward dragging her luggage. She walked to her destination in the lonely path with not even slightest fear. She ambled along the path enjoying the cold wind, inhaling the pure fragrance of nature along her breath... Suddenly frowned and stopped at the odour of cigarette and heavy smoke that resembled fog... She called out to the person standing in the dark.. "hey... What are you doing.. You are not supposed to smoke here" The stranger ignores her warning and continues smoking... She frowns and was about to warn him for the last time, however was interrupted by an old man of age 60 years...their family steward Krishnan Krishnan : Oh my child, why you came alone in this night all the way from station, why didn't you inform me earlier that you will be late, I would have come to the station.. Girl : (ignoring his words) Uncle, Who is that, how can he smoke here ... Krishnan : Oh... He... He is the one who is staying in our outhouse, he is from(interrupts) .... Girl : oh.. So he is not here for treatment... I misunderstood.... (patting her forehead) Krishnan : He is for that too, but he is staying in our outhouse.... Girl : Oh, what is so special about him, that he can't stay with other patients .... Krishnan : (lifting her luggage) I don't know child, it's all your grandpa's arrangement..... Girl (angrily) : Uncle tell him not to smoke Krishnan : Child , I don't know that much English to talk to him and make him obey....leave it... She frowned and gets irritated at the sight of him still inhaling the heavy puffs as if he is sucking it directly into his lungs.The girl suppressed her anger thinking that he might not have understood her language as she was demanding him in her mother tongue. Girl : Hey..... Who gave you the permission to smoke here, don't you know the rules... She waited knitting her brows still doubting whether he doesn't understands English as well. Man raised his head up and blows off the cigarette smoke slowly up into the air and responds towards the sound" Who the hell are you to give orders... " The girl roled her eyes up and strode to him mumbling to herself "will let you know who Iam" but got stunned when she saw his face in the bright moonlight.., he had a face that only a mother could love, with scary wrinkles and rough dry torn out skin.Nobody can look at him without or unless with a widened eyes of shock , so did she, forgets to blink at the miserable sight... Girl : (husky voice) Oh... Man... Man : What, are you lost now..... Girl : Yah.... Yes... Iam in a kind of.... Your face... (interrupts) Man turns to her listening to the sweet husky voice and holds her on forearm(cold tone) "then have a better view, how is it, did you like it",. He bend his head a bit so that shw would have q better view of his face and holds her by waist ... The girl looks at his face with concerned eyes and tip toes to reach upto his height, she cups his face in her soft palm, rubs her soft and slender fingers to feel the dry skin, she rubs her thumbs over his forehead slowly and carefully as if to feel each cells of his skin .. The man gets irritated and holds her palm to prevent her from touching him, she tip toeing nuzzles her cheeks on him closing her eyes. He could feel her warm breath on him, her soft skin being rubbed on him as if being rubbed by a peacock feather. He couldn't resist her touch, he stood there numb as a pillar feeling her smooth and soft skin over his rough dry face.... Girl in her angelic voice mumbles to herself " Five months ... give me just five months......" Man : "" "(frowns) Girl : Who are you, where are you from.... Man : Iam the tenant.... Girl looks into his brown unfocused eyes and asks "don't you have any name, where are you from..." Man : (coldly) Iam just a tenant and from nowhere, why do you bother... Girl :(smiles) Nice to meet you dear Tenant, mind you I should not find you smoking here anymore.... If so, you will defenitely be in midst of nowhere... After giving a friendly warning she was about to return but was pulled back closer by him... Man : Who are you .... Girl held his collar and pulled it downward to make him lower his head to hear her, she tiptoed too and murmured in his ears... "me... Iam the Goddess.... Goddess from Heaven to heal you.... To cure you...." (smiles) He loses his grip on her upper arms and she gently let his hand off and follows Krishnan.... The Tenant listens to the sounds of her anklets getting farther as she distanced from him... She walked passing their gate and on reaching the balcony the caged parrot flapped its wings and tail and called out... "Aami... Aami.... Aami" Aami : (holding the cage) Hey.... You naughty Ponnu(parrot's name) ...Iam back... Aami is back.... Krishnan : Aami child ..let me take the luggage to your room,.... Aami : hmmm(nodded)... Where is grandpa... Krishnan : Master is in study room.... Child how long you will be here.... Aami smiles and runs to grandpa's study room. She saw grandpa reading a book wearing his thick heavy spectacles... Aami : Grandpa..... Grandpa : Aami.... You came(looks into wall clock), alone.... How many time I have told you to inform Krishnan, he would have come to the station... Aami : Oh... Grandpa who dares to scare your grand daughter.... Grandpa : hmm, still be careful child. Aami did you meet him,what did you decide.... Aami : (thoughtfully) Iam into it grandpa.....but his eyes..... As you know it may take time. Grandpa : (nodded) okay child, now you go and take rest.... Aami goes to her room and takes bath, she feels comfortable after changing into her night dress. She looks out through her window drying her hair and saw the man still smoking. She smirks and says " Disobedient Tenant.... Goodnight"...