Part 5: Elopement
I called my wife and informed her that I would have to go to a remote place to collect some rare curios and for about a fortnight I won’t be able to contact them as there was no mobile tower at the place. Her voice revealed worry and sadness. I cut off connection and switched off the cell phone. For a moment I felt a prick for my brutal treatment of her and my innocent son but Renu’s emergence in transparent apparel swept away the silly feelings. She was ready for the journey and the hired car had come on time and honking to alert us.
The vehicle as directed by me dropped us at the entrance of the house that was about hundred meters from the main road and surrounded by bushy sal, pine and jarul trees. It was completely invisible from the main road. I paid off the car and we went upstairs. Renu had bought broom and other household necessities. In a moment she got busy sweeping and cleaning the rooms and I waited at the balcony watching the Kanchenjunga peaks. They were now covered with specks of reddish clouds that appeared ominous to me and an uncanny consternation sent tremors down my spine and the cloud above seemed to take shape of the yakshini idol menacingly casting her vindictive glances at me. I could no longer withstand it and hastened back to the room.
Renu soon got accustomed to the new life and like a true wife enjoyed performing all family chores including marketing from the Sukna market, cooking, sweeping and mopping the floors and washing clothes. At times I used to roam around the nearby places and meet various persons at Siliguri. Renu was always jovial notwithstanding her daily chores. She visited her father and son after a week and told me that they were very happy at her new job that meant plenty of money according to their standards.