***
Vidya was seated alone in Mr. Sarun’s bedroom when there was a knock on the door. All her stuff had been moved into this room — it was clear that she was to stay in this bedroom for the rest of the week. Mr. Sarun and I had gone to the head office in Calcutta for some work (even though it was Sunday). I am writing this incident based on Vidya recounting it to me later.
Narges entered the room. She was dressed in the simple sari of a maid, whereas Vidya was wearing her nightie that she had been wearing at breakfast.
“Namaste, memsaab.” Narges greeted her. She put extra effort on ‘memsaab’, as if taunting her.
“Hi, Narges.” Vidya returned the compliment. She noticed that Narges had a cane in her hand, and stiffened. She remembered Mr. Sarun’s instructions that she was to be the slave of even the maids in the house.
“Ready to have some fun, dear?” Narges asked.
“Er, yes, Narges.” Vidya hesitated before replying, not knowing what the “fun” was.
“You will be on your best behavior, right memsaab?” Holding the cane in her right hand, Narges tapped the end of the cane against the palm of her left hand. “After all, you don’t want me to cane your ass.”
“Er, no, Narges. I don’t want that.” Vidya answered sincerely. “Please tell me what to do and I plan to behave.”
“You will be obedient and follow my instructions?”
“Yes, Narges. I will.”
“Say it, memsaab.” Narges grinned. “Say that you will be my bitch.”
“I … yes, Narges. I will be your bitch.”
SLAP!
Narges’s fingers left bright red marks on my wife’s cheek even as her face flushed with shame.
SLAP!
Once more her hands flashed across Vidya’s cheeks, as she treated her like the lowly slave girl Vidya had become. Vidya was someone to do her bidding, to be beckoned at will, and to be slapped as Narges saw fit.
“I trust you have got the message, memsaab.” Narges said, as she slowly lowered her hands back to her sides.
“Yes, Narges,” Viyda muttered as her cheeks started to sting. My wife kept her eyes down, unable to meet the gaze of this woman who had just disciplined her as if she was a young naughty girl, not someone older, a married woman and a high society lady, worthy of respect. This morning had taught Vidya that she had to learn to accept this humiliation. Vidya’s face burnt with shame as Narges smiled at her hold over my wife.
“I had just come to give you a message.” Narges said, placing the cane on the bed. “Your husband and Sarun has gone to the office, but Sarun will be back soon. You are now to take a shower, and then dress in the expensive embroidered sari you will find in the cupboard.”
“Yes, Narges.”
“Be ready for your master when he returns. Please him, otherwise he will use this cane on you.” Narges turned to leave, but then she turned around with a smile.
“We may all be Sarun’s slaves, but you are also my bitch. Remember that, memsaab.”
* * *
I spent the whole day at work. There was a new foreign collaboration project. Even Mr. Sarun was there till the afternoon before heading for home. I tried not to think of what was happening to my wife Vidya, and tried to concentrate on the work. When Imtiaz picked me up, it was 7 pm and already getting dark.