Manohar Asija
Dear Madhu Ji, On my way back home I recapitulated, as my routine exercise, the discussions at the Coffee House. Can you recall the reaction of Mr Malik to Lal's outburst against the final outcome of Dhananjay Chakrovarty's legal battle to ward off the Capital punishment pronounced on him for rape and murder of a minor girl, when he himself was just 21 years? ……………..." I suppose Mr. Malik came out with some amusing retort, which made almost the entire group at the table giggle and I could not make out anything but only observe Mr. Malik move towards the toilets. Respected Sir, I clearly heard your `Guruji`, I mean Mr Malik, murmur aloud, “Is there any punishment available to your civilized society to punish an errant woman who voluntarily and actively seduces and commits rape on an innocent, uninitiated and in the prime of his youth?” “Do you mean a rape amongst a Lesbian fraternity?” Mr. Lal Singh speaks out smilingly. Mr. Malik simply hung his head down and spoke in his normal pitch, “I mean, on a companion belonging to the opposite sex.” Having uttered these words Guruji peacefully got up and moved in a gentle pace towards public conveniences leaving the giggling companions behind. ………………………………………………………………… “Prem, please! Be serious, I beg you,” Malik pleaded and resumed his `woeful tale`. …………….. “Was I unmindful of your contouring of my breasts? I am sure, you were making a mental sketch of my figure as you were carefully feeling the curves and slopes, and also stopping for a considerably long spell, every time, at the partitioning space between the breasts to gauge it accurately with the index finger so as to use it at a later date in your drawings and paintings and thus, claim to be a versatile artist.” And she asked, “Shall anybody believe your statement when I blame you of attempting to rape me?”……….. Getting no response from me, ………….. She implored me to `co-operate`.” Malik exhaled and presented a far graver look before he moved again towards climax. “I m
Read this work at the World Public Library (library card needed).