This is a story that happened in my life more than a decade ago. I am in my thirties now and mother to a toddler. I am revealing the story without revealing my name for anonymity. Moreover, I believe that wouldn’t hinder the reading experience.
Although my family roots are from South India, I grew up in Central India and completed my B.Tech there. I always had an overprotected life. Even though I wanted to study outside my hometown, my father made me study in the same college as some of my cousins. They became my seniors in college.
My father had a transferable job and was mostly outside. I was raised by my mother, who had to be very strict. I always wore salwar kameez, wasn’t allowed to party, had no late nights and had no boyfriends. Still, I had some fun with my girl close friends.
Having my cousins as seniors in the same branch helped a lot, as I would get notes in advance. So I managed to score well with not much effort on my part. I was 21 back then; 5ft,32-26-34, fairer than wheatish complexion, shoulder-length hair, bifocaled, cherubic, cute looking.
My cousin sisters used to say that I am attractive, but I never felt so because of my smaller frame. I had landed my first job in a major IT firm in Bengaluru through college campus placements. I moved to Bengaluru.
My father insisted that I stay at my uncle’s (his younger brother’s) house till I get comfortable with my work and understand city life. My uncle was also in IT with a home-maker wife and a 10-year-old son. I had only met them 3-4 times in my life.
Now I was going to meet them after almost a decade, as they were abroad for a few years. They received me at the airport and took me to their home. It was a 3-storey building inside a gated community. Quite big for a family of 3. In my head, I thought maybe someday I would build a home like this.
I was asked to take the room on the 2nd floor. It was a decently sized room with a bed, dressing mirror, study table and chair with an attached restroom. Next to my room was the terrace with a good breeze coming in through the windows. Terrace had provisions to wash and dry clothes.
I liked the ambience and unpacked my luggage there. My aunt was welcoming but reserved. My aunt wasn’t on good terms with my mother from the beginning. But she wasn’t letting that affect how she treated me.
I went to my reporting location the next day and was allotted a project. My team had members quite senior to me in age, and soon I understood the workload is high and requires a lot of skills. Although I had scored well in my engineering, it was mostly because I had a lot of assistance from my cousins.
I could fill up an answer sheet with irrelevant details. I was just about average in coding. I had not really planned for an IT career. I had just hopped on, imagining good pay and a fancy life. A few weeks in, and I understood that this was not the life I expected, and I would really have to buckle up.
While going to the office, I had to walk 2 kms from home to the bus stop, was mostly by myself in the office and would be dropped back home by the CAB. But on days when I had more work, I would miss the CAB. Then I would take a public bus and then walk 2 kms back home at night.
In crowded buses, I used to think about my college life when I used to drive my scooty to college every day. Having fun with my friends and having a relaxed life, and now even on weekends. I was studying for the tasks in the coming week.
Sometimes I would join my uncle and aunt for a movie at the mall. But that was it. I decided to push through anyway, hoping things would get better with time. A couple of months later, things had only gotten worse. My workload had gradually increased.
I was extending my shifts every day, taking a bus back home every night. One day, I wasn’t getting any bus home at night, and I almost broke down. It was late, and thinking of no alternative, I called my uncle. He drove 20 kms to pick me up.
I apologised to him for bothering him. He noticed tear marks under my eyes and understood my mental state, but didn’t say anything. We reached home, I freshened up, but was feeling empty in my mind. I couldn’t think of a way out. I was scared to go to the office next week.
It was 2 am in the morning, and I was still awake lying on my bed. I sensed a burning smell from somewhere. I opened the window of my room, which opened to the terrace space, and saw my uncle smoking a cigarette. I didn’t know he was a smoker. I opened my door and walked towards him.
Uncle: Not able to sleep?
Me: Yeah, trying but not able to.
Uncle: It happens. New job, new city shakes you mentally.
After a few puffs, he asked me, what is bothering me about my job. It was like the lid was taken off me, and I blurted out everything. He listened to me patiently, and since he understood many things, being in the same profession. He gave me pointers to manage my work and time better.
He shared his own life experiences and struggles early on in his career. After listening to that, I felt my problems were nothing. He empathised with me, stating he himself has felt lost many times in his career. But has sailed through with proper planning and hard work.
He got onsite opportunities and was able to amass wealth, and that is why he was able to build a life like that. He said even now he takes work calls at 3 AM if needed, but doesn’t regret it. That is what is helping him lead a comfortable life. He asked me to change my perspective towards my job and career.
Uncle: Enough pep talk for today. Go and sleep.
He lit up another cigarette as I turned around to walk back to my room.
Uncle: Listen, don’t ever mention my smoking to anyone.
I nodded in agreement.
Me: Is this your everyday routine? (I asked, giggling)
Uncle: Yes, every night once everyone’s asleep. (He smiled).
I lay down in my bed to sleep, but kept thinking about his words. It was the first time in my life when I felt the physical presence of a father figure who was understanding my point of view. My father was more of someone who would impose his decisions.
I was filled with energy and optimism. I mentally decided to give it my all to my job. I went to the office the next day much more optimistically, and after a long time, I was able to finish my work on time. I also tried to have small talks with my team members. Something that I was not used to doing.
I returned home in an office cab that day, feeling much happier and more positive. I had dinner with my uncle, aunt and my cousin. I lay down to sleep but recalled that my uncle would come to the terrace late at night. I wanted to tell him about my day.
He came on the terrace, and I again walked up to him and shared how well my day went following his advice. He told me to keep it up. I was overwhelmed and stepped forward to hug him. He was taken by surprise and patted on the shoulders. I went back to my room and slept.
This started to become a routine for me, and we kept meeting daily. Every day at night, I waited for him to come to the terrace. We would speak for some time before I would hug him and then go to sleep.
It was August, and in those years, rains in Bengaluru were random and incessant, unlike these days. When it used to rain at night, he would have his cigarette sitting in my room. We would close my room’s door to avoid the smell spreading in the house.
He would sometimes look at my laptop and what I was working on and give me advice. One day, while he was in my room smoking, just out of curiosity, I asked him for a drag. He lit one for me. I took my first puff and started coughing profusely.
He quickly passed me the water bottle from my table and took the cigarette from me. I sipped water and calmed down while he started puffing on my cigarette.
Uncle: I guess you probably never had any alcohol either?
Me: No, my mother would have killed me.
Uncle: You have missed many pleasures of hostel life.
I gave a regretful facial expression.
Uncle: We will make up for that at the right time.
He got up to leave. He hugged me, opened the door slowly, and went down the stairs. I went to sleep as well.
Things kept going well, and I finally felt settled in my work life. One day, while my uncle was not around, my aunt came to my room. She suggested that maybe I should now plan living by myself in a PG near my office, as her parents and a few other relatives are coming to live with them from next month.
I didn’t show it on my face, but I was taken aback by her words. I acted as if I myself was planning to shift to a PG and told her I would be shifting soon.
Next week, during my lunch break in the office, I will walk around the area and look for PGs. I wanted to have a single sharing room, but the reality of a metro city hit me then. I was barely making 25K at that time. I realised I had to share rooms for now if I had to make any savings.
I paid an advance for a room near my office. I called back home and told my parents that I am planning to move out. I didn’t tell my aunt anything and decided to let her know a day before I left. Initially, I was not mad at her. I somehow now feel that she never liked me staying in her house.
She was getting back at my mother by kicking me out abruptly. My uncle had not spoken to me about it. I was certain that he wasn’t aware that his wife had asked me to step out. I didn’t want to create chaos between them.
I decided to make it look like a casual decision that I made on my own. I decided to be on my own and keep a distance from everyone till I left.
It was my last weekend in the house. On that Friday morning, while I got down the stairs to leave for the office, I heard frantic commotion in the house. My aunt was running towards the door, followed by my uncle. My aunt’s father had an accident, and she had to catch the next bus to her hometown.
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I didn’t say much and wished her a safe journey before walking out of the house. Before returning home, I confirmed with the PG that I can occupy my room over the weekend. I reached home by 9 pm. My uncle asked me to freshen up and come for dinner.
I agreed as I felt I could also tell him about leaving over the weekend. While we were eating dinner, I slipped in the information.
Me: I have booked a room near my office, and will be moving out the day after tomorrow.
Uncle: What happened? Why so suddenly?
Me: I have been thinking for a while now. I went ahead when I found a good place.
Uncle: Did anyone say something to you? (He asked in a suspicious tone)
Me: No, it’s completely my call.
Uncle: Listen, I know my wife must have asked you to leave. I want to let you know, you don’t have to leave just because of that.
I became awkward and didn’t know what to say.
Uncle: I know she has a very mean side to her. I myself am fed up with her shrewd and calculating nature. You don’t have to listen to her and can stay for as long as you need to.
Me: Thanks, uncle, but I think it’s time. Moreover, I have already paid the advance. You have been great support, and as you said, I need to toughen up.
He smiled and nodded.
Uncle: So, when do you want to leave?
Me: Day after tomorrow morning.
Uncle: Ok, I will drop you.
Me: Sure, I will go and start winding up
I woke up early the next day. I washed my clothes and hung them to dry on the terrace, and then cleaned my room and toilet. I was tired and decided to take a nap in the afternoon.
I woke up hearing a knock on my door. I opened the door, and it was my uncle standing there with a plate.
Uncle: Aren’t you hungry? It’s 9 pm already.
Me: Oh, I just overslept. Have you eaten?
Uncle: Yes, the kid has even gone to sleep
He handed me the plate.
Uncle: Have this, meanwhile, I will be back with a surprise for you.
Me: What!?
Uncle: A parting gift from me.
I had a quizzical expression as he went downstairs. I sat in my room, realising I was having my last meal in the house. I felt attached to that room and its ambience. As I finished my dinner, my uncle came back with 2 cans of beer.
Uncle: As I promised, here you go.
Me: Oh, you remembered. (I laughed).
We opened the cans and clinked.
Uncle: Take a small sip first. Get a hang of the smell and taste.
I sipped it and felt squeamish.
Uncle: That’s okay. Keep having small sips. (As he lit his cigarette).
He started smoking and sipping beer as I was taking sips of my beer.
Me: How are you able to handle 2 bad tastes together?
Uncle: Here, try for yourself.
He handed me his cigarette. I carefully took a drag and sipped beer immediately.
Me: Hmm…not so bad together
We started talking again like before. He spoke about our village and family roots. I never visited our ancestral village, and my father never spoke about it. There was a 15-year age gap between him and my father.
My father was in his mid-fifties, and my uncle was about 40. But his facial and body features were very similar to my father’s. Same eyes and body frame. It’s just that uncle had a moustache. He was losing his hair exactly at the same spots as my father. I told him about their resemblance.
Uncle: Yeah, we do resemble each other, even being 15 years apart.
I looked at my uncle. He had a smile on his face, but his eyes were moist. He was feeling nostalgic. I held his palms, and he placed his on mine. Before I knew it, I finished half of my can and finished the entire cigarette.
My mouth had an awful taste, and I started feeling lightheaded. Things felt in slow motion, and thoughts were racing.
Suddenly, a splash of water hit my face from the window. I looked outside the window to realise that it was windy and had started to rain heavily.
Me: God! My clothes.
I got up in a frenzy and ran to the terrace.
Uncle: That’s okay, don’t run, you will fall.
I somehow didn’t fall or slip in the dark and started picking up my clothes from the ropes, but my reflexes were slow due to alcohol. The rain started to batter me and my clothes. Uncle also came out and started to pull off the clothes with me. Once done, we came back to my room.
My hair and clothes were all wet, so I removed my glasses and started wiping the water off them. I looked at my uncle. He was drenched and looking at me intently, while still holding my clothes, which also had my undergarments. It hit me then that I wasn’t wearing anything under my T-shirt.
I looked at the mirror and realised that my white T-shirt was drenched and had become translucent, revealing the shape of my breasts and erect nipples.
Me: Oh Shit!
I blushed and turned my back towards him.
Me: Uncle. Could you please step outside for a moment?
I heard the door closing and locking. I turned around and realised that he had not left and had locked the door from inside. I stood there with my hands over my chest. I initially felt he was acting funny. But when I looked at his face, the way he was looking at me, it felt different.
I was perplexed as he slowly walked up to me. My breathing started to become shallow and fast. He held me by my shoulders and gently pushed me against the window, with my back brushing against the window bar. I was taken aback. He held my wrists and pulled apart my arms, revealing my wet T-shirt.
A shiver went down my spine. He removed my specs and directly looked me in the eye and cupped both my breasts over the cloth. I gasped as he held them in his palms. I had never been touched like this. I bent my head down and struggled to breathe.
He gently squeezed my breasts as I gasped even louder. He located my nipples and started rolling his thumb on them. I swallowed air, and my eyes closed on their own. He noticed it and moved one hand toward the tail of the T-shirt and started to lift it.
I felt cool air from the window hitting my spine. I shuddered, and in an impulse, I extended my hand and closed the window pane. At that moment, I realised that my body had taken over my mind, and he sensed that as well. I felt him kneeling down on his knees in front of me.
Before I could anticipate what he was up to, he pressed his mouth on my bare stomach. I almost jumped at the sensation and grabbed his head. I started to shiver as his moustache brushed against my belly. He kissed my stomach a few times.
He slowly started going lower with his mouth when he was obstructed by the knot of my track pants. He bit one end of the knot and pulled it open, loosening it. He pulled down my trousers, exposing my navel. I arched my neck upwards while holding his shoulders.
He started teasing me by blowing air on my navel. Warm and Moist air from his mouth was hitting my navel, which was wet by cold rainwater, sending my mind into a tizzy. After some moments, I wasn’t able to take it. I covered his mouth with my palms.
He kissed my palms when I did that. His face had an expression of victory, while I felt defeated. This should have been the point when I should have stopped, but bad judgment took over. I removed my hand from his mouth and pulled his mouth right onto my navel.
My mouth opened, and my eyes rolled backwards as he started kissing my navel and rolling his tongue in it. He reached his hand up and slipped it under my T-shirt. My eyes opened wide when his palms touched my bare breasts and squeezed them.
He kissed his way up my stomach while holding my breasts when our eyes locked. At that moment, I sensed he felt a slight guilty conscience and might stop. He paused for a moment, grabbed my unfinished beer can, gulped down some and poured some in my mouth.
He pulled my T-shirt to my chest and then poured the remaining beer on my bare breasts. I was startled as the beer started to flow down my torso and spilt on the floor. He dropped the can on the floor and put his mouth on my left breast. I arched my back as he sucked my beer-laced nipple.
He started rolling his tongue around the areola while flicking the nipple with his tongue. I moaned and grabbed the window bar over my head as he continued to swallow and pull my nipples in his mouth. It was an amazing feeling, and I drowned in it.
He went down and licked the beer from my stomach and belly button, and was now trying to pull down my pants. I started thinking where this is going to end and held my trousers.
Me: Uncle, Not this. Stop…
He started sucking my breasts again and moved his hand on my crotch. I got a jolt and held his wrist as he tried to finger me over the trousers themselves. I started to get carried away again and hugged him tightly. Just then, there was a loud thunder and the power went off. It was pitch dark in the room.
The sound of our intimacy was now prominent, and it concerned me. Suddenly, I heard a knock on the door. We both were startled and stopped. I turned on my cell phone torch and asked him to go inside the restroom. I covered myself up and slowly opened the door.
His son was standing outside the door. He had woken up to the sound of thunder and got scared when the power went off. I couldn’t tell him that his father was in my room. I took him downstairs back to his room and tucked him into his bed. I came back to my room.
I asked my uncle to come out of the restroom and go to his son. I told him not to come back up for some time. I locked my room. I was consumed by guilt on seeing his son and felt like running away somewhere. Power came back, and the room had become a mess again.
While wiping beer from the floor, I wondered if it was the alcohol or loneliness, or if I actually developed feelings for my uncle.
In the morning, I packed my bags and left at sunrise. I didn’t meet him and just walked to the bus stand by myself and then took a bus to my PG. I wished I had never stayed with them. I just texted my uncle that I reached my PG and to forget everything else.
2 months later, my aunt called me to apologise. She felt her father had met with an accident because of the way she behaved with me. She requested that I come back, but I politely declined, stating that I wanted to manage on my own. I apologised to her in my mind.
I didn’t know then that a decade later I would find myself at a similar juncture with my uncle.