Part - 1
How some girls or women who had bitter experiences with men start hating men ….
Misandrist - Male Hater
“ Teena “ Go and fix this TO-LET - board on the railings of the first floor balcony . “ Alok told his elder daughter .
Alok lived in a small inherited house built by his father . The house consisted of a two small bedroom unit on the ground floor . But the first floor could not be completed because of lack of funds . However the first floor unit was made ready with a one bedroom flat and Alok wanted it to be rented so that he might have some additional income . He could not study beyond matriculation . With great difficulties he managed to get a job as a Meter- Reader in a private electric supply company. The salary he used to get was not enough so he wanted a tenant for the upper floor .
After a few days a man knocked at his door . Teena opened the door and asked “ Yes ? “
“ Your house is up for rent . I am in urgent need of accommodation . “ The man said
“ But papa is not at home so please come after a couple of hours . “
“ Who is there , Teena ? “ Teena’s mom Richa asked
“ Mom , somebody has come for the first floor . I told him to come afterwards when papa is here . “
“ At least you can show me your house so that I can decide if it suits me .” The man said loudly so that Richa could also hear .
“ Ok , let him see Teena . “
Teena took the man to the upper floor . Even before the man had seen the house , looking at Teena he said “ Beautiful . “
“ But you haven’t yet seen the house . “
“ When the people in this house are beautiful the house too must be equally good “
Teena opened the lock and asked him to see the house but she remained standing at the door and let the man go inside and see the flat . After a few minutes he came out and said “ It’s a beautiful unit , I like it . Both went down . The man said to Teena “ I like it and I will come the day after tomorrow with my stuff . “
“ But I don’t know what rent papa has in mind . So I can’t assure you . “
Richa was also standing behind the door . Addressing both Teena and her mom he said
“ I have decided to come to your house . “ Then he took out some five hundred notes , caught Teena’s hand and placed the notes in her hand saying “ This is advance to ensure that you are not giving it to any other person . “
Teena was hesitating to accept the money then he said to her mom “ Mam , I will come in the evening and talk to Alok Babu . Can I have a glass of water please ? “
Teena hurriedly brought water, the man grasped her fingers while taking the glass and said “ Thanks a lot . “ He left after taking a few sips . The man came back in the evening and was talking to Alok . He said “ I am Prem Kumar . I am a science teacher and have been transferred to join DAV school in your city . I have seen your house and liked it . I have given some money in the morning as a token of advance . “
“ The rent will be Rs.2000 per month and I would like to have a two month deposit . 15 days notice is needed on either side for vacating or getting the house vacated ….. “
Before Alok could complete his words Prem said “ Sir , I don’t mind . I can sign on blank paper . Then he took out his purse and gave Rs.10,000 more as deposit . “
“ No no , I don’t need so much in advance . “
“ I know this is more than what you asked as advance . But you need money at this time I know . You partially completed the upper floor borrowing money . I will come the day after tomorrow to occupy it .” Without waiting for Alok’s answer he left saying “ Good bye, see you .”
After Prem left Alok said to his wife “ What a nice boy. He is young and seems to be under 30 . You know he is a science teacher . I was also looking for a science teacher for Teena and it’s here at my doorstep . What a coincidence .”
Teena was in ninth grade while her sister Reena in fifth grade . Teena didn’t like science subjects but she had to study them till tenth grade . After tenth she was determined to take arts subjects.
Prem had already moved to Alok’s house .When Alok asked him if he could teach science to Teena he promptly said “ Why not, surely I would like to teach my pupil. “
“ What will be your fee ? “
“ Just a cup of tea when I come back in the evening “. I will be taking lunch outside and I can make something for dinner on my induction cooker. “
“ We can arrange for your dinner too . “ Alok said
“ No, no it will be too much . “
One day Prem was teaching Teena electricity and magnetism in Physics . He was explaining “ Just like human beings are attracted to opposit sex and North pole is attracted to south pole of a magnet. And in battery current flows from positive to negative , just like this .” While explaining to her he deliberately touched her breast though gently.
Teena felt as if a high voltage current passed through her body . Prem asked “ What happened , you too felt the current ? “
“ Nothing “ she said , trying to separate her .
When she came down she heard her papa talking to her mother “ What a nice tenant we have. He has given me a large amount in advance and assured me that he can help me in getting the loan paid off . I am obliged to him “
The other evening Teena brought tea and snacks for Prem . While taking the plate he intentionally kept touching her fingers for quite some time .
“ I have to go .” and she left. Though Teena was not mature enough then she wasn’t so immature also that she couldn’t guess his intentions.
Contd.
