like a member of the family. He was given one of the good rooms at the front of the house. She would ask him to come along when she went out for a walk. She had told Jaidev that he would have to be a little firm with Urmila, making sure that she studied the books and did the homework. Jaidev talked and behaved freely with Urmila, but became stricter while tutoring her.
In spite of being intelligent and talented, Jaidev had a short height. Up to the age of fourteen or fifteen, he could pass as a twelve-year-old and travel by paying half fare. His face was still soft as a boy’s. He was only half an inch taller than Tara, and they looked the same height when walking together. When he became aware of not being as tall as other boys of his age, he began to walk erect and to keep his back straight. That soon became his posture. To appear older, he began to grow a thin moustache. When hesat with Urmila for her lessons in the dining room that was divided by a curtain, he kept his spine straight in an attempt to exude authority.
Urmila used to address him as ‘Masterji’, but the tone of her voice had gradually become intimate and friendly. Beyji, Urmila’s mother, was right, Jaidev found. He would ask her to concentrate on her lesson, but her chatter would not stop. When Jaidev would be explaining something from her study book, her attention would wander and she would begin to talk about a school friend or tell a joke or ask an unrelated question. Or remember an incident from last evening’s outing.
Jaidev would stop her, ‘Pay attention here.’ Or, ‘It’s time to study. We can talk about all that later.’
Urmila would insist, laughing, ‘No, first tell me this.’ Or, ‘Listen to this first.’ She would break into giggles when Jaidev tried to be strict. Jaidev had to make an effort to ignore the playful antics of this young and attractive girl. He was mindful of the respect given to his father and the trust placed in him by Urmila’s parents.
True to her name, Urmila was fickle like a wave. She could not be called beautiful, perhaps, in the classical sense. A round face over a short neck, a nose that was not shapely, but wisps of golden-brown hair surrounding her fair face and large, cowrie-like eyes gave her a look that was compelling. Her ordinary features were overshadowed by her ebullient youthfulness and her brash behaviour.
Jaidev was conscious of his position as her tutor. That did not stop him from noticing the invitation in her eyes, and he would sometimes return her glance. But it happened only when they went to the bazaar for a walk, or when Beyji’s back was turned. He kept his distance when they sat for her lessons.
They were studying algebra. She would not concentrate on the problem he was teaching her to solve. After asking her to concentrate for the third time, Jaidev was a little peeved, ‘I’ll tell your father that you don’t listen to me.’
On a previous occasion, when Jaidev had threatened her in the same way, she had replied, ‘Go ahead! You’ll no doubt enjoy it if I’m scolded.’
That day she shot back, ‘Why do you try to intimidate me by reporting to father or mother as if I were my younger brother? This is between you and me. What has father or mother to do with it! Can’t you speak for yourself!’
Jaidev lost his temper, ‘I’ll slap your face! Remember that!’
‘Go on! Slap me!’
Jaidev took a deep breath to calm himself. ‘All right, pay attention. a 2 +3a+2=(a+1)(a+2)=(a 2 +a)+(2a+2).’
‘Slap me first!’ She thrust her face forward.
‘I am sorry. Please pay attention.’
‘No, first slap me. Why did you threaten!’ She snatched the math book open between them, closed it with a thud, and offered her cheek to him.
Jaidev could not restrain himself. He hit her hard. The room reverberated with the sound. The imprint of his fingers showed on Urmila’s fleshy fair cheek.
Urmila was stunned; two heavy droplets appeared in her large eyes. She bit her
In spite of being intelligent and talented, Jaidev had a short height. Up to the age of fourteen or fifteen, he could pass as a twelve-year-old and travel by paying half fare. His face was still soft as a boy’s. He was only half an inch taller than Tara, and they looked the same height when walking together. When he became aware of not being as tall as other boys of his age, he began to walk erect and to keep his back straight. That soon became his posture. To appear older, he began to grow a thin moustache. When hesat with Urmila for her lessons in the dining room that was divided by a curtain, he kept his spine straight in an attempt to exude authority.
Urmila used to address him as ‘Masterji’, but the tone of her voice had gradually become intimate and friendly. Beyji, Urmila’s mother, was right, Jaidev found. He would ask her to concentrate on her lesson, but her chatter would not stop. When Jaidev would be explaining something from her study book, her attention would wander and she would begin to talk about a school friend or tell a joke or ask an unrelated question. Or remember an incident from last evening’s outing.
Jaidev would stop her, ‘Pay attention here.’ Or, ‘It’s time to study. We can talk about all that later.’
Urmila would insist, laughing, ‘No, first tell me this.’ Or, ‘Listen to this first.’ She would break into giggles when Jaidev tried to be strict. Jaidev had to make an effort to ignore the playful antics of this young and attractive girl. He was mindful of the respect given to his father and the trust placed in him by Urmila’s parents.
True to her name, Urmila was fickle like a wave. She could not be called beautiful, perhaps, in the classical sense. A round face over a short neck, a nose that was not shapely, but wisps of golden-brown hair surrounding her fair face and large, cowrie-like eyes gave her a look that was compelling. Her ordinary features were overshadowed by her ebullient youthfulness and her brash behaviour.
Jaidev was conscious of his position as her tutor. That did not stop him from noticing the invitation in her eyes, and he would sometimes return her glance. But it happened only when they went to the bazaar for a walk, or when Beyji’s back was turned. He kept his distance when they sat for her lessons.
They were studying algebra. She would not concentrate on the problem he was teaching her to solve. After asking her to concentrate for the third time, Jaidev was a little peeved, ‘I’ll tell your father that you don’t listen to me.’
On a previous occasion, when Jaidev had threatened her in the same way, she had replied, ‘Go ahead! You’ll no doubt enjoy it if I’m scolded.’
That day she shot back, ‘Why do you try to intimidate me by reporting to father or mother as if I were my younger brother? This is between you and me. What has father or mother to do with it! Can’t you speak for yourself!’
Jaidev lost his temper, ‘I’ll slap your face! Remember that!’
‘Go on! Slap me!’
Jaidev took a deep breath to calm himself. ‘All right, pay attention. a 2 +3a+2=(a+1)(a+2)=(a 2 +a)+(2a+2).’
‘Slap me first!’ She thrust her face forward.
‘I am sorry. Please pay attention.’
‘No, first slap me. Why did you threaten!’ She snatched the math book open between them, closed it with a thud, and offered her cheek to him.
Jaidev could not restrain himself. He hit her hard. The room reverberated with the sound. The imprint of his fingers showed on Urmila’s fleshy fair cheek.
Urmila was stunned; two heavy droplets appeared in her large eyes. She bit her
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