Ipsi gazed at her ring finger fondly. A huge diamond set in white gold had adorned it. Roughly one year back she got this coveted item to possess permanently She was hesitant to take such a costly thing from Balu. It could have marked her greedy. But Balu was adamant that day. He did not listen to any of her excuses. Squeezing her in a corner, he had slipped it into the finger and kissed her in the semidarkness of the disco light. Her first love and first kisses from the man who would later be her first husband. First! The thought jerked her whole existence. Is it possible that she would be married again? The man she married is so exceptional! She still misses a heartbeat, whenever an attractive female woos him for attention. He still showers her with roses and carries her photograph whenever away from home. Can a woman desire for more? Unfortunately Ipsi can. Her marriage is devoid of an important item that once brought her unfathomable sensual pleasure! A plate of ‘chilly chicken’.

 

 

 

Theirs was a classical courting. The shy sweet nineteen year old North –Indian girl had fallen instantly for the tall dark handsome Mills and Boon South- Indian hero as soon as theirs eyes had met. Balu had come to dine with the family at Papa’s invitation. The promising single man of the office was everybody’s favorite. But Papa in his wildest dream had never seen a future son in law in him. Balu was twelve years older than Ipsi. . The first week after that meet, Ipsi was so smitten by Balu, she did not know what to do with her emotion. She was horrified at the idea of her being captivated by an older man and the man not even noticing her. To achieve that apparently uninterested bachelor, totally apathetic to her emotions, Ipsi had to work extra hard. The temptation to be Mrs. Balu was all-round.; physical, social and financial. The man had a seven digit yearly contract and was jumping rapidly upwards in the aristocratic staircase of ‘Software Industry. Mama said he was destined to have a great future. But the pig-headed creature won’t look at anything that is unrelated to his career.

 

 

 

 

 

To make him notice her, Ipsi had to carefully orchestrate a succession of romantic moods. In the first phase, she played a shy teenager strongly attracted to a man but unwilling to confess her love. In the second, the introverted young lady had overcome her inhibitions and declared her love for him. However in the third decisive phase, she had played a mature woman who finally had accepted the reality. Then she would often ask for the silly little things to be kept as souvenirs, as theirs was not a union desired by God. Ipsi alias Ipsita Aurora was the darling of a meat eating Punjabi family whereas Balu belonged to a strictest clan of South-Indian Brahmins of vegetarian food habits.

 

 

 

 

 

Though Ipsi had tried very hard, she could never guess how Balu had coped those romantic aggressions without compromising on his first love- career. Even as wife, she could never invade his inner thoughts. Outwardly, she saw the indifferent man turning interested and motivated to achieve her. Then all of a sudden one day, he had dragged her to the disco bar and abruptly proposed. The actual marriage had taken place exactly one month later after his parents were convinced that Ipsi had turned into a vegetarian. . It was the best thing that happened to her? But was it?

 

 

 

 

As time has passed Ipsi has come to understand a hard fact. "Happiness is transient and disappointments cover the most of part of peoples life". For Ipsi it started soon after the marriage. She always yearned for a dream honeymoon in a snow- ridged chalet of Switzerland. Not that Balu couldn’t afford the expense. But he had combined the pleasure with duty. Honeymoon was spent at Tirumala hills waiting in queue for the busy Lord Venkatashwara alongwith the entire Iyer clan. She could not even cry in private.

 

 

 

 

 

But why the hell these thoughts have come to bother her today-- of all days! Ipsi jerks away the depressing thoughts from her mind. This is her first wedding anniversary Balu had postponed an important assignment to be with her He would be home at any time to share a quite dinner and some intimate time. Ipsi has no time to while away. A special facial at beauty parlor had freshened her skin. But nothing could be done about the hair. Balu likes it long, flowing and natural. Wrapping herself in a costly Kanchi silk, she clipped a couple of roses to the hair. Otherwise Balu would plant a full-fledged flower-shop over there. In questions of tradition, the man is a big bully. Looking at the mirror, Ipsi found the effect not totally unsatisfying. The mirror reflected lovely but typical South-Indian bride. But given a choice, she would have gone for the French designer costume that fits perfectly to her waistline and reveals a bit of leg. She could wear it once only before her marriage, in one of Papas office party.. All the men were giving her those meaningful glances that day. Specially James—Balu’s junior. Balu could have invited some of his office people today. But he had opted for a special prayer and a quite dinner!

 

 

 

 

Dinner was ready. The hardcore vegetarian would hardly have anything other than his typical Anna-Sambar. But to create variety he allowed her to add anything except the meat items. Ipsi badly wanted to have chicken but she knew having it would be nothing less than the kiss of death to her marriage. Even the anniversary cake has come from a reputed vegetarian bakery. The forbidden lure of chilly chicken had kept Ipsi depressed right from the morning but a mild excitement was there too to counteract it; the anniversary gift. Last week Balu was in Japan. He must have brought something special for their anniversary. Whatever his eccentricities are, the man is not stingy and he has special taste for gifts. Ipsi impatiently waited for the arrival of her charismatic hard-earned husband.

 

 

 

 

 Ding-dong.

The doorbell rang. Ipsi ran downstairs to greet the caller.

 

 A huge box stood at the door. Ipsi was excited. “ Careful Mam. This is live.”

 

 

The delivery boy cautioned her. “Whats that? "Ipsi was completely confused.

“Please sign the note”. He retreated hastily as if embarrassed.

 

The huge cage wrapped in gift paper sat at the middle of the hall.

 

 

Bewildered Ipsi removed the card and read the message from Balu.

 

 

 “ But for the cannibalistic desire of some humans all the hens of world would have become a proud mother like her.” 

 

 

 A mother hen sat in hatch the center of cage with a couple of eggs under her wings.

 

 

For a while, world ceased to exist for Ipsi. She was devoid of every feelings. She did not even notice Balu entering the hall with a huge bouquet. But her hands were groping the air for an imaginary knife to stab him in heart when Balu had cradled her upstairs for an intended gift of motherhood. An hour later a real knife had pierced a heart. The heart shaped vegetarian cake.