Married Woman by Manju Kapur Page A

know what life was all about.
    She felt a woman of the world, the world that was covered with the film of her desire, and the fluids of their sex.

    A few months and dullness began to taint Astha’s new life. What was she to do while waiting for Hemant to come home? Her in-laws were not demanding, for the housework they had help, and supervision, no matter how painstaking, still left her with enough free time to be restless in.
    ‘You need to work‚’ said her mother.
    The teaching job she had never considered with interest loomed large. Now that she was married, Astha could see that its hours qualified it as the ideal job, a fact her mother was even now pointing out.
    ‘As a teacher you will earn some money, but you will only be out half the day so the home will not suffer.’
    Astha looked resentful. Her future suddenly seemed very pedestrian.
    *
    It was some evenings later that Astha’s mother brought up the subject with Hemant. ‘She needs to be occupied, beta.’
    ‘Yes, Ma, I know‚’ said Hemant. ‘I myself was thinking.’
    ‘What about your painting and writing?’ asked her father. ‘You can make use of these talents in journalism.’
    Mother and husband expressed scepticism.
    As they walked back through the colony to their own house, Hemant repeated, ‘Journalists have to stay out late, they have very odd hours. We must see about a teaching job. You read quite a lot.’
    ‘I don’t think that alone will equip me‚’ said Astha, briefly wondering whether all women were destined to be teachers or nothing.
    Hemant laughed. ‘You will probably know more than anyone‚’ he said.
    *
    With the newly introduced 10+2 system, it was not difficult to get a job teaching elective subjects to classes eleven and twelve. In answer to the combined wishes of Astha’s relatives one of her college teachers phoned with news of a vacancy at St Anthony’s School, and if she was interested she should go and see the Principal, Mrs Dubey.
    Astha’s in-laws approved. ‘It is a good time pass.’
    ‘It’s near enough. You won’t have to spend much time on the road‚’ commented the mother.
    Her father merely said, ‘It will do until you decide to develop yourself in other ways.’
    Her husband said, ‘With a job you won’t be so fidgety if I am a minute late.’
    ‘Oh, I am to work so you can do what you like?’
    ‘Who says I want to do what I like? It will benefit you toleave the house in the mornings. When the children come we will see whether to continue this.’
    At the interview Mrs Dubey made it clear that a teacher at her school needed to show commitment to the institution, foster students’ interests in extra-curricular activities, and make sure they did well in the tenth and twelfth board exams, the reputation of a school unfortunately depending on results. Astha agreed to everything and was hired. Later she thought that since the job fell into her lap, her destiny must be teaching.
    Being a teacher meant the languor of her days was over. No longer did she have the luxury of leisurely brooding over her love, she had to get up early and go to work. She had exercises to correct, and lessons to prepare. She started a reading club, a writing club, a painting club, directed by the principal’s suggestions and followed through with her encouragement. The peripheries of her world now stretched to include many schoolgirls. Life was shaping up nicely, with her mind and heart gainfully employed.
    Hemant dropped her occasionally when she was getting late for morning assembly. Both families exclaimed at his devotion as a husband.
    *
    A day, as usual, with Hemant coming in late. Astha had been waiting the whole evening, and now took this opportunity to gaze at him, her soul in her eyes, the soul that she was waiting to hand over on a platter.
    ‘How are you, darling?’ he asked, looking at her affectionately. ‘How was your day in school?’
    ‘They have asked me to edit the school magazine‚’ she