The Dhobi's Itch




Murugesan was in a exuberant mood today. He could not keep his mind focussed on his work which was washing,drying and pressing clothes,and he prided himself on being the best that Vannerapet had to offer. This was not entirely untrue,since he had been in the business since 15,which would make him a 10-year old veteran in the tricks of the trade. But the cause for his joy was that this evening,his soon-to-be wife Parvathi was baby-sitting her Veetukaarama's kids while her Veetukaaramma and Aiyya went to a business party. This meant that after the two overly-spoilt,and overly obese kids went to bed,they had the whole house to themselves. This to Murugesan,meant a whole world of opportunities. He would have his fiancee all alone to himself in a big house,not like the Vannerapetai Kuppam where each nite was spent under the stars,and in the company of several other dhobis. He envisoned several dreams all of which more or less had the same conclusion,a very satisfying fulfilment of his deepest darkest desire.
And thus,when the joyous moment came;he promptly arrived at the back doors of the Mehtas;his lovely Parvathi welcomed him inside with a cheerful smile,her black kaajaled-eyes and red-sticker pottu perfectly contrasting her turmeric-plastered face. No sooner had the door been shut and secured,did Murugesan get about his task.

"adeyiey,ennaikkum illama inniku romba thookala irukkey di..enna edachum sokku podi podriyaa enna enakku..."
"chee,poyaa..eppa paarum unakku idhe velai; indha paaru,istam pola aada idhu onnum on voodu illa,naan vela seiyra edam,edanachum thappu aachu,en maaname poodum..adhunaala kai,kaal matha ellathayum mooditu gammunu iru enna"
"enna di,ippdi sollite;enna dhan irundhalum naan unaya katika poravan. en aasaya thrupthi padutha vendiyadhu unnoda kadamai illaya."
Saying so,Murugesan advanced towards her,making her retreat her to the far end of the kitchen. His left hand slithered into the vannaan mootai he had,while un-noticable to Parvathi,his right hand started unbuttoning his shirt.
"yovv,venaam yaa..sonna kealu..idhellam inga senja en velaye poodum..venaam yaa..vittudu..apporama innoru naalu paathukalaam"
Her pleas fell on dead ears,Murugesan was no longer a sane man,his mind completely obsessed with his desire,he advanced menacingly towards her,his eyes shining in devilish anticipation and heart beating in feverish excitement.
"haa haa haa,iniyum enna kattupadutha mudiyaadhu,maruvaadhaya samaadhaanama poodu,illati unakkum kastham,enakkum kastham" His Shirt came off,and then his lungi,he was in front of her now in his chudarmani under-garments...and poor Parvathi,with no way out or nowhere to run,had to sadly give in to his wishes..
She gave up resistance,and let him have his way..His deepest desire was just beginning to be realized...when suddenly...
BOOOOOOOOOOOMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM
The sound of the transformer bursting out must have shocked the entire colony waking them all from a blissful sleep,and plunging the entire area into darkness. Only Parvathi found it uncontrollably funny,as she cried out in the dark between tears of laughter..
"Poyaa po,,ippo poi kaatikitu aluvu indha washing machinea...appdi ennadhaan arippo,vaananukku; washing machine-la thovacha thunee thaan venumo..paaru,aandavanae unakku aapu vechitaan".
The moon-light simmering into the kitchen of the Mehtas was just bright enough to illuminate a totally flustered Murugesan who had his dirty clothes in one hand and a Surf Excel Ultra Packet in the other,gaping helplessly at the Whirlpool machine in front of him.