The sixth finger

Priyanka is a bubbly young software engineer with high ambitions. An extrovert she loved all good things in life, she had a disdain for anything that is conservative. Immaculately dressed to kill and with an attractive face, she was the heart throb of many in her office. She mixed with all freely. Being very good at work, she was noticed by the higher management and quickly rose to supervisory position. Her parents were pleading with her to get married ever since she found the job. She had been putting off waiting for the right person. There was this Sunil in her office who is sharing the same cabin with her. A tall and handsome guy with a curly hair and sixth finger in his hand, he had made several advances but Priyanka chose to ignore them. She was not sure whether she was put off by that protruding finger. This did not deter Sunil from his amorous endeavours.But she never encouraged him and kept him at a safe distance.

It so happened that when her parents showed her the photograph of Anand who was a management graduate working in a multinational bank, she could not say no. He looked charming with a twinkle in his eyes. His parents were known to the family and he was one among several brothers.Priyanka agreed seeing no specific reason to reject. It was all hunky dory initially. They had a spacious apartment with all facilities. As months elapsed they found they could hardly find time to spend together. She left early in the morning after breakfast and returned around 8pm after a strenuous day. Anand left at 9am and returned not earlier than 10pm.Weekends were the only time but even this was disturbed frequently as Anand left for office on Saturdays too to return dog tired by 6 in the evening. Anand was a serious guy given to intellectual pursuits and reading. A man of few words, he was the antithesis to Priyanka who kept talking and giggling all the time. There was an emotional chasm growing wider as days went by. Their love life was nothing much to talk about with both of them spent out by the time they returned home. In the three years that went by there was no sign of any child. Anand was unwilling to seek medical opinion. She would be watching the TV and sleep off in the sofa. He would be browsing the net till late into the night till he dozed away. In between he went on tours for three or four days twice a month. Life was mechanical and insipid with frequent quarrels on inconsequential matters.Priyaanka found excuses to go to her parents’ place at the drop of hat.

Sunil on his part pursued paying attention to her. He surmised that things were not going well between the couple. He spoke to her in comforting ways and helped her in her work that was falling behind. Gradually he endeared himself to her and Priyanka too derived the comfort of sympathetic shoulders to rest upon. On days when Anand was on tour, she went out with Sunil to malls, theaters and restaurants. One thing led to the other, she was soon on very intimate terms with him. Things brightened up and she looked forward to each day and contrived ways to attend office on Saturdays too on some pretext. While their torrid love affair went unnoticed and unrestrained, Anand was happy that there were no frequent tiffs at home. He worked harder to get a lift out of turn.

It was then one day when Priyanka told her parents that she was on the family way, their joy knew no bounds.Anand too was excited that he hugged Priyanka with delight. He thought with a child at home, it would become a haven of happiness and harmony. The affair with Sunil meanwhile continued unabated with Priyanka brimming with ecstasy. Months went by and soon she gave birth to a baby boy. Her parents, Anand’s parents and Anand were all waiting eagerly for the nurse to bring the babe from the delivery room. When the baby boy was finally brought wrapped in blanket, all of them exclaimed in unison the baby was a replica of Anand and taken after him in features and complexion.Anand’s mom however said the baby is having curly hair unlike Anand but that made the baby cuter. Priyanka heard all these wearing a smug smile. Anand was in cloud nine thinking of a housewarming after she returned home. Later when Priyanka was nursing the baby, she found to her horror the baby had a sixth finger.