did’nt you? You sure you want me to open the envelope? You sure kid?” When the hell did he become “kid”, Miguel thought to himself. He told him that he wanted to be a full time writer and spending eleven hours a day writing reports about the lack of proper sanitation and corrupt Netas were not helping. Kumar gave him a look that was quite familiar and roared an obscenely long Hokay! Do what you please! He did what he pleased and went back home self-employed. The next morning as she lay tucked away beneath a layer of warmness he slipped out to greet the rising ball of fire. To his dismay Ra had other plans, it rained shamelessly till noon. He decided to put his thoughts to paper. Words eluded him at first then they all together disappeared. It was a bad start. At around eleven as he got ready to go to bed he could see her reflection on the bedroom mirror. How pale her skin was now getting. Her breasts began to sag and her disfigured self somehow made him blame himself. Was this what a day of self employment did to her? Or was this what living with a delusional drunk could do to ones body? Miguel gulped down half a glass of Cognac and decided to make love to her, right then and there. She deserved it. The nights grew warmer and as their union’s inevitable end approached something quite unexpected happened. The angel Gabriel appeared in a dream to Miguel with some more- thangood news. “Fear not for thou hast found favour with God” the radiant creature spoke. “But I am all but good” Miguel replied. And in his dream his wife no longer occupied the space in their bed next to him, instead there lay piece of boneless flesh from whose bosom came forth the tender love and care he dreamed of. Pointing towards that which lay next to him Miguel uttered “Do what you please” and he woke up drenched in sweat next to her. It was the days of the unexpected. A few days later after her being continuously sick throughout the preceding mornings she was deemed pregnant. “How are you feeling?” “Was this planned because if its not there always a way you know!” “Can he afford it?” “Should I come down to take care of you?” “Is he still drinking? Don’t let him smoke in the house. You know that
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