Short Story: The Polyamorist

Madhumati Dutta narrates a poignant tale of love and desire that impacts relationships in unimaginable ways.

He was small: only slightly over five feet, with a thin and angular face that was half covered by a beard and a moustache. The eyes were quite ordinary, yet when he would talk excitedly, they seemed to light up. His thin s-shaped brows would rise dramatically, imparting an extraordinariness to the expression. At other times, when he wanted to avoid responding to a question, his gaze would move around rapidly, discomfiting the enquirer. His lips, barely visible through the thick facial hair, were thin and unremarkable – yet when they parted slightly, his crooked front teeth gave him an expression that was both cruel and resentful. Then again, when the lips suddenly spread into a smile, the expression metamorphosed into unbridled joy. Much of his maleness seemed to be concentrated in his hands: the fingers moved with alacrity and precision, the forearms and wrists conveyed strength. And his hair – thick, rippled, and unkempt- gave away the wildness of his soul.

Abhro had begun his career as a college teacher, but then he turned into a politician with a cause. His work consumed him. He wanted to practice the kind of politics that gave priority to the education and health of the poorer sections of society. He wanted to travel all over the country, to visit the remotest corners. He wanted to bring change.