A fotonovela by Aakansha Kukreja

Thank you:Devika Dutt, Ratika Singh, Aayushya George,

Vinayak Nagesh, Vivan Kamath, and Pragya Mahendru.

An Intangible Affair

She wouldn’t come out. She’d always find an excuse to hide behind

that locked door.

All those times Brie invited her over,she declined; almost naturally now.

Adam and Brie hadn’t even been insideher house; and they were family!

She didnt have much adoration for public transport

It was always full of people.People who made conversation.

People who made noise.People who were interactive.

Dave, her cubicle neighbour at work, had always thoughtshe was no less than absolutely adorable.

Quiet, intelligent, had funny ways of going about her day.It seemed as if her obsession with co-ordination translated

into everything including her desktop wallpaper was.

She loved her job. It was confined to her cubicle.Working with numbers and sending them in wasall she had to do. Interacting through technology

was manageable, not to mention more comfortable

He’d wanted to get to know her betterever since he got the job.

Quirky girls were always a refresher.

SATURDAY EVENING

She walked across the street to her brother Adam’s house.

She had never been there,except when she was forced to.

Really?I’ll go get Brie!

There’s someone I want you guys to meet.

You smoke then?

This is my boyfriend, Charles.

Adam stormed out

What was that all about?

She’s being ridiculous, it’s time for the looney bin!She calls that thing her boyfriend?Thats the kinda shit they use for art.I’m calling Doctor Wilbur!

Brie wasn’t sure what to do.

Um.. Nice to meet you.

ON THE PHONE : ADAM AND DR. WILBUR

What are we supposed to do? What’s wrong with her?

She’s never done anything like this before, so you shouldn’t jump to anything yet. I’d like to meet with them; her and this “Charles”

Also, I’d like you both to continue playing along.

Playing along?!You want me to pretend that a piece of wood is a real person?That’s outrageous. I’m gonna start thinking I’M the lunatic in this drama.

All you women are the same. CRAZY!

Adam was losing his patience slowly.

AT ADAM AND BRIES

He’s just a pieceof wood, DAMN IT!

She seemed tooinvolved with Charles

to hear Adam screaming.Brie was glad she hadn’t.

She gave Adam a ‘look’.

What do you think love?

Hey, what do you think of coming with us

to Dr.Wilbur’s tomorrow?

She agreed on their behalf

AT DOCTOR WILBURS OFFICE

It’s nice to finallymeet you, Charles

He’s funny, isn’t he?It’s nice to have someone to love

MEANWHILE, IN THE WAITING ROOM

POSSIBILITIES

objectophilia?

delusion?

tetrasexuality?

result of loneliness

childhood?

What do you think they’re doing in there?Why are they taking so long?What do you think Dr.Wilbur’s solution is?Why is this happening to her?When did this start?Do you think it’s because we left her alone too much after mom passed away?

She felt safe with him around.Safer doing things she didnt usually do.The things she’d seen other couples doing.

Even Brie grew fondof Charles

ONE MONDAY

Charles wasn’t in bedas usual.

Something was wrong

Whatt have you done with him?You never liked him anyway!

She was frantic.Where could have gone?

And how?

Adam and brie, I don’t know where he is or who took him away. Maybe he even left by choice. (I’d like to believe otherwise though). If you had something to do with this,I just want you to know that, unlike people aroundme, he made me happy. I felt normal when i connectedWith him things began to seem okay, even thingsI hated before.Yeah we had a few ups and downs,but I loved him regardless. It was nice to be wanted,in a way you will never understand. It was nice to be able to give someone all this a�ectionI didn’t know i was capable of giving. I wanted tobe like you guys and other couples. Like other girls.I guess im not like that. Not without him anyway.I’m going back in. You won’t see me for a while now.It’ll be like the old days.