Chapter 08

The lunch was over. He sat behind her once again on the scooty and this time he found liking it even more. Once she put a sudden-brake, he lost a bit of control and held around her hip.

“Careful!”

Atul requested in an effort to erase the embarrassment of putting his hands around her. But it was never meant to erase the warm feel of her soft belly. He wished if there were more sudden brakes. The ride kept Atul on the edge, and when they reached home, he felt ashamed for thinking like a teen.

Ankita unlocked the door and welcomed him inside. He walked in and sat on the couch. However, he refused to have any kind of drinks and hurried her to relieve him.

“Cut the formality, Ankita... I have a busy day.”

She went to her room and brought him Anvita’s ring. He began to leave.

“Are you really leaving?”

“I have to. I am still at work.”

She was disappointed.

“We won’t meet any time soon.”

She seemed to be in a dilemma. Perhaps she wanted him to stay until Sahil arrived. He grabbed her hand.

“Yeah, I know. But it’s okay. We’ll surely make up for it when we meet next time. Tell Sahil.”

He sandwiched her soft hand between his palms. “And we’ll have our next date even better.”

“So that was a date.”

There was a strange look in her eyes. She did not try to retrieve her hand from him.

“It was a date; a very good one. I will miss you.”

He said and opened his arms as a welcome gesture. To his surprise, she pushed herself into him as if she was waiting for it. He embraced her, his arms around her warm body. His arms touched behind her hips and he felt hers around him too. A few seconds later, he felt she was not willing to part herself from him. He held her and slowly detached her from him. She looked up, and he saw her eyes wet.

“What happened, Ankita?”

“I...It’s nothing...” she tried to smile and failed in it miserably. He wiped off her tears as it rolled down.

“What’s happening, Ankita!”

He hugged her again and patted behind her shoulders, unable to contain his surprise.

“I…” She sniffed, “Nothing.”

He wiped the tears slowly off her cheeks and touched over her lips. She looked up, into his eyes. He slowly touched over her lips and wiped off a drop of wetness. Soft, tender lips and inviting eyes; Atul knew where it was taking him.

“I feel like I am being seduced.”

He said with a slight smile.

Now her smile was more genuine. He held around her and walked her back to the hall and sat on the couch. She sat very close to him, unwilling to move away. A sense of awkwardness suddenly crept in the air. But there was something in it, something warm, that kept both of them from moving away.

“I… I am so sad we are leaving…”

Ankita spoke finally.

Atul was not surprised now. It was common for anyone to be disheartened when they were about to leave their home; no matter how many time they’ve lived that moment in the past. Atul ran his hand over her hairs as if to console her.

Ankita took a deep breath, “I will miss you both.”

She grabbed his other hand and smiled.

“I will miss you too… and both of you...”

Atul said.

“You are a wonderful husband to my sister. You are…”

She paused as if thinking what to say. She pressed her lips together and took another deep breath. She looked at him fondly.

“Anvita is lucky, you know. She is very lucky to have you. She’s my cute little sister. She deserves the best. I know you will keep her happy always.”

“I will, Ankita.”

“In fact, I am a little jealous. She loves me too much she won’t mind it. You know you are a fabulous lover. And everyone in my family speaks so highly of you.”

“Stop praising me that much, you’ll ruin me.”

Atul complained, jovially.

“I’d love to do that, though.”

She blurted.

“Excuse me?”

“Just kidding,” She laughed a little. “I had wished to visit you with Sahil before we returned to Canada. But then we got so busy.”

“We’ll meet next time, we’ll hang out together.”

“I even wished you taught some tricks to Sahil. It’s silly.”

She was hesitant now.

“What tricks?”

“I don’t know. I’ve asked Anvita a lot of times, but she gave me nothing except that it was so good.”

“I still have no idea what you are talking about.”

“I am talking about that night. I had heard really good sounds from your room.”

A coy smile ruled her lips. Atul was stunned.

That night, when he had fingered his wife to bring make her squirt. Anvita had really screamed that night. Suddenly he felt uneasy to face Ankita.

“Shit.”

He mumbled.

“No, it’s not shit.”

Ankita giggled, “To be honest, it was too beautiful.”

She moved a little closer and Atul looked into her eyes now.

“How?”

“I’m afraid you’d look at me differently if I told you.”

Atul stared at her for a long moment, lured by her beautiful eyes and alluring smile.

“It’s okay. Tell me.”

She bit her lips and looked down for a moment.

“Since long, I wanted to be able to scream like that.”

She looked down again and grinned. “You know, I don’t know how you’ll take it. I am scared and I am not scared about me but you. I don’t know how to tell you to convey this in such a short time. I am borrowing the foreign style… I…I wouldn’t mind going to bed with you.”

Atul was stunned. He couldn’t say anything.

“I know you’d be thinking I am insane. But...”

She paused and shook her head as if to correct herself.

“Yes…I am insane…. You know I miss good sex. I don’t want to hide it anymore. You know a woman can't live like this forever. Sahil…”

Ankita shut her eyes down and paused a moment.

“Sahil... he isn’t giving me enough. He has never made me scream. I used to think it’s impossible for me, could be my fault. But then I heard Anvita…” She looked up. “I am scared, Atul. I am scared I’ll end up doing something stupid with someone else. I don’t want that.” She cried. She had her face down in her hands and wept. Atul sat there, without even a faint idea how to respond to her.

“I am not going to seduce you. Don’t worry. I’ll never betray my sister.”

She tried to smile and wiped her face again. She took the time to compose herself.

“You should leave. I don’t wanna end up a pity figure in your eyes.”

She got up and he followed her to the foyer.

“So you want me to teach Sahil how to make you do that, huh?”

Atul asked.

Ankita shook her head, innocently.

“I wish. I wish he gave me some…you know…”

“Why don’t you learn it from your sister?”

She laughed a little.

“I tried. But she’s a bit bitchy about that.”

Ankita mocked a sad face, it was cute.

“She never gives me any details.”

“I can teach anyone anything but not Sahil. I’ll end up being taught how a tube light works.”

Atul joked. He was amazed to see he had no hurry to leave now. All it would take him were a couple of steps and a pull on the door handle in order to get out. But, somehow, something was keeping him stay and talk to his sister-in-law. He did not want to identify what it was.

“That’s a sad joke.”

Ankita made a sad face again.

“And it means there’s no other way.”

“No, obviously there’s another way,” Atul smiled.

“Tell me.”

“I am afraid you’d look at me differently if I told you.”

Ankita smiled.

“It’s okay.”

She held her chin slightly up.

“Tell me.”

Atul moved an inch closer. “You know, how about myself teaching you how to scream like that?”

Her eyes widened and it was not the reaction Atul was expecting. He immediately regretted his lame tease.

“I know you are joking.” She said.

“Of course, I am. Silly.”

“I wish you weren’t.”

She said quickly.

Atul’s smile faded in a second. Before he could say anything, Ankita leaned forward and kissed him. It was unexpected, yet unopposed, as Atul stood like a statue. His sister-in-law was kissing him. Her warm soft lips were rubbing against his cold, unmoving lips. Ankita pressed her whole body to him, and he felt the warmth of her chest.

“Ankita.”

He pulled his face back a little.

“You are kissing me.”

She grabbed his shirt and blinked twice.

“I know. Never mind, I can't stop myself.”

And she kissed him again. This time he felt her warmness sneaking into his mouth and spreading all over his body. In a moment of craziness, he embraced her and kissed her back. She opened her mouth and he touched her tongue. His hand caressed behind her and touched her flawless skin behind her shoulder.

“You are ruining me.”

He mumbled but it merely got lost in the heat.

“You are ruining me.”

Atul mumbled and kissed under Ankita’s chin. She smiled at him and hurriedly brought back her lips into his mouth. Her quivering lips were calmed as soon as he swallowed them. Ankita was pressing her body more and more into him, and Atul felt ascended to another world. His heartbeats were soaring and he was suddenly aware of his growing hardness. It was poking against her, and it awakened him. He tried to move back, and this time she parted with him. She was panting. Atul could have used the pause to move away, but he was not quite sure.

Ankita watched him and she lifted her chin and pulled him closer. She was exposing her neck. From the neck, his eyes descended to the valley and he saw tiny hair strands glowing like gold. Atul bent slightly, and she arched back, and he pressed his lips into her cleavage. Before he could grab her softness or she could allow him to lick it, they heard the door handle moving. They were standing right behind the door and they heard it clearly and it shook them both. A second later, the door was pushed open.

Sahil was standing there.

A second’s delay would have ruined their lives together. But Atul had pushed Ankita away before the door was open and he could merely take half a breath when he saw Sahil.

To his surprise, Sahil was very pleased to see him.

“I feared you would’ve left.”

“I…I was leaving but Ankita is...”

Atul stammered.

“He has no time for us. He didn’t even have a cold drink.”

Ankita said quickly as if interrupting him.

“I really like to stay but I can’t. I’m hopelessly late, Sahil.”

Atul grabbed his hand with a big, fake smile. He felt a pang of guilt. He was kissing this man’s wife a minute ago. Atul was itching to wipe his lips before Sahil could notice any wetness on it. With Sahil standing so close to him, he could not do that. Somehow, he managed to remain calm. Sahil was looking at his wife thankfully.

“I was about to call you. Where have you been?” Ankita asked.

“It took more than I thought to settle him,” Sahil explained.

“I thought you’d call as soon as you’re free. We had lunch very slowly.”

Ankita said. Atul noticed how cleverly she shut all the possible windows of suspicion.

Atul left soon. As he was leaving, he looked at Ankita and she waved to him. There was absolutely no trace of guilt in her eyes. But Atul found it difficult to cope with it. Back at the office, he was consumed by regret. More than the kiss, the fact that he enjoyed it repulsed him. Don’t I really love Anvita? Am I a fake?

He questioned himself and cringed at his own foolishness.

To make himself feel better, he shopped a new dress for Anvita when he headed home.

And poor Anvita! She was thrilled to see her loving husband return from work with a surprise gift for her. Her beautiful eyes grew wider when she looked at him. She hugged him and kissed him, and his heart sank further. If she knew what filthy secret he was hiding behind his fake smile, she would die heartbroken, he thought.

Later he stood under the shower half an hour, as though trying to wash his guilt away.

Friday Sahil and Ankita returned to Canada. The whole family was there to see them off. When Ankita said goodbye, Atul unbeknown to all sought for hints of acknowledgement. There was absolute indifference on her face, to his solace. Perhaps it was a clue to move on. As soon as she vanished from his sight, his heartbeats returned to normal and he breathed with ease. He was able to see the world more clearly.

Though he cuddled a lot with Anvita, real sex continued to elude his life for a few more days. Then, one night, Anvita pushed him down and climbed on top of him. She kissed him and sucked his lips. She pulled up her T-shirt and fed him her softness.

“Do you like it?”

She whispered.

And then he found him up. His hands soon wormed inside her skirt and pulled down her panty. He felt her fingers around his thickness as she pulled him out of his trousers.

“Oh my god!”

He sighed.

“What happened?”

She giggled.

“Nothing. It feels great when you hold it.”

She moved her hand over it back and forth.

“It feels good to hold it…”

She whispered.

A minute later she was sitting on it, driving it deep into her. She was wet. Atul was learning how much she needed him. She had engulfed him completely, and she kissed him with her wet mouth.

“Get on top of me, baby.”

She moaned. Atul turned and rolled his body and lay on top of her, and she locked him between her legs and arms. Slowly he began to move. It was good. So good like heaven. And there came the temptation to go deeper and faster. Two minutes later, he was pounding her fervently and he groaned aloud soon. He felt his hot stream of juice spurting inside her. He panted heavily. Anvita hugged him tight and lay silently.

Before he fell asleep, he heard her tired voice.

“I love you, baby.”

Rajat visited us on Sunday and Anvita refused to talk to him, pretending to be busy in the kitchen. Atul could see why.

“You don't have to avoid him completely, Anvita. After all, he’s our neighbour. Treat him just like that.”

Atul told her later.

“He was talking to my breasts you know that?”

She frowned. He was surprised.

“Really? That bastard...!”

Later Rajat invited Atul for a drink but he refused. Anvita was quite happy at his decision.

Vrinda threw a party on her birthday. Anvita chose to wear jeans and tee-shirt with shrugs, and she looked stunning. He noticed heads turning as they walked into the venue. Many of them were familiar, though.

Vrinda welcomed them with a cute smile.

“Hi, Anvi! Wow, your face is shining! Oh my god!”

Vrinda hugged her tight. She hugged Atul too.

“Thanks for coming, Atul. You look really handsome, dear.”

“Say something new, Vrinda. I am tired of these cute and handsome compliments.”

“Oh really? Just got married and you already started showing attitude?”

She tried to pinch at his cheek and he moved back.

Vrinda turned to Anvita.

“You know you’ve become the talk of our circle.”

“How?”

“You’re my friend, the one who ditched my brother.”

Anvita’s face reddened instantly.

“Really, you bitch!”

“Spare me. It’s not my opinion.”

“Yeah. I know I am gonna be teased.”

Anvita pinched her friend’s soft cheeks. Atul watched on.

“I thought all the dust would have settled down by now.”

“Well, it did for some, but now he’s here.”

And they saw Varun smiling at them.

“Look at his face, loser face!”

Vrinda ridiculed her brother mercilessly. Varun put his arms around Anvita, holding her close for one and a half second. Then he shook hands with Atul.

“Couldn’t see you the other day. Welcome to the party, my friend. “

Varun smiled without even a hint of a grudge. Atul was quite comfortable.

Varun never in the past had a problem with Atul’s relationship with Anvita. Though the former was perfect in his own way for her, he and Anvita were merely friends when Atul met her. In fact, Varun lost her the moment Atul met her, and he knew it only when Atul proposed her.

Atul had asked Anvita about it later.

“If Varun had proposed you before I did, would you have said yes?”

She had her reply ready.

“If he had proposed me before I met you, I would have. But the moment we met, you owned my heart. He lost all of his chances then and there. You were so cute you know that?”

She had pinched his cheeks and he still remembered her smile. Her reply was hugely satisfying. He felt great whenever he recollected her words.

Now, Atul was sure that the people in their common circles would compare him to Varun, but he knew that it would change nothing. Anvita was his. And he took pride in that.

Varun introduced Atul to his friends. He already knew many of them. As they mingled with each other, he found the overall underlying emotion the same as Vrinda had mentioned. Anvita was the girl who had ditched the boy; the girl who ditched her longtime friend for the better looking new one. Well, many girls took Atul’s side also.

“I like your hubby, Anvi. He’s so cute. “

Sheetal commented with a smirk.

“She hates muscles.”

Sarin said.

“Of course I hate muscles. What are they good for?”

Mrs Renuka too liked him instantly.

“Anvita, I’d like to ditch my husband for yours.”

Everyone burst into laughter.

The party peaked after Vrinda cut the birthday cake. Varun took everyone to the dance floor. Atul and Anvita very soon became the obvious attraction with their moves. They were at the centre and others tried to match their steps. Together, they were creating a small world for them within that crowd, having a great time.

Varun picked up the mike addressed the crowd later.

“Yeah, I know I have the loser tag tonight. It’s a fact that I loved her, but I fell into the friend zone and I have no shame to confess that; you know why? Because I am sure half of the men here would love to take this gentleman’s place...” He pointed his finger at Atul, “...and the other half just envy him.”

There was hooting and whistling from the crowd.

“Because, the girl in the question, is an absolute piece of art by the almighty. She’s Anvita.”

Varun smiled at Anvita and she was definitely enjoying the attention now.

“It’s my bad luck that I failed to make my move at the right time and that gives all the single guys gathered here a lesson. That is, please listen to me guys, make your move ASAP. You heard me, I said ASAP – as soon as possible. That says right now, right here.”

More claps and cheers. He waited for it to settle down.

“Just like you all know, I know that I lost my potential girlfriend but not a friend. She’s still my friend and she will always have a place in my heart. Anvita, to celebrate our friendship I invite you to share a few steps with me on the dance floor. Obviously with Atul’s permission which I assume at the moment as I am damn confident about the friendship I share with him despite him stealing my girl forever.”

Atul laughed and toasted to his words. Varun walked to him and took Anvita’s hand. People cheered nonstop as he led her away from him, to the centre.

“Music!”

As the music began, many couples joined them. Atul stood at one side and watched along with others as Anvita took steps with her friend. People clapped to encourage them which Atul thought was unnecessary. Varun led the dance and Anvita responded quite well. On the third song, Atul noticed Varun’s hand tight around her hip. They were literally hugging each other in the pretence of dancing. Atul felt a twinge of jealousy crippling his mind. An image of George dancing with Anvita the other night flashed in his mind.

Sheetal walked up to Atul and invited him to the dance floor. He politely refused at first but she was persuasive enough to take him to the floor.

However, she quickly learnt his lack of enthusiasm.

“You’re embarrassing me, Atul.” She complained. “You are not putting your heart into your moves.”

“My heart is with Anvita.”

“Imagine me as Anvita.”

“You, Anvita?”

“Please!” She looked adorable when she begged for attention.

Atul held her hands and matched steps with her. She was pleased. As the song ended Atul saw Anvita still in the arms of Varun. He quickly moved away from the floor.

That night Atul had an altercation with Anvita at home.

“You shouldn’t have danced with him like that,” He criticised her. “You were in his hands. You should have moved away from him after one or two songs.”

“Are you jealous?”

Anvita laughed. She was going to play it down.

“I am possessive about you, Anvita. You are mine.”

“Of course I am yours. Do you think I became his just by dancing with him? If I had left him midway I would have embarrassed him.”

“Why it would embarrass him, Anvita?”

Atul’s voice was stern as he continued, “It would have been perfect. You know, instead, you were giving some wrong identity to your friendship. I was standing aside like a loser and you were dancing... and dancing with your ex-boyfriend.”

“Mind your words, Atul. He was never my boyfriend.”

She frowned.

“I know that. But I want you to remember that. He’s not your ex. Why do you care for his embarrassment but not mine?”

“What is wrong in your head, Atul? We danced together for half an hour then I danced with him a few songs and you heard his words before that. He values our friendship; he was shutting all the talks that assumed like I was his girlfriend. He did the right thing. He cleared all the air. Then what’s wrong in dancing with him?”

She argued and now Atul was at loss for words.

“But you were dancing like ... very intimate with him ... that hurt me...”

Anvita stared at him, looking down on him.

“Please define your concept of intimacy, Atul. “

He couldn’t say anything.

“You were dancing the same way with Sheetal. What difference we had from that?”

“Come on... don't...”

“What don't? You danced with her, didn't you?”

“I stood there twenty minutes waiting for you and she was asking me for long. I refused at first, but then... I couldn’t have embarrassed her more...”

“If you can...”

Atul held his hand in the air to interrupt her.

“Anvita, when I tell you I was hurt by your action, why can't you just believe that I was hurt? Is it so hard to understand?”

She stared at him and the shade of anger she had begun to wear in her eyes vanished in a second.

“I am sorry Atul.” Her voice was soft. “I am so sorry if I hurt you. I didn't mean it, not even for a moment. I didn't know it when I was there.”

She hugged him. He felt all the tension fading away.

Atul had a loving, understanding wife. He loved her. Though she apologised to him, he had learnt that she wasn’t at fault. It was perfectly normal that she had danced with Varun. It was all in the bright light and in front of everyone. Nothing wrong should be perceived out of it.

In the end, Atul regretted arguing with Anvita. He thought it was perhaps his guilt of being unfaithful that forced him to become too possessive about her.

Next morning he apologised to her.

“I am sorry, baby. I was too possessive about you.”

She smiled and hugged him.

“I know why, so it’s okay.”

The event ended all well in the end. However, it made him realise one thing; that he was growing insecure about her.​
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