Adultery When the unthinkable happens... by Ramesh1990-COMPLETED

[Ramesh_Rocky]

Preeti Jain

The moment the three of them had walked in for a repeat discussion on the business entry strategy, Ramesh had felt a new kind of enthusiasm. Mr. Rao and Preeti had arrived in the evening and the latter, unused to air travel had been sick all through the flight. She had looked awful and after dinner had retired early. Mr. Rao had taken off with his Singapore counterpart. Ramesh and Preeti had walked back to their room, which were side by side. As she swiped the plastic key at her door she had called goodnight to him, pleading with him that she really needed to get back to bed. “Sure”, he had said.

This morning, at breakfast, she was her normal self. The early night had brought back the color in her cheeks and the three of them had chatted normally, discussing their agenda points. At the JHC hq, Mr. Rao had taken command. He had strode purposefully to the Chairman and had pumped the latter’s hands enthusiastically. Then he had introduced Preeti as a bright young woman, who had been equally involved in the project. The Chairman had said the appropriate things to Mr. Rao and also shook hands with Preeti. Thereafter, much to his surprise, he had commended Ramesh’s efforts. It was all politeness and mutual respect. Then all of them had sailed into the conference room, where Preeti stood up with a fresh presentation.

Preeti’s presentation contained basically the same points which he had covered the days before, but it was the way that she delivered, emphasizing where he had glossed over, bringing out the subtle nuances, that mesmerized the audience. In no time, she had the whole board listening to her words, as if they were listening to something new this time, and they frequently interrupted her to hold discussion among themselves – sometimes in English but mostly in Mandarin. Of course, in the absence of Jim; they had no clue as to what was going on inside their minds. Mr. Ching, the marketing head, the one who had mauled him yesterday, put up a couple of searching questions and also repeated his objections. How Preeti countered him was simply amazing. She turned his questions on him, hammering in the basic point that Mr. Ching’s appraisals were indeed valid for this country only and not for India, where the company was planning to enter. Mr. Ching scratched his chin a couple of times, tried to say something and then thought better of it. Clearly, Preeti had put it past him.

The presentation and the Q&A session was over. A pregnant pause ensued. Mr. Rao also kept silent.

Finally it was Mr. Ching, who spoke. “Mr. Rao, as you can be sure, we will be evaluating all these with utmost care. May I suggest, if it is not inconvenience you, please, let Mr. Ramesh and Miss Jain visit me tomorrow with all the raw data. We need some due diligence, you know.”

Mr. Rao spread his arms wide. “Certainly, they will be here tomorrow. Please also do not hesitate to call me, if you need.”

“No, no”, Mr. Ching spoke, “We are sure, them will do. I am sure, you have other things to do in our beautiful city.”

“Sure, sure”, Mr. Rao spoke catching the drift, “ I will hop over to see some of our old clients. And in any case, I am just a phone call away.”

* * *

On the way back, Ramesh couldn’t control himself. “Sir, what does this mean? Do we get the deal?”, he had blurted out.

“It means”, Mr. Rao had a put on serious tone, “We will celebrate this evening, to the excellent effort that you two have put on.”

“Wow”, Ramesh exclaimed. Just the presence of Mr. Rao made all the difference.

Mr. Rao smiled.

* * *

The trio met at the downstairs restaurant at nine. Mr. Rao was in excellent mood. He ordered an expensive wine ( champagne only when the deal is clinched – he said). Preeti started to protest that she had never touched any alcohol, but Mr. Rao would brook no opposition. Amidst his retelling of many past business deals, how they had been achieved and what a sterling performance that Preeti had dished out today after Ramesh had effectively laid the groundwork; he had toasted several times and Preeti had downed glass after glass. Dinner over, they had made their way back to their respective rooms and by that time Preeti was thoroughly drunk, she clutched Ramesh for support as she neared her room. He took the key off her, opened the door and watched her walk on unsteady legs. Then he bid her goodbye and came to his room.

An hour later, still in that happy funk, he thought of raiding the mini-bar once again. As he neared the fridge, he heard a soft knock on the door. He opened. It was Preeti. She had changed into a faded cotton nightie.

“Going up to Sir”, she said, before he could say anything. “ He said some important clarification asked by JHC”, she slurred, the effects of the drinks showing clearly. “Will call you, if necessary. Otherwise goodnight.” She shuffled to the lift and pressed the bell.

It was only after she had gone up, that something started to prick at the base of his neck. He looked at the watch. It was beyond eleven. What did sir want with her now? He got up and got out another bottle from the mini-bar. Was it something that he made missed out? No, no; how could that be. In any case they were going to JHC the next afternoon too. What then? He started pacing the room. Probably, it was something that their Chairman had asked in an off hand manner and sir wanted to give a reply right away. That must have been it.

In any case, something didn’t quite add up, he figured. The suspense was killing him. And he couldn’t possibly ring up sir to find out. He tapped at his head. Okay, the next best thing to do was to hear it out from Preeti herself. That he could do.

He walked over to the door, opened it and wedged a small magazine there. That way he would know when she came back, for her room was next to his and then he would find out …

He must have passed out for he woke up with a start. Someone was walking in the corridor in soft slippers. The footsteps went beyond his room and then stopped. A minute past, he heard the faint creaking of his own door, then a shadowy figure walked in and looked at his bed, without switching on the light. Next, she climbed into his bed, and Ramesh who was wide awake now, found Preeti adjusting her back to him, spooned up. She started sobbing softly. He was flabbergasted. “What hap..”, he whispered. In reply, she took his arm and buried it across her chest and held tightly. “Don’t ask”, she sobbed, “Just let me stay please.”

He held her tight while the sobs tore through her. He had a million questions of her, but probably, he knew all the answers. With a fit of rage, he started to get up, “I will kill that bastard”, he shouted. Preeti pulled him back, again adjusting his arm across her and holding on tight. His blood was on the boil, but he couldn’t do a thing. With his free hand, he started smoothing her hair, noting that this calmed her down. Her sobs had stopped and she was breathing evenly. Perhaps, she had gone to sleep – thought and that of course would be the best thing. He kissed the back of her head, taking care not to dislodge his wedged arm for that might wake her up. Then he closed his eyes, waiting for sleep to catch up…

When his eyes opened, he found her standing at the foot of her bed, looking at something besides him. He looked sidewise. She then pointed at the dark patch and he understood.

“It was my first time”, she said in a matter of fact manner.

He looked at her face, at her faded gown, which had a bigger patch of blood stain. Then he put his face down, down on his chest – for he felt so inadequate, so ashamed of belonging to the gender where a man, someone he respected, had deflowered a girl half his age. He couldn’t bear to look at her.

“Thanks Ramesh for the support. One request though, do not do one single thing about this incident.”

“I will kill that bastard! Let’s report it to the security officer. Let him rot in jail motherfucker…”, his tears were flowing.

She came over near him and placed a hand over his. “Promise me, you will do no such thing – if you ever had the slightest feeling for me. Promise that you will behave with absolute normalcy, come what ever. Promise me ..”, she had taken his palm in both of hers.

He couldn’t trust to speak. He just nodded.

“I will spend the whole of tonight with him. Tomorrow, you and me return home. We talk then only.”

He clutched the towel to his face and made way towards the bathroom. When he emerged, she had already left. They met at the restaurant for the complimentary breakfast, but Mr. Rao was not to be seen. Preeti had turned into her professional self again as they discussed the project papers. This also served to take his mind away from the horrors of the previous night. At noon, both made way for the JHC hq.

Mr. Ching received the two of them with an unusual warmth. Ramesh was astonished to find that this person, who had been so combative just the days before, had turned in so cordial. He took them out for lunch, at a fairly decent restaurant. Preeti handed him over the backup papers and Ramesh started to explain. However, Mr. Ching stopped him mid-sentence with a smile. He started discussing about his family, his ancestral roots; the origins of JHC, their global spread etc. etc. Thereafter, he inquired about their office back home, the work ethics, who all had worked on the project, how they had gone about it; which ideas came from whom. It all seemed very odd to both Ramesh and Preeti, but they dismissed it to the eccentricities of Mr. Ching. Or maybe it was the local culture …

The lunch had lasted for over three hours and neither were feeling any strain. Rather, they had been able to glimpse a bit of the soul of each other. With profuse goodbyes, Mr. Ching had seen them off and they had returned to their hotel.

“Going for a snooze”, Preeti had said at the door.

“Me too”, he had replied and both had gone in their respective rooms.

Around seven, Preeti had called him. “Will be dining with him, in his room. Get a bottle of whatever, in your room.”

Later on, she had downed peg after peg of the whiskey.

“Slow down”, he had advised, “you will pass out.”

“I sincerely hope I do that!” She downed the last drop in her glass, made a face and then walked out.

* * *

He met her next morning at the lobby. Both of them had their bags ready. In the breakfast buffet, he moved closer to her and shot her a questioning glance.

“I don’t want to talk about it”, had been her curt reply.

Mr. Rao, who he didn’t see this morning as well, was staying over for some other business leads. Ramesh called him, announcing their departure. He wished them both a pleasant journey and asked them to take tomorrow off. Ramesh’s blood curdled as he spoke to this monster, but he kept quiet.

During the three and half hour flight, Preeti slept almost the whole time. He nudged her awake as the disembarkation forms were being handed out. She woke up groggy, made way for the bathroom and returned with her face still wet.

Later at the airport, he had invited her to come in his taxi, as her residence was in his route itself. She assented and when both sat inside; went completely mute. He took out his mobile and called Kajol to let her know that he had reached. Kajol was already in the University. She mentioned something about some seminar being going on in her department and that she would have to stay till the conclusion. She was sorry, not to have been there when he returned. But surely, they would be meeting in the evening.

After he had talked with Kajol, Preeti towards him and said.

“Can I make a request.? Would you mind stopping in my home for a while.”

He exhaled. How did it matter, now that Kajol won’t be waiting for him at home.

“Ok”, he said. She squeezed his hand.

They dismissed the taxi before a small but neat standalone house. Preeti rang the bell. A woman, most definitely her mother, opened it and gave out a squeal of pleasure.

“Preeti bete, …”, she hugged her.

“Maa, this is Ramesh, works in my office.”

Ramesh did a namaste to her mother. She raised her hand in acknowledgment.

“Come in beta, come in, come in”, she exclaimed brightly.

He settled into the small sofa. A boy came out and folded his hands in namaste.

“My brother”, Preeti introduced, “ now in the 12th.”

Then a pimply giggly girl followed in. She was the sister and in 10th.

Preeti had vanished inside being clobbered by her siblings, whose excited voices could be heard from the other room, exclaiming the foreign gifts. Her mother came and sat near him, giving him a glass of lemonade. In the space of fifteen minutes, he had understood Preeti's situation. After the death of her father last year, she had been forced to take up a job, as otherwise the whole family would have starved. Her mother told him proudly that she drew twenty thousand a month, which was grand! Later on, he had lunch with them – a very simple affair of dal roti and sag – but something he couldn’t say no to all their sincere and loving eyes.

Finally, it had been time to go. While waiting for the incoming ride, Preeti had sidled up closer. “That night, my salary went up from twenty to thirty. Samir goes to a technical course next year. Where do you think that extra money will come from!”

[Ramesh_Rocky]

Ramesh

“You act very different”, Kajol said. We were lying on bed, she glued to my side

“Yeah, yeah! Last several days, you know the project and Singapore”, I replied.

“I understand honey”, she said gently sliding her hand across my chest.

She however, didn’t quite understand. Didn’t quite know, for I never told her what had taken place over there. A full week had gone by since the return from Singapore and I was afforded with that rare commodity – perspective. It was one thing to make a Detailed Project Report on the drawing board but selling the same DPR to the client – well that was a totally different matter. I had no idea whether JH Corp had brought in to our idea – in principle at least, despite what Mr. Rao had told us. It was a nail biting time for me and for my two junior colleagues who had toiled so hard to make it a success. However, the fruits of our labor were yet to materialize. There was no communication from the Singaporean client save that our proposal was still under consideration and that we would be notified in due course. What all of that boiled down to is that, should they consider it; then that would mean a big promotion for me, a bigger house maybe, certainly a decent car and … Heck, Delhi was still some distance away.

These things I couldn’t tell Kajol, though I am sure, she sensed some of it. I just didn’t want to put out a rosy picture beforehand, touchwood.

“Honey, relax yaar. Am sure things will turn out to be okay”, I heard her saying the words but those didn’t really enter the funky state I was in.

Her hand had traveled down and there was a mischief in her eyes. I knew what was coming. Just a fortnight back, that would have signaled the onset of a joyous session of lovemaking. But try as I may, I couldn’t work up the mojo. The desire simply wasn’t there. Gently, I pulled her hand away.

“Honey, not in the mood. Ok?”

“It’s alright”, she answered and wrapped an arm round my neck. She kissed my cheek and closed her eyes. I put my arm around her and gave out a huge sigh. ‘God, this uncertainty is certainly killing me’, I said to myself as I closed my eyes.

There was that other thing as well. Perspective, as I said earlier. That was about my boss Mr. Rao and about Preeti as well. It was quite inconceivable for me to fathom Mr. Rao. Both he and Srilekha mam had been so courteous and I who had not had a sibling had quite taken to both of them. Srilekha mam was such a nice lady, just like a big sister, and she had gone out of way to befriend Kajo. She had taken her out for lunch, to art gallery and moreover invited her to their home when I had been away. She really was so good. And Rao sir, he had also acted no less than a big brother to me, all through the previous couple of weeks; put me in charge of the Singaporean project. I wish, I could someday be like him…

Yet it was that thing, that incident with Preeti. I couldn’t put a finger to it at all. ‘My God, that was totally out of character.’

That was the other thing. Kajol should know that Mr. Rao was not all that he seemed to be like. But the thing was that how could I tell her that without letting her know that Preeti had later on spent the night spooned up with me! And how on earth was I supposed to explain to her that I was only extending comfort and support to Preeti…

I knew, I wouldn’t be able to sleep for a while now. Slowly I disentangled from Kajo’s embrace and got out of bed. I took out a bottle of cold water from the fridge and went to the balcony with the cigarette pack. It would be a couple of hours before I would return to bed …

* * *

Tuesday morning. Apart from the lingering uncertainty over the JH Corp deal; there wasn’t a whole lot of things to be done. I got out of my cubicle and took a stroll around. Half of the office seemed to be empty. ‘Where are the guys!’, I wondered.

There was a buzz on my mobile. It was Sekhar, our senior manager.

“Ramesh, can you be free for the day please? I need you to do something for me …”

Needless to say, I had to make myself free. He was out of station, with a whole team, I remembered that now. There was a major business lead that they were following. It had to do something with a small time entrepreneur who had hit it big with a washing powder formula. Local success had led to rumors about a major venture capital funding in that project and no sooner had we got that info, Mr. Rao had rushed off Sekhar with his team immediately. The sharks could smell blood from afar – it was a question of which one pounced upon the prey first.

“Of course!”, I answered with a enthusiasm that I did not fee. “Do tell.”

“You need to go to Bajajbhai’s office now …”

“Oh no!”, I gulped in the air for Bajajbhai’s was the prickliest account that we maintained. The man himself, who had inherited a steel empire, was one of our earliest clients. Problem was that he was finicky about everything. Every single detail of every promotion event had to be explained to him beforehand. It was customary for each new staffer to accompany either Mr. Rao or Sekhar for any new presentation – the rite de passage – and everyone hated that, as I had also, when Bajajbhai had thrown the files at our face. Sekhar, without batting an eyelid had collected the papers, said sorry and left. A fortnight later, our corrected proposal had been accepted and immediately a sum equal to half of our annual overheads had been credited to our office account. That was Bajajbhai for you. I hated him …

When I called up the office assistant to inquire if the company car was available; he asked me if I would mind sharing it with Preeti who was already downstairs leaving for the Labor Commissioner’s Office to file some statutory returns, in half an hour. ‘Fine, ask her to wait for me’, I said and hung up. Next, I called up Mr. Rao’s chamber but the intercom kept on buzzing. Apparently he was also out. So I shot him a sms.

Preeti was already in the car when I settled in. She nodded briefly at me and then we were off. Ever since our return from Singapore, we had hardly talked any, other than on official matters. Fact of the matter was that she hardly figured in my thoughts – damn that JH Corp business.

“How long shall you be”, she asked.

“Me, I don’t know, never know with Bajajbhai.” I looked away from her. The thought of meeting with Bajajbhai was like getting an injection – necessary but painful.

“Ok, let me check later. If you are free, we can have lunch outside.”

I said ok and we talked of some more useless office topics. My destination had come first and I got off the car.

Half an hour later, I was free – thank god for small mercies. Bajajbhai had an urgent appointment to make and so taken off suddenly, as his secretary informed me. No, she couldn’t tell me when he would be back and in any case, today seemed implausible, as she explained. I left my number with her, in case he did, and walked over to their PR department for some chit chat and then left.

Later Preeti had joined me for lunch. She sidled in to my side chair. She ordered for both of us and when we were waiting for the desserts, turned towards me.

“Hard thing – no? That JH Corp …”

“Yeah!”, I said, banging down the glass of water I was drinking from.

“Would be nice if it works out”, she said putting her hand over mine, “Even a reduced proposal.”

Suddenly I felt very tired. That whole thing, starting about three week back, still continuing, the uncertainty over its outcome and my future … I was sick of it, totally sick of it. I looked into her eyes and blurted out …

“How is your mother?”

She gulped, surprised at the change of tack. “Oh, she is fine. But, as I was saying, I hope something good turns out of our Singapore trip.” She patted my arm.

That was proverbially the last straw. The only good that had possibly come out from the trip seemed to be her salary hike and her getting romped.

“Preeti, tell me one thing. Have you met sir during this week – you know what I mean?”

Her eyes widened in shock. Then her gaze dropped. “Once”, her voice rasped.

“Good for your”, I said, suddenly as a blaze of anger coursed through me, “Nice route you have taken to climb up the corporate ladders.”

Her hand flew to her mouth. She looked at me, as if seeing my face for the first time. I watched her collect her handbag and rapidly make out for the outside…

Later, much later, after I had paid the bills, did I come out. She was long gone.

‘Heck! What had I done?’ I pummeled a fist into the other palm. By that time, the red haze of anger had subsided. Now I was worried for her.

I called up the driver, whom informed that he was returning to office after dropping Preeti mam. Oh! That was a godsend. I had been to her house once only and couldn’t possibly locate it. But the driver knew the address … well, I had another chance – surely to redeem myself from the donkey of an image that I had portrayed.

She herself opened the door after I pressed the bell. Without a word, she turned around and made her way back inside.

“Hey Preeti, Preeti listen. I am sorry yaar.” In desperation I latched on to her hand to stop her from going inside.

She stopped and I walked around her to see her tear stricken face. I took a look at the faded shapeless gown that she had changed into. She must have had a good crying, for the salt crystals shone along the tear lines. The make-up was smudged as well.

Then my heart missed a beat as I remembered something. Her mother – what would she make of it, goddamn it – I had been a guest at their dining table.

“Mataji inside?” I inquired.

She moved her face from side to side. “Gone to visit a relative, will return by evening.”

“Samir?”

Again she shook her head. “Both return after five”, she said.

I let out a sigh. “Ohhh!”, I struck my forehead, quite relieved. Now at least I had chance to repair my damaged reputation before any of her family members arrived.

“Preeti”, I spoke as I joined my hands together before her, “listen, I don’t know, what came over me. I am sincerely sorry yaar. Please forget and forgive.”

She broke into a sob again and I moved nearer to her saying sorry over and over again. Her sobbing had grew louder and she banged her fists repeatedly on my chest. “You, you, you. You called me a whore, didn’t you, didn’t you!”

“Hey, hey; take it easy” I said holding her tight.

She felt so vulnerable, so much like a child that I pecked at her forehead. “Its alright you know, quite alright”, I kissed her all over her face and kept patting her. She was calming down now. “I am not a whore, not a whore”, she gasped as she held me back tight. As I comforted her, she lifted her face and pressed her lips against mine. Then she drew her head back. “Tell me Ramesh, tell me that!” It was now or never.

“You are a princess” I told her as I kissed her back hard.

Then her sheer youth took over. Clamping my head in both her heads, she started kissing me furiously. She thrust her tongue out and a moment later I found it pleasurably dueling with mine. Her trembling hands started fumbling with my tie and I helped her take it off. The shirt and the pant were next. I turned her around and unbuttoned her gown. Then I held her at an arms length as we both looked at each other in our undergarments. I turned her around and unclasped the bra. Her taut breast stood out proud and in the center were the pink nipples. I latched on to one…

“Ahhh!”, she gasped hard for I had bit her hard. “Villain”, she thrust my head back laughing, “You want to leave marks!” “Yes, yes”, I replied as I gave a bite on the other side. “Yeoww”, she cried out. Pushing me away she sat down and yanked down my shorts. I was already ready. She enveloped the dick in her mouth and gave a wholesome lick. Millions of pleasure streaks erupted in my head as I felt her warm mouth on my cock. Drawing back the foreskin with her lips, she started commencing a wonderful blowjob. I watched back as her head bobbed rhythmically and in no time I had reached full erection. Five minutes later, she gave an audible kiss to the tip and looked up at me. I lifted her up and carried her to the sofa. By that time she was already wet. Opening her legs wide, I positioned the tip of my cock to the entrance of her wonderful pussy. One push and the rock hard cock was already in. She moaned. I looked into her eyes and started thrusting in slowly. Her eyes widened. Her breathing increased and she wrapped her arms around my neck. “Faster, come on faster, ahhhh, ….”, she shouted thrusting her pelvis back at me, to meet thrust for thrust…

Later on, she had made tea for both of us. As I sipped it, I asked her a little more about her family. In a matter of fact manner, she described how her father had passed away in a road accident the previous year. With no meaningful support coming from any quarter, she had to drop out of her MBA program midway to take up a job that would augment the little savings that the family possessed.

“There is Samir and Guddi’s future to secure first”, she reiterated her priorities.

I drew her close and kissed the top of her head.

“You are a brave girl and will always be my favorite princess”, I said.

[Ramesh_Rocky]

Kajol!

Kajol picked up her mobile and watched the screen. It was Prof Bharadwaj calling.

“Meet me tomorrow. Noon, ok?”, he was brusque.

“Ok sir”, she replied in a meek tone. “ (At the) Department, sir?”

“No, no. Come to my house. Pooja will be there too. We will have a family party.”

Her heart missed a beat. She hadn’t met the Goddess for long. Languidly, she stretched out a hand, feeling the excitement run through her. The Goddess with her perfect coiffeur, her elegantly tapering finger nails, the smell of her feet, the taste of her sole … ‘Ah! Can’t wait till noon tomorrow.’ She snapped her hand back. Her heart was pounding hard.

She was still lost in her thoughts, when the mobile started ringing again.

“Hello”, she said glad that it was Mr. Rao at the other end.

“Honey…”, the voice cooed from the other end.

“You haven’t called since you returned from Singapore”, she hurled an accusations.

“I know dear”, she heard his deep voice. “That’s why I am coming over tomorrow.”

“What?” she said taken aback. Her head started swimming.

“Don’t you worry dear. Ramesh will be on tour tomorrow.”

“You fiend”, she cried in mock anger “Sending the man away while you seduce his wife …”

She heard his cackles from the other end. “Damn right you are. You see, the woman is so willing, … , I can hardly resist her charms …”

Then she suddenly remembered her earlier commitment at the Bharadwajs’.<

“Is it possible for you to come early please … you see, I have an important seminar to attend to tomorrow at noon …”

“Ohh, is that so, hmmm, can’t reschedule, … mmmm already informed Ramesh about his tour tomorrow, … , ok let’s see. I will come by nine-ish, … , and have you dropped at the university. That ok?”

“That’s fine lover, mmmuahh! Just come over early …” She disconnected after a few sweet nothings.

* * *

Ramesh returned somewhat late. His tie was askew and clothes a bit more awry than usual. In the doorway, he started taking off his shoes hurriedly.

“Damn”, he exclaimed pulling off his shocks, “another useless day at office …”

Kajol looked at him quizzically. He seemed to be in a hurry.

“Damn. Had to spend the day out … , that one prick you know, I have told you before … Bajajbhai … and couldn’t even have his darshan … phew!” He kicked his shoes into the shelf.

She nodded. He had told her before, how difficult it was to handle Bajajbhai.<

“You went alone?”, she asked in an even voice.

“No, Preeti also went. Err no”, he answered confused seeing her raised eyebrow. He dashed to the bedroom, taking out his tie and suit. “I mean”, he blabbered while changing into a towel, “Preeti also rode together to go to the Labor Commissioner Office.”

“Eh urgent”, he smiled sheepishly, showing a single finger to her and disappeared into the bathroom. She smiled back and heard the bathroom flush operating. Her attention was diverted to his clothes strewn away carelessly. She went ahead to pick up the suit and placed it in the hanger. Then she bent down to collect his vest and brief. She was about to throw it in the wash pile when her fingers touched encountered something moist. ‘Had he peed in his pants’, she laughed turning his brief inside out. There was more of that wetness. She stuck a finger tentatively to touch it. It was moist and gooey. Then there was that characteristic smell, the strong odor - that of bleach … known to every married woman … her eyes shot up at the discovery.

Post dinner, he had dragged her to bed while she protested that there were the dishes to be done. He had ripped off her night gown and urgently shed his. Even as she was weakly resisting his advances, his mouth had found her breasts. He was totally oblivious to her entreaties of taking it easy … it was as if a demon was riding him … “too long, …, too long”, his voice was rasping, “for too long, I have missed my Kajo”, he said while transferring his mouth to another nipple … she sighed in pleasure and her hand shot up to his head trying to push him down for the licking below, which she was accustomed to … but today he was acting very differently. He shook her hands off and straddled her, pinning her down, and she became aware of the poke from his penis, he appeared to be in such a hurry, and before she realized, he had already thrust inside … He was getting into his strokes and she plunged her arms behind the pillow, … , he was already settling into a rhythm with fast and furious stokes …

Later on when they were lying side by side, she had asked him. “Whatever got into you today? Did you jerk off seeing a pretty chick in the streets?”

His eyes clouded over, for an instant, and then he had laughed. “Missed my wife for long, … ,” he had given a short laugh. “Oh have to go to sleep early, … , forgot to tell that there is an outstation tour tomorrow, … , have to leave early.” With that he had turned over and closed his eyes. Shortly afterwards, she heard his gentle snoring. She tuned to his side and held him from behind and felt sleep descending over even as if something was registering in her mind, that there was something that he hadn’t told her … perhaps …

* * *

She opened the door at the ring and there was Mr. Rao standing with a broad smile. Stepping in, he opened his arms wide and she rushed into a deep embrace, inhaling his very masculine odor, eyes shut. When he released her, she found she was not alone … there was a very young woman, thin as a college-goer the likes of whom she encountered at the university.

“Hi Kajol, I am Preeti”, the girl-woman smiled at her and before she could recover from the embarrassment of the moment, and Preeti had walked right in ahead of the two, into their drawing room. She swung her office bag off and from the inside took out a bottle of wine. “Glasses please, …” she spoke softly.

Kajol nodded and hurried off to the kitchen, glad for the respite. ‘Goodness!, It was so embarrassing’, she flushed as she went about taking out glasses and snacks. Her heart was beating fast. ‘What must have Preeti thought seeing her rush into her boss’s arms?’ She leaned against the counter trying letting the pounding in her chest subside. ‘But then, what is she doing with Mr. Rao? And why had he brought her here?’

When she returned to the drawing room, both of them were on the large sofa. She lowered the tray on the center table. “Here”, Mr. Rao patted to his other side and shifted a bit to the side, squeezing the space on Preeti’s side. The blush rose to her cheeks as she settled down besides him. Preeti opened the bottle and handed out the wine. To cover up her discomfiture, she finished the full glass in one go.

Mr. Rao was looking at her, an amused look on his face. “Come darling!”, he pulled her closer, “We are all friends here …”. He kissed her on her lips. She wiped her lips with the back of her arm and saw him settle back with an arm around Preeti’s neck. Preeti, on her part, looked straight ahead. Then he leaned towards her and Kajol found him tugging her towards him and still holding on to Preeti, he started kissing her. She felt the rush, that of the wine starting to take its effect even as the familiar feeling of melting into Mr. Rao’s overtook her. “Don’t mind Preeti, she is my little pet”, he swiveled and kissed Preeti before taking his arm off her and now drew Kajol in a full embrace.

His face was so close, she looked at the familiar sharp nose and his musk was so overpowering. She made little resistance as he slithered her down the sofa, Preeti shifting hurriedly to the single-seater, while he mounted her over the sofa. Positioning her hands over her head he started kissing her in earnest. She joined him, hardly being in any position to do otherwise … and opened her mouth welcoming his tongue inside … she closed her eyes for a moment and then sucked on his tongue fully and fiercely … as if to swallow it a whole … while he pushed her head from behind, their faces squarely squashed … she blanked out for a second … unable to breathe and unable to move as he had her pinned … then he got up and she gulped in the air hungrily … and her heartbeat was up … His mouth came down again and this time on her neck and she felt his heady musky odor enveloping her all around … the pleasure streaks shooting up inside … her heartbeat up …

He continued smooching her for a while, and she had got over doing all this in Preeti’s presence … and when he got up abruptly, she lay in a daze; flushed at his assault. She got up to sit properly. Preeti had refilled their glasses and handed it to them.

Drinks respite over, he herded them to the bedroom. Methodically, he undressed her, peeling off her clothes one by one and she did the same to him, thinking of her childhood days of dressing and undressing the dolls. Then he had carried her to the bed, drawing her tighter … his mouth traveling to her full breasts … in no time the nipples had become tight as she felt the lightning flicks of his tongue on those … driving her crazy … suddenly she felt the gush, the release of her love juices, even as an orgasm started raising its head… She watched Preeti getting rid of her dresses, observed her thin frame. Preeti had climbed up and positioned herself near his cock. Mr. Rao laid back on the bed, an arm below his bed and Kajol hoisted herself on an arm to press her lips to his. Down below, Preeti had already taken his cock in her mouth and was licking it earnestly. Kajol cupped a breast and put a nipple directly in his mouth and he started sucking hard.

“Uuufffffffff …”, she cried out involuntarily as he bit her tender flesh and suddenly, she felt the first orgasm explode inside her. She drew his face, hard against her breasts, as he sucked furiously, … waves after waves of pleasure hitting her … , then she had withdrawn and moved to his cock which Preeti delivered readily to her. She closed her mouth around it and began the blowing furiously. Quietly, Preeti took to licking his balls … Mr. Rao could take it no longer and his body tightened, his frame arching up … “I am cumming”, he shouted as the first jet of sperm shot in her mouth. She sucked him and felt the wonderful feel of his cock throbbing in her mouth, spurting out the semen and let it pass through her throat with the unique out of the world taste… When she removed her mouth to prevent a spill, Preeti had taken over. Systematically, she licked out the remaining juice from him …

They had lain together, one on either side of him in his arms. He kissed them repeatedly alternating between the two of them. All of a sudden, he pulled both together and the three kissed together. Mr. Rao withdrew and pushed both them towards each other. Kajol felt weird tasting the other girl’s lips, but found Preeti smiling. She smiled back at her …

A while later, Mr. Rao was again ready for the next session. He caught hold of Kajol by the waist and hoisted her to a doggy position. Positioning himself from the rear, he into her. Kajol felt the hardness of his cock pushing through her pussy. Ummmmhhh, it felt so nice, her pussy lips stretching out to accommodate him and him driving through full to her inside, … , she closed her eyes savoring every moment of his engorged manhood filling her out completely, … , as he started stroking her … , very soon she was on the verge of another orgasm and opened her eyes sensing movement below her, … , for Preeti had moved in below her and was now sucking her nipples, …, the pleasure was too much for her, and she bucked up, but there was no let go, as Mr. Rao held her waist tightly and went on slamming like a piston … “Pllllleeeeessseee….”, she shouted for them to stop but he just went on and she was now a heaving wildly, … , the exquisite pain-pleasure, …, she couldn’t take it anymore, … , mercifully she heard the grunts of Mr. Rao from behind – he was panting furiously, and then felt the warm liquid running down her legs for he had achieved release …

She fell facedown on the bed, trying to catch her breath. Mr. Rao had laughed “I will fuck you till I knock you up with my baby”, he had said and laughed more and then gone into the bathroom. Kajol lay panting and when she had achieved a semblance of normalcy, she turned over and looked into the eyes of the young Preeti. “I know this is all wrong, but I love him”, she whispered feeling the tears springing up. Preeti placed her arms on hers and patted in understanding…

Then she had looked at Preeti closely. This woman was barely a chit of a girl, her slender frame still not quite filled up. In fact, she looked just out of college. ‘How had she come into such a situation?’, she wondered. In sex also, she was being mechanical. Was it that she was not experienced? Or was it that she was going through the motions only, her mind being elsewhere? Was she under some sort of compulsion?

Kajol smoothed the young woman’s hair. She knew, something, somewhere was not quite right with this girl. Stealing a look at the closed bathroom door, she asked instinctively, “Did this happen on the Singapore trip?”

Preeti’s eyes misted over immediately. She lowered her eyes and nodded in answer.

“Ramesh?” Barely, had the question out, she found Preeti’s hand clamped on her mouth.

Kajol’s shut her eyes, feeling the hot shame burning up her cheeks. She grabbed Preeti’s hand tightly as Mr. Rao stepped out. Preeti got up quickly, collected her clothes and made way to the vacated bathroom.

[Ramesh_Rocky]

breville1:

I know this is all wrong, but I love him&quot;, tearing up, Kajol tells Preeti, who she knows works with Ramesh and was on the recent Singapore trip with him and Rao. Whaaaat??!!! Big time trouble looming ahead!!<br />
<br />
Didn't quite get the reason for Kajol's feeling of shame in the last part. Did Preeti's hand over Kajol's mouth when she enquired about Ramesh indicate that he wasn't party to any sex with Preeti/Rao in Singapore? Was it because she was ashamed of what she was doing with Rao, knowing that her husband Ramesh hadn't strayed while in Singapore? Anyway, very intriguing....<br />
<br />
Suffice to say that I am thoroughly enjoying the gradual coalescing of all the various shenanigans by the characters!! <br />
<br />
Oft repeated but certainly true....can't wait for the next update.

breville1:

Or did Preeti's hand over Kajol's mouth indicate to Kajol that Preeti did have sex with Ramesh? Seems unlikely as she knows that Kajol is Ramesh's wife. Maybe it was an instinctive move revealing her feelings for Ramesh? But why would Kajol then feel ashamed? She should have felt anger, right? But having just had sex with Rao and Preeti, anger would hardly be appropriate. Fascinating turn of events.....

[Ramesh_Rocky]

Ramesh1990:

>As breville1 has rightly pointed out, the last couple of lines weren't done properly. So here is a redo:

Kajol smoothed the young woman’s hair. She knew, something, somewhere was not quite right with this girl. Stealing a look at the closed bathroom door, she asked instinctively, “Did this happen on the Singapore trip?”

Preeti’s eyes misted over immediately. She lowered her eyes and nodded in answer.

“And …. … Ramesh?” Barely, had she uttered his name when she found Preeti’s hand clamped on her mouth. There was that urgent pleading in her eyes.

Kajol’s shut her eyes, feeling the hot shame burning up her cheeks. She was not sure about the level of intimacy that Ramesh might have had with this girl. Sometimes, he used to take her name in sleep and more recently, was being evasive … Did that point to something? Maybe. Maybe not! After all, Ramesh was too decent a guy. But then again, one never knew – especially when young women were concerned …

But one thing was certain. She herself was the slut – a slut out of choice. And she had demanded answers from Preeti, to prove to her that the latter was no better than her. Maybe Ramesh had used her as had Mr. Rao and now she was doing the same. It was Preeti’s hand on her mouth that demonstrated her vulnerability and sent her a reminder that she had judged another person – without knowing her side of the story. Kajol’s closed her eyes tight. What sort of a human being was she?

There was the sound of the bathroom door opening. Mr. Rao stepped out with a broad smile. Preeti got up quickly and collected her clothes making her way to the vacated bathroom.

[Ramesh_Rocky]

Puja

Puja screamed! She knew it was all futile, as Prof Bharadwaj’s quarter was situated at the very end of the lane and the two houses before it were lying empty and unoccupied for long. The only person who was likely to visit was the postman, who made the usual rounds in the late afternoon only.

Bhimu held out the giant scorpion inches just a wee bit from her face, held by a pair of kitchen tongs at its abdomen. ‘Eeek’, she retched looking at the red and brown scales of the vermin. Bhimu’s eyes had a strange glint – he was enjoying the show. ‘Bastard, must be high on something’, Puja thought warily, ‘That’s when the lout gets dangerous.’ … … She gave another futile tug at the bonds on her wrist. It was of no use. The fucker loved tormenting her … … She turned her glance to the venomous creature struggling between the tongs, its legs and pincers were thrashing out erratically and the tell-tale tail with the stinger and its bulbous venom sac in its deadly arc - she was already feeling giddy … bit by bit, she found her resistance going away … and there was nothing to be done … save wait for whatever the professor’s wife and the servant had in store for her…

The malkin was gone and Bhimu drew the insect towards him. “Chiki-chiki”, he crooned at it even as the scorpion tried to strike back at any target. He loved the creature, mmmm, it was his pet. Many a times before he had held its tail and stolen a small prick – ahhh what a high that thing gave, better than all the ganja that he smoked … ‘Maybe later on’, he said to himself … Carefully he put it back into an empty glass bottle and sealed the cap. Then he went back to the kitchen and took out the ganja stuffed beedi and went out to the backyard for a smoothie session, …

Puja struggled once again, but the bonds were tight. Mrs. Bharadwaj had ordered her to come about eleven and she had to. Once inside, she had kissed the latter’s sandal and as was the routine, taken off all her clothes; which she had folded and kept in a pile on the sofa. Then the professor’s wife had marched her naked to the inside verandah and the sessions had begun. Her hands were tied together and the knot looped over to a hook on the wall. First had come the beating, the wooden ruler on her bums. “Nice coloration”, Mrs. Bharadwaj had exclaimed after ten minutes when she had almost collapsed against the ropes above. “Turn around”, came the order and she had followed. The wooden ruler was replaced by a fly swatter and this time it was her exposed pubic mound that received the slap-slap-slaps. Periodically, an edge of the plastic would brush against her clit and that was when she would almost pass out. It was sheer pain, brilliant pain, pure like the agony of walking over burning coals …

Mrs. Bharadwaj had pulled a dining chair to seat and Bhimu had taken over. He had released her from the wall hook and made her sit on the floor besides the dining table. Her extended hands and legs were tied to the table legs. She had tested her bonds – they were secure. Her face was covered with fluids – a combination of tears, sweat, running nose and saliva. “Bhimu has something special for you today”, Mrs. Bharadwaj said and before she could think of any reaction in her now pain riddled brain; the servant had taken out a giant scorpion and thrust it near her face. Instinctively she had started screaming… Ah! The release, the absolute release and pain as the cleanser … she shuddered and passed out.

Later, she had waked up to Bhimu splashing water on her face. With half opened eyes, she observed that Mrs. Bharadwaj was gone from her chair and it was now the turn of Bhimu. She opened her eyes half wide. In one hand he had the scorpion caught in tongs and dangling before her … she started sobbing again but Bhimu was unmoved. He put his other hand on her pussy and stuck two thick fingers inside. Puja felt the jab of his fingers and her mouth flew open as the fresh pain flooded her inside. He started doing the see-saw motion, which tore her pussy, … …, there was nothing that she could do … … until the brute relented.

And then he had put away the scorpion in the glass bottle and gone inside the kitchen. Later he had stridden past her to the courtyard outside and she had heard him strike a matchstick – no doubt to have a smoke. She was right, for he returned a couple of minutes later and the stench of beedi trailed him …

Bhimu half closed his eyes, he was on a real high. ‘My, my; this ganja was good stuff’, he remarked and made a note to purchase more of the same stock today before it ran out. He felt a slight tremor in his hands, his mind was spinning. There was something that he was forgetting, something, what what what?’ Then his gaze fell on the bottled creature, ah that was it. ‘Must not get forgetful’, he chided himself. And yes, he felt so on top of the world, it was so peaceful … Suddenly, he remembered the stings that he used to have from the per scorpion and his mood brightened…. ‘The pain was so heavenly’ … He must give that to the girl, but … … later, … … , now his head cleared up. ‘Yes that was it – he had to fuck that girl …’

In a moment, he was besides Puja and discarded his dirty lungi aside. He shook his cock for a bit and when he sensed it coming to life, plunged it directly into Puja’s mouth. Puja gagged at the sudden assault, but she knew the brute and his methods. It was best to get it over at the earliest. Obediently, she opened her mouth wide to accommodate the monster, which was now poking at her tonsils. She relaxed her throat muscles, allowing the thick cock to intrude … The bile rose of instantly but she killed the reflex gag… It was a question of time …

Bhimu kept on thrusting inside … ‘Ahhh, what pleasure’, he was floating among the clouds and the nymphs of heaven were dancing all around him. ‘Ahhh, how much he loved that and the ganja was truly remarkable …’ He was approaching the highlands now … and he increased the thrust …

“Bhimu, leave her”, the slow voice of Mrs. Bharadwaj penetrated the vapors of his brain. But he couldn’t, could he? He was so close, he had to keep going, … … , he kept on thrusting …

The sting of the whip, on his back was sharp. Involuntarily he arched back, driving his pelvis fully into Puja’s face and banging her head with the table frame. Then there was a second strike, crisscrossing the first, for it was Mrs. Bharadwaj, who had come with the forked whip, to have another go at Puja and found the manservant irksome. She had used the leash.

With the second lashing; Bhimu had turned around. His eyes were red rimmed. His befuddled mind no longer registered that it was the mistress of the house that he was facing. All that he perceived was an angry demon who had stopped him from climbing to paradise. He had to put down the demon. He moved forward and clutched her by the throat …

Puja watched in horror as Bhimu pushed back Mrs. Bharadwaj, by the throat, out of the verandah and into her bedroom. Bhimu held her by her throat and so she couldn’t make any sound other than a gurgle. Then they were in the bedroom and there were faint sounds of her struggle. After a few minutes, Bhimu came out.

His eyes held a wild look. Puja was truly afraid now. Where was the professor? He had said, that he would be back by noon and Kajol was supposed to join them as well. She watched, her eyes wide, as Bhimu rode to the kitchen and came out with a knife … Puja thought rapidly, she had to do something, and it had to be immediate.

“Bhimu”, she called out to him urgently but he was going away, “Come fuck me … now …” Bhimu paused and looked at her. “Come, take me in my asshole … …”, she uttered the disgusting words.

Immediately, he retuned to her. With the knife, he sawed at the knots on one hand and when it was free, he shifted to the other. Midway, he grew impatient and just turned her around. Stroking his semi-erect cock, he brought it to acceptable hardness. Then without any further ado, he drove inside her ass. Puja had anticipated the sudden assault and clenched her eyes shut, but her mind was racing. She opened her eyes and searched for the knife, it was within her reach. As Bhimu, went on pounding behind her, she got the knife and severed the remaining bindings. Bhimu was too gone by the time to care. She needed time to think, time to act – the first important thing was to get to her clothes and next to get out of the house…

After he had erupted inside her, he had become quiet. He laid down on the floor and closed his eyes. The exertion and the sexual release had done the trick. Bhimu started snoring. That is when she picked up the courage to stand up. She looked back at him, he was sleeping peacefully, and then she dashed into the drawing room. Putting on her clothes hastily, she stole a look at the bedroom door; but she didn’t dare to go in. Hurriedly, she took out her mobile and called the professor …

“Come, urgent, Bhimu is mad…” The mobile flew from her hand as Bhimu’s fist smashed her face. With horror, she realized that the beast was awake, and looking at her with blood rimmed eyes. The knife glistened in his hand.

Pure survival instincts saved her. She dashed to the door, opened it and ran out. Bhimu, gave chase but stumbled over, he was still on a high … Puja ran without looking back, forgetting everything for she had to cover the next couple of hundred meters … to reach safety … it was that or her life …

* * *

Kajol looked at her watch and made a face.

“Don’t worry”, Mr. Rao assured her, “We will reach in time.”

Preeti had helped her in arranging the bed and otherwise clean-up.

“Thank you”, she had said gratefully, for she was running late for tryst with the professor. Preeti had only smiled back.

On the way to the University, Mr. Rao had insisted on picking some food on the way. Though she had said no, she was grateful for the couple of sandwiches forced on her. She was hungry after their romp, but only realized that later. All her attention was on the time that she would arrive. In their presence, she couldn’t possibly place a call to the professor. That bugged her. It was already nearing one pm and she didn’t know how the professor would take to her arriving late. Moreover, she had asked Mr. Rao to have her dropped at the department building, for of course she couldn’t mention that she had to go to his residence. It was a good fifteen minute walk between the two. Involuntarily, she started chewing on a nail…

They dropped her at the department and she walked to the professor’s chamber – might as well have a look – in case he was here. On the way, she took out her mobile and placed a call to him. The phone went on ringing and ringing..

By the time, she had arrived at his chamber and found the doors open. And his cellphone was ringing right there on his desk. ‘What the hell happened?’, she cried in alarm. What made him leave without the phone, she wondered, as she checked the attached bathroom and he wasn’t anywhere inside …

She lowered herself into a chair, wondering what to do …

[Ramesh_Rocky]

Ramesh 1/4

HOUSE SERVANT KILLS PROFESSOR’S HOUSE screamed the newspaper headlines. HORROR IN UNIVERSITY read another caption. And so on. The murder of Mrs. Bharadwaj by the manservant Bhimu received wide spread coverage in both the print and electronic media. The details were extensively covered. security officer investigations and post mortem reports indicated that Bhimu, under the influence of a cocktail of drugs had lost his mind and killed the professor’s wife in a fit – for reasons unknown. Mrs. Bhardwaj’s autopsy indicated strangulation, seventeen knife wounds and sexual assault by Bhimu – the order of events not being ascertainable.

Detailed reports indicated that, it was Ms. Puja, a part time lecturer in the University, who was having a discussion with the professor’s wife mentioning that the servant, who seemed to have lost his mind, had burst in on their conversation and tried to drag the deceased at knife point. When Ms. Puja had tried to intervene and place a call to the professor, the servant had turned on her and smashed her face. Ms. Puja had somehow managed to escape from the house being chased for a while by Bhimu and was lucky to evade his clutches. There after, she had located the Professor in his chamber and both of them had hurried back to the professor’s residence to find Mrs. Bharadwaj dead in a pool of blood inside the bedroom. Bhimu’s body was also found nearby; his mouth foaming. Both the bodies were naked.

security officer had been called and Bhimu’s post-mortem established his death due to cardiac arrest brought about by drug overdose. There were neuro-toxins in his blood, which was from a live scorpion found in a bottle in the kitchen. It was surmised that in his drug induced stage, he had somehow received a sting from the scorpion - the resulting cocktail leading to his uncontrolled behavior and subsequent cardiac seizure...

I tossed the newspapers away. It had been five days since the incident and I was still trying to come to terms with the catastrophe. Just a few days back, both had had dinner with us and the patrician profile of Mrs. Bharadwaj came before me. Kajol had brought in tea and I had reached for a cup. We sipped the tea in silence.

“I wonder how the professor must be taking it all”, I said breaking out of my reverie and looking at her, “And such a nice couple …”

Kajol remained silent. I looked at her. She was holding her cup in both hands. Presently she returned the cup to the saucer.

“Must be a difficult time, I imagine”, she said looking straight ahead.

“One thing I don’t understand very well – what was Puja doing at their house that day.” I turned to her.

“Oh!”, she answered dryly, “Might have gone to pick up something for him, maybe his notes for a seminar or something like that. Nothing unusual. He forgets things at times and if he is tied up, sends someone over …”

“Did you have to do that ever?” I asked.

“Oh! A couple of times, I think.” Then she turned her attention towards me and said “Why do you ask?”

“No, no”, I answered hurriedly. “Just that I am quite relieved that it wasn’t you in Puja’s place. Imagine the horrors. What that poor Puja must be going through now; first encountering the madman and then later coming across those dead bodies, phew.”

“I heard something”, her voice dropped a notch, “The University is contemplating to make her job permanent – some kind of recompense it seems …, that is what I heard in the department yesterday.”

“Oh”, I swallowed, “At least some good coming out of it at least. Confirmed news?”

She shook her head. “No, the senate is meeting shortly. I believe, they will finalize it then.”

“Good, good”, I said. “Anyway, what about your professor? Any news about him?”

“He has a lot of problems now.”

“Why is that?” I was curious.

She spread out her hands. “You know, all those media persons … and trying to get more sensational stuff out … … like how he had a servant who was always on drugs … … security of persons inside the campus and all that nonsense … … obviously not what the university would want as publicity.”

I got the picture. “Yes, yes. All those unwarranted attention … … in what should be … … a quiet environment for learning, no.” Then I thought of the worst. “Tell me, is it likely that he will be sacked.”

She looked at the ceiling briefly and answered. “Not that – what I heard. But the matter is coming up before the senate. So something might take place.”

Then she looked back at me and continued. “You know – with all that misery he is staying alone in that house since he is unable to hire someone willing to work for him in that house. There do not seem to be any close relatives as well – so he is all alone. Yesterday, he moved over to the guest house.”

We remained silent for a bit. I was trying to absorb all these information. A while later, the more important concern hit me.

“What about your doctorate, honey?”, I asked, “I mean, with all this uncertainty…”

Her face became serious. “My thesis was just 2 – 3 months away from completion and now all this …”, her voice was resigned. “Too late to change the guide.” She looked frightened. “I don’t know what will happen.”

I drew her close and squeezed her shoulder. “Don’t worry. Everything will be alright.” I had uttered the words of comfort. Again, the face of Mrs. Bharadwaj came before me and I changed the topic. “Do you know what Mrs. Bharadwaj had told me when she came here?”

“No, what?”

“She told me that you should have a baby”, I said trying to inject some levity into the heavy atmosphere, “What do you think?” I joked.

To my relief, she brightened up considerably. “If I can’t produce a doctorate, then I should have a baby”, she said slapping my thigh playfully. Then she gave a shake to my pecker and said “Why not try that out, this Sunday afternoon itself?”

Of course I was ready to oblige her as I must, for I was already having a boner from her touch. We headed for the bedroom.

[Ramesh_Rocky]

Ramesh 2/4

Towards the end of the week, Riz had come over.

“Hello”, I said glad to see his number on my mobile.

“Listen fucker. Will meet you in the evening after dealing with the motherfuckers here. Will get the bottles and snacks. Don’t do anything – just head home straight by six”, he had declared without allowing me to put in a word sidewise and just rang off.

‘Ha’, I uttered considerably warmed up. There was a rumor floating that, some official communication had been received from H K Corp regarding acceptance of our proposal that I had piloted. We were all waiting to receive the official confirmation from a boss. I was tensed up, I knew that. Acceptance would mean a great deal … it was just that the waiting part was getting to me … Singapore had been nearly three weeks back and ever since I had been on tenterhooks. Any distraction was enjoyable for me, even the thankless trips to outstation clients that Mr. Rao frequently sent me now. And today, there would be Riz in the evening. ‘Hmmmm …’ I felt light …

Then I realized that I should let Kajol know, she would be happy too. Ever since the incident at her Professor’s home; she had been distraught as well. The professor had gone on leave or asked to go on leave. The senate had decided to put in a quiet word to him to stop from appearing at the department for a while, as Kajol told me, till the dust had settled down and the news media hounds stopped hovering at his door front. With that, she had been left in a complete limbo. Apparently, the professor had sent word to her to wait out a while. Kajol had stayed put at home for a week, but then got the jitters. We had got into a messy fight over something trivial and then realized that it was the waiting that was weighing both of us down. Next day onwards, she had been to the university library, continuing with the completion of her dissertation albeit without the professor’s active guidance. Both of us used to return late, letting the physical exhaustion mask over our respective jitters.

I called her number. She immediately cut the call at her end, probably being inside the library. A few minutes later, she called back. I relayed her the information about Riz coming over in the evening.

“Oh that’s nice. Hey sorry, I won’t be home before eight. There is an afternoon seminar and a meeting afterwards. If you can be free, then head home early and be there for him”, she said.

I said ok. That is how Riz and me found ourselves having the balcony all to ourselves in the evening, glasses out and the liquor flowing freely.

Drawing deeply on a cig, Riz said, “This big life sucks big man. Earlier I was happy at doing the odd end jobs that used to trickle down.” “Now”, he took another deep drag, “Ever since these big orders came, there just isn’t time for anything.” He looked me in the eye and said, “Can you believe that I am entirely subsisting on junk food all the time and spending twelve hours straight at the office. Sometime I feel it would make more sense, if it stayed in the guest room of my office, all the time.”

I looked at his haggard face, the worry laden lines that had appeared suddenly in the last six months since he had started going after the “big” fish.

“That’s the price of success, you bugger”, I shrugged.

“Bloody hell it is. I wish I could go back to earlier carefree times. Damn it, I didn’t have to wear a suit so often then. Fucker, give me Kajol and you go have my job.”

We both laughed. The level in the bottle was going down and we had spilt out mutual agonies when Kajol arrived. She looked very much tired and weary. After Riz had hugged her enthusiastically, he asked how her day had been. Kajol gave out a tired smile and asked us to carry on and promised to join after she had freshened up.

Half an hour later, Kajol sat with us. She took the glass that Riz offered and took a deep draught. “Guys, let me tell, no cooking today, eh”, she looked at Riz, “too tired, just order something from outside.”

“Sure”, I said.

“Now an important piece of news”, she continued, “my guide professor is going away to Kolkata for some six months. He has been quietly asked to leave for a while and the VC, it seems, has arranged a visiting professorship for him there. He leaves in three days time.”

The news was devastating. It meant that all her plans of getting the PhD in time would have to be shelved. Finding another guide and at such an advanced stage of her research would be quite difficult if not next to impossible. I said as much.

Kajol nodded in agreement. Then she turned towards Riz and said.

“Rizu, can you find me some accommodation there. I don’t want to delay my doctoral and I know I can complete it there under him.”

Riz who had been absorbing all these and had stayed silent all the while, now burst out, “Fuck. Of course, you will finish your doctoral in time. Of course you will stay with me.”

“What?”, both Kajol and I blurted out.

“What what?”, he countered. “Where do you think will she stay? She will stay right in my house, and don’t worry there are two spare rooms. I won’t take no for an answer.” There was steam in his voice now. “Don’t I mean anything to you two? Even for a small thing like this.” His voice was dangerously close to breakdown.

Both Kajol and I knew what was coming. In seconds, we knew, he would be in tears. Kajol acted with alacrity. She patted his hand.

“Rizu, what I meant was that would it not inconvenience you to have me living in your house? After all you have a very busy life”, she added softly.

I added a more practical note, “Bugger, and what do you think your neighbors would think moving in a woman with you?”

He was silent for a second. Then he puffed his chest up.

“No you won’t be in the way”, he said looking at Kajol, “Didn’t you hear me saying that there are a couple of rooms extra in my apartment! Wouldn’t I be glad to see your face daily after work – even if it is for a couple of months. I could even restart cooking – you know. Further, this fucker here, I am sure, would arrive in the weekends and boy would I like to miss that?”, he said looking at me.

“And as for the neighbors, fuck them, who cares”, he continued, “In case anyone inquires, I will tell them that she is my girlfriend”, he chuckled. “In any case that is true, isn’t it?”, he added in a tongue-in-cheek manner.

Kajol and I looked at each other and I nodded slightly. It was the practical solution of course. With her staying with him; of course, it would be less of worry for me; especially as she didn’t know the city. On a very practical note, there was also the cost of maintaining another separate establishment altogether.

Riz had hit the high spirits. “And to celebrate the moving over of my girlfriend to my residence ”, he said facetiously, “I propose we all go to a nice joint and get ourselves rip roaring drunk. And we will also discuss all the details there.”

* * *

Two days after Professor Bharadwaj had gone, Kajol also left for Kolkata. I was at the office when Riz confirmed picking her up at the airport. It was in the evening that Kajol called to speak, “Can you believe what this idiot friend of yours has done? He has taken the whole day off and been cooking his head off for me ever since.” She laughed.

I heard Riz singing in the background, like a puppy happy with its owner. “Am I lucky, am I the lucky boy … he he he … …

[Ramesh_Rocky]

Ramesh 3/4

Success! Ah, sweet success, at last! No sooner had the news hit us, the whole office seemed to have gathered up at my cubicle. Everyone starting from the junior most executive to the two Senior Managers had trooped in to my cubicle, one by one, to offer congratulations. All with the exception of Mr. Rao and Preeti. The ensuing half hour was total circus and I tried hard to keep the gloating off my face. Later, when last of them had filed away; I walked over to the two junior colleagues who had been part of my team.

“Hey, do you know for sure that the thing is in the bag – I mean, you know it is official for sure?” I asked in a low tone.

“Hey relax boss. When two Senior Managers Sekhar and d’Souza walk over and congratulate us, of course, it has to be authentic”, one answered me.

The other one was grinning. “You know, you could be the next Senior Manager now. Keep us in your division then.”

“Aw shut up!”, I said and turned back to my seat.

It was a half hour later, the intra-mail brought the announcement. Mr. Rao would be addressing us all in the conference room – just before lunch. Accordingly, we had all trooped in and were seated when Mr. Rao arrived. He took his seat and began immediately.

“Congratulations! H K Corp has accepted our proposal.” There was clapping all around. “Credit goes to each and every member of the team …”, he started reeling off our names and started commending our efforts for the project. It was a brief speech, heavy on officialese and the usual bullshit about hard-work team-spirit. I had heard similar speeches several times before, each time trying to stifle a yawn while looking away. Today, it sounded like a symphony. I sat stock still.

“And finally the most important part”, this time he smiled, “London has agreed to my proposal that the entire office should get a fifty percent salary bonus this month for our efforts. All for one and one for all.”

The cheering erupted. People were getting out of their seats to pump my hand. It was a crazy five minutes before Mr. Rao got up to leave. He paused as he passed, “Er Ramesh, meet me at about seven, shall you? I am heading out now and will be back then. We have things to discuss.”

I started seeing stars. All the hard work and toil, seemed justified then. Dreamily I walked away with my still congratulating colleagues. Though lunch break was almost over and people were hurrying away to put in something; I felt no hunger. The appetite was simply gone. I made my way slowly to my cabin and would have settled down but for the two juniors of my team who practically dragged me out for lunch. Happily I endured their jibes about the certainty of my promotions on the way.

“Hey, shouldn’t we ask Preeti to join us as well?”, one of them remembered.

“Sure”, I said.

He put in a call to her and his face tightened as he listened to her. Then he disconnected. “She says, she is tied up with something urgent that the big boss wants. Anyway fuck her. We celebrate here now and in the evening we hit a bar”, he looked at me questioningly.

“Of course boys”, I replied happily, “But not today. We will do it tomorrow night or in the weekend. Today I have a meeting at seven with the boss – you know.”

“Nothing doing boss”, they had chorused, “Tonight itself, after you yank out the fat hike from him. We will wait for your call.”

“Alright, you win” I said slapping my head in mock exasperation.

* * *

The afternoon wore off in a happy daze. After five, I watched people get up and leave for the day. All along I was wondering what it was that Mr. Rao would be telling me. One thing was certain – there had to be a rise, the question was how much it would be. Logically, they should be putting me in exclusive charge of the project as I was the face that H K Corp knew. But given the size of the wallet involved and more importantly, the potential scope of future business with such a large conglomerate; it was very likely that a whole new division dedicated to this business. And that pointed to a serious promotion in the offing.

It was half past six. Mr. Rao hadn’t returned, as I checked. My floor was almost deserted. I decided to put in a call to Kajol.

“Hey honey. Good news. HK Corp has accepted the proposal”, I told her.

“Oh that’s so great”, her excited voice sounded from the other end. “Where are you?”

“Still in the office. Sir has asked me to wait for him … … you know … to discuss”, I said trying to keep my excitement under control.

“Oh honey, I am so happy for you”, her voice bubbled. “What do you think he wants to say.”

“Can’t say, may not be any important”, I said trying not to raise her hopes, “Anyway, shall tell you at night.”

“Goodness honey, I can hardly wait”, she said.

“How is Riz?”, I asked.

“Oh you know, the usual. Arrives home late, sometimes after nine or ten. Won’t even eat unless I force him or threaten to move out. Other times, cooks all kinds of fish dishes for me, you know he doesn’t eat any. A couple of times, he has taken me out for shopping and wants to purchase the whole shop – madcap fellow – you know.”

I knew. The only weekend, I had spent there after Kajol had moved over, he had been practically crying the whole time that I was there. He was so happy that Kajol was there, it was like he had a home for the first time in his grown up life. We had drunk away the whole weekend from my arrival to departure. There was a spare bedroom in his apartment, which Kajol occupied now. A smaller room existed also. There she had kept all of her books, notes and research papers etc.

“Ok honey”, I said “See to it that he eats properly – the least that we can do for him. And let me call you later in the night. Have a party later on.”

“Laters”, she said and hung up.

[Ramesh_Rocky]

Ramesh 4/4

Sometime after seven Mr. Rao buzzed me. Immediately I went inside his spacious cabin and took a seat before him. He nodded and then pressed the intercom again, this time asking Preeti to come in. Presently, she also came in. I stole a look at her face – it was the face of steel safe – totally bereft of emotions. ‘Goodness! What’s the matter with her’, I thought.

Mr. Rao came to the point direct.

“Ramesh, during your interaction with the HK officials; did you give them any reason to be annoyed with you?”

“What?” I blurted out. My head was spinning. For a moment, I didn’t trust my senses.

Mr. Rao nodded and repeated the question, “Any reason at all that you can think off that they might be displeased with you?”

I shook my head. I hadn’t the faintest idea where this all was leading to. The room started to spin around me. Meekly, I began to mumble the words feebly. “Sir, you can ask the interpreter there who was there throughout. And later on you were there too. And so also was Preeti, when Mr. Ching had taken us out for lunch…”

“Then how do you explain”, Mr. Rao bristled, “the fact that HK Corp has made their acceptance of the contract conditional to our sacking you off from this company with immediate effect?”

That was a body blow. I felt as if hit by a lorry. The room started to spin before me. I hadn’t the faintest idea how to respond to that.

Mr. Rao softened his voice. “Look Ramesh, I am sorry. London insists that you be relieved today. It is all beyond me. There is a six month severance package – but you must sign a voluntary resignation for that.” He gestured towards Preeti. “She will look after the details. Go now.”

I nodded dumbly and got up to leave. As I opened the door, Mr. Rao’s voice rang out “It was a pleasure to have you here and Ramesh, I am truly sorry.”

Once outside, I marched to my cabin, Preeti trailing me. I sat down at my cubicle and opened the laptop to write my resignation. My hands shook. She came around and opened the folder she was carrying and held out a letter. It was my resignation. ‘This bitch is efficient, if not anything else’, I said to myself as I took it and signed it over. She laid out a sheaf of other documents – standard issue HR stuff – and I signed them out as well. She collected them all and then handed me the cheque, which at a glance, I found to contain exactly seven months of my salary.

“Ramesh, please wipe out the personal contacts from the phone and the laptop before you hand those over. I will get you a box to carry your personal belongings.” She marched away.

The reality of the situation was dawning upon me now. It was no game but a stark truth – the company had let go off me in a blink – in order to secure the HKC account. That was the whole truth. I smiled bitterly as I remembered the famous advice – never to fall in love with your company for you never know when the company ceases to love you.

Onto practical matters. The party with the boys was out now and there was no reason to inform them – those were youngsters – let them enjoy their time under the sun while it lasts – no need to alarm them – better yet let them not know anything. Same went for the two senior managers as well. The only other who mattered was Preeti – and of course there wasn’t anything to tell her. Probably, she knew more, maybe the real reason – not that any of it mattered any more. The only call I had to make was to Kajol, but what was I going to tell her now. I didn’t trust myself to speak objectively, but it had to be done. I punched her number.

“Kajo, I am in a terrible hurry now. May get very late when I return … Let us talk tomorrow.”

“Oh sure! Everything alright there?”, she asked.

“Yeah ok! Have to go now. Talk to you later … Oh Kajo, am changing this number. Don’t call on this number. I will call you on the new number … bye yeah!” I cut the connection.

Opened the address book. Select all – delete all. Ditto for the messages. Then I took out the sim and smashed it venting out all my fury on the plastic bit. Next I cleaned up the lappy transferring some personal stuff into a flash drive. I handed the phone and the lappy to Preeti, who had come with a cardboard box to let me clean my drawers. Furiously, I took out the few personal stuff, that attested to my presence here. Finally, I took off the company id that I had worn as a dog-tag for the last five years here and handed it over to her.

“Bye Preeti”, I said looking her in the eye.

“Ramesh, are you going to be alright?”

“Sure, you take care.” I didn’t wait for her reply and marched out.

At the entrance to our apartment, I found an off duty guard loitering about. I handed him over some money with instructions to get a bottle and some snacks. Tonight I was going to be dead drunk …

* * *

The repeated ringing of the doorbell woke me up. It was the maid, whom I dismissed at the doorstep and went back to sleep. By the time I woke up again, it was noon. Bleary eyed, I went to the bathroom and later on settled down with a cup of tea. Later, when my head had cleared off, I went out to deposit the severance cheque – for one never knows if the company might renege on its commitment, and later on had lunch outside. Next I got a new sim card and purchased a phone. When I returned home, it was nearing four. I did a double take when I found someone standing near the door of my apartment. That was Preeti.

“What are you doing here?”, I asked as I inserted the key.

“Let’s go inside”, she said and suddenly I had a bit of hope. Had the company changed its mind and wanted me back?

We sat down in the drawing room. She was looking around.

“How are you doing?”, she asked.

I shrugged my shoulders. “Tell me why you are here”, I said.

She started fidgeting, crossing and uncrossing her fingers. Her expression was tight. I sensed she was battling with something. Moving closer to her I took her hand in mine.

“Preeti, don’t feel sorry for me. These things happen – in the corporate world. Admittedly, I got the raw end of the deal. But that is not the end of the world you see. I am sure, I will find something in a couple of days time.” I patted her hand. After all she was very young and very inexperienced.

If anything, my words seemed to unnerve her more. Her face grew extremely agitated. To calm her down I told her “After all, it is not your fault, you know … … nothing to do with you … … you know that.”

“It’s not that”, she blurted out suddenly, “and I don’t know how to tell you this. But I have been sent with a proposition.” Her eyes were blazing at me.

“That’s ok. Just tell me. Does the company want me back now? If so, then I will have to think very hard before joining again.”

“Oh shut up and listen will you?”, she thundered. “I am not here on behalf of the company and there is no job for you there. I have been sent by Rao to make you an offer.”

She had my full attention now. “What does he want?”, I asked.

“I don’t know how to say this. But Rao wants to arrange a job for you with others, even a better paying one in return for you to agree to have Kajol as a surrogate mother.”

“What surrogate?”, I said not quite understanding.

Preeti drew a sharp breath and then spoke. Her face colored up. “Mrs. Rao can’t bear a child and they have none. He wants Kajol to bear his child in return for his getting you a job.”

“You bitch”, I flung her hand away and she cringed as if receiving a physical blow, “how dare you … … what nonsense … …”

I could barely speak. I was frothing at the mouth.

She sat motionless, palms joined at her lap. My mind was racing. What a preposterous idea. How dare that bastard even suggest such? For an instant, I felt like marching directly to his office and beating the shit out of him. I clenched and unclenched my fist.

“Why don’t you ask Kajol – what she thinks of the proposal”, Preeti almost whispered.

“Shut up you whore”, I raged at her and she shrunk back. Tears appeared at her eyes and a couple of drops rolled down. I looked at her and felt contrite. After all, she was just a messenger conveying Rao’s proposition. She was as much a victim of Rao’s machination as I was.

“Why did he pick on on Kajol”, I asked.

“Easy, she is in the prime of youth, just the child bearing age. Moreover her beauty and no doubt her intellect, and the fact that she is already married – I think these are the criteria he would have considered. Look”, she pleaded, “Why don’t you discuss this with her – atleast once and find out what she thinks of this.”

I leaned back wearily against the headrest and exhaled deeply. “How can you think of such a thing? The only reason we didn’t get into the family way was because she is doing her doctorate, which she would be completing in a couple of months time. Thereafter we will have the choice of her career and family.”

“All the more important that you should speak to her now”, Preeti said.

“Why?”, I asked.

“There are things that you will see once your temper cools down. It is not only the carrot that Rao is showing you. There is also the stick. You can pretty much take it guaranteed for that should you refuse, then it will be extremely difficult for you to find a job in the industry – given his clout and connections. Of course you can forget any referral in your cv right now.”

Suddenly, things became clearer for I was caught in the harsh glare of unforgiving reality. The job market for my type of experience and specialization was extremely limited and every word that Preeti spoke, had a ring of truth to it.

I bowed my head. “That bastard”, I hissed, “you think he will actually do that to me?”

Preeti looked at me with a level gaze. “You know him for much longer than me. What do you think?”

With that she got up to leave. At the door she told me to just think it over and not to do anything rash. I returned back to the drawing room and collapsed on the sofa.

The whole world had closed down on me. It was dark, dark and completely dark.

[Ramesh_Rocky]

Kajol

She took the steps one be one, hopping a couple. Was she excited! Oh boy, being in Kolkata was simply great. She loved the cuisine, the crowd and most importantly the freedom. And just as she was getting out, she had received the call from Mr. Rao.

“Oh honey”, he had cooed.

A slow smile spread over her face. “Mr. Rao”, she said playing the coquette, “How nice of you to remember me after so many days.”

“Aww honey, you know how it is”, Mr. Rao was apologetic, “Say how are you doing?”

“Excellent, in fact couldn’t have been better. How is Lekhaji?”

“She sends her best. Say when are coming back here?”

“Hmmm”, she paused, “at the current pace probably a month or two to complete the dissertation. I could be free immediately thereafter.”

“Oh how nice! Then we will be together all the time, mark my words.”

She was puzzled at his assertion. “But Ramesh?”

“Oh don’t you worry about him”, he had put on charm, “I will think of something. In fact, something is already in motion.” He chuckled.

“Oh you rascal!”, she feigned a mock anger, “First you work my husband so much and then send him away to be with me …”

“Isn’t that what you want dear?”

“No, no. When did I say so?”, she contested hotly. “It is you who makes me forget myself all the time.”

“Ok then. Let me see if I can meet you there at least sometime?”

“Really?”, Kajol said. “I can’t believe you will do that for me.”

“Oh rest assured honey. I might be there before you expect …”

She giggled. “I will hold you to that promise.”

“Ciao.”

“Ciao.”

Her mood was considerably upbeat after conversation. All through her journey to Professor Bharadwaj’s office; she ruminated over the happenings of the last two weeks. Riz had effusive in his welcome and treated her like royalty. The very first time, she entered his 2BHK apartment; he had taken her bags to his bedroom and started pulling out the clothes in the closet.

“What are you doing?”, she had exclaimed in surprise.

“Nothing. Just taking out my stuff. You stay here, I will move to the other room.”

She was so overwhelmed by the gesture that she had walked over to him and kissed him in the cheek. Then she had made him sit down and dictated “No way, you moron. One more such move and I will move away.”

There was brief panic in his eyes. “Alright, ok”, he had given in but wedged in a protest. “That room is small you know – you will be more comfortable here.”

She had glared at him in reply and he had backed off. That was Rizu, she smiled when she remembered the incident.

Thereafter, he had helped her unpack and keep her things in the smaller bedroom. There was a small anteroom, where she had moved her books and such stuff. After the work was done, she had flounced on the bed said, “Rizu, I am bushed. Let’s get some dinner.”

“What?”, he said remembering something, “Oh of course! But dinner is already there on the table. You freshen up and then we will eat.”

She remembered fondly that he had already cooked for her a whole gourmet fish meal, having taken the day off. Later he had poured wine and held up his glass “To you and to Ramesh – may you both never leave my heart.” Touched, she had to fight her sudden tears.

Cooking for her became his routine and he was neglecting his work, she noticed. And then the shopping trips, her protests overridden and she found herself dragged to the Fancy Market, the AC Market and other places as well. They had returned with her arms laden with dresses…

Finally, she had put her foot down and issued him the ultimatum - either he behaved normal or she was leaving him. He had sobered up. Thereafter, he did the morning tea, she the breakfast and together they cooked dinner when both had returned in time. Also, she had ensured that he had home cooked food and carried the same for lunch. Dinner time was the only time, when they had a leisurely hour to share with each other, for immediately there after she used to work furiously on the remaining portion of her PhD dissertation.

‘Rizu the cute puppy’; she uttered happily to herself. She had reached the professor’s office.

* * *

Professor Bharadwaj watched as Kajol entered his room and immediately felt the twitch in his pants. ‘Damn, this cunt was real something’, he told himself. He watched her turn sidewise to pull a chair from the wall and his eyes traveled to her bottoms. ‘Ah! What a piece of ass.’ In his mind flashed the images of mauling her buttocks and his erection was stiff now. Forcibly, he turned his mind away from the libidinous images that had sprung up inside. This was not the place, it was dangerous to try anything here; given that the corridor outside was a busy one and there were many idiotic well-wishers, including former students who would think nothing of dropping by without notice – to see how he was getting by after his bereavement …

He tossed aside the papers he was going through and turned to her.

“Ah, did you complete that exercise in stratification?”

She nodded and gave him the paper; she had worked on the night before. He took it and went through it minutely. Both of them spent over an hour discussing the finer points and he dictated what next was to be attempted, which she jotted down in her notebook. Then her work was over with him – for the day and she rose to go.

“Er Kajol”, he whispered and she stopped.

“Where are you staying at?”

She gave him the details and he was satisfied that she was putting up with a friend of her husband. He queried a bit about his work and timings. Then he asked her,

“Do you stay in the apartment most of the time – I mean when you don’t have to come here?"
She nodded back. There was a question in her eyes.

“You see”, he explained, “we haven’t met since what happened over there and doing anything in this new office is out of question. They have put me in the guest house, where inviting you would raise several eyebrows. Meeting in a hotel is not practical either…”, he paused remembering what his odd set of friends had advised him of maintaining a low profile for a couple of months as the security officer investigation was still hot, “What do you say?”

She didn’t feel any enthusiasm for the line that his reasoning was taking. Her Goddess was dead and subsequently, her desire for kinky experiments was gone as well. However, he was still her guide and an important element in her obtaining the Ph.D ; for which she had to humor him. Looking up at him, she asked softly, “What are you suggesting Sir?”

Professor Bharadwaj cleared his tone and looked directly at her.

“I have no classes on Wednesday, as you know. I was therefore thinking of dropping in at your place – maybe next week or the week after that, we could spend some hours … Would that be convenient?”

She nodded. “Sir, I will have to check with Riz, that’s my friend’s husband, to know his schedule – for the day.”

“Yes, of course”, he replied, “we can not be any less discreet – you know – and this is a different city. Ok then, till we meet the day after, do the hard work and let’s complete your thesis fast.”

“Thank you, Sir”, she rose with a smile and left.

[Ramesh_Rocky]

Ramesh

The insistent ringing of the calling bell woke me up. I opened the door and it was Preeti. I stood aside while she walked inside. She took a good look at my disheveled state and asked,

“Not slept well, I suppose.”

I nodded and went to the basin to throw water over my face.

She walked behind me and went to the kitchen and I heard her making tea.

I had brushed my teeth when she offered me a cup.

“Not going to office today?”, I said looking at her.

“No, I am on my way. Thought of checking with you. Have you discussed with Kajol?”

I shook my head.

“Why not?”, she said, “The sooner the better, isn’t it?”

“No!”, I shouted emphatically. The tea had cleared my head. “How do you suppose I can raise the topic with her, eh! I just don’t know how to begin.”

She nodded. A while later she said, “Anyway, it has to be done sooner or later.”

‘So that’s the reason she got here’, I thought bitterly.

Changing tack, I asked, “Tell me how they are taking my resignation in the office.”

Her features tightened further. “The rumor going around is that, you are negotiating with our competitors for a better package, after having bagged the HKC deal.”

I covered my face with my palms. “That bastard”, I spat out.

Shortly afterwards she left. Before getting out, she asked for my new mobile, saved her contact in it and did likewise in hers.

“Let me know when you decide” she said. I nodded.

“Call me anytime if you need anything”, she said and then she was gone.

I was left alone with my churning thoughts which had returned in full force after I had wrestled with them since yesterday and the previous night’s rest had done nothing to abate the storm that was raging within. The problem was how I was going to raise the topic with Kajol – if at all. What would she think of me? Was I going to pimp her out to Rao. And the greatest tragedy of it all was that she had thought highly of the Raos, no doubt encouraged by me, for all the socializing with them. How was I to know that Mr. Rao, my erstwhile boss, the one who always radiated a sense of protective aura over his subordinates, was nothing more than a wolf in sheep’s clothing. Damn, how could I ever tell her that!

Wearily, I went over my current situation. There was some savings put away and everything taken together would last about a year. Maybe two years, if we drastically reduced the costs. Was that risk worthwhile? Could I get a new job in the meantime? Every avenue that I looked at, each alternative I considered, there wasn’t an iota of hope. The torment increased only. I had to consult Kajol. But how? I hadn’t the nerve to tell her yet that I had been sacked. And the blackmail – on top of that. How was I going to tell her?

There was no way out, at least not one that I could see. I knew it was going to be totally unfruitful; but at least what the heck, there was nothing to lose to from making a couple of queries. I went over to the card board box that contained the last of my office stuff and brought out the small plastic box, which stored the visiting cards. On the top were a couple of HK Corp executives’ names, with one mentioning that of Mr. Ching, VP (HR). The bile rose up in my throat as I looked at those names.

“Double-crossing bastards!”, I cried out and flung those cards away.

Then I came across several, of company executives whom I had met over the years – and I carried them over to the desk. I spent the reminder of the afternoon contacting each; getting through to their respective HR departments. The replies varied, from outright ‘sorry’ to ‘send over your cv, we shall consider’. I knew, what it all meant – it was all hopeless. I had just gone through the motions …

In a rage I got up from the desk and zeroed in on the HK Corp cards. Those were the bastards, who with their supercilious compliments and false assurances had brought me to this state. I looked at the card that carried the name of Mr. Ching and immediately was carried back to the cozy lunch that this chameleon with slant eyes had thrown to me at Preeti on our last day. How charming he had been, how so very considerate – aaagh – that bastard had been plotting my downfall ever since I had thrown the proposal before their board and he was the one who had thrown in the objections. The more I thought about him, the more I was convinced that he was the villain behind the whole ruckus – who for reasons best known to him had lead me up the totem pole – for eventual sacrifice.

I noted the email address and went over to the desktop. Opening my yahoo account I shot him a mail:

Dear Mr. Ching: Thank you for accepting the proposal, although I am no longer with the company. At my last interview with my employers; I had no answer to their question as to what I had done so as to make my resignation conditional to your acceptance of the contract. I hope you have the answer for that and that you are satisfied with that. Regards. Ramesh.

I felt much better now, having done the reckless thing. But I didn’t care. I didn’t want to think of the problem now. I didn’t want to tell Kajol any now. Nor even would I hop over to Kolkata to confer with her – something which I was considering to do over the weekend. If that motherfucker Rao thought that I would dance to his tunes, let him. For now, I was free, even if it was for a couple of days…

[Ramesh_Rocky]

Kajol n Riz

She hummed as she put the clothes into the washing machine. Today she had planned a day off. So after she had breakfast with Riz and his leaving for work; she had taken the broom and duster, and then set to work. That done, she had turned her attention to the unwashed clothes lying in a heap and put those – hers and Riz’s in the washing machine. Lunch and an afternoon sleep later; she had gone to the balcony to collect the now crisp dried out clothes. She dumped the whole lot over her bed and took out each piece to smoothen and fold properly – she had seen how inadequate Riz was in such matters – and placed the same in neat piles. Walking over to Riz’s room; she opened the closet and arranged the same in the shelves and hangers.

She shut the wooden closet door, the jamb didn’t catch properly and so repeated the action with a little more force. This time it held. As she turned to leave; she found the door to the adjacent slim almirah pop open, because of the impact. With a frown she shut it and then fearing that it wasn’t closed properly opened it in full.

Her eyes shot up as she looked at what was inside. It was another closet actually, one she hadn’t noticed before. In the hanger, there was a woman’s dress. What was this doing here? Curiosity got the better of her. Gingerly she took the dress out. It was black muslin and net negligee. She was fascinated by the smooth texture of the cloth, the item had to pretty expensive no doubt. But what business did an intimate piece of ladies clothing have to do with Riz? Did he have a secret lady friend? Had her presence there somehow put the brakes on his personal life, in any manner? She then put it back making a mental note to ask Riz when he returned.

* * *

Riz arrived around seven. Ever since Kajol had settled in; he had made it a habit of winding up his office work early or rather delegating a lot of his responsibilities to others. “Hey Kajol, are you home?”, he shouted as soon as he got in. “How are you doing darling?” He walked over to her room and kissed her on the cheek.

“You go and freshen up”, Kajol told her, “I will make the tea.”

He whistled and set off to the bathroom. On the way, he noticed that things looked different. ‘Ah! She has tidied up the room.’ He smiled and got in.

He was sprawled on his bed when she arrived with the tea tray. He sat up quickly. Kajol set the tray on the bed and sat down on the other side. She held out a cup which he took; choosing a cashewnut biscuit to nibble by. She asked how his day had been and he related to her the days happenings. After they had been through; she got up to carry the tea tray back to the kitchen.

“Kajol; let’s have some leafy vegetables for dinner tonight – what do you say?”

“Certainly”, she said with a smile and went off.

He stretched back on the bed and was out like a light. Barely fifteen minutes later he woke up, feeling pretty energetic now. He stretched his arms, to release the sleep bangs and got out.

Kajol had come inside. He looked up at her and smiled.

“Oh one minute”, she said. He watched her turn to his dress closet. Suddenly, he caught his breath. He had become wide awake. He watched in horror as opened the adjacent one; pulled out the sheer black negligee and get back to him.

“What’s this Rizu?”, she was smiling, “I didn’t know you had a secret lady friend…”

It was déjà vu once again. It was all badi didi’s fault – wasn’t it – he was explaining that to papa …<

It had all started when he was around twelve and the three sisters – all older to him – all so loving – badi didi, the eldest; loving him the most, always kissing him even if he didn’t want it… It was the day that curiosity had got the better of him, seeing all those nice round shapes swelling up their chests and he would secretly admire and think, when he would stand before the mirror and think when he would get such nice chests himself … something that never happened… … and badi didi was sleeping alone in the afternoon when he had walked over to her and placed his hand over her nice chest and was feeling its roundness, the softness … … only that she had woke suddenly and found his hand still on her breasts … … she had slapped him and tears stung his eyes … … badi didi had immediately felt contrite and pulled him closer and kissed his forehead, his eyes … …

Another day and she was at the getting dressed up before the mirror and he had walked over to her and said that she was beautiful … … she had smiled and taken out her bindi and stuck it on him and said ‘now you look beautiful too’ … … the other two sisters had come in and they had laughed and they took hold of his hand and put there bangles … … how they had all laughed … … and he had enjoyed it as well … … the games had continued … … they had put on their frocks on him … … lipstick and mascara … … he loved being the center of attention … … loved being a girl … and it was fun time for the next three years

Until the day papa had caught him … … he had been in full attire … … looking so cute … … so beautiful … … ‘my goodness’, he had hissed and called for mother … … she had arrived and her mouth had fallen open … … before he could understand anything … he had pulled her to the courtyard and yanked off the dress … … papa had a wild look on his face and he was looking for something … … then he had tied up his hands – to the pillars … … removed his slippers … … he had tried to protest that it was badi didi’s fault … … but papa didn’t listen that day … “effeminate, bloody effeminate” he shouted as the slippers started to come down … …

Later as he had lain sobbing … … not knowing why he was beaten up … … not understanding anything … … with neither his mother nor any of his coming up to him for fear of papa … …

He blinked and surfaced to the present. There was Kajol with the teasing look…

He went over to that closet and pulled out a tall box and brought it over to the bed. From the inside, he started taking out stuff and littered it on the bed. Kajol watched in amazement at the assorted lot of bra, panties &amp; garter; and make-up sets and a shiny pointed stiletto which he threw on the floor. Sitting on the bed, he looked at her, and she saw his tears running freely down. With a choked voice, he said; “Now you also judge me”. Then he hid his face in his palms and she heard his soft gasping.

Immediately she walked to him and removed his hands from his eyes. “Look at me, look at me Rizu – I shall never judge you” she said as she pressed her lips to his. She kissed him all over and between the sobs, he relayed to her his childhood; how he had been shipped off to a boarding college immediately thereafter, where he had met Ramesh and how he carried the guilt all through – never being able to speak to his sisters thereafter during vacations although Ramesh who used to accompany him loved his family and was equally loved in return … … it was never the same …

She wiped his face with her dupatta and he opened his eyes. “It’s ok. Stop crying now.”

He nodded. Kajol was standing before him and he tentatively reached out for a breast. She watched in surprise but didn’t say anything. He moved his hand gently and she felt the touch of a child exploring the contours out of curiosity. For a full minute, he kept on feeling her up and then withdrew his hand. An idea came to her, “Wait, I will be back”, she said and went to her room. When she returned it was with her make up set.

“Let’s doll you up once again; and this time there is no papa. Now get changed into a towel.”.

After he had changed, she had marched him to the bathroom where she made him sit on a stool while she shaved off his legs, his chest and his armpit. He watched happily as she applied a variety of creams all over him and then made him take a shower. He held out his hairless arms for inspection and was amazed how nice it looked. From the other side of the door, she handed him the panties with words “come on try it on …”. He did and it was very tight.

When he came out, she clasped her hands in delight. “You are indeed beautiful” She said and immediately got to work. She put the garters on him and even the bra, padding it up with some cloth. Finally, she made him wear the negligee and the stiletto high heels. Marching him to before the mirrors; she had exclaimed, “Look how beautiful you look”. Then she had taken a bit of mascara from the corner of her eyes and smeared it on him to ward off evil eyes. “My Rizi”, she said.

Both of them had laughed and then gone to the kitchen to cook dinner together. It was laughter all the way to washing the dishes and finally he had asked her to come to his bed and she had said yes. She held him from the behind and kissed the back of his head.

“Ah Kajol, you are my true girlfriend”, he had whispered after switching off the lights.

“And Rizi, you are also my true girlfriend”, she had said as both dissolved into another fit of laughing.

[Ramesh_Rocky]

Ramesh 1/2

It was the day after … I wasn’t feeling well at all.

What had got into me yesterday? Why did I have to send that mail to Mr. Ching? God they must be laughing their guts out. What purpose did that solve except as a demonstration of immature behavior? How did that improve my situation in any way? Truth be told, I was no where near to solving my own unemployment problem. Increasingly, the prospect of making that call or visit in person and discussion with Kajol – loomed its menacing head. The predator was in wait and watching - I could sense that -it was only a matter of time.

“Fuck, you Rao”, I kicked at the nearby stool in disgust.

My toes hurt. The face of that oily bastard Rao and of Ching appeared simultaneously, both smiling, both smirking.

In a huff I walked over to the computer and logged in to my mail – hoping, hoping desperately, hoping against hope that at least one of the job queries / applications that I had sent in yesterday would have drawn a response. My eyes eagerly skimmed through the inbox. Fuck! There was no such luck.

I slammed my palm on the computer table. It was as unyielding as was my fortune.

Where was my guardian angel now? Did any such thing exist? If there was a moment in life when I desperately needed a bit of lift from up above; this was it now. I prayed hard. Kajol’s face came up before me – the day we had met, the peacock blue saree she had worn on at the engagement ceremony and her face which I had been holding tenderly during the honeymoon at a budget hotel – for that was all that I could afford then … … how quickly had the years passed … and how before one realized it life had started assuming serious tones … the planning for her career … and mine … all these scenes started flashing before my eyes one by one as I lay face down on the bed.

And now. I was going to talk to her about being practical and tell her Rao’s proposition, which we would have to accept if I didn’t manage to land a job soon. May not be today but certainly in a near future … … at once, oily bastard’s face came up again – he and his bitch wife – both made for each other – how glibly had the two of them operated – how gullible I had been – how I had encouraged Kajol to socialize with them – how smart the two of them had been in winning over Kajol through all that dazzle of art and sophistication – how had I missed all that – even the gift of the transparent saree, which at that time I had just dismissed as a mere overreach – each of these memories raised their serpent hood and I winced as they stung me repeatedly – what a stupid fuck I had been the whole time!

Then it was Kajol again looking at me, mouth agape, after I had explained the proposition to her – ‘how could you, how could you even think of this’ – she was screaming at me and I wrenched my eyes shut. It was too much, just too much. I went out to the balcony and with fumbling hands lit a cigarette …

Later I came and rechecked the inbox. You have two unread mails – it flashed in bold. My heartbeat increased. I opened them one by one. Both were regrets …

I hadn’t had breakfast and it was nearing lunch time. My stomach was rumbling though I had no appetite. I went over to the fridge and took out some slices of bread. As I munched those dry pieces, I began to think of the high points in my life and how we forget to treasure those – taking them for granted – as if we have obtained those by right. How naïve of us – how very human …

Sometime in the afternoon, I waded to the bedroom; all empty save my whirling thoughts. The demons however wouldn’t go away - how was I going to face Kajol? how was I to put up the proposal to pimp her out to Rao ? . I slammed a pillow over my head and sobbed my heart out …

Around six in the evening, Preeti called. “Did you talk to Kajol”, she asked.

“No, not yet”, I almost shouted at her. I hated the bitch.

“Ok, ok”, her voice sounded very tired, “just let me know when you do”, she said and hung up.

I placed the mandatory call to Kajol feigning fatigue and overwork and asked how things were at her end and cut her mid-sentence when she was excitedly speaking about her work – to say that a client was calling me and that I would speak to her later or tomorrow …

The approaching evening was very long and scary for me. Neither did I have the strength to go out – if at all to escape the depressing walls at home. I called up an off-duty guard and whispered instructions to get me my regular whiskey bottle …

I checked my email again. The screen mocked back at me.

* * *

Early in the morning Kajol woke me up and my heart missed a beat. Had someone already told her? Thankfully, it was on some mundane matters, she wanted a transfer of money to her account. I told her I will attend to that and fell back on the bed. Sleep wouldn’t come this time. My mind wondered over to the future where she with a swollen belly was being photographed with the Raos flanking her on each side. I cursed myself. Damn, these images never went away. I had to get out of the house, preferably out of the town – if at all to get some respite from my thoughts. But how would I explain that to Kajol?

A distraction was much needed. I went downstairs. One of the guards was smoking a beedi in the shadows. He did a curtsey when he saw me, ‘salam saab’.

“Say what is the news around here …”, I prompted.

“Everything good sir”, he bared his teeth, “in fact we would be getting a raise in our salaries from next month – after the rents go up.”

“Is there going to be a hike in the rent?” I was curious.

“That is already decided sir, in the last society meeting. Didn’t you know that sir? They were saying that most of the house-owners have already hiked it by 15-20%. The rest would be following soon.”

My head swum at that information. I mumbled something and came back. There was now no point in delaying my visit to Kolkata. The sooner, I had the thing off my chest – the better. Switching on the computer, I decided that I will take the train this time – no use spending extra on a flight. Pennies did count.

As the desktop came to life, there was the notification – you have 1 unread message. I clicked it open without interest – must be another rejection / regret mail.

However, it was from HK Corp, Singapore. My eyebrows stitched together when I went through it …

Mr. Ching would like you to give a call to the following two numbers at the earliest please …

There were two numbers – both local ones. What further game was Ching upto – I wondered. Nevertheless, there was no harm in trying those out. I called the first number …

“Hello, Sudha Imports, may I help you”, the cool voice of the receptionist came from the other end.

I stated my name and with great embarrassment tried to explain to the lady that I had been asked to call on this number by Mr. Ching …

I must have been blabbering for she listened with absolute silence, but the moment I mentioned Ching’s name, she came through,

“Mr. Ching of HK Corp?”

“Yes, yes; the same”, I blurted out.<

“Hold on please …” she said and the music came on. I don’t know why but an unknown fear gripped my heart …

Within a minute, she was back. “I am sorry, but Mr. Ching is tied up in the meeting”, she sounded truly apologetic and to some extent respectful. “He requests that you meet him during the lunch hour. Sir, where shall I send the pick-up to?”

I was dumb struck. What the hell? I mumbled my address and she confirmed it. “Sir the pick up will arrive at eleven, ok sir? And may he call you at this number?”

I sat stunned . Ching was here, here itself. What was he doing here – finalizing the deal with Rao? And both of them inviting me over … I had one too many experience of lunch with Ching – it had cost me dearly. I debated for an instant. Then I shimmered down. Possibly, he might have felt a slab of regret over his actions and so decided to call me after reading the mail, if only for form’s sake. In any case, I had also over reacted. I decided to go, if not for anything but to tender an apology for the outburst… and to get out of my claustrophobic apartment for a couple of hours …

[Ramesh_Rocky]

Ramesh 2/2

The old man was already seated and the maître d' guided me over to him. He half rose from the seat as I greeted him. I slid across the opposite seat. The waiter poured me a glass of water and I took a sip.

“So Mr. Ramesh, tell me how you are”, he said, “We have been trying to find you for so long and it seems you had vanished. No one had your contact information.”

“What?”, the surprise on my face must have been plainly visible to him.

“Yes, what is this you say on your email is confusing to us. We were said that you left job without saying where you were going.”

The world stood still. I picked my words carefully,

“Sir, I was sacked from my job because it was explained to me that your company would sign the deal only if I was removed from the company.”

He paused a second and then said, “But why should we want that? All we said was that you should remain in charge of the SPV that we would be setting up for the implementation of the project here. But your Mr. Rao said that your company policy didn’t allow that and though we persisted with this demand, he didn’t agree. Actually that reason is why we are so late in finalizing the deal”

Everything had suddenly fallen silent around me. In a moment of clarity I could see through the entire conspiracy. Rao had used the opportunity to bring me down and force me towards accepting their diabolical plans for Kajol’s surrogate motherhood. The treachery was too much to bear, I hung my head …

“Your proposal was so good in design and approach, that we had accepted it in principle on the first day. But we wanted a suitable person to handle it, and so, we were studying you, examining your suitability for the job. Personally, I was of the opinion that you have the right aptitude and talent for the job; you lacked experience … thought you understood that all the time … and then we heard that you had left … and we were so sorry to lose you …

I half closed my eyes, listening to him as he rambled on. My goodness! They had been apprising me personally and not the proposal all the time. And what Ching was saying that their Chairman had been so impressed with my presentation that hewanted that an offer be made directly to me to head the special purpose vehicle that they would be setting up here for their market entry. But Mr. Ching had argued that that would put too much pressure on me outright. So instead he had suggested in imparting some hands on experience in international trading, right in one of their international offices and then to launch the country wide operation after an year when I would have been groomed.

My mind boggled at the sheer magnitude of what he was suggesting. Me to have international exposure, work overseas for an year, ceo of an spv, albeit a small one – I stopped thinking altogether.

“So tell me, what happened. Which job you have taken and would you still like to come to work for HK Corp?”, he asked.

I told him everything, all that had taken place on that eventful day and the manner of my dismissal, leaving out the Kajol angle. Mr. Ching couldn’t believe any of that, - Mr. Rao had been so adroit, so deft in spreading disinformation about myself.

He stopped me when I told him that I hadn’t got any job offers yet.

“Mr. Ramesh; I would like to appoint you as an entry level executive to work in our New York office as per current standard compensation basis. Would you be willing to join us. Of course, I would be happy to appoint your team members too, for the wonderful work that they could produce in such a small time. Now, are you interested to join us?”

I nodded my head feverishly.

“Fine”, he said, “I will send for you a five year job contract – which you may collect tomorrow from our associate Sudha Imports tomorrow. They will handle all the paperwork for your travel etc. By the way will 55k usd be acceptable to you as the starting. Of course, we compensate on merit and performance?”

I didn’t trust to open my mouth, lest this beautiful dream end. I just nodded.

He was rising to go but sat down again with a thoughtful expression on his face. “I am thinking just now. You don’t have a job right now. So join ours from today – in principle. You can sign the documents in our Singapore itself, where I would like you to work in head office for a couple of months before you go to New York. And also, there is no need for your old boss to know about these arrangements - what do you say? ”

“Yes sir, certainly sir”, I croaked. ‘Fuck Rao’, I said to myself.

“Then let us finish the pro forma documents. I will ask them to fax those to Sudha Imports.”

A couple of hours later, I was dropped at home. In my pocket there was a cheque made out to me by HKC’s local associate Sudha Imports. The cheque was for a very indecent amount.

* * *

The moment I entered into my apartment, I felt weary – extremely weary. The ding-dong that fate had been playing with me – I smiled ruefully. Still it was way better to be on the right side – I thought. I collapsed on the sofa saying a prayer to all the gods that I knew.

When I looked at the watch, it was around three thirty. I felt the urgent need to share the news with someone. ‘Who with now?’, I thought. Kajol would be probably commuting back home and of course; I had to think of carefully what to say to her – had to make up a plausible story for her … who else then. The only person left was Preeti – that kept of Rao; and suddenly it was a moment of schadenfreude – I would be killing two birds in one – showing the bitch her place and sending her back with egg on her face to her master as well…

“Preeti, I have decided on the proposition”, I called her up and said.

“Oh! Have you?” Her voice sounded heavy.

“But I want to tell you in person, can you come over?”

“Yes, yes; right away”, she said and hung up. There was something in her tone I couldn’t place.

Later when she was inside; I had a look at her face – it was heavy with tension. I wanted to capture her exact expressions – the way it would break when she heard the news.

“Preeti, you would be happy to know that I have got a job today. So you can go and tell Rao to go and shove the proposition in his ass.”

Her eyes grew wide as I had expected.

“A job – a job with whom?”, she stuttered.

“HKC.”

“I don’t believe that. Why are you making such a story.”

“No dear”, I rubbed it in, “Mr. Ching – you remember the one who had hosted us lunch – well I met him today and look here – I picked up copies of my employment contract and waved it before her face.” I had reneged on my word to Ching to remain silent, but what the heck!

She stood rooted to the ground and then moved forward for what I thought to have a look at the papers I held in my hand. But I was in for another surprise. She ran directly towards me, hugged me tight and started crying outright.

I was totally nonplussed. That was the last thing I was expecting from her. Why the hell was she crying out so loud?

“There, there”, I said trying to separate her from me, but she won’t go despite my gentle efforts. Perforce I had to pat her back, her head waiting for her to calm down.

“Come on. You are a brave girl”, I kissed her head this time, “Tell me, tell me your problem.”

Amidst the violent racking of her chest, she said; “You have any idea what I have been going through since this all started … you were celebrating lunch with the boys … and I was ordered to write your resignation letter for you … you know what it felt like … like cutting out an arm … while you were clearing your desk … I was crying my heart out alone in the conference room … but did you ever notice that … did you? … …

I felt like a dog that had been kicked in the ribs. What had I been thinking?

Gently, I shepherded her to the sofa and made her sit alongside. I wiped her face of tears and smudge; and made her sip a little water. Though still sobbing, she settled down considerably …

She looked at me and said in a very small voice, “Take me with you, take me anywhere …”

“What are you saying”, I asked in surprise.

“Do you know, why I had to come to tell you of Rao’s proposal. It was either to have you agreed to it or for me to be prepared to entertain any of our company clients. That’s the ultimatum that Rao had issued to me – and it had to be in a week’s time. He had added that if this was not acceptable, then I could of course be easily replace.”

My blood curdled.

I looked at her. “Pteeti, this is serious. Tell me if you are willing to work for HK Corp. right now.” I looked at my watch. “I might just catch Ching before he goes back.”

She jumped from the sofa and sat on the floor. Holding my hand she said excitedly “Yes, yes, yes. Is that possible?”<

“Let’s see”, I said and immediately called up Mr. Ching, whose number had been recently added to my list of contacts.


“Mr. Ching; I hope I am disturbing you sir. I just talked to one of my old team members – miss preeti sir – the one who had joined me at Singapore – if you remember her sir – well she is interested to join HK Corp sir – if you see ...”

Mr. Ching’s voice cut through, “Of course I remember that young lady – she has such great communication skills – have her send her cv and we will find something suitable for her as well and of course no need to get a reference from her boss”, he chuckled “But let’s say; let she join two weeks later so as not to cause any disturbance.”

I hung up after profusely thanking him. I turned towards Preeti and smiled. Her eyes had welled up and she made no effort to stop the tears flowing down.

“Silly girl”, I pulled her up and kissed her on the lips, “stop crying and get that cv ready.” But she didn’t stop. She had placed her head on my shoulders and let the tears flow with silent sobs. I let her have her way.

Much later, when she had become normal, I had shown her my job contract and the advance cheque. She was happy and I saw her laugh in a long time – that I could remember. It was evening when she left and I let out a deep breath.

“What a day this had turned out to be.”

[Ramesh_Rocky]

Kajol and Four Men : Ep1 - Riz

Riz woke her up, as was his usual practice, with the morning cup of tea. She was loath to get up – last few days she was feeling totally out of sorts – feeling lethargic and bloated. ‘What is wrong with me?’, she wondered, even as she gave Riz a wan smile.

“Thanks Rizu; though I don’t feel like having tea”, she said taking the cup from his hand.

“Drink it, you will feel better. If not, I will take you to a doctor today. Whole of last week, you have been not keeping well. Might have picked up a food allergy”, he said.

She nodded and took a sip. It tasted bitter. She winced her face and put the cup down. It had been like this ever since the fancy dinner that the three of them had taken, just before Ramesh was off to Singapore for his week long orientation. They had a merry night – Riz and Ramesh deciding to drive around half the night. Riz had been so upbeat and they had ended up visiting two night clubs for refills, after dinner at the five star hotel.

“I will pay for this you fucker”, Riz had practically snatched the bill from the waiter.

Ramesh had glared back him and Riz matched that with one of his own.

In the car, at the driving wheel, Riz had suddenly punched him in the arm, “Fucker, I knew it, knew it that someday you will make it big.”

The boys were horsing around in the front, jostling and sharing the same bottle. A couple of times she had remonstrated, but they had paid scant regard to what she said.

“Not everyday, I get the news of your stupid husband going off to America”, Riz had declared, “and see how typical of this loser – pays a visit for only two days to his wife.”

“Arre..”, Ramesh had groaned, for he was repeating his explanation for the umpteenth time. “How many times do I have to tell you that it penetrates your thick skull. Do you know, how much of paperwork is involved for a US visa?”

“Tchh, tchh”, Riz had teased and Ramesh had basted him over the head with the tissue paper box saying, “Bloody bugger” over and over again.

“Seriously”, Riz had continued, “Kajol – why don’t you go back with him now, and uh umm…, pack things etc. for him when he goes.

“No Riz, that’s not necessary”, Ramesh explained patiently, “First I don’t know when the paperwork formalities would be over – and that means an interruption on her thesis preparation. In any case, I would be traveling to Singapore first for the company orientation program and I will have a brief stopover here before pushing off to US. Then again, why the hell shouldn’t I come here – since both of you are here itself?”

Riz had brightened on hearing the last part. Without a care for the traffic; he had turned around and hugged Ramesh, even though the car was doing sixty.

“Careful, both of you”, she had shouted from the back but the lads had laughed. Pointedly, she had turned her face to the window thereafter.

“Hey; what happens to the old job? How did your boss take your quitting?”

Ramesh gave a long winded answer – something like it was a subject that he didn’t care to talk about – the people at his old company didn’t know any of this – he had just put in a hurried resignation and left – even without meeting his boss Mr. Rao. He had even turned around briefly and told her not to discuss with the Raos about his new job at this juncture, if either of them called in to inquire – given that he was switching over to a client without their knowledge – something unethical. She had nodded in acquiescence.

Back in their apartment Riz had shepherded both of them in her room, dramatically shutting the door after them and shouting that Ramesh had enough to drink for the night and didn’t need any more. In any case, he wasn’t going to give company.

They had heard his footsteps recede – he had purposefully left them a couple of hours of privacy. Both of them were too tired – even for speech – and gone to sleep right after changing into night-wears. Morning was hectic as Ramesh had his return flight at eight. Right after both boys had been off to the airport; she had sat down at the dining table to have her breakfast. Midway, she felt sick and she had pushed her plate away. ‘Must have been due to all that wine and – food poisoning maybe’ she thought – she felt like throwing up at once.

Her system had gone out of order. She experienced nausea and listlessness. Her limbs seemed so heavy and so swollen up – she had visiting Prof Bharadwaj since then and couldn’t concentrate on her thesis for any significant period of time – no Rizu was right – she had to see a doctor – today itself …

The lady doctor at the private hospital examined her and asked her to sit up from her lying position on the bench. She disengaged the sthetho from her ears and made some notes while Riz stood with a very worried expression. “Here”, she held out a prescription, “please return after the following blood and urine tests. We may as well carry out an ultrasound. Be sure to drink plenty of water now”, she advised.

The reports were out by late afternoon. Both Riz and Kajol walked in to her chamber and the doctor went through the reports.

“Congratulations”, she said to Riz, “Your wife is pregnant.”

* * *

She had never seen him so happy. Back home, he had hugged her tight and then suddenly remembering her condition – released her with a fearful face. “Sorry, sorry Kajol”, he mumbled and she had said “Its ok, don’t worry.” He led her to the bed and gently made her sit down, “Careful, there”, he whispered.

“I don’t know about this pregnancy thing”, he had said, “but I am right now going to buy a lot of books on that – and all the vitamins and medicines – you must …”

Suddenly he started crying, sitting down on the floor, near her feet. He put his head on her lap and then remembering something, put an ear against her belly.

“You silly”, she pushed his head back laughing, “you don’t hear the heartbeat so early.”

Then he had straightened up and rubbed his hand purposefully. “Give me Ramesh’s number. Let’s call him now.”

“Rizu wait”, she said, “why worry him now? He is to come here in two days time. Let’s surprise him then.”

The idea appealed to him and he nodded. Then he again went and put his arms, very gently this time, around her waist and looking down said “My baby, oh! My baby – You darling – you have made me so happy – can’t wait to hold you when you come out.”

[Ramesh_Rocky]

Kajol and The Four Men: Ep 2 - Rao and Bharadwaj

“Here it says that regular exercise is a must during pregnancy”, Riz said looking up from the book that he was studying. “Let’s go out for a walk now.”

Kajol sighed in exasperation. “No!”, she shouted, “you go to work, right now.”

Riz gave her a look as if as if she had mentioned something unthinkable.

“No way! How can I go out leaving you alone”, he shouted back.

She came over to him and placed an arm over his shoulder. “Look dear, nothing is going to happen to me or the baby. Trust me, we both are fine. But you can not just stay home looking after me all the time. Your business also needs you”, she said.

He considered what she had said and nodded. “But leaving you alone in the house …”, he mumbled, “ok then – but promise me that you will call me the moment you need anything.”

“Ok baba, promise”, she said, “now off you go.” She gave him a push.

Riz got up from the dining table where after having had his breakfast he was leafing through a book. He went to pick up his briefcase from the bedroom. On his way out, he said anxiously, “You will be alright, won’t you?”

At the doorstep he turned as if he had changed his mind about going. Kajol pushed him out and locked the door. ‘Phew’, she said herself, ‘now I have two babies to handle.’

Afterwards she had tidied up the room and placed a call to her professor. She explained to him that she can not go to him since she was still unwell. Prof Bharadwaj had a class to catch. He said that he would speak to her later.

Next she called up Mr. Rao.

“Hello darling”, the smooth voice of Mr. Rao wafted over “has Ramesh discussed with you?”

“Discussed what?” She was at a total loss.

“Never mind that, it’s nothing. Tell me how you are …”

“I have news for you”, she giggled imagining how he would be shocked and then how delighted … she could imagine the slow smile spreading across his face … him stepping forward to take her in his arms … the aroma of his musky scent enveloping her …

“What’s it Kajol?” Mr. Rao’s voice had cut through her reverie.

“I am with child”, she uttered softly.

There was a silence from the other end. Then his voice came on “Mine?”

“Maybe”, she whispered.

“You mean, could be of Ramesh?”

“Of course”, she said. Something was odd - something jarring on her senses. This was not the reaction that she was expecting of him.

“Ahhm, hmmm – well let’s discuss this later” she heard him saying, “I am on my way to a meeting – call you soon – promise. Bye.”

She stared at the mobile – probably she had been too impetuous – and maybe she had caught him at the wrong time – then again he might have been irritated at Ramesh’s sudden resignation – it was odd and jarring – she set off to prepare lunch.

Riz had called thrice - in as many hours – to inquire how she was. She scolded him the last time asking him not to behave like an absolute chump.

Late in the afternoon; Lekhaji’s call came.

“Congrats Kajol dear; just heard the news”, her voice came bubbling over, “how long are you due?”

“Nine to ten weeks – I suppose”, she said.”

“Excellent, excellent – Anand is going over there tomorrow – in the morning itself. We have talked to a hospital. Can do the testing there.”

“Oh thank you Lekha – but I am quite alright – just had my check up yesterday.”

“Amniocentosis dear – you know dna test”, Lekhaji explained.

“What?” She was genuinely horrified. “Why a dna test?”

“Well, among other things”, she heard Lekhaji speaking slowly, haltingly – as if she was carefully choosing her words – “dna test – you know it will rule out congenital problems – if any … … also would be able to determine if Anand is the father.”

Kajol was stunned – she didn’t know what to say.

Lekhaji’s voice came over – trying to allay her fears …

“Hey don’t worry, it will be quite alright. Besides, he would be there besides you – to take the right decision.”

Lekhaji’s voice sounded ominous. She took a deep breath.

“Lekhaji”, she spoke with a deliberate slowness, “What happens if the baby isn’t Anand’s?”

“Oh!, You should rather ask what if it is Anand’s? You see, it will be so easy to convince Ramesh that as you are carrying his child; the surrogacy is already confirmed. Of course, he will be suitably compensated – I’ll see to it that Anand keeps his word to find a job for him after having fired him – poor thing – so much misery – but see it had to be done. We will reinstate him in a good job…”

She was stunned. She saw through everything clearly – Lekhaji had spilled out the beans assuming that she had known … Was this the true picture of the Raos?

Lekhaji was still chatting away, “And gosh, you know how happy I am – and so also Anand is. After years and years … heck … let me not think too far … … let’s see what the test result shows … … of course … … you shouldn’t worry a bit about expenses … … will be handsomely compensated … … and don’t worry also if it isn’t Anand’s … … we will abort this one … … and try next time … … of course keeping the naughty Ramesh away from you … hehehe … …” She was chuckling at her own joke…

Kajol’s head was spinning. Truly spinning – from all the words she had heard. She clutched at the nearby table for support. “Lekhaji, I am feeling faint”, she said – her voice barely a whisper, “talk to you later …”

Lekhaji response was all full of concern, “Of course dear! Rest now and don’t you worry a bit.”

She collapsed on the bed and put her head on the pillow. One sentence ran through her mind – abort if not Ramesh’s and try again later – my, what had she done – the recriminations rose – what was the kind of game that she had been playing for so long? Silently, two streams of tears came out. She hugged the pillow as the sobs started …

* * *

Professor Bharadwaj checked the bag and was satisfied. It contained everything – whip, binding cords, duct tape and handcuffs and other accessories. He pressed the locks shut and hurried down to get a taxi. In his pocket lay Kajol’s address.

Ever since the accident in which his wife and servant and perished; he had not had a session. And that was over a month ago. The tension had been building up inside him, the need for hearing the cries of pain, of helplessness, of yielding to force – from a young woman – that would give him the much needed release. That other woman, Puja, now having been regularly commissioned – was out of reach. Moreover, his friends had advised him against coming back to the city – in case of a possible scandal. So that left only Kajol. He had succeeded in getting her here to the city but finding a suitable place and time was the problem. Until recently! Today was perfect. It was Wednesday, a day without any classes. Also he wanted to surprise her … That was perfect. He licked his lips after giving the taxi driver instructions.

Kajol was shocked. Here was the professor standing on his doorsteps – with a strange look in his eyes. He came inside and asked, “You alone – that friend of yours – he is off to work eh?”

She nodded dumbly.

“Ah nice; let’s go to your room”, he said.

She led him there and once there; he placed the bag on a table and faced her. He squeezed a breast hard and she grimaced. “Ah! It has been so long”, he said as he started undressing her. In moments; all her clothes lay at her feet. She was stark naked. Like a clockwork toy she went over to the bed and spread herself there. She wanted it to be over – the sooner the better – much before Riz came back as he had promised he would today for lunch.

“Oh – not so soon”, the professor said and walked out to the hall. Seconds later he returned with a chair from the dining table and placed it down. “Sit”, he ordered. He placed her hands behind the backrest and spread her legs wide after she had sat down. Then he took out the cords and started fastening the knots. She couldn’t move a muscle any longer. As he removed a gag and the duct tape from his bag; Kajol felt a tingle of horror.

“Sir”, she said urgently, “I am pregnant.”

He stopped for a moment and then looked directly at her, “Good! I hope it is a girl. Then I will fuck both mother and daughter together.” He inserted the plastic ball into her mouth and taped her mouth.

Drawing back, he examined his handiwork. The woman was locked in place. He licked his lips. ‘Ah! Today was what he had been waiting for a long time.’ Without warning, he punched her stomach. Kajol doubled over in total pain. “Ah my little one, ah”, he said as punched her again this time on the face…

Five minutes later, Kajol had passed out and Bharadwaj frowned. He took the glass of water near her bedstead and splashed her face. She opened her eyes. He was satisfied. He dropped his pants and brief. Going over to her; he pulled her forward, her pelvis at the edge of the chair and tried to enter her … the height however was a problem and Kajol was screaming despite her gags and struggling against the ropes. “Unn, unn”, she was trying to gesticulate with her eyes.

“What the hell?”, he heard the voice from behind and turned to see a man. It was Riz. He had come back earlier and having unlocked the main door, felt something amiss and so rushed inside Kajol’s room, completely forgetting to remove the key from the door lock.

Bharadwaj was prepared for this. In a trice, he had taken out a set of handcuffs from inside his bag, walked over to Riz and put it on his wrists. Riz who stood rooted in shock, found himself handcuffed to the door handle – before he returned to his senses. He struggled hard, but it was too late. Moments later, he found duct tape across his mouth.

“Ah! Nice to have someone watching”, the professor said and untied Kajol’s bonds, only to carry her over to the bed. She struggled violently but he chuckled at her – remember the phd – he reminded and she relapsed into sobs. He adjusted her bonds again and this time, tied her to the bed posts drawing her naked body out as a huge X…

* * *

Mr. Rao checked the address once again and took the self operating lift. He was cursing Lekha all the way. The bloody woman had spoiled everything. Why did she have to tell everything about their plan to Kajol! Typical of her to overdo the stuff. Now it was left to him to convince Kajol somehow, and he couldn’t see how, to convince her for the dna test. That was the first step and that was all he wanted to focus upon now.

He came out at the landing and walked over to the door, where the nameplate read Mr. Rizwan. It was indeed the right address. He was about to press the bell when he saw the key in the hole. That was perplexing. He wondered what to do. It seemed very odd. Then against his better judgment, he turned the key and heard the lock click open. Gently, he pushed the door open and took a look at the inside. At first he didn’t see anything, but then suddenly he saw a man handcuffed to a door at the end of the sitting room. Then the man turned and he saw his mouth taped up. And then the man started gesticulating with his free hand, signaling him to come closer.

He didn’t. It wasn’t prudent. He stepped out and locked the door taking the key with him. Walking downstairs, he dialed the emergency number for security officer. Within ten minutes, two patrol vans had arrived and he stepped forward to hand over the key and give a brief description. The inspector asked him to wait downstairs while they all went up. He walked to and fro – lighting a cigarette. An ambulance had arrived in the meantime. Then he saw a swarthy man, with a wild look on his face, being brought down by the security officerman. A short while later, Kajol also came down accompanied by two nurses. The inspector looked for him in the crowd that had assembled and catching his eye, beckoned him. He politely asked him to accompany to the security officer station to record his statement.

Later in the evening, he learnt from the inspector that they were investigating for bang and assault. He walked out – there was nothing he could do now and it was impossible for him to meet Kajol now. A reporter tagged along and tried to ask him a few questions. He swatted him off and dropped into a taxi – asking to be taken directly to the airport, where he had an evening flight to catch.

[Ramesh_Rocky]

Kajol and Four Men - Ep 3 : Ramesh

She was sore. She shivered under a blanket. It wasn’t the wounds – which luckily were superficial – but those terrifying images which refused to go away. The furious face of the professor – a maniac light shining in his eyes - using the whip coupled with the more horrifying action of seeing Riz who was trying to extricate himself from the handcuffs like a madman ... she closed her eyes and felt the involuntary tremor. Then there were the endless stream of security officer, sirens and the medical personnel.

They had patched her up at the hospital. Inserted stuff inside her to examine, to collect semen samples– she couldn’t care – she just wanted it all to end. A doctor had come and said that her baby was safe and that was the first time she had responded. Later, she had been given a sedative – for she was still in shock. The security officermen at her bedside had recorded her story briefly and asked if she felt well enough to return home. She had nodded and they had told her that she was free to go now. They would collect her detailed statement later. Outside, Riz had been waiting and together they returned home.

She headed straight for the bathroom and had a hot shower. Riz was sitting on the chair with a blank look on his face. Her heart broke to see him like that. It was more painful than her own sufferings. She went to the kitchen and prepared soupy noodles. Sitting besides him, she handed him over a bowl and he started eating mechanically. There wasn’t anything to be said – and both knew it. Later on she slunk back to her room and lied down in her bed.

Sleep wouldn’t come. She got up and went to his room and lied down besides him. All of a sudden he turned, his face tear stricken and cried, “I couldn’t, I couldn’t you know …” and let out a loud wail. Immediately, she put his arm around and drew him to her chest. The stinging sensation at the corner of her eyes had began …the feelings she had pent up no longer obeying her … the sobs overtaking …

* * *

The day after, there was a slow return to normal routine. Riz, more composed now, had informed his office about his not coming in. He attended to the doorbell – curious neighbors, local reporters – shutting the door after the minimum exchange. Later on, he had spoken with the security officer inspector handling the case.

“They said, it is ok if you go after a couple of days to record your statement”, he informed her.

She nodded. That bridge would be crossed later. Right now, she was wondering what to say to Riz. He deserved to know the truth.

“Rizu, I have to tell you something. I can’t stay here any longer …”, she began.

He whirled back towards her, his eyes wide in consternation, “What did you say?”

She told him everything. Right from the start – of her fascination for the professor’s wife, the fun games, the blackmail. Later she described about Mr. Rao, his seductions and the nefarious plans that he had hatched behind her – and how she had just played along – taking in the fun – throwing caution to the winds. At the end, she had looked up at him, tears in her eyes.

Riz had said nothing, listening to her with a ‘doesn’t concern me’ look. Quietly, he had said, “You are with his child – that is all that matters now. Stop worrying about stuff. You will see everything will turn out fine once he comes over tomorrow.”

Then he had sat beside her and taken her hand. Not looking at her, he had continued, “We all make mistakes and we learn. Your going away anywhere is out of the question. There is the baby - how can you even think of leaving here – can I show my face to Ramesh?”

She daren’t look at him, her eyes had brimmed over in gratitude. In a way he had made it easier for her. Now she had the courage to reveal everything to Ramesh.

Sometime during afternoon, she got a call from Preeti.

“Just heard about the incident” her voice was full of concern, “How are you?”

She stifled a sob and narrated her ordeal briefly. Preeti consoled her and then informed her that she had recently joined HK Corp.

Kajol hid her surprise, Ramesh had never mentioned this before, why – she wondered. , “Would you going to New York?”, she asked softly.

“Not now – as it seems – Ching wants me to work with him for a month or two. Thereafter – maybe – who knows?”

“I would be glad if you are there – at least Ramesh will have someone to talk to …”, her voice trailed off.

“Yes, until you join us there …”, Preeti said brightly.

Kajol was a bit relieved. “Look after him well, in my absence, will you?”, she said.

Preeti laughed and all of a sudden Kajol felt better. She felt a connect with this girl. She cried as she described her learning of Rao’s nefarious plans.

“Did you know that he had sacked Ramesh and was blackmailing him?”

It was Preeti’s turn to be candid this time. She described everything – how Rao had taken advantage of her at Singapore, how she had played her part at Rao’s scheme, how her family conditions were – how Ching had occurred as a godsend for both of them ... everything she spilled out except the one-off incident at her home with Ramesh.

Kajol felt the instant bonding with her.

“And Preeti – uhhm - about that day – we two and Rao - does Ramesh know …?”, she asked fearfully.

“What are you talking about? I don’t remember any such thing. In fact nothing of that sort ever happened – do you understand”, Preeti cut her short. Then almost in a whisper, she had added; “I have dumped all those baggage from the past; and so should you. We live in a men’s world – don’t we? Let’s never forget that.”

She was much relieved, that was at least one episode that she didn’t have to reveal to him. She had a feeling Ramesh harbored some sentiments towards that girl, and she didn’t feel any resentment whatsoever. She was in fact glad that Ramesh could have a touch of home abroad with Preeti around.

* * *

The moment Ramesh came inside, he dropped his bag and flew directly to her. On the way from airport Riz had apprised him of the previous day’s happenings and he was still in shock.

“Oh my baby – oh my baby”, he sobbed hugging her tight.

Kajol melted as well. Later he held her apart as if to examine if he could determine any residual injuries. “Oh my”, he cried and hugged her again.

Riz put in a word from the sideline. “Believe me Ramesh; I couldn’t do anything. I feel like a dog.”

Ramesh let go of Kajol and went to hug his friend. He patted his back.

After lunch, Riz had withdrawn discreetly to his room and they had settled down in her bed – him cuddling her. He kissed her again with tenderness, “Can’t believe that that professor would do such a thing. Anyway leave all that. I never knew, there was a baby on the way …”, he was smiling.

She pushed his hand off. It was now or never. And she didn’t want to live with a lie any longer. Sitting up, she said; “This is something I want to discuss. The baby may not be yours.”

It hurt her to see his eyes grow wide in shock. He had sat up in a hurry. “I have to tell you something.” She took a deep breath and started narrating …

Half an hour later she had disclosed everything. Ramesh who was sitting like a statue eventually moved. He went out to Riz’s room to borrow his packet of cigarettes and went over to the balcony. There he started smoking in silence …

Half an hour later, he came back to her and asked, “I don’t understand. You mean to say that you were attracted to your professor’s wife and to the old guy who was my boss – why?”

“I can’t”, she answered, “To be honest, I don’t understand my actions myself. Look, maybe since we are of the same age – and I was looking for security and the attraction of a matured man – I am so sorry Ramesh – it had nothing to do with you – there must be something rotten inside me.”

He moved back to the balcony and lit another cigarette…

“He was fucking you all the time – all the time”, he had returned and was almost shouting …

She stayed silent.

“And, and what a glorious conspiracy – surrogate – I bet you were part of that plan too …”, his voice had assumed an edge.

She said softly, “No, I had nothing to do with that.”

“And you think I will believe that?” he was practically shouting.

“How could you – how could you even think of doing that – I wonder if I know you at all – do we know each other any more Kajol?”

She sobbed. He had every right to berate her, hurl any number of insults, she had to bear that … there was no way out …

“And do the list of your lovers include Riz as well?”, he thundered.

“NO”, she shouted back and immediately hid her tearful face in her palms, “you should know your friend better.”

“At this point I do not know what I know, what I don’t”, he declared flatly.

Then he went out to the balcony again and sat down, one leg on the balustrade, smoking a cigarette, his mind still in a turmoil…

* * *

It was evening and both of them were sitting in silence. Riz came in and said that dinner was ready. No one had any appetite – but Riz reminded her that she must – for the sake of the child.

“That’s it”, Ramesh shouted, “now you will do as I say. You get rid of that baby and then we will see what to do next.”

“Ramesh”, this time it was Riz, “you know what you are saying?”

“I realize fully well”, he faced Riz now, “must get rid of the bastard at the earliest.”

“Ramesh”, Riz’s voice was louder, “one more word like that and I will never speak with you for life.”

“You stay out of this”, Ramesh was dismissive, “this is a husband – wife discussion.”

Riz glared at him. He spoke slowly looking at Kajol “I am going to the office now – will stay there tonight.” Then he shuffled away.

Kajol sat with Ramesh, the silence hanging heavy between them. Later she remembered what Riz had said – the baby inside her certainly needed nourishment. She walked over to the dining table and laid out two plates. Then she called Ramesh over.

After she had put away the dishes; Ramesh had again gone to the balcony for another smoke. Kajol came to her room. Deliberately, she locked it from inside. She needed to be alone, to think, to have some time with herself …

* * *

In the morning, she had made up her mind. She waited till Ramesh came out – he had slept in Riz’s bed last night and hadn’t even once knocked at hers. She handed him a cup of tea and after he returned from the bathroom told him,

“Ramesh, I have decided.”

“Good”, he said, “when will you have the abortion.”

“No Ramesh”, she chose her words carefully, “I am not going to have an abortion. This baby has every right to live and I am going to give it that. What I have decided is that we will have a divorce.”

He stared at her as if she had gone mad. “Don’t try to be so melodramatic”, he sneered, “all that I want is for you to get rid of your sin and then we will have our life as before.”

“It can be never as before”, she cut his words, “do you think you can go through your life without ever harboring a doubt when you see me talking with another man?”

She looked at him as he stayed silent. “Find a suitable girl and marry her. Marry Preeti, she would be ideal for you.”

He gaped at her, “Are you serious? Let’s wait a couple of days before we rush to any hasty decision.”

“The facts won’t change even if we wait for ever”, she said almost in a resigned manner. “Let’s part ways while, there are still some feelings alive between us. Let us keep those memories intact at least.”

He looked away, ,.ng things over. Finally he said, “You are right! So be it”

[Ramesh_Rocky]

"breville1:

Horrors!! This is so awful!! Awful!! Awful!!

Kajol cannot explain why she did what she did, she says there must be something rotten in her. She understands Ramesh's feelings and expected his reaction. But what is unexpected (for me) is her decision to keep the baby  get a divorce.

Ramesh, despite his obvious anger at Kajol, seemed to be focusing on the immediate problem - the baby. Typical action man. Kajol, feeling totally wretched, does not want Ramesh to carry any lingering doubts in the longer term, for her the relationship can never be the same regardless of any discussion. She thinks she already knows how Ramesh would react in the longer term. Again, Kajol makes a decision by herself that affects the two of them, affects any repair plan or compromises that Ramesh might come up with. And by keeping the baby which could be Raos, the prof's, Bhimu's or any of the prof's buddies, it seems she want to keep the legacy of her trysts. Traumatic as an abortion will be in the immediate term, it offers future hope. She is young enough to have another baby.
Kajol, is not allowing the normal husband/wife relationship to take its course, she is second guessing him. As she does not know what Ramesh's thought processes would be as things start to settle down, I think her decision is premature. She is using her own guilt to prevent Ramesh from experiencing any future regrets. Why should she make a decision for Ramesh? And Ramesh's final agreement was, in my opinion, forced on him by Kajol's own thought process. She led him to that decision.


Ramesh has been a loving husband over the years, showing considerable thought about his wife's well being, got her enrolled in a PhD program, her future prospects, planning a family, considering their long term security, found another job with better prospects. And in a time of crisis, his first thoughts were not about leaving her, even though he was naturally angry. He, in fact, was trying to find a solution for THEM - get rid of the baby of unknown origin and then take the time to think things through. This alone shows that despite his obvious anger, he still considers Kajol as his wife and his sole intent is how to recover the situation.

Kajol, while quite rightly sacrificing herself and proposing divorce, unexpectedly wants to keep the baby despite all the issues. May be a womanly thing, and certainly her prerogative. But her decisions without Ramesh's input are just selfish and a self sacrifice. She should hear what Ramesh has to say after he settles down. If she is concerned about what Ramesh might think whenever she is with another man, they can find ways of alleviating doubt, e.g. try not to be alone with another man, try to be in situations which prevent doubts, and time is a healer. By her own actions, she will regain trust. So many couples find ways back together (and many don't, of course) after such breakdowns. How many hubbies have affairs and still end up staying married? Why does she just give up?? Heck, they haven't even done a simple paternity test yet. Keeping the legacy of what happened isn't even her intention. What kind of ending would that be?? Even she hated the Rao's diabolical plan.

This &quot;keeping the baby and divorcing&quot; situation is just leaving a lasting bitterness for me. I wonder what others think?

[Ramesh_Rocky]

bitchslayer:

A well ended part. Some serious decisions are made and still Ramesh at the Recieving End. Poor chap.
She has some serious issues man, that needed to be sorted out.
Abortion is never a good thing but in this certain situation it's a feasible solution.
She deciding to keep the baby and divorce Ramesh certainly shows that she cares less about him. She is only thinking about herself not as a family.
I think divorce is good in this situation she may can find redemption from this guilt or may be have a life like she wants or kept having intercourse with peoples without caring about anything like now and Ramesh have a new life of his own with a new trusting partner.