01-04-2019, 11:30 PM
Chapter 48
Atul
Atul was perturbed by the gut feeling that Maniesh had been playing a devious game with only one aim: Ridhima. More than his game plan Atul was worried about the lack of resistance from Ridhima. He was convinced that it would be a matter of time for her to fall for his charisma and follow him to his bed. The fact that Ridhima was apparently excited to meet Maniesh only annoyed him further.
This time I will have no reasons to stop them. Atul cringed when he realised the possibilities of the night. He remembered Maniesh making out with her in his bed. He was on top her and her bare legs had wilfully locked his bulky body down. He was eating her lips and playing with her naked breasts.
He had nailed it. He had the woman. Seduced. Completely submitted to him. It was just a matter of time before he could have shoved his manhood inside her and broke her self-induced chastity forever. But he could not. Because Atul had stopped him.
“We shouldn’t do anything we would regret later. Let’s go, Ridhima.” He had knocked on the door and had them leave the bed in a hurry. Maniesh was hugely disappointed. He must have sworn to recreate the same night, only to finish what he had come so close last time. Can I stop him tonight?
Atul had never been so unsure.
Ridhima noticed his thoughtful face while having breakfast.
“What happened to you? You’ve become gloomy after we talked to Maniesh. Are you not happy with him coming between us?”
“Is he coming between us?”
Atul looked into her eyes.
“No way.” She said innocently. “I don’t want anyone to come between us.”
“Why?”
“Because you and I are like…emm…we are not friends. I mean… I don’t know if there’s a correct term for it. In fact, I don’t want to put you on any list. I think you are another version of me. You know me as much I know of me as a very intimate person. You are a person I can share how I fantasised you last night and still be professional in our workplace. No one can come between us.”
“Did you fantasise about me last night?”
Atul was amused.
“I was just giving you an example.”
“You mean you didn’t? Not at all?”
Ridhima smiled shyly and her face said it all. Atul was immensely pleased.
“I can’t tell you how good I feel to hear this from you. I…”
“But you were really cold down there, last night.” She giggled, albeit shyly. “Weren’t you?”
Atul was embarrassed. But he did not try to cover up.
“Did I make you feel bad about yourself?”
“Yeah, a bit. Then I felt it’s okay. After listening to my sad story, it’s actually a very humane thing not to have an erection. It actually proved you’re not a dickhead.”
“mmm….” Atul shook his head slowly. “You know I’m embarrassed but you make me feel good about the same thing.”
They laughed together.
“So, are you not looking forward to the dinner?”
Atul asked.
“I am looking forward to having a great time with you but not at the cost of your family.”
“You are not interested to meet him, at all?”
“What about you?”
She was looking at him in the eyes.
“I am scared, to be frank.” He tried to laugh, trying to sound it like a little joke. “If something happens to you like last time.”
Ridhima stared at him for a long time and smiled.
“He’s your boss. If you just played a passive stand, he would be very impressed.”
Atul face turned red.
“I am not gonna play a passive stand. I either stop him or carry you to his bed.”
“Wow…that’s something. Well…” She leaned back in the chair with a pregnant pause. “I’d prefer the latter. It would be really hot. But don’t leave me there alone.”
Atul knew she was being playful.
“I won’t. I will hold your hand to comfort you and I will keep telling you it’s okay and it will be over soon.”
Ridhima laughed.
“Very soon. That was really rude to think of your friend...”
“You have no idea how hot you look dear. I’m damn sure he won’t last much longer.”
“But he’s very strong. Haven’t you seen his muscles? He could load for another attack.”
“I will hold your hands, and remain your side as long as you wish, don’t worry.”
Ridhima's smile vanished slowly but her eyes stayed on him.
“You don’t mean anything you said, do you?”
“I hate to think of it, I told you,” Atul admitted. “But it won’t hurt me if you chose to do it. If you think it’s gonna be fun…”
“It will benefit you…”
“You are pissing me off.”
“No, I am serious. He is very attracted to me. He will be dying to get close to me tonight.”
“I can’t believe you are talking like this. The thought itself is scary for me. I’ve seen enough.”
“Scary…yes. But not in a bad sense.”
“You are testing me, aren’t you?”
“I haven’t met a man like him for long. He’s the perfect one to have a little fling. He’s a big catch. Chetak Engineering is a small company in comparison with Wallzec. The odds are in favour to go for a blast as he mentioned.”
“If you have made up your mind, why are you asking me?”
Atul was no more enjoying the breakfast.
“I would like to have your opinion.”
Atul shook his head slowly.
“I’d like to say no. Not when I am with you. Because I fear he would feel indebted to me because I arranged this all. You know I’ll rather be jobless than to trade our chemistry for his approval.”
A smile slowly blossomed into her smile.
“What?”
He was perplexed.
Ridhima cleared her throat.
“We talk to each other so often. I really like those telephonic conversations. I often compare them with the mail we send. I can see you holding back yourself. That’s a sign of not being needy. It’s rare to meet people like you, Atul. You could have used me that night when we partied with Maniesh. You can still do it tonight. If you ask me, I will go out and sleep with him. I like him, he’s desirable. But I have met a lot of men like him; I know how to say no to them. You are the person whom I can’t say no to. Because you stop yourself before I have to. Everyone is ambitious and opportunities drive them crazy. You are different. You have not even once tried to use our friendship to influence me. Yesterday you promised me something and that’s a testimony to this. From the day we met, you make me strive to become younger like you. You are a source of strength for me.”
“You are praising me too much, Ridhima. I am gonna fall in love with you.”
“Then I can’t stop at all.”
Ridhima flushed.
Ridhima was busy in the study room taking some official calls. Atul phoned Anvita and told her about his plan to stay over at Mumbai. She became angry.
“No, Atul. This is ridiculous. Whenever you go on a trip you promise me something only to forget it in a few hours. Why does this happen to me every time?”
“Honey it’s really difficult to avoid these kinds of situations. Maniesh is coming to have a conference with me and the MD of Chetak Engineering. If I don’t stay the conference won’t happen. It will be very embarrassing to let go of this opportunity.”
“Maniesh! Maniesh! Why are you giving him so much value?”
Anvita fumed.
“You can break your promise every time you are on a trip but you can’t break one with him.”
“He expects that this task gets done by me. I have to fulfil that.”
“How you talk about him make me feel bad about you, Atul.”
“Why? He’s a great person. You should know more about him.”
“You should know a little about him too. I haven’t told you about him. I had met him and I know a thing about him, even before you introduced him to me. He’s not an honest and humble person that you think.”
Atul was stunned.
“What do you know?”
There was a silence before Anvita spoke.
“During my initial days at Teckpo, I had accompanied my team during a meeting with another company. That’s when I met Maniesh for the first time. He was there but I didn’t know who he was. He came out creepy. He bumped into me and spilt his drink on my dress perhaps accidentally. When I came back from the washroom I was lost and due to some mix-up, my team had walked out too soon. Maniesh tried to trick me and sent me to the upper storey looking for them. There I accidentally witnessed the MD of this company – his name is Manjot –sexually harassing one of his employees. I was shocked and I fled from there. He saw the trouble and called my team back along with me. Manjot took me to talk alone and he threatened me not to speak a word about what I had seen. I was shocked when he mentioned yours as well as Shreyas’ name. He knew about you and I was really scared to tell you about this all. But then I understood who Maniesh is. He was very close to you and it must be him who tipped off Manjot about my personal life…”
“What was he doing with his staff?”
Atul interrupted her.
“He was forcing her…to have him in her mouth. Leave what Manjot did. Let me tell you about Maniesh. After this incident, one day, while coming back from work Manjot stopped me. He told me very ridiculous things…like very derogatory remarks. I don’t want to recall what he said but I can tell you he was implying to sexually exploit me. The thought of him looking at me gives me creeps, Atul. And you know, Maniesh was at the driving seat in his car. He heard every word Manjot told me. Later when you introduced me to him at your official dinner he was like from some other world. If he had any care for you, if he was a man, he would have come to me and apologised to me. But he did not. He may come across as a striking personality but he is far from that. I hate it when you speak nicely of him, Atul. I don’t want you to any favour at the cost of my happiness.”
Her anger was gone. She was sad now.
“Did he – Manjot – meet you after that?”
“A couple of times I had seen him at official functions at Teckpo. But I avoided him carefully. Apart from that I never saw of him.”
Atul took a deep breath.
“I think I should ask Maniesh about it.”
“No. Don’t dig up old things, Atul. If you ask him, Manjot will know that I broke my promise. They are partners in business and they are friends. Please. I told you this because I want to warn you about him.”
“You should have told me earlier, Anvi.”
“I am sorry Atul. I was really scared. You should see his face. He’s an animal. He can do very bad things to us. Promise me you won’t mention a word to Maniesh.”
“Okay. But I can’t pull out of today’s event. It is very important that he meet the MD of Chetak Engineering. I haven’t told you about the issue of Shreyas. He’s trying to fool me and everyone. I can deal with him after today’s meeting.”
After a moment of silence, Anvita spoke in a calm voice.
“Okay. I don’t want to put you in trouble. But I am also skipping the function.”
“You don’t have to miss that, Anvi… I know how excited you are to attend the function. Prithvi will be very disappointed if none of us showed up. I will call him and tell him why I cannot make it. But you must go.”
“No, please don’t force me, Atul. I am not going.”
“I will be sad if you talk like this.”
“Don’t be.”
“I won’t be if you listen to me Anvi. Please, please go. I will ask Prithvi to pick you up if you want. He will be happy to do that.”
“No. no.”
Anvita said quickly.
“Don’t do that. You are embarrassing me, Atul.”
“He’s your friend too. What’s the embarrassment in this?”
Anvita fell silent for a couple of seconds.
“Anvi?”
Anvita sighed.
“Okay. Okay, then.”
“Thank you so much, Anvi. Shall I tell you to pick you up from our place?”
“No. Don’t do that. I can drive. I’ll make it there myself.”
“That’s my girl. I love you, baby. See you tomorrow.”
Atul ended the call and sighed.
Ridhima had noticed him talking in his tense voice. She asked about it when she returned after the shower. Atul looked up and his eyes lit up. Fresh out of the shower she looked youthful and her face glowing. She was patting her dewy hair dry with a towel. She was not only in her homely avatar but also very comfortable in her skin to walk out in front of him. Wearing a kurta she looked down to earth yet beautiful as ever.
“You look stunning.”
Atul said.
Ridhima flushed.
“I know.”
She touched at the tip of his nose.
“I asked you why you were gloomy again, well, before seeing me.”
“It’s family. I told you about a wedding eve bash at a friend’s wedding. Anvita is angry for me not making it.”
“That’s very sad. My gain is her loss.”
Ridhima was genuinely saddened.
“But it’s okay. I’ve got her convinced.”
“Do you really wanna do this?”
Atul could not answer her.
He did not want to do it. But he had to do it. The meeting is important.
Ridhima stared at him for a moment and shook her head.
“Let me handle this.”
She phoned Maniesh right away.
“Maniesh, I must apologise to you for this. I’m afraid I won’t make it for dinner due to some very personal commitments.”
“You have absolutely no reason to apologise, Ridhima. In fact, I would like to thank the almighty because I too have just found me in the middle of an unavoidable commitment. But I am very disappointed how this has messed up a great opportunity to have fun.”
“So am I.”
“I made a promise to Atul and now it’s embarrassing. I was thinking about lunch. How about that?”
Atul could hear Maniesh's voice. Ridhima looked at him and he nodded.
“It’s a good idea.”
Ridhima said.
“I’ll send you the address very soon. Shall I pick you up from your place?”
Maniesh offered to send his car for her and Ridhima refused, politely. He asked if Atul was still with her.
“He was here half an hour ago.”
She said.
“Anyway it’s no issue; I will get to him.”
She ended the conversation and turned to Atul.
“Happy now? You are home tonight.”
Atul was about to phone Anvita.
“I suggest you do not tell her that you’re going to make it in time.”
Ridhima said.
“It will be a great surprise for her.”
“It will be.”
Atul nodded.
“It’s actually a surprise for me.”
Atul hugged her happily and thanked her.
Atul got Maniesh's phone call very soon. Atul assured him he’s not disappointed at all.
Atul was glad that Maniesh did not call off the meeting. It was going to be a perfect deal for Atul. He was going home, Maniesh was no more a threat and the meeting was still happening.
But he still had a gut feeling that Maniesh could be playing his cards right to get close to Ridhima. He’s definitely going to have his way with her. Atul thought. He remembered the ultra-luxurious world inside his apartment. And he remembered the spacious bedroom and the king-size bed and the shiny quilt on it. And he remembered many more things of his apartment before he cut down his thoughts.
Ridhima phoned her driver and gave him the time to leave for the restaurant Maniesh had messaged. She then relieved her servant Neelam.
“I’m having lunch outside. You don’t have to cook anything for now. Dinner, at the regular time.”
She instructed.
Neelam shook her head obediently and left soon.
Ridhima went to her room and returned with a small bag.
“I have something for you, Atul.”
It was a blazer.
“It’s for you. I bought it two months back.”
She said.
“When I found it I remembered you. I thought it would suit you. I bought it right away.”
Atul could not stop smiling at her. He wore it and it fitted him perfectly.
“You have a knack for selection.”
Atul said.
“I love this.”
Ridhima smiled.
“Will you wear this for lunch?”
“I am wearing it for lunch, sweetheart!”
Atul was embarrassed instantly for addressing her sweetheart. It was odd and he couldn’t believe how it came out of his mouth.
“Sweetheart, huh?”
Ridhima's eyes shone brightly.
“I am sorry it slipped out of my…”
Ridhima put her finger across his mouth to stop him.
“Don’t apologise. I don’t mind it.”
“I don’t know how it came out of my mouth. I don’t remember saying it ever. Not even to Anvita.”
He blurted.
“It is still sweet.”
She said.
Atul felt he was staring at her and he averted his eyes.
“Let’s get ready. What do you want me to wear?”
Ridhima asked. Atul shrugged.
“I’ll have to see your wardrobe first.”
“Then come and have a look.”
She led him to her bedroom. Quite spacious though, its furniture and other accessories were minimalistic as was the case with the whole house. Atul's eyes fell on the neatly kept bed and Ridhima noticed it. Atul felt an urge to respond.
“Your bed doesn’t look like you sleep on it. It’s too neat.”
“Maybe. I just sleep on it.”
Ridhima quipped.
“I can see that.”
Atul retorted.
Ridhima slid the wardrobe door open. It was another example of neatness and orderliness.
“Blue and white are your favourites.”
Atul noticed.
“So I’ll choose this one.”
He pointed at a white top and blue pencil skirt.
When she wore it and finally walked out he couldn’t take his eyes off her. He looked at her from head to toe and she seemed not only comfortable but also pleased with his staring.
“You know, I want to take you in my arms and choke you with a kiss. You look so hot.”
Atul commented.
Ridhima looked at him in surprise. And her eyes outshined her gorgeous smile.
“Who’s stopping you? Go ahead!”
Atul waited no more. He pulled her closer and kissed her. He thought he would stop after a second but once their lips met, they both refused to move back. A moment later, he was pushing his mouth over hers and sucking her soul out of her. When he stopped, she panted slightly. Then she moved forward and kissed him again before he could move back. She parted her lips and allowed her tongue dart into his mouth and he sucked her warm lips and tongue together. A violent force had taken control of him and Atul felt an urge to have a go at it with her. He cupped her face and looked deeper into her eyes. Ridhima was panting. She was ready to surrender.
“You are a dream every man would love to cherish, Ridhima.”
His voice made him quickly realise how much he had fallen for her. And he was not regretting it.
“I don’t fancy being in the dream of every man but you.”
Ridhima whispered and her arms around him became tighter.
“I love the way you look at me, Atul. I dream of how you would hold me and I wish we could do a lot more than that….”
Her words pierced right through his heart and made him realise what he was doing. He couldn’t move. Ridhima was studying his face and she quickly moved.
“I am sorry… Atul… I…”
Atul hugged her, in an attempt to save them both from the awkwardness.
“It’s okay. It’s okay.”
He mumbled.
Ridhima quietly began to walk to her room.
“Ridhima.”
Atul stopped her and took her into his arms.
“Are you okay?”
She was avoiding his eyes.
“There is something. I can read it in your eyes.”
“Then read it completely and tell me what it is.”
She looked up.
“I am confused about myself. I got carried away. I should have thought you are a married man.”
“But it was okay. Nothing happened. We had it under control.”
“I don’t know. I have this feeling like I am doing something very bad to you. Not you, your…”
She stopped, unable to finish.
“Anvita?”
Atul was stunned to know she cared for Anvita more than he did at the moment. It was his moment to regret but he was not feeling it. He was secretly ashamed.
Perhaps I empathise too much. He assured himself, quickly. He forced a smile to his lips.
“You know what I want to do with you?”
He touched the tip of her nose.
“I want to carry you in my arms to your bed and make love to you. I want to give you all the love I can ever give any woman in this world. Even at the moment, I am dying to do it. But unfortunately, I can’t do it because I have already given my word to someone else. But it is okay to dream. Somebody had told me this; it is okay to have such dreams. It is okay to have secrets. It is okay to dream about people you are not supposed to. I want to confess one thing. I have fantasized about you.”
Ridhima was studying him as he talked slowly and her eyes shone in surprise in the end.
“Have you?”
“It was awesome. You have no idea.”
“Tell me more about it so that I can believe you.”
“No. you won’t believe me if I told you how crazy you were in my fantasy.”
Ridhima's mouth was left open and she was shy to face him now. She had suddenly forgotten her age.
“You are not a saint as you make everyone believe, are you?”
“Well, don’t you have fantasies about me?”
“I don’t want to tell you.”
“Come on. Don’t be so harsh to me.”
He sat her with him on the couch.
“Tell me. How do you see me in there…emm…normal or aggressive?”
“Normal.”
Atul looked deeper into her eyes and he knew she was lying.
“Well, I see that I am very aggressive.”
Ridhima giggled sheepishly.
“Not every time. But yes, there are times when you become very aggressive.”
“What do I do when I become aggressive?”
“Enough sharing! We have a lunch to attend. We are going to be late…”
“Fuck lunch. He can wait. Tell me, you said nothing.”
“Tell me about yours.”
“Well. Okay. Emm… you and I make out on a regular basis. Like, whenever I think of you, we happen to be making out.”
Ridhima laughed.
“Liar!”
“I am not lying. There’s a difference between your thought coming to my head and me thinking of you. When I think of you, I think very fondly about you. The business and our responsibilities do not exist there.”
“Maybe. But I loved it.”
“But you laughed.”
“No. I loved it. I am just shy.”
“Shy?”
Atul smirked.
“You have no such thing when you show up in my dream.”
“Same goes for you too.”
“And you never hesitate before pushing me down on anywhere, like this couch, and you pull down my pants before I have my choice.”
“That’s really like me. I always do that, don’t I?”
She quipped. Atul ignored her and took her hands in his hands.
“And you hold me in these beautiful hands.”
She began to pull her hands back and bit her lips.
“Look at me.”
Atul said.
“No, I don’t want to look at you.”
She admitted.
“Okay, no problem. Turn around.”
He made her face away from him and sat behind her before he pulled her closer and had her in a complete embrace. He held her right palm with his right hand and brought it to make her hold his left index finger.
“Like this, you hold me.”
“Like this?”
She held his finger firmly.
“Like this, but it’s not like this. You know what I mean. It’s a little bit thicker and longer and…and you seem to like it very much.”
She couldn’t control her laugh and she shook his finger left and right in an attempt to cause him to pain lightly.
“No. not like this... you shake it quite well in my dream. You are in fact an expert.”
He said.
Ridhima turned her face and pinched at his cheek.
“You dirty fellow. You are such a…”
“Come on… keep holding it. I haven’t finished.”
“Okay.”
She quickly grabbed his finger again.
“Tell me now.”
“Do you really have no idea what do you do it from here?”
“You naughty!”
“Tell me.”
“Yeah, I know.”
“Show me.”
Ridhima slowly stroked her hand up and down on his finger.
“It’s very small.”
She giggled.
“It’s just an illustration. The actual piece grows longer and thicker as you do it.”
“Haha…”
“And then you bring it close to your mouth and kiss at its tip.”
So saying Atul brought his left hand to her mouth and touched her lips.
“And then you slowly make these soft lips form a circle around it. And I have no choice but slowly push it into your mouth like this…”
He was pushing his finger into her mouth and she was not smiling now. His lips went inside her mouth and he could feel the warmth of her tongue around it.
“Do you like its taste?”
“Mmm…”
Her reply was a moan.
“Good. And then you begin to suck it, right?”
“mmm…”
Again a slight moan. Atul tilted his head and planted a soft kiss at the side of her neck. He could see her chest moving her cleavage and he had to repress his urge to turn her around and kiss her.
Ridhima had started to suck on his finger and he could feel her tongue dancing around it.
“You have a knack to do it. I love the way you move your tongue.”
Ridhima quickly pulled his finger out of her mouth. She turned and smiled.
“What?”
He asked.
“You too, are very good with your tongue in my dreams.”
She revealed, her eyes dreamy.
“How?”
“Down there.”
Atul moved his hand downward.
“Here?”
Ridhima grabbed his hand tightly and stopped him.
“You know where I mean, don’t have to demonstrate.”
Atul was astonished as well as aroused by the revelation. He wanted to kneel down in front of her and split her legs apart and press his mouth to her love centre.
“I would love to do that, in my dream. I would love to lick you till you say enough.”
He whispered.
She turned and looked at him again.
“Will you?”
“I promise.”
He said and she brought her lips to his again. This time it was like they knew what they were doing. There was absolutely no sense of urgency or panic and more evidently there was no remorse.
She turned and leaned further to him and her lips parted to give him further access. His one palm rested behind her neck and he slowly sucked of her warmth. His erection was now aching.
As if instinctively, he began to caress her breasts with his left hand and she merely cooed into him further. When he finally parted she was all love.
“Atul…”
She smirked, her eyes smitten with love and lust.
“Please tell me to stop.”
Atul blurted out, his lips almost touching hers.
“I wish I could never tell you that.”
Before their lips would meet he hugged her and pressed his face down to her shoulder. She hugged him back tightly.
“I will dream of you tonight.”
She whispered.
“Me too.”
“What are you going to dream?”
“I can’t tell you. But it’s going to be very…dirty.”
She giggled.
“Make me do everything you wish.”
The doorbell rang, forcing them to separate.
The driver had arrived.
Atul kept thinking about the kiss throughout the drive. He was sure it was going to be tough to get rid of the hardness he was carrying. Ridhima too kept giving him the eye, giving him hints of how aroused she had become.
They arrived at the restaurant on time. Wearing a cool black suit, Maniesh looked nothing short of a high profile celebrity. He welcomed them each with a warm embrace. He thanked Ridhima especially for deciding to join him for the lunch.
The lunch was delicious and Maniesh was at his witty self. He was a gentleman and the perfect host. Atul wondered if Anvita was really talking about him. There could be some confusion. He dared to think for a moment. There was not even a single gesture toward Ridhima that would make Atul wary.
Atul could feel the sense of satisfaction and he was thrilled with joy by the time they parted.
Ridhima hugged Maniesh and he planted a light kiss on her cheek in the end.
“I hope to see you soon.”
He told her.
“He was sweet today.”
Ridhima commented while they drove back.
Later, Ridhima followed him to the airport to see him off.
“Don’t forget to dream about me.”
She quipped as she hugged him one last time.
“You too, sweetheart!”
He smiled and walked to the entry gate.
Atul could not stop smiling even after boarding the flight. He kept dreaming of going back to Ridhima and continuing from where they had been stopped. He wondered if he would have taken Ridhima to bed had the driver not showed up in time. Perhaps. A pang of regret now passed through his mind.
However, it did not take away his arousal. He was definitely going to live Ridhima's fantasy.
He was going home. He thought of Anvita and thought of making love to her. he thought of her beautiful eyes and lips. He thought of her fingers firmly around his dick. He thought of her warm lips forming a circle and taking his dick into her mouth. He thought of his face pressing between her inner thighs.
Atul did not forget to purchase a fancy earring on board for Anvita. She will be happy to see me. Now she’s going to be happier. He kept visualising her face when he would show up at the place.
He felt an urge to make a call to her but he stopped himself.
It was dark enough by the time he reached the venue of the wedding. Prithvi's father Pardeep welcomed him with a warm embrace. He took additional care to introduce Atul to his family and friends. Everyone was very friendly to him. Everyone seemed to have met Anvita. In fact, everyone seemed to have been impressed by her. Atul mentioned it to them.
“Anvita is with us since evening.”
Prithvi’s mother said.
Atul's eyes continuously kept wandering to have a sight of Anvita. However, even after one hour since his arrival, he could not find her. It was strange but everyone who has met her seemed to assure him the same thing.
“She is here only. She was just here. I saw her.”
The time passed, and Atul turned nervous with each minute. His brand new Belano was found in the parking area. But Anvita was not found.
As a matter of fact, Prithvi was also missing.
------------------------------000--------------------------------