Adultery Kalpana & "Sir" by indian_exec2000

[Ramesh_Rocky]

Just as she was about to type a confirmation, a blow hit her in the solar plexus. She suddenly remembered that the annual day of her children's college was going to be held on that Saturday. She knew she would never forgive herself if she missed that. On the other hand, she desperately wanted to meet "Sir", to lose herself in his arms, letting him transport her to a place where she had no worries, no responsibilities, where she could be totally carefree. She didn't know what to do. Tense, anxious and nervous, she struggled with herself for a long time, getting hardly any sleep that night. When she woke up the next day, the mist of uncertainty had cleared from her mind. She knew what had to be done. She sat down at her computer and started typing her message. After a quarter of an hour's effort of typing, editing, discarding and retyping, she finally had her message ready:


"Sir, I cannot say no to you, but I have something very important to do this Saturday. Can we please please pleeease meet on another day? I will be grateful. I do want to meet you and be with you always. Only YOURS. K." Her heart was thudding against her ribcage as she read and re-read the message for the umpteenth time before finally hitting the Send key.

Shyam frowned when he read her message. Rescheduling their meeting was no big deal, which he did, by making a few calls. He however was rather concerned about Kalpana's state of mind. Was she becoming obsessive? He wondered. He had always thought of her as mature and stable, someone who knew how to be in control of herself. Had he misjudged her? Perhaps I need to have a long chat with her one of these days, he mused.

***

It was just past seven o'clock in the morning on a Tuesday when she arrived at Churchgate station. She'd caught an early morning fast train. Her eyes lit up as she spotted Shyam waiting for her. He was dressed in a T shirt and Bermudas, a back pack slung over a broad shoulder. Even in his casual attire, he had a commanding presence. To her infatuated eyes, the grey stubble on his face made him look even sexier. He was happy to see that she was dressed in a sari-blouse outfit as he'd suggested. He guided her to a waiting limousine. It was provided by the hotel where Shyam had spent the night, after a late dinner party thrown by his MD to celebrate the successful conclusion of negotiations with their foreign associates. They settled back against the luxurious seat of the limousine and Shyam instructed the driver to take them to Apollo Bunder.

"Kya hum log boat se janewale hain?"

"Are we taking a boat?" She queried, suddenly anxious.

"Han. Kyon? Tumhe kuchh taqleef hoti hai?"

"Yes. Why do you ask? Do you get travel sick?"

"Ji. Kabhi kabhi."

"Yes. Sometimes."

"Koi baat nahi. Mere paas uski dawai hai."

"Don't worry. I have a pill for that."

Considerate and thoughtful as ever, he had carried motion sickness pills with him for just such an eventuality. When they reached Apollo Bunder, she popped half a pill, tilted her head back and washed it down with water from a bottle proffered by Shyam, while he watched the movements of her slender throat. A little water trickled down her neck and disappeared under her pallu. She blushed as she felt his intent gaze upon her. She quickly averted her eyes and patted her lips dry. They were the only passengers in the small private boat Shyam had rented, as it got underway. They decided to stay on the upper deck, feeling the cool breeze on their faces as the boat speeded towards the Mandva jetty.

The steady throb of the engine, the cool breeze on her face, the soporific effect of the travel sickness pill combined with Shyam's comforting presence by her side induced her to slip into a light slumber. Kalpana was transported to her childhood, re-living the memories of her father taking her on early morning rides on his bicycle while she sat in a basket mounted on the handlebar...

She woke up when she sensed a change in the rhythm of the engine as they approached the Mandva jetty. Still a little groggy, she turned her head, expecting to see her father; instead she found Shyam looking at her with a smile playing on his lips.

"Hum pahunch gaye kya?"

"Are we there?" She smiled sleepily at him, wondering why she had mixed him up with the memory of her father...

"Nahi. Abhi aage car se jaana hai."

"Not yet. We have to travel further by car."

A car was waiting for them at the jetty. It was driven by Hamid, Shyam's trusted old driver, who now ran his own car rental business. Shyam knew Hamid could be trusted to keep his secrets. They drove south from Mandva jetty and continued a few kilometres beyond Alibaug, reaching their destination in just over an hour. They alighted at a little cottage located in a lane off to one side, about a fifteen minute walk from the Akshi beach. The cottage was owned by one of Shyam's friends. Shyam and his small circle of wealthy friends each owned little holiday getaways within easy driving distance from Mumbai. They sometimes borrowed each other's properties when in need of a secret meeting place, away from prying eyes. Having started early without eating, they were both hungry. They enjoyed a delicious breakfast of upma, idli, wadas and sambar waiting for them on the dining table.

"Come let's take a walk on the beach. I need to stretch my legs." Shyam invited.

Although the beach was within walking distance, Shyam decided to be driven there. They left their footwear in the car and walked barefoot, enjoying the soft, clean sand under their feet. Although the rainy season had ended, a light cloud cover obscured the sun. The weather was pleasant and a cool breeze blew in from the sea, caressing their faces. The beach was clean and stretched many kilometers in both directions. Being a weekday morning, there were very few people around. The gentle lap lap sound of waves lulled them into cosy intimacy as they walked companionably close to each other on the soft sand, exchanging light banter. She didn't feel overwhelmed by him anymore, in the novel ambience.