13-05-2019, 05:16 PM
It was mid-morning on a Friday, several days after Shyam and Kalpana's last meeting in Alibaug. Her hubby Kapil wasn't yet back in town. His out station assignment had gotten extended by a week.
"Oh hello, Shyam! What a pleasant surprise!"
Shyam and Kalpana were sitting in the coffee shop of a downtown luxury hotel discussing the action plans of their marketing project when they were suddenly interrupted by a clear, high voice calling out to him. A smile broke out on his face as he rose to greet the owner of the voice.
"Swati! You look great! As ever!"
"You too!" Swati hugged Shyam and they rubbed cheeks and exchanged air kisses, while Kalpana looked on with an amused expression.
"Meet Kalpana, my business associate. And this is Swati, my childhood friend!" Shyam did the introductions and Swati graciously accepted his invitation to have a cup of coffee. The two women surreptitiously sized each other up while Shyam and Swati exchanged pleasantries.
Her observant eye caught Kalpana's dreamy sidelong glances at him even as Swati and Shyam chatted. She knew immediately that Kalpana was smitten by Shyam. She also noted from the sindoor in her hair parting and the mangalsutra worn around her neck that Kalpana was married.
"Hmm... how interesting!" Swati mused. But she couldn't be sure how much Shyam was into Kalpana. His bland, affable manner revealed nothing. Her protective, almost maternal instincts towards Shyam were immediately awakened. Although they had long ago ceased to be lovers, Swati continued to take an interest in Shyam's life. While Shyam was the last person to kiss and tell, he hadn't been able to hide many of his dalliances from her sharp eye and probing mind. She not only knew about his (s)exploits, she took pride in his many conquests, just like a mother or a coach would take pride in her ward bringing trophies home.
So, while ostensibly showing interest in the marketing project being discussed between Shyam and Kalpana, Swati set about unobtrusively to scrutinize her. It was obvious to her that Kalpana was infatuated with Shyam; but what kind of an animal was this young woman? Was she a mere gold digger trying to further her career by becoming intimate with him? Or was she perhaps an unstable, obsessive type who could lose her balance and thereby pose a threat to him? Above all, was she hot enough to sustain her Shyam's interest? She wasn't surprised at Kalpana's married status; she knew Shyam's penchant for married lovers. Nor was she shocked that Kalpana appeared to be young enough to be his daughter. She knew first-hand how irresistible Shyam was to women of all ages...
Swati noted Kalpana's down to earth attitude, self-confidence, articulateness and easy familiarity with facts and figures, all indicators of a sharp, lively intelligence. She also noted Kalpana's attractive features and well-endowed womanly attributes, well concealed as they were by her crisply ironed sari wrapped securely around her shoulders. No doubt Kalpana was dressing to please Shyam, Swati thought, knowing how much he appreciated sari clad women. She could see that Kalpana was just the kind of woman Shyam would be attracted to.
"Hmm... Not bad! " Swati mused. She found herself warming up to Kalpana. "Are they doing it?" She wondered. "Must find out!"
On her part, Kalpana had to acknowledge that Swati did indeed look great. Although she was in her sixties, the years had been kind to her (aided perhaps by the skills of an expensive plastic surgeon). Except for crows' feet at the corners of her eyes, her face was almost unlined and her complexion was clear; her eyes sparkled and she had a ready laugh, sounding like the tinkling of a bell. She wore an off-white handloom silk sari and an expensive pearl necklace that complemented her almost fully white hair, cut fashionably short. She wore no obvious makeup. She looked every inch the patrician, wealthy, successful businesswoman that she was. Kalpana too took an instant liking for Swati.
"Come, give me company while I powder my nose!" Swati invited.
Both women rose and proceeded to the ladies room, chatting amiably. Kalpana felt very comfortable in Swati's company. She told Swati about her education and career and was soon sharing titbits about her family. Swati too talked about her business and her family. She reminisced about her childhood memories of Shyam and about how she had witnessed him grow from strength to strength. On her part Kalpana described in glowing terms her association with Shyam.
"Is he a hard boss?" Swati enquired innocently. Kalpana's heart skipped a beat as the word "hard" conjured up some very graphic images.
"Not at all! Although Sir is very demanding, he is also very kind and considerate!" Kalpana responded after the briefest hesitation. Swati didn't miss the hesitation and the quick blush spreading on Kalpana's face. She was now certain that they were indeed having an affair. She was determined to probe deeper.
"Kalpana dear, I'm rather busy today, but I would love to have lunch with you tomorrow." Swati invited and Kalpana accepted. They returned to the coffee shop and joined Shyam just as he finished a long call and called for the check.
"I have to go now Shyam, but we must meet while I am in Mumbai. Do call me soon!" Swati placed a restraining hand on his shoulder as he started to rise to say goodbye. She then leaned forward and lightly kissed his lips. The kiss lasted just a little longer than the casual kisses that are often exchanged between high society men and women.
Kalpana's heart sank and the pit of her stomach knotted as she witnessed Swati kissing Shyam on his lips. Kalpana had become used to seeing cosmopolitan, upper class men and women in Mumbai casually hugging and exchanging air kisses and occasionally even locking lips. Although she knew that such public displays of affection didn't necessarily signify anything deeper, she nevertheless cringed inwardly whenever she witnessed them. And now, the brazen display of intimacy between Swati and Shyam left her aghast. Although Swati's kiss had been completely spontaneous, she did notice the look of utter consternation on Kalpana's face.
"Ciao! See you tomorrow!" Swati trilled, with a knowing smile on her face and then walked briskly away on her errand.
Spontaneous or deliberate, Swati's little kiss confirmed to Kalpana that there was indeed more than just friendship between Swati and her "Sir". She was taken aback by her own visceral reaction. She knew very well that Shyam was a worldly man; she was well aware of his reputation as a womanizer. She also knew that she had no rights over him; being married, he belonged to his wife, not to her. And yet, she couldn't suppress the sharp stab of jealousy and insecurity that pierced her heart.
"Oh hello, Shyam! What a pleasant surprise!"
Shyam and Kalpana were sitting in the coffee shop of a downtown luxury hotel discussing the action plans of their marketing project when they were suddenly interrupted by a clear, high voice calling out to him. A smile broke out on his face as he rose to greet the owner of the voice.
"Swati! You look great! As ever!"
"You too!" Swati hugged Shyam and they rubbed cheeks and exchanged air kisses, while Kalpana looked on with an amused expression.
"Meet Kalpana, my business associate. And this is Swati, my childhood friend!" Shyam did the introductions and Swati graciously accepted his invitation to have a cup of coffee. The two women surreptitiously sized each other up while Shyam and Swati exchanged pleasantries.
Her observant eye caught Kalpana's dreamy sidelong glances at him even as Swati and Shyam chatted. She knew immediately that Kalpana was smitten by Shyam. She also noted from the sindoor in her hair parting and the mangalsutra worn around her neck that Kalpana was married.
"Hmm... how interesting!" Swati mused. But she couldn't be sure how much Shyam was into Kalpana. His bland, affable manner revealed nothing. Her protective, almost maternal instincts towards Shyam were immediately awakened. Although they had long ago ceased to be lovers, Swati continued to take an interest in Shyam's life. While Shyam was the last person to kiss and tell, he hadn't been able to hide many of his dalliances from her sharp eye and probing mind. She not only knew about his (s)exploits, she took pride in his many conquests, just like a mother or a coach would take pride in her ward bringing trophies home.
So, while ostensibly showing interest in the marketing project being discussed between Shyam and Kalpana, Swati set about unobtrusively to scrutinize her. It was obvious to her that Kalpana was infatuated with Shyam; but what kind of an animal was this young woman? Was she a mere gold digger trying to further her career by becoming intimate with him? Or was she perhaps an unstable, obsessive type who could lose her balance and thereby pose a threat to him? Above all, was she hot enough to sustain her Shyam's interest? She wasn't surprised at Kalpana's married status; she knew Shyam's penchant for married lovers. Nor was she shocked that Kalpana appeared to be young enough to be his daughter. She knew first-hand how irresistible Shyam was to women of all ages...
Swati noted Kalpana's down to earth attitude, self-confidence, articulateness and easy familiarity with facts and figures, all indicators of a sharp, lively intelligence. She also noted Kalpana's attractive features and well-endowed womanly attributes, well concealed as they were by her crisply ironed sari wrapped securely around her shoulders. No doubt Kalpana was dressing to please Shyam, Swati thought, knowing how much he appreciated sari clad women. She could see that Kalpana was just the kind of woman Shyam would be attracted to.
"Hmm... Not bad! " Swati mused. She found herself warming up to Kalpana. "Are they doing it?" She wondered. "Must find out!"
On her part, Kalpana had to acknowledge that Swati did indeed look great. Although she was in her sixties, the years had been kind to her (aided perhaps by the skills of an expensive plastic surgeon). Except for crows' feet at the corners of her eyes, her face was almost unlined and her complexion was clear; her eyes sparkled and she had a ready laugh, sounding like the tinkling of a bell. She wore an off-white handloom silk sari and an expensive pearl necklace that complemented her almost fully white hair, cut fashionably short. She wore no obvious makeup. She looked every inch the patrician, wealthy, successful businesswoman that she was. Kalpana too took an instant liking for Swati.
"Come, give me company while I powder my nose!" Swati invited.
Both women rose and proceeded to the ladies room, chatting amiably. Kalpana felt very comfortable in Swati's company. She told Swati about her education and career and was soon sharing titbits about her family. Swati too talked about her business and her family. She reminisced about her childhood memories of Shyam and about how she had witnessed him grow from strength to strength. On her part Kalpana described in glowing terms her association with Shyam.
"Is he a hard boss?" Swati enquired innocently. Kalpana's heart skipped a beat as the word "hard" conjured up some very graphic images.
"Not at all! Although Sir is very demanding, he is also very kind and considerate!" Kalpana responded after the briefest hesitation. Swati didn't miss the hesitation and the quick blush spreading on Kalpana's face. She was now certain that they were indeed having an affair. She was determined to probe deeper.
"Kalpana dear, I'm rather busy today, but I would love to have lunch with you tomorrow." Swati invited and Kalpana accepted. They returned to the coffee shop and joined Shyam just as he finished a long call and called for the check.
"I have to go now Shyam, but we must meet while I am in Mumbai. Do call me soon!" Swati placed a restraining hand on his shoulder as he started to rise to say goodbye. She then leaned forward and lightly kissed his lips. The kiss lasted just a little longer than the casual kisses that are often exchanged between high society men and women.
Kalpana's heart sank and the pit of her stomach knotted as she witnessed Swati kissing Shyam on his lips. Kalpana had become used to seeing cosmopolitan, upper class men and women in Mumbai casually hugging and exchanging air kisses and occasionally even locking lips. Although she knew that such public displays of affection didn't necessarily signify anything deeper, she nevertheless cringed inwardly whenever she witnessed them. And now, the brazen display of intimacy between Swati and Shyam left her aghast. Although Swati's kiss had been completely spontaneous, she did notice the look of utter consternation on Kalpana's face.
"Ciao! See you tomorrow!" Swati trilled, with a knowing smile on her face and then walked briskly away on her errand.
Spontaneous or deliberate, Swati's little kiss confirmed to Kalpana that there was indeed more than just friendship between Swati and her "Sir". She was taken aback by her own visceral reaction. She knew very well that Shyam was a worldly man; she was well aware of his reputation as a womanizer. She also knew that she had no rights over him; being married, he belonged to his wife, not to her. And yet, she couldn't suppress the sharp stab of jealousy and insecurity that pierced her heart.
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