Adultery No One Dies a Saint (Completed)

[krish_999]

Chapter 56

Anvita

 
Anvita's mouth was suddenly dry. She stood there frozen with fear.
“I know you are familiar with my concepts. But let me assure you Anvita, we can do it in a tidy way.”
Manjot moved forward and touched her hand. Anvita moved back.
“No.”
Manjot looked at her, completely indifferent.
“Are you trying to resist me?”
“I’m saying no!” Anvita raised her broken voice. “Would you just open the door for hell’s sake?”
Manjot smirked as if he heard a light joke.
“You have a great body. I can already see you naked, lying on that couch. I suppose you need to go home safe after this. Let’s not put a wrinkle on your shirt, babe.”
His perverted eyes were measuring her breasts as he spoke.
 
His phone rang. He put it on silence and casually threw it on the desk.
“Start from your buttons, Anvita. Give me a glimpse of you.”
He eyed at her breasts.
The phone rang again; this time the landline on the desk. He looked at it irritatedly and grabbed the mobile phone.
“Hello.”
He grunted.
Anvita couldn’t hear from the other end. But she saw the casual expression on Manjot's face fading away. He grabbed the TV remote and turned on the television. He surfed through the news channels hurriedly and stopped at one. It had his name on the breaking news.
“…in a series of tweets Ms Sonakshi has made serious allegations against Mr Manjot. She alleged Mr Manjot used to call her into his office or other places and he often forced her to do things that Ms Sonakshi described as she does not have the strength to type in words. Ms Sonakshi also mentioned how she had thought about standing up against the big man but the fear of losing job and career had forced her to keep her silence. Ms Sonakshi in the third tweet has alleged Mr Manjot has recorded videos of her and has accused him of blackmailing also…”
The news went on.
Manjot put the mobile phone on the ear again.
“Yeah, I saw. I’m gonna….” “Yeah, I do….” “What…”
He walked around the desk and sank into the armchair.
“I’ll talk to my lawyer.”
He put down the phone angrily and hit hard on the desk.
“Aaah…! Filthy bitch…!”
Anvita was watching him. A slow smile appeared on her lips.
“That’s really good news for you, Manjot.”
She grabbed the remote control off the desk and unlocked the door. Manjot sat there helplessly. Anvita stared at him and walked away.
 
Was it luck or pure coincidence?
She couldn’t decide because the timing of the breaking news was perfect. Had it come half an hour later, it would have been too late.
She felt indebted to Sonakshi. She wanted to thank her and give her moral support. However, Sonakshi’s phone was switched off and Anvita could not reach her.
 
Anvita phoned Atul.
“Yeah, I saw the news. She is brave.”
He said.
Anvita told him what happened in Manjot's office. Atul was stunned.
“That prick!”
His voice was filled with rage. “Are you okay now? I am coming to you right now.”
“I am alright, Atul. There’s nothing to worry. It was a little scary but now I am perfectly alright and happy that I was there to watch his face.”
Anvita assured him.
“Well, he got what he deserves. The news is viral now. He is finished.”
He remarked later.
 
When Anvita reached home, Rajyavardhan was waiting for her. She was surprised.
“Dad! You should have called me. I could have come earlier.”
“It’s okay. I wasn’t bored.”
Rajyavardhan spoke pleasantly.
 
Even though Anvita had asked him to come, the way he suddenly showed up left Anvita wanting for time. She did not know where to begin. She had sex with Prithvi again, and that too, willingly.
There were no excuses this time, as she was fully awake, and she was aware of what she was doing. She could have avoided it but she had chosen to embrace the opportunity like a desperate woman. she chose to betray her husband. Anvita was not sure she could speak about it. It is unforgivable. And she was not sure if she could talk about Rajat. If dad knew how Rajat had tried to lay his hands on me, then he might even get him killed.
Rajat had not only asked her to sleep with him, but also claimed that Atul was a willing cuckold. There are enough reasons. He would kill him.
Anvita suddenly felt it was foolish to invite Rajyavardhan for this talk. She could only rue herself.
She remained tense throughout the evening. But Rajyavardhan did not ask her anything. He sat in the hall and silently watched TV.
 
Atul arrived later, and he was drunk. And he was embarrassed to see Rajyavardhan.
“Dad?”
Rajyavardhan stared at him for a long moment. Atul was caught off-guard completely and Anvita saw his face getting uneasy.
“How are you doing, son?”
Rajyavardhan asked calmly.
Even Anvita was amused by his pleasant response.
 
“You should have told me he’s here, Anvi.”
Atul complained later.
“How do I know you’d come home like this? You hold a reputed office in a reputed company; you shouldn’t be coming home like this on a random day, Atul.”
Anvita said.
 
During dinner, Anvita revealed Atul's promotion to Rajyavardhan. He looked at his son and slowly shook his head.
“Good.”
Anvita saw Atul's face glowing.
 
“What happened to him? This is the first time he responded well when I achieved something.” Atul told Anvita when they went to the bedroom. “I can see some sort of acceptance in his eyes. I can sense the change.”
“Then that’s because of me.” Anvita smiled. “I was the reason for your rejection. So now I have reversed it in your favour.”
“You were just one among many reasons for his disappointment,” Atul admitted. “But you are the only one who seems to have impressed him.”
“Then you owe me a special treat, my boy, I guess.”
Anvita smiled with a naughty expression.
“Yeah, why not! Actually, I am gonna make it very special. Undress first.”
He quipped.
“Mmm… naughty boy. Don’t forget your dad is here. Whatever you do, do it quietly.”
Anvita pretended worried. But deep in her mind, she wanted to scream so higher that she wanted it to reach her father in law’s ears.
Soon they were in bed. For the last two days, they hadn’t had sex and now they both were going to make up for it. Anvita couldn’t wait for him to undress, as she pushed her hand inside his brief to touch him.
She went on to have him lying on his back on the bed. She pulled down his brief and quickly mounted his manhood by her lips. She sucked him like candy.
“I was supposed to give you a special treatment, but you are doing the reverse.”
Atul said.
Anvita pulled it out of her mouth.
“Your chance will come, darling.”
She said smiling.
She wrapped her fingers around the base and began to suck him hard. Atul was breathing hard, and he stopped her before it’s late.
“It’s my day. Let me do it.”
He said and lay straight on the bed. He made her sit on his chest, her legs astride. Atul quickly skidded downward to bring his face right under her pussy.
“Feed me.”
He demanded.
Anvita smiled and brought it to his mouth. Atul began to lick her and Anvita was beginning to learn the origins of pleasure.
It comes from here; from down here. Someone told her from inside, and she pressed more of her love lips into her mouth. Atul's lips had grown unbelievably skilled with experience, and Anvita found it tough to keep her body up. She lay on her back soon, with Atul's mouth still between her legs.
“I love this taste. You are so sweet.”
He said later, licking his lips.
That night they slept very late.
 
The following morning Anvita woke up with enthusiasm. She looked into the mirror and smiled. As she walked out of the room Rajyavardhan was already there in the hall, doing yoga. He turned slowly to her and Anvita stood there, letting his eyes bore into her. Her heartbeats were on a rise but a sense of pride was filling her mind.
Anvita had seen it in the mirror. Her hair was tousled. Her lips were swollen. The vermillion mark was gone. Anvita felt a message was delivered to Rajyavardhan. Finally.
Now he knows how well his son can do it. Anvita felt shy. But she couldn’t stop herself from making a coffee and walking over to him.
“I don’t drink coffee, my child.”
Rajyavardhan said.
Anvita made a disappointed face.
“Then what do you like? Tea? I shall make tea.”
“No. I’ll have a glass of water, later.”
Anvita stayed there, watching him move his arms in the air slowly. There was a sense of calmness and gracefulness in his movements. His shirtless strong built body with grey hairs on the chest looked like it belonged to someone else, someone younger. His brooding eyes and strong jawbones made Anvita wonder how he would have looked thirty years ago. Anvita could imagine a handsome man with smouldering hotness.
 
Anvita remembered a dream she once had about him. It had her making out with him while they lay on top of a herd of sheep.
Anvita felt her body warm and it brought a smile into her lips. She walked away quickly.
 
Atul was tense as he had no idea how many days Rajyavardhan would stay with them.
Anvita consoled him, “Don’t worry. I will stay at home.”
Even though Anvita appeared relaxed outside, she was wary inside. She was going to face her father in law.
 
When Atul left for work, Rajyavardhan sat down with her.
“Now tell me, what’s bothering you?”
Anvita could not say anything.  She didn’t know where to begin. Rajyavardhan studied her for a few moments.
“Did you have sex with him again?”
He asked straightaway. Anvita was stunned. She stared at him for a moment and nodded slowly.
“Yes, dad.”
She could barely hear her voice.
“When?”
“A month ago.”
“And you want to say it was accidental?”
The underlying tone of condemnation in his voice pierced into her heart.
“No; it was no accident this time.”
She told him the truth.
“So it was a onetime incident.”
“Yes.”
And Anvita told him everything, keeping her gaze fixed on the floor.
From Atul's Pune trip and consequent change of plans to her attending the wedding eve function and mending with Prithvi; and finally how she ended up in bed with Prithvi.
Rajyavardhan heard it all, patiently.
“Are you still dealing with remorse?”
“No, dad. There is more. It’s that Atul found out what I did. But instead of getting angry and confronting me, he’s excited by it.”
“He’s excited?”
Rajyavardhan's eyes shrank just slightly. Anvita was puzzled by his controlled reaction. She explained how Atul had caught her but had kept his silence afterwards.
However, Rajyavardhan wasn’t convinced.
“These are your assumptions. How can you say he was excited about it?”
“He changed, I mean changed drastically after that day. Like, he was a bit plain in bed…like you said about Mohit. But then…one thing is that he was not disappointed by my betrayal. He was not sad. Instead, he was happy and excited. He started doing things to me that he hadn’t done until then…”
“What type of things?”
Anvita hesitated.
“Dad…I…”
Rajyavardhan held his gaze, his face devoid of any emotion and silently encouraging her to speak.
“That night…he went down on me.”
Anvita stammered. Rajyavardhan was still unfazed.
Anvita had gestured subtly with her eyes downward as if to help him understand what she meant. Rajyavardhan's eyes remained on her eyes only. After a long moment, he nodded slowly.
“I see.”
Anvita wanted to look away and turn away and hide from his eyes.
“So you seem to have benefited from it.”
He concluded. Anvita's heartbeats were soaring.
She could not say anything. Her silence was enough.
“Then where is the problem?”
“Problem…problem is…I think Atul is willing to make it happen again.”
“Did he tell you so?”
“No. But he threw a dinner to Prithvi. And last week he brought in his friend too for dinner.”
“Dinner is okay.”
“But it was not just dinner. “
Anvita spoke in detail about the dinner with Prithvi. Starting from the Atul's excitement while revealing Prithvi's infatuation for Anvita until how he disappeared from the house to leave Prithvi a chance to be intimate with Anvita.
“And that night Atul did more things again. He was unbelievable. Not only that night, every night after that.”
“He went down again?”
Rajyavardhan subtly eyed down at her and Anvita held a straight face.
“No. I mean, yes. He did. But he did more.”
“What did he do?”
“He did well.”
“That’s what I am asking. Be a bit specific.”
Anvita hesitated again.
“If you are not comfortable looking at me, look away. Face that side and tell me.”
He pointed to the balcony.
Anvita bit her lips and slowly obliged.
“Now tell me.”
“He lasted longer. I mean, not longer, but he didn’t quit after one session. He was ready again. His arousal was so high.” Anvita said and ended up looking at him.
“So you benefited again.”
“It has been like that, since then.”
“I can see that.”
“Excuse me?”
“I can see what he did last night. And you wanted to show it off this morning.”
Anvita was embarrassed.
“I wanted to tell you that my Atul isn’t boring in bed. He’s not Mohit type.”
“And you looked really beautiful this morning.”
He smiled.
Anvita was astonished. And she was shy.
“I'm left to wonder why he's behaving like this.”
“Is this what you wanted to tell me?”
His nonchalance puzzled Anvita. For one moment she wondered if he didn't see anything wrong in his son's behaviour. Is he also like Atul? A willing cuckold? Does he support my flings like Atul? Is he excited by my betrayals? There were no visible signs to confirm this but Anvita's heart skipped a beat. "There are men out there who dream of their wives to be taken by men who can do better than them in bed." Rajat's words echoed in her ears.
“No. Not only that, dad.”
Anvita said quickly.
“Last Friday Atul brought home another friend, our neighbour, Rajat. This man is always after me. He has tried to make advances on me, many times in the past. During the dinner, he came with a gift. A lehenga, blouse, and undergarments. Atul had helped him to buy this all. Can you imagine that? Atul helped this man to gift me such intimate clothes! And on top of it all, he was drunk and he passed out. I'm worried, dad. I think Atul wants me to sleep with his friend.”
Rajyavardhan nodded slowly.
“And you will?”
“What?”
“Will you have sex with him, this friend of Atul?”
“No. Never! I hate him.”
“Rajat…” Rajyavardhan shook his head slowly as if to recollect something. “He's the one who's sleeping with your chubby friend, isn't he?”
Anvita was stunned.
“How... how do you know?”
“He can be very good in bed. Why don't you just try once? It's going to be fun.”
“What!”
Anvita cried. She wished he was testing her.
“Is this what you're saying? Oh my God! I can't believe this...”
Rajyavardhan grinned.
“Hold on, my child. You can say no. It's a simple word.”
“No. It's a strong word and I'm saying no!”
Anvita glowered.
“Good. Then what's the problem? Is he forcing you?”
“No. No. But I fear he will soon be. I don't want...”
“Okay, I'll talk to him.”
“No. Don't talk to him. He's got a wife...and a baby who's barely three months old. Don't talk to him.”
“Do you think I'm gonna chop his hand?”
“Promise me you won't meet him. I'm scared.”
“You have a habit of talking about the promise. And you never keep yours.”
Anvita's eyes descended to the floor.
“That's my biggest fault, dad. I'm... not a...”
“Why don't you tell Atul not to bring his friend home?”
“I’ve told him. But I'm still worried because I think he's gonna find someone else.”
“You don't hate Atul for that. Do you?”
“I can't hate him, no matter what.”
“Even if he asks you to sleep with his friend? Let's forget Rajat. Let's say, someone else, a stranger.”
“I don't know. Do you also think he's gonna do that? I'm dead then.”
“Will you hate him then?”
“I will hate him for that. Yes. I will refuse. I wish I could refuse but he's not asking me. That's the problem. I feel like he's making me do it. But I'm not able to confront him because he'll then confront me for sleeping with Prithvi. It was my mistake. I'm stuck.”
Rajyavardhan smiled and soon he began to laugh. 
“You have cooked up a lot of stuff in there! I can't believe you're so dumb!”
He said, laughing.
Anvita stared at him hatefully.
“You think my son wants to be a cuckold!”
A willing cuckold.
“This is the biggest joke I've ever heard. Anvita, my child, you look so beautiful. You're very lovely and kind and caring, but you're also awfully dumb.”
“Dad...”
“No! Don't try to reason why you're otherwise. Let me tell you something full and final, if, and it's a big if, what you were saying you did and witnessed was the truth, then Atul has no idea about any of your betrayals.”
Anvita looked at him in disbelief.
“Dad...but...”
“Don't try to reason. I told you. Don't do it.”
 
Her mind was racing. She believed Rajyavardhan. His ability to judge a situation was incomparable. She had seen how he can find the truth without asking a question. He had stressed the term "...if, and it's a big if..." to her and Anvita felt he knew she was hiding things from him. He knows.
“I wish you're right, dad.”
Prove that Atul is not a willing cuckold. That's what I want to hear.
Her heart had begun to jump in joy.
“I wish you were right. But how can I believe you unless you prove it?”
“Anvita, you think you want him to be perfect. But no. It is in your mind because you're perceiving him as a cuckold. You believed it because it's too convenient to believe.”
“No.”
“You're not confronting him because you think it'll make him confront you, that's what you think.”
“Yes.”
“But I tell you, you're not confronting him because you still have a part of your mind trying to convince you that your assumption is a lie. But you're not willing to take it because that lie fits your convenience. You are comfortable if Atul enjoys your flings.”
“No! That’s not true, dad!”
“This isn't how the shocking truths are perceived, Anvita. Let me tell you one thing. Why do you think I forgave you when you said you betrayed my son?”
Anvita looked at him for a moment, unable to reply.
“How did this man, Rajat, leave your house after dinner?”
“Do you not trust me?”
“Answer me!”
“He didn’t leave… He slept here, in this couch.”
Anvita pointed to the couch Rajyavardhan was sitting. He turned his eyes down and had a look at the couch.
“Where was Atul?”
“Atul... Atul was sitting here...sleeping.”
Anvita pointed to his right.
Rajyavardhan closed his eyes and took a deep breath as if visualising it. When he opened his eyes finally, Anvita didn't dare to look at him.
“Come here, Anvita.”
He said, calmly.
Anvita got up and stumbled forward. She stopped in front of him and he looked up into her eyes. Her heart was beginning to beat hard.
“Undress yourself!”
Rajyavardhan commanded.
“What!”
Anvita took a step backwards. Then she grinned awkwardly.
“No, you're joking. You're putting me to test.”
“And you failed it, Anvita.”
Rajyavardhan said calmly.
“Did you sleep with him?”
Anvita felt she was going to faint.
“Rajat? No! I'll die before I did that!”
“But how did you escape from him?”
“I drugged him.” Anvita sighed. “He had come with some drug which he mixed in Atul's drink to get him to sleep. I found it in his jacket when he was gone to the washroom. And I mixed it in his drink to sedate him. And he slept here until morning.”
“And Atul also slept here?”
“No. I pulled Rajat down and made him sleep on the floor. Atul slept on the couch.”
Rajyavardhan grinned.
“So you were clever.”
Anvita nodded slightly.
“But if you were clever, he wouldn't have dared to come after you, Anvita. Women are smarter by their instincts but some of them get confused in the long run. You should know why I can't swallow what you said about Atul. He's a very straight soul. Anyone can manipulate him with a few tricks. And it hurts me often. I wanted him to endure the pain of being betrayed. But it doesn't mean I wanted you to do it. Never. And neither have I wanted him to break apart. I want him to learn that the world is a bit harsh. This is how it is. When it is time, you must tell him you've done this. Whatever it is, you must confess.”
“I don't understand. Why are you trying to make him something he's not?”
“He believes he's the epitome of loyalty. He believes he's the follower of righteousness. But no, I don't see it.”
“What do you see?”
“I see a man who will one day sleep with your sister. Or a friend.”
“No! You're trying to trick me again.”
Anvita shook her head in despair.
“It doesn't matter what I'm doing, my child. What matters to me is what you would do when you come to know of his betrayal. What would you do?”
“I don't want to talk on this. No, dad.”
“I want to hear it. You'll tell me.”
His eyes had her frozen on the ground.
“What do you want to hear? I have no choice to do anything. I can't even cry.”
“Then don't cry.”
Anvita stared at him. Her chest was moving up and down quickly. She felt powerless.
“Dad...”
“Don't cry. Don't confront him. Let him fuck your friend. Or your sister. Or your colleague. Or a neighbour.”
“Dad...”
Anvita burst into tears suddenly. No. This wasn't what Anvita wanted to confront. She collapsed on the floor and wept like a woman who lost everything. 
“Why this is happening to me?” She ranted. “I didn't want any of these. I'm a simple woman...”
“No woman is simple, Anvita.”
Rajyavardhan said; his voice firm enough to stop her and stare at him. Hot tears rolled down her cheeks.
“What about mom? Your wife? Atul's mom?”
“I don't care about her in that regard. She might have had her attractions, who knows?”
For one moment she felt this man was insane.
“What about you? Have you cheated on her?”
“Many times.”
Anvita was stunned, not by the revelation but the blatant way in which he said that.
She couldn't take it anymore. She shook her head and wiped her tears and got up.
“I was a fool to call you here. I thought you'd help me out of this.”
“Out of what?”
“Out of...”
Anvita stopped. Suddenly she felt she wasn't worried about it. She felt there was nothing to discuss. Except for my friend. Ankita. Or a colleague.
“Dad, you're a really dangerous man. I shouldn't have...”
“Do you think you have a problem now?”
“Yes, I do. I still think Atul is a cuckold.”
“That is because you still wish him to be one. Because that's the only way you can get rid of the guilt. When I told you to undress, I saw your facial expression. I consider it very genuine because you don't want to undress to me. There's a manner in which people react to certain actions, Anvita. If Atul had seen you fucking that boy, he wouldn't have made it the wedding place. It's a tall building, my child. It's easy to end one's life here. And his face that I saw this morning isn't of a man who likes his wife to get fucked by someone else. He's a man. He knows how to do it himself. Do you have any doubt about that?”
“No.”
“Then?”
“But he was very aggressive in bed that night.”
“What did he do?”
Anvita hesitated.
“Tell me.”
“He ...He went down on me.”
“That's it?”
“He made me cry.”
“Speak up, cut this bullshit and speak up Anvita. When will you get rid of your awkwardness?”
“I had a mind-blowing orgasm that night; actually the first time with him.”
“Is that a big deal?”
“No. I mean yes, until then, it was.”
“It was your lucky day. The first woman I slept with was one of my friends’ elder sisters. And I couldn't make her happy for long. Then one day I learnt the trick and did it. It was her lucky day.”
“How many women have you slept with?”
He ignored her question.
“What happened on the night you had dinner with the boy?”
“With him?”
“No; with Atul.”
“That night too, he was very aggressive. He stayed on, for longer and...and he gave me... orgasm.”
“And you think it's because he's a cuckold?”
“No way. But I have other reasons to believe. First, he allowed Prithvi to lick my feet. And then...”
“Wait. He allowed Prithvi what?”
“Prithvi licked my feet. They had an argument over the habit of foot worship. And Prithvi said he's ready to lick my feet because he thought my feet are beautiful.”
Rajyavardhan looked down at her feet. Anvita felt embarrassed, for unknown reasons.
“They indeed are. And you mean to say Atul enjoyed it?”
“No. He said it was gross.”
“That's a genuine response.”
Anvita fell silent.
“And then?”
“Then after dinner, Atul went out when I was doing the dish.”
“Where did he go?”
“To the parking lot…to get my bag from our car.”
“Who did keep it there?”
“I did, actually. When we returned from my home we had a lot of grocery bags in our hands and we forgot it.”
“I see. And he suddenly remembered it after dinner?”
“Not exactly. I had told him to get it back when I realised in the evening. He said he'd get it back later.”
Rajyavardhan remained silent for long. He was thinking. Anvita's eyes remained mostly on the floor, occasionally glancing at him.
Then he spoke.
“Whatever the evidence you’ve quoted doesn't prove he's willing to share you with others, Anvita. People are dying to judge others in today's world. This happened with you too. More than him, it is you whose brain is filled with doubts and fantasies, and somebody has fed into you about this shit idea. You readily believed it because you liked the possibility. I told you, it's a lie that's convenient to believe. You'll start fighting the idea when you face the reverse. I'll give you an idea, just to make a point. On that wedding eve, you saw some footprints on your balcony. What if it wasn't his? What if he had returned but had gone to someone else's apartment? Like your neighbour, umm...Neeti, that's her name, isn't it? What if Atul went to her, to meet her secretly, and then returned to you?”
“But I saw the door opposite was open. I hate your idea anyway.”
“Did you see him there?”
“No.”
“Then? It could be the house owner.”
“But Atul won't do it.”
“I know. But my wife too thought the same about me. Atul thinks the same about you.”
“No. Atul...”
Anvita didn't want to talk any further.
 
The doorbell rang. Anvita wiped her face with a towel and opened the door. It was Rajat.
“Hi, Anvi. How are you?”
“Fine.”
Anvita said.
“May I come in?”
He asked.
“Come in,” Anvita said and let him in. “Let me introduce you to my father in law.”
Anvita added pleasantly.
Suddenly she felt Rajat must meet him once. Rajat walked over to the hall and greeted Rajyavardhan.
“Hello, uncle.”
Rajyavardhan looked at him coldly and slowly nodded.
“Hello.”
“Dad, this is Rajat, our neighbour.”
Anvita said.
“Don’t make me just a neighbour, Anvita. I am a close friend too.”
“I see.”
Rajyavardhan said.
“Have a seat, Rajat. Give him something, child. Tea, coffee or whatever.”
“No, thanks, uncle. I have to go.”
Rajat said.
“Are you sure?”
“Yeah. I came to talk about this,” Rajat walked to the empty aquarium and began to inspect it. “I’ve heard about the fish. It died, isn’t it? I’ll bring another one; I’ll bring it in the evening if you fill the water. Or do you need any help?”
Anvita looked at Rajyavardhan. He shook his head sideways.
Anvita turned to Rajat.
“No, Rajat. Don’t bring new fish. I insist you take it back.”
Rajat turned to her, surprised.
“Are you sure? You liked it, didn’t you?”
“We are too busy to take care of it. I hardly remember to feed it.”
“Come on, you took very good care of it, I know. And don’t worry about it. I’ll help you with the fish feeds. You don’t have to…”
“No, Rajat. Take the aquarium back. Keep it in your house. Buy a new fish when Pooja comes.”
Rajat looked at her and shook his head.
“Okay, no problem.” He turned to Rajyavardhan. “And see you later uncle.”
“You can take it now.”
Anvita said.
“No, I was leaving actually. I’ll take it later.”
He said and left.
Anvita let out a sigh.
“So this is the Rajat.”
Rajyavardhan got to his feet.
“Yes.”
“Interesting guy. He’s a very good friend of Atul.” Rajyavardhan made out and walked over to the aquarium. “And he wants to keep his aquarium here.”
He shook his head to himself and held the aquarium stand and then gave the glass structure a push. It fell onto the floor and the glass panes shattered into many pieces. Anvita was astounded.
“Dad! What have you done?”
“Next time when he shows up, tell him to get a new one for himself.”
Anvita knew what he meant.
Never give a chance.
And Anvita was sure Rajyavardhan has made his assessment on Rajat with just one look. And it was exactly what he wanted to understand. She felt good.
She phoned Atul and told him that she accidentally knocked it over while cleaning it. And she asked him to inform Rajat readily. She didn’t want Rajat to show up at her door in the name of an aquarium.
 
That night Atul came home early.
Rajyavardhan sat with him in the hall.
“Your friend Rajat had come here today. He wanted to put a new fish in his aquarium. I saw him. I saw where his eyes were. He’s a wolf in a sheep’s skin, my son. I think you are aware he’s sleeping with one of your neighbour’s wife and he has eyes on your wife too.  You know me, I can’t be wrong about this. Take my advice. Don’t give him a chance.”
Atul looked dumbfounded, and he looked at Anvita. She didn’t know if she needed to say anything.
“I’m not saying he’ll take advantage of her. I’m saying he’ll try to take advantage of you.”
“How?”
“Yesterday I saw how you came home. I am very glad about your job and earning profile; you make me proud. I haven’t spoken to you like this before, but I want to tell you this, I am proud to call you my son. Your wife had told your mom about your promotion and she told me. I had come to tell you how much I value your success. But yesterday, the way you showed up wasn’t anything to remember.”
“I am sorry, dad.”
“It’s okay to have a couple of drinks with friends and colleagues. But it should be on your terms. Yesterday was Monday. If a person like you can’t say ‘no’ on a Monday, then it’s time to stop. You’ve shown me there’s nothing you can’t do, my son.”
“Dad…”
“Never again. This is the first time I’m asking you something that’s about you. Can you do it?
Rajyavardhan forwarded his hand to him. Atul grabbed it quickly.”
“Never again. I promise.”
“Oh my God!”
Anvita said.
“Did you just promise you won’t drink again?”
Atul smiled at her.
“I won’t.”
Anvita had no doubt.
 
That night Atul was happy in bed. He kissed Anvita and thanked her for her help in mending with his dad despite his tough demeanour. Anvita kissed him back and soon they were making out passionately. Atul threw away her clothes and hurriedly bent down between her legs.
Anvita moaned and cried and she wondered if Rajyavardhan too would ever listen to the sounds of her pleasure. The thought was arousing. She later got on top of Atul and rode him, driving his dick deep into her hole. When he came she got off him and stroked him with her hand to make him ejaculate, and then sucked him clean to make him hard again. As she lay on her back and allowed him to invade her slippery hole yet again, she remembered Rajyavardhan’s words. Atul has no idea about any of your betrayals. Atul was pumping smoothly into her and he was making her body weak with each of his thrusts. He was right. Atul is not a willing cuckold. He’s a perfect husband. Anvita's hand crawled around him and made a circle around his neck. She pulled him down and kissed him harder. A minute later, she was letting out a scream.
When she walked out to Rajyavardhan in the morning he stopped doing yoga and looked at her.
“I don’t need coffee. I don’t need tea. And I know what you did last night. Now, go.”
Anvita smiled.
“What do you know about last night?”
Rajyavardhan did not answer.
 
Rajyavardhan was preparing to leave before noon.
“I hope your doubts are cleared. Be a good wife to my son.”
“I will. Thanks for clearing my doubts. I believe what you said. I was dumb. “
“I am not worried about Rajat. We can handle him. You can handle him. But it’s Prithvi who’s troubling me, my child.”
Anvita was surprised.
“Why?”
“He gives the impression of an innocent soul. From your words, I have a mental picture of him. No one can doubt him. That’s why Atul let him play with your feet. Atul can even take his infatuation as harmless. Yet, he has slept with you twice.”
Anvita nodded.
Prithvi is very clever, indeed.
“His did it twice, not because he’s clever. If he was, he wouldn’t have left you dry on the second time, when you willingly gave in. He’s the one you can say no, but you seem to have missed the trick here, twice.”
“What should I do with him?”
Rajyavardhan stared at her for a long moment.
“You are a woman who has this thing for adventure, Anvita. If you don’t retire at the right time, you’re gonna pull out a lot of…you know what I mean. I suggest you give this nineteen-year-old…”
“He’s twenty-two. I learnt it recently.”
Anvita interrupted.
“Twenty…twenty-two… whatever! I suggest you give him one more chance. Invite him for a day. Have fun. And be convinced that Atul is better than him.”
“What are you saying, dad?”
“Tell him this is his last chance. Tell him to do his best.”
“No. I can’t do it. I don’t want to.”
“Stop pretending, Anvita.”
“But why?”
“You need to stop.”
“I can stop now.”
“But you are not convinced.”
“Of what?”
“That the best one for you is the one you already have.”
“I can’t believe you are asking me to cheat Atul, again.”
“I can’t believe you either when you say you won’t.”
Anvita was speechless. She sat there silently for long.
Rajyavardhan got up, finally, beginning to leave.
“Dad, you told me you had cheated Atul's mom. Didn’t you feel any remorse?”
“I did. But there is one thing about remorse. It makes you feel better in the long run. It can’t make you stop committing the same mistake again. The only thing that can stop you is your determination.”
“What made you stop?”
“I once got the mother of one of Atul's friends pregnant.”
“What!”
“After that, I started thinking about others. It was wrong. I still can go around fucking them. But I can stop myself. Do you like chocolate?”
“Yes; why?”
“I suggest you buy a chocolate every day. And don’t eat it. Practice saying no to yourself. The devil is inside you, Anvita. The one who controls it is the saint.”
 
When Rajyavardhan was gone, Anvita sat in the couch, thinking for long.
Can you be a saint?
 
A couple of days later, Manjot was removed from his post. He was arrested and was soon out on bail. However, he got arrested again, on Friday.
Ankita's visa was sanctioned and she returned to Canada on Monday. Atul and Anvita went to the airport to see her off. Anvita remembered Rajyavardhan's words.
“I see a man who will one day sleep with your sister.”
Anvita felt sick. She cursed herself for joking about sharing Atul with her sister. She was glad Ankita did not stay with her. It will never happen. Ankita is not going to come back soon. Anvita assured herself.
 
Even though Anvita was not satisfied with Rajyavardhan's suggestions and predictions, his visit had brought her peace. Atul had completely stopped drinking. And Rajat had no reason to knock at her door. Two weeks later, Atul came home and told Anvita that he had a spat with Rajat.
“He made some creepy comments about you. I didn’t like it. I gave him a warning.”
He told Anvita.
“What did he say?”
“He said you are a woman who’d like to have a threesome.”
“What!”
“A threesome. Suggestively me, you, and him.”
“That’s bullshit.”
“Of course it is. We aren’t speaking anymore.”
“I like it. I don’t like him anyway. He’s not a good friend. Dad was right.”
Anvita hugged him.
 
A couple of weeks later, on a Monday were their first wedding anniversary. Anvita wanted to invite everyone in their neighbourhoods for dinner. Atul agreed. They booked a banquet hall and arranged for an elegant four-course dinner. They together visited all the apartments in the building and invited them all. Their close friends and colleagues were also invited.
Anvita chose not to invite Varun and Radhika.
“If we invite them, then there will be too many to invite.”
“What about Prithvi?”
Atul asked her.
“If he’s here, then let's invite him.”
Anvita said. She thought about buying chocolate. And don’t eat it.
Atul phoned him and invited him.
“He might not make it. He’s coming to Delhi this weekend but he can’t be here on Monday.”
Atul told Anvita later.
That’s good. Anvita thought.
 
They were all set, before Friday. But then, Friday evening, Atul came home with a message Anvita didn’t want to hear.
“I need to go to Mumbai tomorrow.”
“No. Don’t tell me this.”
Anvita said quickly.
“It won’t be an issue, Anvi. See these tickets. Tomorrow evening flight. Sunday noon return flight.”
“But you are always ready to change it.”
“Not this time.”
Atul took her in his arms.
“I know this is more important. Believe me.”
Finally, she agreed.
“If you make any change in the plan, then mark my words, I’ll right away cancel the anniversary dinner.”
She warned.
 
That night Prithvi called Anvita.
“I can’t make it on Monday. So my advanced wedding anniversary wishes to both of you. I know it’s not right to wish over the phone. I have bought a gift for you. Can I come tomorrow? You both will be there?”
“Come before eleven. Atul won’t be here after that.”
“Where is he going?”
“Mumbai.”
“I’m also leaving tomorrow. Evening flight to Bangalore. So I’ll come in the morning.”
“Okay.”
When he put down the phone, she remembered Rajyavardhan's words.
I suggest you give him one more chance. Invite him for a day. Have fun.
Anvita's heartbeats were on a sharp rise. Tell him this is his last chance. Tell him to do his best.
Anvita felt her throat dry. Her body was becoming warm against her control. The one who controls it is the saint.
She had told Prithvi that Atul would leave by eleven. What if he came after eleven? Can you stop him? Can you stop you yourself?
Yes! Anvita decided quickly. I will stop him. I will say no to him. Dad was right. You should control the devil inside you. That’s all you need to do.
Anvita kept assuring her.
 
She was going to sleep when she remembered the chocolate she had bought in the evening. It was still in her bag. She took it out and decided to keep it in the refrigerator.
She had walked over to the kitchen, and she had opened the door of the refrigerator. But just before she could keep in inside, she paused.
Her eyes were stuck on the chocolate, on its attractive wrapping. She knew how it would taste inside.
Yummy.
She turned her eyes off it, and then smiled, and innocently tore open the wrapping.
 

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