Adultery That Resort Trip

[madiha.agarwal]

A wave of apprehension gnawed at Kavya as she left her one-and-a-half-year-old son, Nirav, at her mother's house and hailed a ride share. This was the first time she had entrusted his care to someone else, and the thought of being away from him for four days made her heart ache. She worried about how much he might cry for her, even though her mother was close to him. 


  

Priya's words echoed in her mind, "Do it for yourself, Kavya. You also need to take a break from your motherly duties." Priya was right. Ever since she got pregnant, Kavya's life had revolved entirely around her baby, leaving no time for herself.  

Her husband of six years, Harshit, had refused to drop her at the train station, citing an important meeting. She knew, as a senior manager, he could have easily rescheduled it, but his displeasure at her leaving was clear. Kavya was determined to attend her colleague's wedding. She needed a break from everything, including Harshit's house. 

As she reached the train station, she found Suhail already waiting. He was a fresh graduate, just 22, and looked like a teenager. Next came Priya with her husband, Matthew. Kavya envied Priya's chic style and the freedom her husband allowed her. Priya and Matthew, who had met on Tinder and married, shared Instagram stories filled with their adventures and Priya's fashionable outfits. Even now, Priya wore stylish cotton pyjamas perfect for the train journey. Her luggage bag was twice the size of Kavya's. 
Noticing Kavya's unease, Priya reassured her that everything would be fine. Soon, Ravish joined them. At 28, the same age as Priya, he was their team leader. Slightly overweight but always supportive, he was the mother hen of the team, never micromanaging them. 

The train was about to leave, but their last co-passenger hadn't arrived yet, and he wasn't answering his phone. The group grew tense, unsure whether to board the train or wait. Suddenly, they saw a figure sprinting towards them. It was Manikandan, or Mani for short. Like Suhail, he was a fresher, but at 25, he had taken a different path, studying for a diploma and working various jobs before venturing into IT. 

  

The team breathed a collective sigh of relief. Mani was the heartbeat of their team, always bringing fun and energy to the office. His carefree attitude had delayed his graduation, but he remained unapologetically himself. Mani immediately hugged Matthew, chatting like old friends. Kavya noticed how comfortable Priya's husband was with her travelling with three men. When Kavya had considered cancelling, it was Priya who had insisted that she come along.  

Soon they boarded the train and settled into their seats. They pulled out a deck of Uno cards and started playing, which quickly led to lots of arguments and laughter. Kavya felt a rush of excitement and nostalgia. It had been over a decade since she travelled by train, as her family usually opted for flights and cars. 
Their destination was a small village far from any airport or major station. The closest point was a nature reserve that had recently gained popularity on Instagram. Unable to book direct tickets, they had to leave much earlier than the wedding date. 
"Kavya, the train has started, but your mind is still at home," laughed Priya, noticing her lost expression. 
"I don't know, but I'm getting a bad feeling," replied Kavya. "Leaving Harshit and Nirav for the first time..." 
"It's okay, Kavya," said Ravish. "You deserve this break. Don't worry, they will be fine." 
"It's just that he doesn't know I'm going to the resort," Kavya said quietly. "He thinks we'll be gone for four days just for the wedding." 
"Why didn't you tell him?" exclaimed Suhail. 
"Well, when I mentioned the wedding, the only thing he asked was what about Nirav," Kavya explained. "And when I said my mom would take care of him, he got upset that I discussed it with her before him." 
"But still, you should have informed him about the resort," said Ravish. 
Kavya looked at Priya, hoping for a different answer. Priya shrugged, "Well, it was Matthew's idea to book a resort instead of spending all three days in the village." 
"What should I do?" Kavya asked. "Should I call him and tell him now?" 
"Well, technically you did not mislead him or lie to him. You are going away for the wedding and if he can’t really hold the conversation, you can’t discuss the details with him. I’d say hold it over him instead should the need ever arise." interjected Mani, who had been quiet until then. 
"Well, that is an idea!" added Priya. "I agree sharing this now makes no sense. There will be an argument, you will spoil your mood." 
"What if he finds out?" wondered Kavya out aloud. 
"Don't worry, we won't post any pictures on Instagram or WhatsApp that have your face in them," said Priya. "That way, he won't know anything." 
Kavya bit her lip. It wasn't a simple thing. Harshit wasn't the patriarchal type. She remembered how he allowed her to wear sexy dresses and go to clubs with her girlfriends during the early days of their marriage, which even her conservative parents didn't allow. He was as open-minded as Matthew. 
Also, Harshit often joked that Instagram was like Twitter for people who couldn't read. He didn't follow any of her friends, so she felt safe.  
"Okay, Kavya, I want you to get up and put your hands on your heart to take a pledge," said Priya. Kavya complied. 
Priya started, "Repeat after me: In the next four days, I won't think about Nirav or Harshit. The only person that will matter is me, and I'll enjoy it like I'm fresh out of college." 
"Should I?" asked Kavya nervously. 
"Of course you should," said Mani. "Otherwise, you might as well get off at the next station. What's the use of going on vacation if you can't relax and enjoy yourself?" 
"I guess it's too late now," smiled Kavya. 
As she closed her eyes, she felt an energy rush through her body, and the word "vacation" seemed like a luxury. She promised herself that for the next few days, nothing else would matter, and she would enjoy every moment