Adultery Awaited desires - Completed

[Haran000]

8. Answer

The third week of August rolled in, and I was slowly, painstakingly, adjusting to the rhythm of college life. Most professors were decent, their lectures flowing smoothly, but Solid State Physics remained a stubborn snag. Yet, my biggest hurdle wasn't the quantum world; it was the peculiar universe of human connection. I simply couldn't make friends.

Back in my degree days, the three of us in the room were practically inseparable, and in class, Abhiram completed our small circle. Beyond those three, my world remained largely silent. Here, in the PG, ten days had passed, and my only acquaintance was a senior named Mahesh. He'd occasionally summon me in the canteen or library, even making me fetch his coffee and, on one memorable occasion, pay the bill. I'd just brush it off, thinking, "Why bother?" Conflict wasn't my style, and I had no intention of starting now.

With that thought humming in my mind, on the nineteenth, as I crossed the campus gate and headed towards the building, I saw Mahesh. He had stopped a girl, deep in conversation with her. A flicker of surprise. He wasn't usually around in the mornings. Why today?

My gaze drifted to the girl. She stood there, arms crossed, her bag clutched defensively in front of her, head bowed, an undeniable aura of discomfort radiating from her. Mahesh must have prompted her, for she finally lifted her head.

They say in movies that eyes sparkle, temple bells chime, flowers rain down, and one floats on air as clouds gather. None of that dramatic fanfare unfolded, but my feet, seemingly of their own volition, began to move towards her.

She was speaking, her words a soft murmur. Those red, strawberry lips were undeniably kissable. Her innocent pupils, wide and flustered, darted around, lending her a captivating beauty. The way she fidgeted with her finger near her elbow, the slight tremor in her hands – I didn't like it.

For some reason, her gaze briefly met mine. My steps faltered. I mentally chastised myself. What a fool I'd been to assume the girls on our campus were merely average. How utterly charming she was.

Mahesh's voice cut through my thoughts. "Physics, sir."

Her voice, when it came, was as enchanting as a small child's chuckle.

"What have you been doing all these days?" Mahesh pressed, a hint of impatience in his tone. "It's been more than ten days since class started."

"Well... well... my family told me to quit studying, sir," she stammered, her voice soft and hesitant. "But I wanted to study, so I fought with them all these days and came today, sir."

I was now four steps closer to them.

"Oh, really?" Mahesh said, a hint of feigned concern in his voice. "Why did they tell you to quit studying?"

"They said, for a girl, instead of studying, they would look for marriage proposals."

"Oh, really..." Mahesh dismounted his bike and moved closer to her, bending down slightly, as if to share a secret. "Then tell your people that there's a senior named Mahesh in our college. He's good. And he's a counselor's son."

The girl's discomfort was palpable. She lowered her head and subtly stepped away. That's when I decided to intervene.

"Good morning, Mahesh bro," I said, my voice deliberately cheerful.

He merely gestured with his hand for me to stand there, not bothering to look at me.

"What's her name, bro?" I prodded.

"Kavya..." he replied, a hint of annoyance in his tone.

"Oh..." I feigned innocence.

He subtly glanced up, his eyes narrowing slightly as he looked at me. "Why do you care?"

"Just asking."

"She's my would be, ok. Shut up and stand here for a bit."

"Hey..." I couldn't resist. "Mahesh bro is getting married!"

"Don't talk nonsense, shut up you moron!"

"Oh, bro," I continued, pressing my advantage, "why do you talk like that in front of ladies?"

"Oh, right. Sorry, Kavya, I spoke like that in front of you because of him." Mahesh offered a perfunctory apology. Kavya remained silent, her discomfort evident.

Before Mahesh could say anything else, I spoke again. "Mahesh bro, is this vadhina also Physics?"

"You... didn't I tell you to shut up?" he snapped, his face reddening. "Yes, she's Physics, so what?" His annoyed expression filled me with a strange satisfaction.

"Then don't worry, bro," I said, a mischievous glint in my eye. "I'll make sure no one bothers Kavya vadhina in class."

He stepped closer to me, an arrogant smirk on his face. "You'll take care of her?"

"Yes, I'll take good care of her. I'll keep an eye on her."

"Go then," he conceded, gesturing towards the building. "She doesn't know where the class is. Take her to class."

"Okay, bro."

"If anyone acts up, tell me."

"I told you, bro," I reiterated, a subtle challenge in my voice, "Kavya has me."

"Meaning?"

"I mean, I'm here. I'll take care of her."

"Huh." Mahesh huffed, clearly irritated.

"This guy's a bit weird," Srujan murmured from somewhere nearby.

"Something's off about this. Hey Harikrishna, stop," Karthik called out.

I stopped.

"Did you bring your phone?" Karthik asked.

"You know I don't bring my phone, bro," I replied, feigning innocence.

"Oh, okay, go."

Just then, someone walked past us, completely ignoring the trio.

"Hey, newcomer, stop," Mahesh commanded. He turned back. It was Abhiram.

I was stunned. He saw me and, with a broad grin, pulled me into a hug.

"Hey, what are you doing here, didn't you go to Hyderabad?" Abhiram exclaimed.

"No, buddy, I decided to stay here," I replied, equally surprised and delighted. "Why didn't you tell me you're in this university? You said something about a job, didn't you go?"

"No, buddy, I just felt that small job wasn't worth it," he explained. "And besides, did you even call me?"

"I did, dude, your number was unreachable."

"Oh, sorry, buddy, I changed my number."

"Oh, really, tell me the new number."

The three onlookers, completely ignored, grew increasingly annoyed as Abhiram and I chatted away. Then, in my excitement, the sheer joy of reuniting with Abhi, I added fuel to the fire. I pulled my phone from my pocket and began typing as he rattled off his new number.

Mahesh's hand landed squarely on my phone. I froze, looking at him in stunned silence.

"What's this, a small box?" Mahesh asked, a smirk playing on his lips.

Shit... I was caught.

"Hey buddy, look," Mahesh said to Karthik, holding up my phone, "this box even has light coming out of it. Have you ever seen anything like this, buddy?"

"Yes, buddy, it's new. What do you even call it, buddy?" Karthik chimed in, looking at me.

"Well, bro..." I stammered.

He turned his gaze to Abhiram. "What's your name?"

"Abhiram..."

"You're more arrogant than Hari," Mahesh declared, a mischievous glint in his eye. "Both of you do thirty squats and go to class."

"Bro, the phone?" I pleaded.

"Do the squats, I'll give it to you."

"Can I go to class, sir?" Kavya's soft voice interjected.

"Go, sweetie, we'll meet in the evening," Mahesh said, his tone softening considerably for her.

We began our squats. As Kavya walked away, Abhiram's eyes followed her, a strange intensity in his gaze. A jolt of suspicion went through me. What was with him? Had he also fallen for her? Regardless, I needed to make sure this Mahesh guy didn't come between me and Kavya.

"Vadhina," I thought to myself, a silent promise, "the girl you told me to find, I found her."

After completing our thirty squats, I practically begged for my phone back, and then Abhiram and I headed to class. I spotted Kavya sitting in the fourth row, alone on her bench. My eyes lingered on her, but she was absorbed in the board. I walked past, settling into my usual spot on the last bench. As I sat down, I glanced over and saw Abhiram sitting next to her. How did he manage that?

To my surprise, Kavya was shaking hands with him, her lips moving in soft conversation. They both chuckled softly once, then turned their attention to the board. 

No, no... were they already acquainted? Had they come to college on the same day? The suspicion that they were lovers gnawed at me. I was better than him. How could she have fallen for him?

Ugh, had I ever even spoken to a girl in my life? No use regretting it now.

*

The scent of lunch still hung in the air, a faint whisper of biryani and spices, as I found myself in the familiar orbit of Abhi and Kavya. They chatted effortlessly, their voices a comfortable murmur, while I stood by, a silent observer. My tongue felt heavy, my throat tight. Even a simple "hello" to Kavya seemed an insurmountable task, a mountain I lacked the courage to climb. Shyness, a constant companion, gripped me, mixed with a strange, unreasoning fear.

The evening deepened, and with it, my unspoken anxieties. Kavya mentioned taking an auto, a casual remark that sealed my fate for the moment. Then, Abhi, ever the chivalrous friend, offered her a ride on his bike. He waved goodbye to me, a friendly, dismissive gesture, and they rode off, leaving me amidst the fading light, a prickle of something akin to jealousy stirring within.


The next week mirrored the last. Our daily ritual involved meeting during break time. They would engage in lively conversation, while I, anchored by my timidity, would only manage to speak with Abhi. Yet, despite their easy camaraderie, I couldn't shake the feeling that their connection was one of friendship, not romance. They seemed like two comfortable souls, not two hearts entwined.

Every day, the scene repeated itself: Kavya and Abhi on the same bench, their heads often close in shared laughter or quiet discussion, while I, relegated to the last bench, could only watch Kavya from afar, a silent, longing gaze.

Monday arrived, bringing with it a fresh wave of nervous anticipation. I stood at the college gate, eyes scanning for Abhi, when a flash of color caught my attention. Kavya got off from an auto, her head bowed as she paid the driver. She walked past me, a quiet presence, and again, the words caught in my throat. My "big mouth," usually a source of endless chatter, was now paralyzed by fear.

Then, Mahesh, stopped Kavya. I gravitated towards them, drawn by an invisible thread.

"Good morning, bros," I offered, my voice a forced cheerfulness.

"Get lost…" Mahesh's curt reply was par for the course.

A recent discovery surfaced in my mind. "Brother, I heard you're also in Physics Group A," I ventured.

"Yeah, that's right. Did you just find out?" His tone was laced with a familiar taunt.

"Brother, I have a doubt," I pressed on, a plan forming. "Will you explain the Newtonian Physics chapter? I'll pass this semester by taking your name."

Mahesh scoffed. "Why should I explain it, buddy? If you listen well in class, you'll get it. What are you doing instead of listening?"

My gaze drifted to Kavya. She stood silently, a subtle tension in her posture.

"I'm looking at sister-in-law, brother," I declared, hoping to disrupt the flow, to create a ripple.

"Hari, I'm telling you, I'll smash you," Mahesh warned, his eyes narrowing.

"But you told me to look, didn't you?" I countered, pressing my luck.

"I didn't say that." As he spoke, he reached out, his hand dipping into Kavya's braid, pulling out a jasmine gajra. Kavya flinched, a silent curse forming on her lips, a grimace of annoyance crossing her face.

"Sweetie, you look very good," Mahesh purred, his focus entirely on Kavya. I needed to intervene. He looked dangerously close to touching her.

"Brother, will you explain the Newton physics doubt?" I interrupted, my voice insistent.

"What's there to explain, man?" Mahesh's annoyance was palpable.

"You're a senior, so I'm asking for help. Please, brother, tell me."

"Hey, get lost."

"Do you even know it or not?" The words slipped out before I could stop them. In a flash, he grabbed my collar, pulling me close, his eyes blazing with fury.

"It's not that I don't know it, it's that I have no interest in telling you."

Just then, Karthik interjected, "Ask your professor about Mahesh, Hari, he'll tell you."

Srujan added, "He was the topper last year, man. You ask him if he knows it or not, wouldn't he get angry?"

"Oh, sorry, brother, please let go, I'll go," I mumbled, a strategic retreat.

"Get lost…" Mahesh released his grip.

I looked around. Kavya was gone.

"Where's Kavya?" Mahesh asked, a flicker of concern on his face.

"She left," Karthik replied. 

A wave of relief washed over me. This was exactly what I wanted.

I turned and walked away.

Upon entering the classroom, my eyes immediately found her. She sat alone on a bench, a solitary figure. As I walked past, a jolt, like an electric current, shot through me. She had reached out, her delicate hand closing around mine. The softness, the unexpected touch, sent a shiver down my spine.

I looked back. Her gaze was direct, unwavering, fixed on me. A flush crept up my neck. I, a man, would feel awkward in such a situation, yet she met my eyes with an unsettling frankness.

"Why didn't Abhi come today?" Kavya asked, her voice soft.

"He didn't tell me either," I replied, my voice a little rough.

"Sit down."

"I'll sit over there."

"Sit next to me, Krishna."

The name resonated. Krishna. Not Hari, the easy, common part of my name, but Krishna, the part my mother used. It was a subtle shift, yet it held a profound weight. 

People often called you by the easy part of your name – Hari from Hari Krishna, Pawan from Pawan Kalyan, Mohan from Chandra Mohan, Raja from Rajashekar. But when they used the "difficult" part, it was a mark of genuine interest.

I sat silently beside her, the unexpected intimacy almost overwhelming.

"If you’re a friend to him, then a friend to me too," Kavya said, breaking the silence.

"Hmm…" I offered, unsure how to respond.

"Hmm… What is it? You don't talk at all."

"I mean, I don't know how to make useless small talk. I only talk about things that matter."

She looked at me, a flicker of annoyance in her eyes, then a burst of laughter. 

The sound was light, melodic.

And just like that, the conversation ended. I didn't initiate anything further. She didn't greet me again. 

Tuesday passed in the same quiet rhythm.

Wednesday brought with it the college's traditional dress code event for freshers. Men were expected to wear silk dhotis, women sarees. The idea filled me with disdain. I ignored the directive, arriving in my usual chinos and cotton shirt.

Abhi, however, embraced the spirit, appearing in a crisp white khadi shirt and a silk dhoti. 

"What happened, you came in normal clothes?" he asked, a hint of amusement in his voice.

"I'm not interested, man," I shrugged.

"What will you say if someone asks?"

"I'll say I'm not interested. What's the big deal? Nothing will happen."

As we spoke, Abhi suddenly froze, his gaze fixed on something behind my shoulder.

Curious, I turned around.

From the college gate, Kavya emerged, a vision in a rose-colored saree, walking with an almost ethereal grace, like moonlight embodied. She waved at us. Abhi, his hand already raised, waved back, a silent greeting.

My heart hammered against my ribs, a rapid "dhap dhap" as she drew closer. Kavya reached us and joined her hands in a traditional greeting. I reciprocated, my own hand movements clumsy. She whispered something to Abhi.

"He doesn't bother with all this, Kavya," Abhi explained, a slight dismissiveness in his tone.

"Oh, really? Okay. Let's go inside."

A wave of self-loathing washed over me. Why was I so incapable of speaking to her? Perhaps she, being a girl, felt awkward, I reasoned, trying to find an excuse for my own inadequacy.

We moved into the seminar hall. The air buzzed with polite chatter, a meaningless drone. Kavya and Abhi remained close, their voices a continuous murmur as they discussed things I couldn't comprehend. What on earth were they talking about?

After what felt like an eternity, two hours passed, and the small talk ceased. We emerged from the hall. Kavya, ever the enthusiast, suggested taking photos in the campus garden.
I became the designated photographer, capturing Abhi and Kavya together. Without a special outfit, I felt out of place, excluded from the visual narrative. Abhi, with a casual familiarity, even posed with his hand on Kavya's shoulders. I clicked, a bitter taste of jealousy in my mouth, before focusing my lens solely on Kavya, trying to capture her beauty.

Later, I sent the photos to Abhi's WhatsApp. He, in turn, forwarded them to Kavya.

Ugh, my pathetic life. An absolute ass, utterly devoid of the sense to ask for a girl's number under the pretext of sharing photos. I deserved to jump into the nearest garden dustbin, hold my nose against the stench, and—commit suicide from lack of breath.


=
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The quiet of the afternoon, a holiday reprieve from classes, settled over me as I arrived home around 1 PM. My Vadina, had prepared a comforting cabbage curry, and after eating, I found myself sprawled on the sofa, lost in thought. Peddamma, was out, and Vadina was engrossed in some work in her room. My mind drifted to Kavya and her friends. 

They’d asked me to download photos to my phone, but the thought of deleting them had never crossed Kavya’s mind. Why not? Perhaps she worried about my reaction.

Regardless, it felt wrong to keep a girl's photos without explicit permission.

I opened my gallery, my fingers drawn to Kavya’s solo shots. I tapped one, and there she was, breathtaking in a saree. 

There’s a certain allure a saree lends a woman, a grace that even a bikini can’t touch. The way it subtly reveals, the tantalizing glimpses it offers—the inventor of the saree was a genius, truly. 

My gaze lingered on her slender waist, sending shivers down my spine. Her face, so beautiful and sweet, and those twinkle-like eyes, utterly mesmerizing. That slender waist… when would the day come when I could taste those strawberry lips? Kavya, Kavya, Kavya… 

For her, I felt I could become a poet, weaving an epic ode to her beauty.p

"Who's Kavya, Hari?" Vadina’s voice, startlingly close, snapped me back to reality. My eyes flew open. She was standing right in front of me. Had I spoken my thoughts aloud? 

Damn! She was about to peek at my phone. I quickly exited the gallery, my heart thumping. Vadina’s smile was mischievous.

"Show me the photo, Hari."

"Which photo, Vadina?" I tried to get up and escape to my room, but she caught my hand, holding me firm.

"Hari, show me the photo."

"There’s no photo, Vadina."

"Kavya’s photo."

Osh…. She even heard the name.

"Who’s Kavya?" I feigned ignorance.

"Stop acting and show me."

I bolted towards my room, Vadina hot on my heels. "Hey, stop… Show me."

"Oh, there’s nothing, Vadina."

"If there’s nothing, then show me."

"I told you there’s nothing."

"If there’s nothing, why are you hesitant to show it?"

As I tried to evade her, to put distance between us, she lunged for my phone. I dodged left; she mirrored my move. She chased me, intent on snatching it.

"Oh, those are my photos."

"Oh, okay, show me your photos then."

"I’ll show you later."

She seized the phone from my hand. Fearing she'd open the gallery, I blocked her, gripping her hand.

"Oh, let me see, Hari."

"I said there’s nothing to see, why aren’t you listening?"

I moved forward, she turned back. I moved back, she turned forward. She playfully evaded my attempts to retrieve the phone, her movements fluid and quick. When I tried to grab her hands from behind, she’d slip further away.

"Give me the phone, Vadina, please."

"Aha… I’ll give it only if you show me the photos."

"No, I’ll show you later."

"No, I and Aunt will see them now."

"To Peddamma? No, wait."

As Vadina tried to escape my room, I swiftly wrapped my arms around her waist from behind, bringing her to a halt. I tightened my embrace, trying to reach the hand that held my phone, but she kept it just out of reach. I leaned further into her back, my long arms straining to pull back her right hand.

"Hari…"

"Give it, Vadina."

"I’ll just look once. Just see who Kavya is and how she looks."

"No, Vadina, it’s not what you think. I need to delete those photos. Give it to me."

"I won’t." With that, she tried to free her hands. I tightened my grip on her soft waist, then buried my face in the crook of her neck, asking for my phone, my eyes on hers, but she remained unyielding.

In that moment, Vadina turned her face and kissed my chin. My eagerness faltered. I looked down into her eyes, her body held captive in my arms, my hands still around her waist. She smiled slyly, her gaze playful.

"Give me the phone, Vadina, please."

"I’ll just look once at the photo of the girl you like."

"Is it necessary?"

"Hey, shouldn’t I see?"

"Hmm, okay…" I rested my face on Vadina’s right shoulder. She opened the gallery, right in front of me, and looked at Kavya’s photo.

"Oh my God, Hari, she’s beautiful ra!"

I don't know what came over me, but I was intoxicated by the scent of Vadina’s hair. I kissed her neck, just below her ear.

"Is she really good?"

"Mmmmm…" That wasn’t an answer, not really. Unable to control my burgeoning desire, I pressed my lips into her delicate neck.

"Shhh… What are you doing?"

I tightened my hold on her waist, parted my lips, and bit her soft neck.

"Agh… Hey, let go!"

She freed herself from my embrace, turned, and slapped my face, her anger radiating. 

"Rascal. Are you crazy? I’ll kill you… Do you have any sense at all?" She thrust my phone back into my hand. "Take it. Ugh… I didn't think you'd be like this, so shameless. I was just being playful because you’re my maridhee. I’ll knock your teeth out." Disgusted, she stormed out of my room. It was true, I had been too hasty.

Just then, she returned, cupped my face, tilted it, and showered it with kisses. "Mwah, mwah, mwah…" As her lips brushed my face, I wrapped my hands around her waist from behind and pulled her closer. She stopped, looking into my eyes.

"Forgive me, Vadina."

The next moment, her lips found mine. In surprise, overwhelmed by desire, I fiercely squeezed her waist. She deepened the kiss, her lips moving more passionately. I leaned in, taking her lower lip into my mouth. She pulled away.

"Enough, Aunt might come."

"Just one more kiss." I whispered, and kissed Vadina’s lips again. For the first time, our salivas mingled. She pushed me back and left. 

I never expected Vadina to harbor such feelings for me. 

“Sometimes, answers don't come immediately when asked. 

It seems, situations prepare the arrival of those answers.”

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