Adultery Awaited desires - Completed

[Haran000]

10. Thanks

A strange warmth enveloped me, a lingering sensation from my sister-in-law's unexpected affection. Her kisses replayed in my mind, a sweet distraction refusing to let my thoughts settle. My brother's impending trip to Hyderabad, a vague reason I hadn't quite grasped, now held a tantalizing promise: she'd invited me to sleep beside her that night. The anticipation was almost unbearable. I simply had to wait.

Friday arrived, and with it, college. Stepping into the familiar classroom, my eyes scanned the rows until they landed on Abhi and Kavya, deep in conversation on the fourth bench to the far left. A small smile touched my lips. I was about to head to the back when Abhi's voice cut through the hum of the room.

"Hari, come sit with us! There's space here."

I hesitated. Kavya would be in the middle. Was it awkward to sit like that? Or should I suggest Abhi move? Before I could decide, Abhi urged, "Come on, sit."

Kavya, seemingly sensing my indecision, adjusted her dupatta, which lay dbangd over the bench and cascaded onto her thighs, creating an opening for me. I settled down, and she subtly shifted, moving a fraction closer.

"You're early today?" I asked, breaking the silence.

"Abhi came to my house and picked me up on his bike," Kavya replied.

"Oh..." I mumbled, a little unsure how to respond.

Abhi, perhaps sensing the barrier Kavya created between us, leaned forward, craning his neck to talk directly to me. "Why don't you get a bike too, man?"

A flicker of awkwardness crossed me as I twisted my own neck towards Kavya, but there was no escaping the conversation. I leaned my left hand on the bench, resting my head against it. "There's only one vehicle at home. My brother uses it."

"Couldn't you get another one on EMI?" Abhi pressed.

"Buying me clothes and books is already too much for them," I confessed, my voice a little low.

"Why?" Kavya interjected, her eyes curious.

Abhi quickly cut in, "I'll tell you later."

A comfortable silence descended as the sir walked in. My gaze drifted to the front of the classroom, though my mind was far from engaged. Solid State Physics. I genuinely disliked the subject, and even more, the sir who taught it. He was projecting lattice diagrams, droning on about equations. I always suspected he either lacked true understanding or simply went through the motions for his paycheck.

My eyes remained fixed on the board, but a persistent whisper in my mind urged me to look at Kavya. Slowly, surreptitiously, I glanced her way. She had her elbow propped on the bench, her eyes closed.

What? She wasn't listening. Had she not slept last night?

I leaned in, whispering softly into her ear. "Kavya..."

She flinched slightly, her eyes fluttering open.

"Listen to the class," I urged.

"Shhh..." she whispered back, a faint smile playing on her lips. "Okay."

After lunch, the three of us found ourselves in the sprawling garden, fifteen minutes of freedom stretching before our next class.

"Why were you sleeping in class?" I asked Kavya, a teasing note in my voice.

Abhi burst into laughter, and Kavya playfully hit him on the shoulder. "No, I just closed my eyes for a moment."

"Oh, really?" Abhi drawled, his eyebrows raised.

"Hey, it's true!" Kavya insisted, feigning indignation.

"Stop it now," Abhi chuckled. "You only woke up because he saw you; otherwise, you would've slept well through the whole class."

"Whatever you think, I don't care," Kavya retorted, then turned to me. "Anyway, Krishna, why didn't you come yesterday?"

"Just because," I answered vaguely.

"Hey Abhi," Kavya suddenly exclaimed, an idea sparking in her eyes. "Let's do something. Let's make a group of three. If one of us doesn't come to college, we have to message.

"Yeah, sure," Abhi agreed, then winked at me. "I won't go, and you guys shouldn't go either. Today's a bandh, I hear. He's not like us. He comes to college every day."

"Yeah, I know," Kavya said, a familiar light in her eyes. "We saw him in degree, right?"

She saw me in degree? A flicker of confusion. Did that mean was my college from degree?

"How do you know?" I asked, genuinely puzzled.

Both of them burst into laughter. Kavya, a touch of shyness coloring her cheeks, covered her mouth with her hand.

"Hey, Kavya is from our class, man," Abhi explained, still chuckling. "Didn't you see her for three years?"

Kavya, peeking from behind her hand, chimed in, "For those who sit on the first bench, only the board is visible."

Their laughter filled the air again. I felt a blush creep up my neck. Being laughed at by a girl was a new, slightly embarrassing experience, and I instinctively turned my face away.

"Did you really not see Kavya?" Abhi asked again, a hint of disbelief in his voice.

"No..." I admitted, my voice barely a whisper.

Kavya, ever quick-witted, piped up, "Krishna is a good guy. He doesn't look at girls. You're there, and it's a sin to see girls; you look at them like you're going to eat them, you pervert."

"What, are you sulking because he's not looking at you?" Abhi teased, nudging her.

"I'll punch your face," Kavya shot back, feigning anger. "You'll find some flat-nosed girl for your face. Go."

"Oh, so you think you're an angel fallen from the sky?" Abhi countered, his grin wide.

"Yes, I'm an angel!" she declared with a playful toss of her head.

"Yeah, that's why you failed one subject in degree and cleared it in instant supplementary," Abhi retorted, clearly enjoying their banter.

"Don't bring that up!" Kavya groaned, a genuine laugh escaping her.

I felt a smile tugging at my lips. On one hand, their playful bickering was highly amusing. On the other, a sense of warmth settled in my chest. They were just friends, nothing more, and it felt incredibly nice to be a part of their easy camaraderie.

"Shall we go to class?" I finally suggested.

"Hmm, okay," Kavya agreed.

"Kavya, you go; we'll come after five minutes," Abhi instructed.

She playfully punched Abhi in the stomach, a quick, light jab, and then headed off towards the building. Abhi and I stepped outside, taking a quick cigar puff. From a distance, we spotted Mahesh, that guy, stopping Kavya in the corridor. Had she been there since then, avoiding class?

"Why does this guy always bother Kavya?" I asked, a frown creasing my brow.

"She called herself an angel, right?" Abhi shrugged, a hint of mischief in his eyes. "That's how it is."

Mahesh was walking beside Kavya, talking animatedly, while she continued to walk forward, seemingly trying to ignore him. A sudden fear gripped me. What if Mahesh raised his hand, put it on Kavya's shoulder? Without thinking, I bolted.

"Hey, what happened?" Abhi called out, surprised, scrambling to follow.

I ran, closing the distance between us. Reaching Kavya, I grabbed her hand. "Come on, Kavya, time's running out!" Before Mahesh could even process what was happening, before his hand could even twitch towards her, I pulled her, held her arm firmly, and the three of us sprinted towards our classroom, leaving a bewildered Mahesh behind.

*
The silence between us was thick, a tangible thing that hummed in the air. Kavya and I sat, absorbed in our own quiet worlds, while Abhi, ever observant, caught my eye from behind Kavya. A sarcastic smile played on his lips, a silent acknowledgment of my unspoken affection. I feigned indifference, my gaze unwavering, as if his knowing smirk held no power over me. He knew. He always knew.

Later that evening, the three of us gravitated to the canteen. Or rather, Abhi and Kavya conversed, their voices a comfortable murmur, while I remained a silent observer, content to simply listen. Soon, Abhi’s bike pulled up, its engine purring. Kavya, graceful even in a simple top and leggings, settled onto the seat sideways. My eyes were fixed on her, and for a fleeting moment, her gaze met mine, then darted away, a silent acknowledgement before she looked down. I offered a wave, and she returned it, a small, shy smile gracing her lips. I watched her ride away, a pang of something unidentifiable in my chest.

The walk to the bus stand felt longer than usual. After what seemed like an eternity, a bus finally arrived. I climbed aboard, found a seat, and plugged in my earphones, the music a welcome distraction.

Then, a notification.

“Krishna, I’m Kavya. This is my number, I just asked Abhi for it. Save it.”

My heart did a strange little flip. Me, who always stumbled over words with girls, never imagined a connection could form so effortlessly. It was a pleasant surprise, a ripple in the quiet pond of my usual shyness.

Home. The familiar rituals of washing up and quenching my thirst. Just as I settled in, Sandhya, walked through the door, Vedh trailing behind her. “Babai!” he shrieked, a small, whirlwind of energy, and launched himself into my arms. I scooped him up, pressing a kiss to his soft cheek.

“Babai… Choco…?” he murmured, his eyes wide.

“Didn’t Amma buy it for you?” I asked, a smile playing on my lips.

He shook his head, a definite “Uh-huh.”

“Okay, you drink milk. We’ll buy it later,” I promised.

“Hmm… I want Bisky,” he countered, his lower lip beginning to pout.

“But just now you said Choco?” I teased, watching his adorable little face. He pouted even more dramatically, then, with an adorable display, held up two tiny fingers. “Ba… Bisky… Choco…” he announced.

“Oh, you want both… Hmm… Okay, let’s go,” I chuckled, giving in to his charm. Sandhya, meanwhile, had already changed him out of his college uniform into a soft t-shirt.

“Hari, also buy half a kilo of idli rava,” Sandhya called out. “I’ll soak the idli batter for tomorrow.”

“Oh, I’ll get it,” I replied, and with Vedh’s tiny hand tucked in mine, we set off for the grocery store. We returned home with a packet of biscuits, a chocolate for Vedh, and the idli rava.

Sandhya had already made tea, its comforting aroma filling the house. I sipped mine while Peddamma lovingly fed Vedh milk-soaked biscuits. After finishing my tea, I carried the glass to the kitchen. Sandhya stood there, transferring freshly churned curd into a bowl, the end of her saree neatly tucked into her navel. The sight of her alluring waist fold, a glimpse of skin, was an instant magnet. I couldn't resist. A quick glance around, and then, a playful pinch to the soft flesh of her waist.

“Ouch…” she cried out, a playful swat to my shoulder. “Do all this with that girl from the photo.”

I grinned mischievously, my arms encircling her from behind, pulling her close. “Move, what is this?” she protested, but her tone lacked conviction. My lips found the soft curve of her neck, and she shivered, shaking her shoulder to dislodge me.

“Vadhina, you said you wouldn’t go to the temple yesterday, why did you go on time?” I whispered, my voice thick with feigned annoyance.

“Attamma asked me two or three times to come. That’s why I went,” she explained, a hint of defensiveness in her voice.

“I thought you’d be there, vadhina,” I murmured, pressing another kiss to the hollow of her neck.

“Oh, why?” she asked, a soft gasp escaping her lips. My answer was another deep, lingering kiss.

“Sh… let go, are you crazy?” she whispered, her voice a little breathless.

“I wanted to be with you,” I confessed, my voice muffled against her skin. She turned in my embrace, her hand coming up to cup my cheek, her touch feather-light.

“Go, Hari. This isn’t right,” she urged, her eyes full of a gentle plea. I held her face in my palms, my thumbs tracing the line of her jaw.

“What’s not right, vadhina?” I pressed, my voice low.

“Not like last time, now. When no one’s home, ask for a kiss, and I’ll give it. Go, Hari,” she insisted, her gaze softening.

“Only a kiss?” I teased, and a blush crept up her neck, her eyes dropping in shy acknowledgment. I kissed her cheek, and she pulled me closer, guiding my head into her lap. I buried my face in her neck, feeling the warmth of her skin, and she kissed me just below my ear.

“Think about it a little, Hari. It’s not good now. Wait until you get a chance,” she whispered, her fingers gently tracing patterns on my hair. My arm found its way around her waist, pulling her into a tight embrace.

“Ha… No, don’t,” she murmured, her voice a soft protest.

Just then, my phone rang. The sudden jolt of the sound was enough to break the spell. I pulled away, a sudden wave of reality washing over me, and stepped outside.

Kavya… Kavya was calling. Uff…

My heart pounded, a chaotic drumbeat against my ribs. It rang three times, and I debated whether she’d hang up, thinking I wouldn’t answer. But then, before I could slide the call button, it disconnected. Damn! I had to call her back. No, no, I decided, let me pretend to be a little busy, play it cool.

Then, it rang again. If I didn’t answer this time, it would be too much. I picked up.

“Krishna…” Her voice was a soft melody. Oh my! Radha must have called Krishna so sweetly too.

“K… Kavya…” I managed, my voice a little rough.

“Do you have a Netflix subscription?”

She called for this? That’s right, these girls, they only bother you if they need something. Otherwise, they won’t even look at you.

“No, Kavya.”

“Okay, Krishna. I’ll ask my friend then,” she said, her voice completely neutral.

“Did you ask Abhi?” I blurted out, a desperate attempt to keep the conversation going.

“He doesn’t have it,” she said, then, a curt, “Bye.” She hung up.

Couldn’t she have talked for two more sentences, anything?

I called her back.

“Yes, Krishna?” Her voice was tinged with a hint of impatience.

“Do you want an account?” I asked, surprising even myself with the offer.

“You said don’t have one, do you?” she responded, a hint of amusement in her tone.

“I’ll make one.”

“Do it. And send me the ID and password.”

“Okay.”

What? She just said “do it” without any hesitation, no “why bother yourself for me?” Was she the type to take advantage? No, no… that arrogance wouldn’t suit her.

Anyway, in a hurry, I created an account and got a subscription. I didn’t know what I’d tell Anna if he asked what I did with the money he GPay’d me. I opened Kavya’s chat on WhatsApp.

“ID: Hari000
Password: Harikrishna1$”

I sent the message. It got blue-ticked at 17:23. I waited until 17:43 for a reply, thinking she might say thanks. Nothing. She wasn’t even online.

Hey, how do I appear to you? Damn, I gave it away like a dog desperate for a bone. I felt irritated. I went inside and sat in front of the TV, the images blurring meaningless before my eyes.

That night, Abhi called.

“Did you eat, man?” he asked, his voice laced with the usual friendly banter.

“Yeah, just ate and walking in front of the house,” I replied, trying to sound nonchalant.

“Do you have a Netflix account? I know you probably don’t, but I’m asking if you’ve picked up on these kinds of things yet.”

“Shut up, idiot. Kavya called this evening. When she asked for Netflix, I got her a subscription.”

He was stunned into silence for a moment. “What? She called, you subscribed. Wow, you’ve really fallen for the girl, haven’t you?”

“Hey, put that aside, she didn’t even say thanks. No reply. It’s been three hours.”

Then, his laughter erupted, loud and boisterous. “Hahahahahahaha…..”

“Stop laughing,” I growled, feeling a fresh wave of irritation.

“How are you going to manage like this? Are you just going to do whatever girls ask immediately? That’s not how it works. When they ask, make them beg a couple more times. If you’re giving them something, you should get something in return, take a little advantage.”

“I don’t know, I just did it because she asked. But this is too much. Not even saying thanks isn’t good.”

“Haha… Okay, you made the account. That’s why I called. Alright, let’s meet tomorrow.”

“Good night,” I mumbled, cutting the call.

Would anyone really not reply at all? No, I felt like she deliberately didn’t reply. Kavya doesn’t even need to say thanks to me. 

“What’s the point of ‘thanks’ in love anyway?”

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