Adultery Awaited desires - Completed

[Haran000]

13. Second husband 

I searched for Peddamma at the temple, finally spotting her in the meal line. She invited me to eat, but the thought didn't appeal, so I left. 

Back home, the aroma of moringa sambar filled the air, a dish Sandhya, had prepared. I savored the moringa pieces, no, I just slurped the sambar, enjoying every bit.

Later that afternoon, as conversations buzzed in the house, I retreated to my room, seeking solace in my phone. My mind, however, was a blank slate. I idly scrolled through Instagram, flicking through photos of various heroines. It was then a strange thought struck me: why bother with them when Sandhya's beauty was all I needed?

My thumb instinctively pressed the home button, navigating to my gallery, to the folder I'd secretly created for Sandhya's pictures. Yes, the reason for taking them was exactly what you're thinking. I leaned in, kissing a photo of her waist. Just then, the door creaked open. 

Sandhya stood there, her braid pulled forward, a shy smile playing on her lips. Made my phone instantly go dark.

She came in, settling onto the bed beside me. "Are you looking at that girl's photos?" she teased, her voice a soft murmur.

"No," I replied, feigning innocence, "just Browsing Instagram."

She leaned in, her whisper tickling my ear. "Auntie is asleep."

My heart pounded. I couldn't wait another second. I turned my head, my lips finding hers in an instant.

"Mmm," she hummed, a soft sound of acquiescence. I gripped her shoulder, gently biting her lower lip.

"Mm... Stop," she murmured, but her resistance was fleeting. My kisses trailed down her neck.

"Why stop?" I whispered, my voice hoarse. "Hmm... Isn't this why you came now?"

She pulled my face back, her hands cupping my cheeks, effectively halting my progress. 

Our eyes locked, a deep, silent conversation passing between us.

"How do you feel about me?" she asked, her gaze unwavering.

"How can you even ask, Vadina..." I began, my voice trailing off as I moved her braid aside, kissing the gentle curve of her neck. "I thought you might stop me."

"If I was going to stop you," she purred, "I wouldn't have told you, darling."

I rose, quietly closing the door, careful not to make a sound.

"Why did you close the door?" she asked, a playful glint in her eyes.

Without a word, I shed my shirt, falling onto her, pressing her back against the bed. My lips devoured hers in a passionate kiss.

"Hmm..." she sighed, melting into me.

"Wouldn't it have been better if you wore a saree?" I mused, pulling back slightly.

"Why?"

"I want to see your waist."

"Hey darling," she chuckled, "wasn't what you saw an hour ago enough?"

"I just want to keep looking. If you were in a saree, you'd drive me even crazier, Vadina."

She pulled my head to her chest. "Mmm... If you want to see, take this off and look, you closed the door, didn't you?"

"If I take this off," I countered, "I won't just want to see your waist."

She kissed my earlobe, her voice a husky whisper. "Did I say you should only look at that? Look at everything."

"Hmm... I will."

I rose, kneeling beside the bed. She pushed me gently, making me lie down. Her fingers deftly unbuttoned my pants, unzipped them, then slipped inside, pulling me out.

"Ss..." I hissed, a shiver running through me.

"You've really poked me with this, maridhee," she teased, her eyes sparkling.

"If you ask, I'll poke you again," I retorted, a smirk playing on my lips.

She lifted her nighty, revealing the absence of underpants. Her womanhood, moist and ready, beckoned to me once more. "See," she whispered, "I came for you just like this."

I moved back, then sat up, grabbing her waist and pushing her gently onto her back. I buried my face in her nighty, pressing kisses to her navel.

"Mmm... Hari," she moaned softly.

"You're making me so wet, Vadina."

"Me too getting wet, Hari."

I lifted her nighty above her waist, my hands cupping her buttocks as I lifted her, pressing my face into her navel. She made me sit on the bed, then straddled my thighs, her chest pressing against my face. I wrapped my arms around her back, holding her close.

"Hari...?" she murmured.

"Tell me, Vadina?"

"You didn't mind me stopping before, did you?"

"No, Vadina. I'll do whatever you say."

"You're my little darling."

My left hand found her right breast, gently cupping it. "So, will you give me this?"

"Hmm, take it." She moved her nighty aside, revealing her breast, which I took into my mouth like a ripe cherry.

"Umm..."

"Hh... Kiss me, why are you sucking?" she gasped. My sister-in-law had no idea how much I had yearned for this, watching her secretly as she fed Ved milk. I ignored her words, pressing my lips and sucking.

"Aba... You won't listen."

"Uh-uh... I won't listen. These are just for me."

"And for your brother?"

"No, only for me."

"Shall I tell you something?"

"Hmm... Tell me, Vadina?"

"Your brother kisses me until I get in the mood, but he doesn't stop. He just does it hastily." 

I squeezed her boob fully in my hand once, then released it.

"Mmm..."

"What about these?"

"Poor things, he doesn't pay attention to them. They've been so empty all these days." 

I gently pinched her nipple.

"So how did they get so chubby?"

"Don't you know, I just gained weight."

"Yes. You look even cuter after getting plump."

"Your brother strength has decreased, darling."

"Oh really?"

"Hmm, I don't know, it's decreased a lot lately."

I gently laid her down, pulled down my pants, and settled between her thighs. "Should I take off my nighty?" she asked sweetly.

"Yes..." I leaned forward and took it off myself. She lay before me, naked and exquisite, like a marble Greek sculpture. I also shed my pants, touching the head of my penis to her entrance.

"Ah... A little slowly, maridhee. You made it hard the first time." I leaned over, kissing her cheek.

"Sorry." She stroked my cheek, then kissed me, before reaching down with her left hand, guiding me to her.

"So, are you going to put it in... or do you need anything else?"

Her question stirred something in me. I hesitated, unsure if she would follow through or say something else, so I remained silent. She moved back and sat up.

"What happened, Vadina?" I asked, confused.

She leaned forward, applying her saliva to my meat, rubbing it with her right hand. The sight of it sent another wave of arousal through me. "Ah....."

"This little one is too big, darling. It's making it difficult, so a little bit like this would be good." I held her shoulder, lifted her up, and kissed her lips. 

"If it was that much, you should have told me. I was in my own frenzy."

"I couldn't deny your frenzy."

"No, Vadina, I'll tell..."

She kissed my lips, silencing my words. "I told you, I'm okay. I like it when you do that. Don't ask like your brother, 'Should I do it or not? Is it okay or not?' Just understand me a little, take care, and go on."

I held her waist and slowly thrust inside. "Ah... Oh my... You understood so well." As I moved halfway in and out, she held my hand and squeezed. I pulled out.

"Put it in...", she gasped.

I felt something was still missing. I leaned over, burying my lips between her labia. "Aahh... Hh..." She grabbed my head. I spat on her petals, then got up and thrust in another inch.

"Mmm..." She moved her hips to accommodate me. As I thrust my hips, pushing in and out, moving side to side, she bit her lip and trembled. It slipped completely and snugly inside.

"Aahh...." I pulled it out halfway and thrust again.

"Mmm..." Our eyes met, locking in a shared moment of intense pleasure.

I could feel Sandhya's labia rubbing against my shaft deep inside. Her eyes were closed, lips parted, and her breath came in short, quick gasps. A wave of excitement washed over me. Gently, I moved her left thigh aside with my right hand, resting it on my own. As I began a slow, deliberate thrust, she seemed to swallow me whole, a rush of fluid greeting my every movement.

"Ah..." she moaned, a soft whisper.

"Look at me, Sandhya," I urged, and our eyes met.

I continued my slow thrusts, my glands trembling with anticipation. The frenulum of my penis grazed the lower edges of her labia.

"Ahhh... yours looks restless," she breathed, her voice a mix of pleasure and something else, "but when you make love to me, it feels like heaven, Hari."

"Heaven is in your pussy, Sandhya..." I countered, and with that, I delivered a strong, deep thrust. She gripped my shoulder, pressing into me.

"Aahh..." The sound was stifled, caught in her throat.

I bent my neck, covering her mouth with mine. She bit and sucked, a fierce urgency in her movements.

"Don't do hard," she whispered against my lips, "I can't stop screaming."

"But when your husband hit, not much came out," I countered, a mischievous glint in my eye.

"You and your brother have no competition," she murmured, a hint of something unreadable in her tone.

"How?" I pushed, delivering another powerful thrust. My testicles brushed against the joining of her buttocks. She bit her lip, stifling a moan that threatened to escape.

"Abba... yours isn't going in completely," she gasped, "how can I endure it if you thrust like that?"

"Is that why you're screaming?" I asked, a faint smile playing on my lips.

"Hmm..." she conceded, a soft sound.

I found myself oddly captivated by her labored breathing, the way she struggled to contain her cries. Biting my upper lip, I pressed my knees into the bed, increasing the rhythm of my thrusts. She clenched her fists, holding onto me tightly. "Mm... Mm..." she groaned, the sounds muffled against my lips as she tried to stop me. But I didn't. I continued, thrusting fully and completely.

Her hands found my waist, pressing against my back, then she stopped, pulling me into a tight embrace. A single tear escaped her right eye. Seeing it, I paused, releasing her lip.

Breathing heavily, she began to whisper something like, "Shh... Don't..." but I covered her mouth with my hand. I knew I was causing her discomfort, but a primal desire within me craved this intensity.

With my left hand covering her mouth and my right gripping her left thigh, I continued pumping hard. I felt no resistance; her fluids seemed to invite my strength. The bedsheet, caught beneath my knees, wrinkled and moved forward with each thrust. Sandhya spread her thighs a little wider, accommodating me, and I pressed on.

Neither of us could catch our breath. I was getting winded, but she pulled me closer, leaning over me. We embraced, warm and ecstatic, and I increased the speed of my final thrusts. I removed my hand from her mouth.

"Oh fuck, oh fuck, cum already, please..mmm..." she cried into my ear, her voice thick with tolerating emotion.

"Hah... It's over," I gasped, delivering a final, hard thrust.

"Ah... one..." Thump.

"Two..." Thump.

"Three..." Thump.

"S... Sandhya..."

And then, it was over. I exhaled deeply, moving to the side. She closed her eyes, resting her hand on me, leaning into my warmth.

"The bedsheet is ruined," she murmured, a hint of amusement in her voice. I looked down; the bed was indeed wet near her buttocks.

"I don't know anything. It's because of you," I teased.

"Alright," she sighed, "I'm the one who'll wash it anyway."

I wrapped my right arm around her back, pulling her closer. She looked up at me, her eyes soft.

"Let's pick up vedh on the way back from the market," she suggested, her voice a gentle murmur.

"Okay, Sandhya," I replied, pulling her closer still. Her softness felt warm and comforting against my chest. I inhaled her scent and gently kissed her forehead.


The phone blared, shattering the stillness. I started to rise, but Vadhina's grip was firm, pulling me back down onto the bed. I lay beside her, my gaze fixed on the glowing screen. Kavya.

"Vadhina..." I whispered, a silent plea.

She nodded, a subtle agreement, and I gently placed her hand on mine before answering Kavya's call. "Hello..."

"Hello Krishna," Kavya's voice chirped.

"Kavya?"

"Why didn't you come today?" she pressed, a hint of accusation in her tone.

"Uh, I didn't. No reason." My excuse felt weak, even to my own ears.

"What do you mean, you wouldn't just not come?" Kavya's persistence grew. "You didn't come last Thursday either. Do you have some work on Thursdays?"

Vadhina's fingers brushed through my hair, a comforting rhythm, and then she leaned in, a soft kiss on my cheek.

"No, nothing like that," I replied, trying to sound casual. "Last week I had some work for Peddamma, today I just didn't feel like coming."

"Hmm..." Kavya hummed, unconvinced.

In the quiet pause, I leaned over and silently kissed Vadhina.

"Krishna, internals next month they noticed," Kavya announced, pulling me back to the conversation.

I pulled away from Vadhina's lips. "Mm.... Oh... Really?"

"Yeah... The notice just came today."

"Oh, okay."

"Krishna..." She drew out my name, a lingering sound.

"Tell me?"

"Nothing."

"What is it, Kavya?" I pressed, sensing there was more.

"Nothing."

"Okay..." I changed tack. "Is Abhi there?"

Kavya laughed, a light, airy sound.

"He's not?"

"Yeah... He likes a girl in the M.A. department, he went to see her."

"Oh really?"

Vadhina stirred, about to leave, and I subtly signaled for her to stay.

"Yeah, he didn't tell us," Kavya continued.

"One minute, Kavya," I interjected, setting the phone on the bed. I got up, wrapped my arms around Vadhina, and kissed her ear. "Are you leaving because I didn't pay attention?"

"Ch... No Hari..." she murmured, her voice soft. "I'm going to my room."

"Come, stay for a bit." I inhaled the scent of her neck, then kissed it.

Picking up the phone, I rejoined the conversation. "So, Abhi found a flat-nosed girl?"

"I haven't seen her, but he's really excited. He says she's super."

"Oh really, if she's so super, why would he get her, I'll try for her." I teased, a smirk playing on my lips.

"Shameless," Kavya scoffed, but there was a hint of amusement in her voice. "Poor him, he found one girl, how can you try for her?"

"So you mean she'll fall for me?" I pressed, curious.

"Is there anyone who wouldn't fall for you?" she countered.

Her words hung in the air. Had she fallen now? Or was she simply complimenting my looks? The arrogance of beauty, I mused, made me doubt her true meaning.

"Meaning...?" I prompted.

"It means you look good, right?"

"Hmm...."

"Hmm... what?" she challenged. "I'm telling you as a friend. Don't think anything else."

"I didn't say anything just now."

"Okay, I'm hanging up."

"Okay, see you tomorrow." I ended the call, then turned to Vadhina, pulling her towards me. With a playful shove, I sent her tumbling onto the bed, then climbed on top of her, settling in.


=

The following morning, as I stirred from sleep, my first question to my brother was about his trip to Hyderabad. It turned out Uncle Mohan, the man we’d met at the wedding, planned to buy a building for his daughter’s fiance – a precautionary measure for his daughter’s future, he’d explained. My brother’s presence was requested for advice and assistance.

I was just about to step out when the skies unexpectedly opened. Thinking it would pass quickly, I settled down to wait. About half an hour later, the downpour subsided, leaving behind only a few lingering drizzles as I finally ventured out.

The bus journey was uneventful until we reached town. To my surprise, the streets were completely dry; not a drop of rain had fallen there. It seemed the rain had confined itself solely to my village.

By the time I arrived at college, half of the first Solid State period was already over. I hurried to class, slipping in quietly. The professor didn’t utter a word, and I took my usual seat beside Kavya. Ten minutes later, the bell rang.

“Why were you late today, man?” Abhi asked, breaking the silence.

“It rained where I live,” I replied. “It’s dry here.”

“There were drizzles here in the morning,” Abhi conceded, “but it didn’t really rain.”

Kavya, for her part, remained silent. We didn’t talk much after that, the class time passing in quietude.

During lunch, Kavya ate with the other girls. After Abhi and I finished our meal, while we were chatting, I suddenly remembered Kavya mentioning a girl yesterday. I turned to Abhi.

“Who’s that girl from M.A.,?” I asked.

“Oh, her…” Abhi began, his eyes lighting up. “Last week, I was on my bike, coming to our university, and she was in auto. I saw her.”

“Is she good? Have you started hitting on her?”

“Yeah… She’ll come near the canteen today too.”

“Come on, let’s go there.”

As we started to get up, Kavya approached us.

“Where to?” she inquired.

“Just to see that M.A. girl,” I answered.

“Okay, I’ll come too.”

“Why you?” I asked, a hint of surprise in my voice.

“Come on, you too,” Abhi interjected.

So, the three of us headed to the canteen.

Stopping in front of the canteen, Abhi leaned in and shared the details of his crush. “Her name is Meenakshi,” he whispered, “she’s doing M.A. English. She comes by bus from Jagityal village.”

“Did you talk to her?” I pressed.

“Yeah…”

Even Kavya seemed unaware of this. “When, dude?” she asked, her curiosity piqued.

Abhi grinned, a happy smile spreading across his face. “Yesterday, I followed her bus on my bike and eyed her near the Jagityal bus stop.”

“Oh, then?” Kavya urged.

“She came and talked,” Abhi recounted, a flush of pride on his cheeks. “She said, ‘You’ve been watching for a week. You don’t have the courage to talk. If you’re like this, I won’t fall for you.’”

I hadn’t expected that. “Is that true, or are you just telling us stories?”

“It’s true, man. She said that. I didn’t know what to say, I mean, how should I talk like that for the first time? She said, ‘Don’t you know I’ve been watching you all these days?’”

“Oh, what else did she say?”

“She said she’s not interested,.” Abhi’s triumphant grin faltered slightly.

“If she said she’s not interested, why did you bring me here today?” I challenged.

“I mean, dude, some girls fall in a week, some in a month…”

“Oh, stop it,” I interrupted, rolling my eyes. “I know that dialogue. Does a caterpillar stop if the leaf has thorns? It has to chew the leaf, right?”

He looked at me strangely.

“Single meaning, not double meaning,” I clarified.

Kavya turned her face away, perhaps annoyed by my antics. 

Abhi, however, quickly turned his head, his pupils dilating as he looked in the distance. 

Kavya and I followed his gaze.

A girl was approaching, clad in a green Punjabi dress and carrying a side bag. She was taller than Kavya, with a dusky complexion. My gaze, almost involuntarily, fell upon her bust. She was tall, and her heels only added to her height. As she walked, my eyes remained fixed on her bust, while Kavya, I noticed, was watching me.

“She’s good, right?” Abhi whispered, pulling me out of my trance.

“She’s not super, she’s a bumper figure, man,” I exclaimed.

Kavya pinched my hand. “What?” I asked, rubbing my arm.

“He just asked you to look. He didn’t ask you to look of yourself.”

“I’m looking?”

“Look at her face.”

With a mischievous wink, I replied, “I’m looking at her face, what did you think?”

“Don’t lie. Ugh…” Kavya groaned, clearly exasperated.

Abhi, meanwhile, seemed lost in some dream world, oblivious to our banter.

“What ‘ugh’?” I pressed.

“Hey, go… Abhi, go talk.”

“What should I talk about?” Abhi asked, startled from his reverie.

“Just ask something. Phone number, Insta ID. Ask.”

Abhi, with a hesitant nod, started towards Meenakshi.

As soon as he was out of earshot, Kavya took my hand and turned me towards her. In her eyes, there was a flash of anger, no, jealousy. Is it?

“What did I tell you on the phone?” she demanded.

“Yeah, you said I shouldn’t try.”

“Then why are you looking at her like you want to devour her?”

Bending down slightly, I confessed, “It’s true, Kavya. I feel like devouring her, if she’s like that in a churidar, then even more…”

Kavya covered her mouth in feigned shyness. “Stop it, pervert.”

“Hey…” I continued, pressing my advantage. “I’m saying how good she’d look in a saree.”

“Don’t change the subject. You’re a dark humour guy. Just a topper by name.”

“Hey, I didn’t say anything. I’m saying her figure is good. You’re thinking all sorts of things.”

She lowered her head, a blush creeping up her neck. “I didn’t think anything either. You just gave me a gap.”

“I didn’t give a gap, you interrupted.”

“Hey, stop. You don’t know how to talk to girls, but you look at them as if you’re ra-p-ing them with your eyes.”

“So now you’re feeling bad that I’m not looking at you?” I teased, enjoying her discomfort.

“What’s it to me if you look or not. I’m not jealous.”

“I didn’t say ‘jealous’ just now,” I pointed out.

“Anyway, I came with you guys just to watch you hitting on girls,” she huffed, crossing her arms.

Just then, Abhi returned, a dejected look on his face. “What happened?” I asked.

“I mean, I went there. But I’m scared to talk.”

“Come on, let’s go to class,” I said, sighing.

“Give me some idea, man?” Abhi pleaded.

Kavya, with a mischievous smirk, interjected, “He doesn’t have that much of a bravo, anyway.” She mocked me, and I shot her an angry glance. She simply turned away, laughing softly.

As we stood there, chatting, Manjusha, a short girl from our class, approached us. I watched her, observing how she looked at me, coming shyly. Abhi, noticing her, subtly moved aside. Kavya remained silent.

Manjusha stopped in front of me, nervously fidgeting with her fingers. “Krishna…” she began, her voice barely a whisper.

A sudden thought crossed my mind: Something’s off here. My voice wouldn’t come out. A girl coming and fidgeting in front of me, wanting to ask something? What in the mind this girl got?

“Hmm…” I managed.

“Can I talk?” she asked.

“Sorry… Why?”

“Well… I mean… you’re handsome.”

I was speechless. I looked at Kavya, who, with a knowing smile, grabbed my ear and turned me back towards Manjusha.

“I’m interested in you…” Manjusha confessed, her voice a little stronger this time.

To be honest, I disliked the idea of entertaining a girl’s interest just to pass the time and then reject her. I liked Kavya, and it wouldn’t be right to give Manjusha false hope.

“Manjusha,” I said, my voice firm but gentle, “I’m not interested.”

She looked at me in shock. “Let’s meet and talk in the evening, if you don’t mind.”

“No,” I replied, without hesitation. “You’re short, I don’t like you.”

Kavya let out a burst of laughter.

Manjusha glared at me, and then at Kavya with the same intensity, before turning and walking away.

“You said it right to her face,” Kavya commented, still chuckling. “You’re arrogant, aren’t you, because you’re tall?”

I couldn’t resist teasing her. “Anyway, why are you laughing, you’re short too.”

She instantly bristled. “Who’s short, huh? They call someone short if they’re really short like her. I’m not that short.”

“You’re shorter than me, aren’t you?”, pressed onto face.

“Pffft….” She wrinkled her nose in disgust. “I’m going to class….”

We followed Kavya, a comfortable silence falling between us as we walked.


-


 -


The last words between us had faded, leaving an unspoken silence in their wake. Later that evening, after Abhi’s farewell and departure, Kavya and I walked towards the bus stop. She remained quiet, her anger, I presumed, a lingering echo of my careless remark about her height.

As we continued, a light drizzle began, a gentle patter that quickly escalated into a full-fledged downpour. With no shelters in sight and the trees offering little refuge, we broke into a run, the rain quickly drenching us. We finally reached the bus stop’s meager shed, a haven already crowded with others seeking escape from the sudden deluge. A throng of people, men and women alike, pressed in around us.

We were already half-soaked. To Kavya’s right, two middle-aged men edged closer, making her visibly uncomfortable. A flicker of worry crossed her face, a concern about unwanted contact, amplified by her wet dress clinging to her. Unable to bear her discomfort, her head bowed in embarrassment, I instinctively reached my right arm around her back, resting my hand on her shoulder, a silent barrier against the encroaching embarrassment.

She looked up, her gaze meeting mine. I felt a blush creep up my neck and shyly turned my face away. She, in turn, lowered her eyes, a flush of embarrassment coloring her cheeks. 

As one of the men moved even closer, I gently pulled her nearer to me. She nestled her left shoulder against my chest, a tentative, almost childlike hug, careful to maintain a modest distance. She felt warm and trembled slightly, like a frightened chick—perhaps from the cold.

I silently observed her face. Slowly, she lifted her eyelids, her eyes meeting mine once more. 

Noticing an old man’s elbow brushing her waist, cause of crowd settling in, from the front, I subtly moved my hand down to block it and, in a fluid motion, drew her into my lap placing my fingers on her wet dress.

Surprise bloomed in her eyes, and her cheeks turned a vivid red, as though kumkum had been delicately applied instead of sandalwood paste.

My gaze settled on her pupils, brimming with a loving intensity. She met my stare, a shy smile gracing her lips, her body still trembling from the chill. My eyes drifted past hers, past the damp strands of hair clinging to her nose, finally resting on her strawberry lips. A subtle stirring within me, a recognition of their allure, pulled my gaze further down, past the V-neck of her blue top, until a sudden little slap from.

I turned my face towards the road. My fingers instinctively curled on her wet top at her waist, a light, possessive hold. Her palm pressed against my chest, her fingers crumpling my shirt in her fist. The cold wind, the rhythmic music of the rain, the distant chatter of the crowd—all faded into the background, replaced by the intoxicating, magical fragrance of her hair that enveloped me.

"It would've been good if I'd asked Abhi to drop me on his bike," Kavya mused, breaking the spell.

"Hmm…" I responded, lost in the moment.

"I have to go by auto today too. It's hard to get off at my stop in the middle if I take the bus and walk."

"It’ll stop soon," I murmured, "Just for a bit."

It was then I realized I had never asked for her home address. "Where's your house?" I asked, a sudden curiosity.

She looked at me suspiciously.

"Which direction?" I clarified, "One day you come by auto, another day you get off at this bus stop and walk?"

"Mine is Ashok Nagar, next to *** Kalyana Mandapam," she replied.

A pleasant surprise washed over me. "The bus I take has a stop there."

"Yeah, I know," she admitted.

"Then why didn't you tell me all these days? We could have come together, right?"

"The bus is usually full by the time it comes from your town this way, right?" she reasoned.

"True," I conceded. My hair, still damp, was now drying, and a bead of water trickled from my chin onto Kavya’s nose. I looked into her eyes, and with my left hand, I gently wiped it away. Her cheek felt incredibly warm against my fingers. I longed to keep my hand there, but a sense of impropriety held me back.

Just then, the bus for my town arrived. "Let's go... you get off at your stop," I suggested.

The bus seemed packed, with no empty seats in sight. "Don't you think another one will come?" she asked, a hint of hesitation in her voice. She could have easily opted for an auto, yet she questioned the bus’s capacity.

"It's better to get home somehow than to stay in the rain, Kavya. I won't leave you alone in the rain either."

"Okay..." she agreed.

We both boarded the bus, standing in the middle aisle. Four more people squeezed in behind us. Kavya faced forward, in the direction the bus was moving, while I stood facing her. At the next stop, more passengers boarded, and the bus became completely jammed.

I had no choice but to step forward, pressing almost against Kavya. Both of us, slightly uncomfortable, clung tightly to the overhead rods.

When the conductor approached, I bought a ticket for my town, and Kavya purchased a local ticket. Afterwards, I bent my neck, bringing my face closer to Kavya’s, as my head was now brushing the rod above. Her lily-like eyes intertwined their gaze with my pupils. How utterly adorable she was. 

“Her eyes, like starlight illuminating lamps in heaven. 
Her shyness, like childlike laughter blushing with happiness. 
Her nose, like the beauty of flowers rejoicing at the sun’s arrival. 
Her lips, like ripe cherry pieces yearning for a taste. 
Her cheeks, like hibiscus flowers capturing the winter’s dampness.”

Kavya’s face brought poetry back to me, the very same poetry that had first emerged for… her. Remember?

Lost in these reveries, gazing at Kavya, she suddenly stirred, telling me her stop had arrived and asking me to move aside. I leaned in, whispering "Be careful... Bye" in her ear, happily savoring the lingering fragrance of her hair one last time.

———(

The rain had subsided by the time I got off the bus in my village. I slowly made my way home, carefully navigating around the muddy puddles on the road.

My brother must have gone to Hyderabad.

As soon as I stepped through the doorway, Vedh came running and hugged me. I picked him up and chatted with him for a while. Soon after, my sister-in-law came with tea, and I sat down to drink it.

Since my brother wasn't there, I was the one who helped vedh practice writing letters, showed him rhymes on the phone, and played with a ball in front of the house until he was tired and wouldn't let go of me.

Two hours with Vedh passed very easily for me.

Being with small children can be a bit tiresome for the first half hour, but then, with their improper words and incomprehensible phrases, when they try to tell you something sweetly, showing you this and that, and giggling, it feels so wonderful! No matter how irritating the whole day has been, seeing their laughter makes it all disappear. 

Oh, and I should mention something else: if they suddenly don't like something we've done, their crying can move mountains, and we'll get an earful from their mother. Be careful with children, be careful around children.

To avoid boring you and to make you laugh, I suppose I have to tell you things like this, right?

Anyway, even if it seems unnecessary, I'll tell you something about my Vedanth's philosophy.

{My sister-in-law stopped putting diapers on Vedh once he started speaking a little, in his cute, broken words. Only occasionally, if we were traveling to a relative's house, a function, or for a journey. Before the lockdown, there was a baby shower for my neighbor Rajesh Anna's son, and we were getting ready.

My sister-in-law first dressed him, added diaper too, put a black dot for protection, smeared white powder on his face, and made him sit. But would he stay in one place? He was happily walking all over the hall, full of the joy of learning to walk.

I had just combed my hair and was coming out of my room when he stood still like a statue, clutching his pants with his hands down, looking around.

I wondered why he suddenly stopped like that.

"Mmm... Mommy... Toi... Toi..." he was saying.

My sister-in-law's voice came from the room.

Sandhya: Hari, take him to pee.

Me: Yes, I'm going.

I went closer and put my hands under his armpits to lift him, but he shook his head, refusing to come into my arms.

"Toi... Toi..." he said, looking around, crumpling his pants, and looking at me.

Did you understand what happened?

I'll count to ten, guess what happened.

Ten
Nine
Eight
Seven
Six
Five
Four
Three
Two
One

I know you jumped to this line from eight, didn't you?

What actually happened was, he peed in pants.

If he peed, his pants should have gotten wet, but they didn't. So his surprise was, "Where did the pee go?" That's why he was standing there bewildered like a statue, shouting "Toi... Toi..."

His mother had put on a diaper, and he didn't know it, so he was a little scared that the pee didn't come out.

When I understood this, I couldn't stop laughing. I just stood there, laughing and looking at him.

My sister-in-law came.

Sandhya: Why are you laughing when he's saying "toi toi"?

Me: It's not that, Vadina, he peed, and he's asking why it didn't come out.... hahaha...

My sister-in-law also laughed at first, then stopped. She took Vedh close.

Sandhya: Shhh... my sweetie, "toi"? Go, you donkey, you're laughing. Crazy babai.

After his mother came, he became normal. }


After playing with Vedh, I took him inside, gave him water, and sat him on my lap in front of the TV. peddamma was watching some old Sobhan Babu movie. Sandhya came with a plate of soft rice mixed and sat on right, lovingly feeding Vedh.

She had tucked the end of her sari into her waist and tied her braid loosely.

As she was feeding Vedh, and since she was right next to me, I put my right hand past Vedh and placed it on her back.

She gave me a mischievous look with her eyes, telling me not to. I also had the fear that Peddamma was right there.

I leaned my arm on the sofa as if resting it there, and with my fingertips, I gently stroked her smooth back and softly massaged her neck.

She pinched me to stop. I smiled and removed my hand.

Sandhya: Aunt, he's not here, why don't you sleep in our room?

She asked my aunt that and then looked at me with a sarcastic smile. I shook my head, saying no.

Rajamani: No, it's okay... no.

Phew.

Sandhya: Hari, why don't you play with Kanna and sleep next to him.

Ugh... The offer came.

Vedh: babai... next to me... he said, laughing.

Me: Yes, I'll play next to you, we'll play.

..