15-09-2025, 06:39 PM
(This post was last modified: 15-09-2025, 06:43 PM by matiba2025213. Edited 2 times in total. Edited 2 times in total.)
Chapter 34: The return (Act 1)
Lina woke up to the sound of the front door closing, signaling Rahim’s departure for the shop. She lay in bed for a moment, the weight of her guilt pressing down on her chest like a stone. Her body ached from the previous day’s activities, a dull reminder of the choices she had made. She sighed deeply, running a hand over her face as if she could scrub away the memories.
After forcing herself out of bed, Lina padded to the kitchen and poured herself a cup of coffee. The warmth of the mug in her hands grounded her, the bitter taste sharpening her senses. She sat at the table, her mind racing. The bruises on her body were faint but undeniable, and she winced as she traced one with her fingers.
She couldn’t keep living like this, caught between duty and desire.
She reached for her phone and began searching for answers. How does a pregnant woman manage her libido? How do you resist temptation when it feels like it’s everywhere? The questions felt desperate, but she didn’t care. She needed a solution, something to help her stay faithful to Rahim.
The screen lit up with articles and forums filled with advice, most of it contradictory. Some suggested meditation, others recommended focusing on hobbies or spending more quality time with her husband. One particularly bold post suggested channeling sexual energy into other activities, like exercise or creative outlets. Lina bit her lip, unsure which path to take.
As she scrolled, her phone buzzed with a notification. It was Rahim. “Shop’s busy today. Will be home late. Love you.” She stared at the message for a moment before typing a simple reply. “Okay. Be safe.”
The idea of Rahim working so hard while she struggled with her own demons made her feel even worse. She stood up, determined to do something productive. Cleaning usually helped clear her mind, so she grabbed a dust cloth and began wiping down the surfaces in the living room. But as she worked, her thoughts kept drifting back to Ravi and Kumar. Their sly glances, their knowing smiles. And then there was Rizal, naive, persistent, and impossible to resist.
She shook her head, trying to focus on the task at hand. But the more she cleaned, the more her body seemed to ache for something she couldn’t quite name. Her breasts felt heavy, her skin tingling with an awareness she couldn’t ignore. She paused, leaning against the counter as she tried to steady herself.
The doorbell rang, startling her out of her thoughts. She hesitated, glancing down at her loose-fitting t-shirt and leggings. Who could that be? She wasn’t expecting anyone.
She opened the door to find Ravi standing there, a casual smile on his face. “Hey, Lina. Rahim said he left something here for me. Mind if I grab it?”
Lina’s heart skipped a beat. “Uh, sure. What is it?”
“Just some paperwork for the shop. He mentioned it was on the kitchen table.”
She nodded, stepping aside to let him in.
As he walked past her, she caught a whiff of his cologne, musky and masculine. His broad shoulders filled the doorway, and she couldn’t help but notice how his shirt clung to his frame.
He made his way to the kitchen, picking up the documents with ease. “Thanks,” he said, turning to face her. His eyes lingered on her for a moment longer than necessary, and Lina felt a flush rise to her cheeks.
“No problem,” she replied, crossing her arms over her chest in a subconscious attempt to shield herself.
Ravi tilted his head, his gaze dropping slightly. “You look… tired. Everything okay?”
Lina forced a smile. “Yeah, just been a long week.”
He stepped closer, his voice softening. “You know, if you ever need someone to talk to, I’m here.”
The sincerity in his voice caught her off guard. For a moment, she considered opening up to him and telling him everything. But then she remembered the last time she had leaned on him, and how quickly things had escalated.
“I’m fine,” she said firmly, though her voice wavered slightly.
Ravi nodded, but he didn’t move away. Instead, he reached out, brushing a strand of hair from her face. The gesture was so intimate that Lina froze, her breath catching in her throat.
“You’re strong,” he murmured. “But you don’t have to be all the time.”
Her heart pounded as she stared up at him, her mind racing. Before she could respond, he stepped back, holding up the paperwork with a smile.
“Take care of yourself, Lina.”
And then he was gone, leaving her standing in the kitchen with a whirlwind of emotions swirling inside her.
She sank into a chair, her hands trembling. What just happened? One moment, she had been trying to focus on staying faithful, and the next, Ravi had been so close she could feel the heat of his body.
She grabbed her phone again, desperate for distraction. This time, she decided to call a friend, someone who might understand what she was going through.
Shazia answered on the third ring. “Lina! How are you?”
“Hey, Shazia,” Lina replied, trying to keep her voice steady. “I… I need your advice.”
“Of course. What’s going on?”
Lina hesitated before diving in. “It’s just… I’ve been feeling so overwhelmed lately. My sex drive is through the roof, and I don’t know how to handle it. I love Rahim, but…”
Shazia chuckled softly. “Ah, pregnancy hormones will do that to you. Trust me, I’ve been there.”
“But it’s not just that,” Lina admitted. “I’ve… I’ve made some mistakes.”
There was a pause on the other end of the line. “Mistakes?”
Lina squeezed her eyes shut. “I’ve been tempted. More than once.” She didn’t want to reveal the truth completely.
The silence stretched on for what felt like an eternity before Shazia finally spoke. “Lina, that’s… complicated.”
“I know,” Lina whispered. “I hate myself for it. I just don’t know how to stop.”
Shazia sighed. “Look, first of all, you need to forgive yourself. Beating yourself up won’t solve anything. Second, you need to figure out what’s driving these actions. Is it just physical? Or is there something missing in your relationship with Rahim?”
Lina thought about it for a moment. “I don’t know. Maybe both.”
“Then you need to address that,” Shazia said gently. “Talk to Rahim, not about the temptations, but about what you need from him emotionally and physically. And maybe consider counseling.”
Lina nodded, even though Shazia couldn’t see her. “You’re right. I just… I’m scared.”
“Fear is normal,” Shazia replied. “But you can’t let it control you.”
They talked for a while longer, Shazia offering encouragement and practical advice. By the time they hung up, Lina felt a little more grounded. She still had a long way to go, but at least now she had a plan. She stood up and glanced at the clock. Rahim wouldn’t be home for hours yet.
Maybe she could surprise him by preparing dinner, something special to show him how much she cared.
As she busied herself in the kitchen, chopping vegetables and marinating chicken, she thought about what Shazia had said. Forgive yourself. It sounded simple, but it felt impossible.
Her phone buzzed again, and she glanced at the screen. It was Kumar this time. “Hey, Lina. Just wanted to check in. See.. how you’re doing.”
She stared at the message, her heart pounding again. Why did they always seem to appear just when she was trying to move forward?
She typed out a quick response. “I’m fine. Thanks.” Before she could second-guess herself, she hit send and turned back to her cooking.
But as she stirred the pot on the stove, she couldn’t shake the feeling that no matter how hard she tried to resist, temptation would always find a way to sneak back in.
The door creaked open just as Lina was setting the table. She looked up to see Rahim stepping inside, his shirt loosened around his waist and a tired smile on his face.
“Something smells amazing,” he said, walking over to kiss her cheek.
“I thought you could use a proper meal after a long day,” Lina replied, forcing a smile of her own.
Rahim wrapped his arms around her from behind, resting his chin on her shoulder as he looked at the spread on the table. “You’re incredible, you know that?”
Lina leaned into his embrace, savoring the warmth of his body against hers. For a moment, everything else faded away...the guilt, the fear, the temptation.
“I love you,” she whispered.
Rahim turned her around to face him, his hands cupping her cheeks. “I love you too.”
He kissed her a slow, tender kiss that made her heart ache with longing. For the first time in weeks, she felt truly connected to him.
But as they pulled apart, Lina couldn’t help but wonder how long it would last before the walls came crashing down again
Lina woke up to the sound of the front door closing, signaling Rahim’s departure for the shop. She lay in bed for a moment, the weight of her guilt pressing down on her chest like a stone. Her body ached from the previous day’s activities, a dull reminder of the choices she had made. She sighed deeply, running a hand over her face as if she could scrub away the memories.
After forcing herself out of bed, Lina padded to the kitchen and poured herself a cup of coffee. The warmth of the mug in her hands grounded her, the bitter taste sharpening her senses. She sat at the table, her mind racing. The bruises on her body were faint but undeniable, and she winced as she traced one with her fingers.
She couldn’t keep living like this, caught between duty and desire.
She reached for her phone and began searching for answers. How does a pregnant woman manage her libido? How do you resist temptation when it feels like it’s everywhere? The questions felt desperate, but she didn’t care. She needed a solution, something to help her stay faithful to Rahim.
The screen lit up with articles and forums filled with advice, most of it contradictory. Some suggested meditation, others recommended focusing on hobbies or spending more quality time with her husband. One particularly bold post suggested channeling sexual energy into other activities, like exercise or creative outlets. Lina bit her lip, unsure which path to take.
As she scrolled, her phone buzzed with a notification. It was Rahim. “Shop’s busy today. Will be home late. Love you.” She stared at the message for a moment before typing a simple reply. “Okay. Be safe.”
The idea of Rahim working so hard while she struggled with her own demons made her feel even worse. She stood up, determined to do something productive. Cleaning usually helped clear her mind, so she grabbed a dust cloth and began wiping down the surfaces in the living room. But as she worked, her thoughts kept drifting back to Ravi and Kumar. Their sly glances, their knowing smiles. And then there was Rizal, naive, persistent, and impossible to resist.
She shook her head, trying to focus on the task at hand. But the more she cleaned, the more her body seemed to ache for something she couldn’t quite name. Her breasts felt heavy, her skin tingling with an awareness she couldn’t ignore. She paused, leaning against the counter as she tried to steady herself.
The doorbell rang, startling her out of her thoughts. She hesitated, glancing down at her loose-fitting t-shirt and leggings. Who could that be? She wasn’t expecting anyone.
She opened the door to find Ravi standing there, a casual smile on his face. “Hey, Lina. Rahim said he left something here for me. Mind if I grab it?”
Lina’s heart skipped a beat. “Uh, sure. What is it?”
“Just some paperwork for the shop. He mentioned it was on the kitchen table.”
She nodded, stepping aside to let him in.
As he walked past her, she caught a whiff of his cologne, musky and masculine. His broad shoulders filled the doorway, and she couldn’t help but notice how his shirt clung to his frame.
He made his way to the kitchen, picking up the documents with ease. “Thanks,” he said, turning to face her. His eyes lingered on her for a moment longer than necessary, and Lina felt a flush rise to her cheeks.
“No problem,” she replied, crossing her arms over her chest in a subconscious attempt to shield herself.
Ravi tilted his head, his gaze dropping slightly. “You look… tired. Everything okay?”
Lina forced a smile. “Yeah, just been a long week.”
He stepped closer, his voice softening. “You know, if you ever need someone to talk to, I’m here.”
The sincerity in his voice caught her off guard. For a moment, she considered opening up to him and telling him everything. But then she remembered the last time she had leaned on him, and how quickly things had escalated.
“I’m fine,” she said firmly, though her voice wavered slightly.
Ravi nodded, but he didn’t move away. Instead, he reached out, brushing a strand of hair from her face. The gesture was so intimate that Lina froze, her breath catching in her throat.
“You’re strong,” he murmured. “But you don’t have to be all the time.”
Her heart pounded as she stared up at him, her mind racing. Before she could respond, he stepped back, holding up the paperwork with a smile.
“Take care of yourself, Lina.”
And then he was gone, leaving her standing in the kitchen with a whirlwind of emotions swirling inside her.
She sank into a chair, her hands trembling. What just happened? One moment, she had been trying to focus on staying faithful, and the next, Ravi had been so close she could feel the heat of his body.
She grabbed her phone again, desperate for distraction. This time, she decided to call a friend, someone who might understand what she was going through.
Shazia answered on the third ring. “Lina! How are you?”
“Hey, Shazia,” Lina replied, trying to keep her voice steady. “I… I need your advice.”
“Of course. What’s going on?”
Lina hesitated before diving in. “It’s just… I’ve been feeling so overwhelmed lately. My sex drive is through the roof, and I don’t know how to handle it. I love Rahim, but…”
Shazia chuckled softly. “Ah, pregnancy hormones will do that to you. Trust me, I’ve been there.”
“But it’s not just that,” Lina admitted. “I’ve… I’ve made some mistakes.”
There was a pause on the other end of the line. “Mistakes?”
Lina squeezed her eyes shut. “I’ve been tempted. More than once.” She didn’t want to reveal the truth completely.
The silence stretched on for what felt like an eternity before Shazia finally spoke. “Lina, that’s… complicated.”
“I know,” Lina whispered. “I hate myself for it. I just don’t know how to stop.”
Shazia sighed. “Look, first of all, you need to forgive yourself. Beating yourself up won’t solve anything. Second, you need to figure out what’s driving these actions. Is it just physical? Or is there something missing in your relationship with Rahim?”
Lina thought about it for a moment. “I don’t know. Maybe both.”
“Then you need to address that,” Shazia said gently. “Talk to Rahim, not about the temptations, but about what you need from him emotionally and physically. And maybe consider counseling.”
Lina nodded, even though Shazia couldn’t see her. “You’re right. I just… I’m scared.”
“Fear is normal,” Shazia replied. “But you can’t let it control you.”
They talked for a while longer, Shazia offering encouragement and practical advice. By the time they hung up, Lina felt a little more grounded. She still had a long way to go, but at least now she had a plan. She stood up and glanced at the clock. Rahim wouldn’t be home for hours yet.
Maybe she could surprise him by preparing dinner, something special to show him how much she cared.
As she busied herself in the kitchen, chopping vegetables and marinating chicken, she thought about what Shazia had said. Forgive yourself. It sounded simple, but it felt impossible.
Her phone buzzed again, and she glanced at the screen. It was Kumar this time. “Hey, Lina. Just wanted to check in. See.. how you’re doing.”
She stared at the message, her heart pounding again. Why did they always seem to appear just when she was trying to move forward?
She typed out a quick response. “I’m fine. Thanks.” Before she could second-guess herself, she hit send and turned back to her cooking.
But as she stirred the pot on the stove, she couldn’t shake the feeling that no matter how hard she tried to resist, temptation would always find a way to sneak back in.
The door creaked open just as Lina was setting the table. She looked up to see Rahim stepping inside, his shirt loosened around his waist and a tired smile on his face.
“Something smells amazing,” he said, walking over to kiss her cheek.
“I thought you could use a proper meal after a long day,” Lina replied, forcing a smile of her own.
Rahim wrapped his arms around her from behind, resting his chin on her shoulder as he looked at the spread on the table. “You’re incredible, you know that?”
Lina leaned into his embrace, savoring the warmth of his body against hers. For a moment, everything else faded away...the guilt, the fear, the temptation.
“I love you,” she whispered.
Rahim turned her around to face him, his hands cupping her cheeks. “I love you too.”
He kissed her a slow, tender kiss that made her heart ache with longing. For the first time in weeks, she felt truly connected to him.
But as they pulled apart, Lina couldn’t help but wonder how long it would last before the walls came crashing down again
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