Adultery Between Nabila and Ranjeet

[naj0501]

The last slice of pizza was gone. The comfortable mess of our meal,soiled wet tissues and empty boxes lay on the floor. Adnan, energized by the food, bounced on his knees.


"Mummy, can we watch a movie now?" he asked, his eyes wide and hopeful, already looking towards the big screen. "On the big, big TV?"

"Good idea, champ," Ranjeet said, smiling from his spot on the floor.

"Of course, baba," I said.

I picked up the remote.After a few clicks, the bright, cheerful music of an animated movie filled the living room.

I sank into the plush cushions of the new sofa. It felt like a deep, welcoming sigh. Adnan immediately scrambled up next to me. He grabbed a throw pillow and curled up, his small body fitting perfectly against my side. He rested his head on my shoulder.
Ranjeet cleaned the mess of the empty pizza boxes and the stuff and went to the balcony to smoke the cigarette.Through the large glass door, I could see him. He was standing on the spacious balcony. He was leaning with one hip against the railing. He was looking out at the grey, cloudy sky.

He brought a cigarette to his lips. I saw the small, bright orange flare of the lighter. He took a long, slow drag. A thin plume of white smoke left his lips. The cool breeze immediately snatched it and carried it away.

He reached into his pocket. He pulled out his mobile phone. He held the cigarette in one hand and the phone in the other. His thumb moved in a slow, easy scroll down the screen. His expression was neutral. He was relaxed. He was just a man having a quiet moment to himself.

I felt the comforting weight of Adnan's head on my shoulder. He would giggle at the funny parts. About a few minutes through the movie, Adnan’s breathing grew deep and even. He was fast asleep. I looked down at his peaceful face. I leaned my own head back, the exhaustion of the day finally catching up to me. I felt completely, utterly safe.

The peaceful silence was broken by the ringtone of my phone. I fumbled for it, quickly silencing the ring before it could wake Adnan. The screen glowed with a single word: Ammi.

My breath caught. I glanced towards the balcony, where the cherry-red tip of Ranjeet’s cigarette glowing on a cloudy day, then down at my sleeping son. Taking a steadying breath, I answered, keeping my voice to a low whisper.

"AssalamuAlaykum, Ammi."

"Nabila! I was just calling to check in. How are you? How is my little Adnan?" Her voice was a familiar, comforting sound from a world away in Delhi.

"We're fine. Everything is fine. Adnan is just sleeping." I stroked his hair, the truth of that small statement a comfortable anchor.

"Good, good. So, what are you two up to on a lazy Sunday? Did you go to the park?" she asked, her tone casual, full of the simple, expected rhythms of our life.

And there it was. The chasm between the life my mother knew and the one I was sitting in at this very moment felt miles wide. I couldn't possibly tell her that I was in a breathtakingly lavish apartment I hadn't even known existed this morning, that my son was asleep in a strange new place, that the man who had turned my world upside down was just feet away on a balcony smoking a cigarette. The practical, sensible woman who raised me would be overwhelmed with a thousand questions I had no answers for yet.

So, a lie, small and smooth, slipped out before I could stop it.

"No, just a quiet day at home," I whispered, the words tasting like foreign script in my mouth. "We had some lunch, and now we're just relaxing on the sofa, watching a movie."

The heavy glass door slid open and shut with a soft whoosh,Ranjeet stepped back inside, bringing a wave of cool breeze with him. His gaze fell first on the sofa, where Adnan had shifted, his head now nestled deeply into a cushion, a soft, innocent snore escaping his lips. A playful smile touched Ranjeet’s mouth before his eyes found me. 

"How is Aisha? Is she okay?" I asked Ammi.

My heart hammered against my ribs. The physical proof of my secret was now standing just feet away.

Ammi's voice came through the phone. "Alhamdulillah, she is doing well. The doctors are happy. She is resting now..."
While she was speaking, Ranjeet walked over. He moved quietly around the coffee table. He stood directly in front of me. I looked up at him, my eyes wide with a silent plea for him to wait.

He didn't seem to notice. His expression was full of a pure, uncomplicated affection. He leaned down, bringing his face level with mine. His hands were warm and gentle as they came up to hold my face.

My mother's voice was a distant murmur in my ear. All I could feel was the soft pressure of his palms against my cheeks. All I could see were his dark, loving eyes.

Then, he leaned in the last few inches and softly kissed me on the lips.

It was a soft, brief, and utterly electrifying press of his lips to mine. It was a kiss of pure, impulsive love. It was also the most dangerous thing he could have possibly done.
I had to end the call. Right now.

"Ammi, I have to go," I said into the phone. My voice was a strained, urgent whisper. “I put milk on the stove for chai and I can hear it boiling over! I have to run! Khuda Hafiz, I'll call you back!"

"Oh, okay, beta. You take care."

I quickly said goodbye. "Khuda Hafiz."

I ended the call. My hand was shaking as I placed the phone on the cushion beside me. Ranjeet was still crouched in front of me. The playful, loving smile was still on his face.

Before I could say a word, he leaned in again. This time, the kiss was not soft or quick. It was passionate, wild, like a fire that had been waiting to burst out.

I felt his lips press hard against mine, full of hunger and love. My arms wrapped around his neck without thinking, pulling him closer. His hands moved from my face to my back, holding me tight. Our kiss deepened, our breaths mixing fast and hot. I could taste the faint smoke from his cigarette, but it only made the moment more intense. Everything else faded away. It was just us, lost in this wild storm of feelings.

My body tingled all over, my fingers tangled in his hair. He kissed me like he couldn't get enough, and I kissed him back the same way. It was rough and sweet at the same time, making my head spin. After what felt like forever, we pulled apart just a little, both of us breathing heavy. His forehead rested against mine, and he whispered, "Nabila, I need you." I smiled, my cheeks burning, feeling alive and scared and happy all at once.

I couldn't hold back anymore. I pulled him closer, my lips crashing into his with a hunger I didn't know I had. Our kiss turned fiercer, wilder, like we were trying to melt into each other. His hands roamed my back, pulling me tight against him, and I felt every inch of his strong body pressing into mine.

I tangled my fingers deeper in his hair, tugging gently, which made him groan softly into my mouth. The taste of him-smoky, sweet, and all Ranjeet-drove me crazy. My body was on fire, every touch sending sparks through me. I arched into him, my nails lightly scratching his shoulders through his shirt. He responded by kissing down my neck, his lips leaving a trail of heat that made me gasp. "Ranjeet," I moaned quietly, my voice barely a whisper.

He pulled back a little and took my hands in his. "Come," he said softly, his voice deep and rough. He helped me stand up from the sofa. My legs felt weak, like jelly, from the kiss. I glanced at Adnan, still sleeping peacefully with his little snores. The movie was playing quietly in the background, but I didn't care about it anymore.

Ranjeet smiled, that playful look back on his face. Before I could say anything, he bent down and lifted me into his arms. I gasped, wrapping my arms around his neck to hold on. "Ranjeet! What are you doing?" I whispered, half laughing, half excited. I felt light in his strong arms, like a bride being carried.

He carried me easily towards the bedroom, his steps quiet so not to wake Adnan. The door was open.He kicked the door shut gently behind us and set me down on my feet, right there on the floor. His hands stayed on my waist, holding me close. His eyes never left mine, full of promise. "Now, we have some time just for us," he said, leaning in closer. My body tingled again, ready for whatever came next.