27-04-2026, 08:28 AM
Chapter 60 - The First Taste of Insecurity
The journey back to Bangalore took nearly nine exhausting hours. The car was filled with heavy silence, broken only by occasional small talk and forced smiles. Everyone was drained — from the long drive, from the nonstop sex, and from the emotional weight of everything that had happened.
By the time they reached home, it was past midnight. They barely spoke. Sneha gave Suresh a long, loving hug and whispered, “I’m still yours, baby,” before they all collapsed into bed. Gowtham took the guest room. No one had the energy for anything more.
The next morning felt deceptively normal.
Sneha woke up early like the dutiful housewife she always was. She moved around the house in her simple cotton nightie, collecting the laundry from the trip, washing dishes, and cleaning the rooms that had been left messy. Gowtham left for office after a quick breakfast, kissing Sneha on the cheek casually in front of Suresh before heading out. Suresh went to work, trying hard to focus.
By evening, the familiar weekend routine called.
Suresh left office early to pick up Ramya from her hostel. As always, Sneha used to accompany him. He dialed her number while driving.
Sneha picked up on the third ring.
“Hey, I’m on the way to pick Ramya. You’re coming, right?”
There was a slight pause.
“I have so much work here, Suresh. We left the house in such a mess when we went to the hill station. I’m still cleaning. You pick her up directly and come home.”
The words “hill station” hit Suresh like a trigger.
His mind instantly flashed back — Sneha’s loud moans, Gowtham pounding her ass, the bed shaking violently, her screaming another man’s name. His grip tightened on the steering wheel.
What if she’s not cleaning? What if Gowtham is there right now? What if she’s spreading her legs for him instead of coming to pick up her own daughter?
Anger and suspicion burned in his chest. But he controlled his voice.
“Okay,” he said tightly and cut the call.
He immediately dialed Gowtham.
No answer.
He tried again. Still no pickup.
His heart started racing. He pressed the accelerator harder.
By the time he reached the hostel, picked up Ramya, and drove back, his mind had already painted the worst pictures. As soon as he parked in the apartment basement, Ramya jumped out excitedly and ran toward the lift.
Suresh quickly dialed Gowtham again.
This time he picked up.
“I’ve picked Ramya. We’re coming up right now,” Suresh said sharply. “If you two are doing anything, stop and leave. Now.”
Gowtham sounded genuinely confused. “Are you mad, Suresh? I just came back from office. I was driving earlier, that’s why I couldn’t pick up. I’m not even at your house.”
Suresh didn’t believe him.
Suresh sprinted up the stairs to the fourth floor, skipping the lift. His heart pounded wildly.
He reached the floor before the lift goes up..
He stopped Ramya who just came out of life, “Sweetie, Appa forgot his purse in the car. Can you go get it?”
As soon as Ramya turned back toward the car,
He unlocked the door quietly and burst inside.
The house looked normal. No strange sounds. No clothes scattered.
He rushed straight to the bedroom.
Empty.
He checked the guest room. Also empty.
Then he heard movement in Ramya’s room. He pushed the door open.
Sneha was there — fully dressed in a simple salwar kameez, hair tied in a bun, arranging Ramya’s books and clothes. She looked fresh, slightly sweaty from cleaning, but there were no signs of recent sex. No flushed face, no messy hair, no hickeys visible.
Sneha turned, surprised. “What happened? Why did you come running like this?”
Suresh stood there panting, feeling foolish.
“Nothing… I’ll tell you later,” he muttered.
Just then Ramya walked in, holding the purse. “Appa, your purse wasn’t in the car.”
Suresh forced a smile. “Oh… I found it here only. Must have kept it in my pant pocket.”
Sneha gave him a long, searching look. She understood something was off, but she didn’t push in front of Ramya.
Later that night, after Ramya went to sleep, Suresh sat on the bed, staring at the ceiling.
Sneha came and lay beside him, gently placing her head on his chest.
"is everything alright?” she asked softly.
Suresh didn’t reply.
She sighed. “whatever bugs you tell yourself it will be alright soon!"
He stayed silent.
The new norm had just begun — and Suresh was already realizing how painful and exhausting it was going to be. Every time Sneha was alone, every time she didn’t pick up a call immediately, every innocent delay… his mind would torture him with images of her moaning under Gowtham.
He had set himself on fire.
And now he had to live in the flames.
The journey back to Bangalore took nearly nine exhausting hours. The car was filled with heavy silence, broken only by occasional small talk and forced smiles. Everyone was drained — from the long drive, from the nonstop sex, and from the emotional weight of everything that had happened.
By the time they reached home, it was past midnight. They barely spoke. Sneha gave Suresh a long, loving hug and whispered, “I’m still yours, baby,” before they all collapsed into bed. Gowtham took the guest room. No one had the energy for anything more.
The next morning felt deceptively normal.
Sneha woke up early like the dutiful housewife she always was. She moved around the house in her simple cotton nightie, collecting the laundry from the trip, washing dishes, and cleaning the rooms that had been left messy. Gowtham left for office after a quick breakfast, kissing Sneha on the cheek casually in front of Suresh before heading out. Suresh went to work, trying hard to focus.
By evening, the familiar weekend routine called.
Suresh left office early to pick up Ramya from her hostel. As always, Sneha used to accompany him. He dialed her number while driving.
Sneha picked up on the third ring.
“Hey, I’m on the way to pick Ramya. You’re coming, right?”
There was a slight pause.
“I have so much work here, Suresh. We left the house in such a mess when we went to the hill station. I’m still cleaning. You pick her up directly and come home.”
The words “hill station” hit Suresh like a trigger.
His mind instantly flashed back — Sneha’s loud moans, Gowtham pounding her ass, the bed shaking violently, her screaming another man’s name. His grip tightened on the steering wheel.
What if she’s not cleaning? What if Gowtham is there right now? What if she’s spreading her legs for him instead of coming to pick up her own daughter?
Anger and suspicion burned in his chest. But he controlled his voice.
“Okay,” he said tightly and cut the call.
He immediately dialed Gowtham.
No answer.
He tried again. Still no pickup.
His heart started racing. He pressed the accelerator harder.
By the time he reached the hostel, picked up Ramya, and drove back, his mind had already painted the worst pictures. As soon as he parked in the apartment basement, Ramya jumped out excitedly and ran toward the lift.
Suresh quickly dialed Gowtham again.
This time he picked up.
“I’ve picked Ramya. We’re coming up right now,” Suresh said sharply. “If you two are doing anything, stop and leave. Now.”
Gowtham sounded genuinely confused. “Are you mad, Suresh? I just came back from office. I was driving earlier, that’s why I couldn’t pick up. I’m not even at your house.”
Suresh didn’t believe him.
Suresh sprinted up the stairs to the fourth floor, skipping the lift. His heart pounded wildly.
He reached the floor before the lift goes up..
He stopped Ramya who just came out of life, “Sweetie, Appa forgot his purse in the car. Can you go get it?”
As soon as Ramya turned back toward the car,
He unlocked the door quietly and burst inside.
The house looked normal. No strange sounds. No clothes scattered.
He rushed straight to the bedroom.
Empty.
He checked the guest room. Also empty.
Then he heard movement in Ramya’s room. He pushed the door open.
Sneha was there — fully dressed in a simple salwar kameez, hair tied in a bun, arranging Ramya’s books and clothes. She looked fresh, slightly sweaty from cleaning, but there were no signs of recent sex. No flushed face, no messy hair, no hickeys visible.
Sneha turned, surprised. “What happened? Why did you come running like this?”
Suresh stood there panting, feeling foolish.
“Nothing… I’ll tell you later,” he muttered.
Just then Ramya walked in, holding the purse. “Appa, your purse wasn’t in the car.”
Suresh forced a smile. “Oh… I found it here only. Must have kept it in my pant pocket.”
Sneha gave him a long, searching look. She understood something was off, but she didn’t push in front of Ramya.
Later that night, after Ramya went to sleep, Suresh sat on the bed, staring at the ceiling.
Sneha came and lay beside him, gently placing her head on his chest.
"is everything alright?” she asked softly.
Suresh didn’t reply.
She sighed. “whatever bugs you tell yourself it will be alright soon!"
He stayed silent.
The new norm had just begun — and Suresh was already realizing how painful and exhausting it was going to be. Every time Sneha was alone, every time she didn’t pick up a call immediately, every innocent delay… his mind would torture him with images of her moaning under Gowtham.
He had set himself on fire.
And now he had to live in the flames.
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