[Steel]

"So, things are going well for you, I hope?" asked Laila sweetly as the spa attendants knelt before them, polishing their nails, trimming them and gently massaging their feet. "I mean, besides today, of course. G0d, your wife seems a little mad, doesn't she?"

Sharath still felt off balance from seeing his old friend, let alone just casually chatting. This was the woman he had yearned after for so long that her face felt burned into his brain forever, even after finding the love of his life. It felt bizarre to talk to her again, especially after his discovery the other day. Laila might be producing porn with Rakesh, a man she used to hate. And now here she was, arriving arm-in-arm with Rakesh without shame. It had to be a misunderstanding. Or some sort of trick.

"I... well, everything is going just fine," he said shakily. He glanced across the room to his wife, sitting all alone, her lovely face like a thundercloud as the technician worked on her nails. "How are things going for you? You're right, it's been forever since we talked."

"Things are great," said Laila happily. As she spoke, Rakesh reached across from his seat beside her, resting his plump hand on her thigh and gently caressing it. “Arha is going to start kindergarten soon. I must show you her picture sometime; she's growing up to look exactly like her father. But cuter obviously. Puneet just got the promotion he's been after, and my career has really been taking off as well."

Sharath watched with fascinated horror as Rakesh's pudgy hand rubbed higher and harder, slipping beneath Laila's long robes. Then, with a sharp movement, she stopped him. Even though it was silly, Sharath felt a wave of relief. He had misunderstood after all. Rakesh was trying to fake him out by making him think he had converted Laila into some sort of slut, but this was actually some sort of platonic day out for them. He should have known better. Why would she gush about her husband and daughter while openly hanging out with her lover?

But his blood ran cold and his relief drained away when he heard Laila whisper, "Shhhu! Not in front of everyone. Wait until you get me alone in the couple's massage room... I have a little surprise for you."

It was low enough to keep the room from hearing, but Laila seemed to make no attempt to hide it from Sharath, rolling her eyes and giving him a wry smile as if to say "this guy... right?"