10-01-2019, 03:58 PM
It wasn't difficult for her to fend off the thinly veiled passes of most of the men she encountered at the party. Sometimes she wondered why they even bothered. Didn't they know she was a married woman?
She continued circulating from group to group, getting by with a few words and a smile to those she knew and then continuing on. She was in no mood to get involved in long conversations... it was too difficult when her mind was on other things. She wondered where Ratan was. She had already gone through most of the rooms without seeing him. She heard some of the men say that there was a billiard room upstairs, and she supposed that he was there.
A waiter appeared with a tray of fresh drinks and she took one, placing her empty glass on the tray. Just then, she spotted Sheena across the room and made her way over to where she stood.
"Sheena!" she called out. "I'm so glad to see you. What kept you so long?"
"Hi, sweetie... oh you know, that husband of mine. It takes him forever to get anywhere. And they complain about us women! Ha! Thank God we're here though... looks pretty posh. Where's that man of yours?"
"Oh, I guess he's around somewhere. I haven't seen him since we walked in the door to tell you the truth. Well,... "
"Well," Sheena went on, "we girls can have fun without them for a while anyway. Besides I see some pretty good-looking creatures here tonight. Speaking of good-looking creatures, what do you think of Ram Saran?" she said, a strange glint in her eyes.
"Ram Saran? Oh, he's all right, I suppose," Shanti answered
absentmindedly.
"Did you see that dress his wife is wearing? Well, I guess if I had a figure like that I'd wear a dress like that too. As it is, I'm constantly bordering on the stylishly stout. Lucky for me lot of perfectly divine people enjoy the motherly type." Sheena laughed good-naturedly, sipping her drink and looking about her with interest.
"Sheena, I just can't get over you. I feel just terrible," Shanti whined.
"Nonsense, that shouldn't last long. I insist that you cheer up! You hear me... I insist!" And with that, Sheena drifted off in the direction of a group of young men who were holding an animated conversation in a corner.
Shanti turned, feeling rather lost and lonely in the large crowd, and not seeing Ratan, wandered across the living room and out onto the terrace that overlooked the bay. The sudden rush of cool air wafting in from the sea water caressed her face in its brisk moistness.
"Mmmm... " she sighed as she felt the fresh air clear her head of the smoke and liquor from the party. Maybe Ratan was right, she thought. It certainly would be wonderful to live like this... to have the bay right out your back door... to be able to feel this wonderful breeze singing through your hair every night of the year. But Shanti's reverie was soon shattered. As she scanned the vast expanse of the surrounding grounds, her eyes focused upon two figures in the darkness... two figures in the clutch of a passionate embrace. Not wanting to embarrass anyone, she started to turn back when suddenly she recognized the woman as Rani Venkat, the host's wife.
Well, I never... thought Shanti. And in her own house. What kind of woman...? But her train of thought was interrupted when the last of the mist that covered the moon drifted away and the moonlight lit up the face of Rani's partner.
It was Ratan!
His one hand was around Rani's waist while his other fondled her breast through the sheer material of her dress. His mouth crushed against hers as her hands played with his hardened penis that was pressed against his Suit pants. Shanti's mouth fell open and her hand involuntarily flew up to her parted lips to muffle the cry she knew was about to escape. But even her clutching hand could not stop the flow of tears that began streaming down her cheeks, causing thin black lines to run from her mascaraed lashes. Not knowing what to do, she turned to run back into the crowded house, and slammed into Sheena who was standing directly behind her.
Sheena opened her arms and enfolded Shanti to her bosom.
"Come on, honey. Let's go up the back way," she whispered as she led Shanti around to the side of the house and entered through the kitchen which was filled with the house staff and the hired caterers.
"Is anything wrong?" the chef asked as the two women quickly passed by him.
"No," Sheena answered. "I am just feeling a little faint. Is there a way upstairs without going through the living room?"
"Sure. Just go through that door and up the stairs?" Sheena nodded her thanks to the chef and steered Shanti through the door and up to the second floor. They walked down the hall until they reached what Sheena knew to be a guest room and she opened the door and gently pushed Shanti in and closed the door behind them.
Shanti sat on the bed and her body shook as she tried to control her sobbing.
"Let it all hang out, honey," Sheena whispered, sitting down next to her. "You deserve a good cry." And Shanti released her deepest feelings as her body convulsed in hysterical tears.
"Oh God!" she cried. "Why... why... why?"
Sheena put her arms around her once more and gently rocked
her back and forth.
"Come on, honey," she said firmly. "I tried to tell you what this kind of life is all about. Don't think you're the only one. I've caught Venkat in the same situation many times."
Shanti's sobs subsided slightly. "What?" she asked incredulously. "Several times! What did you do?"
"Nothing, Sheena answered matter-of-factly. "Absolutely nothing. How do you think Venkat got where he is today? Certainly not on his talent!" she laughed. "You know as well as I do that most of the assistant art directors at the agency know more about the business than he does."
"I don't think that's true," Shanti started to say.
"Don't think just because we're good friends that you have to lie to spare my feelings. Venkat got where he is by being 'nice' to a lot of account's wives. And I don't mean like a boy scout. He's jumped into bed and given what they want... a good lay! That's the way it is, honey. And so, why shouldn't I have just as good a time. I've landed a few accounts myself, you know. How do you think Venkats got the Chemment Mittal account? Mr. Mittal is very fond of me... and believe me, it was worth every minute I
spent at it. I got what I wanted; Mr. Lauder got what he wanted; and Venkat got what he wanted; so everybody's happy. What's wrong with that?"
"But your marriage?" Shanti asked.
"My marriage," Sheena interrupted her again, "has never been better. Listen, you can get awfully tired of the same man after a while. The change is good for you. You learn quite a lot from some men and it only makes sex with your husband better for it. Not to mention some of the new tricks Venkat's learned over the past few years. I've never had it so good! Now before you go into some tiring speech about marriage vows and fidelity, let's get back down to the party before somebody misses us... we should be so lucky!"
Shanti quietly fixed her face knowing very well that her past was no lily white and infidelity was in her DNA and now when she trusted this bastard - that was the mistake and he will pay for it.
For a while Sheena waited impatiently for her to finish. As soon as she was done, Sheena ushered her out the door and back down to the party which was now at its peak. When they reached the bottom of the stairs, Ram Saran was standing there drinking with another man.
"Excuse me," he said to his associate. "I'd like to have a word with someone in private." And turning around just in time to catch Shanti under the arm, he steered her over to the bar to get a fresh drink. Shanti turned her head around to get Sheena's help, but Sheena just smiled and turned to find someone for herself.
"Well," Ram started, "at last we have a chance to talk. Seeing as how your husband may well be handling my account, we should get to know each other better. You know, you can tell a lot about a man by the wife he chooses. I'm sure you won't be a disappointment!"
"A gin and soda, please," Shanti asked the bartender, ignoring Ram's last statement.
"Make it two," Ram added.
"Listen," he said to Shanti. "This is no place to talk, really and why don't you have lunch with me tomorrow?"
Shanti turned to face him, about to give him a piece of her mind when out of the corner of her eye, she saw Ratan slipping in the terrace door and heading for a small group of men where he immediately jumped in the conversation, obviously trying to give the impression that he had been there quite a while. The quick vignette didn't pass unnoticed by Ram either, but when Shanti turned back to him, he had his glass up to his lips as if nothing had happened.
"Well?" he asked again, "How about lunch tomorrow dear?"
Shanti hesitated for just a brief second.
"Why, yes... I'd love it."
Shanti paused outside of the restaurant. She felt foolish, and for some reason she was trembling slightly. She glanced at her reflection in the glass of the entrance-way, and, with a sigh of resignation, entered the darkness of Marriott Renaissance, carved statues lined the stairway leading down to the elegant restaurant. Shanti descended slowly, trying to get a good grip on herself. She felt like turning around and going home. It seemed so silly. Here she was, a married woman on her way to meet a married man for lunch. Well, she thought, that's all it will be... lunch... no matter how I felt about it last night!
Shanti approached the headwaiter, hoping that perhaps Ram would not yet have arrived and she could take that excuse to leave. But when she asked the dignified Kannadiga for Mr. Saran, his face brightened considerably and with a smile he instructed a nearby waiter to escort Shanti to the cocktail lounge where Ram sat waiting for her. The bar was very dark, and Shanti had a hard time making out the details until her eyes adjusted to the dim light. She had never been there before and in spite of her nervousness at the idea of meeting Ram, she felt the beginnings of a sense of excitement and adventure at what she was doing. Ram sat at a small table in a far corner nursing a large drink. He rose as she reached the table and with an easy gesture, briefly kissed her hand, as he had when he first met her.
She continued circulating from group to group, getting by with a few words and a smile to those she knew and then continuing on. She was in no mood to get involved in long conversations... it was too difficult when her mind was on other things. She wondered where Ratan was. She had already gone through most of the rooms without seeing him. She heard some of the men say that there was a billiard room upstairs, and she supposed that he was there.
A waiter appeared with a tray of fresh drinks and she took one, placing her empty glass on the tray. Just then, she spotted Sheena across the room and made her way over to where she stood.
"Sheena!" she called out. "I'm so glad to see you. What kept you so long?"
"Hi, sweetie... oh you know, that husband of mine. It takes him forever to get anywhere. And they complain about us women! Ha! Thank God we're here though... looks pretty posh. Where's that man of yours?"
"Oh, I guess he's around somewhere. I haven't seen him since we walked in the door to tell you the truth. Well,... "
"Well," Sheena went on, "we girls can have fun without them for a while anyway. Besides I see some pretty good-looking creatures here tonight. Speaking of good-looking creatures, what do you think of Ram Saran?" she said, a strange glint in her eyes.
"Ram Saran? Oh, he's all right, I suppose," Shanti answered
absentmindedly.
"Did you see that dress his wife is wearing? Well, I guess if I had a figure like that I'd wear a dress like that too. As it is, I'm constantly bordering on the stylishly stout. Lucky for me lot of perfectly divine people enjoy the motherly type." Sheena laughed good-naturedly, sipping her drink and looking about her with interest.
"Sheena, I just can't get over you. I feel just terrible," Shanti whined.
"Nonsense, that shouldn't last long. I insist that you cheer up! You hear me... I insist!" And with that, Sheena drifted off in the direction of a group of young men who were holding an animated conversation in a corner.
Shanti turned, feeling rather lost and lonely in the large crowd, and not seeing Ratan, wandered across the living room and out onto the terrace that overlooked the bay. The sudden rush of cool air wafting in from the sea water caressed her face in its brisk moistness.
"Mmmm... " she sighed as she felt the fresh air clear her head of the smoke and liquor from the party. Maybe Ratan was right, she thought. It certainly would be wonderful to live like this... to have the bay right out your back door... to be able to feel this wonderful breeze singing through your hair every night of the year. But Shanti's reverie was soon shattered. As she scanned the vast expanse of the surrounding grounds, her eyes focused upon two figures in the darkness... two figures in the clutch of a passionate embrace. Not wanting to embarrass anyone, she started to turn back when suddenly she recognized the woman as Rani Venkat, the host's wife.
Well, I never... thought Shanti. And in her own house. What kind of woman...? But her train of thought was interrupted when the last of the mist that covered the moon drifted away and the moonlight lit up the face of Rani's partner.
It was Ratan!
His one hand was around Rani's waist while his other fondled her breast through the sheer material of her dress. His mouth crushed against hers as her hands played with his hardened penis that was pressed against his Suit pants. Shanti's mouth fell open and her hand involuntarily flew up to her parted lips to muffle the cry she knew was about to escape. But even her clutching hand could not stop the flow of tears that began streaming down her cheeks, causing thin black lines to run from her mascaraed lashes. Not knowing what to do, she turned to run back into the crowded house, and slammed into Sheena who was standing directly behind her.
Sheena opened her arms and enfolded Shanti to her bosom.
"Come on, honey. Let's go up the back way," she whispered as she led Shanti around to the side of the house and entered through the kitchen which was filled with the house staff and the hired caterers.
"Is anything wrong?" the chef asked as the two women quickly passed by him.
"No," Sheena answered. "I am just feeling a little faint. Is there a way upstairs without going through the living room?"
"Sure. Just go through that door and up the stairs?" Sheena nodded her thanks to the chef and steered Shanti through the door and up to the second floor. They walked down the hall until they reached what Sheena knew to be a guest room and she opened the door and gently pushed Shanti in and closed the door behind them.
Shanti sat on the bed and her body shook as she tried to control her sobbing.
"Let it all hang out, honey," Sheena whispered, sitting down next to her. "You deserve a good cry." And Shanti released her deepest feelings as her body convulsed in hysterical tears.
"Oh God!" she cried. "Why... why... why?"
Sheena put her arms around her once more and gently rocked
her back and forth.
"Come on, honey," she said firmly. "I tried to tell you what this kind of life is all about. Don't think you're the only one. I've caught Venkat in the same situation many times."
Shanti's sobs subsided slightly. "What?" she asked incredulously. "Several times! What did you do?"
"Nothing, Sheena answered matter-of-factly. "Absolutely nothing. How do you think Venkat got where he is today? Certainly not on his talent!" she laughed. "You know as well as I do that most of the assistant art directors at the agency know more about the business than he does."
"I don't think that's true," Shanti started to say.
"Don't think just because we're good friends that you have to lie to spare my feelings. Venkat got where he is by being 'nice' to a lot of account's wives. And I don't mean like a boy scout. He's jumped into bed and given what they want... a good lay! That's the way it is, honey. And so, why shouldn't I have just as good a time. I've landed a few accounts myself, you know. How do you think Venkats got the Chemment Mittal account? Mr. Mittal is very fond of me... and believe me, it was worth every minute I
spent at it. I got what I wanted; Mr. Lauder got what he wanted; and Venkat got what he wanted; so everybody's happy. What's wrong with that?"
"But your marriage?" Shanti asked.
"My marriage," Sheena interrupted her again, "has never been better. Listen, you can get awfully tired of the same man after a while. The change is good for you. You learn quite a lot from some men and it only makes sex with your husband better for it. Not to mention some of the new tricks Venkat's learned over the past few years. I've never had it so good! Now before you go into some tiring speech about marriage vows and fidelity, let's get back down to the party before somebody misses us... we should be so lucky!"
Shanti quietly fixed her face knowing very well that her past was no lily white and infidelity was in her DNA and now when she trusted this bastard - that was the mistake and he will pay for it.
For a while Sheena waited impatiently for her to finish. As soon as she was done, Sheena ushered her out the door and back down to the party which was now at its peak. When they reached the bottom of the stairs, Ram Saran was standing there drinking with another man.
"Excuse me," he said to his associate. "I'd like to have a word with someone in private." And turning around just in time to catch Shanti under the arm, he steered her over to the bar to get a fresh drink. Shanti turned her head around to get Sheena's help, but Sheena just smiled and turned to find someone for herself.
"Well," Ram started, "at last we have a chance to talk. Seeing as how your husband may well be handling my account, we should get to know each other better. You know, you can tell a lot about a man by the wife he chooses. I'm sure you won't be a disappointment!"
"A gin and soda, please," Shanti asked the bartender, ignoring Ram's last statement.
"Make it two," Ram added.
"Listen," he said to Shanti. "This is no place to talk, really and why don't you have lunch with me tomorrow?"
Shanti turned to face him, about to give him a piece of her mind when out of the corner of her eye, she saw Ratan slipping in the terrace door and heading for a small group of men where he immediately jumped in the conversation, obviously trying to give the impression that he had been there quite a while. The quick vignette didn't pass unnoticed by Ram either, but when Shanti turned back to him, he had his glass up to his lips as if nothing had happened.
"Well?" he asked again, "How about lunch tomorrow dear?"
Shanti hesitated for just a brief second.
"Why, yes... I'd love it."
Shanti paused outside of the restaurant. She felt foolish, and for some reason she was trembling slightly. She glanced at her reflection in the glass of the entrance-way, and, with a sigh of resignation, entered the darkness of Marriott Renaissance, carved statues lined the stairway leading down to the elegant restaurant. Shanti descended slowly, trying to get a good grip on herself. She felt like turning around and going home. It seemed so silly. Here she was, a married woman on her way to meet a married man for lunch. Well, she thought, that's all it will be... lunch... no matter how I felt about it last night!
Shanti approached the headwaiter, hoping that perhaps Ram would not yet have arrived and she could take that excuse to leave. But when she asked the dignified Kannadiga for Mr. Saran, his face brightened considerably and with a smile he instructed a nearby waiter to escort Shanti to the cocktail lounge where Ram sat waiting for her. The bar was very dark, and Shanti had a hard time making out the details until her eyes adjusted to the dim light. She had never been there before and in spite of her nervousness at the idea of meeting Ram, she felt the beginnings of a sense of excitement and adventure at what she was doing. Ram sat at a small table in a far corner nursing a large drink. He rose as she reached the table and with an easy gesture, briefly kissed her hand, as he had when he first met her.
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