Chapter 25
Atul
Atul had been eyeing to purchase a new car ever since he had moved in with Anvita. A month ago he had booked a brand new one and he had kept it a surprise for Anvita. It was going to be delivered a month after his Mumbai trip. However, unfortunately for him, his brother Vikas phoned him one day and he urgently needed help. Atul had to help his brother with the money he had kept for the car. He rang up the dealer and asked him if he could cancel the order. The dealer said it would mean forfeiting the advance paid by Atul.
He visited the dealer a week later and met Mr Pradeep, the dealer, personally. He was ready to help him provide a car loan. But Atul thought it would be a burden on him because he was already paying EMI for his house loan. That was when he thought about getting Anvita a full-time job. There was another reason which consolidated his thought.
That day Atul had met Neeti and Mohit at the fruit market.
“How is that we neighbours meet outside only?”
Mohit asked.
“It’s really a shame, isn’t it?" Atul shook his hand, "Let’s do something together to change it!”
Neeti was watching the men closely.
When Atul reached the apartment, Neeti was talking to a street vendor. She saw Atul and walked up to him immediately.
“I want to talk to you. Will you come over to the terrace?”
She whispered and walked away.
Twenty minutes later Atul walked into the terrace.
“Atul. Here!”
Neeti was hiding behind the concrete water reservoir. Atul looked around and walked over to her.
“Atul...” She looked into his eyes briefly and hesitated. “Uh... I want a favour from you.”
She paused again. “Please don't destroy my marriage.”
Atul stared at her.
“I am destroying your marriage? How exactly is that?”
“Don't tell Mohit anything. Please maintain some distance from him. You and him getting closer...It scares me.”
It was apparent that she knew that he knew what she'd been doing with Rajat.
“That is only secondary. The more important thing is, why you are doing this to him?”
It was a doubt Atul had been carrying for long.
Neeti took a long breath. She looked tired.
“It... It just happened. Atul...”
Atul shook his head slowly.
“You repeatedly slept with him, didn't you? All of that happened just like that?”
“Please understand me. I know it’s wrong but I was... Mohit is a good husband but he is not a good lover.”
Her words sunk into his heart.
“You have two children, Neeti. Isn’t he their father?”
His question clearly unsettled her. “They are born thirteen years ago. Mohit hardly notices me nowadays. He is always busy with his work.”
“Is that your defence?”
“It is a reason. I was not looking for men to sleep with. But when Rajan and I mingled together when his wife was away, and you know Mohit himself had admitted to him how rarely we slept together. Rajat came after me. We both were suffering. So...”
“So you decided to cheat on your husband, huh?”
“If my husband is not giving me what I want, what else can I do? I know you will not understand because you are newly married. And I'm hundred per cent sure you’ll be treating Anvita far better than how Mohit is doing to me. I did not have a choice. I...”
Tears were rolling down her eyes.
“I failed, Atul. I know. But please, don't tell anything to Mohit. I will kill me.”
“You are not stopping it, are you?”
She looked down for a moment.
“I know you won’t believe if I said yes. And I don't want to lie. But it won’t last forever, I am promising myself. Pooja will be back in a few weeks. We began this on that promise; we will stop.”
“And then you are going to love your husband as if nothing happened?”
She kept her head down for long, in silence. Below her chin, Atul’seyes fell over her breasts. Never in the past had she given him such a long chance to stare at her like this. For one moment, Atul remembered how annoyed he was when Rajat mentioned he had noticed Atul staring at Pooja. Maybe he was right. I do stare. An image of her completely naked in bed with Rajat flashed in his imagination. His eyes roamed around her cleavage. And he couldn't help but admit Neeti was too hot.
“I can't believe how Mohit could ignore you in the name of work.”
Atul said at the end of eye feasting. She looked up.
“But it is true.”
“Why do you think I will tell Mohit?”
“It will take just a momentary slip out of your tongue. Mohit believes you are a good man; he has told me that many times and I also believe that. I am scared if you would say anything out of honesty. It will end my marriage and life.”
“I am not gonna tell him anything.”
Atul declared. “But it would be better if you stopped seeing Rajat from this moment. What if Mohit catches you by himself? You can also slip, can't you?”
“I am happy to follow your advice. But whenever Mohit goes on a trip, Rajat returns to his flat. And I...” She looked away and shook her head. “I can't stop him. I'm not that strong with my will. I have become his weakness and he, mine. You know what I mean.”
I know what you mean, yes. You can't stop spreading it for him.
“Why do you tell him when Mohit goes out of town?”
“I don't tell him. Mohit does.”
“What!”
“Rajat is always in touch with Mohit. I can't make Mohit stop meeting him.”
Back in his flat Atul irritatingly thought how crooked Rajat was. The man was manipulative enough to win the trust of a husband to learn when he goesout of town, and then invite the wife to his bed. One fact Neeti had revealed to Atul had stuck in his mind. Mohit himself had confessed to Rajat that he was a bad lover. The fact that Atul had come close to following the poor Mohit’s path when he almost decided to discuss his initial struggles to satisfy Anvita and rattled him. Luckily Atul had brought it up as a problem his friend suffered.
What if I had told him I was not giving enough to my wife?
The thought sent chills down his spine.
Atul remembered the other day when he had returned home in the morning. Rajat was at his home.
Atul quickly realised why it was dangerous to trust him, give him the opportunity to intrude your private space. When Anvita mentioned of a job opportunity that Shreyas had suggested, Atul hoped it could be two birds with one shot.
Thursday morning Atul was greeted by applause in the office. Shreyas shook hands with him.
“We got the official response from Chetak Engineering. It’s happening.”
Atul telephoned Ridhima.
“Thank you, Ridhima. Thank you, for coming back to us.”
“Thank you should be my say. Thank you, for coming and finding me.”
Her voice was warm and soft.
How can a woman so powerful be so soft?
“We were destined to meet, Ridhima.”
“We sure were. I might be in Delhi next month. We’ll have lunch. I’ll tell you when.”
She said. Atul wanted to ask about Maniesh. Did he come back to you?
Then he thought: it’s too early. Next time, maybe.
Shreyas had recommended Shriya's name to work with Atul. But Atul chose not to include Shriya, much to her disappointment. After the first Mumbai trip, she was keeping some distance from him. Atul chose to ignore her completely and it eventually threw her into desperation when Atul returned with the deal from Chetak Engineering. And one day she decided to start afresh.
"Atul, can we have a coffee? I mean in a cafe..."
Twenty minutes later they were sitting in a nice café.
"I am sorry, Atul. I was silly." She said straightaway.
Atul sipped the coffee and kept his silence.
"Please talk to me, I was sad and angry in fact when I came to know you refused to bring me in for your assignments. I want to do things that others envy. Everyone wants to be in your proximity, I too want to work with you."
Shriya looked beautiful and smart with the cool specs on. Anyone would have jumped into the opportunity to include her in whatever comes in their way; except for Atul.
"All we can have is a coffee like this."
He said in the end.
----- ----- -----
Ridhima was waiting for Atul in the lobby when he arrived at the Cafe Decor. She got up and greeted him with a warm hug.
Atul spent a moment to study her. She looked bright and elegant in the dress. Her face glowed. The sleeveless arms simply outshone the ambient light.
"Stop staring, Atul."
She smiled.
"I am paying compliments, Ridhima. You look stunning."
"I know. Thanks. You look handsome too."
"Finally, we meet again. How was your journey?"
Ridhima had come to Delhi for an official meeting. She called Atul and they decided to meet at Cafe Decor. Within a few seconds into their meeting, Atul realised that she was not the bossy woman at Chetak Engineering but the endearing soul he had befriended over a couple of nights.
They chatted and started the night with a light drink before they joined the audience in front of the beautifully set stage where the attraction for the eve was a performance by a musical troupe. It was a beautiful eve. They sat together, hand in hand, and she seemed very emotional to be with him. She was cuddling with his hand and a moment came when she kissed on his cheek. He felt great.
"Are you in love with me?"
He asked in a whisper.
"Yes. I love you. Unconditional. Don't feel it a burden for you."
"I know. I love you too."
He said.
When she was gone to washroom Atul noticed a girl looking at him. She smiled at him and he smiled back. He could not recognise her and he was conscious. Does she know Anvita?
Obviously, Anvita had no idea that Atul was meeting a woman for dinner. For her, he was at the funeral of an old contact.
"Hi."
Atul waved his hand at the girl.
"Hi."
The girl smiled again. Her friend came to her and he stared at Atul. His face seemed familiar but Atul could not recognise him. Atul raised his drink toward them. The boy looked on and the girl reacted favourably and Atul turned his attention to the stage. Even after Ridhima was back, the boy and girl had their eyes on him. It made Atul uncomfortable.
"What happened, Atul?"
Ridhima asked.
"I don't know. Do you see those guys? They look strange at me."
Ridhima observed them and smiled.
"The girl likes you. And it suggests why the boy likes you even more."
Atul shrugged.
"I plead not guilty."
Ridhima laughed.
"Let’s kill it."
She leaned to him and kissed on his cheek, turning her face slightly towards her.
A moment later when Atul glanced at the girl, she along with her friend was not there.
After the dinner, Atul dropped her at her business suite.
"There is a movie playing nearby, in the multiplex. Would you like to watch some classic?"
She suggested.
She was not willing to leave his company. Atul knew.
It was an old classic English film in a cosy, private theatre with recliner seats. The film turned out to be very romantic and they enjoyed it except for the climax where the boy met with an accident and died, leaving the girl alone. It was indeed a touching love story.
"Not everyone ends up with the perfect one, right?"
Ridhima commented as the movie ended.
"We don't know what happened to her, after all."
Atul said.
"Let's go to my suite."
She looked at him.
Her suite was luxurious and spacious. It had a kitchen and a reading room addition to the bedroom and visiting room. It was nothing like Atul had ever spent a night in his life. He felt for Ridhima. The large suite could only magnify her loneliness.
"Do you like a drink?"
She asked.
"No. Thanks, Ridhima. I’ll leave soon."
He said, still not finished watching the decor.
When he turned to her, she was right in front of him.
"Ridhi..."
He couldn’t finish as she placed her lips on his. He froze. She slowly sucked his lips and he stood like a stone. She sensed it and looked into his eyes.
"I know. It’s okay. It’s just..."
She looked down and bit her lip.
"I look desperate, don't I?"
Her voice was hopeless.
"You look desirable."
"But I am not looking for anyone. I'm just... I know you'll be gone in a few minutes."
They stared into each other’s eyes like they were lost. He touched her face and ran his fingers from forehead to eyes to nose to lips to chin.
She was ready. I could lift her in my arms and carry her into that room and she would make love to me for the whole night. She would spread her legs and beg, 'fuck me, Atul.' Or I could push her slightly downwards and she would drop to her knees and allow me to push my dick into her mouth.
He smiled.
"Good night, Ridhima."
She shook her head twice.
"Good night."
He walked back.
When he was returning, his head was heavy.
Why does she long for me like this? It can never be possible.
----- ----- -----
The following Monday Atul got a message from the car dealer. He went to see Mr Pradeep one last time. That's when he encountered him - the young man he had seen with the girl at Cafe Decor - again.
"Where is Mr Pradeep?"
Atul asked.
“Dad is away,” the young man smiled pleasantly. “Please be seated and tell me what happened.”
When Atul told him the issue, he was immediately ready to help.
“Don’t worry. I’ll cancel the order and provide a full refund of the advance. I’ll tell my dad you promised me that you’ll buy the car from us when you plan to buy one in the future. You will do that, won’t you?”
Atul smiled.
"Yeah, why not? Sure."
He thanked him. It was mere luck that they met at Cafe Decor. Atul thought. He shook hand with him before he got up to leave.
"My name is Prithvi."
The young man introduced himself.
Three days later Atul got the message and he went to get the refund cheque. Mr Pradeep himself handed Atul the cheque.
Atul walked over to Prithvi and thanked him.
"If I hadn’t met you here last time, it wouldn’t have been this easy."
"Well, we had met a couple of times. Last time if I remember it was CaféDécor. Remember?"
"Yes, I do."
Atul shook his head. Prithvi led him to the visitor's room and ordered coffee.
"How’s your friend?"
Atul asked casually.
Prithvi smiled.
"You are very good with woman. I see. What does make it so easy for you?"
Atul laughed.
"I’m afraid you have a very decent image of me."
"Every time I saw you, there was a woman with you and that woman was looking at you like she wants to kiss you right away. Even my friend Deepshikha was drawn to you the other day. What magic do you have?"
"Come on. It just happens."
"Do you mind if I gave your number to my friend?"
Atul was surprised for one moment.
"Deepshikha had seen you somewhere else later. She'll be happy if I did that."
Prithvi added.
"No. Don’t do that!"
"Why you are interested only in the elder, I mean mature women?"
Atul knew whom he was referring.
"She’s just a friend, okay?"
"Another day I had seen you with another one, during a movie a few weeks ago. She’s not much elder to you though. Who was that?"
Suddenly Atul was alert.
"Which movie?"
"Oh, are there many?"
"Are you chasing me?"
"This is my dad's shop and I often come here. And I had seen you here. That's how I started recognising you in the first place. And another thing is that you are always accompanied by beautiful women. Especially the one at the movies. When I saw you at Cafe Decor I wasn't surprised when you impressed Deepshikha just like that. How do you do it? Give me some tips, please."
"Tips for what?"
"Tips to talk to them and to draw them closer."
"Do you have someone in mind?"
"Yes."
"Then approach her. You've got nice communication skills, dude. You have nothing to worry."
"But that's the difficult part. She’s elder to me."
"How older?"
"Like.. five, six years, I guess."
"That’s not much difference. But you are very young for now. Are you studying?"
"Yeah. BBA."
"And what about her?"
"She was my teacher."
"Wonderful!"
Atul laughed. Prithvi pushed him lightly.
"Stop laughing, dude."
"What do you wanna do with your teacher, marry?"
"No. Uh...she’s already married."
"Then it’s a waste of time."
"I know. But give me tips so that I can get close to her. She doesn’t teach me now. I am not in her class."
Atul nodded understandingly.
"Okay. I think it’s very simple in your case. You are a student. She’s a teacher who doesn’t teach you anymore. Do you see that flower shop?"
Atul pointed across the street. Prithvi shook his head.
"Buy a gift from there; a bunch of beautiful flowers. And present your teacher with a surprise gift. Tell her how much you miss her after the classes are over. And the next day you ask her what she did with it. If she takes it home and keeps it somewhere it is visible to her until it goes dry, it means she has feelings for you, even though it may not be too romantic."
"Will she accept it?"
"She will have no chance to deny it! You haven’t stolen her purse when you met her last time, have you?"
Prithvi stared at him and then at the flower shop.
Next day, when Atul reached home after work, he found a neatly packed flower gift on top of Anvita’s makeup table. It was beautiful.
And it remained there for two days until it went dry.
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