Part 104-- Conditions

April 4th 2011

Golf Links Club

Terrace....

1:22 am

She is curious and restless like always, walks up to near the edge of the railing on the terrace. There is a huge gazebo in the center, there were lots of plants and vines…..

“How far from here is your house?” she asked looking at his face in the moonlight.

He watched her index finger shave the droplets off the bottom of the steel tube………..

“Two blocks down”

Everything looked freshly soaked…………. After that quick rain shower

They stood there chatting as if, they had known each other all their life, or like they had just met each other.

“Your Dad doesn’t like me” she said looking into the dark night….. the roof top light on Oberoi Towers glimmered at a distance.

He looked at her face, her eyes were sparkly, her nose ring glittered…. And so did her bindi…

“That’s not true” he lied

“Thanks (for lying) she muttered.

“Radhika…”

She turned suddenly and looked up at his eyes.

“Your Dad told me when he visited weeks ago, you are not to be trusted”

“And?....” he asked

They both waited…

“ I am not sure why he would say that” (not admitting if she trusted him or not)

“I agree” he answered cryptically.

“Ummm… you know… Ive told you… mera matlab… I almost hit a “home run” (doing air quotes) once” she said.. haltingly.

“Dadi aa gayin…”

He smiled.

“I am going to send mine to Venice on our wedding night”

“Only for a nite?’ she asked hoarsely.

He closed the gap…

Spanned her waist…

“A week?” stamping her bare shoulder and her neck column with his soul patch…

“Nahi a month” (sucked her breath in audibly.)

“You make me very jittery Raghav” she admitted like a child

She gripped his wrists… tight…

He kissed her fully on the lips.

He cursed and groaned, she froze in shock…. A mixture of moist earth and his lemony cologne sent her insides spinning….

One of his palms was cupping her head….. she wasn’t sure if she was achy or hungry or blissful or all of it…..she suddenly felt weak and helpless… not a feeling she felt every day…

She realized she was standing on her toes… and on the verge of leaning on him.

He tasted like gin….

He hugged her and buried his face in her neck…. And groaned again…

Her eyes were shut, her cheeks were crimson…

He leaned on the balcony and cupped her face.

“Umm.. “ her eyes were closed and her book of words was lost

He smiled…

“Ummm… Ive.. I haven’t.. mujhe…” saying so she opened her eyes.

They stared at each other for a few moments.

“Your soul patch is scratchy” she declared

He laughed, a deep throaty laugh…. Totally amused…. Enjoying himself…

“Thanks!”

“Mera matlab” “It has to go!” she complained

“Its not” he argued, letting her index finger feel it…

“You are marrying an activist”

“And you a bum” he supplied.

They stood in the embrace

“Where do you want to go Radhika?”

“Main tumhaare kamaye hue paison se kahin jaaoongi. Agar tum mujhe bus mein bhi lekar gaye to mujhe khushi milegi. Hum roadside mein khaayenge aur paidal ghoomenge” she acts poorly

He laughs again…

When he stops they look at each other…

“I was thinking French Polynesia or Turks & Caicos” letting his fingers flirt with her blouse edge

“French Polynesia now, and Turks in a couple months?”

She spoke to his Adam’s apple…. “How long?” she croaked

“Until I am quenched”

You are marrying an activist (equal rights for women and all that garbage...), what about my hunger?” she asked bravely.

“We could just live there” he muttered hoarsely… pressing his torso on her.. “I have to count your curls” “It could take me months”

“Not if you do it all day long” she countered…

“But.. you have to be naked though…” he laughed huskily, just as they heard footsteps….