Part 68

Happy Pongal/Sankranti to all the readers J

11:20 PM

Dec 31^st 2011

Mangal Kunj

K:I had no idea she was invited too. (muttered)

Ritu: Chal bhagaate hain usko

Khanak giggles

R: She is pretty hot isn’t she?

K:Thanks! I feel so much better now (miserable)

Ashwini Rane stood by her husband, she wore a black saree with red and gold all over, her blouse was halter neck, leaving not much to imagination, Khanak felt like a nun in her lace sheath dress

R:Main poochkar aaoon kaha se lee isne saree?

K:Not a bad idea, blouse… actually

R and K do a high five and giggle

K turns around facing R “I cant watch her any more”

R:You are being silly

K:I know..

R:She is not flirting

K:He is (somber)

R:Maybe usko pata hai tu dekh rahi hai…

K:Oopar chalen kya?

R:Pradyun will chase us down.. he does look at you like he is crushing on you

K:Shhhhhhhh! (finger on her lip)RITUUUU(whisper)

R:KYON?

K:Shaan HATES him!

R looks at Shaan and then at her best friend… “You guys!” “Hmmm”

K:Plzzz don’t say anything

R:As if you didn’t have enough to deal with? The cousin on the in-laws side has the hots for the nayi bahu (laughs out loud)

K:Mike doon tujhe!

R:Nahi yesssssssssss Ab maza aayega I can give Gujral grief now… shittt I only wish you had told me sooner

K:I did not tell you anything

Ritu smacks her head “Mera matlab, mera tubelight der se chamka”

K turns around , Shaan is peering into Ashwini’s phone… they both laugh together…

K:I am going up (firmly)

R: Akele? Gujral ko bhejoon

K smiles, and shakes her head…

R:OHHHHHHH! Khoofiya plan?

K ‘s eyes sparkle but her face is serious…

R:Hug to de de Mystery, Happy New Year sweet!

They hug warmly

R:Sabko boloon?

Kchokes her

R:Samajh gayi…

15 minutes down…

Shaan’s phone beeps “I am stuck” a text from wifey…

“With me” he types back with a mocking grin

“The door” she says…

He looks up to his room…

Kritik: Did you watch that Chelsea game last week?

Shaan:Read the score… missed it, work’s killing me… albeit slowly (chuckles)

Akshay, hands him the baby… “BRB” he says

Turns around and walks upstairs, NOBODY notices except Ritu, she whispers something in Kritik’s ear “Lucky bastard” Kritik swears…

“Lets go then” giggling

Akshay: Krit, we were planning to go catch that final in Madrid in March, care to join?

Ray and Khushboo and her friends yank Ritu, she loves the attention, starts to chatter…

“Happy times :-P” she texts her friend…

~

The suite is bathed in recess lights, and the two bed side lamps, he shuts the door behind him, … walks over to the bath area, her walk in closet sliding door is open… he worries… “Khanak?” he calls out

Texts “Where are YOU?” impatient

“I am not telling” she texts back…

His heart skips a beat… as he slows down… it sinks in…

“Whats the reward?” he texts… leaning on of the many low tables lining the wall holding expensive crsytals and vases…

She doesn’t respond…

He walks over to the balcony, and opens the door…

She stood… waiting… she was leaning on the balcony… she wore a saree now…… “offwhite? Peach?” he wondered……….it had “some” pattern”, it was a gauzy chiffon……….. the blouse…….. “was she wearing one?” it blended with her skin tone…

He just leaned on the door frame, tucked his phone into his pocket, his shirt sleeve was floded 3 qtrs now, as if being formal and neat, frustrated him… a button was undone below his collar bone as well..

In the moonlight they checked each other out…

“I like your night clothes” he mocked…

“Who said I am going to bed?” she croaked…

Something hoop like and sparkly bobbed in her ears…

He took a step forward…

“You were flirting with Rane” she accused him, directly, just like his style…

“You noticed?”

He took yet another step…

She clutched the vertical rails tighter with both hands… the breeze swept her hair over her face…

“I am…” she began and stopped, nervous

He waited… he cant take the next step before she completes her next accusation…

“I wore a saree” (you can flirt with me now” was left unsaid)

“All by yourself?” (soft mocking, like Bhabhi often used with Amogh, when he fed himself peas)

“I had help” she countered

He took two steps…

“Especially hooking it in the back” brave…

Jasmine and roses intertwined as the scent wafted through…

She took a step forward as if emboldened by the rich fragrance…

“I don’t like her” she told him.

“I don’t like for you to”

The gap was closed now

She went on her toes, she was barefeet……. Held his waist with her injured left hand, and stretched her neck, he subtly backed off

“Have you been drinking” he asked bluntly, but for some reason hoarsely as she pasted herself on him completely, tryingto reach his lips

“That’s a horrible thing to say”hurt…

She reached with her right hand and traced a crease on the cheek

Her lips made contact with the crease a slow agonized groan escaped both…………..

“10 din Shantanu”

Yet he didn’t make one move……..

“You didn’t call me once” still hurt about that

She kissed his chin cleft and his jaw…

Tripped on her pallu straining, he yanked her wrapping his arms around her waist but not reciprocating in any other way

“Bai asked me if I am happy” (out of the blue)

She was on his neck now “You undid your button for her?”

She hugged him finally…………. “10 din Shantanu”

"Your friend should know married men are out of bounds" angry

She rubbed her cheek on his chest, like a scratching post…………. Hugged him tighter as if some ominous thought had just crossed her mind…….

She bent his head to her neck/shoulder……..

"There is a Greek belief, if you begin the year by making love" trails off laughs in his ear..."I am just saying" as she nipped his lobe......

Time stood still……..

“You are witch!” he swore, crushing her…….

They kissed under the stars………

She balanced herself on one foot, the other folded up………….her pallu swayed……as he bruised her soft skin…….

Without a word he picked her up and walked to the bed… laying her down not so gently, placing himself on her……….. as the clock struck twelve downstairs…. Loudly, people screamed, music blared……..as he made love to his wife purposefully......