Shyam nodded his head. “If that’s what you think, Mamma.” He gave a deep sigh, giving his wife a troubled look. “Times are changing and so are modern relationships. All I want is for Saloni to have a happy life.”
“She’s already doing that. Cheer up!” After saying that, Ganga went to sit with her daughter-in-law, running a pacifying hand down her back. “Rati, listen.”
“Mamma,” Rati howled, burying her face in Ganga’s lap, “Where did I go wrong?”
Ganga sat there in silence, waiting for the storm to pass.
24
The next day at work, Saloni went and knocked on Aarav’s office door first thing. He had pinged her on WhatsApp to do just that.
“Hey!” Aarav got up from his chair to walk forward and give Saloni a tight hug before giving her a brief, but hard kiss. He locked the cabin door before guiding her to the middle of the room. “I’ve got something for you.” He put a hand in his jacket pocket and removed a jewellers’ box. Saloni looked at him warily as he opened it to show her the two matching bands of diamonds sparkling in their bed. “Just a little something for my partner,” he said, taking her hands in his. “You get to choose which hand you want it on.” Aarav looked into her eyes. “If wearing it on the left makes you feel that we are an engaged couple, then you can wear it on your right.” He raised an eyebrow in silent query.
Saloni raised her right hand and let him place the ring on her finger and stared in amazement as she watched him lift her hand to his lips, kissing the finger that wore his ring.
“Thank you Sal.” He showed his right hand to her, with the ring box held in the palm of his left hand.
Saloni removed the matching band with trembling fingers to place it on his ring finger. She imitated his gesture by kissing his hand.
He pulled her into his arms, kissing her deeply. “I love you Sal.”
Saloni clung to his neck. “I love you too. And Aarav,” she whispered in his ear, “Thank you so much. The ring looks beautiful.” She kissed him under his ear. “Am I taking you too much for granted?”
He lifted her face up with a finger under her chin, his gaze smoky as it fell on her delicious mouth. “So what if you are? It makes me happy if you take me for granted. I want to be there for you, always.” He kissed her hard before giving her a smart pat on her butt, turning her towards the door. “I’ll see you soon at the meeting. Now go or I won’t get any work done.”
“Why?” She gave him a naughty look, tracing her right hand over the lapel of his jacket, pausing to admire the ring. “Are you suggesting that I might distract you?”
“There’s no “might” about it. You’re already doing it. Do you want to leave or should I have my way with you, right here on my desk?” He wiggled his brows at her, his eyes blazing with hunger.
“Are you challenging me?” She pulled his head down to kiss the corner of his mouth.
“Sal...” Aarav groaned. “If we didn’t have that damned meeting in fifteen minutes, I’d have done just that.”
“Some other time, perhaps.” She darted a mischievous look at the desk before lifting a hand to pat his manly cheek. “I’ll be seeing you then.” She turned to leave.
“Do you want to go home for lunch?” he asked just as she opened the lock on the door.
“On a Monday?” Saloni laughed. “Don’t make promises you can’t keep.” She blew him a kiss before going out and shutting the door behind her.
Everyone was already in the board room when Aarav entered. He took the seat next to Hiten before opening the meeting with a wide smile on his face. “Hello guys! Hope you had a good weekend all of you.”
There were a number of nods and “yays” before he raised a hand for silence. “I have two things to announce. One is that Hiten has been promoted to the post of General Manager of AC Properties beginning tomorrow.” He paused when there was thunderous applause even as Hiten gave his boss a surprised and excited look. Aarav raised his hand once again before continuing, “Dharmesh, I hope you have the letter of appointment with you here.” He took the letter from the HR head before handing it to Hiten and shaking his hand. “Congratulations Hiten! You have been one of the best executive assistants and you truly deserve your new position. The floor is yours.”
Hiten cleared his throat before talking. “Thank you so much Aarav. I’m overwhelmed is all I can say. I hadn’t expected this.”
“Yeah, we’ve been planning this as a surprise for you since a while,” said Dharmesh, grinning.
Hiten nodded before continuing, “It’s been great working so closely with you for two years Aarav. I’ve learnt a lot and promise to do complete justice to my new post. Thank you again, all of you.” He spoke for a few more minutes before he was done.
“I’m sure you’ll do a damn good job Hiten.” Aarav turned to address the others again. “And the next thing is a bit more personal. Many of you must have noticed that Saloni has made an announcement on Facebook...”
There was an uproar as all the staff got to their feet, clapping and shouting their “congratulations”. Aarav sat in his seat, grinning from ear-to-ear, as he gestured to Saloni to sit next to him. Hiten got up to give her his seat. Aarav held Saloni’s hand as the rest of the staff continued with their revelry before two men from the canteen brought in a trolley with a huge three-tiered cake. The noise that followed was enough to split ear drums. Everyone walked forward to shake Aarav’s and Saloni’s hands, offering their best wishes.
It was a while before the couple got to cut the cake. Saloni blushed a becoming red when Aarav fed her the first bite, before she fed him one. “Okay guys,” Aarav called out. “A fifteen-minute break for the cake and samosa party before we get back to our meeting.”
The catcalls and whistles blew the roof as the hundred plus staff celebrated along with their boss and his girlfriend.
25
Saloni got the job of Executive Assistant to the company president. “I hope you don’t mind being my assistant,” said Aarav, holding her close to his naked chest on Saturday. They were at his penthouse and had just finished making love.
She raised her head from his chest to look up at him. “Why would I?”
“I’d rather you be my partner. But...”
Saloni shook her head. “I want to earn the job Aarav. I’m truly glad to work as your assistant. I know I’m absolutely fit for the job. I plan to work along with you and learn everything. So, maybe I can get to be your business partner sometime in the future.” She drew a finger over the shape of his lips.
“Hmm...I’ve been thinking.” Aarav drew her finger into his mouth and sucked it gently, arousing her to fever pitch with that little gesture, her eyes glazing over with passion.
She pushed him on the bed to climb over him. “You’ll need to think some other time,” she insisted, kissing and caressing her way down his body to his semi-erect manhood. She laughed when she saw his immediate response and climbed over to ride him.
Aarav grinned, his hands caressing her breasts before he placed his mouth to a tip and drew it in.
Saloni threw her head back, a long moan coming out of her lips as she reached her climax. She continued to ride him till he gave an answering groan as the orgasm hit him hard.
Aarav laughed when she fell against him. “You’re insatiable, woman,” he said, hugging her close.
“Would that mean that I’m a nymphomaniac?” Saloni asked in a squeaky voice so unlike her own.
“What?!” Aarav moved sideways to look at her. “Where did that come from?”
“Tell me the truth Aarav.” Saloni raised disturbed brown eyes to his.
“Sal, babe. What happened? We just made awesome love. What’s upset you?” Aarav tried to pull her into his arms, but she moved further away from him, shaking her head.
“You said I’m insatiable. I...”
“But...Sal, I meant that as a compliment. Okay, I was teasing too. But it was in fun, not at all meant to upset you. If you’re insatiable, then so am I. I want
to make love to you a lot too. What does that make me?” He asked her logically.
Saloni sighed. “Manish called me a nymphomaniac.” Her lips drooped with remembered hurt.
“Why would he do that?” Aarav looked genuinely shocked. “I thought you said that he never made love to you after Mitesh was born.”
Saloni nodded. “Yes. Well, I did approach him a few times.” She turned red in shame. “Only he...”
“You poor baby!” Aarav gathered her close in his arms, tucking her head into his chest, pressing his lips to the top of her head. “He really starved you, didn’t he? The bastard!” He ran a caressing hand down her back. “But that doesn’t make you a nymphomaniac. You enjoy sex and so do I. I think that makes us normal, red-blooded humans. Wouldn’t you agree?”
“Are you sure?” Saloni lifted her head to look at him. “I do desire you, a lot. Is that wrong?”
Hot colour ran over Aarav’s rough cheeks as his eyes glowed with joy. “I should hope not. If that’s wrong, then I don’t plan to ever be right.” He grinned at her lazily, coaxing an answering smile on her face.
“I love you Aarav.” Saloni kissed him, her angst wiped out by his don’t-give-a-damn attitude.
The divorce went off smoothly a few months later. Manish passed a few rude comments when he saw Aarav accompany Saloni to the court, but only within her hearing. Aarav Chopra was too big and too rich for Manish to insult him. She bore with Manish’s comments stoically, not really caring as long as she was legally free of him.
“Hello Aarav Chopra.” Manish gave him a wide smile when Saloni stepped away to get some coffee.
Aarav nodded his head, no answering smile on his face, saying, “Hello.”
“I hope you’re able to keep Saloni happy. You know how it is. She needs a man all...” He didn’t complete the sentence before he found himself held by the neck, a foot above the ground.
“Do continue,” invited Aarav, pinning the other man with his deadly grey gaze. “You were saying?”
“It’s just that Saloni...will you please let me go? I only thought it’s fair to warn you and meant no harm.” Manish’s voice was almost pleading.
“That’s the last time you take Saloni’s name, do you hear me? If you utter it one more time, I’ll ensure that you never find another wife to make a fool of.” Aarav dropped him, uncaring when Manish fell on his butt right down to the floor.
Saloni came rushing when she noticed Aarav manhandling Manish. “Something’s wrong?” she asked, giving Manish a shocked look as he got up from the floor, dusting his bottom.
Aarav tucked a hand around her waist before turning her around, saying, “Everything’s perfect, now.” He grinned as he bent down to give her a peck on her cheek. “So, how does it feel to be free of that scum?”
“On top of the world.” Saloni grinned back at him.
“Good. Get your bags packed. The three of us are going on a holiday to Italy.”
Saloni stopped in her tracks to stare up at Aarav disbelievingly. “Are we? When?”
“Yes. Tomorrow afternoon.”
26
They had had a leisurely trip around Italy. Aarav had hired a camper that was the last word in luxury and they had roamed the countryside, away from the regular tourist spots. Mitesh, who was almost two now, had a wonderful time as both Aarav and Saloni gave him their complete attention. They stopped and stared at every little farm and farm animal that came in their way. They ate local food, sometimes at farm houses or at little restaurants that served authentic food. At other times, Aarav cooked them simple meals in the tiny kitchen platform that the camper was fitted with.
Aarav and Saloni made love under the stars every night, after Mitesh went to sleep. It was the best time of both their lives.
The day before they were to return, Aarav sat outside on a recliner, with Saloni on his lap. “Happy?” He kissed her soft cheek.
“Never more so.” Saloni held his hand with hers, pressing their rings together. Coming to a sudden decision, she removed his ring from his finger as Aarav watched on in silence. “Give me your left hand,” she ordered. Taking it in hers, she placed the ring on his finger. “Will you let me make an honest man of you?” she asked softly, an impish look in her eyes, confident of his unconditional love.
Aarav nodded, too choked to speak, shifting her ring from her right hand to her left too. “Thought you’d never ask.” He buried his face against the crook of her shoulder, holding her tight, overcome by emotion.
Saloni hugged him back. “How could I not when I know you are my Mr. Perfect?”
THE END
About the author
Sundari Venkatraman
Sundari Venkatraman is a bestselling indie author of 19 books and three collections. You can know more from the links before. The author would love to have your feedback on her books on Goodreads and Amazon.
Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Sundari-Venkatraman/e/B00IBEUJV2
Website: www.sundarivenkatraman.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AuthorSundariVenkatraman
Flaming Sun Collection 3: Perfect Twins Find Anya (Box Set with 3 novellas) Page 33