Sangita saw her husband step out of the bathroom, her eyes wide at the sight of his bare torso. His body wasn't anything like Giridhar's. It was simply magnificent! She couldn't turn her fascinated gaze away from him. His hair was dishevelled as he had just finger combed its dampness. His pyjama bottoms hung low on his hips and his large feet were bare.
But her eyes were riveted to his naked chest. Tight curls of golden-brown hair were spread liberally on his broad chest, making him look irresistable. Her eyes moved lower, tracing the line of hair that shaped into a V to disappear into his pyjamas. She closed her eyes tightly as she felt a rush of passion hit her. She was torn by the conflict between her bodily desire and mind.
She slowly opened her eyes to see that he was much closer. The sight of the sheer, peach-coloured, feminine negligee, clutched in his large hand should have struck her as incongruous.
He moved around the room, blowing all the candles out, just leaving two on, near the head of the bed. He looked at his wife who was huddled into a tight ball under the sheets, her body and face tense.
Gautam knelt beside her on the carpet. Sangita smothered the hysterical giggle that rose in her throat as she remembered Sid's question. She looked at her husband cautiously, unable to quite meet his eyes and again wary of eyeing his bare chest at such close quarters. She closed her eyes firmly.
“Sangita,” his voice was too close for comfort. “Why don't you wear this negligee instead of that robe? I'm sure you'd be more comfortable.”
Sangita opened her eyes to look at his face. His blue eyes were gentle and that somehow managed to calm her. She shook her head negatively, “It's too transparent!”
He held the negligee against the candlelight and understood what Sangita meant. He turned to look at his shy wife. “How come you...no, lemme think. You obviously didn't bring this. You...”
“I couldn't find my overnight case,” she whispered. “Only this one bag was available.
”He nodded his head in understanding, his hair shining golden in the candlelight. She was hard put not to run her fingers through the unruly locks. She gave a small sigh of frustration. He looked at her, wondering at the sigh. “It must have been Sara; her way of helping us to get on with our married life.” A twinkle appeared in his eyes.
A blush stole over her body and rose to her cheeks, reddening them, much to his fascination and delight. Snapping his fingers, he got up to search the bag and came up with his pyjama top.
“Why don't you wear this?” he asked his wife. She looked at the white garment in his hand which was obviously the pair to what he was wearing.
“Are you sure?” He nodded.
She stepped out from under the covers and took the top from him, careful not to let their fingers touch.
Gautam hid his smile of amusement as he saw her walk towards the bathroom with his pyjama top in hand. He had noticed the way her eyes clung to his torso, completely mesmerised. It appeared like he wouldn't have to wait too long before consummating their marriage.
Sangita removed the robe and looked at herself once again in the mirror. Despite her inhibitions earlier, she was hesitant to part with her negligee. She pulled the garment over her head in one single move and pulled Gautam's pyjama top on. The top smelled of his cologne. It was large and Sangita folded the sleeves over several times. She grimaced at her image in the mirror as the garment did nothing to her feminity.
But that wasn't the impression of the man who was lying on the bed now. The thin pyjama top dipped and flowed as Sangita walked towards him. His imagination went haywire as she settled on the bed next to him.
“Sangita!”
“Hmm.” She turned in his direction to find him looking at her from behind half-closed eyes and wondered what he was thinking.
“Do you mind opening out your braid?” He added, “Please,” as he saw the look of protest on her face.
She couldn't refuse him as she already felt too guilty denying him his conjugal rights. She sat up and opened her thick plait with nimble fingers. Suddenly, she found Gautam's hairy chest too close for comfort. He played with her hair, his hard palms against her cheeks as he raised her face to his.
“Kiss me, Sangita.” He looked deeply into her eyes, his gaze mesmerising.
Sangita held on to his forearms, her eyes wary. She eyed his masculine lips and gave in to temptation.
She moved closer and pressed her soft lips to his hard ones. She felt her body dip as he pushed her back against the bed. She couldn't recall her fear as she felt the weight of his body against hers. She was too busy enjoying the freedom granted to her over her husband.
Sangita tightened her arms around Gautam's neck as she slowly traced his lips with her silken tongue, revelling in the masculine texture of his lips. She leisurely pressed her tongue in-between and nudged his teeth line, seeking further entry.
He opened his mouth to let her in and it was like taking a headlong plunge into a warm pool. Her whole body reeled with shock as her tongue traced the inside of Gautam's mouth. She became bolder as she couldn't sense any protest from her husband. She was thrilled to explore the velvet contours of his mouth.
Gautam groaned as he pulled her soft body closer into his embrace. She was purring like a kitten in his arms. And he was sure that his sweet, innocent wife had no idea what she was inviting.
He moved away from her clinging lips, much to her disappointment. She frowned at him, wondering why. Maybe he hadn't liked the kiss.
Sangita realised that she had spoken aloud when Gautam replied, “It was heavenly, my darling innocent! Only I wasn't sure you'd be able to take the consequences if it continued,” his face tight with the control he had placed over the desire raging through his body.
Sangita blushed a fiery red before burying her face against her pillow. What was wrong with her? She was giving him mixed signals too. A sigh racked her body as she hit the pillow with a tight fist.
“Easy, little one,” said Gautam as he spread her long hair over his pillow and laid his head over it. Sangita turned to look at him, his head golden against her dark hair. “I'm sorry, Gautam.”
“What for? I'm not,” he grinned. “Just shows what a fantastic kisser you are,” he said as he traced his thumb over her lips.
She ran her tongue over her suddenly dry lips and inadvertently touched his thumb in the process. Her eyes flew to his as his blue ones caught fire. He removed the finger from her lips and raised it to his own mouth, touching the same spot with his tongue. The erotic gesture sent Sangita's heart banging against her chest.
“Go to sleep, sweetheart,” said Gautam as he blew the candle closest to him before shutting his eyes.
She blew her candle and waited for Gautam's arms to go around her, in vain. After a few minutes she heard the even tempo of his breathing and realised that her husband was fast asleep.
She couldn't comprehend the deep sense of disappointment that ran through her. Gautam had behaved like the gentleman that he was. Sangita turned on her side and suddenly felt the tug on her hair and looked around to see her husband's face buried in it. A slow smile lit her features as she looked at the even rise and fall of his torso as he slept on his chest. Her eyes closed in slumber as hope fluttered in her heart.
23
The days fell into a routine once Gautam's family left for the States. The nights were a different story.
Sandeep joined a nearby playschool, Sunflower Nursery while his name had been registered with J. Krishnamurti's The School for senior KG for the next academic year.
Gautam dropped his son off at the nursery before going to college, while Sangita picked him up in the afternoon.
Sandeep was thrilled with his new life. He felt so proud to be dropped at school by his new father every day. And his name had been registered as 'Sandeep Sinclair' much to his delight.
He skipped along beside his mother as they were on their way back home. Butterscotch ran in front of them, stopping every now and then to sniff at the bushes on the way. Sa
ngita had half her attention on Sandeep's jabber as her mind swirled around her husband.
She couldn't help the secret smile that seemed to have taken a permanent place on her face. Her life had improved tremendously too. She hugged herself as she recalled the feeling of intense love in Gautam's embrace. He made no demands on her as he only gave her total, unconditional love, so far an 'unheard of phenomenon' in her life.
Mother and son reached the gates of their new home as Butterscotch let out a series of barks to inform Vimala and Ganapathi that they were home.
Vimala opened the door to the exuberant child and pulled him into a loving embrace as she asked him about his time at school. The atmosphere here was one of love and warmth unlike their earlier home. Typically childlike, Sandeep had forgotten all about his former existence, getting adjusted to the excitement of his new life almost from the first day.
“Kollu Patti,” he said, “today they taught us to finger paint, and look here,” he showed her proudly, “I've painted a picture of Butterscotch.” He looked at her kind face for signs of approval as she took the sheet of paper that had a large, golden yellow blob with a line for tail, two black spots for eyes and a dark, red line indicating a wide grin. She didn't disappoint him as she admired his handiwork with great zest. “This is wonderful, darling. Butterscotch would be so proud of you if only he could understand.” She gave him another hug even though his clothes were streaked with water colours. “Now, why don't you show this to Kollu Thatha before changing your clothes?”
“'Kay, Kollu Patti,” said Sandeep before giving her a kiss. He took his masterpiece and walked over to Ganapathi, whose face was buried in the latest issue of Kalki.
“Kollu Thatha, Kollu Thatha,” he chanted as Ganapathi turned to look at him, “Look at my painting.” Sandeep showed his work of art to the old man.
Ganapathi studied it for a few seconds with a twinkle in his eye, while Sandeep jumped from one foot to the other impatiently, hanging on to the arm of Ganapathi's recliner.
“Hmm, let me see,” drawled the kind voice teasingly, “this looks like,” he turned the paper this way and that, dragging out the moment of anticipation much to the child's delight, “hey!” he snapped his fingers, “this looks like a painting of a huge, golden Labrador.” He turned to look at his great grandson and spoke in a secretive whisper, “Is it Butterscotch, by any chance?”
Sandeep gave a whoop of glee as he danced around Ganapathi. He nodded his head vigorously and told the old man valiantly, “This is a gift for you, Kollu Thatha. You keep it in your room.”
Ganapathi smiled with genuine warmth as he pulled the little boy on to his lap. “Thank you, young man. I'm so glad to receive such a precious gift.” He kissed Sandeep gently on top of his head. “Now, dear, why don't you go change and have a wash like the good boy you are? Ramanna Thatha has made vegetable pulao and thayir pachadi with lots of fried pappadams for lunch. Your favourite, right?” he winked at the little boy who was bouncing on his lap.
Sangita watched the scene with gratitude. Her cup of happiness was full. She couldn't help comparing their lives of today to that of a week ago. A tiny sigh shook her being as she thanked the Maker.
The four of them sat to a noisy lunch and later played carrom for an hour before Sandeep's head started nodding. Sangita guided him to his room that was next to her own and Gautam's bedroom with a connecting door in between. Sandeep had adapted to the change quite easily.
The phone rang and Sangita picked her bedroom extension automatically. It was Gautam. “Hi, sweetheart!”
“Hi!” her voice came out in a shy whisper.
“Lunch over?”
“Hmm.”
“Cat's got your tongue, woman? Out with it! What's the problem?” he asked, a bit concerned with his wife's reticence.
“Why, nothing, Gautam. Everything's fine,” she said, a smile in her voice as she visualised the disturbed frown on his broad forehead. How she wished that his strong arms were around her! A small sigh escaped her.
“What's it, my darling?” he asked again.
“I miss you so. I'm not complaining, Gautam,” she added in a hurry, “I love Patti and Thatha and its great having so much time with Sandeep. But,” she hesitated before taking the plunge, “I miss your hugs and kisses. I just can't seem to get through the day without them,” she said in a soft voice that shattered his nerves in one blow.
“Just a little over two hours, love. I'll be home at the soonest, okay?”
Sangita nodded her head before she realised that he couldn't see her. “Okay,” she murmured in reply. He blew her a kiss before disconnecting the line, a dreamy smile on his lips.
Sangita turned around and looked at the huge bed in the centre of their bedroom. All the difficulties she'd imagined never materialised. Gautam made no demands on her that she wasn't ready to fulfil.
Only on one thing had he remained adamant. On their first night at home she had requested, “Do you think I should sleep in another room, Gautam? Maybe I can share Sandeep's...”
“No!” The reply was vehement as he looked at her steadily.
She swallowed before trying to reason with him, “Well, Gautam, as we're anyway not...” she gulped again, not knowing how to go further. He just continued to stare at her, his arms folded across his wide chest as he leant against the wall next to the dressing table, refusing to help her out of the situation. “Well,” she began again, “as we aren't really husband and wife, we...”
“But we are,” came his reply, his voice menacingly silky. “Don't even imagine otherwise, okay?” The blue eyes looked at her. “So, we haven't consummated our marriage. Not yet! But that doesn't mean we never will. My wife will not sleep away from me,” he declared in a no-nonsense voice.
“I understand that it might appear strange to anyone...”
“Sangita!” He was beside her in a couple of strides, holding her face up to his. “Let's get this clear once for all. I don't give a damn about others' opinions. You're my wife and you'll sleep in my arms, in my bed, okay?” His intense, blue eyes looked deeply into her chocolaty ones.
She offered to sleep in another room out of a sense of guilt. Otherwise, she was only too happy to sleep in her new husband's bed. The morning after the wedding she had woken up in the hotel room to find herself in the warm cocoon of his embrace and it had felt like heaven on earth. Sangita had always had the feeling of being used by others throughout her life. No one had given her so much love as Gautam and his family except for Rekha.
She was fidgety as she waited for the couple of hours to fade away. Thatha and Patti were having their siesta and this was the most difficult time of the day. She'd never got used to sleeping in the afternoons, though she used to enjoy reading. But recently, she hadn't been able to concentrate on any book. Gautam's brilliant eyes kept interposing.
She made an impatient sound as she ran downstairs to let herself out into the garden through the French windows. She walked to the back of the bungalow to stare at the swimming pool restlessly. It looked cool and inviting. Only she didn't know how to swim. Gautam had been teaching Sandeep over the past few days as Sangita watched them with envy. She'd been too shy to ask. She had never worn a swimsuit in her life; in fact, nothing other than the conservative sari or salwar kameez. The pool was so tempting! She knew that with a little persuasion, she'd definitely like to try her hand at swimming. And her husband was such a wonderful teacher. She had been watching him with Sandeep.
Another sigh came out inadvertently as she walked under the shade of trees that lined the compound wall. Despite all the amazing love flowing around her, there was this feeling of dissatisfaction that nagged at her subconscious. She seemed to be missing out on something wonderful, something that was elusive.
She didn't know why her body craved for Gautam's touch. She had never liked being with a man, hating Giridhar's touch. But now, she liked nothing better than to be in her husband's arms. Sangita wrinkled her nose at the parrot that screeched overhea
d. She saw the flash of green as it flew from one mango tree to another.
She didn't understand herself. Hugs and kisses were fine. 'But sex?' She shook her head slowly to herself. That was still a taboo. She definitely didn't want to experience it again. A slow thought reared itself from the depths of her being, 'Didn't she?'
A small frown pleated Sangita's smooth forehead. Gautam had made it plain in so many words that it was only a matter of time before they made love. But she couldn't see how. He made no demands, and she...well, she was quite happy as things were.
She was, wasn't she?
She recalled the touch of his large hands against her breasts. Her frown deepened. He hadn't done that recently. Sangita stopped suddenly in mid-stride. The last time he'd touched her so intimately was...she just remembered. It was on the day her father-in-law had given the cheque to her parents.
Her scowl became heavier as her breasts tightened, her sensitive nipples throbbing. Why had he stopped touching her? This was a new worry for Sangita. It intruded like a worm into her thoughts. Maybe he didn't like her shape. She closed her eyes in agony. What if he thought if she was too big or may be too small...? On and on went Sangita's mind as she tortured herself.
All, but the obvious answer, presented themselves to the innocent Sangita's mind.
That night had been one of pure hell for Gautam. After touching her so intimately, his aroused body refused to calm down even after two cold showers. He hadn't slept a wink recalling the feel of her soft breasts against his palms. They were a perfect fit, neither too large nor too small. Her response to his touch had been thoroughly satisfying. Only, a smile came to Gautam's lips, the beautiful child-woman didn't understand her own body. Finally, he lay back on his bed, taking deep breaths to cool himself down.
He was most definitely not ready for that kind of trial, especially with his gorgeous wife sharing his bed. It took a lot of effort from his side to exercise that kind of control but it was slowly becoming a habit. Not for anything was he ready to let her sleep away from him. He grinned as he recalled the enthusiasm with which she kissed him at every opportunity. Not long now, he promised himself as he entered the gates of Shraddanjali.
The Madras Affair Page 23