A Reckless Night
Page 21
He looked at the baby in silence for a few moments. “Nikki, your mother and father will be looking down on you at all times. Your mom and I will love you and promise to take care of you.”
Tears welled to her eyes to his words, and she smiled leaning onto his arm as he looked at the baby.
“Varsha, I want one of ours.”
“What?”
“You are the mother of my children, but I want one more.”
“Dude, you’re nuts. We already have two girls. Not happening.”
“Please tell mommy you want a baby brother and a sister,” he said brushing his lips gently on the baby’s cap.
“Nice try. Not happening.” She pulled out her camera and clicked a picture with him looking at the baby affectionately.
*****
“Did you really call me or did you pocket dial me?” Kris’s cousin teased.
“Cut it Rohan, it’s not like you call me all the time.”
“You are a big shot. I can’t just pick up the phone and call you, and I need to deal with your admin assistant.”
“Okay, I am guilty of not calling you.”
His cousin laughed. “I’m kidding. It’s good to hear from you, Kris. How are you doing?”
“I’m okay.”
“How is your mom doing? Dude, so sorry about everything.”
“Thanks Ro. She is never going to be the same person. Seema left a huge void in their lives.”
“Hope she feels better soon. Hang in there.”
“Thanks, buddy.”
“So, what’s new with you?”
“Oh, just the same old stuff,” Kris lied not willing to give out anything yet.
“You’re just lying now. My mom tells me you moved to California for some chick.”
“I’m sure it was my mom who told your mom. You know how they just make up things.”
“They’re good at it, Kris. It’s called ‘mommy talk’.”
He laughed out loud but he felt guilty about mocking their moms when, in fact, what they told his cousin was the truth.
“I’m just trying something new. Life just got so busy the past few years.”
“Kris, you can technically retire and not need to work another day. You know that.”
“It’s no fun without work.”
“This is true!!”
“Is your mom still trying to set you up for an arranged marriage?” Kris teased.
“You know the answer to that, and it gets worse every year. I can’t be spotted getting coffee with a woman because they will assume I’m getting married to her and have kids with her.”
“What about your girlfriend from college?”
“Stella?”
“Yeah…her. I thought you guys were pretty serious.”
“No way…not her. What about you? I’m sure it’s tough to pick from all the women that throw themselves at you.”
“I’m done with that, dude. Focusing on work now.”
“Really?”
“Yup, I ended up having to work even when I was in India.”
“What the fuck? Who would bother you when you were grieving your loss?”
“Oh well there is this guy I invested with and…Oh, what am I saying? You know him, Rohan. Remember Rahul?”
“What about him?” Kris picked up a slight tension in his cousin’s voice at the mention of the old roommate.
“Aren’t you guys in touch? I met Rahul because of you and ended up investing in his company about a year ago.”
“No, we aren’t. He is not the same guy we knew in college.”
Kris was delighted to start the conversation about Rahul with ease. “Why are you saying that, dude?”
“Let’s not talk about him, Kris.”
“Rohan, I have a good chunk of investment in his company, and I did it because I knew him from college. Is there something I need to know?”
“There’s nothing that would impact you as an investor.”
“Good to know. Why aren’t you two in touch? Did you guys fight over a girl?” Kris hoped to get something out of his cousin, something that would help him build a case against Rahul.
“No.”
“It was Stella, wasn’t it? Did Rahul hit on Stella?” Kris wasn’t ready to let go and took a shot in the dark.
“Kris, I don’t know how to tell you this.”
“Rohan, what are you not telling me?”
“Look…there is something no one in the family knows, and I think it’s best if I don’t tell anyone about it.”
“Dude, you know you can tell me anything.”
“I know Kris, but you were so busy, and I didn’t really trust anyone to talk to about it.”
“About what?”
“I’m gay, Kris.”
“What? Not possible.” He almost screamed into the phone.
“What the heck? What do you mean not possible?”
“Dude, the number of girls that showed up at our house all those years we were roommates, c’mon.”
“No, that was me trying to fool myself that I was straight when, in fact, I was spending more time with men under the pretext of group sex.”
“What? I had no idea.”
“So all those years with Stella?”
“Stella broke up with me because we could never have sex without another couple in the room, and she didn’t want the groupie stuff any more.”
“Unbelievable.”
“Tell me about it,” his cousin snorted.
“But Rahul never hit on Stella?” Kris wanted the conversation topic to be Rahul.
“Well, this is where it gets complicated. Are you sure you want all this?”
“I do, especially if you need someone to share.”
“Thanks, Kris. You are a good man. I always knew you cared about people, just didn’t have enough time to care for them.”
“You got to stop beating a dead horse here,” Kris laughed.
“I know…so back to Stella. I didn’t know I was gay when I was in college. I was too big of a geek to date in high school and college was the beginning of freedom.”
“It’s not like my aunt would have let you date, Rohan.”
“True…when I met Stella, I thought she was the one. I lost my virginity to her but something didn’t feel right.”
“Okay, cut back on the details for me.”
“Kris…I thought you wanted it all.”
“Keep talking.”
“Long story short, I got a bit adventurous and started a threesome with Rahul, Stella, and me, and it was awesome and we went on for a couple of years, sometimes a foursome, too.”
“Until Stella called quits on your group stuff,” Kris confirmed.
“Yup, she said I had a sick mind because I couldn’t do it outside a group, and she kinda started hanging out with Rahul.”
“And?” he prompted losing his patience.
“Turns out Rahul couldn’t do it outside a group because he needed a man in the room.”
“What?”
“Rahul is gay, too, but he just doesn’t want to accept it.”
“Holy shit, what?”
“Yeah, you heard me and when I told him he was gay, he just refused to accept it. I tried to talk to him when I heard he was getting married, but he just didn’t want to talk to me.
“Holy fuck!!”
“I know!! I’m sure that moron is still doing groupie stuff not ready to acknowledge it is okay to be gay and have a normal life.”
“Well, I think I know why he doesn’t want to come out of the closet.”
“Why?”
“Even if he accepts to himself, he lives in India and it is not very well accepted, especially when his father is the head of the political party that says brutal things about the gay community,” Kris declared.
“His dad would probably disown him if he found out he was gay,” Rohan said in disgust.
“Rohan, the gal Rahul married is the woman I am in love with, and I moved to California for her.”
/> “Holy shit!! Really?”
“Yes, sorry I didn’t confess sooner.”
“Does Rahul know?”
“He doesn’t. I cancelled the extension of his contract after I found out he was the ass that put her through hell.”
“Oh my gawd, small world.”
“Is she the one, Kris?”
“Yes, she is. I can’t think of being with anyone else. She is the one who is taking care of Seema’s baby.”
“Hold on to her Kris. What trouble did he cause her?”
“Well, his latest thing is a custody battle.”
“They have kids?”
“One daughter.”
“Oh my god, this is fucking insane.” Rohan was in disbelief
“I know.”
“Let me know if I can help in any way.”
“Dude, this was very helpful. It clears up a lot of things for me.
“Anytime!!”
“Thanks, Rohan. You take care, and I would strongly recommended talking to your mom and dad.”
“I know.”
“I didn’t realize how precious life was until I met the woman of my dreams.”
“Lucky bastard!!”
“Yeah…take care Rohan. Talk to you soon.”
Chapter Twenty-Two
“Varsha!!” He called out into the empty bedroom. He had put Myra down for her morning nap and was sure she was in the nursery.
He opened the door in a hurry unable to contain his excitement. He had to tell her Rahul behaved the way he did because he was gay, and it had nothing to do with her.
“Kris!!” she hissed in an attempt to hush him as he stepped into the room.
He stood frozen looking at the sight in front of him. Varsha was in the rocking chair holding the baby in her arms breastfeeding her.
“Eyes up here, mister,” she teased.
“Varsha, how? What are you doing?” he asked in his regular voice making the baby wince in her sleep.
“Out, now!!” she snarled at him.
“Okay,” he said sheepishly as he closed the door behind him.
He waited outside the nursery listening to Varsha calm the baby down and put her back to sleep.
“I’m sorry, I badly wanted to talk to you,” he said when she stepped out of the room glaring at him.
“Why the fish did you come into the room? You knew I was putting her to sleep?”
“I know…I know…wait, were you breastfeeding Nikki?”
“Yes.”
“What? How is that possible? Didn’t you wean Myra off an year ago?”
“How do you know that?” She was taken aback.
“You told me.”
“Whatever!!”
“How long have you been nursing her?”
“Relax, Kris. I’ve been using a feeder tube on my breast so she can get the comfort from the sucking, and I can also bond with her.”
“Oh, I love you so much,” he said thrilled to hear what she did even though he was a bit shocked at the sight initially. “Have you considered making us one more baby?”
“Nice try. Not happening.” She slipped out of his hold and fast walked towards the bedroom.
“Darn!! I forgot what I was going to tell you.”
“What? About why we should have more kids?” she teased.
“No, baby. Hold still and listen to me.”
“Fine, what do you want to tell me.” She sat down on a chair in the retreat area of the master bedroom and gestured him to settle down.
“I don’t know how you’ll respond to this new piece of information.”
“What information?”
“I talked to my cousin, Rohan, who was Rahul’s friend and roommate.”
“Okay.”
He took a deep breath not knowing he was feeling nervous about telling her about her ex.
“Rohan is convinced Rahul is gay.”
“What?” She almost fell off her chair.
“Breathe, and hold on to the armrest, please.”
“That’s not possible. You told me he had multiple girlfriends in college, and he openly admired women making me all the more jealous.”
“Sweetheart, that’s the only thing that explains why he wouldn’t touch you. He wasn’t into hot women.”
“But how…,” her voice trailed off as she started to put two and two together.
“That bastard!!” Her eyes seared with tears of anger. “Why did he marry me? Why did he put me through hell for seven friggin’ years?”
Kris got up from his chair and took her into his arms holding her protectively.
“I should have known when he needed to watch porn to get it on and oh my gawd, he was turned on by the dude and not the woman. Shit!!!”
“Varsha, easy.”
“Seven years of my life that I will never get back, seven years that I could have spent…why didn’t you come into my life sooner?” She cried burying her face into his chest.
“We have Myra, sweetheart. You can forgive him for those seven years.”
She sobbed fisting his fingers on his t-shirt. Her body trembled with anger but soon calmed down.
“Does he know he is gay?”
“Yes, I believe so.”
“What the fuck was he doing with so many women if he was gay?”
“Please calm down.”
“And that fucking idiot fantasized about Kevin.”
“What?”
“Yes, now I know why he always asked about Kevin every time he needed to, you know…”
“That’s it, I don’t want to talk about this anymore,” he said laughing as he planted a kiss on the top of her head.
“How is this going to solve our current problem, Kris?”
“I have an idea, but I don’t know if it’ll work.”
“What idea?”
“Do you trust me to take care of this? I don’t want you to worry about it.”
“I do.” She wrapped her arms around his neck.
*****
“Kris, someone’s at the door,” she called out from the kitchen.
“I don’t think so.”
“Why are you being so difficult today?” She glared at him.
“Because I can,” he mocked.
She poked her tongue at him as she walked towards the main door. She looked through the peephole to find Kevin standing outside the door.
She squeaked in surprise and opened the door laughing. “What are you doing here?”
“I was in the area and wanted to shock you,” he put his arms around her for his signature bear hug.
“Not shock, it’s a pleasant surprise. Come in.”
“Nope, I’m not coming in. You need to come out.”
“Kevin, stop messing with me. I have three kids in the house today, including Kris,” she laughed.
“Kris!!” Kevin called out from the doorway surprising her.
“Can I borrow your girlfriend for tonight?” he asked as Kris walked towards them.
“Yeah man. Absolutely!!”
“You guys are nuts. I’m not going anywhere.”
“Sweetheart, Kevin stopped by for you and you don’t want to step out of the house?”
“What are you guys up to?”
“Nothing,” Kevin said abruptly.
“Guys, I know Meena is up to something for tomorrow for my birthday but what are you two up to?”
“Oh man, Meena is going to kill me,” Kris said shaking his head.
“Speak up, boys.”
“Fine…Meena planned a party at her place tomorrow and invited Kevin, and I don’t know why he decided to show up today,” Kris teased.
“That’s okay. I will act surprised when I see Meena tomorrow.”
“Okay then, get out of the house. Don’t get her drunk Kevin,” Kris warned smiling at him.
“You are up for watching both kids?” She looked at Kris in disbelief.
“Yup!! I have been trained, and I have our beloved nanny to help me. I may not be the best babysitter in
town, but you know she’ll keep me straight.” He laughed urging her to go out with Kevin.
Thirty minutes later, she waved to Kris and Pammi as she headed out to hang out with Kevin.
“Are you turning into a stay-home mom?”
“What? Why?”
“You took time off to take care of…well not even your kid.”
“She is mine, Kevin. It doesn’t matter what’s on paper, I am her mother.”
“You are such a softie.”
“I love being a mom. I seriously am enjoying staying home and spending time with the kids.” She knew she probably would have done that if she were married to a guy she could trust to take care of her and their children.”
“Oh my gawd, what have you turned into? A minivan driving soccer mom?”
“It’s kinda fun speeding in a minivan you know.”
“I’m sure it is,” Kevin smirked.
“So, Meena invited you for my 30th birthday party?”
“Well, Kris did. He knew you would be amused.”
“Amused? Happy, Kevin, happy.”
“Are you happy, Varsha?” Kevin asked softly.
“I am. I am very happy.” She wondered everyday why she hadn’t met Kris sooner.
“I’m glad to hear that coz the dude’s head over heels in love with you.”
“He is a good guy.”
“Did you guys talk about getting married?”
“No, why?”
“What do you mean why?” Kevin was visibly taken aback.
“He is raising your child, you are raising his child. Why wouldn’t you guys get married?”
“Marriage complicates everything, Kevin.”
“That’s the last thing I expected to hear from you.”
“No, I’m serious.” She was happy the way they were and could not get over the fear of ruining it by making it official.
“Worried you’ll jinx it?” he asked as if he read her mind.
“No, it’s not that. It’s just that…”
“Okay, I got it. I can’t have you look like that when I managed to get you out for drinks on your birthday eve.”
“Don’t remind me of my birthday,” she said getting out of the car and walking towards downtown.
“Why not? The big three-o scare you?”
“No.”
“If you don’t want to tell me, you don’t have to,” he mocked.