Ex Factor

by Varsha Dixit

  On hearing criticism of her son, Kamla bristled like any mother would, but then she paused. As a mother she also saw the bigger picture—her son’s happiness. And last night she had seen where Ojas’s happiness lay. Across the dining table, two chairs away from where Kamla sat. In Gina! Kamla was determined to do whatever she could to bring Ojas and Gina together.

  “What happened with the girl Ojas met last night?” Satinder asked.

  Kamla snorted. “It’s all a farce and that is all it will ever be. Ojas is just doing this to keep me happy. His heart is not in it.” She took in a deep breath. “Will you consider talking to Gina?”

  Satinder shook his head. “I will not tell her what she should do. That’s what drove her away from us once. Ojas should talk to her.”

  Kamla sighed and glanced at her hands in her lap. “Ojas has similar thoughts as you on that subject. He is convinced that he is not good enough for Gina.”

  Satinder rubbed his forehead, his expression conflicted. “Gina used to be the baby of our house. However, after living in Singapore on her own and managing things as she did, I have realized that Gina knows exactly what is good for her. She has a roundabout way of doing things, but she eventually gets what she wants. So, if she thinks Ojas is good enough for her then he does not stand a chance.”

  Kamla placed a hand on her chest, her face wreathed in a hesitant smile. “You can’t imagine how happy that makes me! Men can be so stubborn and pig headed sometimes?” She clamped her mouth realizing that she was talking to a man.

  Satinder overlooked her faux pass.

  Kamla smoothed her Sari around her knees. “Do you really think Ojas isn’t good enough for Gina?”

  Satinder inhaled deeply. “If Ojas can be the same man every day of his life, who worried so much for my daughter when she was coming over from another city in the night, if he can be the same man who came to my rescue and opened his house to someone who held nothing but contempt for him, then there is no better man for Gina than Ojas.”

  Kamla nodded. “I see my old Ojas in him now. I truly do! We have to get them to talk without any distractions. That is the only way.”

  “How?”

  “It has to be something meaningful, that will remind them of the relationship they once had.” Kamla said, pursing her mouth.

  “Do you know much about their courtship?” Satinder asked.

  “No! We only found out afterwards, just as Jassi was leaving.”

  Satinder and Kamla lapsed into thoughtful silence. Satinder was the first to speak, “Gina has a group of close friends. Some kind of a club. Maybe they can help?”

  Kamla’s eye lit up. “Yes! Yes, I remember. They were called some kind of flowers. I have met them. They all are nice, except one. The corporate one, she is very rude.”

  “Doyal?”

  “Yes, Doyal.” Kamla’s mouth twisted as if she had tasted something bitter.

  “Doyal is a very nice girl. A very sweet person.”

  Kamla snorted. “Sweet or sour, I don’t know. I just pity Doyal’s future mother-in-law. She will have her hands full. Anyhow, Mr. Bansal, what do you suggest we do next?”

  Satinder refrained from saying what he really wanted to say, which was that Kamla seemed frightened of Doyal. “Let me talk to Malti. I’m sure she will have some ideas too.”

  Kamla played with the chain around her neck. “Umm. . . do you know if she will oppose this idea?”

  Satinder sighed. “We are not the same parents that we were five years ago. All we want is Gina’s happiness. And if we can help her find it, that is all that we ask from the almighty.”

  Relieved, Kamla sat up straighter. “Good! Very good! I will talk to Meher and the other girl, Kyra I think, the journalist.”

  “And Malti and I will talk to Doyal.”

  Kamla clapped her hands softly. “Perfect!”

  Satinder smiled and then sobered. “But only if Gina wants to be with Ojas will this happen. I will not allow anyone to coerce her or impose their wishes on her.”

  “Absolutely,” Kamla got to her feet, positively beaming. “You have given me much hope. I think our children can be happy together. I will call Meher right away.”

  “Please be very discreet. If Ojas or Gina find out that we are trying to manipulate them, they will not be pleased. They might distance themselves further from each other.” Satinder warned.

  “I will be very careful. I will update you once I talk to Meher.” Wishing Satinder speedy recovery and a safe flight, Kamla headed out of his room.

  Satinder hummed as he sat back on the bed. For the last few days, his gut had been telling him that Ojas was exactly what Gina needed and wanted. Hearing Kamla reiterate his thoughts convinced him that for once, he wasn’t wrong in understanding his daughter. Maybe he could help Gina find her happiness.

  ***

  At the same time Gina, in the other room, was literally throwing things in her bag. They were to leave Ojas’s house in the next hour or so. The plan was to accompany her father to the airport, stay with him till his flight left, and then take a taxi back to Mumbai.

  As Gina went in the bathroom to grab her vanity, she saw what lay in an untidy heap on the floor near the shower. Her night suit.

  Gina picked it up, pushed it in her laundry bag, and stuffed it in her suitcase. Suddenly breathless, she flopped down on the bed. There was no running away from her feelings. She rubbed her temples and stared at the ceiling, one hand resting on her stomach.

  I still can’t believe Ojas and I made out last night! Her body warmed like she was near a hot furnace. The memory of Ojas’s tongue moving inside her mouth, his strong arms crushing Gina to his chest, his lean and long fingers kneading her breasts, his wet kisses on her neck and collar, and him suckling on her breasts—they still had enough power to make Gina go weak in the knees.

  Unquenched desire drowned out any rationale. Gina gripped the comforter as a low moan escaped her lips. If Ojas was in front of her right now, Gina would have cast aside all her inhibitions and begged him to take her in any way he wanted and as many times he wanted. And she wouldn’t have given up till he sated her.

  Gina turned to her side and pulled her legs in her stomach. She pulled the pillow between her legs and a primal desire took over. She closed her eyes and rocked herself back and forth on the pillow. She imagined Ojas slowly undressing her, pausing in between to kiss, fondle, and worship the skin he uncovered.

  Soon, in Gina’s mind, Ojas and she were naked, bare bodies sliding, slithering against each other, limbs entwined, mouths fused in deep and intense kisses, hands that thoroughly and intimately caressed the other, breaths that were soft moans. Ojas was inside her, sometimes thrusting hard, sometimes slowly driving her crazy with desire. Her body was melting under his, and he was whispering words of love against her heated skin. Gina imagined herself matching his rhythm, the scent of his salty skin drenching her, their breaths mingling just like their bodies, his muscled bare shoulders looming over her as he took her at his leisure, intensifying Gina’s pleasure until she was ready to explode.

  Eyes tightly closed, Gina rocked harder on the bed. She was gasping and slight sweat appeared on her smooth skin above her lip. In seconds, Gina twisted her head to the side, biting down on her lips as soft mews of pleasure escaped her mouth. Her body jerked; Gina found her release and in her mind, it was in Ojas’ arms, tightly clasped to his chest.

  Few seconds later, her lashes slowly fluttered open. Gina rolled back on the bed and stared at the ceiling. Discarding the pillow still between her legs, she rose up. Though she had gotten her release, there was no sense of fulfillment. Her orgasm left her aching and frustrated. She wanted to cry. The memory of the dizzying pleasure Gina had once experienced in Ojas’s arms left her craving. However, the craving wasn’t just for Ojas’s body or the act of sex; it was graver and all consuming.

  A single tear slipped from the side of Gina’s eye and trickled down her cheeks. She folded her knees and clasped them, her chi
n resting on her arms. I still love Ojas.

  Shivers started in the back of her leg and travelled through the rest of the body. Her pulse raced and sweat started blotting her temples. Gina recognized the signs. A full-blown anxiety attack—one she hadn’t suffered in years.

  Gina pounced on the purse kept next to the suitcase. With un steady hands, she found a prescription bottle, uncapped it, and swallowed two pills without any water. Lying down, she waited for her nerves to settle down. Gina thanked herself for remembering to throw the pills in her bag.

  After a few minutes when her heartbeat was normal and she wasn’t shivering anymore, Gina slithered off the bed. She finished her packing, her movements jerky. Then she went in the bathroom and splashed cold water on her face several times, trying to erase any remnants of a broken heart from her eyes. I fell in love with Ojas twice or did I never fall out? Gina wondered as she headed out of the room.

  Chapter 30

  Kamla and Satinder refrained from commenting on Gina’s red-rimmed eyes or her lack of conversation.

  Lost in her misery, Gina too failed to notice the new-found warmth and civility between her father and Ojas’s mother.

  As Satinder and Gina were about to make their way to the waiting car, Satinder asked. “Mrs. Purohit, is Ojas around? I would like to say goodbye and thank him.”

  Gina’s ear perked up on hearing her father mention Ojas. He won’t come!

  Kamla looked around. “Ojas is working with his physiotherapist so he sends his apologies that he can’t be here.” She paused. “He did wish you the best of health and speedy recovery.”

  “I see!” Satinder nodded. “Well then, we should be on our way.”

  “Gina, do visit me if you come to Bengaluru,” Kamla said.

  “Thank you, I will!” Gina murmured. Not a fat chance.

  Satinder was helped in the car. Gina checked all their luggage was loaded and then she said her final goodbyes to Kamla. She tipped and thanked the helper who had attended to her father and got in the car. Vinay got in the front passenger side. He was accompanying them to the airport and then would stay with Gina and arrange a taxi to take her back to Mumbai. Boss’s orders!

  The car travelled the driveway, heading toward the front gate.

  ***

  From the window of his gym room, Ojas watched the car with Gina and her father drive off. There was no physiotherapist. In fact, he had cancelled the visit.

  Today he was in the mood to punish his body, exhaust himself to the point that he would forget the feel of Gina in his arms. How good, how right she had felt last night. It reaffirmed what he already knew—only Gina fulfilled him. The pain of the knowledge twisted his gut.

  If she turns around and looks at me, will I be able to stay away? Ojas had asked Gina to leave and never come back, but he did not mean it at all. In his heart, he wanted Gina to stay back and never leave him.

  But Gina did not turn around. She simply got in the car after her father and drove away.

  Hanging his head, Ojas looked down and then in a sudden spurt of anger he punched the wall next to him. Some of the paint chipped off but his knuckles fared much worse. They came back red and bruised.

  Ojas walked back to the exercise machines. He chose the Lat bar. Raising his hands, he pulled down the bar, lifting a weight of over a hundred pounds. After twelve reps he felt his arms would come off his shoulders. His muscles quivered and burned, sweat dripped from his face and down his back. His body was already overworked from two hours of swimming. Either it was tiring himself till he collapsed or drinking. And Gina did not want him to drink, so working out was the only option.

  An hour later, Ojas limped into his room. He had achieved his mission. He was close to feeling sweet oblivion. All he needed was to reach his room unseen by anyone.

  His mother was waiting for Ojas inside his room. Ojas gave a silent inward groan but kept walking in the direction of his bed. Each step took a lot of effort.

  “Gina and her father left.” Kamla said, rising from the chair she was seated on.

  Ojas grunted as he staggered close to his bed and then sat down with a thump.

  Kamla walked up to Ojas who sat drawing big breaths, his head slumped low. “Don’t kill yourself, Jassi!” She ruffled her son’s hair.

  Ojas gave a harsh chuckle and raised his head. His mouth was twisted in a grimace. “I won’t, don’t worry.” Fatigue slurred his words.

  “Try and sleep now.” Kamla stroked his cheek and her fingers stilled near his chin. “Dried tears leave tracks, Ojas.”

  Ojas, simply, put his arms around his mother’s waist and held her close. Kamla held Ojas, her throat choking as her grown up son cried like he was five.

  Chapter 31

  A month later.

  Seated on the pale green comfortable and oversized sofa, Kyra texted a short message, “It’s arrived. Thank you!” to a number and sent it. She glanced at her watch. Gina should be home shortly.

  Kyra went back to writing her article as she waited for her flat mate to arrive.

  Sometime later, Gina pulled her car in the underground parking structure of her apartment building. She grabbed her empty lunch, laptop bag, and purse before getting off the car. Locking her car, she walked to the elevator. She ignored the others waiting for it.

  “Gina! Hi!”

  Gina dutifully turned her face to the woman who lived on the same floor as her and Kyra. “Hello, Mrs. Tiwari.”

  That’s all the opening Mrs. Tiwari needed. The older lady kept up the nonstop chatter even as they got off on their floor. Finally, Mrs. Tiwari was stunned into silence when Gina just walked off and away even as Mrs. Tiwari was mid-sentence.

  Gina took out her keys from her purse and stopped. It was the end of another work day. A day where Gina had tried to drown herself in her work, fighting the melancholy that threatened to consume her. Since realizing her love for Ojas she was tied up in knots. What else was she supposed to feel when Ojas wanted nothing to do with her?

  Yet Ojas had become a part of the lives of those close to Gina. Her father had gone back to Pune after his cast had come off. Malti had accompanied him and later, Gina’s mother had confided in Gina that they had taken Ojas and his family out for dinner as a ‘thank you’ gesture. Ojas had reciprocated the gesture and invited Gina’s father for a round of golf. Ojas, his dad, Puru, and Satinder had gone as a foursome and Satinder had won. Which was rather surprising as Ojas and his family were regular golfers and Satinder only played on and off. The moms had hung out at the golf club.

  On hearing about it, Gina had been shocked and felt left out. She had not been able to stop from asking her mother if Ojas had talked about Gina. Her mother’s awkward silence over the phone had been telling. He had not!

  Two weeks back, Meher had shared that Ojas that had taken her and Doyal for a fancy seven-course Moroccan meal. The three had hung out for hours, supposedly.

  Gina wanted to cast Meher and Doyal as traitors, but she loved her Wallflowers too much. Again, she had asked, “Did Ojas ask or talk about me?” This time the reply had been a change of subject.

  “Everyone but me!” Frowning, Gina stuck her keys and opened the door.

  The first thing she saw was the sofa and that it was occupied.

  “Hi G-spot!” Kyra said, shutting her laptop. “You are late.”

  “Work!” Gina said, taking off her work heels and sliding her feet in the slippers kept near the door.

  “That came for you!” Kyra pointed at a box that lay on the floor near the sofa.

  Gina walked up to the box and looked at the label. “It’s from home. I had no idea they were sending something.”

  “Open it then. Let’s see what it is.” Kyra said, shifting on the sofa.

  “Let me change first!” Gina said, disappearing in her room.

  Kyra bit off a cuss word. She quelled her desire to call Gina back and command her to open the box. Doyal and Meher had bluntly told Kyra to keep her mouth shut and control her exci
tement. Grudgingly, Kyra had agreed.

  One might have to use tools of torture to pry things from Kyra about her story and her sources, but for other things, Kyra’s mouth leaked faster than water from a car air conditioner.

  A few minutes later, Gina came back dressed in her sweats, a pair of scissors in her hand. Kyra sat up expectantly. Gina stopped next to the box and then bent down. She straightened without opening the box. “I feel like having cold coffee first.”

  “There is no coffee in the house!” Kyra blurted.

  “What? There is. I ordered it a day before with the groceries.” Gina walked to the kitchen.

  “Not sure we aren’t out of milk!” Kyra gritted her teeth. She heard Gina open the fridge.

  “There is milk. And there is sugar too before you say something about that. What’s up with you today?”

  Dang! Doyal and Meher will skewer me. I have to play this better. Kyra slowly counted to five. “Can you make a glass for me too?”

  “Oh, so now you want a glass.” Gina retorted and went about making the drink.

  Sometime later, Gina came back carrying two glasses of cold coffee and she handed one of them to Kyra.

  The two friends chatted for a bit. After finishing her coffee, Gina leaned over, grabbed the scissors, and walked to the box her mother had sent.

  Finally! Kyra said a silent ‘thank you,’ quelling all or any excitement on her part. “Hope there’s some homemade goodies in that box!”

  Shrugging, Gina frowned, concentrating on cutting open the box. It was easy to open. “Aww! I can’t believe it.” Gina went down on her knees, admiring the contents of the box.

  Kyra got up and walked over. She peered over Gina’s shoulder and looked inside the box. “What is all that?”

  “Things from my room and some clothes.” Gina said, carefully taking out a pineapple shaped neon light. “isn’t this cute?” She held it up so Kyra could see it.

  Kyra grimaced. “Ugh. The eighties are calling. They want it back so they can burn it.”