"I knew it would be you!" Anu shrieked as soon as Dev walked into the hotel room. She got off the bed to hug him. Dev was as happy and excited to see her, relieved even.
"I didn't know it would be you, but I am super excited that it is," charmingly remarked Dev as they got into a warm embrace
They had known each other a long time but today was different.
They hugged longer than usual.
Tighter than usual.
His hands rested just on top of her butt crack rather than the middle of her back, and her right hand was on his neck rather than his shoulder. It was different.
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Abhi, Dev and Rahul had been friends for a long time. They had studied together and were the best of friends. Their group was much larger but these three were the closest. All of them were in their mid-thirties.
Abhi and Anu were the first to get married eight years ago. They were both from conservative Marwari families and had two beautiful children. It was an arranged marriage, though they knew each other due to their academic circles. Both were a little on the heavier side but Abhi especially had always struggled with weight issues, he was well over 100 kgs. Anu was also on the heavier side, had a big built herself but beautiful to look at and had a gorgeous striking smile.
Rahul and Sakshi were childhood sweethearts. They knew each other since they were in their teens, started dating right out of school and after seven years of courtship married at a young age. They were a really young at heart couple who had now been together for fifteen years. They loved each other but routine and boredom had crept into their lives.
Dev and Sonam were the last couple to join the club. They had been married for 2 years now, a traditional arranged married. They were very much in love and from the outside looked made for each other. Dev had been in two serious relationships before getting married and Sonam had been in one.
Unknown to most friends, Dev had also been courted by many a girl when he was younger, but nothing was ever seriously pursued outside his relationships.
So how did Dev and Anu end up at a hotel room together? It all started six months ago when all 3 couples had gone on a holiday to Goa together. They had booked separate rooms at a posh 5-star resort and had a ball of a time during their first three nights. On the last night of the trip everyone wanted to make the most of it by having a sumptuous meal, but they could not come to an agreement about the cuisine. Abhi and Sonam wanted to have Indian food, Dev and Sakshi their favourite Thai food, Rahul and Anu the typical road side fare. After much debate it was decided that all of them would go separately and enjoy the food they like. Naturally each person went out with someone else's spouse.
Everyone split for a couple of hours and met back at the hotel lobby. There was laughter and energy all around as all the couples for the evening had a good time spending time off their spouse and chatting with someone else. It was all clean fun but a refreshing change none the less.
Next day morning at the airport while boarding the flight the following conversation took place.
"Last night was awesome fun. Finally, I got some time off Rahul's boring talks and Dev was a proper gentleman, letting me order throughout the evening," said Sakshi.
"Yes, that is because he only took you out for one night, do you think he would do the same if he had been with you for 15 years?" laughingly shot back Rahul
Dev pitched in, "The pleasure was all mine, I am happy to take you out again if my wife will allow it."
Sonam was usually the jealous type but couldn't lose face in public, so she said, "You can take out whoever you want for dinner, as long as you come back."
Anu was very fond of Dev since the first time they had met. She had felt a special endearment towards him, nothing sexual but like a trusting confidant. Dev also had a soft spot for Anu and would go to her for advice when it came to women in his lives (before marriage).
"I would not make that bet if I were you Sonam, I have known many women who would want to be in your shoes," Anu chirped.
"Koi leke toh jaye Anu, phir pata chalega." (Let someone take him then they will know)
Abhi just kept quiet as he was never a man of many words and engrossed on his phone while the others chatted.
The seeds of the hotel rendezvous were planted here.
Many months later all of them had met up at a restaurant in Bombay and the dinner had come up again. Everyone seemed to agree it had been fun when Abhi let the cat among the pigeons.
"If it was so much fun for everyone why don't we do it again, this time a little longer."
"What do you mean exactly?" asked Sakshi intrigued at where this was going.
"Well we are all good friends and mature. We trust each other. On the next holiday, on the last day, let all the girls pick a different hotel and we boys can pick chits on who goes with whom," Abhi responded plainly.
"Kya bol raha hai Abhi!" (What are you saying Abhi) Rahul said revolting at the seemingly indecent proposal.
"Yaar we are old and mature. I am sure nothing wrong is going to happen. It will be just be harmless fun. No one is going to do anything to jeopardize our friendships and marriages, but it would be a way to have some excitement. We just go out for dinner, watch a movie and reconnect," Abhi explained.
"And if I understand correctly, there is a 33% chance that you end up with your own spouse," Dev clarified to appear neutral. He knew his possessive wife Sonam would be cringing at this discussion.
Anu gave her two pence next, "Think about it guys, everyone should commit to keeping discipline. Harmless fun is fine, but I don't want anything to spoil out friendship. If everyone agrees, I am in."
"Sounds interesting. I don't mind trying it out for one evening," Rahul said thinking it was not such a bad proposal after all.
"Me too," said Sakshi.
Dev was wondering what he should say and more importantly what Sonam would be thinking. To his surprise, Sonam spoke before he could.
"If everyone is convinced it's a good idea, let's do it. We are like family and I am sure nothing unpleasant would happen."
"Sure, let's give it a shot," concluded Dev gleefully, trying to hide the naughty thoughts he was having.
So, on the last night of their next trip in Udaipur, the women decided to book their own secret hotels. They would pack up in the afternoon at lunch and move to a different hotel from the one selected by the group. Each one had picked out a different area to keep geographical exclusivity. The girls would each leave behind a chit at the reception with their hotel name and room number inside it. The boys would collect the chits and have beer at a local pub, an hour later they would roll the dice to see who went first and pick the chits. They would only find out who they were spending the evening with once they reached the hotel. An extra key for each room would be kept at the respective hotel's reception.
Just before leaving Sonam had warned Dev to be good. She had always trusted him but knew his penchant for adventurous behaviour. Dev assured her there was nothing to worry about, it was just harmless fun. In fact, he told Sonam that he hoped he would get her chit as that would be exciting.
Abhi and Anu just took this to be a light adventurous experience, not expecting anything but conversations and laughter out of it.
Rohit and Sakshi just went with the flow.
"Let's see how this pans out," Sakshi told Rohit.
They rolled the dice. Rahul got a 4, Abhi a 2 and Dev a 5. The boys decided to quickly pick chits and take a cab to their respective hotels. Dev went first with the highest probability of getting a partner other than his wife and he was now on the way to find out who it was.
——————-
It was 7pm when Dev had entered the room.
Dev noticed that Anu was wearing a nice black dress. Nothing too revealing but quite sexy. Her dress ended just above her knees and had a nice open back, it made Anu look gorgeous in all the right places. Her most striking feature were her large boobs, which were well covered in the dress, but it was tight enough to show the sheer size of them.
Dev was wearing a Blue Denim and a crisp white shirt.
"Would you like some coffee?" politely enquired Dev as he walked towards the coffee maker.
Anu had always been a woman of taste and had booked the junior suite for the night. It was spacious and as hotel rooms are designed, it had many corners to play in different ways.
"Sure, I would love some," Anu remarked.
"Anu, I believe if life gives you lemons, you make lemonade. I want that both of us have a very memorable evening and I want to establish some ground rules for that," said Dev with politeness but firmness.
"What exactly do you have in mind?" Anu wondered as this was a different Dev she saw than the one she was used to.
"First, for the rest of the night we will only talk about each other. No talk of spouses, kids, family, work etc. I want to spend time with you and I want you to spend time with me."
"Seems reasonable. Next?"
"Second, whatever we talk about tonight or do will remain completely between us. I know you trust me and I you, but I want to give special emphasis today as I do not want to hold back on anything, I have to say to you. Also, nothing is going to happen which you do not want, but if we have a few moments, let's keep it between us."
"Hmmmm...And?" Anu was beginning to feel a bit of excitement. She could feel her breath quickening, her palms sweaty.