The kissing and smooching by Ali at the beach and at our entrance shook me up internally. What disturbed me more than what happened, was Arpi's attempts to try to camouflage real happenings and attempts to reason with me to justify her and Ali's actions. If indeed my wife was not happy with Ali, why did she let him kiss her as she was getting off the car? She did not resist or argue with him there. Rather, she was telling Ali to be careful, lest I might see them kissing. This was a question that bugged me. It poked a hole in her defence and her posture of revulsion at Ali's action.
I was hurt, not because of what happened. I was hurt because she lied to me. In spite of my hurt, I decided to play along. I tried to make her feel that I was game for it. I tried to assure her that Ali was a nice person and she must have got carried away. Perhaps I was unable to completely conceal my emotions. She suspected that I was not completely ok with what happened. Perhaps all wives have that inherent instinct to detect husband's inner thoughts, particularly when another male is involved.
The next morning, Arpi informed me that she had turned her phone off so as not to receive calls from Ali. This went on for about three days. I was however, able to see through her posture. I could easily see that she missed Ali. She was restless, got irritated easily with the slightest provocation and kept looking at her switched off phone. She was desperate to talk to Ali. I felt bad for her. I decided to give her a face saver.
I rang up Ali. He was surprised to receive my phone call. I told him that I knew of their misunderstanding. He said he wanted to apologize, if that could help. I suggested that he send my wife Arpi a gift of some kind with "sorry" inscribed on it. I assured him that I would try and pacify my wife so that she was ready to see him again. He appeared all at sea at my magnanimity. However, he followed my advice. He couriered a gift for my wife..
The gift packet from Ali for my wife turned the things around. The envelope contained a handkerchief on which was embroidered, 'I am sorry - Yours Ali'
I told my wife, exactly what she wanted to hear. I told her, "After all, Ali is a good friend and when two young and hot persons of opposite sex get into an intimate situation (like it happened at the beach), sexual overtures are natural. Therefore you should not be so cross with Ali. I think he has got the message." She immediately acknowledged the logic behind my argument. I then gently added one more sentence, which I doubt, if she cared to pay attention to; "Unless you really don't want to see him."
She did not see through my ploy that I wanted to check her immediate reaction to my proposal for resumption of their talking. She jumped at my suggestion gleefully. She fell for my trap hook line and sinker. I realized, we were heading to unknown and perhaps unpleasant developments.
My wife Arpi bloomed again. For the past few days, she was not herself. She was missing Ali. After my reassurance, I saw my Arpi, chirpy again in the house and outside. I was taken aback by the shadow of influence this man Ali had cast on her. I decided to play by her game and see how far my conservative and until then faithful wife would go to satisfy her cardinal desire; which I thought had died down three years into our marriage.
Things were back to normal again. Usual calls, weekend lunches and Ali dropping her at my place resumed. I was seeing my wife giggling, blushing like a girl. This was not a very pleasant development for me. I wondered where that all would lead to. I decided to face it and let my wife also face the consequences of her actions I decided to deal with the situation in my own way, without preventing her from doing what she wanted to do.
Things were happening in my office too. A young and attractive Indian woman Ms. Roma, was transferred to our branch office as a secretary. She was perhaps the most beautiful woman in our office. Her eyes were unusually blue and when she looked at you, it felt as if her stare penetrated through the whole of you. She always wore enchanting dresses, which exposed a good part of her skin. Her skin was soft and smooth. Her navel and the area underneath left a lot to imagine. Her breasts looked big enough to play and suck at the same time. Her boobs swayed seductively as she walked along.
When I saw her first, I had tough time controlling myself. I just could not take my eyes off her inviting breasts, which formed such a tantalizing shape on her blouse that it was obvious that there was enough to keep one busy for a whole night. Her breasts jutted out of her bra and blouse. I had to turn my face away to keep me from staring at her unabashedly. She saw my stare and must have guessed my internal conflict. She just half smiled, said "Hi" and walked past me to her desk. It was almost half greeting and half indifference of my stares. She must have been accustomed to such stares from lecherous males like me.
There was a cafeteria in the office lounge on the ground floor where we all took lunch during lunch break. My face to face introduction with her was after some days of that "hi".
Once she walked up to me, when I was eating and sought my permission to sit opposite to me. I waved her to sit. I was visibly nervous seeing her sit so close to me. I distinctly felt her fragrance. To hide my awkwardness I carried on eating. A few minutes passed. Then she half smiled (again that Mona Lisa smile!) and said, "I am Roma. Perhaps you know my name already." She knew that she was the talk of the office since she joined.
She surely had earned reputation of a beauty queen in the office. From what I had learned was that she was professional and limited her talks to work with everyone. I said, "I am Prateek, how do you do?"
There was a trace of sadness in her voice, "Not very well, I guess." She noticed my inquiring look and continued wryly. "I feel unwanted, really. My hubby fell in love with someone more beautiful than I am (chuckle) and has deserted me. I don't have the heart to tell my parents or relatives back in India. In any case, they can do little to help me except to call me back or lose their sleep over the matter."
It looked at that moment as if she hated the whole world. I had no words to pacify her and I controlled my impulse to catch her hand and squeeze it mildly to pacify her. I thought it better to be patient and hear her out.
She was financially well off before marriage. Her husband was street smart. Three to four years into their marriage, he manipulated her into signing legal documents authorising him to execute legal and financial instruments on her behalf. Very soon she lost control of her accumulated finances. As soon as her husband assumed control of her finances, he lost interest in her.
Roma soon found out that the man whom she loved so dearly for years and for whom she would have staked her life suddenly became completely indifferent to her. She learnt that he was courting another woman. When Roma confronted him with her phone calls and messages saved in his phone as evidence; he blandly told her that he did not care for her and that she was free to find her own way.
This was a rude shock for Roma and devastated her completely. She left her husband's house. She was now trying to recover from this shocking phase.
When she finished her tale of miseries, my hand moved instinctively to catch her hand. I realized to my great relief that she did not object or flinch. However, I did feel her hand tremble a little. She was uncertain, if she should let me catch her hand or not.
I patted her hand and said, "Roma, I understand how you feel. I have some contacts and I shall try to work out a solution that will make your ex repent a lot for his actions and pay for them dearly. You simply relax and have faith in God."
She smiled ruefully and said, "That is probably the only solace for me at this time. I thank you buddy, I really do."
She smiled. For the first time I saw her genuine smile. I saw her bright shining teeth and enticing movement of her succulent cheeks that had a deep dimple in it. I could detect trust and relief in that smile and from the look in her eyes. She squeezed my arm as we got up to leave. The silent spectator between my legs stirred up in anticipation.
Fortunately one of my business circle friends, a fellow called David, was a well known advocate on social matters, mostly relating to divorce, alimony and inheritance matters. Apart from being a business friend, he was also one of closer friends. We hanged out at pubs occasionally on weekends and discussed all issues including personal ones. I had given him a hint of goings on between me, my wife and Ali. Although he did not understand my nonchalance, he discreetly kept quiet.
I called him up and explained briefly whatever I knew about Roma's case. His first reaction was, "You bloke! I hope, you are not trying to get between her shapely legs and want to fire the gun from my shoulder, is it?"
I laughed at his first reaction and joined in his banter, "If I fire my gun from your shoulders, you bugger, you are already in it also. So be a good guy and listen."
Anyway, after some friendly exchanges, he agreed to meet Roma with me and have her brief him about the matter in detail. I informed Roma about this the next day during lunch hour. She was quite happy and appeared to be in a much better mood than before.
David and I met Roma at a coffee shop not far from our office the next evening. Roma narrated her experiences and her accusations against her ex, whilst David dutifully noted points in his diary. After he finished David got up to say that he had another commitment and left promising to get back to us in three days time.
I drove Roma down to her apartment. As she got down from the car, she caught my hand and said, "Prateek, I thank you very much for what you have done. After what I went through in recent time, this has come as a big relief for me." I was hoping that she would invite me inside her apartment. However, she just said "Good night" and sauntered over to the main gate.
I mumbled something like it was ok, not necessary etc. and left.
When I reached home, it was about 8 pm. I must have barely turned on the lights when, I heard a car stopping and saw my wife Arpi getting out of the car. I saw through the window that it was the same routine: passionate parting kiss and a big shopping bag in her hand. I heard Arpi's footsteps in the doorway. The door was open.
I was standing near the switchboard. She did not see me in the darkness coming from outside lights. When she switched the lights on and saw me standing close to her, she had a start and shuddered a little before saying, "My God, You scared shit out of me. Prateek, darling." She came and hugged me.
