(The continuation of this story is long, long overdue – my sincere apologies. I felt that I had to do justice to the story to complete it. The final two chapters are posted simultaneously. In Chapter 3, Arun and Jothi take their taboo love to a next level.
You may have to re-read Chapters 1 & 2 again to recapture the story line however, but hope you all still enjoy the ending. And once again, my humble apologies for the delay.)
"Hello. Priya?" I called over the phone.
"Hello. Athan. Yes, what's up?" my wife answered, recognising my voice immediately.
"I just got a message from the office that I have to meet a potential customer tomorrow in Sungai Petani. So, I will not be returning home tonight. Ok?" I lied to Priya.
"What lah Athan? I was looking forward to seeing you today. I miss you" Priya responded, sounding disappointed.
"What to do lah, darling? Big customer and since I am already here up north, they asked to take care of it. I actually have my luggage with me, ready to return home tonight" I explained, making up the story.
"Never mind, your work is important darling. Finish it and come home tomorrow" she replied, believing my story.
"I have to find a hotel to stay for tonight too. I already told farewell to Athai" I told Priya, trying to convince her that my staying back was unplanned.
"Don't be silly. I will call Mom and tell her about your change of plans. Anyway, Sungai Petani is very near to Prai, so it will be easy for you tomorrow morning" Priya advised.
"Ok" I answered, trying to sound genuinely honest.
"Take care and see you tomorrow. My pussy can't wait to feel your hard cock inside her" Priya said temptingly.
"I miss you too, sweetheart. I will be home by 7pm" I replied, feeling a tinge of cheating guilt for lying to Priya.
"By the way Athan, take them out to the KFC outlet for dinner. Mom told me that she has a sudden yearning to eat there" Priya said. (KFC = Kentucky Fried Chicken).
"Ok, I will darling" I answered and then blew Priya a kiss before putting down the phone.
Earlier that morning, I had packed my bag and left Raja's house, after a wonderful breakfast of iddi appam (string hoppers) and sambar. Jothi had put on a long sulking face when she saw me put my suitcase in the car, disappointed that I was going home after all, despite what I had said the previous night. Little did she know then that my mind was already made up to spend another wild night of love in her arms. I just wanted to be absolutely sure that there was no room for any suspicion by anyone.
I bid farewell to my mother-in-law and then to Jothi before getting into the car. As they stood there waving goodbye, Jothi's eyes were teary and her lips whispered a silent "I love you" to me. I winked at her before reversing the car out of the driveway. I pressed the horn and then waved once again to them before driving away.
About an hour after I had called Priya, I rang Raja's house. My mother-in-law answered the phone and told me that Priya had already called her to inform her about the change in my schedule. She asked me if I would be home for dinner and I told her that I would take them all out for dinner to the KFC outlet. I could sense the joy in my mother-in-law's voice when I said that.
At around 7pm, I reached Raja's house and left the car parked outside. I was greeted by Raja's two children who were excited that they were going to the KFC outlet. I went inside and my mother-in-law was all dressed and ready but there was no sign of Jothi. I went to the guestroom and left my office suitcase and travel bag there. I took off my tie, folded my sleeves and then went to use the bathroom.
When I came back to the hall, Jothi was there, dressed in a beige-coloured Punjabi suit, her hair nicely pleated and adorned with jasmine flowers. She looked radiant, her beautiful face complete with a round, red pottu on her forehead. The happiness in her face was evident and her eyes thanked me, promising me that I would not be disappointed with my decision.
"Shall we go?" I asked.
"Yes!" replied the kids with glee.
We got into the car and mother-in-law sat in the front. Jothi sat directly behind me with the kids at her side. As I drove towards the restaurant, I asked the kids about school and they were happily sharing their stories with me. The wonderful fragrance of the fresh jasmine flowers on Jothi's hair stirred my senses.
"What time is your flight tomorrow, Thambi?" asked my mother-in-law.
"At 3pm in the afternoon, Athai. I have got a meeting in Sungai Petani in the morning and from there, I will go straight to the airport" I replied.
"What time will you have to leave in the morning, Annan?" asked Jothi.
I felt her hands holding the side of my seat as she posed the question and her body moving closer to the back of my seat.
"Around 9, I think" I replied.
"Oh, ok. Athai and me are going to the temple early in the morning" said Jothi.
I felt her right hand touch the side of my body closer to the door, away from anyone's view, and her fingers began to gently stroke up and down, over my shirt. Her touch sent an electric bolt straight to my loins.
"There is an engagement tomorrow evening and Mrs. Singam had asked us to come and help with the preparations. Her granddaughter is getting engaged. So we had planned to go there straight after prayers at the temple" added my mother-in-law. (Mrs. Singam was an old family friend of Priya's parents.)
"I can also leave earlier if it is more convenient for you. It's really no problem" I replied.
"It's ok, Thambi. I can ask them to drop Jothi back at the house after the temple. You can take your time" said my mother-in-law.
"It's really no problem, Athai. I can leave when you both leave for the temple" I repeated, enjoying the caress of Jothi's fingers on my side.
"No, Thambi. You take your time, please" persuaded my mother-in-law, unaware of the taboo relationship between Jothi and me.
"Anyway, I have to be back before the children return home from school" added Jothi, her fingers excitedly pinching me.
We reached the restaurant and I stopped near the entrance and requested the others to get out while I parked the car. Jothi was the last to get out and just before she stepped out, her hand slipped in between the buttons of my shirt and touched my bare chest.
"Thanks, darling" she whispered and got out.
We found a nice table in the corner of the KFC outlet. We sat down with both kids next to me. Jothi sat across from me with my mother-in-law by her side. The kids soon selected the menu they desired and Jothi chose for herself and my mother-in-law. I ordered the food, paid and waited in front of the counter.
A few minutes later, I carried two trays of the fried chicken favourites, drinks and coleslaw salad back to our table and sat down. The kids started tucking away almost immediately and I waited till everyone had started before taking a piece of chicken. We ate silently, enjoying the finger-licking good food. Under the table, I felt Jothi's right foot reach out to mine, rubbing the side of her foot against mine.
"Are you guys enjoying the chicken?" I asked the children while I caught Jothi's foot between both my feet.
"Yes, Mama" they both answered simultaneously. (Mama = uncle, in Tamil).
"Thanks, Thambi for bringing us here" said my mother-in-law, enjoying her cup of mashed potato.