Karishma noticed that the suite in their London hotel did not have an attached twin bedroom like last time. She causally mentioned that to Siddharth. He was startled at first, then looked amused, “You have no idea what those rooms are for, do you?”

She shrugged, “What for?”

“You won’t like it, but being a writer you should know. One of your bad characters could use them some day.”

“Just tell me.”

“That bedroom had an independent entrance and from the outside, it didn’t look like it was the part of the suite. Had you noticed that?”

“Right! Oh!”

“Oh?”

“I got it.”

“Karishma,” he spoke seriously now, “It was just the default Ramesh used to book. I didn’t use it…”

“I know.”

“You know? Or you believe me?”

“Ramesh told me about… about the escort you had turned away in Delhi and after that…”

“Ramesh knows you better than I do,” he said somberly.

“He has been a good friend. That’s it.”

“I know. And I must be thankful to him for that. You must be tired. Why don’t you take a hot water bath?” he suggested.

“Good idea. But…”

“But?”

“I don’t know how to operate the bathtub.” she said with some embarrassment.

“What?” Siddharth burst out laughing, “What did you do last time then? And at home?”

“I take shower.”

“Right! Let me show you how to operate bathtub. It’s no rocket science. Come.”

—

“Karishma,” Siddharth knocked at the bathroom door, when Karishma did not come out even after forty-five minutes. There was no reply. He panicked and tried the bathroom door. Fortunately it was not locked from inside. He was scared at first to see her lying in the bathtub. Then he realized that she had fallen asleep there. Jetlag and long journey had gotten to her. He had a hard time controlling his laughter. He made to wake her up. But then seeing her sleeping so soundly decided otherwise. Leaving her in the bathtub was not a good idea though. He went back to the room and adjusted the temperature of the AC so that it was warmer. That way she would not feel the temperature difference when he brough her out of the warm water in the tub. He used several full-length towels to line one side of their bed. Then he picked her up from the tub. She did not even flinch and locked her arms around his neck. Holding her naked, wet form so close to himself made his blood rush. But he controlled his urges and laid her down on the towels. He used another set of towels to dry her gently, the shifted her to the other side of the bed. He took all the towels off the bed and covered her with the comforter. She snuggled comfortably and continued to sleep.

—

Karishma found Siddhartha sitting beside her on the bed when she woke up. He was reading something, probably the dialogues of his scenes to be shot the day after. He noticed her before she said anything.

“You are awake. Feeling better?”

She was confused. She didn’t remember falling asleep on the bed. She tried to sit up, when she realized that she did not have any clothes on. Feeling extremely conscious, she pulled the comforter closer. “How did I…”

“You had fallen asleep in the bathtub. Thank God, you didn’t know how to use it last time. Who would have rescued you otherwise?” he laughed.

“You… brought me here?” she looked scandalized.

“Yes… What happened?” he noticed her reddening cheeks as she realized that he had seen her naked and…

She just shook her head unable to say anything.

“You look like… Oh!” It suddenly occurred to him that she was extremely conscious of her body, “You have never been with… Are you a virgin?”

Karishma looked even more embarrassed, “What kind of question is that?”

“Arr…” He got worried that she might have felt bad, but then he got into teasing mode, “But I am right. Am I not?”

“So? Is it some kind of a crime?” she acted defiant to hide her embarrassment about everything.

“Absolutely not. It is an achievement.”

“Stop making fun of me…” she looked like she was on the verge of crying.

“Hey,” he said softly and cupped her face, “Don’t be crazy. I am not making fun of you. Just hoping to have some fun together. And I am sorry. I really am sorry if I came across as crass. I am sorry. Please don’t cry.”

She looked pacified as she nodded. But the embarrassment and nervousness had not gone. He figured that he had not started on the right note and decided to drop the topic for the time being.

“Get ready and then we will order some dinner. It’s almost time. Okay?”

She nodded. He got off the bed and went to the living room of the suite to give her the privacy to get dressed.

—

Their dinner was over and the trolley had been taken away by the hotel staff. Siddharth was sitting on the bed, when Karishma came out of the bathroom after changing into her night-dress. She stopped at the bathroom door, looking unsure about what to do.

“Come here,” Siddharth called out to her and made her sit next to him.

“Are you nervous?” he asked.

She nodded.

“I had told you long back that I wanted you, hadn’t I?”

She gulped and did not say anything.

“And today I want you more than I had ever wanted you earlier,” he said making her gulp even harder.

“The way you had unabashedly question me about why I hadn’t touched you when I wanted you so much and everything else you had asked then – I could not imagine that this fiery girl is really so naive. And I don’t say it in a bad way. You just surprise me. Pleasantly. But now that I know this about you, I also understand that this a very vulnerable moment of your life. And you are feeling more nervous than you had expected. I took some liberties today without realizing that you might not be comfortable. I am sorry about that. And I need to know something before going ahead. Do you trust me? And are you ready to take this step?”

And there was a time when Karishma had expected this man to rape her any time. Today even as her husband, even after they had confessed themselves to be in love, he was asking her! She was so overwhelmed that she choked on her words. She realized that trying to say anything was futile. She looked up at him with moist eyes, smiled and nodded. Then she hugged him tight and let her tears wet his t-shirt.

“We need to take this off,” he pointed towards the wet spot on his t-shirt and teased her. He took off it off and went away to keep on the back of a chair. Karishma did not dare look at him. While coming back he switched off the lights. She stood up, when he came back near her. He held her at shoulder and whispered, “There is no need to be nervous. Just enjoy it along with me.” He caressed her face, followed by her neck. His hands found the knot of her gown. He untied it and slid it off her shoulder. She was wearing a negligee under her gown. He gasped audibly. He had felt the rush earlier when he had carried her from the bathtub. But still seeing her in her negligee, realizing that she had worn it on purpose and the sight she presented in the darkened room standing before him, twitching nervously drove him close to madness. Innocence and inexperience could be bewitching.

“Gosh! Karishma. I will eat you up,” he hissed and pushed her gently on the bed. ‘Go slow,’ he told himself and started kissing her all over as she lied beside him on the bed. Karishma realized that even in his almost intoxicated state, he was watching her reactions carefully and adjusting his own actions according to that. And it worked. She lost sense of time and space as he literally played with her body building up both their desires to the extreme. She didn’t even realize when he undressed himself and her completely. She became aware of the reality only when he whispered in her ears, “You are mine. Forever.” And he entered her. Despite her arousal, she was taken by surprise and it hurt. A cry slipped from her lips before she could stifle it. He withdrew immediately. “Are you okay?” he asked looking concerned.

She was embarrassed, “I am fine. Sorry…”

“It’s okay,” he assured her gently, “It happens. Just relax.” He kissed her and after a short foreplay gently penetrated her again. She was prepared this time and, after initial discomfort and awkwardness, enjoyed it. It had been a long time for him and it did not take him long to collapse on top of her.

After catching his breath, Siddharth reached out and switched on the bed lamp. He continued to lie on top of her. She squinted at sudden brightness and slowly opened her eyes as they adjusted to the light. Siddharth noticed tear stains on her cheeks. “Why are you crying?” he asked as he wiped those stains.

She smiled, “I thought you were an expert.”

“Are you challenging me?” he raised his eyebrows.

“No. I am not an idiot,” she smiled.

He bent down and kissed her forehead, “No. You are not.”

He settled himself beside her on the bed, pulled the comforter over them and propped himself up on his hand so that he could look at her directly. “Are you still mad at me?” he asked.

“For?” she was surprised.

“For what happened earlier.”

“For rescuing me from drowning in the bathtub?” she asked playfully.

He relaxed and smiled, “I guess you are not.”

“Where were you hiding all this sensitivity, Siddharth?” she asked seriously.

He stared at her for a few moments and then said, “I had apologized once in desperation, when there was a possibility that I may never be able to apologize to you at all. You were generous. You accepted it. But I must apologize properly Karishma. For everything I did to you. And especially about… your father… Because what I deprived you of, there is no way of getting it back. That time you could have spent with him… That opportunity is gone. I know I can’t undo it. But I just want you to know that I realize what I have done and will repent it my entire life.”

“That’s enough, Siddharth,” Karishma sat up. She cupped his face and replied, “It is not possible for me to say that I do not regret when I think of that time. That might never be possible. But today… even my father would have wanted me to move on. I have forgiven you for what happened. Is that not enough for you?”

“It is…. It is more than enough. It is much more than what I had ever hoped,” he replied and they hugged to seal their fate together.

– The End –