Mukundo began typing an apology. He had crossed the lines too soon. Why would she go so silent otherwise? He had either freaked her out or…

The knock on his bedroom door stopped him from hitting send.

“Piyali!” he grew wide-eyed as he opened the door.

She smiled nervously.

“What are you doing here?”

“That’s not a fair question after the message you sent…”

“You shouldn’t have come…”

“Why not?”

“All this is… too much… too soon…”

“Twenty three years of my life… a broken engagement… almost scandalous… Weeks of uncertainty… Confronting my father… It is too soon?”

He let her in before he replied. “You had lied when you said that I knew everything about you. This was a side I had never known…”

“You had chosen to ignore and overlook.”

“And you never tried to show me…”

“You were beyond me, Mukundo Babu.”

He sighed. “I can’t blame you for thinking so. I should have known better…”

“Hmm… But things would have been pretty boring, if we had known all along…”

He chuckled and pulled her in his arms. “Thanks for coming, Piyali. You have no idea what it means.”

She smiled shyly and averted her eyes.

“But you should leave now,” he added, “It’s late…”

She looked offended.

“I will always respect your decisions and judgment, Mukundo Babu. Obviously yours are superior to mine, like they have always been. But I will ask for one concession now. You can’t keep treating me like a child. If you think that ours should be a platonic relationship. Not just now, but even forever, that’s what I will go with. But you still can’t treat me like a child…”

“No. I can’t. And that’s not the reason…”

“We aren’t married yet…” she couldn’t help taking another guess at the cause of his hesitation.

“No silly,” he smiled fondly, “I am not in that camp. I am just scared…

“Scared?”

“Yes. Scared… Of the intensity of my feelings… I had been oblivious of them all these years. And now that I aware… they are so strong that they threaten to tear me apart… And I worry about what they will do to you…”

“Let’s get torn apart together then…”

He looked at her for a long moment, and she met his gaze steadily.

“Yes. Let’s,” he said at last, “Let’s tear each other apart. Let’s get torn apart together. It’s worth it.”

She closed her eyes as his breath on her neck made her hair stand up. Then he went ahead and planted a kiss there.

“Mukundo Babu!” she hissed.

He withdrew slightly, but continued holding her; then led her to the bed.

“It hasn’t been long,” he whispered as he laid her down, “Since I first imagined you here… on this bed… in my arms… But ever since I did, I didn’t remain the same man… The idea of love, marriage, family… It didn’t remain alien to me any longer… It became real… It became a necessity even…  After a long, long time, Piyali… the idea of being rooted, of being connected to one person again became appealing to me…” He held her close and tight as he bared his heart to her, “Everyone, including you, thought that I had over-reacted to a betrayal in my life. Sometimes even I thought so. But you know what I think now? I think it was my destiny that I should react like that to it. So that I had the patience to wait for you… Having you was my destiny… One I can’t complain about…”

He noticed the tears that had filled her eyes and were now running down her cheek. He lowered his lips and kissed them away.

He withdrew for a moment to take off his kurta. As he looked at her shivering form and a thought suddenly struck him.

“I know… it isn’t a good time to ask. But I must know. Is this… your first time?”

She drew in a sharp breath at the question, and closed her eyes before nodding.

He had asked the questions only out of a concern for her well-being. So, he almost felt ashamed that her reply caused his desire to swell even further. Primitive instincts! Checking those with difficulty, he told her, “It might be awkward, or uncomfortable. And if that happens, you must tell me.”

“Mukundo Babu, please!” she was impatient and embarrassed at the same time.

“No. Skirting around won’t do. You must tell me. Promise me.”

She nodded.

His primary urges were so potent that it took him all his will power and some more to not immediately pounce on her. He slowly undressed her and gave every inch on her body his attention. He waited for the confirmation of the effects of his ministrations in her low moans and hard breaths. Only then did he let go of his restraints and enter her. If he hadn’t warned her about potential discomfort, she might have cried out. But being forewarned, she managed to bite her tongue in time.  It was painful, painful enough to drive out all other sensations she had been feeling just moments ago. It, however, gave her opportunity to notice how ecstatic he was.  She closed her eyes feeling his presence around and inside her. After the first sensation of pain died, she realized that it wasn’t that bad. It was still uncomfortable, but not painful. Few moments later, she started enjoying it. And before she knew it, she was moaning again.

—

“Are you okay?” he asked even before he had caught his breath.

“Yes.”

Relieved, he collapsed beside her. After a while, he propped himself up on his arms and gazed at her.

“What?” she asked, happy, but embarrassed.

“So many questions are bubbling up in my head. But I shouldn’t be asking right now?”

“Why not? Ask.”

“Okay… Then first of all… How was it?”

“What?”

He grinned.

“Oh God! Mukundo Babu. No!”

He laughed. A hearty and happy laugh.

“Do you have something else to ask?” she pretended being cross.

“Hmm… yes,” his eyes twinkled with mischief. She had never seen him like this earlier. And it was heartening to think that she was the cause of his liveliness. But to her disappointment he grew sober as he spoke, “It’s odd to be asking this. I don’t know if I should… But with you, Piyali… I tend to think I can take liberties.”

“Of course, you can, Mukundo Babu. Just ask…”

“You and Pronab… I am surprised, you never… You had decided to get married!”

She sighed. “I told him I was not comfortable and he respected that.”

“Hmm…” a slight smile appeared on his face. Given that she had been so forthcoming with him, he assumed that it was an alibi.

“I wasn’t lying,” she said, “I wasn’t comfortable.”

“It feels boorish to say this – but I am happy to hear that.”

“And I am happy to see you happy, whatever be the reason.”

“Don’t be in any doubt about that. You are the sole reason.” He bent and kissed her forehead.

She smiled, overwhelmed.

“We need to get married soon,” he said again, “But right now there are facades to be maintained. You need to go back.”

“Yes,” she sat up, clearly sorry at the realization, but understanding the necessity of it.

“Piyali.”

“Hmm?”

“I love you.”

“I love you too, Mukundo Babu.”

– The End –