They met everyone in the hall, but Mukundo didn’t let Piyali stop there. “I need to talk to her,” he declared and took her to his room. He locked it from inside and pressed her against the door.

“Some ghost from the past, and you forget everything, do you?” he asked, “Do you remember this room? That bed beside which we had decided that we would get to know each other? This is where I had finally accepted before you what I felt. Does all that not matter?”

She wasn’t crying yet, but looked close to it.

“Does it not matter that you had agreed to marry me and that had made me happiest I had ever been in life?”

“Mukundo Babu!”

“And I shouldn’t even have to speak on their behalf. But how is it that a man who wanted to kill you matters, but not your parents who gave you all the love and care one possibly could and brought you up? You want to go away from everyone who loves you? What for? Bad omen? Is that what all your Science education has come to?”

Tears started rolling down her cheeks now.

“I don’t like seeing you cry, Piyali. But it seems like ever since I have revealed my feelings to you, you can do nothing but cry. Has it been a bad omen? Am I a curse–”

She put her hand on his lips to stop him from continuing.

“The only reason I cry before you is because I have started thinking that it is all right,” she said.

He removed her hand from his lips and kissed it.

“And the only reason you are in all our lives is because we love you. Don’t make it more complicated than that.”

“I’m sorry. I was out of my mind once I realized–”

“Why didn’t you come to me?”

“I was out of my mind, Mukundo Babu.”

He caressed her face and said, “I have started assuming that I have some rights over you.  Am I correct in doing so?”

She gulped hard and nodded.

“Then the next time that happens you will come to me, do you understand?”

She nodded again.

“If I let you go now, do you promise that you will meet your parents normally and not run away?”

“I have been selfish, haven’t I, Mukundo Babu?”

He planted a kiss on her forehead, “No. Only an idiot. And not for long.” He chuckled and she also smiled. “Go now,” he added and released her.

—

Mukundo sat sprawled on his bed that evening, lost in thought. What a roller-coaster ride last few weeks had been. What would he not give to have some quiet time! Not alone though, but with her by his side. A soft knock on the door brought him out of his reverie.

“Come in,” he said, his voice perked up. He was pretty sure of who would knock like that, and was not disappointed.

Piyali came in, latched the door behind her and came to sit beside him on the bed. He smiled, took her hands in his and toyed with them as he asked, “How come you have been left alone?”

“Kaki and Ma have gone to the temple.”

“They did not drag you along?”

“I said I wanted to rest and everyone is obliging me right now.”

“Is that what you wanted to achieve when you created that drama this morning?”

“Mukundo Babu!”

“Sorry! I was just joking, you know that.”

“Baba is at work, and Kaku in the library.”

Mukundo shot a quick glance at the latched door, and then looked at her. Was she knowingly letting him know that they won’t be disturbed? Her eyes were downcast.

He leaned forward, cupped her face and kissed her. A deep, long, demanding kiss which she responded to with gusto. His hands and lips then explored her neck, nape, shoulders and breasts. The position became awkward; he was no longer able to reach were he wanted. He climbed out of the bed, made her stand up, then lifted her in his arms, causing her to gasp at first, but she became comfortable the very next moment. He gazed at her expectant eyes as those met his with uncharacteristic boldness, while her arms around his neck supported her weight in his arms. Then he gently laid her down on the bed, climbed back in, and pressed his body on top of hers. He kissed her once again and asked, “Should I stop, Piyali?”

“No!” she responded without any delay.

“I love you,” he said simply, “And I want you!”

“Me too,” she hissed, but her words got lost because his hands moving up her thighs made her moan.

—

They had dressed again, so that they could quickly open the door if their parents came back. But they were lying in his bed in each other’s arms. Piyali’s fogged mind had registered that Mukundo had stopped to pull out a condom from the bedside table.

“How come you had protection ready?” she blurted and bit her lips. She hadn’t meant to really ask him, but the buzz in her head had made her tongue loose.

Mukundo was taken aback by her blunt question for a moment, then grinned and replied, “It wasn’t a leftover, Piyali. I really wasn’t sure when will I lose restrain with you. So, I was prepared.”

She blushed hard.

“Were you jealous?” he teased her.

She shook her head playfully, while a smile played on her lips.

“You were, weren’t you?” he insisted.

“No!”

“Yes!”

“No!”

“Yes!”

“Yes!”

“You were?”

“For a tiny moment, but yes.”

He playfully kissed her on the tip of her nose and said, “Don’t be. I have been in love with you for too long for you to feel jealous.”

She blushed hard and they stayed silent for a while, which Piyali broke with the news.

“Ma and Kaki are already planning engagement and wedding.”

“That’s what I had feared will happen once they got to know.”

“They are very excited. I know you wanted to take time, but–”

“Piyali! I only want to give you time.”

She snuggled up closer to him. “I don’t need time, Mukundo Babu. I only need to finish my studies.”

“Think calmly, Piyali–”

“I have!”

“Then we might as well get married tomorrow for all I care. I would very much like to have a socially sanctioned reason to fly to Delhi every weekend and whisk you away to my hotel room!”

She chuckled, “I’m afraid it isn’t happening until the winter vacation.”

“It isn’t?”

“No.”

“I can still whisk you away, can’t I?”

“Yes,” she blushed.

“I can live with that,” he said as he closed in on her for another kiss. “And in less than a year, you will be back home, won’t you?” he asked.

“I will be. At my final home,” Piyali replied.

– The End –