by welcome
Or he should"ve been preoccupied.”
“If you"re partners still,” she said, “wouldn"t he have come?”
“Probably he would"ve,” he tried to rationalize life, “but then, as life is circumstantial in
its spread, relationships are situational in their scope. So we should learn to enjoy the
fortunes of life and cherish the value of relationships in the context of their times. After all,
Rashid made a vital difference to my psyche and that won"t change, whatever be the
change in the relationship. And that"s what matters to my life, and that"s what stands.”
“What about your contribution to his life?” she asked. “Didn"t that make all the
difference to him? If I"m not cynical, I wonder whether he wanted to let sleeping dogs lie.
Why, he might have felt that in case he showed up, you might as well develop second
thoughts about your share in the growing business. But all said and done, had he come, it
would"ve made a great difference to your memory. Wouldn"t it have?”
“Maybe,” he said, “but in the end, it"s one's attitude that really matters to one's life.”
“How come you"ve acquired such depth?”
“Well, the sense of rejection too has its own silver lining,” he said thoughtfully. “When
one gets rejected, either he gets defeatist or becomes enlightened.”
“And so does dejection,” she said nostalgically, “as happened in my case.”
“Glad you didn"t let yourself get bogged down,” he said endearingly. “Otherwise, to
my misfortune you would"ve ended up being a misogamist.”
“Maybe true,” she said winking at him. “What about the dame who gave such a fillip to
your psyche?”
“You mean that Kamathipura girl?”
“Yes.”
“If not for her,” he said reminiscently, “I wouldn"t have developed the confidence to
propose to you. I shall cherish her forever.”
“What"s her name?”
“I didn"t enquire.”
“Why so?”
“Rashid told me all of them go by pseudonyms,” he said, “and I didn"t want to hear a lie
from her.”
“What a beautiful way to think!” she said in all admiration. “I feel I"m falling in love
with you sooner than I thought it would be possible.”
“What welcome news for me!” he said heartily.
“How strange life could be?” she said turning philosophical in turn. “Didn"t she lift
your spirits for my joy?”
“Don"t go by hearsay,” he smiled.
“Your testing time will come anyway,” she was coy.
“Don"t make me nervous,” he said catching her hand in mock fear.
“I won"t make it any easy either.”
“It"s appetizing, isn"t it?”
“I think,” she gesticulated, “it"s time for dinner.”
“Let"s go then.”
After a sumptuous meal, they strolled in the lawns of that sprawling compound.
“Why don"t you give up smoking?” she said.
“Why not you begin?” he said in all seriousness. “It"s Oscar Wilde I think who said that
smoking is a perfect example of a perfect pleasure.”
“What"s next?” she said sounding naughty. “Drinking, I suppose!”
“Of course,” he said, “these small pleasures of life add value to it.”
“That"s apart from the bonus of our love, isn"t it?”
“That"s the spirit,” he said offering her a Berkeley.
“Not now,” she said sniffing up the fag, “I"ll try it in the room.”
When they returned to their room after dinner, he helped her light a Berkeley.
“How do you like it?” he asked her as she took her first puff.
“I shall remember it as your first gift,” she said and added as she took the second puff,
“and take the drink as the third one.”
“Looks like,” he said feigning surprise, “you can"t even count up to ten!”
“Oh, don"t act innocent,” she said winking at him.
“What about another?” he offered her as she stubbed the one in hand.
“What if I get addicted?” she said and took it nevertheless.
“Never mind,” he said flicking the lighter again for them, “but do mind your rosy lips.”
“Are you not exposing me to the vices of life?” she said trying to make rings in the air as
Chandra would.
“Isn"t it said,” he said chasing the rings of smoke she made with his own, “that vices are
the price we pay for our virtues.”
“So small pleasures and little vices,” she said happily, “combine to make life happy.”
“The dos and don"ts only deny women,” he said enigmatically. “And together we shall
explore the thrills of life.”
“I"m really lucky to be your wife.”
“Be a nice girl and sleep now,” he said reaching for his blanket. “You look so tired.”
“Is that your advice for a woman on honeymoon?” she said coyly.
“Won"t you need some more time?” he said tentatively.
“I"ve thought about it much,” she said, in a measured tone. “True, it would"ve taken me
long to trust a man again, leave alone loving one. But thanks to you, I'm saved of that
doom, why, now I've come to feel the warmth of life like never before. I"ve even begun to
love you, for your worth as a man. I think it"s silly not to sink into your arms and waste our
time. I want to give myself to you now and here heart and soul.”
“But still. . .”
“I know you would like to wait till I"m truly willing,” she said looking into him. “You
don"t know how every passing moment is adding value to your persona in my perception.
Also, one won"t learn swimming by watching from the shores.”
“Oh, how happy I am,” he said kissing her hand.
“You may also know that I"m amorous and young,” she said winking at him. “Why,
you seem to hold a great promise at that, isn"t it?”
Finding him tentative still, she leaned on him and crooned into his ears, “Don"t you see
my craving for the virtuosity of your virility?”
At that, in undying gratitude, Chandra overwhelmed Nithya with his unrelenting
passion while she found herself yielding to him body and soul.
“Oh, what a fulfillment!” he exclaimed, savoring her ardor in the climax.
“What a syringe of passion it is!” she said raving in ecstasy.
“What a lovely well of love!” he cried joyously.
“Give me more,” she began to rant in her orgasm, “Oh God, what a man I"ve got!”
“Take all I have,” he said in ejaculation.
“Won"t your liquor of love,” she said clinging to him like a lizard, “make me an addict
to it?!”
“What a pleasure it could be,” he said lying in exhaustion, „being a lifer in your cell of
amour.”
“Oh, you made me love you with all my heart,” she said, feeling her own body, as they
lay naked in bed. “It feels like I"ve begun life only now.”
“Oh, what an exciting figure wrapped up in a silken skin,” he said, fondling her. “Oh,
how that makes our lovemaking so charming!”
“I"ll try to keep it that way,” she said fondling herself.
“I"ll starve you if need be,” he laughed.
“I don"t mind that,” she said coyly, “as long as you keep injecting me with your liquid
of love.”
“Won"t you inspire if you maintain?”
“Okay, Doctor Love,” she said, and pleased with the nickname she gave him, she
called
him thus all night.
Waking up the next day, Nithya found Chandra still asleep. Fondly looking at him, she
tried to figure out the role sex played in her love life. She reckoned at last that with Vasu it
had been the physical attraction that had accentuated her sexual urge and her sense of
fulfillment too had owed more to that than the satiation in their union. But, the beauty of
orgasmic thrill she felt in Chandra"s lovemaking made him seem physically attractive in her
mindset and her feeling of fulfillment enabled her to love him all the more.
When Nithya wanted him to prolong their enthralling honeymoon, an overwhelmed
Chandra took her to Kodaikanal to cement their love in their ardency in an extended
outing.
It seems, while for man, the physicality of woman fuels his sexual love for her, it was
the sexual fulfillment from man that feeds woman"s love for him.
Busy Bees in the Honeycomb
While the Chandras were in the seventh heaven, the Yadagiris set out to arrange the
mundane things for them. They resolved that no stone should be left unturned to enable
their bahu to lead a luxuriant life in the company of their son. It would be befitting to gift
the newly acquired house near the High Court, to Nithya and get it furnished to the hilt.
Why not name it Honeycomb? Wasn"t it time Chandra stopped riding the Vespa and
started driving a Fiat with Nithya? So they welcomed the news of the honeymooners',
overstay for it gave them time to complete the arrangements. Also, the marriage of their
son made a huge difference to them psychologically as well. Long accustomed to despair
that the tragic death of Vasavi had turned into trauma, Chandra"s romance cheered them
up no end.
“Do you know,” Nithya said as they thought it fit to return home at last, “your value to
my life?”
“Can I match you in articulation?” said Chandra admiringly.
“As I was stranded chasing the mirage of despair,” she said, as her eyes got moist, “you
helped me cross it to reach the oasis of bliss. I shall be forever indebted to you.”
“If you hadn"t been my wife,” he said himself affected, “I would have remained forever
mired in the mirage of malady.”
“You know,” she said lovingly, “how I love to entangle you in fatherhood.”
“As you deliver,” he said fondling her belly, “I will get onto the table.”
“Why wait that long?”
“Why become hors de combat,” he said winking at her, “in the midst of a hot pursuit?”
“On a horny turf,” she winked back at him.
“That's for a jackpot of ecstasy.”
“Enhancing my fulfillment,” she said playfully feeling her belly.
“What"s your wish,” he said joining her in the act, “boy or a girl?”
“Why not reconsider?” she said wanting nothing to take her away from her oasis of
bliss. “I don"t want it to take anything away from us. Don"t you think we would be better
off getting it off?”
“Don"t forget it"s this child that brought us together,” he said kissing her tummy. “I
shall be grateful to it and shall love it for being your child.”
“I won"t praise you anymore,” she said pressing his head to her belly. “I"m tired of
that.”
After a month-long honeymoon when the Chandras returned home, they were led by
the Yadagiris into the Honeycomb to set up their nucleus family. As that parental gift of
freedom eclipsed the paternal bitterness of the past, Chandra"s soul acquired a new avatar.
And Nithya, who was gratified at being Chandra"s wife, couldn"t hold tears of gratitude for
her in-laws' love and affection as well. And her parents too were heartened to see their
daughter feted like a queen at Honeycomb by one and all.
It was in that frame of mind that the Chandras settled down in their Honeycomb to
perpetuate their honeymoon.
“You look very handsome now,” Nithya told Chandra one day.
“I don"t know about that,” he said patting her head, “but I do feel fulfilled.”
“It was your bitterness more than your looks that made you feel wretched," she said
leaning on him. „It"s true; the face is the index of mind.”
“Maybe you"ve got used to my looks and that makes the difference.”
“Ability too imparts beauty,” she winked at him.
Being at peace with himself, Chandra soon turned his attention to the business on hand.
Realizing that dealing in pearls alone was a stagnant proposition, for a new line of business,
he introduced precious stones. Also sensing a growing demand for designer jewellery, he
made arrangements to subcontract. And to optimize the return on investment and to
acquire a trendy look, he got the premises renovated. What with Nithya too showing an
interest in his ventures, he began involving her in their execution. And as she exhibited a
penchant for jewellery design, he entrusted the same to her care. With the value additions
bringing in monetary returns, Yadagiri saw his dreams of a pearl empire for Chandra, with
his queen in tow, coming true, after all.
Amidst great expectations, the time came for them to move Nithya to the maternity
ward. As she delivered a girl child, Anasuya felt as though the newborn was a
reincarnation of Vasavi. Yadagiri, however, felt it was Goddess Lakshmi who took birth in
their house. After all, while the child grew up in her mother"s womb, didn"t their business
grow as well? Besides, all were pleased that the girl was fair and beautiful like her mother.
“Isn"t she lovely like you?” said Chandra, looking fondly at the newborn.
“Glad I still appeal to you,” said Nithya pleased with herself, “but she"s really cute. It's
all so thrilling.”
“I"m happy as well,” he said taking the babe in his arms. “I feel it"s my own child.”
“I"ve begun to feel it that way for long,” said Nithya winking at him. “After all, she had
grown up in my womb embalmed with your cum.”
“What a way to feel,” he said joyously, “I'm glad she would grow up now caressed by
my hand.”
“Oh, how you make things easy for me in every way,” she said taking his hand. “I love
you and live for you.”
“I"m happy for both of us.”
“You know what makes me happier,” she said endearingly.
“Well.”
“Son, to be precise.”
“I"ll play my part, won"t I?”
“You won"t find me wanting either,” she said naughtily. “What"s the delay, are you
looking for a young lady surgeon or what?”
“Of what avail any when your beauty has blinded me?” he said in all smile. “Besides,
the operation would be over in a wink.”
“Anyway, I won"t allow you to sleep either way,” she said winking at him. “Be sure
about that.”
“Still it takes time to go the true way, doesn"t it?”
“Whichever way it is,” she said, “be ready in time, won"t you?”
Came the third-month namakaranam and to the delight of the Yadagiris, the Chandras
named their girl as Vasavi. And by then, Nithya too began to have fresh vision in her
lovemaking as Chandra got his vas recanalised without anyone getting wiser about it.
Symbolizing the upbeat mood at the Pearl House and the Honeycomb, soon, in the
collective consciousness of the people of
the twin-cities, the old-world Pearl House was
transformed into a jewellery house of note and repute.
Twist in the Tale
That December evening, a young man made his way to the Princely Pearls to give an order
for a gold ring. Watching him enter, Chandra was impressed with his persona exemplified
by a romantic face. Learning from the salesman that the newcomer was asking for the
moon, Chandra wanted him to be sent to him. When he heard the man tell how he would
like the gold ring to look like, Chandra realized that it was meant for a valentine. Besides,
he felt the detail conveyed a commitment to the cause and his articulation indicated a
loving care. Impressed with the man"s passion for his project, Chandra agreed to undertake
the intricate work.
“How soon can I have it?” asked the man.
“We haven"t yet given our quote,” said Chandra amused by his hurry.
“I"ve heard you won"t overcharge,” said the man. “I want it by day after tomorrow
morning.”
“Thanks for your trust in us,” said Chandra pleased with the goodwill, “but it takes
time.”
“I need it badly, and in time,” the man said, and Chandra could see a peculiar
desperation on his face.
“It would cost 2k,” said Chandra having made an estimate of it, “and you can pick it up
as we open at ten the day after tomorrow.”
“Would you please put your best man on the job?” said the man paying an advance of
one thousand rupees. “If you don"t mind, I would like to see the work in progress.”
“Why, it"s interesting,” said Chandra reaching for the Bill Book. “Will you mind leaving
your name and address?”
“Sathya,” he said filling the form, “what about my being with your workman?”
“Come along then,” Chandra led him out, leaving the rigmarole of closing the shop to
Yadagiri.
On their way to the master goldsmith in his Fiat, Chandra began to feel an inexplicable
empathy for Sathya.
“You don"t even want to know my name,” said Chandra.
“Oh, I"m sorry,” said Sathya apologetically, “I"m beside myself.”
“That"s clear anyway,” said Chandra. “If I"m not wrong you"re in love, aren"t you?”
“It"s more like I"m in a trance now.”
“Why, your face betrays that.”
