The Madras Affair

by Sundari Venkatraman

  Butterscotch raced towards his bike, barks of welcome emanating from him. “Shh,” said Gautam as he pet the Lab. He didn't want Butterscotch to wake either Sandeep or his grandparents. He so needed these few minutes of privacy with his wife.

  He turned as a bright yellow caught his eyes. He saw Sangita walking under the trees, her hips swaying gently as she sauntered away in the opposite direction. His blood heated at the sight of her slender figure draped in the bright, yellow sari. He couldn't wait to get his hands on the low knot she had made of her hair and bury his face in the fragrant, silky strands. Sangita neither heard his bike nor Butterscotch's bark as she was lost in her own thoughts. He walked towards her, his sneakers making no noise in the grass.

  Sangita gasped, “Gautam,” as his strong arms went around her from behind, as he pulled her into his crushing hold.

  A quiver ran through her body, even as she noticed that her husband avoided touching her breasts, much to her disappointment.

  She turned around in his arms to look at him. She was clearly disturbed. Gautam didn't notice that as he bent down to steal a kiss from her soft, luscious lips.

  “Hmm, that's better,” he whispered in her ear, holding her close against his chest. “Been desperate to kiss you since I spoke to you in the afternoon,” he continued to make verbal love to her as he crushed her body to his. His hands moved of their own volition to splay over her rounded bottom as he brought her hips closer to his own, to ease the pressure in his loins. His eyes closed automatically as pleasure invaded his senses.

  A jolt of lightning shook Sangita's frame as she felt his hardness against her. All her confusion of his not touching her breasts flew from her mind as fresh horror overtook her. Would Gautam want to make love to her tonight?

  She looked at him with turbulence in her eyes. He was busy pulling her hair open. He noticed her silence and looked down at her enquiringly.

  She traced her forefinger on the outline of his shirt pocket, her eyes lowered as she couldn't meet his bright look of enquiry.

  “Sangita!” He waited for her to look at him. “What's it?”

  She studied his handsome features lovingly, not knowing what to tell him. She wasn't clear about what she wanted from herself, let alone from him.

  She buried her face against his chest with a shuddering sigh. He held her close, waiting patiently for her reply. And Sangita knew, from the little experience she had of him, that he had the tenacity of a bull terrier when it came to coaxing answers out of her. It was only a matter of time before he got her to tell him what was eating into her.

  Gautam shifted her in his embrace and the sensitive tips of her breasts responded instantly. He felt their reaction as he was holding her close. A smile gathered on his face as he guessed correctly what was bothering his wife. Her body was wide awake with desires that her mind refused to acknowledge. The time had come to put some pressure. He had his strategy all mapped out.

  He didn't pursue the matter of Sangita's disturbed state, much to her irritation. He pretended not to notice her annoyed scowl as he walked under the trees beside her, her hand tucked into his arm. Sangita felt sorry that he wasn't hugging her and—her temper slowly mounted—the infuriating man seemed unaware of it.

  Gautam talked about inconsequential things while watching his wife's face vigilantly from the corner of his eyes. Her monosyllabic responses were extremely gratifying.

  Sandeep woke up and caught sight of his parents from his bedroom window; he ran down to meet them. Sangita couldn't fault the way Gautam handled their son; with absolute love and tender firmness.

  Gautam lifted Sandeep bodily above his head as the little boy squealed in delight. She watched the rapport between father and son, a feeling of envy in her heart.

  After snacks, coffee and Bournvita for Sandeep, the two males set out to play football with Butterscotch running along.

  Sangita came down after changing into a pair of royal blue capris her husband had bought her a couple of days back. She had teamed it with a bright pink T-shirt and sneakers. Her hair was tied in a high pony. It had taken one week for Sangita to gather the courage to wear the outfit. But that day, she had come to a decision; to catch her husband's eye. She wasn't aware how contradictory her behaviour was.

  As she stepped on the lawn, Sandeep and Butterscotch were playing tug of war with the football, refereed by Gautam. He had changed into shorts that showed his long, tanned legs to advantage. The sight sucked the air from Sangita's lungs. She boldly walked forward and stood beside her husband who turned his startled gaze on her.

  It was his turn to become breathless. The capris fitted her slim legs to perfection. He swallowed as he watched her derrière as she strolled forward to join her son and Butterscotch in their game.

  He gave a sharp whistle that made everyone turn towards him. His eyes were on Sangita as he gave her a broad wink before blowing her a kiss. Sangita blushed a bright pink as Sandeep turned to look at his mother.

  “Mummy, you look cute,” he said.

  “Yeah, very cute,” agreed his father, moving forward with a purpose in his eyes.

  Sangita panicked as she guessed what was coming. She pushed her hands against her husband's chest, trying to keep him at bay. Her brown eyes warned him as she whispered in a hurry, “Gautam, Sandeep's watching...” Her sentence was never completed as Gautam swooped down to capture her lips in a mind-riveting kiss. His hands separated the hem of her T-shirt from where it was tucked into the waistband of her capris, and caressed her bare waist.

  She raised her arms to hang on to his neck as her lips clung to his, giving as much as she got.

  Gautam felt a tug on his shorts and turned glazed eyes to look down at his son.

  “Daddy, what are you doing to Mummy?” Sandeep asked.

  Sangita watched in fascinated horror as her husband went down on his knees to talk to their son. “I was kissing her, son. She's my wife, right?” Sandeep nodded his head in agreement.

  “All husbands kiss their wives. It's only natural.” Sangita didn't know where to look. She was embarrassed by the conversation. She gave Gautam a pleading look, but he ignored it to listen to his son.

  “But it's yuck, Daddy. Do you have to?” said his son, distaste on his face.

  Gautam laughed. “Wait till you're older, my boy. You might want to kiss by then too.”

  “Never!” declared Sandeep solemnly. “I'll never marry. Ugh! Then I don't have to kiss a lady.” He walked away in disgust, preferring the company of Butterscotch to that of his parents.

  Gautam shook with unbridled mirth as he eyed his son with pride. He looked at Sangita who was squirming with embarrassment.

  She looked at him accusingly to ask, “How could you, Gautam?”

  He took her hands in his to pull her closer. “How could I what?” he asked innocently.

  “Kiss me in Sandeep's presence,” she said, quite irritated with his pretence at not understanding, “and you gave him a lecture to top it all.” Her voice was as disgusted as her son's.

  “Sangita,” drawled Gautam, “Sandeep, you and I are a close-knit family, right?”

  She nodded, wondering what he was getting at.

  “We're bound to spend most of our waking hours together. If you think I'm going to stop myself from kissing you, every time Sandeep's around, you'd better think again. I'm neither goin' to give up my son's company nor the pleasure of your kisses. Got that?” he said before pressing his lips to hers.

  That day became a turning point in their lives. Although Gautam had been vehement about kissing her when he pleased, she could sense the withdrawal in him.

  He kissed her less now and the few times he did, the kisses were shorter. The nights of pure bliss she had spent in his arms seemed to be yesterday's news.

  He hadn't stopped embracing her. But the hugs were briefer. He made more excuses to go to bed much later than before. Either it was paper correction or new lessons to be prepared. The meaning of frustration began to slowly seep int
o Sangita's body and mind. She just didn't know how to deal with the situation.

  In her misery, she wasn't aware that her husband's eyes were ever watchful of her and that he was absolutely satisfied with her reactions.

  She wondered how to get his attention back on her. That afternoon, she hit upon an idea. She went shopping and daringly bought herself a swimsuit. It was a bright blue and orange one and Sangita looked at herself in awe in the trial room mirror. The cut was quite high on the thighs. She looked at her bare legs that appeared slim and long, telling herself, 'so what!'

  She turned around to eye the low cut back. She decided that her slim, straight back looked appealing enough to catch Gautam's eye.

  She added an orange towelling robe and matching skull-cap to her shopping basket, paid for her purchases and went home to await her husband.

  Evening found father and son in the swimming pool with Butterscotch running around, barking his head off and being splashed for his efforts.

  Sangita reached the pool, her orange robe tied securely around her new swimming costume. She wore her cap too, all set to jump into the water.

  Gautam heard his son's gasp before he turned to see his wife standing near the shallow end. She was looking into the water, not quite able to meet his eyes. Her fingers were at the knot of the robe, hesitant to pull it open.

  He rushed to her side, water dripping from his body. Sangita looked around desperately, not having the courage to look at his near naked body as he wore the briefest of swimming trunks.

  “Hello, beautiful!” he greeted her. “Goin' for a swim?”

  Sangita nodded without raising her head. “Only I don't know how.”

  “Would you like me to teach you?” Gautam's voice was too close for comfort, his lips brushing her right ear.

  She nodded again. Panic flared in her eyes as her husband moved her hands away firmly before pulling the knot of the robe open. He whistled in admiration at Sangita's swimsuit-clad figure before pulling the robe off her completely.

  He placed his hands on her bare shoulders to slowly check her out from head to toe. It took all of her will power to stand still under his scrutiny. Her shoulders burned from his touch; her whole body caught fire as Gautam's eyes studied every curve.

  “You look delicious.” His voice was awestruck as colour rode high on Sangita's cheeks. He turned her round slowly to gasp as he viewed her slim, bare back made all the more cute by the tight fit of the costume. Her legs appeared longer than usual and Gautam drooled over her slim thighs.

  She was extremely disappointed as Gautam turned her towards the pool and said, “Shall we?”

  This wasn't what she'd expected from her husband. She had been sure that he would pull her into his arms and kiss her senseless.

  Even now her bare skin ached from the disappointment of not feeling his touch. She had been so sure that he wouldn't have been able to resist it. And her legs! She had looked forward in great anticipation for him to run his hands on them. A small frown puckered Sangita's forehead as she wondered what had gone wrong. Was he not attracted to her any longer? She lost interest in swimming. If he was going to be so distant with her, what was the point, anyway?

  Gautam watched his wife's face avidly, trying to gauge her reaction. He was having a terrible time keeping his hands off her. He went back into the pool, shaking his head in a daze. The lady had some guts! It was obvious that she wanted her husband's attention. But even he was surprised to see her in the swimsuit. But he wanted all of her and he was prepared to wait.

  He put his hand out to his wife. “Come on, Sangita. It's quite shallow at this end. You'll be safe,” he said.

  Sangita looked at him, his bronzed shoulders gleaming in the light of the setting sun, droplets of water clinging to the golden-brown hair on his torso. She wanted to scream in frustration. It appeared like she couldn't even touch him when she pleased.

  “I don't think I want to get my new suit wet. Maybe tomorrow,” she turned away in a flash of temper, her head high in the air as she strode away from the pool, forgetting to feel shy.

  Gautam pulled his head underwater to hide his grin. Things couldn't have been better if he had planned the whole script. He realised that Sangita was ready for the final scene. He moved towards his son who was practising his laps religiously not keen to witness any yucky smooching between his parents.

  The next evening Gautam announced that an old colleague of his who'd shifted to Calcutta had come to Madras for a visit.

  “I'll not be home for dinner, Patti. A group of us are going out.” He was looking at his beautiful wife though he was addressing Vimala.

  “Who's this person?” asked Ganapathi, ever curious.

  “Shobita Banerjee, Thatha,” said Gautam, without batting an eyelid. He didn't fail to notice that Sangita's head had come up on hearing a woman's name.

  “Oh, I remember meeting her. Is she still as beautiful as she used to be?” asked Thatha, being his usual mischievous self.

  “But of course, Thatha; gorgeous as ever. You'll have to see her to believe it,” replied Gautam, tongue firmly in cheek.

  Sangita's face reddened with anger. It looked like he had found someone more attractive. She gritted her teeth. Barely two months into their marriage and he had lost interest in her. But he had made so many promises. Men! She fumed. They were all fools!

  And what misfortune had made her fall for him, she wondered. She was in love with her husband and she was definitely not ready to give up on their marriage. Even if it meant that she had to go the whole distance and have sex with him. A tremor shook her body. Yes! Even if it came to that, she told herself firmly.

  “Why don't you ask her over for dinner?” Sangita turned to look at Ganapathi, trying hard to hold back the revulsion in her expression. What was Thatha trying to do? Break her marriage single-handedly?

  Gautam controlled the urge to hug Ganapathi and kiss him on his bald pate. He couldn't have performed better even if Gautam had handed him a script.

  He shrugged his shoulders. “Sure, why not? Patti, Sangita,” he looked at them in turn, “will tomorrow evening be okay?”

  Patti innocently agreed as Sangita continued to glare at him. Gautam pretended to think that her silence was consent and getting up, stretched lazily, drawing his wife's angry gaze.

  “Well then, guys, I'll get ready or I'll be late.” He walked over to his son and kissed the top of his head. “Be a good boy, okay, sonny?”

  Sandeep nodded absentmindedly, his attention on the new video game that his father had gifted him earlier.

  “Sangita,” called Gautam as he walked up the staircase, not even bothering to check whether she was following him or not.

  Sangita's eyes bored two holes in his broad back as she followed him up the stairs to their bedroom. Gautam pursed his lips tightly to stop himself from grinning ear-to-ear as he could sense her jealous temper.

  “Sweetheart, will you please take out my favourite jeans and black shirt for me? I'm running late and still have to shower,” said Gautam, as he pulled his T-shirt over his head, missing the thunderous expression on his wife's face.

  He pulled down his shorts as he moved to the bathroom, watching Sangita's expression from the corner of his eyes.

  Lately, he'd got into the habit of running around in next-to-nothing. Her blood sizzled whenever she saw his toned, muscular body. She turned away abruptly, her fists clenched.

  She wasn't sure whether she was angrier with Gautam or with herself. He went into the bathroom whistling cheerfully, pleased with her reaction.

  After barely ten minutes, he walked out, a towel around his waist. She fled, not having the strength of will to hang around while he dressed.

  She joined Vimala and Ganapathi in front of the television, her mind most definitely not on the serial running there. Gautam came down, looking absolutely dashing. She watched him pathetically as he blew a kiss in their general direction before going out.

  She was subdued through dinner, her
mind working furiously, wondering what Gautam was upto. She finally came to a conclusion and went to her room after wishing Thatha and Patti goodnight. Luckily for her, they didn't notice anything strange in her behaviour.

  She ran a hot bath and added the bath salt that Sara had gifted her. An aroma of lilac surrounded the bathroom as Sangita slid into the steaming tub.

  Tonight was the night! She'd definitely get her husband's attention. Gautam loved her. She knew it. Sangita was a bundle of nerves by the time the water cooled in the tub. The soak that was supposed to calm her down, had frayed her nerves as she kept visualising the outcome of the night.

  She gritted her pearly white teeth and thrust her small chin out determinedly as she towelled herself vigorously. She had to do it, if she wanted to keep her husband's love.

  She had washed her hair and blow dried it while brushing the dark curls until they bounced and shone their way down to her waist.

  She daringly took out the peach negligee and wore it before eyeing herself in the mirror. She looked the same as she had on her wedding night. Would Gautam find her attractive? The swimsuit hadn't moved him the previous day. Her lips drooped.

  She went into the bedroom and lit half a dozen aromatic candles. She checked that her son was fast asleep before closing the connecting door softly.

  Sangita applied some perfume on her pulse points. There was apprehension and panic in her eyes. But when she thought of her husband with Shobita, she became more determined to carry through with the seduction.

  She sat on the bed, her body tense with anticipation.

  It was 2.15 am when Gautam entered their bedroom to find his wife fast asleep in a sitting position. He turned around to see the almost gutted out candles and wondered what had been going on. He had stayed out late to fan the fires of his wife's jealousy. Shobita had gone back to her hotel quite early. He had stayed back to have a couple of drinks with his friends when all the while his mind had been on Sangita.