chapter 31

EndPresent Day in Ishana’s House“Pratham and I celebrated our first anniversary with our friends. It coincided with my exams, but I didn’t care. It was my birthday and the best day of my life. We partied like animals that day,” Ishana snickered. “My one year with him still feels like an hour when I recall it.” Ishana smiled at the memory. “You know what Ravi, in that one year he taught me unconditional love. He taught me how love can justify all means. He taught me how love and lust can be different, yet can be one. And he taught me how being with someone you love can even fill your empty soul,” she sighed, and Ravi couldn’t help but feel that the worst was yet to come. “My final semester was about to end, and in the last six months, thanks to Pratham’s efforts, I was becoming one of the most prominent models in the industry. Offers were pouring in, but Pratham wanted me to first finish college. Pratham was sure that my on-going modeling assignments and Miss Mystique India contest would give me enough exposure to finally reunite with Rakshit. And, once that was done, we would wrap up this glamor world, and I would do a simple off-screen job.” Ravi couldn’t help himself but interrupt. “Rakshit?” “Yes. And you won’t believe that though it was I who wanted to reunite with him, it was Pratham who was making all the efforts.” Ravi was stunned. Even after so many years…“Anyways, a month before the final exams I had received the invitation to join all other contestants,” she continued as if Ravi had not asked about Rakshit at all. “I was supposed to fly out on the day of my final exam.” She paused, and a tear trickled down her cheek. “I was happiest, Ravi. I had never known that happiness like this existed,” she was smiling in tears. “Pratham was my everything. My heart, my soul, my happiness, even my grief. He was the sole reason for my existence,” she spoke, wiping her face.“The night before I was leaving, I was in a dilemma. I had the worst feeling possible. He dismissed it as nervousness, but it was something else.” “You think I am doing the right thing?” Ishana enquired.“Why? Is it because you have to wear a swimsuit?” Pratham teased.“Yes, that is one big reason. But I don’t think I can live without you for two whole months,” she complained.“Neither can I. Now give me something to get on for the next two months,” he whispered on her lips, and they indulged in a very hot love-making session. As they lay naked, Pratham sat up and gazed down at his wife’s beautiful body.“Hey, what?” she blushed, still not used to this gaze of his.“I want you to promise me something,” he spoke sincerely. His tone caught her by surprise.“Anything my love,” she whispered. At this, he picked up her lipstick and took her to the mirror. She felt shy as she saw them both standing stark naked, so close to each other.    “Perfection,” he murmured as he caressed her body and kissed her all over. It was a delicious sight for her, seeing him fondle with her body and making love to her. She could have died a hundred deaths for that one moment.“I love you,” he whispered after a while. And with equal love and affection, she responded, “Oh, I love you too… and so much more…” “Promise me, no matter what, no other man will ever see or feel these parts of you,” and with these words, he started drawing on her body. When done, she gawked at herself in the mirror. He had drawn a line around her breasts and her pelvic area. She turned and checked front and back. “Not even if I die and go to heaven and some angel himself want to…” she declared, wrapping her hands around his neck, and they kissed again.“What?” Ravi asked as he waited for more info. “Ah yes,” she spoke, coming back to present. Once again, she was lost in one of the beautiful memories of her past. “I packed up and realized that I had forgotten my purse in his office in the college. Pratham promised to collect it for me. I don’t even remember now what was so damn important in that wretched purse,” she cursed. Ravi just blinked curiously. He couldn’t understand what went wrong here… “I went to the airport and finished all the formalities. I boarded the plane, but it was delayed. I called him, and we started talking,” she smiled tearfully.Ishana: “I miss you already.”Pratham: “Not more than I. You will be busy there, and I would be here, all alone, in our home, waiting for you.” Ishana: “I am doing this only for my brother.” Pratham: “I know love, and I understand.”Pratham: “Do you know what I want to do right now?” Ishana: “What?” laughing at his tone.Pratham: “I want to scream on this road.”Ishana: “What?”Pratham: “I LOVE YOU… I LOVE YOU… I LOVE…”Thud… Screech… ThudÂ