Day-1
She looked down.
And met the gaze of the woman who was staring back at her.
Her kohl rimmed eyes were watery with tears. So was the woman’s.
She leaned over a bit.
‘Plonk’
A teardrop fell into the water and disturbed her reflection.
It was a cold, winter night. Radhika dangled her legs in the heated pool. Her torso shivered but she didn’t don the shawl she had brought with her. She wanted to feel the cold. She wanted to feel alive. Because she felt dead. Dead and fake.
Radhika was staying at a heritage hotel. She had spent the entire morning, unpacking and exploring the area. The evening was spent roaming about the vast hotel. It had been a huge Haveli that had been painstakingly restored and had typical Rajputi carved windows. The courtyard was huge and housed a manicured lawn, a fountain and a swimming pool.
Besides the swimming pool, there were lounge chairs. Behind the lounge chairs was a hedge which had a little alcove. In that alcove was a seating arrangement, with a mattress and rolled cushions. There were ornate lanterns for light and a dainty little pond with lotuses stood vigilant, like a sentinel next to the alcove. There were movable carved windows that were fitted on the other side of the alcove, which could be drawn, for privacy. It would come as no surprise to the reader that this spot was often frequented by lovers. Quite literally for a ‘scramble in the bramble’.
The courtyard was deserted, save for Radhika. It was brightly lit. She had her back towards the hedges.
Suddenly, she heard a man’s voice. It was a baritone. A baritone that she recognized all too well.
She also heard a woman giggle. Very seductively. It seemed as if the alcove had guests for the night.
She suddenly wished that she hadn’t heard the voices. She wished for the night to become windy. And for the howling wind to drown out the voices. Or better still, drown her.
She heard the couple in the alcove giggle. And the squeaking of the hinges, as the window was closed. Then came the sounds of rustling and clothes being shed. She heard two bodies enjoying carnal bliss. And she hated what she heard. She knew what she would hear next. Moaning, groaning and maybe even a yell or two.
She sat, still as a mouse. Waiting. Waiting patiently for the revelry to end.
It did end. And there was moaning and groaning. Panting and huffing, too.
But no yelling. Radhika was surprised.
Vikram liked when his floozies screamed in pleasure. In fact, he demanded it sometimes.
She lowered her gaze once more as she heard her husband and the woman dress and walk away hurriedly from the alcove.
Courtesy to the hedges, they hadn’t spotted her.
It had been three years since Radhika Mehra had become Radhika Singhania. Her parents had pulled Vikram out of the large mound of suitors, as an ideal match for her. Vikram was the sole heir to his father’s powerful conglomerate. And Radhika’s father was an established industrialist in the energy sector. It had been a lucrative alliance for the expansion of Singhania Limited.
Radhika Singhania had a perfect life. Or so it seemed.
Day-2
The next evening, Radhika lay on one of the lounge chairs. She hadn’t gone anywhere that day. Vikram was busy with his presentation and had informed her that he would be having a ‘late night call’. He made it very clear to her that he didn’t want to be disturbed. She gazed up. The night sky was divine.
This time, the woman had reached earlier and was awaiting Vikram.
The same throngs of passion. This time accompanied by a stifled scream-comme demandé.
The same hurried walk, back to their respective rooms.
The same tear-stained pillow, beneath Radhika’s head.
Day-3
The third day, Radhika was not alone. She had spent the morning visiting various temples in Jaipur.
She came to the pool, as usual, after dinner.
There was someone already on one of the lounge chairs. So she lay on the one beside it.
It was a full moon that night.
“The moon looks beautiful, doesn’t it?”, whispered the stranger softly.
Radhika looked at him.
And he looked at her.
Two pairs of lonely eyes found each other.
“I prefer to think that the moon IS beautiful. Regardless of how it looks. Today or any day.” said Radhika stiffly.
“Hmmm.” crooned the man.
They lay in silence for an hour.
They heard the rustle in the hedges. The man sat upright and looked at the hedge, his face adorned with a quizzical expression. Then he heard the noises and his face flushed bright red.
Radhika felt ashamed.
The man must’ve felt embarrassed as well. He walked away.
Day-4
Radhika arrived at the pool, right after dinner. This time, the stranger had his legs submerged in the pool. Radhika went to the opposite end and dipped her feet in the warm water. The stranger looked up and waved at her. She waved back. She was in a better mood today.
She looked at him intently. He was gazing at the pool, at his reflection in it. He was dressed in a casual T-Shirt and checked pyjamas. He was slender, wheatish and had a receding hairline. He looked around 35 or so. And he seemed vaguely familiar.
Not a word was spoken between them.
That night, Radhika did not cry.
Day-5
Vikram was out of town that day. He had to meet a client at a factory site. Singhania Ltd. was expanding into the jewellery business. Hence the visit to Jaipur. He was supposed to sign a deal with a famous jewellery tycoon.
Radhika didn’t change for the night, before going to the pool. She wore a silk salwar kameez and wrapped her cashmere shawl tightly around her. She had spent the morning shopping. She had to bring back home customary gifts for all her inlaws and friends. Sarees, jewellery, bags, souvenirs, handicrafts. She wore a new pair of earrings.
She went to the pool.
The stranger wasn’t there.
This saddened her.
She waited, hoping for the stranger to arrive.
He didn’t.
Day-6
Radhika went to the pool right after breakfast. She dreaded going back to the room. Vikram had returned from his short trip. He seemed to be in a foul mood. Apparently, the deal wasn’t signed. There were some clauses that were not acceptable to the tycoon, so the deal was to be re-drafted.
Adding insult to the injury, it was a particularly painful day for Radhika. It was her parents death anniversary.
They had died exactly three years ago. In a car crash. It had been awful.
Ever since, she had been alone. Her husband had been good to her, initially. But once her parents were no more, he preferred to ignore her. Her in-laws were particularly acerbic towards her after her parents’ passing. She gradually realised that she had merely been part of a contract. But no one came forward to help. Everyone knew of her husband’s womanising. But the Singhanias were a powerful family, even among their social circles. No one dared to speak up.
Radhika fell asleep after breakfast. She always kept a stock of sleeping pills with her. She needed them desperately, sometimes.
Today was one such desperate day.
By the time she woke up, it was early evening. There was a drowsy wind blowing and the sun was setting. The hotel was abuzz. There was a wedding that evening and most of the staff was preoccupied with the preparations. Radhika could hear the dholak and the band playing. She could hear the ringing of anklets and the chitter-chatter of women as they compared their designer lehengas and handcrafted jewellery.
She felt sad. Today yet another girl would be forced to succumb to the age-old tradition of ‘getting married on time‘. An intense monologue started playing in her head.
“Did it matter if she loved her husband? No!”
“Did it matter if her husband loved her? Absolutely No!”
“What mattered is that the girl had to be ‘pure’ and was now locked in the eternal servitude of bearing and raising babies. She would be charged upholding the family name. Her husband’s philandering ways (if he was that sort), would be blamed on her inability to keep him ‘satiated’.
And woe to her, if she should outlive her husband. She would be stripped of all her finery and would be forced to live the rest of her days isolated from society, devoid of any shred of happiness!”
She began breathing heavily and noticed the wetness on her cheeks.
That night she cried on the pretext of the newly wed bride.
Day-7
After a leisurely breakfast at the hotel’s restaurant Radhika set off for an excursion. There was a mela nearby and she intended to visit. She had a good time at the mela albeit she was alone. She stuffed herself silly with tantalising local fare. It was a good outing. She found her mind wandering, thinking about the stranger and his whereabouts.
After dropping her bags at the room, she went to the pool. She was too full for dinner.
The stranger was there.
He sat at the edge of the pool, cross legged. He had a solemn expression on his face and seemed to be lost deep in thought.
Radhika took a split second decision. that would alter her life.
She went and sat beside him.
“Good evening”, she said.
“Good evening!”, he replied.
They sat in silence for about 20 minutes.
“Here for a vacation?”, the stranger asked Radhika.
“Not quite”, she replied. “I am accompanying my husband. He is here on business. ”
“What about you?”, she enquired.
“Here on business as well”, he replied softly.
“I see.” she said.
“Do you like Jaipur?”, asked the stranger.
“I do, very much indeed.” replied Radhika.
“Have you visited all the famous places around here?”
“Not all of them. I did visit a few temples and I did attend the fair today.”
“Well, you should visit the havelis and forts around here. They are rather marvellous. You must go with your husband.”
Hearing this Radhika stiffened. She knew very well that her husband wouldn’t want to go sight-seeing, especially with her.
She took the plunge.
“My husband prefers to spend his spare time well…. In other ways.” she said with an apologetic look on her face.
“Oh, I see.”. The stranger seemed to understand her affliction.
“So, are you from hereabouts?” she enquired.
“Yes. My family does belong to Jaipur. I have spent most of my school days in Dehradun, though for the purpose of conversation, I was born and raised here.”
“I see. So you have been to a boarding school all your life?”
“Well, not just any boarding school. The Doon school in fact.”
“But all your life, away from family? That must’ve been sad at times.”
“It was. I shan’t deny it.”
They sat in silence for another ten minutes.
“It wasn’t all that bad, you know.” the stranger said softly.
“There were good times as well. And it made me stronger. A much better person in fact.”
“I understand. Sorry if I spoke out of line. I didn’t mean to…”
“That’s okay.” the stranger replied curtly.
They heard the rustling of the hedges and the cranking of the hinges of the alcove. They heard the rushed footsteps and once again the stranger turned red in the face.
Something broke within Radhika. She started crying uncontrollably. Out poured a gushing torrent, one that for long had been withheld by a dam. A dam that was now shattered, for it no longer could withstand the force of the beating water against it. This went on for a good 3 minutes or so. The stranger sat beside her, quietly perplexed. He kept his head respectfully bowed. He didn’t know what to do.
“I’m sorry, I’m just….”
Then Radhika did a very brave thing.
“That’s my husband.”
“I’m sorry? Who?” asked the stranger.
She pointed to the alcove.
“Oh….Oh!”
“Hmmm”
“Umm… I don’t know what to say,” said the stranger solemnly.
He looked at Radhika, gazing at her intently.
“That’s alright.”
She stared back at him. He seemed to have a very calming effect on her. She wanted to tell him everything.
And that’s precisely what she did.
He listened to her patiently. For two hours. She left no detail out. She told him everything that was on her mind. All the pent up rage and sadness suddenly found a pathway to leave her system.
She felt relieved. And a wee bit embarrassed. But relieved for the most part.
He apologised profusely. He said he was sorry that she had to go through all of that.
They sat in silence once again.
After a while, he bid her goodnight and went away.
This time, she felt embarrassed in dollops.
Day 8
Radhika didn’t go down to the pool.
Day 9
She didn’t go again.
Day 10
Today, Radhika was feeling brave. Her husband was having problems reaching a consensus with his client. He was perpetually in a foul mood. She thought it would be best to stay out of his hair. She went down the pool. Much to her relief she was alone. She had avoided the pool for the last couple of days. Out of sheer embarrassment.
But soon she heard footsteps walk to the pool. She looked up to find the stranger coming and sat next to her on the bench. He was resplendent in a fine suit. Radhika was wearing a kurti and jeans. She felt grossly underdressed.
“How was your day today?” she asked the stranger.
“Not good at all.” he replied with a sigh.
“Tell me about it”, said Radhika.
“But before that, tell me your name.”
“Karan”
“That’s a nice name. So Karan, tell me. What weighs heavy on your mind.”
“Oh, just stuff regarding business,” he replied.
“Wanna tell me about it?” asked Radhika
“Oh, no no, i wouldn’t want to bother you. It’s all very banal”
“Cmon, I might be able to help. I do have a background in finance and economics after all”
Unbeknownst to most who knew Radhika, she had been an ace student from Lady Shri Ram college. She had wanted to pursue further education and maybe even teach someday, but her parents had succumbed to societal pressure and were eager to see their daughter well-settled. A part of her still harboured that dream and despite feeling nonsensical about it, she always hoped to someday live her dream.
Karan explained to her the conundrum he had been facing in his business. While doing so, she heard him out patiently, but with a keen eye. He observed her as he spoke. He could see a sudden change in her demeanour as she devoured the problem statement. Her eyes suddenly became alert and he could see her body stiffen, her fingers fiddling with each other. Suddenly, she seemed more like a brisk business woman rather than the coy, unhappy lady he had become accustomed to seeing.
After he spoke, she calmly began her monologue. She asked him a few more questions and he answered them after a moment’s pause. Her monologue consisted of the most ingenious strategy he had ever heard. It was straightforward, yet subtly diabolical. As she spoke, she had an air of command about her. She knew her stuff and she spoke with conviction. He marvelled at the solution she suggested and mentally berated himself for not having thought about it. After a little more banter, the duo fell back in silence.
“You truly are smart, you are wasting yourself and your brains not working or teaching” remarked Karan.
“You think so?” asked an incredulous Radhika.
He could see the shy coy woman appear once again.
After a few more moments of silence, Radhika fidgeted.
“Please don’t go” blurted Karan
“Why not?” exclaimed a surprised Radhika.
“I am enjoying your company, immensely” said Karan hastily.
Radhika smiled a shy smile. Finally, someone who actually wanted her to stick around!
“I suppose I can stay for a while, my husband is in a rather foul mood nowadays and must be busy with his philandering” she remarked in a brisk manner and sat back down.
After a few more moments of silence, Karan began to speak. He spoke for a good 4 hours. He spared no details. He told her everything that was to be told about his life. Everything except one tiny detail, that he curtailed on purpose. She listened to him patiently. All the while, staring down at his reflection at the pool. Effectively making it feel as if she were listening to his reflection. She seemed to instinctively know that his ego would feel better if she were not to make direct eye contact with him.
While he poured his heart out to her, he couldn’t help but notice her beauty. Her eyes were kind and welcoming. He wondered why her husband tried to find pleasure elsewhere, when he had such a wonderful woman he could call his wife. When she looked away from his reflection, he allowed his eyes to wander over the rest of her body. She was slender, yet had a rather curvy bosom. Her collarbones shone against the dim lights of the lamps surrounding them. There was an elegance in her simplicity, in her gait. Her hair was lustrous and tied in a simple pony. Unlike most of the gaudy women he was used to seeing, she had left her hair uncoloured. It had after all, a natural tint of brown. She had large doe shaped eyes, a sharp nose, thinnish lips and was extremely fair complexioned. She wore a very regal watch on her right hand, very simple looking albeit an expensive one. He recognised it as a luxury brand. To the right eye, she was very attractive.
After he was done speaking, they sat once again in silence.
“Thank you very much for confiding in me. I know it takes a lot of courage to be so vulnerable with someone you barely know”, Radhika remarked.
“Well, I think it’s easier to be an open book with someone you barely know, after all, what are the odds of us bumping into each other ever again”, said Karan casually.
Another few moments of muffled silence elapsed.
“Well, for what it is worth, I do hope that we bump into each other again”, said a shy Radhika.
Karan looked up at her and smiled, she smiled back at him. It was an inviting smile and not a shy one this time. They chatted for a bit more.
Over the course of the next 4 days, Karan and Radhika met everyday at the same time and chatted away to glory. They realised that Karan would be leaving a day after Radhika.
A day prior to Karan’s departure, Radhika found herself fidgety. She wondered whether she ought to ask for Karan’s contact details and stay in touch. Would that be too forward? It certainly wasn’t ladylike behaviour!
They met, as usual, after dinner, at the poolside. Karan was anxious, but didn’t show it.
They chatted casually. He enquired as to when she would be visiting Jaipur again. She asked him the same thing. It was obvious that the one question was playing on both of their minds. And both parties were apprehensive of voicing it out loud.
There was a long span of silence. Neither of them had spoken for close to 20 minutes. They were letting themselves simmer. Simmer in the juices of their own doing. Karan turned his head to Radhika. He cracked a joke to puncture the silence and looked at her earnestly. She was laughing. Gosh, she looked so beautiful. He realised that he wanted her.
He placed his hand on hers, ever so gently. She stopped laughing. He waited for her approval. She was staring down at their hands. After what seemed like an eternity, she gave a coy smile and started blushing furiously. He heaved a sigh of relief. He began stroking her fingers with his. She responded by intertwining her digits around his. He wanted the moment to last forever.
Slowly he brought his other hand to her face. He began caressing her cheek and nudged her chin to make her look up. He gasped as he looked into her eyes. They seemed to shine with a pure primal desire. He leaned forward and kissed her. She responded willingly. She moved closer to him and wrapped her arms around his neck. He then pulled her closer still and lay his hands around her waist, exploring the crevices along her back and torso. She tasted even better than the sweetest manna that the Israelites had ever sampled. He could taste the bitterness of coffee on her lips.
She was brazen and unrestricted in her participation of the current activity. He delighted in the way she reciprocated. He’d give an arm and a leg willingly to keep her happy!
She let out a series of moans that fuelled his desires further. He allowed his hands, free reign over her body. She didn’t stop him.
They were unabashed and didn’t bother checking whether anyone was looking. They didn’t hear the rustle of the bushes in the alcove and they were too engaged in their own passionate embrace to note the fact that the alcove had just been occupied.
“I love you”, whispered Radhika. And then she started weeping. She felt overcome with emotions and seemed to be at her wits ends!
“I love you too”, replied Karan, who them began hastily tending to the sobbing Radhika. He rested her head of his shoulders. Peppering her forehead with kisses and gently stroking her hair.
“What do we do now?”, asked a red eyed Radhika?
“Don’t worry, I will handle it”, replied a strangely confident Karan.
The familiar scream from the alcove, brought them back to ground reality. This time, Karan made a split second decision, that would propagate what Radhika has been brave enough to start.
He got up, and helped her up. Took her hand in his and walked casually to the alcove. Radhika had an extremely quizzical look on her face and when they reached the alcove, she was about to ask Karan what he was going to do. He put a finger on his lips, gesturing her to be quiet.
He opened the bamboo door to the alcove.
Within it, were, as one could guess, a couple caught in the throes of passion. Vikram was completely disrobed and the lady who lay besides him was partially so.
The couple was startled and the lady let out little yelp. She hastily began grabbing at her clothes to cover herself up. Vikram started yelling at Karan, asking him to leave. It took him a moment to realise his wife was standing and watching the show. Radhika averted her gaze. Karan didn’t. Vikram grew red in the face.
“Sunaina, I want a divorce. I will speak to the my lawyer and have the agreement drawn up”, said Karan to the aghast and partially naked lady.
He turned to Radhika and asked her if she had anything to say to her husband.
It took the shocked Radhika, a moment to digest what had happened.
“Vikram, I want a divorce as well”, remarked a quiet Radhika, after a moment’s thought.
Sunaina started fumbling. She said it wasn’t what it looked like. Vikram was swearing under his breathe.
Karan asked them to leave the alcove. Sunaina started crying. This irked Vikram. He brashly asked her to put on her clothes and leave.
The disgraced duo left hastily.
Karan pulled Radhika into the alcove. And then, they made love.
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