Part 27
Ram: Soumaya you stay here in
case she comes back and if she does make sure you call me… I will go and search for her she couldn’t have gone far.
Ram drove around frantically, searching left, right and center for
his wife. Slamming his palms on the steering wheel countless times as he drove,
cursing himself for letting the most important person in his life get away.
Half an hour passed by in the blink of an eye as Ram’s eye desperately sought out for Priya refusing to blink. He
pulled the car over to the side of the road, halting abruptly as he screamed
slamming his head down on the steering wheel, “WHERE ARE YOU PRIYA? I
NEED YOU!!!” Tears squeezed out from the corner of his
eyes as he shut it tightly; her memories occupied his lens like a bittersweet
slideshow that seemed incomplete and rather short. He wanted to create more
memories with her to add to his cherished collection but it would only remain a
futile wish without her and he was not about to let that be the case. Motivated
by his selfish wish to have her, he sat up in his seat with a jolt and rougly
brushed his hot palms across his cheeks while he gave himself a pep talk, “Sitting here and crying won’t do you any good
Ram. You have to find her. You spent 5
years without her, that’s enough separation for a
lifetime. Don’t let another 5 minutes
pass by without her by your side. Time is sly Ram, it can turn 5 minutes into 5
years and the realization of this leap hits us only after the fact, when it is
too late to act, to late to get those potentially beautiful moments back… You know this Ram; you’ve been through this before… Those lonely nights
wondering, “what if Priya were still
in your life? What if you could’ve protected her from
going to jail? And the thought that will be the death of you is when you look
back at tonight and wonder, “What if I joined her for
dinner on the terrace…” His conscious jerked
back into action after his subconscious stumbled upon the word, “terrace”… “Terrace, Terrace,” he repeated as he
scractched his temple trying to recall it’s significance. “Shit that’s it” Pushing the clutch down he shifted into first gear and drove off
to the beach; the same one where he had taken Priya to count stars after the
terrace idea had flopped.
The stakes were high, his love was on the line and he had bet all
his chips of this location… Guess tonight lady luck
was on his side as his eyes absorbed the sight of his ladylove sitting on the
sand with her knees bent, her arms wrapped around it and her head resting upon
it. He ran towards her faster than he had ever in his life for anything let
alone anyone, igorning the lactic acid build up in his leg muscles that caused
a painful burning sensation. Stopping right in front of where she was seated,
he breathed heavily as he managed to say, “Priya!” She did not look up at him. His knees dug into the sand as he
kneeled in front of her and with his trembling hands he cupped her moist face
and lifted it up staring into her red swollen eyes. His thumbs glided across
her cheeks wiping her tears as he leaned forward and kissed her on her
forehead, the force of his kiss pushing her head back gently. When he leaned
back to look at her, he saw that her eyes were shut tightly out of anger. Still
cupping her face in between his hands, he sweeped his thumbs across her cheeks
once more to wipe away a fresh set of tears.
Ram: I am not sorry for what I
have said or done, Priya.
She opened her eyes and stared at him furiously as she pushed his
hands away from her face.
Priya: Then why are you here?
She tried to get up but Ram held both her hands pulling her back
down.
Ram: no I am not sorry...
Because sorry is not a big enough word for me to say right now to express to
you how remorseful I am feeling for my actions and hateful words.
Priya: what do you regret the
most, your enraged words or your mistake for falling in love with me?
Ram (Ram hung his head low
still holding on to Priya’s hands, he closed his
eyes and sighed trying to breathe out the anguish that was burning a hole in
his heart): Priya I did not mean anything that I said especially that part. I
love you and only you… If I could go back in time
and change one thing, do you know what that would be? (she did not respond) I
would change when we met so that we could have met sooner and I could have
spent more of my life with you…
Priya: Baaas Ram! (she conjured
up all her strength and ripped her hands free from his grip) For you love is
merely sweet words…sweet words that don’t match your bitter ac…
He grabbed her face and leaned forward simultaneously meeting her
parted lips midsentence. Isolating her bottom lip as he sandwiched it in
between his pursed lips, he drew forcefully. His lips loosened it’s hold on hers as he titled his head to the other side, pulling
her face closer to his with ease as he once again sandwiched the other half of
her lusciously throbbing bottom lip, squeezing and pulling it gently a couple
of times. He completed the kiss with one last tug on her bottom lip and
remained within kissing distance as he breathed heavily against her lips trying
to catch his breath. She was at a loss for words, trying to regain the reign on
her overactive nerves that electrified every inch of her body leaving her
wanting more. He must be a mind reader because the very next moment he alarmed
her with a gentle kiss on her lips. He began to whisper as his hot breath
teased her nerve cells. “Thank god for this cool
breeze, she thought, otherwise I would have melted from the heat of his touch” He kissed again, sensing that she was distracted and wanting her
full attention, “Priya, now don’t tell me that what I just did was typical of any guy and that my
love is confined only to these sexual gestures”. She thought, “DAMN, he’s good. That was my only
counterargument in this situation. Ab kya?” The soft kiss on her
lips diverted her attention back to him. He whispered once again, “Tell me, how can you possibly compare me to a typical guy? I
wanted to do this a long time back but I bowed down to your anger and respected
your wish for me to stay away from you. Ab aur nahi… Afterall I am a guy and I do have needs that only you can fufill.
But (he lifted her face up and examined the nervous expression on her face)
remember, I am not a typical guy because no typical guy can have this
nerve-racking effect on your body that I can whenever I touch you.” He backed away, the absence of his hot breath against her lips allowed
her to open her eyes and stare anxiously at him. Grabbing one of her hands he
pressed it against his chest. She felt his heart beating rapidly against his
chest as if it wanted to break free and kiss her palm.
Ram: Mesoos kijiye na Priya,
mera dil ke dhadkhan. It only beats this fast for you… And until the day I die it will beat only for you!
Priya stood up and turned her back to Ram, crossing her arms
across her chest. He also stood up, confused by the sudden change in her
demeanor. A moment ago he had thought that for sure she had forgiven him but
now he does not know what to think.
Ram: Priya…
She turns around and holds up her hand in his face, signaling him
to stop talking.
Priya (states angrily): Baas Ram!! Who the hell do you think
you are? (she puts her hand down and grabs his collar) if you ever talk about
dieing or leaving me again (she lets go of his collar) toh mein…toh mein… (She looked around and
than straight ahead pointing towards the water) toh mein uss pani mein kood kar
suicide karloongi (with that she rested her head against his chest. He heaved a
sigh of relief as he secured his arms around her back.)
Ram (kissed her on her head):
I love you Priya!
Priya (hugged him tighter): I
love you too Ram!
Ram stepped back and held on to Priya’s hands as he stared at her lovingly, receiving the same affection
back from her gaze.
Ram: Waise Priya ek baat bolu?
Priya: Haan boliye… Maine apko kaab mana kia
Ram: (smiles) don’t ever think about jumping into the water and commiting sucide. Warna
humare baachey anaath ho jayage…
Priya: haw Ram aise kaise? you
will be there…
Ram: no stupid… If you jump in the water do you think that I would just stand and
watch? I will also jump into save you and woh mujhe swimming nahi ata hain…
Priya: (chuckles): aacha! If you
don’t know how to swim than why will you jump in the water?
Ram: I have to try atleast… I have lost you once and know how miserable it was, there is no
way I will let you leave me again…
She was touched by his response…He stepped forward to
give her a hug but was interrupted by the ringing of his phone. “Oh shit!” he thought as he quickly
received the call.
Ram: Hey Soumaya! …Yes yes everything is fine… Haan apki bhabhi is
here; we are on our way home… Accha suno… Thank you for everything……………is everybody still
sleeping? …. Okay good! You can also
go to sleep now; we will talk to you tomorrow… Okay than, Bye…
When they got home Ram ordered Bansi Kaka to bring their food to
the terrace and just as Priya had planned they enjoyed a candlelight dinner
under the stars. The past five years offered them a great deal to catch up on,
which did not allow a second of silence to invade Ram and Priya’s special night. After dinner they headed back to their room still
lost in conversation. It was not until they entered their room and closed the
door that they realized what might follow. Both Ram and Priya had the same
desire that was fueled by 5 long years of built up passion. However, neither of
them knew how to initiate their fantasy and fufill their longing for one
another.
Priya: umm… I am going to change…unless you want too… I mean if you want to change first…
Ram: uh no it’s okay… you can go first… (She walks towards the change room when he says) do you need
help? (She looks back at him, making him nervous as he quickly says) mera
maatlab, IF you need help with unhooking your blouse, than umm you can call me,
I don’t mind… I’ll just be here, (he grabbed the remote and pointed to the TV)
watching TV.
Priya: okay… thanks
She turned around disappointed and walks towards the change room
muttering to herself, “nayke aur pooch pooch kai… At the beach you didn’t ask me before you
kissed me (she touched her lips and blushed) aur aab bilkul golu hogaya phir se…” He had the TV volume turned down completely, his ears trying to
capture her voice that never called out for him. His eyes kept glancing back at
the change room waiting for her to walk back into the room. He looked back at
the TV and thought, “Yaar, yeh Priya bhi na…Kitni slow hain.” He looked back once more
and was stunned at the sight. If his jaw muscles had the flexibility like they
show in cartoons than for sure it would have touched the ground. She was
wearing a red spaghetti strapped nightgown, which rested just below her knees.
Her shoulder and cleavage that would usually be covered up with some sort of
floral themed silk robe was now bare and inviting to his eyes. She waited for
his compliment and he itched to give her more than just a compliment but he did
not know if she would be okay with his intentions. He walked past her biting
his tongue and looking in another direction trying desperately to divert his
arousal. She was sitting on the bed fiddling with the TV remote, flipping
through the channels when he came back into the room dressed in his white
kurtha. Noticing him she moved over to her side of the bed and he crawled into
bed.
Ram: so what should we do?
Priya: whatever you want to do?
(She thought, “c’mon Ram choose wisely, I am wearing this for you”)
Ram: (he glanced at her and
quickly looked away thinking, “All I want to do is you… But how do I ask without being rude and what if you are not in
the mood”) Maybe we could watch
TV?
Priya: (she thought, “Watch TV??? Why did I wear this, he is in no mood for anything.
Maybe he is tired, he did have a long day at work”… she pulled the covers over her shoulders, while resting against
the headboard) Ram, I just remembered, you had a very long day at work today.
You must be sleepy we can go to sleep…
Ram: (thinking: “sleep? You wear such a sexy outfit, how can I possibly sleep) No
Priya, I am absolutely fine. I can stay up all night. In fact we should both
stay up all night and do something relaxing for the both of us.
Priya: (thinking: “okay so we still have time to get him in the mood. What if we
watch a romantic movie, than maybe he will get the hint”) Okay, great idea… Maybe we can watch a
movie, it will be fun and long…
Ram: (thinking: “Movie?) Okay sounds good. I’ll go get some popcorn
and you can choose the movie…
He goes to the kitchen and gets some popcorn, while Priya browses
through his scarce collection of DVDs. Unfortunately there were no romanctic
movies. She thought, “why did I expect that he
would have a romantic movie? What good would it do for an unromantic guy like
Ram, it would just sit in this collection of garbage and accumulate dust.” She quickly chooses a movie when she hears Ram’s footsteps coming down the hall mingled with the scent of freshly
popped popcorn. She fixes her hair checking herself in the mirror before she
hops back into bed. The movie starts and Ram begins to angrily munch on the
popcorn as if it was marathon. Not even halfway into the movie, Priya notices
that the popcorn is more than halfway done. She thinks, “Yeh Ram bhi na ekdum golu hain… Watch he will finish all
the popcorn, get bored and than fall asleep. I have to do something.”
Priya: Ram slow down please... I don't understand
what the hurry is? You said we would stay up all night. But at the pace that
you're going, we will be done in 5 minutes.
Ram: (irritated) so, if you’re concerned about the popcorn I can just go make another bag. And
besides popcorn might be done in 5 minutes but this movie is 2 hours long.
Priya: (irritated by his tone)
Ram why are you getting angry. This was your idea wasn’t it…Staying up all night…
Ram: (irritated) Haan I wanted
to stay up all night to do something relaxing… This is not what I had
in mind. (He points to the movie)
Priya: oh I am sorry, I did not
know that I had to read your mind… something relaxing?
Relaxing can imply many things… argh! It’s always so cold in this room; I don’t know why I expect anything else living with an unromantic golu
polar bear… (she complains as she
stomps out of bed annoyed)
Ram: accha? (he also gets out
of bed) My room is just fine…and if you walk around in
that sexy outfit than off course you will be cold.
Priya: (says sarcastically) Oh
shoot I am so sorry. Maine yeh outfit pehna KM ka bhatakte hue dukhi aatma ko
khush karne ke liye hay na? (in an irritated tone) Shayaad
woh bhatakte hue aatma khush ho bhi
gaya hoga but to seduce an unromantic polar bear is impossible, meri dimaag
kaarab tha ki maine koshish bhi kia.
Ram: yeah you are ri… (Pauses as he finally understood what Priya was saying) Wait… what did you just say?
Priya: nothing… (she walks towards the change room) I am going to change have fun
watching your unromantic movie and stuffing your face with popcorn. If you need
more than I will bring it for you after I am done changing, afterall I have no
other use in your life.
She locks the change room door, while Ram slams his palm on his
forehead.
Ram: yaar yeh kya hogaya… hmmm now think!! (he slums down on the bed and stuffs a handful
of popcorn in his mouth and chews quickly as he thinks)
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