Page 43 of That Same Old Love

Mahi’s friends were silent.

“Do you still have feelings towards Sidhu, Mahi?” asked Parvathi tentatively.

“What? No. Not those kind of feelings anyway that a woman would have towards a man she loves. When I saw Sidhu, I felt nostalgic and affectionate towards him. I didn’t feel the pain or crave him in anyway. I felt happy for him, knowing he has his own family whom he loves dearly. Whereas with Samrat—” Mahi broke off with a blush.

“Oh. My. God. Whaaaat? With Samrat what?” asked Jhanu.

“Well… I kissed and made out with Samrat,” Mahi blurted out and covered her mouth with both hands. Just like during their college days confessing to each other about their make out sessions with their boyfriends.

“Whaat? Oh wow. How? Spill!” asked Ashwini.

“Ashu!” admonished Parvathi, but looked curiously at Mahi.

Ashwini laughed. “Oh come on… No matter how old people are, or what background they are, it’s the universal truth that people are curious about what happens in other’s bedrooms. And our gang has never been the shy and retiring kind. So spill.”

Mahi laughed and told them about her and Samrat’s meeting on her first day back and then about her getting a job at his company, ending with how they made out when Samrat dropped her home after Srishti’s party.

“That’s so hot, Mahi! You are messing with his head so much by trying to seduce him. He might snap and tear your clothes off one day, and take you up on your offer, probably on the floor like an uncivilized primitive, living up to his name, Tarzan,” Ashwini said dreamily.

They all stared at Ashwini.

Ashwini grinned.”What? My husband is in Atlanta for a month and I’m missing our sexy times like crazy.”

Mahi smiled.

“So what are you going to do about Tarzan then?” asked Smitha.

Mahi shook her head. “I don’t know… I feel like a teenager each time I see Samrat. I don’t understand what’s going on and why I can’t control how I feel around him. I’m pissed at him and he’s pissed at me, yet I want him to smile at me. I came back to India to start over, and not to fall madly in lust with Samrat.”

“Oh my god, lust?” asked Ashwini with a grin.

“Yeah, horrible lust that I’m unable to control. My brain looks at him and thinks, so what if he’s hot and brilliant? He’s a revenge seeking, judgmental, clean freak ass. And then my body looks at him and thinks,well hello there sexy, come be naked with me and make me yours.I tried to convince my body several times, but each time he’s around, it jumps up and craves his touch,” said Mahi with a slight frown.

“Then do it. Both of you are single and ready to mingle. Jump Tarzan’s bones. Let Tarzan bone you!” encouraged Ashwini.

Parvathi shook her head grinning. “Can you believe that people who work under Ashu are actually terrified of her? They even dubbed her the cold bitch pushy manager because she manages her teams with an iron hand.”

Ashwini grinned back. “Hey work is work, and my teams better follow the rules, and focus on their jobs during work. I didn’t become an IT director at my age by being a wuss. And being a woman I need to work twice as hard and be twice as harsh. And besides we all compartmentalize. Work me vs girlfriend me are pretty different.”

Mahi smiled. “True. I’m definitely different at work and behave differently with different sets of people. With you girls, I’m still the teenage girl from our college.”

Her friends chimed in with the same sentiment.

“So? Will you act on it, then?” asked Parvathi.

Mahi looked uncertain. “Even if I wanted to do the dirty deeds with him, he isn’t interested. Remember what I did to his scholarships and then that grabby kiss accusation I threwat him? I have apologized to him several times, but he hasn’t forgiven me yet. I’m just hoping he doesn’t arrange a hit man to take me out.”

Parvathi shook her head. “No. He’s definitely interested. I’ve noticed him watching you many times during our college too. I know he was into you then and maybe even now,” she insisted.

“I don’t think he’sintome. Attracted, maybe. And even if he wants more, I don’t want to get involved with anyone seriously. I’ve just started to settle and have you girls back in my life. I prefer to enjoy the girlie bonding time than be in some messy emotional relationship. Besides, I never ever want to get married again and be under the control of another husband,” said Mahi, shuddering slightly.

Her friends were silent.

“Mahi, not all husbands are like that. Marriage is an equal partnership where you can marry someone who is like your best friend,” said Jhanvi.

Mahi sighed. “I know all that. But I’m messed up with so many issues. Mommy issues, daddy issues, baby issues, commitment issues, just to name a few. I’m not in the mental space to let anyone in right now. I just don’t want any added drama in my life.”

Jhanvi smiled sadly. “Hate to break it you Mahi, but wherever you go, there will always be drama. Most of us are all like that, pretty high maintenance. People are complex human beings with a lot of hang ups. Just because you ended up with one asshole doesn’t mean you’ll end up with another one.”

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