Page 44 of That Same Old Love

“I was reluctant at first too Mahi. But then I found the perfect partner in my second husband, Nitin. I showed him hell initially, but he was so patient with me and my son. Soon I gave in. And I’m glad I did,” said Smitha.

Mahi nodded. “I know I might be open to a physical relationship at this point, and definitely not a long lastingemotional one leading to marriage and babies. I was with two men in my life. One was my ex who didn’t care for my satisfaction at all. The other was Rahul, who pitied me, and treated me like a charity case and a delicate flower in bed that could snap easily. I just want to experience some wild passion with no control at least once in my lifetime. I know there are other things that are more important in life and can be fulfilling, but I want to pamper myself with whatIwant right now, and not simply do things that society expects me to do. Especially if my actions don’t hurt anyone else in the process.”

Her friends nodded in understanding.

“True. As long as your partner and you set the right expectations, there is nothing stopping you from satisfying each other,” said Smitha.

“Except, I might be called a whore or similar compliments from people,” said Mahi with a wry smile.

“Mahi, some idiot’s judgmental words are not going to hurt you. We all love you and support you in any decisions you make,” said Jhanvi.

All her other friends chimed in with the same sentiment and Mahi felt very happy that they had her back, just like during their college days. She knew that even if she were to murder someone, they would first help her hide the body, and then ask questions later. Every girl or woman needed friends like hers.

Later that evening, when her friend’s left, Mahi felt like she was finally where she belonged.

CHAPTER 13

The monsoon season had started and it was raining cats and dogs. Mahi was leaving for a three week business trip to San Francisco the next day. Rajeev was visiting her and stayed until four o’clock, waiting for the rain to stop. When it didn’t give any indication of ever stopping, he decided to leave.

Mahi, grabbed one of her umbrellas to see Rajeev off at her gate.

“You should stay inside. It’s raining pretty heavily. I’ll see myself out. My car is parked right outside your gate.”

“Don’t be silly Rajeev. I’ll come with you until the gate, otherwise you’ll be soaked. As it is driving in this rain seems a little risky.”

Driving on India roads was almost equivalent to a super complicated video game where one needed an extra set of eyes and ears along with superfast reflexes. Add a pouring rain to the mix and it made things much scarier. And she was yet to buy a car to drive by herself around the city.

She grabbed an umbrella that was big enough to protect both Rajeev and her from the downpour. She stood waiting just outside the gate while continuing to wave until the car disappeared from the view. She was just about to turn back when she felt her neck prickling in awareness. Immediately her eyes went to the balcony of the house opposite to her and clashed with another set of eyes that were staring at her in a brooding manner.

She was almost about to wave in a flirtatious manner when something about Samrat’s expression stopped her. The hair on her neck rose in awareness and she felt a tingling in her body along with a strong sense of déjà vu.

She recalled the last time they stood staring at each other in the rain.

It was a week after the cheating allegations and also the day she had agreed to marry Dinesh upon her parents’ insistence. She had been crying continuously for a week because of what she was about to do to Sidhu. Her eyes were red and puffy, and no amount of makeup could cover the fact that she had been crying. But Dinesh hadn’t even asked her about it. He was just glad that she made her final decision and agreed to marry him within the next week.

It was raining heavily that day and at her parents’ insistence, she had just seen Dinesh off near the gate with an umbrella while staring blankly at a distance.

Just then she felt someone’s eyes on her and knew who it was before she even looked up. Standing right there on the balcony of the opposite house was Samrat. He was watching her broodingly. He didn’t seem angry or furious. He just had an intense look that seemed to judge her and at the same time made her aware of what she had done.

If it had been the week before, she wouldn’t have hesitated to immediately flip him off with her middle finger. But the last three days had changed her drastically.

The moment their eyes clashed, she felt something shift. It felt monumental, almost as if she knew that her entire life would never be the same again, and that the girl she was before would be lost forever.

She didn’t remember how long they had stood staring at each other that particular rainy day, but she was right about the fact that her life had never been the same again after that moment.

She shivered slightly when she felt a similar premonition of another radical shift that might occur in her life. She tore her eyes off from Samrat and ran inside her house in panic. Her heart was thudding loudly and her hands were shaking. Wrapping her arms around herself, she kept telling herself that she was being foolish.

“Just a reaction to a hot, studly and available neighbor you made out with last week. He’s just making you feel hot and bothered. Nothing else.”

She went into her kitchen and drank some ice cold water to calm down. When the doorbell rang, she immediately knew who was standing on the other side.

* * *

Mahi was torn between wanting to open the door to face what was to come vs. running inside the bedroom to lock, and forever hide under the blankets.

Slowly, she went towards the door, as though in a trance, and stopped a couple of feet away from it.

“Mahi, open the door. I need to see you right now.”

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