Page 170 of 12 Years
He left the receipts and his phone on the table and walked up to stand in front of me.
‘Remove my dress,’ I said, ‘slowly. And kiss my neck and shoulders while doing it.’
Parimal followed my instructions. ‘Is this good? Am I doing it right?’ he said as he pecked the back of my neck, like a woodpecker attacking the bark of a tree.
‘Don’t ask questions. Remove your clothes as well,’ I said.
He undressed and reached for the bedside table to pick up a condom.
‘Wait,’ I said. ‘There is no need to rush to that part.’
I pulled him into the bed. I kissed him, slower and longer.
‘Slowly, use your fingers and lips to touch me all over,’ I said. ‘Nothing else is allowed.’
‘How do I—’ he started, but I shushed him.
He kissed my clavicle and then the top of my chest. Maybe it was the wine, but for a change, it felt somewhat nice. I held his head and pushed him down.
‘Yes. Kiss me everywhere. Touch me and kiss me. Yes, Saket …’
My body froze. Even in my drunken state, I realized I’d made a blunder.
Parimal stopped and shifted up, coming face to face with me.
‘What did you just say?’ he said.
‘Suck it. I saidyes,suck it,’ I said and pushed his head down again.
Lucky save, Payal, I said to myself. I can’t have this happen again. And I won’t be able to give this marriage a chance if I keep thinking of Saket. It’s okay. I’ll drink all the wine I need to, but I’ll make it work with my husband. Make it work, Payal, come on, make it work.
‘Does this feel good?’ Parimal said after a few minutes, still working on my breast diligently, like a rabbit nibbling on a carrot.
‘I told Neeraj I don’t like to travel much. Yet he’s put me in this investor conference in New York. I have to go next week.’
‘Hmm,’ Parimal said.
‘He said it’ll be good for my career. Networking with the senior partners in New York is important. In a way, he’s not wrong,’ I said.
Parimal looked up from his phone and stared at me for a second. ‘New York? What?’
‘Yes, I’m going there next week. I just told you. Our new India head, Neeraj, he’s asked me to.’
Parimal looked at me blankly and then went back to his phone.
‘I don’t need the networking though. My deals are the best-performing ones in the Mumbai office. I cracked CloudX, and it’s already up four times the initial investment that we made five years ago.’ I said.
‘Really?’ he said without looking at me.
‘Yeah. I think I should make MD in two or three years. I just need a few IPOs and exits to happen.’
‘Sorry, I need to make a call,’ Parimal said, walking off to the terrace.
‘You promised the PVC material would reach Thane last Wednesday. What are all these sorry-for-delay emails then?’ I heard Parimal speaking on the phone outside.
I went to the terrace and stood in front of him. He ended his call a few minutes later.
‘What?’ he said. ‘Why are you standing here like this?’
