Page 49 of 12 Years

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‘I like being with you, Saket. I want this,’ she said. ‘I’m done living my life according to my mother’s prescription.’

She brought her face close to mine. I was fast losing my ability to think straight.

‘I like you, Payal,’ I said, ‘a lot.’

Love is what I meant, not like.

‘I like you too, Saket.’

Despite all my self-control, I couldn’t resist giving her a little peck on her lips. She kissed me back. I pulled myself away. ‘I don’t want to be ghosted tomorrow morning.’

‘I’ll try not to,’ she said.

We kissed again. The whole week of separation and uncertainty we’d both been through gave our kisses a sharp intensity. Our tongues met. I almost bit her lower lip. This time, we had no music playing in the background—only the sound of our breaths quickening. I ran my fingers down her neck, and she shivered. We continued to kiss for a long time.

‘Let’s go to the bedroom,’ Payal said after a while.

‘Are you sure?’

‘Yes.’

Without another word, I got up and led her to the bedroom. We undressed quietly and lay down on my bed, with only a sheet covering us. I kissed her again and gently touched her all over. Then I heard something a man doesn’t hear every day.

‘I want to have sex.’

‘What?’ I said, shocked.

‘I do,’ she said.

‘Are you sure? Why?’

‘I want to try it. See what it’s all about. And because I trust you.’

‘You don’t have to do this. Don’t feel obligated.’

‘I’m not. I want to. Do you have the stuff?’

‘What stuff?’

‘The contraceptives.’

‘Payal, are you sure?’

‘Yes. I’m not that kind of a girl. But I’m also sick and tired of not having tried anything either. Even Akanksha has had sex. My friends in Stanford did it with multiple people.’

‘Akanksha is married.’

‘True. But I don’t want to get married anytime soon. And I don’t want to wait that long. Now, do you want to or not?’

‘What?’

‘Have sex?’

‘You’re asking a guy if he wants to have sex? Seriously?’

‘Is that a yes?’

‘It’s a hell yes!’

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