Jay had just stepped out of the shower after an hour-long game of Frisbee and was wearing only his boxers. His chest gleamed with water dripping from the strands of his hair. With his ripped body and sexy bedroom eyes, he looked like a model any girl would want to drag home. I felt a tingling
excitement spread through my whole body as I caught him eyeing my bust. However, the ooohs were soon replaced by urghs as I was overcome with a strong burning sensation in my stomach. A queasy reminder of the large amounts of alcohol I had guzzled in the last two days. The maid came in with a glass of chilled milk and placed it on a table next to the bed. I was craving for my morning cup of tulsi tea, but I knew that caffeine was even more diuretic. Unwillingly, I took a few sips of the cold milk to counter the acids burning my food pipe. The maid smiled coyly on seeing a shirtless gora guy on my laptop screen. ‘ He ij yuar by-friend?’ she asked sheepishly. I nodded my head slightly. Her eyes widened in awe and she smiled in obvious approval.
‘Who is that?’ asked Jay.
Hearing the picture talk, the maid squealed in surprise, became self-conscious of her own appearance and left in a hurry. I added the idea of movingpictures.com to my growing list of ingenious, innovative business ideas.
‘And where are you?’ Jay wondered out loud, while I was lost in my magically real world. Not a very keen observer, he had just realized that I was not sitting in my own room.
I knew I was at Tanu di’s place, using her laptop, but I had no recollection of how I’d got there! Last I remembered, Deep was talking about beer kisses and I had noticed his black hairband. I strained my memory to extract further details. My heart did a back flip as I recalled how I had thrown myself at Deep, for the second time in the last twenty-four hours. How could I kiss another guy when I was in love with Jay? I would be furious with Jay if he would do this behind my back. Even when he had only been a passive receptor to Denise’s smooch, I had been enraged.
‘Have you never ever felt a strong desire for physical contact with someone other than me?’ Jay had asked me once, and I had proudly preached to him that it was human to feel attracted to more than one person, but the power of love lay in restraining oneself from succumbing to these temptations. How had I, a strong believer of love, then lost self-control?
A sharp pain shot through my forehead and I flinched. I was having a really bad hangover. Feeling horribly sick and guilty, I wanted to tell Jay all about it, but my inner voice stopped me. ‘You do truly love Jay,’ it assured me and ascribed my libidinous actions to excessive drinking. Solemnly swearing never to get smashed again, I told Jay briefly about how I had got very drunk last night and had to come to Tanu di’s house.
‘You look beat, hon,’ remarked Jay, noticing my smudged mascara and puffed eyes. ‘Should we talk later in the day?’ he offered courteously.
‘No, I am fine,’ I said, smiling despite the throbbing pain in my head. So much had happened since I last chatted with Jay, a week ago, that I was feeling disconnected from him. I desperately wanted to stay online with him. I needed him to tell me that he loved me, that all will be fine, and that my love story will have a happy ending.
‘Cool then. I have something important to tell you,’ said Jay with unusual seriousness.
‘I am sure you would agree that it’s hard to keep the romance alive in a long-distance relationship,’ he was saying. ‘Every day I jog past your apartment and look up at the window, I imagine you standing there waving back at me. The first faint rays of sunlight dancing upon your face, contouring the delicate curve of your cheeks and adding an ethereal glow to your eyes. Every evening as I sit all by myself in front of the TV watching Friends, I miss the warmth of your body next to mine. I miss the crunching sound of chips that you used to eat and I miss telling you the calories it has. Everything here reminds me of you and leaves a deep void in my heart. This existence seems too painful to endure and yet when I think about being one with you, I tell myself it’s all worth it.’
OMG! Something was very wrong with Jay. Why was he doing all this pre-climax-type sweet talk?
He was not the kind to express his love through words. He was more a man of physical than philosophical love. Could this be a build-up to a break-up? I knew he had been to another one of
Ashraf’s wild parties. Maybe he met Denise there, wearing a sexy, skimpy dress, and she invited him to undo her strings. What if he wants a way out of our no-walk-only-talk relationship? The thoughts
boggled my mind as Jay kept on murmuring the mushiest things he had ever said to me.
‘I know things have not been smooth for you at home and I behaved like a jerk last time,’ I heard him admit and then he began to sing in his not-so-melodious yet full-of-feelings voice.
Oceans apart, day after day And I slowly go insane I hear your voice, on the line
But it doesn’t stop the pain If I see you next to never
how can we say forever
I heard the song I will be right here waiting for you playing on his laptop. Jay was singing along with Bryan Adams, his eyes boring into mine and his arms entwined around me in a virtual embrace. This was the most lovey-dovey, Romeo-like thing he had ever said or done. Moved by his unexpected romantic gesture, I found myself crying and longing for his arms.
The guilt weighed even more heavily on my mind and I felt even more scared to confess my deceit for I didn’t want to lose him.
‘I am sorry that I don’t know your language or can’t become your bridge partner, but I love you and I will be right here waiting for you,’ he said as the song ended.
‘I love you too, Jay,’ I said, my voice choking with emotion and tears of joy brimming in my eyes.
‘Did you plan all this by yourself?’ I asked with unmitigated surprise.
‘Nope. I borrowed the idea and the speech from Ashraf,’ he said frankly. ‘But the chips and the calories were mine,’ he added with a childish pride.
‘I wish I could tell you how much this means to me, Jay,’ I said, all starry-eyed and swayed by his lovelogue.
‘You could if you wanted to?’ he challenged teasingly.
‘How?’
‘How?’ I asked, eager I asked, eager to play my part as to play my part as his Juliet. I could see his Juliet. I could see him watch the gentle rise and him watch the gentle rise and fall offall of my breasts as I breathed in and out.
my breasts as I breathed in and out.
‘V
‘Virtual sex,’ he whispered, his hazel irtual sex,’ he whispered, his hazel eyes glowing with excitement.eyes glowing with excitement.
I knew Di had gone out to the market to run some errands and would take at least an hour to get back, I knew Di had gone out to the market to run some errands and would take at least an hour to get back, but the maid was in the house.
but the maid was in the house.
‘Why don’t we take off our
‘Why don’t we take off our clothes and chat for clothes and chat for a while?’ Jay suggested, sensing my hesitation.a while?’ Jay suggested, sensing my hesitation.
My breathing quickened and my nipples hardened in anticipation, as he slowly lowered his shorts and My breathing quickened and my nipples hardened in anticipation, as he slowly lowered his shorts and let them drop on the
let them drop on the floor.floor.
I quickly got up to shut the bedroom door and drew the curtains across the balcony window. I came I quickly got up to shut the bedroom door and drew the curtains across the balcony window. I came back and felt the heat radiating from the laptop as though it could sense the sexual tension in the room.
back and felt the heat radiating from the laptop as though it could sense the sexual tension in the room.
Uncertain, I listened to my hormones and morals battling it out with each other whether I loved or Uncertain, I listened to my hormones and morals battling it out with each other whether I loved or hated his royal blue, low rise, sheer mesh designer briefs that left almost nothing to the imagination.
hated his royal blue, low rise, sheer mesh designer briefs that left almost nothing to the imagination.
Conscience-stricken for having given into my de(ep) sire, I agreed to having Skype sex with Jay as a Conscience-stricken for having given into my de(ep) sire, I agreed to having Skype sex with Jay as a penance. I took off the salwar suit I had worn to the pub last night, but left the bra and the panty on.
penance. I took off the salwar suit I had worn to the pub last night, but left the bra and the panty on.
Jay’s tongue slid unconsciously over his lips as he saw the little heart pendant around my neck, slide Jay’s tongue slid unconsciously over his lips as he saw the little heart pendant around my neck, slide down the inviting crevice of my cleavage. Realizing that I was feeling conscious of the webcam, Jay down the inviting crevice of my cleavage. Realizing that I was feeling conscious of the webcam, Jay told me to shut my eyes and relax. I did as he said even though I was far from being relaxed.
told me to shut my eyes and relax. I did as he said even though I was far from being relaxed.
‘V
‘Visualize that I am massaging isualize that I am massaging your shoulders like I your shoulders like I always do,’ he said in a seductive voice, ‘and myalways do,’ he said in a seductive voice, ‘and my fingers accidentally brush over the swell of your breasts.’
fingers accidentally brush over the swell of your breasts.’
I found myself arching my back so that my breasts were pushed forward and my thick brown nipples I found myself arching my back so that my breasts were pushed forward and my thick brown nipples poked at the delicate fabr
poked at the delicate fabric that was trying desperately to ic that was trying desperately to hold together my modesty.hold together my modesty.
‘Now imagine that you are enclosed in my arms and I am blowing warm kisses in your earlobes,
‘Now imagine that you are enclosed in my arms and I am blowing warm kisses in your earlobes, nibbling and working my way
nibbling and working my way up to the top of up to the top of your ear,’ your ear,’ he said huskily.he said huskily.
All of a sudden, I was reminded of last night, when I had pictured this very same setting and leaned All of a sudden, I was reminded of last night, when I had pictured this very same setting and leaned towards Deep to kiss him. Disturbed by my own reckless behaviour, I opened my eyes.
towards Deep to kiss him. Disturbed by my own reckless behaviour, I opened my eyes.
The heartburn had become better after a few gulps of cold milk, but I could sense a new queasiness The heartburn had become better after a few gulps of cold milk, but I could sense a new queasiness developing in the pit of my stomach. I knew I had to do what was right.
developing in the pit of my stomach. I knew I had to do what was right.
‘Jay, I have something to tell you,’ I said softly.
‘Jay, I have something to tell you,’ I said softly.
‘I am licking your
‘I am licking your breasts now and you breasts now and you are melting in my arms,’ he whispered, moving his tongue inare melting in my arms,’ he whispered, moving his tongue in a circular motion and continuing to fantasize.
a circular motion and continuing to fantasize.
‘The guerrilla guy whom
‘The guerrilla guy whom my dad wanted me to marrmy dad wanted me to marry is my boss,’ I said a little more loudly,y is my boss,’ I said a little more loudly, somehow controlling the excitement that was threatening to
somehow controlling the excitement that was threatening to rip me apart.rip me apart.
This time Jay
This time Jay stopped the licking astopped the licking action midwayction midway..
‘I am really sorry, Jay,’ I apologized.
‘I am really sorry, Jay,’ I apologized.
‘That’s unfair
‘That’s unfair. That arranged suitor . That arranged suitor gets you to work ungets you to work under him and kiss hder him and kiss his ass while I have is ass while I have to maketo make do with cyber sex,’ he said slyly.
do with cyber sex,’ he said slyly.
I was so wrapped up in my remorse that his pun was lost on me. ‘I didn’t mean to do it. I was too I was so wrapped up in my remorse that his pun was lost on me. ‘I didn’t mean to do it. I was too drunk,’
drunk,’ I mumbled, almost crying, scared I mumbled, almost crying, scared that I would lose him fthat I would lose him forever.orever.
‘Hold on, hon,’ said Jay
‘Hold on, hon,’ said Jay, rolling his eyes, feeling , rolling his eyes, feeling somewhat irritated at the interruption. ‘What exactlysomewhat irritated at the interruption. ‘What exactly happened? Did you go to bed with him?’
happened? Did you go to bed with him?’
‘Heavens, no!’ How could Jay
‘Heavens, no!’ How could Jay even contemplate something like even contemplate something like this? Sitting on Tanu di’this? Sitting on Tanu di’s bed s bed in myin my undergarments, I truthfully recounted the highlights of the kiss-n-dump episode, where I had kissed undergarments, I truthfully recounted the highlights of the kiss-n-dump episode, where I had kissed Deep and he had
Deep and he had dumped me, and its repeat dumped me, and its repeat telecast at the girls’ night out yesterdaytelecast at the girls’ night out yesterday..
‘Cool,’ said Jay.
‘Cool,’ said Jay.
‘Cool? Aren’t you angry?’ I asked baffled by his phlegmatic attitude.
‘Cool? Aren’t you angry?’ I asked baffled by his phlegmatic attitude.
‘No. I am actually quite turned
‘No. I am actually quite turned on,’ on,’ he said with a salacious he said with a salacious grin.grin.
I too baffled to react! Should I have been relieved that Jay was indifferent about, or should I say I too baffled to react! Should I have been relieved that Jay was indifferent about, or should I say
aroused by, me kissing another guy or I should I have been worried that my kissing another guy did not aroused by, me kissing another guy or I should I have been worried that my kissing another guy did not upset him.
upset him.
‘So you
‘So you still love me?’ I asked incredulously.still love me?’ I asked incredulously.
‘I never
‘I never stopped, baby,’ stopped, baby,’ he said, getting he said, getting hornier by the hornier by the minute.minute.
‘But you should be
‘But you should be angryangry,’ ,’ I insisted, concerned that he I insisted, concerned that he may take this incident as a may take this incident as a carte blanche tocarte blanche to kiss other girls, especially Denise.
kiss other girls, especially Denise.
‘Just don’t make a habit
‘Just don’t make a habit of this,’ of this,’ he warned playfully, ‘or you will have to pay for he warned playfully, ‘or you will have to pay for it.’ it.’ He was sexilyHe was sexily sucking on his middle finger to keep the mood going.
sucking on his middle finger to keep the mood going.
Sometimes we end up encouraging what we know is wrong.
Sometimes we end up encouraging what we know is wrong. Chalta haiChalta hai, we tell ourselves. If you, we tell ourselves. If you have ever been caught for talking on your mobile phone while driving and then bribed the traffic police have ever been caught for talking on your mobile phone while driving and then bribed the traffic police guy or offered
guy or offered chai-paanichai-paani to the address verification officer so he would expedite your passport to the address verification officer so he would expedite your passport processing, you would know
processing, you would know what I mean. Tanu di would perhaps have warned what I mean. Tanu di would perhaps have warned me against Jay’s casualme against Jay’s casual disposition but I decided to let the matter rest.
disposition but I decided to let the matter rest.
I could hear the aching desire for me in his voice. Absolved of my kis-sins, I responded by cooing, I could hear the aching desire for me in his voice. Absolved of my kis-sins, I responded by cooing,
‘Arrest me officer. I have
‘Arrest me officer. I have been naughty.’been naughty.’
Half an hour later, we both lay on our respective beds, smiling, spent and satisfied. He got up to go to Half an hour later, we both lay on our respective beds, smiling, spent and satisfied. He got up to go to the loo. I put on my clothes, unlocked the door and called out to the maid to get me some tea. The last the loo. I put on my clothes, unlocked the door and called out to the maid to get me some tea. The last two days had been so hectic with drinking, dumping and deep-kissing that I had forgotten my FB world.
two days had been so hectic with drinking, dumping and deep-kissing that I had forgotten my FB world.
There were numerous comments on my arranged vs love marriage post. While some Indian guys had There were numerous comments on my arranged vs love marriage post. While some Indian guys had expressed a strong preference for an ideal arranged marriage
expressed a strong preference for an ideal arranged marriage bahoo,bahoo, all my American friends had all my American friends had
chosen love marriage. I was surprised that an overwhelming majority from my Indian friends circle was chosen love marriage. I was surprised that an overwhelming majority from my Indian friends circle was
chosen love marriage. I was surprised that an overwhelming majority from my Indian friends circle was chosen love marriage. I was surprised that an overwhelming majority from my Indian friends circle was