Malaal-Chapter 24

CHAPTER 24

“Kokila, thank god Ishan isn’t here for three more days. He keeps on interrupting every conversation we have with Rashi.”, Parag told Kokila as they walked towards the dinner table for breakfast.

“Yes. But I think he takes good care of Rashi. Don’t know how  close they actually are.”, she replied as she nodded.

Everyone was present on the dinner table. Rashi too came out of her room and sat with them. She was wearing a black tee shirt and black rugged jeans. They waited for her to see them and leave as usual. She saw, but didn’t leave. It amused everyone.

“Rashiben, today you’ll breakfast with all of us?”, Gopi asked, all excited.

Rashi smiled. “Not with all”, she said as she looked at Kokila.

“But with one.”, she said and turned towards Jigar. Jigar smiled in confusion. 

 “Umm, Mr Modi, shall we have breakfast in the balcony?”, she asked with such a smile that no one could say no.

Jigar paused. He was waiting for some taunt from her but didn’t get any. He felt butterflies in his stomach.

Kokila never allowed anyone to leave the dinner table as eating together was their ritual, but she smiled and didn’t intervene. Gopi and Ahem looked at each other in confusion.

“Oh okay Rashi.”, Jigar said and smiled. Rashi signalled Gaayu, who took the food to the balcony table.

Rashi limped in the corridor, Jigar walking beside her, his hands dying to hold her and help her walk. Rashi knew it.

She pretended to trip, and suddenly Jigar held her tight.

Suddenly Rashi forgot where she was. She just felt like being held like that forever. Both of them continued to look into each other’s eyes, when Gaayu interrupted.

“Actually the food is ready.”, she said hesitantly.

Rashi quickly slipped out of Jigar’s grip and mentally kicked herself.

“Thanks Gaayu. One more thing, don’t allow anyone in this area for some time.”, she said, and Jigar’s eyes widened.

They reached the balcony and sat opposite to each other. Rashi smiled a bit at Jigar. Jigar couldn’t help wondering why she was behaving like this after their conversation last night. He tried to think this as her plan of hers, but her eyes were radiating so much love, it seemed too pure to be false.

They started eating in silence and Rashi looked at him.

Rashi looked at him and smiled to herself.

Jigar caught her staring at him, he choked on his food. Rashi quickly moved to his side and offered him water.

“Jig...Mr Modi, here take this.”, she said as she looked at his face inches away from her. Jigar took the water from her.

Rashi smiled and put her finger softly on Jigar’s lips. Jigar’s looked at her in shock. Rashi moved her finger on his lips slowly. Jigar’s pupils dilated and Rashi saw it. Jigar slowly put his hand on her thigh. An unintentional shiver ran through Rashi’s body, that made Jigar crazier.

Rashi knew that she had to stop it because she just wanted to keep it till teasing. 

“Umm, lets go if you are done.”, she said and stood up. Jigar sat there openmouthed.

“Rashi I wanted to talk to you.”, he said, seeing it as a perfect opportunity to ask for forgiveness.

“Mr Modi, let’s go. I have some work.”, Rashi said in a fairly normal tone.

Jigar nodded and walked with her. Rashi looked at him.

“I actually had to try some designs, want someone to see and judge whether they are good enough.”, Rashi said slowly. Jigar’s heart skipped a beat again. He just couldn’t believe that Rashi was being so welcoming to him.

“After all, we love each other like anything.”, he thought.

“Umm, I can help.”, he said and looked away, trying to hide the desperation. Rashi also looked away and smiled, and Jigar saw that.

“She’s so beautiful. Too lovable. Too perfect.”, his head screamed and a tear was about to escape his eye.

Rashi held his hand and pulled him excitedly.

“Okay then, come quickly!”, she screamed happily and dragged him.

Kokila and Hetal, who were walking in the corridor, saw this and looked at each other with wide eyes.

“Kokila, how-“, Hetal couldn’t complete her sentence.

“Yes Motabhabhi. This change in behaviour out of nowhere? I mean...but then again, she’s Rashi: always unpredictable.”, Kokila replied, smiling amongst her doubts.

Jigar entered the room. Rashi went straight to her closet, while Jigar just stood in awe. Mannequins, canvases, a lot of plain coloured clothes, a laptop and many sketches scattered around on the table, which was in the corner of the huge room. The room, in real sense, was huge but dark. It had a huge comfy bed with lots of covers, and light onion coloured curtains tied neatly around its ends. 

Rashi slowly took out a velvety red dress, that had a deep, indeed very deep back and a slit below for one leg. It was simple, but glamorous. It radiated sex appeal. 

“Mr Modi, this is my latest design. How’s this?”, she asked. Jigar’s heart beat fast. He couldn’t help imagine Rashi in that dress.

“It’s very nice.”, he managed to utter. Rashi understood his feelings.

“Shall I try it and show you?”, she asked and smiled. 

Jigar felt a jolt of feelings. He just couldn’t believe his ears!

“Umm, wh-“, he didn’t know what he was saying.

“Okay I will.”, Rashi said as she started to take it out of the hanger.

Jigar slowly turned to leave to let her change.

“Where are you going?”, Rashi asked suddenly and walked to him. Jigar couldn’t get anything to his head. Rashi put her finger slowly on his chest.

“You seem to be very patient Mr Modi. Let’s see how sharp your control is, like that jawline of yours. Sit on the bed.”, she whispered, as she concentrated on the sharp jawline that wasn’t there two years ago.

Jigar obliged. He was so numb by all the sudden happenings, that he couldn’t bring himself to react. He sat on the bed edge.

Rashi blindfolded him. A chill ran down his spine.

“Rashi what are you doing?”, he asked slowly.

“What? Am I doing something which you don’t like?”, she asked as she lingered around his neck.

He took a deep breath. His hands were shaking. “No.”, he replied.

“That’s great Mr Modi. Now you will get my clothes changed okay? Beware to touch my skin though.”, Rashi said and controlled a chuckle.

“What!”, Jigar managed to say in a feeble voice.

“You heard that right.”, Rashi said as she sat on his lap. She could feel that he had started to get aroused.

“I am sure you know my body enough. Remove my tee shirt.”, Rashi said slowly. Jigar brought his hands and removed her shirt slowly. Rashi kept her hand on her mouth to prevent sound of the pleasure that his proximity radiated.

Their breaths deepened. Rashi steadied herself as she stood up. Jigar followed and touched her waist skin. A shiver ran down her entire body.

“I told you, don’t touch the skin.”, Rashi said, trying to hide the desperation in her voice. Jigar simply nodded. He didn’t want to say anything. He removed all her clothes slowly, the blindfold didn’t even act as an obstacle. Jigar clenched his fists. She was standing infront of him all naked but he couldn’t see her. Rashi knew that she had taken a big risk; if Jigar lost control and removed his blindfold then none of them would be able to control themselves. Rashi got into the dress and turned her back towards Jigar.

“The zippier.”, she said slowly. Jigar smiled and touched her back. He deliberately moved his hand everywhere except the zipper.

“What are you doing?”, Rashi asked her eyes closed. She could lose anytime.

“Am I doing something that you don’t like?”, Jigar asked and got hold of the zipper. Rashi didn’t reply.

Slowly Jigar zipped the dress and sighed.

“Can I see it now?”, he asked and smiled.

Rashi steadied her expression quickly. She didn’t want to show how weak she was in the knees.

“Yes.”, she replied and posed. Jigar removed his blindfold, and he froze. He felt like a huge wave of passion hit him. The woman in front of him was simply glamorous.

“Oh my god Rashi.”, he said and kept on looking at her. Rashi smiled. And kept on smiling.

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