Chapter 12
As he entered the house, Shiv was greeted by a loud, blaring music coming from the direction of his children's room. Raghu Kaka came running out to him and began to take his coat and laptop bag from him. "Raghu Kaka, what's all this noise?" Shiv asked as he loosened his tie and flopped himself down on a nearby couch.
"Oh that…that's just Bahu rani having some fun with the children. They do this every Friday; they call it their 'start of the weekend' ritual. Today it's been going on longer since no one is home."
"Where is everyone?"
"Mahen babu has gone with Nikhila memsaab to some business party and Dadaji, Dadi have gone shopping with Vivan and Palak betiya. Shiv beta do you want me to make you some chai?"
"No…not right now…I think I am going to go and check on this ritual."
A chuckling Raghu kaka said, "Have fun!" as he headed toward the kitchen.
Shiv headed toward his children's room, thinking he was prepared for whatever was going on in the room but he was grossly mistaken. As he entered, the scene that greeted him was one of complete chaos. His usually calm and reserved wife was jumping up and down on the bed, using two pens as imaginary drumsticks. She was wearing one of his old, worn out t-shirts, which read "I am too sexy for my shirt" and a pair of cute Winnie the pooh pajama Capri. Viraag was pumping his chubby hands in the air, pretending to play an imaginary guitar and Aaliya was right next to him, holding a comb and using it as her mike as she lip synced to Sunidhi Chauhan's "Crazy kiya re."
"Papa!" little Viraag exclaimed as he jumped off the bed and straight into his father's arms. Aaliya squealed in delight at the mention of her father and ran over to give him a hug as well. His wife, on the other hand, turned off the music and stood back and silently watched the children interact with their father.
Shiv looked up from his children and looked over at his wife. Their eyes met for a moment before she quickly looked away. Shiv's grin grew wider as he gave his wife a glance over. Her hair was tousled from all the head jerking he had just seen her do. His shrunken t-shirt barely covered her midriff as she huffed and puffed to catch her breath. And her dark, seductive eyes that he adored so much were spitting fire at him for breaking the merry revelry, the children and she had been making.
"Hey guys…I know for a fact that Raghu kaka has made some cheeni parathas, especially for you. Why don't you both run along and get started on them, Mama and I will come join you in a bit."
Gauri tried to protest as she watched Shiv shoo the kids away. She didn't want to be alone with this man, her husband, who didn't love her and drove her crazy merely by looking at her.
The man in question suddenly turned to her, as he closed the door behind him. He walked towards her, his steps slow and calculated. A goofy, seductive smile lit up his face. But the thing that scared her most was the look in his eyes, it was dangerous and exciting all at once.
For every step he took toward her, Gauri took a step back until finally her back was against the wall. Shiv's smile grew bigger. He stepped in really close and using his arms he trapped Gauri between him and the wall. Shiv leaned in and whispered in her ear, "You look very sexy." He reached out and gently tucked away a strand of her hair behind her ear. He continued whispering, tickling her ear, "So who's making my beautiful wife crazy huh?"
Gauri couldn't speak. She wanted to say something but somehow the words just wouldn't come. She could feel his breath on her face. His chest was pressed up against hers. It was strange; she could almost feel his heart pounding just as hard as hers was. She looked at him, waiting for him to pull away, to break the spell as cruelly as he had the last time but Shiv just stared right back at her, inching closer and closer by the minute. "Tell me wife…" he asked, his lips only a hair's breadth away from her, "have you been kissed before or do I have the honor of being your first?" But before Gauri could answer, Shiv's mouth swooped down hers.
His mouth was so soft against hers, at first, and the kiss was sweet, gentle just as she imagined kisses should be. But soon it turned intense, passionate. His mouth was strong and insistent against her. Gauri opened her mouth to protest but Shiv took it as an invitation and soon Gauri felt his wet tongue fighting against her. Gauri was unsure of what to make of this new invasion but soon thoughts were beyond her. As their intimate struggle continued, Gauri felt herself melt. If kissing were a drug, Gauri had just turned into an addict. Slowly, when she felt she couldn't breathe anymore, Shiv let her go.
Gauri slowly came back to reality but as she did, she cringed with fear as she awaited his outburst, after all; Gauri had just tempted him away from Ipshita's memories. But the outburst never came; instead Shiv gently brushed his thumb across her lower lip and said, "The kids are waiting…" He moved away and as he opened the door he called out, "join us when you are ready." Gauri watched dumbfounded as her husband ran downstairs, cheerfully whistling "Crazy kiya re."
