My friend was standing very close to my wife. I was looking at them as my heart fluttered in anxiety. I could not hear what they were speaking…by they I meant only my friend was speaking .. my wife appeared to be hesitant and fearful. Her eyes were darting here and there but it didn’t appear that she was there unwillingly. She was standing with her back leaning against the wall. He had his hands on the wall either side of her body thereby imprisoning her. She was looking deep into his eyes as he said something to her in a low voice. Dimples formed on her cheeks as she smiled shyly at something he said. My heart started beating faster on seeing that shy smile blossom on her face. As he moved his body even closer to hers she placed her hands on his chest preventing him moving further.. but there appeared to be more receptivity to his advances than resistance. He bent his head so that his face went towards hers ..my wife shyly turned her head to one side.
His body overcame the resistance of her hands and pressed against her body .. his wet lips planted onto her cheeks .. turning into a kiss. He again moved away from her a bit. His right hand went behind her braided hair and adroitly held her neck from behind .. my wife’s hands were still lying just simply on his chest. He pulled her towards him .. my wife without any opposition complied to his action .. her face was raised up for his convenience. His face bent towards her quivering lips .. my wife’s lips opened slightly, as his mouth seized her lower lip, her gently closed. One hand went around her back and the other around the curve of her bare waist .. her hands moved from his chest and became a garland around his shoulders. His hands tightened even more on her body pulling her further up onto him so that she was now standing on her insteps. Her ample breasts were now mashed against his chest. The hand caressing her back tightened pulling her in tighter .. and she did the same. Their bodies were pressed so tightly against each other as they kissed that even air would not have been able to move in between them. They had their eyes closed as they kissed passionately each sucking and tasting the other’s lips.
Long seconds passed but there was no sign of them moving apart. After a very long kiss ended their bodies finally separated. My wife rubbed clean his saliva from her lips with the back of her palm. She adjusted her sari which was crumpled because of their tight embrace. However, he without his lust being sated in anyway moved his hand towards her breast. She entwined her fingers with his to prevent him going any further .. but with a laughter he overcame her strength and moved towards his goal. Meera was not able to stop him. His hand reached in and grabbed her corpulent breast. Even though Meera pretended that she wanted to stop him but she was just standing there giving him the go ahead to play with her breast. As his hand tested the softness of her breast Meera suddenly pulled his head and mashed her lips against his. While kneading my wife’s breast he was sucking on her lips. My wife’s hand was now on the front of his pants pressing his manhood. He pulled down his zip and her hand snaked in through the entrance. The movement of the clothes in from of his pelvis indicated my wife massaging his hardened manhood. Then as he separated he went down on his knees before her. She laughed softly as she looked at him with lust dripping eyes. He started pulling up her sari and inner skirt together up to her thighs.
Meera bit her lips as a slight naughty smile appeared on her face. He raised her clothes further up to her waist and was soon feasting his eyes on her femininity which only I had seen before. As his lips embedded on to her womanly treasure Meera melted in passion. As his tongue entered her pleasure tunnel Meera’s eyes half closed in lust as her pink tongue wet her lips. She looked at him with playful admonishment and suddenly moved away and left the place adjusting her sari as she left. With a smile on his face he adjusted his clothes. There was a victorious look on his face. From their action it didn’t seem like this was their first illicit friction together. I understood that he must have sampled my Meera’s body a few times .. but there was one thing I could not understand. My wife Meera, 30 years old, mother of two kids, having been a chaste housewife till now. Participating and being a strength to me in my many struggles. Like a goddess lighting up my life .. like a mother being a balm to the pains I underwent. Where even everyone in town would praise that a wife must be like Saravanan’s wife. How a woman like that got involved in an illicit love affair … that too with a man 3 years younger than her. My heart drowned within me in sorrow.
Our family had once upon a time been very prosperous, but bad luck had struck us and my father had become bankrupt. Selling the last property we had, namely our house we were able to marry off my younger sister. Having lost in life when we left this town along with my parents as failures I was just 19 years old. We were practically like refugees in the big city that we went to. My father died heart broken, unable to bear the thought that he had failed his family. My only support was my mother. However having undergone these hardships at an early age forged my will with strength to face whatever fearsome hurdles life threw at me. When I was just 23 years old relatives match made me with Meera, who was just a few months younger than me. Meera’s family was also not well off .. but looking at her beautiful face, bright like the sunlight, I became enamoured with her immediately. For me she looked like the goddesses I saw in the photos. I had no hope that her family would accept this alliance but was pleasantly surprised when her family let us know of their acceptance. Meera shared my bed with me, nights were filled with pleasure and happiness. I became a father to a daughter in the first year itself. Even though there were so many sorrows in life, a pretty daughter, a stunningly beautiful wife gave me the strength to overcome the struggles. I lost my mother to cancer. That was the time I did not have money to give her the best treatment that was possible.
Life waged war on me in full force. Meera was my lieutenant in the war helping me face all the battles. She never asked me for new clothes, for jewellery. Her smile was the jewellery that she wore. Her beauty made even the old clothes on her appear like new garments. She was very careful with money managing within what I brought home and still saving some. Slowly our savings started becoming substantial. After 3 years I got a son as proof that Meera and I had a joyous relationship in bed. In four year from just being a husband I had become a father to two kids. My inherent character to battle against life’s obstacles became stronger. Life which had been an enemy to me all this while became my friend. Wealth started accumulating. I decided to go and win in the land my father had lost. The whole town looked in amazement as I settled there with my family. A beautiful wife and a 6 years old beautiful daughter and a 4 years old intelligent son. In my 30 years of life there was no one in town wealthier than me or had a more beautiful family than I had.
In time to come I was known by the townspeople more as Big Shop Boss (Periakadaikaarar) rather than my actual name of Saravanan. My double story Clothes shop in town brought me more prestige among the people. Meera also became known as Big shop lady (Periakadaiamma). I played a prominent role in the Town’s temple celebrations. Even those much older than me treated me with utmost respect. I would get the first invitation when any important events that occurs in the families of prominent and not so prominent people of the town. I was the first person to have bought a car in that town. That afternoon as I started my ‘bullet’ bike and was about to leave for home for lunch I heard a voice shout “Saravana”. I turned and looked at the direction of the voice. He was standing there with a broad smile on his face, a very familiar face.
When I was a young boy we used to go and play cricket matches in the neighbouring village. Cricket was my life passion at that time. Kumaresan, Vanavan, Suresh, Ayub… there was a big group like that. Now the person who called me was Prabu, our Science teacher’s son .. three years younger than me. His house was a bit way away from mine.
“How are you,” he asked me with affection.
Suddenly seeing an old friend of mine .. I switched off my bike engine got off, and while calling to the tea shop assistant, ”Dayal , get us two cups of tea” .. I went and hugged him in friendship.
We talked for a long time, we didn’t realize the time passing. One tea became four. Cigarette buds were littered on the floor we were standing. He told me that he was working in Abu Dhabi.
“Are you married,” I asked him.
“No, first have to get my younger sister married off.”
Then,” I saw madhani (Bhabi) yesterday in the temple. The priest informed me that she was your wife.”
I smiled,” Why don’t you come home with me, have lunch with me and go.”
“No, I have plenty of things to do. I am going on a matter of a marriage proposal for Pappu, (pet name for his sister). I’ll come another day,” with that he took leave.
Ever since I relocated back here, I would go without fail every Friday to the ‘Lord Shiva’ temple located in a corner of the town. It has been standing there, majestically, for a few hundred years. I would attend the evening pooja in the company of my family, that is Meera and my two children. Even though the temple was within walking distance from my home, I would nevertheless take my family there by car. After attending the pooja I would take them directly to my shop. We would then have dinner at a restaurant before we return home. I stopped my car and got off. Meera and kids got off from the other side walked around the car towards me. It never ceased to amaze me how Meera could wear a sari so beautifully. In fact, any sari would look beautiful if she was the one wearing it.
Muththachi grandma called out,” Bigshoplady (Periakadaikaariamma) buy some jasmine flowers for your hair before going.”
Smilingly Meera walked towards Muththachi’s flower shop. The old lady thrust a big bundle of jasmine flowers into her hands. “Why grandma so much of flowers,” asked my wife.
The old lady looked at her with affectiom.” You have such lovely locks of hair, so broad, thick and long, why shouldn’t you wear this much of flowers.”
With a smile Meera took it and wore it on her hair. I proudly gave the old lady money for the flowers. After the pooja I sat down in the hall of the temple. My wife had a tough time controlling my two children running about helter-skelter. She was admonishing them gently as she tried to control them. I sat there joyfully watching them.
“Saravana,” I turned my head hear the voice call out. Prabu came and sat beside me.
“Hey, come, come,” I looked at Meera and said, “my friend.” She held her pallu in place while extending him the traditional greeting with her two hands. “You two carry on talking, I’ll take care of the children.” Saying this she went away after the children.
We talked for awhile recalling old memories. We were the only two among our old friends who were still here. They would come back sometimes if there was a big festival in town Prabu told me. I told Meera to get ready. She looked at Prabu with a small smile and said,” I’ll take my leave.”
One Sunday while I was getting ready to go to the shop someone knocked on my door.
“Meera, go see who it is,” I said.
Meera left her cooking halfway and went and opened the door. She stood there silently for a few seconds then, “Dear, your friend has come,” she said.
I looked at my doorway while sipping on my coffee, Prabu entered in.
“Hey, what are you doing so early in the morning.”
“No daa, I had nothing to do at home. It was so boring, so I came to see you.”
I called out to Meera, “Meera bring a cup of coffee for Prabu.”
I looked at Prabu and said,” Don’t take me wrong, but why don’t you join my shop?”
Prabu thought for a while and said, “No daa, right now you and I are good friends but if I join your shop our relationship would change to boss and worker.”
I too felt what he said was correct. After drinking his coffee he said, The coffee madhani (Bhabhi) gave was super.” Meera only gave a smile as an answer and went away.
In the night when I went to bed Meera slowly asked me, “How long do you know him?”
“Who?? Prabu?? I know him from when we were little.”
“Why is he not married yet?”
“No, he is only 27 now, why? why are you asking?”
“No, if he had got married at the right time… ,” Meera spoke hesitantly.
“What maa, tell me.”
“Oh nothing.”
“You wanted to say something, why are you hesitating?”
“No … if he had got married at the right time he would not be staring at different women.”
“Why? With you did he….”
“Aiyo no .. nothing like that. It’s just that he seems to be leering at women, that’s why.”
“Leave it, his age is like that. They will be like that at this age.”
We both went to sleep without any mental disturbance. Prabu coming to my house only happened very recently. He was in my house almost every day. My children too started calling him, “uncle .. uncle …” and became close to him. Meera however would only talk to him very limitedly.
That day I decided to leave the shop a bit early. My accounts man would lock up the shop and hand over the keys to my house. On the way home my motorbike suddenly started wobbling. I stopped to have a look. My front tyre had a puncture. Luckily my mechanic shop was very close by. I pushed my bike to his shop.
“Leave it here Anna (big brother), I will bring it to your home after repairing it.”
I smiled at him thankfully and started walking towards home. As I walked, I came to the school quite near my house. I debated with myself what to do. I could go around it or go across through the school field. At this time around 7 pm there usually would be no people around that place. I decided to walk across the field. I walked through the pathway which was close to the school. I could observe the wet grass of the field in the moonlight. Right at the end where a Tamarind tree stood, I could see someone standing there.
As I got a bit closer, I could see it was a man and a woman. He was leaning on his motorbike parked there. The woman was standing a bit close to him. There was no chance of them observing me at that time. I walked and reached closer to them, they finally noticed me. Now I could recognise who they were. The persons standing there were Meera and Prabu. Both of them stood there like stone looking at me. Meera stood as if she was in shock.
Prabu first came to his senses, “Madhani (bhabi) was just returning from the temple Saravana. I happened to be just standing here .. that’s why we were talking for a while.”
This was a normal event but why did Meera’s face seem flustered. “Meera, where are the children?” I asked her.
“They came with me and were here, then Pramila came they ran away with her to play,” her voice was unsteady.
“Why are you walking back home?” Prabu asked me.
I told him about my punctured tyre. “Okay, Saravana, you take Madhani back with you on my bike, I will come home tomorrow morning and pick it up.” There wasn’t any unsteady or guilty tone in his voice.
This is an ordinary event. Meera frequently takes the children by that route to the temple and back. Prabu often comes there to smoke. Very serene situation .. you get nice gentle breeze there .. the school where we both studied. When Prabu is upset this is the place he usually comes to calm himself. There was nothing wrong that happened .. yet I could hear Meera’s heart beating as she sat behind me in the bike.
As I parked my bike in front of my house my children ran towards us from Pramila’s house. Meera opened the front door. My children ran into the house and started their usual playing. Meera straight away escaped into the kitchen. I know Meera reaction very well. I understood that she had become really frightened. I walked and stood close to her. I realised that Meera’s eyes had reddened with tears about to burst out.
“Hey, foolish, who were you talking too huh? It was just Prabu, after all for this why are you….”
Meera suddenly buried her head on my chest. I affectionately embraced her. “Were you frightened,” I asked her. She shook her head as if to say ‘yes’. I started laughing as I hugged her tightly.
Very soon Meera got back to her normal self. Prabu was going on in his usual way. January 7th was Meera’s birthday. She usually never celebrated it in a big way. She would go to the temple in the morning. She would make some sweets at home and that’s about it. She was getting the kids ready for school. I gave her a kiss and she accepted it with a smile. The day went as usual. I came back home earlier than usual on that day. Prabu was home playing with the children.
I looked at him with a friendly smile and said, Hi.”
“Why didn’t you tell me it was Madhani’s birthday? Did you think I swill ask you for Briyani or something like that.”
“No, it’s not like that, she normally doesn’t celebrate it in a big way.”
Meera came from the kitchen with coffee for both of us. “Look dear, in spite of me telling him, he didn’t listen and went and bought things like Saree, perfume etc.”
As she gave the cups of coffee to both of us, I asked Prabu,” why all this?”
“Don’t talk, they take care of us and do so much for us at home and in return if we don’t even do this it won’t be right. Besides just for Madhani’s coffee I think I still owe a lot more.”
Meera went away with a small smile. I went to wash my hands. When I returned, Meera and Prabu were sitting on the same sofa in the centre of the hall talking something. There were ample strands of pink jasmine pinned to Meera’s hair. The flower woman must have just come and gone. I looked at him and asked, “What?”
“It seems they are going to Chennai to buy sarees for Pappu’s marriage,” she said.
“Why daa? Are you going to get in Chennai what you cannot get from my shop?”
“Ask him that .. I too was asking the same thing,” she said.
“No Saravana, the groom’s side is insisting it has to be from Chennai.”
After talking for a while Prabu left for his home and Meera went inside. I intended to go out for a while and I had just started the bike when the flower lady came by shouting, ‘flowers’ ‘flowers’… I looked at her wonderingly. She is only coming now to sell flowers. For the first time I had a feeling of uneasiness.
Prabu had left for Chennai but I only went around with my mind full of confusion. To ease my mental turmoil I sought the sanctuary of ‘Lord Shiva’. The temple gave me calmness, my thinking cleared.
“Chche what type of man I am. In case Prabu had bought the flowers for Meera and Meera had adorned it in her hair, what is wrong in that?” He could have bought it for her for her birthday. If he had bought it with wrong intentions, or if Meera had taken it from him with wrong intentions then why would she have worn it in front of me? She would have tried to hide it. Why am I thinking like this, I scolded myself. Why did I subject myself to these unnecessary confusion I thought to myself in distress. Who am I suspecting… Meera who stood by me in all my hardships….?”
I went to my shop and told my assistant to look after the shop as I was leaving early. I went straight back to my home. She was surprised to see me back home by 11 in the morning. Before she could say anything I covered her lips with mine. I carried her straight to my bed. It has been years since Meera and I had made love in the daytime. Meera is not an aggressive lover. Like her nature she was very patient and calm, but today I was like an animal in bed. In a few seconds Meera clothes were on the floor. My beautiful Meera’s body was there on the bed for my eyes to feast on. My furious pace made her gasp. My beautiful treasure enjoyed the joy given by my manhood with eyes swooning. After our bodies had joined together two times I rested with my face buried between her breasts. With her fingers entwined in my hair as she lovingly caressed my hair she asked me, “What happened to my boy today?” My kiss was my only reply to her. After that Meera took her bath and went to prepare food for me. I too went and took my bath after that. After having my lunch I gave her a deep long kiss before going back to my shop. My mind had become clear. I was floating in happiness.
After four days had passed I took my shop’s keys and returned home around 7 in the evening. When I looked at Meera I was stunned. She was wearing the georgette sari that Prabhu had bought for her birthday. She shined like an angel. Her hair full of pink jasmine. How gorgeous my Meera looked. Half moon forehead, curly hair, two strands of hair curling near her ears. Her earrings dancing gently as she moves .. even an atheist would start believing in god on seeing that. When her eyelids flutter like butterfly wings even time would stop still. What eyes she has. Like looking into a broad deep sea, causing un describable emotions to arise in you. How many different feelings those eyes can give. When feelings of lust there was one type of look, another when she looked with love and yet another look when eyes are mystic. Another when she was swooning. No poetry could describe all the emotions her eyes evokes.
Then again her beautiful nose. How can there be words to describe it. Symmetrical, sharp and just the right size. There proudly stands her nose stud. Proud to have found a place there. All those always mesmerizes me further. Like how the arrow suits the bow, how the moon suits the sky, the fragrance suits the flower, her lips were made with perfect symmetry. The thick lower lips matching the slightly thinner upper lip. They were smooth like the petals of a rose, succulent like the soft flesh of the orange. Lips whose taste reminds one of mountain honey. Below that long slender neck leading to the starting of ample softness that had held my head in rest for so many nights. How something can be both firm and soft at the same time like her beautiful breasts is a mystery. How such slim waist could bear the weight of her bountiful bosom .. but then a small stem is able to bear the weight of the lotus flower so there is no wonder in it. From that broadness to the slimness of her waist. Bramma must have been inspired when he made her. Her small buttonhole on her silky stomach would make me forget all my troubles. Again from the smallness of her waist to the broadness of her bottom. Why is that? Hmm yes those twin matching globes that would mesmerise any man. Yes, this beautiful goddess ruled my life.
I suddenly noticed something as I took my key and turned around. What is that cover. I took it in my hand. There was a bank passbook. The name on the passbook was Prabu. I could see Meera’s shadow beside me.
“I say, he had come and he must have forgotton and left his bank passbook,” she said.
“Who?” I asked.
“Prabu,” she replied.
“Has he come back from Chennai?”
“mmm… he came here to see you.”
I felt this was ridiculous. He knows I would always be in the shop. Why would he come here to see me? I started my bike and left the place. Again all the mental turmoil came flooding back. The words Prabu had said sometime ago was ringing in my ear.
“When a woman stands adorning pink jasmine on her hair… hmm oh god … Saravana I will only buy pink jasmine for my wife.”
He had come back from out of town but I did not know about it. He had gone straight away to my house. Meera was wearing the sari bought by him and she had adorned pink jasmine on her hair. Who had bought that pink jasmine? Meera usually buys the normal round jasmine from the flower woman. On top of that she did not inform me about Prabu coming there till I found out. My heart was racing faster than my bike. Suddenly I saw her. The woman who sells flowers to my wife at home. I stopped the bike by the roadside.
“Hello, have you not delivered flowers to my home?”
“No saar, my husband was not feeling well for two days and I did not go out to sell flowers. Tell madam I will deliver flowers tomorrow.”
I could feel the palms of my hand sweating. I could not concentrate on my job in the shop. I called my assistant.
“I’m not feeling well, I’m going home,” I said.
“Yes boss, your face looks very pale. You go ahead saar, after closing the shop I will come home and give you the keys and the accounts for the day.”
When I reached home the children were having dinner after coming home from tuition. Meera was making dosa for them. When she saw me she asked,” shall I make some for you?”
“I don’t want it .. will see later. Okay, it seems that you are now mostly wearing pink jasmine on your hair?”
As she was turned around making dosa she was silent for awhile. I could see her standing frozen, then, “what can I do, the flower lady is only bringing pink jasmine nowadays.”
I felt like someone had lashed me with a whip. She has started lying .. she is doing something very wrong .. my eyes watered with tears. Meera’s face looked like she was in fear. I ate the two dosas she made for me with great difficulty. Even in the morning Meera’s face was still not normal. It looked like she was in some anxiety. She avoided looking at me. I kept silent. After that Prabu did not come to see me nor did he come to my house. Meera must have told him something.
One week passed. I behaved in such a way with Meera so as to not raise any suspicion. However Meera could not get back to a normal state. That Friday as usual all of us went to the temple. I noticed that Prabu was there. If I did not talk to him then it would have confirmed that I had suspicions on both of them. That would have only affected my family. The crack formed in the relationship with my wife would have eventually destroyed my family. This was a nest I had built with loving care, I should not allow anything to destroy it. Moreover the respect and honour I have among the people here would disperse like smoke in the air. I waved him towards me. His face had a shrunken look as he came towards me. “Hi, you not to be seen for some time?”
“No daa it’s not like you don’t know .. I have been busy with Pappu’s wedding arrangements.”
“Why, if you had told me, would I have not helped you?”
“No, you yourself are very busy with your shop, that’s why….”
“Okay, if you need anything tell me.”
“definitely.”
Meera and Prabu totally avoided looking at each other. The next day when I was in the shop, the shop phone rang. I picked it up and said “hello.” It was Prabu on the other end.
“Hey, can you come home a bit early this evening?”
“Why?”
“My parents want to give my sister’s wedding card to you. Only Madhani would be home. They feel it would be good if you receive it as a couple.”
“Okay, I’ll be there.” The phone call ended after that.
I reached home early that evening. Meera had now slowly come to some state of normalcy.
“Why dear you’re back early?”
“No maa, it’s that Prabu called. His parents are coming to give us the wedding invitation.”
“Oh, is it.” There was no change in her countenance.
That evening they came home. Prabu’s father greeted me with two hands clasped high in front of his face.
“What paa, what is all this.”
“Very proud about you progress and success. There is nothing wrong in greeting you with clasped hands.” I hugged him in warmth.
Prabu’s mom went with Meera to the kitchen. They gave us the invitation card. “Both of you must definitely come for the wedding and help us run it well. This is the first wedding in our house.”
As a couple we touched their feet and got their blessings. Meera gave Prabu’s mom vermilion and flowers. As they were about to leave and while I was talking to Prabu’s father I noticed Meera and Prabu’s eyes talking silently to one another but I did not indicate in anyway that I was aware of it.
There was pre wedding ceremony to attend prior to the marriage on the evening before the marriage. Since it was wedding season it was quite a busy time in the shop. I handed over the responsibilities to my assistant and came back home early. I, Meera and the kids went to Prabu’s house that evening itself. Prabu was the one to greet us eagerly. Once more I noticed Prabu and Meera’s eyes meet meaningfully.
I went to where the men were gathered and joined in the conversation. Meera was very busy helping in the wedding chores. After a while I looked around but could not see Meera. The women folks were inside and she must be with them. I needed to ease myself. I looked around wondering where I could go to relieve myself.
Appa (father) came there and asked, “what son?” (I used to address Prabu’s father as Appa).
“Appa, I need to pass urine…”
“Oh, there are lot of women gathered behind, okay do one thing. If you go behind via the garden you will come to our old house. It’s deserted there. You can ease yourself there.
I went via an alley to the back of the house. Women were busy cooking behind. As I walked a bit further I could see the old abandoned house. It was a bit lonely place. Shrubs had overgrown behind the old house. After I squatted there and passed urine I got up to leave. As I was passing the old house on the way back I suddenly stopped as I heard a chuckle. Who was laughing? I peeped through a broken window inside the old house. I felt like being struck with lightning. Inside the dimly visible inner courtyard my friend was standing very close to my wife. .
Inside the dimly visible inner courtyard my friend was standing very close to my wife. . I was looking at them as my heart fluttered in anxiety. I could not hear what they were speaking…by they I meant only my friend was speaking .. my wife appeared to be hesitant and fearful. Her eyes were darting here and there but it didn’t appear that she was there unwillingly. She was standing with her back leaning against the wall. He had his hands on the wall either side of her body thereby imprisoning her. She was looking deep into his eyes as he said something to her in a low voice. Dimples formed on her cheeks as she smiled shyly at something he said. My heart started beating faster on seeing that shy smile blossom on her face. As he moved his body even closer to hers she placed her hands on his chest preventing him moving further.. but there appeared to be more receptivity to his advances than resistance. He bent his head so that his face went towards hers ..my wife shyly turned her head to one side.
His body overcame the resistance of her hands and pressed against her body .. his wet lips planted onto her cheeks .. turning into a kiss. He again moved away from her a bit. His right hand went behind her braided hair and adroitly held her neck from behind .. my wife’s hands were still lying just simply on his chest. He pulled her towards him .. my wife without any opposition complied to his action .. her face was raised up for his convenience. His face bent towards her quivering lips .. my wife’s lips opened slightly, as his mouth seized her lower lip, her gently closed. One hand went around her back and the other around the curve of her bare waist .. her hands moved from his chest and became a garland around his shoulders. His hands tightened even more on her body pulling her further up onto him so that she was now standing on her insteps. Her ample breasts were now mashed against his chest. The hand caressing her back tightened pulling her in tighter .. and she did the same. Their bodies were pressed so tightly against each other as they kissed that even air would not have been able to move in between them. They had their eyes closed as they kissed passionately each sucking and tasting the other’s lips.
Long seconds passed but there was no sign of them moving apart. After a very long kiss ended their bodies finally separated. My wife rubbed clean his saliva from her lips with the back of her palm. She adjusted her sari which was crumpled because of their tight embrace. However, he without his lust being sated in anyway moved his hand towards her breast. She entwined her fingers with his to prevent him going any further .. but with a laughter he overcame her strength and moved towards his goal. Meera was not able to stop him. His hand reached in and grabbed her corpulent breast. Even though Meera pretended that she wanted to stop him but she was just standing there giving him the go ahead to play with her breast. As his hand tested the softness of her breast Meera suddenly pulled his head and mashed her lips against his. While kneading my wife’s breast he was sucking on her lips. My wife’s hand was now on the front of his pants pressing his manhood. He pulled down his zip and her hand snaked in through the entrance. The movement of the clothes in from of his pelvis indicated my wife massaging his hardened manhood. Then as he separated he went down on his knees before her. She laughed softly as she looked at him with lust dripping eyes. He started pulling up her sari and inner skirt together up to her thighs.
Meera bit her lips as a slight naughty smile appeared on her face. He raised her clothes further up to her waist and was soon feasting his eyes on her femininity which only I had seen before. As his lips embedded on to her womanly treasure Meera melted in passion. As his tongue entered her pleasure tunnel Meera’s eyes half closed in lust as her pink tongue wet her lips. She looked at him with playful admonishment and suddenly moved away and left the place adjusting her sari as she left. With a smile on his face he adjusted his clothes. There was a victorious look on his face. From their action it didn’t seem like this was their first illicit friction together. I understood that he must have sampled my Meera’s body a few times .. but there was one thing I could not understand. My wife Meera, 30 years old, mother of two kids, having been a chaste housewife till now. Participating and being a strength to me in my many struggles. Like a goddess lighting up my life .. like a mother being a balm to the pains I underwent. Where even everyone in town would praise that a wife must be like Saravanan’s wife. How a woman like that got involved in an illicit love affair … that too with a man 3 years younger than her. My heart drowned within me in sorrow.
I stood there stunned with my heart filled with sorrow. I could see Meera walking back towards the house. After a small gap Prabu came. He went around the house to enter by the house front entrance. I stood there crying, totally shaken up.
I could have caught Meera and Prabu red handed but this shameful episode would have become exposed. That would have been the talk in every household in this small town. I too would have to have rum away from this town like my father.
Definitely Meera would hang herself. Oh god…then the fate of my children!!!
I stood there crying silently. I reached this status, got this life after so many battles. Slowly clarity came to me. I can, I can get back my old Meera. I needed to handle this patiently and cautiously.
After two days after the gaiety of the marriage event Prabu’s house again went back to the old calmness. I could not concentrate on my business as I struggled with my emotions. I left for my house at about 11 in the morning. As my motorbike approached my house I could see Prabu’s motorbike parked in the mango grove behind my house. I switched off my engine and let it run. I parked my bike in the front and looked at my front door. It was closed and locked from inside. I went around my house to the back. The back door was also locked. I slowly walked to where our bedroom was, the window was also shut. When I listened keenly, I heard it. A woman’s loud moan of pleasure followed by a few little whimpering.
“Slowly…. Buffalo, ss .. you’re stabbing like this, careful darling.” That was Meera’s voice.
I was dying within myself. I peeped through a gap in the window. I could see two pairs of legs. The woman’s legs were entwined and locked over man’s legs. The woman lying on her back and a man lying over on top of her was visible. They were both completely naked. The man’s fast, busy movements were visible. The woman, weeping in pleasure was moving her hips upwards in sync with his movements. I know that that man was Prabu, the woman, my wife. As Prabu deep grunts was moving his hips up and down with tremendous speed, she was grasping his buttocks tightly, all the while sobbing in pleasure. I could see the gold ring on her left hand shining in the light. His thrusts suddenly became very furious and deep and her moaning reached feverish pitch.
“ssss…..ingg…ingg..ohhh……….” Each of her groans of pleasure was like a stab to my heart.
He hips jerked a few times as her nails dug into the flesh of his buttocks. I knew they were reaching the peak of their pleasure. As his spasms subsided along with hers, he then lay on her motionless. There were sounds of kissing. I could hear the laughter of my wife. After a while Prabu left my house hurriedly through the back door. I waited till he left. I went to the back door and gently pushed it. It opened. Having to enter my own house like a thief made me ashamed. I could hear someone bathing in the attached bathroom of my room. Meera was bathing. She was singing an old Tamil song as she bathed.
“My dear woman who asked for water, has your thirst been quenched”
“I gave what my lover needed, has the desire diminished”
“There is plenty more but what was taken today is only a little bit”
“Sleeping today was for now and there is more in the future for both of us”
“My darling, you are an amazing treasure mine”
“The moon is shining, this is a opportune time”
“The cupids arrow is piercing the heart”
“Sleep refuses to come my love, is it right that you make me wait”
“The cooked rice is ready for consumption, should you let it cool”
I entered my bedroom. Even if I had not seen it with my own eyes the evidence in my bedroom made it crystal clear what had just happened. Meera’s sari, petticoat, blouse and bra was scattered on the floor. I looked at the bed, the bedsheet was crumpled. Similarly pink jasmine flowers were seen crumpled and scattered over the pillow and the bed. Then I saw that on the floor below the bed, a torn condom packet. It was so obvious to anyone to see. Just a while ago, he had mated with my fully naked wife. With stab wounds in my heart I went back to my shop.
When I returned home that evening, I brought along with me the mother of one of my workers. When Meera opened the door the first question she asked me was, ”Why didn’t you come home for lunch?”
“There was a lot of work to do, so I ate in the shop itself.”
Then her eyes fell on the old lady with me. “This is Marimuthu’s mother. How long are you going to have to do everything by yourself. I brought her here for your assistance. She would be staying here henceforth.”
There was no reaction on her face. She looked at me and the old woman. She looked at the old woman and said, “go in.”
As the heavy burden pressed on my heart my eyes became filled with tears as I thought of those days when I and Meera had spent together so happily. Beside me, Meera was sleeping serenely. One thing I could not understand, after all these years why did Meera suddenly loose all morals. What needs of hers that I did not take care of? What did she see in Prabu that she did not see in me? After all the difficulties I had gone through so far and she standing steadfast by my side only for her to lose her chastity now? My mind was in turmoil, tears refused to dry down. I didn’t know when or how I fell asleep.
Since Marimuthu’s mother was in my house there was no opportunity whatsoever for Meera and Prabu to have their illicit liaisons in my bed itself. Meera too avoided going anywhere on her own. By keeping on avoiding wrongdoing in this way I must slowly make Meera come out of this feeling of lust that she had fallen into.
With this cruelty suffered in my life the days slowly passed. One day a man who came to my shop told me about a land that was coming for sale. I asked him to accompany me to go and see that property for sale. As he said he was busy at that time he told me where the land was. That day just before late evening I took my car to go and have a look at that place. That land was behind a dilapidated temple hall adjacent to a small lake. The dilapidated building had once upon a time been used to house troops. Now only once in a while there would be a pooja for the deity still in the temple, otherwise it is practically abandoned. Sometimes some youngsters use it once in a while to play cards or drink toddy. As the small lake too has been dry for many years there was no paddy cultivation or farming of any kind there. Therefore, there was usually no people who go around there. I parked my car behind some shrubs and bushes and got down to have a look at the land. It was a completely dry arid land but it must be at least 5 acres. My eyes looked beyond the dried drain to the abandoned temple hall. Beyond the walls of the building there is a area for an altar but there is no deity there at the moment. The walls have etched words of young men expressing their love for some women. Probably they all would be someone else’s wives by now, totally unaware that once upon a time there was a young man who being too scared to express his love had carved out his emotions on the walls of the building. The hall of the building was quite huge. The walls and cracked and peeled paint with the bricks now being visible giving it a brownish look. My eyes went beyond the building to the Peepal tree beside the building … that was Prabu’s motorbike…
I started walking across the dried drain. As I got nearer and nearer the building it became confirmed that it was indeed Prabu’s motorbike. The door of the temple hall would always be open. There was pads like attachments all around the building. The floor was covered with sand and leaves blown in by the wind as well as grass. I slowly started walking around the building, there didn’t seem to be anyone there. I would have only passed the third pillar when I heard a woman’s whine. I passed a second pillar after that when I saw them on the pad inside the building, Meera and Prabu.
Meera’s Pallu was in Prabu’s hands. She was holding it tightly so that he could not pull it off her body. She was saying in a begging tone, “ hey, you brought me here saying you only wanted to talk to me, what is this, leave it Prabu.”
He was enjoying watching her sweet anguish with a smile on his face. He pulled hard on her pallu and she went and fell on his chest. Her pallu was in his hands and she was standing pressed against him chest only in blouse covered breasts. He grabbed her by the waist and grabbed her lips by his, and leaning her against the pillar he was tasting the sweet nectar of her lips. Showing her enjoyment of his kiss, Meera grabbed the hair behind his head in one hand while her other hand was slowly rubbing his back. As their bodies mashed against each other in their youth full vigour, the Pigeons that had refuge in the celling pillars of the hall took flight.
Without taking his lips off hers for a second his hand went in between their bodies to grab her breast. After at first measuring the size of her beautiful globe his fingers he then tested it’s density. Fully enjoying it, she gently rubbed her fingers over his hand that was grasping her breast while continuing to feed his lips to him. “mmm…she moaned into his mouth as they kissed. Her body pushed against him thrusting the soft flesh of her breast harder into his kneading hand. Finally they parted. He pulled her pallu and she spun her body around helping him to remove her sari from her body. She helped him to hurriedly undress her. She was displaying desire and lust she had never displayed to me in so many years of our marriage. In a short while her clothes didn’t belong to her body anymore.
In the setting sun my wife was standing naked in front of him allowing him admire her full beauty. She was breathing heavily as she was in heightened sexual state. Her large firm breasts were moving up and down as she breathed in and out deeply. My wife’s erect, pointed nipples showed how ready she was for my friend to enjoy her voluptuous body. As it started becoming darker, they were slowly turning to shadows to my eyes. Prabu bent his head to take her swollen nipple into his mouth. Meera held it up in his hand, feeding. She had never done that for me as she was always reserved when making love to me. He was taking as much of his breast in his mouth and feasting on it. She was looking at and slowly pulling on his manhood with her elegant fingers measuring it’s impressive length and girth. She pulled him against her sliding on to the ground..
“How many times you have enjoyed me, isn’t your hunger appeased yet?”
“Tell me if your hunger is appeased, I will leave you,” he said as he kissed her lips.
“What have you done to me, because of my loneliness when he was not there I just spent time with you as friend. I never expected to sleep with you, I never in my dreams too thought that I would betray my husband.” “Your virility has won over my chastity. A man and a woman should never meet alone. After that first time we enjoyed together I felt like committing suicide but I had no heart to leave my husband to suffer alone with the kids .. I thought that I should never meet you again .. but the sexual pleasure you showed me that day in bed made me forget about honour, dignity and made me go back to you again and again,” she said her voice betraying her lust as she ruffled the hair of her lover feasting on her erect nipple.
He left her breast and came up on her to her face. “Every time when I looked at Saravanan after enjoying you I felt miserable .. but your beauty hmm .. the agony I suffered in the nights only I knew. On one side my friend, on the other side you. Every time friendship lost out to your beauty.”
The sky reflected the darkness of my state of mind. Darkening clouds of dusk was changing day to night to suit them. The lightning piercing my heart was reflected by the lightning piercing the night sky. Even though they disappeared from my eyes in the darkness, the light of the frequently striking lightning was showing them to me.
He lay on his back .. disregarding all values of honour her mouth was playing a lustful tune on the flute of the man who had stolen her chastity. Her head shook up and down, my life was being shaken to the core. Her soft red lips tightly gripped the stem of his pole .. her wet saliva made it easy for her lips to rub on his hard flesh. I have never asked Meera for this. I thought she would think it disgusting .. yet she was doing this for him with eagerness and desire. He had his eyes closed enjoying the pleasure her mouth lips and tongue was giving him.
I closed my eyes tightly. I could not swallow my saliva as sorrow was choking my throat. He pushed her on to her back on got on top of her. Her legs became a garland to his legs and her hands a garland around his body. I closed my eyes unable to see my wife losing her chastity once again .. but the wind did not leave me. The fragrance of the pink jasmine she wore on her hair and her moans of pleasure brought them to my nose and ears.
“OOhhhh….Prabu baby….it’s so harddd……aahhhh…..”
“The touch of your beautiful fingers makes it hard Meera…yes.. yes.. stroke me.. stroke my cock…it feels so good sss…..”
“Meera take my cock and put it in your pussy… that’s it.. mmm…yes yes rub my cock on your pussy lips… you’re so wet darling.”
“aah…aah….I can’t stand it…push it in me…ooohhhh…fuck me with your big cock…take me to heaven again .. fuck meee…..”
As I opened my eyes unable to bear the agony, the sky too opened .. as lightning. I then saw what I should never have to see. My wife was being taken with her full wishes by his virile manhood. The lotus petals of her vagina was swallowing his blood engorged big manhood inch by inch.
“haanngg .. Ahuh….She gasped with pleasure as he entered her slowly till he was fully inside her. She hugged him closely to her body kissing his lips as he started to move. When he started pumping with speed and vigour .. my woman’s body was also shaking and shivering as per his movements. Meera was showing her full willingness to this illicit coupling with her loud moans agony like pleasure followed by small sobs of intense joy. The sounds were muffled only for a while now and then as they kissed. Her nails were digging into his back indicating the heights of pleasure he was taking her to. They were grunting and copulating like animals.
“Aaarrr… Prabu…my love ..faster…harder…ssss…yes…wonderful, fuck me baby…fuck meee…”
I couldn’t stand it anymore and turned away quickly .. and immediately stood frozen in shock.
Prabu’s father was standing there, eyes red with anger.
Prabu’s father stood there, eyes red with anger. He opened his mouth to say something. I immediately closed his mouth with my fingers and dragged him out from the hall. The sounds of lightning muffling the sounds of our feet.
He pulled my hand away with anger and said, “Leave me thambi (younger brother) we will cut both of them to pieces here and now,” he said his voice choking in fury.
I cried in anguish slapping my own face. “What then. After cutting them to pieces what would you tell to the town folks. That my wife cheated on me or your son had seduced another man’s wife.” “By cutting them up our honour is not going to be saved, everyone will speak disparagingly about us.” By killing them I will go to jail, what will happen to my children. Will they be begging in the street.” “You will go to jail, your family would have no men folks left, it will suffer. The whole town will speak very ill of us all throughout the lives of our family members.”
He had both his hands on my chest tears streamed down his cheeks. “How are you able to bear all this and still be standing like a strong pillar .. seeing my son’s bike I came looking for him, worried he would be destroying his life lying in a drunken stupor here after drinking toddy or some cheap liquor .. why have I to see him destroying a whole family .. god please take me away from this earth,” he lamented”
I held his two hands to my face and cried. He suddenly fell on my feet. “ aiya , my god, I promise you, he henceforth will not even look at your wife. If he does that you will find my cut head stuck on a stake in front of the temple.”
My face twisted in agony as I cried. I begged him. “My father is no more, I am asking you as my father, my wife should not come to know that we know about this ugly deed. She would hang herself if it is known to her. She has never been like this before .. she has done this out of some weakness at this vulnerable age. I have the mental strength to bear this pain and live, she does not.
He looked at me with tearful eyes. More tears burst out from him. “Why couldn’t you have been my son.” He then quickly got up and walked away without looking back. The rain from the sky fell on my face mingling with my tears. With lead laden feet I slowly walked back to my car.
I didn’t go home but rather went back to the shop. If I arrived home before Meera came back she would be worried and upset on what to say for the reason she was out of the house. I came back to the house very late. Even sleep became an enemy to me in the night. I thought of all the struggles in life that I had to undergo. Life had always been a very strong opponent to me. It was never easy for me, I had fight to succeed every time. Meera betrayal was only to me, but she had been a good mother to my kids.
Meera was sleeping very serenely beside me after her illicit tryst. I cannot only blame her for her adulterous behaviour. To succeed in life I had immersed myself wholly in that endeavour and had neglected my stunningly beautiful wife. I was also a cause for her vulnerability and hence am equally to blame for this happening. I decided that I had to meet Prabu and bring an end to this affair. One matter in my favour is that both Prabu and Meera respected me a lot. I decided that I should henceforth not let Meera suffer loneliness. Slowly night became dawn. The crowing of the cockerel announced the arrival of the day.
I became busy in the shop. A small child came running into the shop. “Anna (elder brother), Prabu anna asked you to meet him at the dilapidated temple. I was taken aback on hearing this. I handed over the responsibilities of running the shop to my assistant and quickly drove my car towards the building.
The building stood there lonely and abandoned as usual. I entered in and as I passed a few pillars I saw Prabu sitting on the ground dejected, leaning against a pillar. I was surprised at how he looked. Can a man become so broken in a single day? Hair completely unkempt, face smeared in grime, crumpled shirt drenched in sweat .. was this the same man who always used to have a confident on his face.
In a considerate tone I called out, “Prabu.” He slowly got up and sat on a small ledge attached to the wall. His face was swollen as he had been crying. He voiced out brokenly, “Saravana” and as sobbing overcame him again he burst out “Sar..vana…” and sobbing loudly he again fell on the dirt floor. He looked up at me with tears filled eyes. “After knowing everything how were you able to bear that pain without doing anything .. Oh my god .. you saw those ugly sights with your own eyes .. even one’s own brother would kill someone who did the things I did .. Saravana kill me …kill me Saravana , I don’t deserve to live. You had thought about my family’s good name .. but I failed to do that. Lust had made me an unfeeling beast.”
I looked helplessly at my ‘friend’ wailing, holding my feet. I took hold of his shoulders, raised him up and made him sit on the ledge.
“Prabu, it’s not just only your fault or Meera’s fault in this matter, I am partly to blame too.”
He cried out loudly, “No Saravana it’s not your fault or Meera’s fault .. she is not a woman who would fall so easily .. her beauty made me blind to all morals .. I continuously pursued her and finding her vulnerability, I took advantage of her.”
He started sobbing again, “my father cast aspersions on my birth .. how can you be my son .. did your mother beget you through me?? Having besmirched the honour of not only your wife but my mother with my actions, oh god, why am I still alive, “ he howled.
I silently kept looking at him. When I myself needed consoling, what is it that I can say to him. He continued, “I will be marrying my mama’s (maternal uncle’s) daughter tomorrow.”
“Every man would want to spend his last days in the place he was born .. be buried there ..but for how I had betrayed you .. I will never step foot here again .. this is the punishment I am giving myself. I am going back to the gulf, I promise, it’s even possible that my dead body would go missing, but it would never come back here again.”
He looked at me for a minute, “ Please, don’t ever say you forgive me .. this worthless being doesn’t deserve the forgiveness of a good person like you. For unforgivable pain I have caused I have lost my father and my mother forever. My father has even forbidden me to light the funeral pyre on his death.” “I’m going Saravana .. but one thing .. Meera would not behave like this, betray you henceforth .. she loves you dearly .. I know how she suffered in guilt for what she was doing .. don’t suspect her after this, please.”
He got up and quickly left the place without turning back. After two weeks Meera asked me one day, “your friend had suddenly got married and left even without telling you?”
“Who knows what his difficulties were,” I said. Meera just stood there staring at me.
“It’s Friday today, get the children ready and you get ready too. We will go to temple and have dinner outside after that,” I told her. I went in to change my clothes.
I could hear the lady selling flowers calling out. “Madam flowers… I’ve got pink jasmine that you like, shall I give it.”
I could hear my wife’s voice from outside, “ No, give me only round jasmine from now on, the smell of pink jasmine gives me a splitting headache.”
By Pink Jasmine