The Curse of That Night (5 page)

Chapter 8

Abhijeet and Malvika

Malvika opened her eyes. The sunlight bathed her skin as she lay on her side. She tried closing her eyes again. What had happened yesterday was something she didn’t want to deal with today. Thoughts bit her brain, forbidding her to go back to sleep.

Her mind was fuzzy, the last remnants of the night being chased away by the realization that she was awake again. It was a long and tiring night, something about drinking and dancing in a big disco with Abhijeet by her side but the details were fading fast even as she tried recalling them. With a mental sigh she allowed her brain to focus and cautiously opened one eye. The bright spring sunlight cut the room in half and she saw dust-motes dancing on the wall of light. She pulled the duvet up over her head to keep it out. She tried hard to remember what happened last night.

It was a very tiring night at the disc. It was late and Abhijeet brought her to his home. She didn’t remember what happened next and slept.

She got out of the bed and went downstairs to meet Abhijeet.

Abhijeet was talking to Aarti. They were discussing about her studies and stay in college. Abhijeet always made it a point to call up Aarti with Darsh and talk about her studies or any problem she had.

“Good morning, beautiful,” Abhijeet greeted her.

“Hey,” she said and kissed him.

“Hey, Aarti!”

“Hello, Malvika
di
,” said Aarti.

“How’s your college going?” asked Malvika.

“Great
di!”
she replied excitedly.

“Good.”

“
Di,
I need to go. I am already ten minutes late. See you in the evening,” said Aarti and left.

Malvika looked at Abhijeet. He was wearing a blue shirt skipping two buttons at the top. He was looking too adorable with that stubble on his face.

“Malvika, what are your plans for the evening?” he asked her.

“Nothing as such. Why? Anything special?” she asked surprisingly.

“Yes, I have planned something for us,” he said.

“What!”

“Well, that’s a surprise,” was all he said.

Romantic rides have been around since the horse and buggy. Young couples would pack a picnic lunch and pick a day for sightseeing. Of course with the automobile, it does not take the whole day to reach scenic vistas. And, while romantic rides are most often taken by young couples, even older married couples can enjoy a romantic tour of the countryside. And Abhijeet too had planned the same.

Abhijeet wanted to do something nice for Malvika. Having a day off, he got up early and made her breakfast before driving her to work. Then Abhijeet sat down to plan a perfect romantic drive for her. Looking at the map he knew that even with traffic they should be able to reach the outlook in plenty of time to enjoy the sunset together.

Next, he made out a grocery list for the picnic dinner he was planning for Malvika. He needed champagne, some cheese and a little chicken, as the cheese dip was Malvika’s favourite. He also needed some strawberries, tangerines, apples and whipped cream. For the finishing touch he grabbed a box of expensive truffles and a bouquet of flowers.

Once home, he took the picnic basket kept in the kitchen and began to pack: plates, champagne glasses, napkins. Then he cut up the fruit and the cheese and cooked chicken before packing all the food.

Next, he washed the car, vacuumed the seats and washed the windows. He put a CD of romantic Bollywood songs that Malvika liked. And made sure her seat was adjusted properly.

Then he put the picnic basket and a couple of blankets on the back seat and went to pick her up. Instead of waiting downstairs, he went into the building to tell Malvika he was there. He held the door open for her on the way down to the car, and he opened the car door for her when they reached the parking. Malvika was too surprised, shocked actually.

“I love you so much!” she screamed when she got to know about Abhijeet’s plan.

It was pitching dark. They both were standing on the bridge. Their faces, partially visible in the moonlight. She was lost in deep thoughts and was staring in the blank space ahead of her, standing on the edge of the bridge. He came from behind and held her by her waist.

“Leave me ok!” she resisted.

“Audi R8
haan
! The costliest car. My foot.”

“Baby, it’s not my mistake if the engine broke down. It’s a machine. And it was your idea not to bring any cell phones in order to have complete privacy. And look we are all alone here on this stupid bridge!” said Abhijeet.

She was surprised by his answer. He turned her towards him, looked her into the eyes with a slight smile on his face.

Abhijeet bent towards her and their lips met. It was a long, romantic kiss. They were lost in each other. Finally, Malvika pulled away.

“I think we need to find some place to spend the night,” said Malvika.

“Let’s check out that road. I think it leads to a small village,” suggested Abhijeet taking out a torch.

The road grew steeper as it led them into the cliffs, and Abhijeet occasionally slipped in the mud though Malvika’s heels seemed sure. She should stop somewhere, she knew. She had to rest even though she was afraid that if she halted she would not be able to keep going, and afraid that if she slowed even for a few moments it would not be safe for both of them. Abhijeet sought a benign looking house. There were cottages painted in blue and green, built on poles on the gradient, along the side of the road towards the cliff-top. The closest had burned to the ground, its support beams like giant black bones sketched onto the horizon, the wild green grass circling the blackened ground as if it were hallowed.

The next had its windows and doors closed and unbroken. That in itself seemed enough for an invitation for his tiring eyes. Abhijeet let go of Malvika’s hand. He tried to open the door but it was locked. Better still.

“We need to break through,” he said.

The door was ornamented with three panes of glasses, and Abhijeet hit one with his elbow. It didn’t break, and he hissed at his ineptitude for survival once more. He used the heel of the torch and the glass shattered, the noise muted by the wind. Abhijeet reached through the broken pane and unlocked the door. He led Malvika into the house. There was no one in there. It seemed like the house was deserted. The first room held a large dark-wooden table, with a centrepiece of wilted flowers and candelabra. Polished hardwood floors reflected the light from the torch and full bookshelves lined the walls. On one wall hung a mirror with a gilt frame.

“Wow! Nice cottage. Why is it abandoned?” asked Malvika.

“It’s haunted!”

“Shut up!”

The curtains glowed faintly in the static light from the clouded night. Abhijeet lit the candles with his lighter and turned to grasp Malvika’s hand and lead her deeper into the house towards the bedroom.

He took the candelabra and left her alone in the dark while he walked into the kitchen and looked through the drawers until he found something to eat. As he turned from the drawers, Malvika stood behind him, softly lit and beautiful in the dim light, staring at him with the same dull unawareness. He stared at her for a few moments, and suddenly the distance between them seemed intimate, bloated with tension and full. He looked at the shape of her thighs beneath the thin jeans, the arc of her cheek, the fullness and youth of her lips. He shook his head to clear it. Not the most appropriate time for such thoughts.
He took her hand and led her back to the room. She responded to his gentle push and followed, though her eyes never left his face.

She couldn’t resist now. Neither could Abhijeet.

She bit his palms softly; licked his wrist. Her hands came up and grasped his bicep firmly, pushing up his sleeve as her lips met his. She began to make soft mewling sounds and he watched her, entranced, eyes wide, unable to pull back from her, his erection feeling huge and uncomfortable against the rough tightness of his pants. He realised that his mouth was full of saliva and swallowed compulsively, licking her lips. Her lips moved swiftly from his mouth to his neck, and the touch of her hot breath on his cold skin shot through his mind in burning lines. She bit just above his collar, then higher to just under his jaw. She sucked at him as if she was drinking from him and her body shuddered. He could see the rise of her breast pressing against his chest, and his fingers opened, dropping the can that he had found in the kitchen. His left hand seemed to move of its own volition, slowly, as he stared at the absolute perfection of the Malvika’s full breast in the half-light of that night.

“Someone will come, Abhijeet,” she shied.

“No one will,” said Abhijeet.

He thought he had never seen anything so beautiful. He cupped her breast, feeling the frisson of the curves at the centre of his palm.

Abhijeet
stroked her cheek and kissed her
lips
.
Malvika
was cut off as he slowly started to move his lips on her’s. Their lips moved in time with each other and Abhijeet raised his hands up to Malvika’s hair and tangled his fingers in it. His other hand, he pulled up to her face and cupped her cheek. Malvika rose up his shirt and slowly started to feel Abhijeet’s body. She moved from his lips to his neck thrusting her onto his thighs. Abhijeet placed his hands on Malvika’s lower back slipping one hand down the back in her jeans. She was in a total daze and all she cared about was how good it felt kissing Abhijeet. “I-Love-You,” panted Malvika through the hard kissing and touching.

“I love you too,” said Abhijeet.

Abhijeet started kissing Malvika’s jaw line; he was leaning over her. He moved from her throat, down to her collar, then kissing her breasts. He touched her body so gently and passionately that Malvika just smiled when Abhijeet gently kissed her stomach. He unbuttoned her jeans and pulled them off, then off came his shirt.

She was pulling at his belt but seemed unable to comprehend how to unbuckle it. Her motions became more frenzied and she made loud frustrated breathy noises. He reached down and undid it, opening his fly and the night air was shockingly cold on their hot skins. This bizarre night of his life, this exhaustion, the absolution of pleasure, the totality of his desire; she undid her bra, her breast bare. He took hold of his penis and guided it into her. Abhijeet pushed against her, she seemed impossibly hot to him and she cried out at the touch, her nerves singing, rushing blood. He slid into her and it seemed like the most pure sensation of his life, and his thoughts and burning mind were silenced in a cresting wave of pleasure rising like a tide of ice through him, touching every nerve. She too, smouldering in the fire of love, placed her hands around his face. He looked into her eyes and slowly moved inside her, giving her gentle strokes of pure pleasure and love. Malvika ran her fingers over his back, as her moans became louder and louder with every stroke of love. Abhijeet locked her lips with his, silencing her screams as he finally came inside her.