'Both my parents have bad knees. They never climb up to the terrace. And Ish,
well there is a match on.'
We heard two consecutive roars in the pol. The Indian innings had reached the
slog overs.
She released my hand as I sat down again. She looked beautiful as the
candlelight flickered on her face. A song called 'No matter what' started to play.
Like with all romantic songs, the lyrics seemed tailor-made for us.
No matter what they tell us
No matter what they do
No matter what they teach us
What we believe is true
The candle flames appeared to move to the rhythm of the music. She cut the
cake with the plastic knife that came in the box. I wished her again and put a
piece of cake in her mouth. She held it in her mouth and leaned towards me. She
pushed me back on the cushions and brought her mouth close to mine for my
share of the cake.
She kissed me like she never had before. It wasn't like she did anything
different, but there seemed to be more feeling behind it. Her hands came to my
shoulders and under my shirt.
The music continued.
I can't deny what I believe
I can't be what I'm not
I know this love's forever
That's all that matters now
I don't know if it was the candlelight or the birthday mood or the cushions or
what. But it was then that I made the second mistake of my life.
I opened the top button of her kurti and slid my fingers inside. A voice inside
stopped me, I took my hand out. But she continued to kiss me as she unbuttoned
the rest of her top. She pulled my fingers towards her again.
'Vidya...' By this time my hand was in places impossible to withdraw from for
any guy. So, I went with the flow, feelings, desire, nature or whatever else people
called the stuff that evaporated human rationality.
She took off her kurti. 'Remove your hand, they won't run away.'
'Huh?' I said.
'How else do I remove this?' she said, pointing to her bra. I moved my hands to
her stomach as she took the bra off and lay on top of me.
'Take it off,' she said, tugging at my shirt. At this point, I could have jumped off
the terrace if she asked me to. I followed her instruction instantly.
The music didn't stop, and neither did we. We went further and further as the
tiny cake candles burned out one by one. Sweat beads glistened on our bodies.
Vidya didn't say anything throughout, apart from one time in the middle.
'Are you going to go down on me?' she said, after she had done the same to me.