Chapter 12
Daya didn't see Shreya at all the entire next week at office. He had even tried calling her and left her a few messages which went straight to her voicemail. By the end of the week he had started to get really worried and when he enquired about Shreya, ACP Pradyuman told him that she had gone out of town for office work.
He felt a bit relieved when Shreya came back to bureau on the eighth day. However he noticed that her behavior towards him had changed entirely. She appeared distant and was clearly avoiding him. She looked upset, worried and almost like an empty shell. And unfortunately the mounting pile of work wasn't giving him any chance to go and talk to her. Things at home too were not good. Priya was unnaturally cold towards him and refused to even look at him while Rhea watched his every move almost like a hawk. He was grateful that he did not have to speak to either of them but one evening when he found Rhea trying to crack his cellphone password, he lost his cool.
"What do you think you are doing?" he said angrily snatching his phone from his daughter's hand.
"Nothing. It's just... forget it" said Rhea.
"It's just what?" said Daya.
"I wanted to make sure she wasn't in touch with you in any way you know..." said Rhea.
"You will not touch my cellphone without my permission. Ever again. I hope I've made myself clear enough" he said aggressively.
"Dad I don't want her -"
"Stop it, Rhea! Give it a rest please. You wanted her out of this house and now she's gone, hasn't she? I don't want you talking about her that way. I will not tolerate that" said Daya sternly.
"I WILL TALK! I WILL! COZ IT'S HER FAULT! SHE TORE APART MY FAMILY!" Rhea yelled.
"SHUT UP! JUST SHUT UP! IT'S NOT HER FAULT. IT'S -"
"What the hell is going on?" came Priya's voice. "Rhea what's wrong?"
"Nothing" said Rhea, wiping angry tears off her face.
"Wait, tell me what's wrong -"
"Nothing mom, just leave me alone, please" said Rhea and stomped out of the room.
Priya sighed. She looked at Daya. "I suppose you are not going to explain anything, are you?"
"No" said Daya and he too walked out of the room.
"Well, fuck you!" Priya yelled after him.
Daya's frustration rose as he watched Shreya from a distance, trying to act normal. He hated the fact that he couldn't be close to her. He felt like a faliure and a coward. He knew he would have to sort things out, fast. But he was unable to arrive at the decision. He was torn between his daughter and the woman with whom he had fallen madly in love. He decided he would have to get Shreya talking to him once again. Then maybe they would decide something together.
The opportunity arrived the very next day when he saw Shreya walk into the file room, alone.
Taking a deep breath, Daya followed her carefully so that no one would notice him.
Once inside, he saw her with her back to him, flicking through the pages of a file.
"Shreya... we need to talk" he said causing her to jump slightly.
Without looking back at him she answered, "Sir can we please talk later? I have to submit this report to ACP sir in one hour"
"Well, I am sorry but this is more urgent than your report" said Daya moving closer to her.
Shreya turned to face him. "No, don't think so" she said and tried to walk away but Daya gripped her arm tightly and pushed her against the file rack.
"You are hurting me" she said.
"Don't you walk away from me when I am talking to you" he said gripping her arm tighter.
"You are hurting me Daya!" said Shreya a little more louder.
"I am sorry" said Daya releasing her arm. "I really need to talk to you"
"There is nothing to talk about" said Shreya.
"Stop being so cold towards me. I hate it. I hate it when I can't be close to you" said Daya.
"I am not being cold -"
"Shreya? Are you in there? ACP sir is asking for you" a colleague called from outside.
"I have to go" said Shreya.
"Please talk to me... please... I need you to be with me right now. I really do" he said, his voice thick with emotion.
Shreya sensed immediate danger. The walls she had built around herself were threatening to crumble. She realised she wasn't getting anywhere with him. She knew she had to leave before she did something stupid - like falling into him arms breaking down completely for instance.
"I can't talk to you right now... J just can't. I am sorry" she said.
She walked a few steps and then stopped. "Umm... sir before I forget - here are the keys to your farmhouse. I got a flat on rent nearby last week. Thank you for letting me stay all this time. I am really grateful" she said, her eyes glassy with tears.
"We are not done here, you got that? You have to talk to me" Daya called angrily, after her retreating form.
"Shreya, open the door or I swear I will break it down!" said Daya loudly.
It was late and Daya had got hold of the address of Shreya's new apartment and now he was standing outside her door.
"Stop following me like a shadow! Go home sir, it's really late. We have to be early in bureau tomorrow" Shreya called from the inside.
"Answer my questions and I gladly will" said Daya.
"What questions?" said Shreya.
"Open the goddamn door!" Daya yelled punching his fist on the wooden door.
"What the hell?!" Shreya finally opened the door worried that Daya would probably wake the neighbours with all the commotion.
Without waiting for the invitation, Daya strode inside her house.
"Why are you here?" asked Shreya slamming the door shut.
"I said I wanted to talk to you" he said calmly.
"What is it?" she asked standing in front of him, her arms crossed across her chest.
"You have been avoiding me" said Daya.
"I haven't" said Shreya.
"Don't lie to me" said Daya.
"That's ridiculous! I haven't been avoiding you okay... it's just that I have -"
"Stop lying to me" Daya repeated.
"Okay fine!" said Shreya accepting defeat.
"What is it? Talk to me okay?" said Daya.
"You are asking me why?! I don't want to talk to you. I don't want to see you anymore... please please just go... leave me alone... I am trying really hard and you are ruining it" said Shreya.
"Listen to me -"
"No, I have to go-"
"Shreya stop - stop I said" he said, arm holding her firmly.
"Just go bother someone else!" said Shreya angrily trying to free from his grasp.
"But I want to bother you" said Daya smirking as he saw he stop struggling
"THIS IS NOT A FUCKING JOKE!" yelled Shreya. "IT'S NOT MY FAULT I FELL IN LOVE WITH YOU!"
"Hey, I am sorry" said Daya.
She felt his arms tightening around her, bringing her even more close to his body. One of his hand found the nape of her neck and then buried in her hair.
"I am so sorry" he whispered again. "Listen, I am going to make this right. And just know that I don't regret our time together. I mean it. I love you. I never meant to hurt you. I never meant to drive you out my house ever okay? You mean a lot more to me than you can imagine."
"But enough to confess our relationship in front of your family" said Shreya.
"It's not like that" said Daya.
"I get it. You know, I really do. I get it if you want to stay with your family, your daughter. But then why are you making this difficult for me? For us? Just ... let me go... if we stay away from each other we will forget everything that happened in the past... and you will be happy and I will be happy" said Shreya.
"Do you really think so?" asked Daya in the mocking tone. "Do you really think it's going to be that easy with what has happened between us? Do you think all this was just for my physical needs?"
"But this is going nowhere!" said Shreya exasperatedly. "I don't us to keep meeting in secret behind your wife's back anymore. I don't want to be the other woman. And now since your daughter knows, we just can't - anymore.
"I was asking for a little time, that's all" said Daya.
"You want time?! You've got to be joking! You don't know what I am going through everyday. It's like hell for me..." said Shreya as tears ran down her face.
"I know that. I am going through a difficult phase myself! My daughter is keeping watch on me 24×7, my wife is either really stupid or she deliberately fails to understand that things are not going to work out between us and you - I hate it when you avoid me like this - it's like you have stopped caring or something" said Daya.
"Well, I am sorry to have put you in such a difficult situation!" said Shreya in agitation. " But if you really expect me act like everything's fine then I am sorry to disappoint you!"
"Please Shreya-"
"No, I don't need any explanation. I want you to leave. Right now" said Shreya.
"No" said Daya catching her arm. "I can't leave you like this. Not in this state"
If she was going to be stubborn, he could be stubborn too.
"Let me go" said Shreya.
"No way" said Daya and before she could protest any further, he had spun her around and held her back against him. She felt his fingers slip inside her shirt and his warm breath on her neck as he bent close to whisper in her ear, "you are so sexy when you are mad"
"Let go of me!" she said struggling against his firm grip.
Daya merely smirked.
"You are such a-" Shreya began but at that moment Daya attacked her mouth, kissing her harshly.
He could feel Shreya pushing him away, resisting his kiss but he was just too strong for her.
She somehow managed to put some distance betweem them and her reaction was immediate. She was so confused and angry that the slapped him hard on the cheek.
Daya grabbed both her wrists and held them firmly to her sides.
"Dare to do that again" he growled, fanning her face with his warm breath.
"I WILL! I WILL, OKAY?" she shouted, tears starting to roll down her eyes.
And then, their lips met over and over, unwilling to part. "I missed you. You have no idea how much" she murmured into his mouth.
"I think I know" he whispered back with a smile. "Listen to me, I will make this right. I promise"
"I love you. I always will. No matter what" said Shreya.
"I love you too. And I promise you my love, I will sort this out. Sooner than you think." said Daya.
"Okay" Shreya nodded.
"I will see you tomorrow. And don't go ignoring me like that. I can't stand it not talking to you" said Daya.
"I am sorry" said Shreya.
Kissing her once more, Daya left the her apartment.
Daya's home, Some time later -
Daya turned off the shower and stepped out of the bathroom, steam emanating from his dripping body.
It took him an entire minute to adjust to dim light of the room. The drapes were closed over the windows and the light was very dim casting a warm glow across the room. A log was cracking merrily in the fireplace, its light dancing over the bedroom walls.
On his huge king size bed, he saw his wife Priya wearing a sexy negligee. She was staring at him, her eyes alight with desire.
A knot in his stomach tightened when he looked at her expectant eyes.
"What's up with you?" he asked in a casual voice.
"Nothing, I was getting ready for bed." asked Priya.
"Okay" said Daya.
"Seriously? That's your response?!" said Priya looking agitated.
"Well, what am I supposed to say?" said Daya.
"What the fuck, Daya? What the hell is wrong with you?" said Priya angrily.
"Nothing is wrong with me" said Daya.
"Don't you fucking lie to me. You are not yourself anymore, Daya. We hardly speak these days. Why are you so distant from me? Have I done something wrong?" she asked in a low voice.
Everything is wrong Priya. Everything. My life is a mess. How am I ever going to explain it all to you? How am I going to sort this out?
A light tap on his bare shoulder brought him back from his thoughts.
"Hey are you okay? Just talk to me, please. I know something is not right. Just tell me alright?" said Priya.
"I am fine Priya... really" said Daya.
"Fine if you don't want to talk now, maybe we can do this later" said Priya. "You know what? I still can't get over the fact that you look so sexy wrapped just in that bath towel"
Daya looked at her to find her looking at him with expectant eyes. A wave of guilt arose inside him. She had always been faithful to him. They had a child together... God what have I done?
"I still fall for you, everytime I see you like that." she whispered in his ear.
Daya gave her a small smile but said nothing. He felt fuzzy. His mind was unable to form coherent thoughts. He didn't know how to react.
Priya brushed her lips against his, her hands roaming over his broad shoulders.
No. No. No. I can't give her what she wants. Not now. Not when my heart is somewhere else. It would be unfair to her. It would be unfair to everybody.
Daya pushed her away. "Please not now. I am tired -"
"Please Daya... it has been a long time... I don't remember the last time we had even kissed -"
"Not now. Please try to understand Priya... I am really tired" Daya persisted but she silenced him by kissing him.
"Why don't you just lie down?" she said.
He finally dared to look into her eyes which were full of hope. He couldn't refuse her. She was not at fault. Whatever she said was true. He had felt rather disconnected to her since long time.
"I miss you so much. I miss the old passion between us" she whispered, her eyes shining with tears.
Daya thought about what she said. He doubted whether there was any passion between them. They had made love but he had never felt the fiery need for her, like he felt for Shreya.
He didn't want to do it but he couldn't refuse her tonight. Very reluctantly, he pulled her closer and kissed her softly on her lips.
Pushing him down on the bed, she began to kiss his neck, tracing small circles on his chest. She straddled him and kissed his chest and then she worked her way across his belly, kissing and licking him teasingly.
His body was reacting to her touches, yet it all felt alien. Lying on top of him she began to grind onto him, still clothed in that skimpy negligee.
Daya closed his eyes and a very recent memory came back to him. He could hear the sexy moans clearly in his head. He was amazed how a mere memory of her turned him on in no time. His wife was grinding onto him harder and faster and he could not stifle a moan which escaped his throat.
And then suddenly the she stopped. Daya opened his eyes to find his wife staring at him, her eyes flashing dangerously.
Daya gave her an inquisitive look.
"What the fuck... you sick bastard" said Priya angrily.
"What are the hell are you talking about?" Daya asked unable to understand what had gone wrong. "Are you going to say anything or not?"
"I don't think you were with me while we were in bed just now" said Priya.
"Excuse me?!" said Daya.
"Why the hell were you moaning Shreya's name?" Priya asked looking angry enough to murder him.
"Sh - Shreya's name?" Daya asked, aghast.
"Yes. I heard you say Shreya just now while we were making love in bed" Priya said.
Shit. I am so screwed. "Priya, listen to me" said Daya.
But Priya was already pulling over a robe. "YOU HAVE BEEN SCREWING HER ALL THE TIME HAVEN'T YOU?" she yelled.
"Damn Priya listen to me -"
"I UNDERSTAND NOW. I UNDERSTAND IT ALL. OH MY GOD, DOES RHEA KNOW THIS - SHIT DAYA YOU FUCKING BASTARD- oh god" she broke down sobbing.
"Let me explain-"
"STAY THE FUCK AWAY FROM ME"
"FINE! FINE" Daya yelled in an equally loud voice.
"RHEA? RHEA GET DOWN HERE AT ONCE" Priya screamed.
"What are you doing?!" said Daya.
"I am not staying in this house. We just can't stay under the same roof anymore." said Priya shoving all her clothes in a huge suitcase.
"Stop this nonsense - I-"
"Mom? Dad? What's going on?" Rhea asked staring at them.
"We are leaving. Pack your bags" said Priya.
"Leaving?! Where?" asked Rhea incredulously.
"DON'T ASK QUESTIONS, WE ARE LEAVING THIS HOUSE DON'T YOU GET IT?" Priya yelled spit flying from her mouth. "PACK YOUR BAGS"
"This is ridiculous Priya, you don't need to go anywhere. You don't want to stay with me? Alright, I will go" said Daya.
"Yeah right go - go to that whore and sleep with her" said Priya angrily.
"SHUT YOUR FUCKING MOUTH! DON'T YOU DARE CALL HER A WHORE!" Daya shouted having lost his temper.
"WHAT ELSE DO I CALL HER HUH? SHE DESTROYED MY FAMILY! SHE'S A FUCKING WHO-"
"I LOVE HER!" Daya yelled. "I love her! I really do. It was never that way between us. But with her it's different. I am a different person when I am with her." said Daya.
Priya stared at him, her eyes full of tears. "It took you that long to realise that you don't love me huh? We have a daughter Daya!" she said pointing a shaky finger in Rhea's direction. "Didn't you think even once of the consequences when you slept with that girl?"
"I didn't bother about the consequences coz I fell in love with her" said Daya.
A moment's pause and then he said, "I am sorry Priya. I am sorry for everything."
Sneak peek into the next chapter - Will Priya move out from Daya's life or forgive him?