CHAPTER 3

                     SLOW AND STEADY.  

Both were tired. They felt as if they worked in a chimney.  Both looked like chimney-sweepers.

They got busy shaking dust and dirt from their clothes. He walked over to her. He asked her to go with him to the brook.  She kept quiet, as if not listening.  She was not willing to go any farther.

He:   “Air, and plenty of fresh air you got now.”

She does not respond. She looks at the sky. She is in deep thought.

He:   “What is wrong?”

He:   “Will you not speak?”

She averted the face.  She was in two minds.

He left her alone to the mercy of her bad mood.

He went down towards the brook to check water for a good wash.   At a distance he saw birds hovering and chirping in circular chorus.  That means there was water. It was not dry.

He ran to her to fetch her to the brook. His look was entreating.   After a while, she followed with tired legs. She was in no mood to move further.

With a sigh of tiredness she walked round the place,

Her steps were not steady. There was no life. She was dragging herself to the brook just to please his fancy.  She approached the site with a sigh.

And she came upon him washing himself.

He had taken off his shirt, with rolled breaches on his hips.  He was ducking his head with water. She wanted to retreat, but in the dripping gloom of the forest, she started to tremble uncontrollably. The white torso of the man she hated, seemed beautiful,

His white and firm body with silky fur skin maddened her senses. Never mind his stern face and his hard eyes !  Never mind his stupid personality!  His body in itself was divine, reflecting through the gloom like a revelation.  It was with great difficulty that she brought herself back to her normal self.

She walked into the shallow waters.

She moved and had a splash with the water.

He ran after, snatched her from her waist belt, and lifted her like a basket.  She was out to get herself freed. She applied all force at her command to free herself from his grip. She was an excellent opponent.  Result.

It was expected. There was a noise when the buckle of the belt gave away. Both got thrown in opposite sides. It was mishap. Both tumbled down in the water, all wet drenched and dripping with water. Had he not pulled her she would have gone overboard in deep wet soil.

She: “Now, Look! What you have done to me? You got me all wet!   She shouted with mock annoyance.

She:  “You got me all wet and I am shivering!” “How shall I change?” 

He let go of his grip. He put aside from her face, a lock of hair with his fingers.

He:  “I’m sorry”

She:      “What sorry! Everything is covered by being sorry?”

He:  “I am really, really sorry.”

Both set at the end stones of the brook with their feet dangling in water. Both finished cleaning. Both sat side by side easy with each other.

They felt chilly and wet in their drenched clothes. Her cheeks had gone rosy. An icy shiver curled down her spine. The hair at her neck pricked. She shook her head to clear it and winced. Her scalp burned. The roots of her hair tingled and burned. The valley between her shoulder blades was sore. Her arms throbbed with fatigue and tiredness. She was exhausted due to the strain of the day. 

They rushed back to the cave hurriedly. Rain began to pour in the meantime.

They were shivering of cold.  Cold wind was biting them, causing shudders. They were in need of complete rest. Both were dog tired. Both were without spare clothes with them.

He:  “Take this.”

He gave her the sack. He took the overnight bag.

He carried the over-night bag and was off to the inner place.

She was reluctant. She was determined not to go in the back of the cave. She wanted to pass her time in the front. She stood there for quite a while. Fierce rain, hard wind and her wet clothes forced her to change her mind. She was helpless. She was alone in the lobby. She got scared of the loneliness.  After long deliberation she moved in. She had taken her step to her doom. 

Once inside, both tried to dry the clothes with bare hands.  Once inside, both tried to be informal and happy.  He opened the over-night bag, took out some newspapers, spread them on the floor. He took out the packet of sandwiches and bottle of wine as if ready to eat and drink. He had a blanket and a tablecloth in the sack.

He: “We’ll have to dry ourselves”

She: “Yes. I am too cold. I am shivering.

(She was shivering, shuddering and trembling. Her teeth were chattering. Her face covered with water drops.)

He: “Better take out your dress!”

She refused flatly. She was shocked.

He: “Don’t be funny. You will catch cold and catch pneumonia. You have pinafore beneath. What is the matter?”

He:-“Please don’t stand to formalities. You will kill yourself.”

She was annoyed that he knew details of what females wore within. It was not his business.

She:  (she muttered to herself) “Yes.”

Her body was shaking and teeth chattering.

He:  “I’m going to undress myself.”

He:  “I do not want to catch cold.”

He took the blanket and went in one corner to undress. He was a hustler. He knew his limitation. He was smart enough to be straightforward when he had to. He knew the rules.

In the meantime, she finding herself alone unbuttoned her frock.  She handed it over to him to hang somewhere to dry. 

He was utterly oblivious to her partial undress.  He picked up sandwiches and bottle of wine and both eagerly swallowed it. They felt very hungry and tired. The food  with the wine brought some energy in them.  Suddenly  he let out a whistle of surprise.

She:  “Now what? What is the matter?”

He:   “Good God!”

He:   “You are all wet still.”

He:   “Your pinafore sandals and everything is dripping with water.”

He:   “You will catch pneumonia.” “What to do?”

She: “My legs have gone icy.”

He:   “You take out all your clothes to dry.”

He:   “Take the table cloth and you wrap around like a sari.” 

He took charge of the situation and ordered.

She: “Take off inner clothes?”

She: “Are you crazy?”

She gasped in horror.

A faint smile appeared on his face. He shrugged.

He: `”Suit yourself.”

He:  “Kill yourself.”

She glared at him mischievously, mildly. She bit her lips. What he said was sense.

Her embarrassment came in the way. Her modesty ruled out undressing in his presence.

On other hand her common sense told her that it was the only sensible thing to do.

She: “Will you crawl back to the front door?”

She: “Check up if the rain stopped.”

She: “We may as well leave.”

He:   “OK!”

He agreed. He rose instantly.

He ran to the hole and out in the front to check up if the rain had stopped.  She hurriedly shed all her clothes. She spread them on the floor in one corner. She wrapped the tablecloth around her. It revealed her figure prominently. She sat on the floor as if nothing happened supporting herself with the back of the wall.

He returned in the meantime. He reported that rain had not stopped. He lowered his frame besides her. He patted her shoulder. He looked at her with love and tenderness. He was all butter and honey.

He: “You are everything.”

He: “How can I harm you?”

He: “How can I misbehave?” 

He: “How can I take advantage of you?”

He: “So relax.”

He: “Don’t be afraid.”

Her arms crossed over her bosom. She was having tremor of cold. She was shivering. The tablecloth wrapped around her came up to her knees. It clearly revealed lovely ankles.

He never imagined ladies could have such slender ankles and shapely legs. Her figure, the shape, the frame were a sight to see.  It was her capital-all she had. She was not looking. Her head rested on her knees. She was silent. She was horrified.   She was nervous. Her eyes were closed as if resting, not sleeping rather dozing. He did not like her shyness, awkwardness in such a situation.

He asked if she was comfortable.

She:  “Yes.” “I’m better now.”

Both felt drowsy. Both felt relaxed. Both felt sleepy. The tension had gone. She was at ease and relaxed. She raised her arms in an effort to stretch them. She stretched her tired legs. She massaged her calf. She moved her body sideways to shed her fatigue. No help would be coming from anyone. She was all by herself to take care of herself.  She had placed herself in a vulnerable situation by coming with him.

She was tired beyond imagination. Her left arm was wrapped around her. Her right arm alternately pinched her forearms. Her attention turned to the tips of her fingers.

They had turned blue. She frowned. She blamed herself for putting herself in such a situation. She was trembling and shivering with cold.

She:  “I wonder what time it must be!”

He:   “It must be around six in the evening.”

She jerked her chin in his direction.

She:  “Do you think it might have stopped raining?”

He:    “May I crawl and check up?”

She:  “Go.”

She:  “Yes”

She:  “Please do”

She:  “But do not go out” it was said with concern.

He goes. He gazed out from the bottom step through the hole. Then he had to climb to the top. In the meantime she stands up, stretched her legs which were almost cramped.

She stretched her hands, sides, back her whole self. She felt better. He returned and reported that it was raining cats and dogs. He sat close to her.  Both got entangled to each other to protect them from shivering.  They huddled together drawing heat from each other. He put his hands around. She looks wide-eyed. She flinched and winced.

She:  “You do not think we will be struck up for a while?”  

She:  “Or perhaps longer”

He smiled reassuringly.  His eyes were soft and tender and loving.

He:  “Of course not!”

He:  “Are you silly?”

He:  “We will have to leave soon”

He:  “You have not to be afraid of me.”

He:  “Relax” “Be easy”

He:  “Be normal.”

He:  “Be natural.”

He:  “I’ll do nothing improper.”

Hearing assurance from him, she felt happy. She felt relaxed.  She felt at home. She had crouched closer to him. He put his arms around her. He began to caress her back. He began to rub her back with his palms. She felt nice and happy. They remained huddled to each other for a while in an attempt to warm up each other.

He:   “There it is!”

He:   “Feel any better?”

She: “Yes”

It all began perfectly naturally. His rubbing turned into caressing.  The caressing turned into stroking.  He stroked her body. She felt quite heated. He rubbed, caressed stroked her face, neck shoulders, back front, everything. She swallowed hard as he stroked the upper swell of her breast; dipped and nuzzled the cleft in between them. Her skin burned to his touch. Her desire was at its peak. She did not stir. She liked. She did not protest. She was enjoying. Her eyes were closed.  He massaged her sulky body vigorously sending wild sensuous messages through his palms. It looked she was losing consciousness and about to faint in agony.  It was only when he shifted himself full length towards her, and took her breasts in his hands and started squeezing the nipples vigorously and hovered on top of her in an attempt to kiss her lips, to kiss her on her mouth that she flinched, winced. She drew back. She looked up wide-eyed. She stared surprised. She regained herself. She got herself disentangled from his embrace. She moved out to a distant place near the wall away from him, sat with support of the wall at a respectful distance from him.

He:     “Oh!”

He:     ”By God!” 

He:     “It was a mistake, an accident on my part! I had not intended to touch there. It all happened in an unknowing way.”

He:     “Purely without my knowing”

He;     “Oh!” “I feel so disgusted. I am really sorry.”

He:     “I would never do any harm to you”

He:     “You are perfectly safe with me”

He:     “I would never do again”

He:     “I swear by God.” “I promise”

He:     “I will sure behave” “Forgive me”

He:     “Believe me” “Trust me”

He:     “You are shivering. Please be back here.”

She did not reply. She kept quiet. She did not budge.  There was tightness in her groins.   She felt desire had overtaken her normal senses. She realized. She was susceptible to any folly in her helplessness.  She was on her guard. Enough was enough. She decided.  She was worried about the consequences. She felt concerned.  She repented for her recklessness. She blamed herself.

As it is, she had allowed him to take lot of liberty.  She wanted to end the chapter right there.

She was alarmed the way he had advanced with her.  She had given him enough liberty. 

On the other hand, according to him things progressed as per schedule.    She was alert now. She was engrossed in her own worries and problems.

He:       “How are you feeling? Any better?”

She:     “I’m fine here. You do not worry about me. I am quite all right. I think the rain might have stopped by now. We will have to be backing home before it gets late.”

She leaned against the wall stretching her legs and raising her arms in an attempt to shed cold and stop shivering. She was trying to behave normal natural not worried.

He:   “Please yourself”

He:   “Kill yourself”

He:   “Catch pneumonia”

He uttered with utter dismay in his voice. 

Long silence developed. Rain was pouring outside in cats and dogs. Nobody spoke. Both were silent. Time passed. It must be around seven in the evening.  Atmosphere was charged with suspense. There was tension in the atmosphere.  He rested his head on his knees attempting to sleep. She saw.

He stole surreptitious glances.  A light of cracking thunderbolt blazed inside as if nature had opened up a search light in the cave. His eyes popped up. In the brief second, he had a glimpse of her figure in silhouette. Her whole figure was revealed and see. Flimsy tablecloth was really flimsy in the real sense of the term. She hugged the tablecloth around her in an attempt to conceal; it quite revealed. The firm breasts pressed against the knees provoked him to a point of no return. Outline of her thigh was captivating maddening him almost entirely. The long columns of her legs promised still better greenery inside.  Silhouette of the slender frame of her body was seen sending wild messages.   He could not take his eyes off her. He was almost mesmerized.   A sense of thrill passed through him. He was all-eager now.   He got excited beyond control.  He was stimulated beyond limits.   He was ready to take any risk to get her.  She looked like an over-ripe fruit to be possessed, eat it there and there.   She appeared to him as a fragrant flower emitting sweet smell.   He lost all his senses. He thought of pushing himself to her side.  He got sexually stimulated.   He wanted a release. He got aroused.

She was the thing he craved at the moment.   He was never aroused like this before.  He had not seen a girl in nude so scantily dressed so close.

He was shaken by the intensity of his desire for her.  His breathing had become shallow.   He was ready for the action.  All his senses were directed towards her.  His eyes narrowed, his gaze locking with hers.

Her heart also skipped beats. She swallowed hard. She realized. She felt her throat and the mouth dry.  Both were waiting. There was suspense in the atmosphere.  

None in his life had appealed to him in such a fascinating way.   His throat was dry, his voice tight, and he felt all his veins pulling and stretching.  His body ached in an untold pain and agony.   His senses had gone paralyzed. He did not know what to do.   He would have collapsed. He thought fit to take away the eyes from her. He gazed at the top and the walls. He attempted to control and be normal.  He suppressed his throbbing desires to possess her. There was enough time for everything.

It was she who broke the silence. He returned from reverie and wild dreams. She said in a small voice.

She:  “I am so cold. My legs have gone icy. I think I shall die.”

He swung his head to look at her. She was curled up in the corner near the wall. She was shivering, shuddering and her teeth chattering.

He:  “May I come and sit with you?”

Without waiting for an answer, he rushed to her, wrapped hands around her.  He straightened her bent knees.  He lifted her and made her stand on her feet at the wall.  He took out the blanket, spread it on the floor, and made her lie down on it.  He reclined himself besides her emitting his heat in her.  Both lay there for quite a while.

He covered her with his body. Her skin began to warm.  Only then she realized how cold she had been. The warmth seeped into her. 

Their body rubbed against each other. It made her catch her breath for the reason that she needed it so badly. To need it is have it. She was lucky to have it. All do need but can’t have it.  She felt better. She was recovering.  She had her eyes closed.  She felt she would die of shame and shyness.  Both bodies got entangled in a tight embrace.  He had covered her with his full size frame. 

He:  “Let us not die.”

He:  “We want to live.”

He:  “What to do?”

He;  “Oh! God!”

He:  “Stop the storm!”

He:  “Keep us warm!”

His embrace did warm her.   Her skin was damp in many places.  Her teeth for sure, had stopped chattering.  She felt warm and color returning to her cheeks.   Her heart hammered beneath her breasts. She felt it would spring out of her body.  Her veins started getting stretched and pulled.  She experienced a sort of unknown sensation.   Her body was drawing heat from his frame. Gradually she was returning normal.  Her shivering and shuddering seemed stopped.  She felt better. She liked it.  She drew closer to him drawing heat from him.  She cradled herself clung to his body as if never to leave it.   She was feeling cozy comfortable and relaxed in his tight embrace.

She felt on top of the world in the worst of the circumstances.  She was not afraid. Her shyness was ebbing.  She was reacting to his heat.  She wanted to be loved and fondled.  She was no longer intimidated. She was no longer unwilling and protesting.  She was responding, ready to go all the way.  

The floor of the cave and the blanket looked like she was in a palace on a huge bed.   She was lying on a meager blanket but she did not want to leave it.  It was a mere blanket spread on a hard ground; yet the downiest coach in the world or the softest bed in the king’s palace could not have made a better resting place for her. She felt as if she were in Heaven. She felt relaxed safe and comfortable.  He continued to rub her arms. He continued to rub her face, her chin, neck, shoulders, her breasts and everything.  He rubbed her legs with his own.

His toe moved to her ankle, knee higher and higher all the way up. Her icy skin started turning normal. He felt as if his legs were moving in satin.  He could not resist the feel of her voluptuous body.  He wanted her urgently without any delay.   He was guarded. He was careful. He was on an alert.   He controlled himself.  Her breath was fast. She was responding. She was panting.  Her heart was throbbing. Her face had gone red like fire.  She opened her eyes; she stretched her body, shook it, and rather pulled it.   She looked up. Her eyes were glowing. Her lips parted, her mouth opened.  She grinned at him, revealing her white teeth.  He moved his hand up her face, removed the lock of hair that had come up on her face.   He ran the fingers on every part of the body.  He fell back on his back and closed his eyes. She felt as if electric current was passing through her.  He caressed her head, cheeks, neck, shoulders, arms, and every place.  She felt good to be in his arms. She liked to lie cuddled in his arms. She felt something between them had changed. Her hatred for him had not been there.  She felt some liking for him.  She was moved by his efforts to comfort her.   She felt she had not returned his feelings for her. 

She felt she had been unduly harsh towards him. She felt relaxed, cozy, and happy, that she hid her head in his shoulders out of shame and shyness.  She clung to him violently.  She felt tingly live warm happy.  She felt her skin, breast, legs, hands her neck, tighten. She felt as if her body expanded and wanted his warm contact more and more.  She felt her body twitching pulling, expanding, and releasing hot air from within.   She smelt the aroma that was familiar, a message, symptom that it yearned for company.

He:   “Oh! You are so beautiful!” 

He:   “You are really a fairy.” 

He:   “You are the most beautiful one.”

He:   “No other female in the world like you.”

He:   “None can match you.”  

He:   “Oh! why are you so shy with me?”

He went on nuzzling her face with his mouth, then her lips neck, breasts and he went down and down causing untold agony and sweet pain.

He untied knot of the tablecloth, and lo!   She was all before him in a nude state like a marble milk white statue fully exposed in front of him. 

He:  “May I kiss you?”

He urged in a low husky voice as if it were a prayer he was offering to Love Goddess.  He hummed like a murmur in her ears.   Her body was poised alive pulsing and wanting. .

He:  “Just” “Once” ”Please”

He:  “May I?”

He:  “I shall be obliged.”

He:  “Only once please!” 

She did not reply.

Electric current was blowing through her.

She wanted to touch him, hold him and wanted her body up against his.  Her body was urging towards him.  She wanted herself merged with his body. 

She felt her heart racing and an intense feeling of closeness had overcome her.   Her arousal was quite new to her. Her body burned and ached and waited for the final play.  She felt waves of butterflies in her stomach.  His closeness and tenderness aroused her. She continued to stare at him, almost gazing, as if surprised, as if she did not want to be asked. She did not like his question but and why. She was ready to do and die.  She was intoxicated and lost in her own world of bliss and happiness. There was undisguised Love and desire in her eyes. He saw it. He was moved. He bent on her.

He kissed her. He parted her lips with his tongue, opened her mouth and started playing hide and seeks. Her mouth was moist wet and inviting.  One kiss did not suffice. One kiss did not quench his thirst.  His hunger for her was not satiated. He wanted to kiss her, again and again and again and forever. He never wanted to stop. He was gentle, loving and kind not giving her a chance to protest.  He felt her mouth moving shyly hesitantly beneath his own. He felt her body entwined to his from head to foot. His heart throbbed, thudded loud and fast from his chest reaching to his ears. He could feel nothing beyond an intense desire for her. He loosened his arms around her. He eased the intensity of his kiss. He allowed her body to separate from him. There was some distance of a few inches between the two. He raised his head. He stared at her.

Her eyes were closed as if she were in sound sleep.   He stroked her face to awaken her. He stroked her shoulders to awaken her.   His hands went downwards holding breasts in both hands. He started fondling them simultaneously.

He took the nipples one by one in his mouth and started squeezing with his lips, biting lightly with the teeth, his other hand busy fondling the other piece. Only then she opened her eyes. 

She protested mildly. 

She: “We must not be doing all this”

She: “It is not good for us both.”

He:   ‘Hey!’ “You don’t worry at all.”

He:  “I will not do any harm.”

He:  ”I am a friend.”

He:  “Let me hold you for a while.”

He:  “I will behave.”

He: “Then we go home.”

She hesitated. She started to get up.

He was swift. He stamped his mouth on hers vigorously, started fondling her body again. He continued to nuzzle her, caress her, rub her, and stroke her.  He raised her arms over her head. He smelled, sneezed her armpits one by one.

The effect was maddening. She swooned in his arms.  This was new to her. She responded.  She could not bear the agony any longer. She brought her hands down and engulfed him in an embrace.   He lay on her resting and relaxed.  He was quite aroused. He could not check himself. Both had become one. Both had surrendered to each other. Both had turned into one. He sucked and licked her neck and the back, hungry not satisfied, his teeth biting her skin. The sensation has aroused her to a great extent.  She no longer felt tricked and cheated. 

She felt she had ill-treated him in the start. She should have been lenient towards him.  For a while he withdrew his head as if to rest for a while.

This allowed her to relax and breathe normally.  She had started turning immobile and frigid under his weight. Now she felt freed and normal once again.  It seemed both had taken an interval. 

The second act was about to begin. He got up. He about turned her. . He made her lie down on her stomach.  He caressed her back and her everything sending electric sensations in her body.  She could not bear anymore; she felt she would die of agony.  After a while, She moved on her back, faced him straight into his eyes to find love there.

He took his mouth to her lips and kissed her intimately and vigorously and violently.  Both played with their tongue, game of catch and hide, hide and seek, catch and bite.

She felt as if she would die of pain any moment.  He fondled her waist, navel and down and down all the way between her legs.  She flinched, she winced.  She tried to withdraw, back up and get up.  He pressed her shoulders hard with his elbow and forced her to lie down and fiercely continued kissing her, fondling her stroking her all the while, all the time.

He:      “I love you.”

He:      “I love you.”

He:      “I love none but you and you” only.”

He:      “I want you.”

He:      “I want you.”

He:      “I want none but you and you only.”

She:    “It is not wise.

Please. She murmured, she whispered trembling, shuddering.  Her mind refused, her heart wanted it all the way.  She was split into yes and no.  Yes was about to prevail.

He:       “Oh!  dear. I want to be only with you.”

He:       “I will not do any wrong.”

He:      “Just I want to feel you. I love you; I want to die for you.”

He:       “I will not do anything vulgar to you.”

He:       “Only I want to feel close to you.”

He:        “How can I do any harm to my own love!”

He:        “I love you more than my life.”

He kissed her vigorously.

She:      “Do you quite love me?”

She:      “Are you sure you do love me?”

He:        ‘I do.” “I do.”

He:       “I love you, love you. I love you.”

She sighed heavily. She smiled. He felt as if her breasts were rising, touching his mouth.  He swallowed them both vigorously one by one, turn by turn, in the mean time, holding the other one with help of his hands and not letting them out of sight even for a second. A big fire was ignited within her. She was unable to extinguish it. She was not her own self. She was a different being today. She felt like throwing herself at his feet to entreat him to end the game. It was beyond her endurance.   Each time he stopped she was nervous.  Her body ached for more. She had already resigned herself and placed her at his mercy. She could not bear the pain, agony any longer.  She had surrendered.  She was all set for the final play.  Everything was set and both were ready eager and looking forward for the final play.  Her body heaved. He had switched on the ignition key. The  engine had found life. It fired, sputtered coughed and roared to life. It was to be geared to put it into motion. She raised her head as if twisting it. She raised her arms as if stretching them. She twisted her head from side to side to relax and ease the pain.  She raised her body turned sideways to feel relaxed. 

She bent her back up and down to feel relaxed.  Now he was playing with his hand on the back.  His hand was insistent but, light like a feather.

She was spread full length, her body experiencing untold agony and pain. She was not aware what was happening. She was as if sleeping closed eyed as if not knowing anything. 

She was feeling his slow strokes on her body. She was exhausted had no strength to refuse him or make protests. She had no desire to get up and stop him.  She did not want him to stop doing what he was doing.

She did not want to wince, flinch or protest in any way. She was eager to allow him to do as he pleased.  She had her eyes and her mind tightly closed.

An unknown desire and happiness overwhelmed her. She was drowned in an ocean of bliss and happiness.  She was flying in air her body experiencing untold waves of electric current.  She never wanted that he should stop half way. . She wanted that he should go on forever.  She was getting tremors, waves of jerks and upheaval in her body.  She was experiencing an unknown feeling of truth beauty and goodness.  She was feeling she was nearer to Heaven for the first time in her life.  She was experiencing an unknown feeling of love and happiness unknown to her. She never wanted that he should withdraw now. She wished him to continue forever. She was gradually melting in him, becoming one with him. They were one entity now. He had aroused her to a point of no return. He paused for a while to have a look at her. He found her face red hot and flushed. He saw love and happiness in her company. 

An unknown feeling of satisfaction, contentment and well being overwhelmed her. His touch caused tremors, jerks and vibrations in her body heather to before not known to her. She was on her journey to Heaven. She was all engrossed to feel the unknown pleasure. She never had imagined their union could be so exciting and loving. She was anticipating and awaiting his next move. She was anxious about it. 

Her heart jumped with anxiety and eagerness. She could bear it no longer.  Their mouth, their lips arms hands palms legs body everything were associated and introduced with each other to a point of no return. It was as if a one way street; a point of no return!

They had enveloped, engulfed into each other as if they were one entity.  He drew her closer and closer, tighter and tighter suffocating cornering as if she would die of happiness. She felt that if she died she would not repent. She was ready to die. He fell so hard on her that she felt her body would break at last.  Oh! Press it close to thy where I should break at last. All hearts have to break at last. Her heart beat loud and fast. Its beats were louder than drumbeats.  She prayed and prayed that he may never leave her. She wanted him always for her. She had been aroused to a point of no return. She was eager to end the game.  He paused. He looked around as an athlete looks around to size up the track.    He looked at her. He felt love for her. He felt compassion and well being from within. Her eyes were closed; perhaps out of shyness or happiness he could not fathom.  The atmosphere was charged with electricity, current passing in their veins. He was ready to go ahead all the way. 

All the hurdles were crossed. The road was clear.  Now the road was straight with no bumps and roadblocks or detours.  It was green signal all the way. He had to drive along leisurely. He raised his  hands and looked around to begin. With his  hands he raised her face; he gently kissed her like a feather touch.  There was nothing to fear to worry about. All her buts and ifs and fears were gone.  The road was clear. The signal was green. Go ahead.

The final was about to begin.  Here both were eager. Both felt they were incomplete unless they had finished it. Both were craving, dying to enter into each other. Both intensely wanted to go ahead. Both wanted to swallow, eat each other. This was the height of agony and torture for her. He massaged her tip making preparations. He spread his hand here and there.  He positioned himself. This was the fag end of the journey to the moon.  This time she did stir. She could not keep herself frigid howsoever she tried.

This time she did move. She was no longer that stiff and cold maiden now. This time she did open eyes. She wanted to see him, absorb him in her eyes.  This time she stared at him. She was not shy this time. She felt quite happy.

This time she did not protest or refuse or withdrew or got up.

This time she did not stop him. She had no strength left to stop him.  She saw him kneeling. She saw him bending and approaching.  She stared at it mesmerized and frightened at its size, all swollen red like a charging bull.

She knew it was coming. She had waited quite long for this moment.  She had burning aching feeling in her, the body wanting it now.  She was writhing and arching like a wild mare. She was fully aroused.  She had a glimpse of him in full action. She prayed all Gods to save her.

She was proud of him. She was happy with him. He was her everything in her life.   She was all butter and honey. She was all kind and quiet.  She was all praises for him.

She was all kindness and rewarding. There was complete change in her feelings for him.  She could not bear any longer. Her patience was at an end. She could not wait further. 

She felt as if she swooned and would die of anxiety if it did not visit her in the next few seconds. She was eagerly anxiously waiting for his arrival. She was all ready by herself.

Minutes were passing by. Hours were passing by. Nobody cared for time. Suddenly time had stopped. All clocks, all watches in the world had gone out of order.

World had stopped. There was no chaos. Storm had stopped. Everything was quiet for a while. All eyes were focused on her. Rain had stopped. Seasons had stopped. Sun had stopped. Everything had stopped. Wind had stopped. Atmosphere had stopped. The world had stopped. Everything had stopped.  Nothing was moving. Everything was standstill.

Her hips sounded moving. She was responding to his tune. Both were charged with lust, dancing twisting jumping up and down and so on and so forth. She felt, she was ready lying on her back, her legs outstretched, spread-eagled to receive him. 

 He lowered himself on her and placed him on her door.   She began to jump and dance stretch and squeeze to take him in her.  He kissed her again.

She found herself wrapping her hands around him in his odyssey of love. She pulled him closer. He was moving slowly with rhythm of his own. He was handling her as if he were playing a guitar, instrument of music, his fingers deftly playing on the sensitive wires. She opened up in full and pulled him inside of her all the way as if to keep it there forever and not let it go. She wondered herself at her attempt to absorb him in her.  He shuddered at last; she engulfed his torso with her raised entwined legs pressing him with all her strength.

She was experiencing a sigh of relief happiness. She felt filled up to her neck.  They were on their journey to the moon. They were on a honeymoon in space.

Rockets were flying in the sky. Now the whole atmosphere was full of noise.  Firecrackers, atom bombs were bursting deafening the ears.  She had engulfed him. She was bathed in his sensations and love for him.  She had swallowed him whole in her. She wondered how she could do this.  Now, she began to move, first slowly than accelerating the speed and the momentum to a point of no return. The process had terrific heat in her.  Life was all bliss and wonderful. She had never dreamt of life being so wonderful. She shuddered, went stiff and lying still anticipating further. She was thirsty of his love.   Thereafter the way was sticky, the way was wet and slippery and easy and smooth.  

He repeated his love, she responded like wise, and the never-ending game of love continued, went on and on and on; soon both were flying in air, rockets were bursting, trumpets were blowing and both had reached highest level of satisfaction, and ecstasy. Both had clanged to each other never to depart, unless death do them part.

A bond had developed between the two. It was an interminable bond. She was one in him. Both had lost their identity to be dissolved into one. He was one in her. She was one in him. Both were one in each other.  Both dissolved in each other and came out as a single entity. It was complete dissolution of soul body and mind. It was a reunion of two human beings in Heaven.  Their soul was one with two bodies. They had become one in each other. Both felt. Again, she moaned. She was floating in air.

She was shivering shuddering in some sensation.  She gasped. She was feeling some unknown sensation. She was not by herself. She felt as if she got suffocated, choked, breathless, and dizzy.  She held him tight over her with her hands in grip. She felt her blood rushed to a single point for a way out. It was as if waters of Victoria falls had fallen to earth. She was unknown to such a forceful bliss.  She felt contented filled not wanting further. He too, cried out loud. He cried out her name for the first time. He had melted in her totally without any reservation without any shame. He accepted her for his whole life as a wife. She cried his name for the first time. She had melted in him completely without any reservation without any shame. Both had become one. They were not two individuals any longer. They were one in two bodies. That is pure love at its highest summit. They had achieved it. They surely had conquered the highest peak of spiritual love.

From that moment when she was consumed by his power, all things, she had considered important to her way of life, ceased to be important. They were not important any more. She felt as if she was swimming in the current of his love. She knew in quite certain terms that there was never, nor there would again be, a lover like him for her. She had been a selfish girl so far. Suddenly she realized that love begets love with kindliness and forgiveness. For her he was her Man. He was at this time, all that was strong, and all that was weak in a single man. She had made up her mind. She had believed in Destiny. Pairs were made in Heaven. Who are we to fight them! She belonged to him forever for life -for all lives to come.

He had a small career.  At the most he may retire as a Captain or an Assistant Commissioner. This did not color her judgment. She accepted him with open eyes. They had talked frankly about his job. She had agreed that she was aware of all the drawbacks of public service. The separations, lack of permanent place, to live on account of frequent postings, a normal family existence, the long slow climb in matters of promotion in service, the need to be humble to superior’s wives- that none of the things would trouble her because they loved each other. Of course he knew they forget their commitments very soon. He had warned her that the climb would be hard. She had accepted it as a fact of life. She had lost any inclination to refuse him. In loving her, he too had come out of his hardness stiffness, his single-minded trend. He was eager to show tenderness humor consideration and understanding.

The search for a life-partner was called off  for both of them.

The choice was made. Both were meant for each other.

People said many things about  him.

No one could say that he was not handsome.

He was tall slender and graceful. 

He had a sort of an animal type of grace that attracted

the ladies despite their unwillingness to involve in any relationship.  He had a seductive youthfulness.   He was a flatterer.  He had the inborn quality to make out tales after tales

which the ladies liked to hear him narrate again and again.

He often wondered how people swallowed  his crap, and how he managed to escape himself unchallenged.  He simply had no idea.  It was luck or his instinct to make the right acquaintance at the right time, and make exit at the right time.  

His gestures were calculated with mathematical precision and his every smile wink handshake were well rehearsed.  He had the neck to find out the families who would be useful.

She felt deep pity for him.

She saw him as a helpless captive in the hands of  religion.

She also felt something else.  She could not explain.  It was an impulse but she experienced a physical need to touch him.  This urge was so strong that when she spoke to him,

She pat him on his hand or put her hand on his thigh etc.  Such innocent gestures very deeply kept him disturbed.

Something really tangible happened.   He had finished his routine work and was about to retire to his place.   She crossed the path and stood invitingly mocking.

She was absorbed in her game but at ease as she had seen  him completing his outdoor job and returning on break for rest and lunch.  She laid her hand on his shoulder dragging him near

as if she intended to reveal a secret. 

He  listened.  Both, thereafter, with their hands entangled, departed towards his room on the top of the mansion.  His hand came to rest on her shoulder.   It moved down her back.  She felt it went still deeper. She had a jittering of her body unknown to her.  It came with an intensity which she never knew it was possible.   It had lasted about a minute. It was total. It was so full and all-encompassing that it had an effect of an explosion she felt for all the time, she had lived and of all the years yet to be lived.

Now she was certain God existed.  Now she could die without regret.