‘Simply follow me,’ she led him to her room.
‘Won’t that be,’ he followed her smiling, ‘my lifelong occupation?’
When Roopa heard their steps, rather instinctively she kept her inquisitive gaze door-wards. In time when their eyes met, her gaze was frozen and he stopped in his tracks. As Sandhya was about to initiate introductions, her mother called her again. Hurried by her mother, she left her fiancé and her mate to fend for themselves.
As though guided by her charms, Raja Rao found himself walking up to Roopa without taking his eyes off her. But she stood rooted and fixed her gaze at him as if the slightest tilt on her part might distract his path of attraction. As he came near her, she insensibly extended her hand as though to ensure he wouldn’t trip in his trance. While he took her hand, as if to hold on to the summit of his life, energized by her dormant desire, she found herself pressing it in all eagerness. As they held their hands thus, their eyes were locked, conveying to each other the convulsions of their souls. Lost as they were in their enamored state, they had no words for each other but heaving a sigh on hearing Sandhya’s approaching steps, as though to alert him, she pulled out her hand and wrenched her look. As if cut off from the life force itself, his heart was seized and his hand dropped.
‘This is my treasure,’ said Sandhya to him, patting her friend while she herself panted. ‘Roopa is her name.’
‘Anyway you look at it,’ he said extending his hand to Roopa all again, ‘it’s a privilege to possess.’
‘Why hesitate, take it,’ said Sandhya to a hesitant Roopa, ‘to cement our friendship.’
Roopa didn’t need any further persuasion to recapture the thrill of the past moment.
‘If you’re my better half,’ said Sandhya to her beau, lacing Roopa, ‘she is my other half.’
‘Won’t that still leave,’ he said meaningfully, ‘two halves to be reckoned with?’
‘Be her friendly half,’ said Sandhya warmly to him, ‘besides being our philosopher and guide.’
‘It’s my pleasure,’ he said to Sandhya even as he tightened his grip on Roopa’s hand, ‘to do your bidding.’
‘It’s my privilege,’ said Roopa dreamily, ‘to be part of you.’
In time, called by Kamalakar, they went down, the sprightly bride leading and the enamored souls falling behind.
‘Isn’t it tough grappling with our coastal humidity?’ Kamalakar greeted Raja Rao.
‘Short of altering the climate, sir,’ said Raja Rao warmly. ‘You’ve spared nothing to make us comfortable. Thanks a lot.’