AVANTHI
✨

I lightened the lamp in front of the small statue of Lord Shiva and Parvathi that he had placed in my house when he had come home after our marriage. Then I didn't believe in the almighty. I was angry with him. I had fought with him because he took away everything from me. I couldn't swallow the pain of losing a child but today if not completely but I know I have started to heal and he has given me the medicine I needed the most. He gave me back my Neil. I had to be friends with him now. So I lightened the lamp and thanked him wholeheartedly for the new beginnings.

I was shifting onto our house. Neil and my home so I decided to take him along with me to our home. Neil's men had already shifted all my belongings to his house except this statue. I preferred carrying him in my arms. Placing him in the prayer room, Neil performed a little Pooja and I wholeheartedly participated. Post the Pooja Neil helped me in unpacking a few of my left over stuff. Once done I decided to cook lunch, while Neil decided to reset our home, this time with my belongings.

I decided to make comfort yet traditional food for lunch. I decided to make Dalitoy(lentil soup), sheeta(rice), batatae songa(spicy potato curry), Gulla Phodi(green brinjal fritters), Madgane(Bengal gram and coconut milk sweet dish made out of jaggery) and Phanna Taaka(spiced up buttermilk) for lunch. I was almost done with everything and was doing my last minute garnishing for Madgane and stirring it is when I felt two arms snaking around my waist and I flinched at once when he whispered

'Relax!!! Just me!!!' and before I knew his hands sneaked into my tshirt, slowly squeezing my waist as his mouth found its way into my neck kissing and licking me. He was so good at his actions that I was losing my shit.

'I am done with setting up home, are you done cooking? Because baby...I'm hungry!!!' saying he bit my neck when I pushed him away but he chuckled and carried me via my waist only for me to the squeal like a bird. He switched off the gas and placed me on the kitchen platform when I bit my lower lip and looked at him. Passion and lust were visible in his eyes. I licked my lower lip only for him to grab me via my neck and my mouth opened at his sexy attempt when he shoved his tongue without any prior intimation into my mouth.

That was raw!!! Sexy!!! Hot!!!

His tongue roamed around my mouth, discovering every inch, nook and corner leaving me breathless. I couldn't handle it anymore as I bit my lower lip and whispered

'Fuck the lunch!!!' and next second I jumped onto his waist wrapping my arms around his neck when my legs wrapped around his buttocks. On the contrary his hands squeezed my buttocks. We kissed again discovering each other's hungry mouth only for the calling bell to ring and we had to stop.

Who the F is this now? Idiot!!!

✨

'Ummm Sir...the table you requested is here!!!' Karthik had tagged along with the movers and packers who had got study table to our house and I blushed recalling the same. When Neil simply asked Karthik if everything was okay because he looked off. He kept looking at me and then towards Neil but wasn't saying anything.

'Karthik...is everything alright? You want to say something?' Neil asked him but he looked hesitant.

'Karthik???' Neil asked him again when he spoke up

'Ummm Sir...can you please offboard me from the current hotel project please?' and we were shocked

'Karthik...you aren't like an associate. You head the HR team in my organization. What do you mean by offboard you? You do know the importance of your position right?' Neil asked him in a threatening tone and Karthik looked elsewhere. I felt bad for him.

'Neil...!!!' I called him when he looked at me and I blinked my eyes and he rolled his eyes.

'Please can we sit and talk?' I asked and Neil took a few minutes but eventually nodded.

Karthik and Neil both sat in the living room when I went inside to get them some juice. It was almost lunch time and coffee would hamper the hunger.

I made some fresh orange juice for both of them. As I stepped into the living room I heard Karthik say

'Because I need it Sir.'

'Karthik this is stupid. You want me to bring in a HR Director of your level for some time? You've got to be kidding me!!!'

'Sir plea-'

'But why? What is the matter? I have never seen anyone so gracefully give away their power and position. You know right you are building competition for your position!!!'

'I know Sir but this project needs personal attention and currently there is a lot in my bucket. I need some time off. I have to deal with a lot of things.' he said when Neil looked angry but was concerned for Karthik.

'Karthik I know you have took 2 weeks off recently. Sheena told me that you said it was unavoidable. I never questioned because you have always been the employee to take the least amount of leaves in the organisation. You are my precious resource and I wouldn't want you stepping down the position. I can bring in someone temporarily but I won't let you go. You can take some more time off Karthik!!! I approve' Neil said when Karthik's eyes went moist. He didn't look like himself. Something was bothering him. I wonder if it was related to the girl he brought home that day. Wahida!!!

But I couldn't cross my line so we simply let him go. After all everyone has their own ways to discover. Their own path to choose.

We had our lunch post which Neil had to attend a few emergency meetings to appoint a temporary director to support Karthik. I had decided to take a day off. Post lunch I went to bed and sleep acquired me.

When I woke up it was almost 6 in the evening and I noticed the sky had turned orange. Neil wasn't home but I noticed a big black box kept on the side table in our bedroom which said 'For you' and I opened the box to find a beautiful black sequin saree with a noddle strapped blouse. It also had a box of solitaire jewellery which consisted of a small diamond necklace, bangles, waist chain and earrings. I picked it up when a small note fell down that was in between the saree somewhere. I opened it and it read

I want this evening to be the most memorable of all the memorable moments we are going to create in this little home of ours.

Wear them and come to our private infinity pool area. Your Asmodeus is waiting to devour you!!!

P.S: I'm so hungry!!! Grrrr!!!

I chuckled reading the note. I quickly took a shower, sprinkled some of my favorite expensive perfume and wore the saree. Thankfully it was a readymade saree, I wore it easily. I applied some nude makeup and wore the jewellery he had got me. I let my hair open and wore my pointed heels and took a look at myself in the mirror. I smirked and slightly adjusted my saree skirt to make sure I look decent. The blouse was too flimsy being backless and deep in the cleavage making me extremely conscious but I did a small pep talk with myself and finally decided to meet him.

I slowly walked to the living room which was dark and lit up only with the emergency lights in the ceiling. I reached the door towards the infinity pool area and I opened the door only to gasp seeing the arrangements he had done. The entire pool was decorated with lights and candles. I couldn't stop laughing as I noticed the study table which was now placed near the pool with a table cloth and lots of food. There was a small note which I opened. It read

Beginning to make new memories from the beautiful memories of our past. We began it all at a party and then at a water resort. Today we have a private party and a pool as a reminscence of our beautiful times.

We also had our own painful and tough times. And trust me I know they weren't easy my love but tonight I want to make new memories so that we subside the pain of our past. Would you like to help me make new memories for us?

And my eyes filled with tears and a few drops of tears fell from my eyes as I whispered 'Yes I will!!! I will' and that's when I saw Neil standing on the other corner of the pool in an all black three piece suit looking extremely handsome but he also had tears in his eyes. I couldn't stop myself. I ran towards him and threw myself into his arms. He carried me in his arms lifting me via my waist as I hugged the life out of him.

'I know baby you never got a chance to cry your heart out for loosing our baby...and I know we cannot build something new without healing our past. Please cry it out my Swan!!! Give me your tears and let go off all your fears. I want us to start something new but not before we end what we lost...come on...let it go baby!!! Let it go' and I burst out crying so badly. He squeezed me tightly in his arms when I felt his tears as well on my shoulders. He was also crying silently.

I slowly got out of his hold when he placed me on the ground. I cupped his face and whispered

'You are strong but even strong men need to let out their pain. You have also lost your child Neil and I know you also feel the pain. Please cry it out. I know it hurts you too. Give me all your pain baby...Men also cry. Men are also weak. Men also have a heart!!! Go on' I said and he hugged me tightly as we both cried to our heart's content letting go off all our pain and fears tonight.

After crying our hearts out we both smiled at each other pressing our foreheads against each other.

'Feeling better?' he asked and I nodded. I wiped his wet cheeks too. Before I knew he carried me in bridal style and took me towards the dinner table. Placing me on the chair he lit up the candle infront of us and opened the champagne bottle and poured it into our flutes and raised a toast

'For our new beginnings!!!' and we both smiled and enjoyed the drink followed by a scrumptious dinner. Every item was delicious and lip smacking. Suddenly there was a cold breeze and almost every candle blew off and now there were only the fairy lights everywhere. In the dimly lit night he looked even more handsome and sexy. After dinner he slowly asked me for my hand and I rolled my eyes saying 'Dance??? That's so cliche!!!' I said when he narrowed his eyebrows saying

'Ummmm...Not really...I told you we are building memories...so...let's begin from where we started!!!' he said and I narrowed my eyebrows when he took me to the pool area. I was confused when removed his coat and threw it on the lazy chair nearby. He undid his cufflinks and loosened up his tie. Folding his pants a little he sat on the edge of the pool. He slowly slid his foot in the pool as he sat there with the bottle of champagne.

'Have a seat Avanthi!!!' he said and I smiled and slowly sat next to him. Although I was hesitant to put my feet into the water.

'Go on!!!' he insisted but I was hesitant

'The water might be cold!!!' I whispered when he slowly slid his hand into my waist and pulled me closer to him.

'Dont worry!!! By the end of the night... Temperatures will rise so much that I don't think even the infinity pool would help!!!' he whispered hotly and as he bit left my earlobe leaving me so shocked that automatically my legs fell into the pool. I was about to loose balance and fall into it but his tight grip on my waist didn't let me fall. I gulped nervously when he slowly pushed my carelessly flying traitor hair behind my ear and my lips parted.

He smirked as I gulped nervously wondering what next.

He smiled naughtily saying 'Lets have some fun!!!' and just when I wondered what he simply emptied the champagne into the pool post which he placed the bottle in between us. He smiled saying

'We begin again!!! This time...it's just you and me!!!' he whispered and I narrowed my eyebrows when he said

'Truth or Dare!!!' and I smiled and rolled my eyes saying

'Its just two of us!!!' and he smiled saying

'Hmmm that's why it's going to be fun!!! Too much fun' saying he slowly bent towards me and brushed his index finger on my lips and slowly trailed it to my jaws saying

'Which means...we can ask the other person.. anything...or maybe

DO ANYTHING!!!' and his finger trailed and stopped just above my cleavage making my breath hitch.

He smirked saying 'Relax Mrs Nayak...We have just begun...

This time
...
.
.
.
No Running Away From The Asmodeus!!!

Hmmm???' he asked and I gulped.

Looks like it is going to be long night.