The night was undisturbed... Quiet, tranquil and serene. The dark night sky was lit up by a bright moon and thousands of flickering stars. Occasionally, an unknown bird would sing, tearing away the silence of the night and it's voice would echo through the wind for a long time.
Both Anirudh and Bondita felt overwhelmed at the surreal tranquility that surrounded them. They both closed their eyes to inhale the freshness of the mountain air. Bondita was lost in her dreams before Anirudh spoke again.

"I read your letters Bondita. You have quite a flair for writing. So tell me, do you write for yourself?"

Bondita nodded in agreement.

"Wonderful! So when are you showing me your work Bondita?" Excitement was evident in Anirudh's voice.

"Same time, when you would show me your research paper." Bondita spoke slowly and smirked.

"Research paper? But I .... " Anirudh looked slightly demented.

"Well... Barrister Babu", Bondita finished her glass and kept it on the table. " Your research on classification of kisses, defining their origin and purpose. Remember?" Bondita asked with a straight face.

Anirudh noticed the mischievous grin on her face and laughed out loud. But, in his heart he felt a sharp ache.

"Bondita, I owe you an apology. What I had said that day infront of everyone, the way I said it... I'm sorry Bondita." Anirudh paused.

Bondita was quiet. She leaned back on her chair and stared blankly at the sky.
The air was filled with a sudden sense of melancholy.

Anirudh broke the silence again. He refilled their glasses and looked at Bondita, a sign of mischief painted all over his face.

"Now that you are so interested in reading my research paper Bondita, which I don't have, would you be interested in a practical demonstration perhaps?" Anirudh asked with a smirk.

Bondita's ears turned red instantly.
She felt hundreds of butterfly flittering inside her.
"No thank you Barrister Anirudh Roy Chowdhury. I'll pass." She replied with a fake courtesy. "Thank you for the offer though. However, I have my own means of learning you see..." It was her turn to tease him now.

"Ahaa... Your own means!! Sounds interesting." Anirudh said with a tone of psudo suspicion.

"Also, I think my friend Kshitija might be more interested in being your lab rat." She smiled flirtatiously.

"Kshitija? But I thought she is engaged." He remarked. "And that reminds me who was that young lad you were speaking to? The one in red coat."

"That's your lab rat's twin brother." Bondita laughed.

"I see... Who wears a red coat I wonder." Anirudh tried to make a point.

"Why? The Oueen's guards!" Bondita promptly replied and they both burst out into a roll of laughter at the proximity of the joke . An easy air of comfort surrounded them as they exchanged a glance.
Suddenly, it started to drizzle and Bondita stood up and walked to the railing of the terrace with her glass in hand. Anirudh followed.

"He should be away from my Queen." Anirudh spoke in a throaty voice as he stood dangerously close to Bondita almost spooning her. He could feel Bondita's hair fluttering in the gentle breeze as it touched his face. His chest almost touched her back. He held the railing with both hands captivating Bondita in his subtle embrace.

"Your Queen? Interesting." Bondita spoke in a low shaky voice. "And who might that be?"

The night was potent with an aura of romance surrounding these two souls. They felt the same heartbeat, they breathed the same air. But the hardest part was the surrender!

Anirudh brought his mouth near her ears and softly uttered the words.
"You."

Bondita felt a familiar jolt of electricity running through her spine. She could feel Anirudh's warm breath searing her wet cold ears.
Anirudh planted a soft kiss on her left earlobe sending shivers all over her body. Encouraged by her reaction, he started to suckle her earlobe with a smooth roll of his tongue.
Bondita moaned out loud.
Her senses were overpowered by the deep sensation that Anirudh's tongue was causing her. She clutched the railing tightly as she felt Anirudh's leg pressed firmly against hers.

"Barrister Babu... " She gasped.

Anirudh slowly turned her around. He saw her face flushed. Her eyes were closed as the raindrops were falling gently on her angelic face. He could feel her body trembling in excitement.
He touched her right thigh gently, brushing his hands upwards, touching her waist to the base of her soft round moulds.
Bondita exhaled deeply. She was relishing his touch.
She tried to utter a word but was stopped by a gentle touch of Anirudh's fingertips.

"Shhhh... Don't talk." He commanded in a husky seductive voice sending another round of electricity down her spine.
His fingers started caressing her lips gently before he leaned forward to steal a kiss from her.
Bondita's lips were pressed together. Anirudh planted a soft kiss on them and waited for them to part. Sensing a delay, he gently moved down a little and pecked her neck. Bondita moaned as Anirudh felt her muscles stiffening in a brewing ecstasy.
Anirudh started sucking the rainwater from her neck with a renewed vigour. He ran his tongue along the vein of her throat and reached the hem of her blouse.
Bondita was feeling dizzy from the combined exhilarating effect of Anirudh's touch and the alcohol. Her knees weakened as she clutched his shirt and submitted to his embrace. She dug her nose in his chest and inhaled his scent.
'Ahh.. I missed this..!' she thought in a daze.
Anirudh gently pulled her under a shade as the intensity of the rain increased.

A pearly water drop dripped from the tip of Bondita's sharp nose as Anirudh's lips touched it. His hand travelled and caressed at the back of her neck before grabbing her hair firmly. Bondita arched her back.
Aided by two glasses of champagne and an overpowering ecstasy, Bondita, in an instance, ripped the first three buttons of Anirudh's shirt, digging at his flesh with her nails in the process.
Anirudh was baffled and bewitched at the wild vehemence of the situation. He stopped. He was not prepared for something like this.
He has awakened his tigress!
Anirudh smirked and caught hold of Bondita's hand to kiss her fingers.
"Tigress... You are mine!! My wife..." He spoke with a gentle firmness.

And even in this moment of ultimate ecstasy, his words were good enough to bring Bondita back to her senses. With a vigorous force, he pushed Anirudh away.

"Your wife?" Her tone changed.
"Last time I checked, you had rejected me as your wife... Barrister Babu, you had ridiculed me infront of everyone. I have never lied in my life, and you very skillfully had projected me to be one." Bondita voice was cracking. It was just a matter of seconds before she would break down into tears.

"Bondita I... ", Anirudh was searching for the right words.

"I what Barrister Babu?" Bondita cried.
"I don't want to be close to you as tomorrow morning, again, you would make me feel like a fool infront of everyone." Bondita turned back and started walking away from Anirudh. The raindrops were pouring heavily by now and had drenched Bondita completely. Anirudh stepped out of the shade as well.

"Bondita... Stop. I would never do anything like that to you. I won't deny us ever again." Anirudh, too was drenched in emotions and rain.

"Barrister Babu", Bondita shouted with her voice getting muffled by the rain.
"You refused to be my husband... Tonight, I refuse you as my husband!" Bondita was crying inconsolably.

Anirudh heard her words, but didn't feel them. He could only see tears flowing down her large eyes. He couldn't take it anymore. In an instance, he ran towards Bondita and scooped her in his arms. Moving her swiftly back to the shade, he pressed her arms against the wall.

"Never.. again.. shed your tears Bondita. Never ever!" He looked straight into her eyes with an intense fervour before pressing his lips hungrily against hers.

............................
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