London, August 2016
This thick smell that pervaded their 'us' time in those two weeks, had not escaped Pari. Her womanhood was wearing away her naivety. She was slowly realising, as only a woman realises, her power to control. This realisation had been a sudden one, taking Pari by surprise.
She started noticing that Ashok was noticing her. She was learning to create her aura. Her wet hair plastered on her forehead after a shower, the soft sound of her anklet, which she had got from home, the low-cut, body hugging kameez that she wore, things that would probably be usual, were sending different signals now.
Initially it had confused her but then she started enjoying, the way power is enjoyed. She started holding his gaze, while saying something. Lightly touching his hand, when she was giving him something. She would also keep the door of the children's room slightly ajar, when she realised Ashok would cross it, more than usual, on his way to the toilet.
