The doctor's arrival was enough to break the duo from their trans.
Koeli accompanied the doctor to Vandita's room.
Awnirudh helped Vandita lay down gently with utmost care and pulled a chair for the doctor before standing up and positioning himself beside her bedpost.
"Vandita bahu, what did you eat in the morning?" the doctor asked politely.
Vandita, however, lowered her eyes and quietly nod her head to her either sides.
"Actually, today is Shasti Puja, doctor babu." Koeli quickly pitched in.
"Oh, I see..." The doctor replied before checking Vandita's pulse rate.
"The unconsciousness was due to extreme fatigue and fasting Barrister babu. It seems she has fever as well", he remarked, and it made Awnirudh gape, and then frowned in confusion.
The doctor opened his bag.
"I'll give her some medicine. She needs to have them with a glass a warm milk aided with ample rest and care."
"Fasting? Fatigue? Vandita is fasting?" Awnirudh regained his self, and glared at Koeli spitting the question in a rage.
"Actually Barrister babu, it's not Koeli didi's fault. I had to fast as today is Shasti. I have been doing this every year since our marriage." Vandita explained slowly gathering her strength.
"But Vandita, Shona,... why did you have to fast? Who asked you to do this?" Awnirudh asked gently.
The doctor handed over the medicine mediating in the conversation.
"Awnirudh Babu, Shasti Puja is a very common ritual observed by every upper class Bengali married women 6 times in a year", he paused. "You have been in London for quite a long duration to have remembered this. Your late mother used to do Shasti Puja quite elaborately in this Haweli as I recall." He chuckled fondly remembering old memories.
"It's done for the wellbeing of the husband and the children." Koeli added fearfully.
"Koeli I know what a Shasti Puja is for goodness sake", Awnirudh had snapped, "but why is Vandita fasting? She is not even..." Awnirudh suddenly stopped mid-sentence. Looking at Vandita's face he couldn't mutter the courage to complete his sentence.
The eventful afternoon was followed by a windy evening. Vandita lay in her bed all day long and Awnirudh sat beside her reading her stories from the Aesop's fables.
This has always been their little custom. Whenever one would fall sick, the other would read stories from the Panchatantra or the Aesop's fables. Once Awnirudh had asked Vandita to read from The Ramayana after which Vandita had gleefully remarked that like Sita, she too would love to jump into a pyre for him! Needless to say, since then Awnirudh hadn't dared to ask her read anything else beyond moral stories.
That particular evening, Vandita had been unexpectedly quiet. It was odd for Awnirudh to witness her without her usual questions and queries.
Evening turned to night and Koeli served them dinner and made their bed in their respective rooms, before leaving for the local nightlong village Shasti Puja function. Awnirudh's Father, his uncle and brothers were in Siliguri for a business cum leisure trip. And it was only these two who had remained in the entire Haweli.. Awnirudh and his ailing Vandita.
Awnirudh fed her a few morsels of food before tucking her in bed.
"Vandita take this glass of milk and drink at once", Anirudh had demanded lovingly.
"Once you have these medicines you will start chirping in the morning."
He had pinched her nose playfully in desparate attempts to reduce the intensity of the suppressed sensuous tension that had prevailed between the two since their encounter in his room the day before. Vandita had almost touched him intimately, almost brushing her hands over his chest, pounding with desire and the proximity of her closeness. He had felt his body shiver, his soul quiver under her touch.
What was happening to him?
What was she doing to him?
Was it just her curiosity?
Or is there a possibility of...
Thousands of questions had cluttered his mind when Awnirudh had seized Vandita's advances by grabbing her hand firmly.
And, it was at that moment when she had confessed her desires for him...
She, very innocently, had mentioned how his closeness, his thoughts, arouses deep longing desires in her, drenching her body with the nectar of feminity. And, Awnirudh had just stood there, helpless, confused and concerned, listening to her words.
It was he, whose calmness had probably preached her the way to love that night, while he practiced self restraint, binding his heart and mind together.
Vandita was his responsibility, a sweet cherished responsibility... But, what he had felt the night before was way more than that... It was the warmth of a lover's heart, it was the desire of a longing soul that Vandita's presence had ignited in him, and this new definition of their platonic relationship was scaring him to death.
'Here... Take this glass and swallow the tablets.'
He picked up a glass of water from the table and handed it to her.
Vandita looked up at his words, there was something unsaid in her eyes, an unspoken plea, that Awnirudh had noticed, but had failed to read. With quivering hands she had taken the glass and took a sip to swallow the medicines.
But, it was then the mishap had happened. Her trembling hands had managed to spill water on her chest, drenching her saree enough to make her bare skin visible.
Her breasts weren't big, but they were big and firm enough to highlight her blooming feminity. Awnirudh had gulped nervously at the sight. His eyes had unwilling trailed down to her covered breasts, now transparent under the cloth, as his senses were taken aback by the abruptness of the situation.
His heart had given away his restraints, making him acutely aware of the power of her presence in his life.
Her red puffy lips, her white creamy skin, the dewy water droplets on her shoulder, the outline of the light brown circle on her breast, her rugged breath, the darkness of the room, the flicking flame of the candle, the maddening weather outside... everything had conjured up an eccentric concoction together to defeat him against his better judgement that night.
Awnirudh had gulped once again. Somehow fumbling with the comforter, as he gestured Vandita to slip inside in her bed.
'Now sleep tight my little Vandita, sweet dreams', he had hushed, his words sounding vague to his own ears. His Vandita wasn't little anymore and her alluring feminity had managed to raise a havoc in his heart.
'Won't you kiss me goodnight Barrister Babu?' Vandita had murmured making Awnirudh smile nervously.
He had leaned forward, kissing her forehead gently, but only to realise that she is burning up!
'Vandita!! You're burning up... But, you just said you're feeling better.'
'I was... When you were looking at me... like that...'
Awnirudh couldn't fathom an answer for the first few minutes... her words were a little difficult for his mind to register and comprehend. It was so easy for her to acknowledge and accept what he had been fighting so hard to subdue.
'Barrister Babu...' Vandita had called him, her trembling hands grabbing his right hand feebly. She brought his hand to her cheek and made him touch her flushed skin.
'How is the fever?'
The touch had instantly made Awnirudh retract his hands.
'You... It's... It's hot.' Awnirudh had fumbled.
Vandita had let out a sigh as her eyes turned away from him.
'True, I'm no better than a stove, I burn you... And, that's why you are always away from me,' her eyes reflected the sadness she bore in her heart.
'Vandita... Shona... It's... It's not that.' Awnirudh had sensed the sorrow and had forced a smile on his face.
'Im just concerned about your health... The fever isn't going down... I might have to telegram the doctor once...'
'I know how it would go down.' Vandita murmured without letting him complete.
'You need to love me Barrister Babu.'
Awnirudh felt a sudden twitch in his heart.
'Who said I don't?'
'So you do? You really do?'
Vandita tried to get up from her bed as he made her lay down once again, pulling the blanket to cover her body.
Under normal circumstances, it would probably have struck him to get her changed into dry clothes first, but, that night was different... And he dared not to say or do anything to jeopardize his self control.
'I do Vandita... A lot... And now I want you to try to sleep and get better soon.'
Vandita just sighed.
Awnirudh had been able to feel her shivering underneath the blanket. But, his mind was busy elsewhere, fighting the battle between the rights and the wrongs.
He had taken a deep sigh and dimmed the oil lamp kept on the bedside table.
The room had darkened instantly, with only shadows of two unearthly bodies looming in the dark.
And suddenly, both of them were startled to their core by an earth shattering lightening, followed by a loud thunder. Vandita had quivered in her bed and pressed her ears with her palms.
Awnirudh had rushed and quickly bolted the windows tight before standing infront of Bondita again.
"Vandita... don't worry I'll stay with you tonight. I won't leave you."
'Shotti?'
Vandita swallowed hard.
'Shotti!'
Promises in Awnirudh Roy Chowdhury's world wasn't meant to be broken... may it be the promise to take Vandita's responsibility or be with her through thick and thin.
And, hence, as promised, Awnirudh had sat in a chair beside Vandita's bed. He had expected her to fall asleep fast, but the thunderstorm outside was too loud to keep anyone in bed for long.
Besides, Vandita was shivering.
'I... I'm very cold.' her voice was feeble and quivering.
'Im here Shona... Right here.'
Anirudh had hushed back.
After a lot of self battle, Awnirudh had finally decided to shed his inhibitions and lay beside Vandita to soothe her with his warmth.
He had already changed into his white cotton nightshirt before tucking Vandita in.
"Vandita... Are you awake?" He had whispered as he climbed on to her soft bed. It was the first time in last three years, after she got her first bleeds, that he had stopped lying with her in the same bed. They both sleep separately now, but, in his heart he had always known how she misses him.
Awnirudh had got inside her cosy comforter before touching her forehead once again.
'Are you too cold?'
Vandita didn't speak. Instead, she had uttered a nodding sound and continued to shiver.
Another thunder roared the sky... followed by another one...
And, it was then it suddenly happened... the alluring enticement taking over their mind, body and soul!!
Vandita had suddenly turned to face Awnirudh, inching dangerously close to him.
He could feel her shivering shoulders, shaking convulsively, as her heaved bosom touched his chest... Her saree was dampened, and her warm skin had brushed against his body. She had clasped his shirt with all her might and had dugged her face in his neck.
Vandita was shaking vehemently... In cold and in need...the need of his warmth!
Awnirudh couldn't think anymore. In a daze, he had wrapped his arms across her waist and pulled her even closer, eliminating every gap in between them.
Her warm breath had fallen on Awnirudh's neck and a known feeling of sensuous desires overpowered him. His muscles stiffened as he ran his hand instinctively along Vandita's back, caressing her spine, making her arch for more.
She was draped in a soft cotton saree, only a saree!
Before realising anything else, Awnirudh had felt Vandita's cold hands on his warm chest. With quivering hands, she had touched his chest as if to search for that much needed warmth, which he and only he could provide.
Awnirudh too, was overwhelmed from battling his emotions. And at that moment, all he could feel was the tantalizing fragrance coming from her long dark tresses and her soft hand on his chest.
Vandita had moved her head buried in his neck, a little.
Awnirudh had quivered.. He had suddenly realised that Vandita's hot breath on his neck was replaced by her soft lips. The thought and the sensation of her lips touching him had made his heart skip a beat.
He could feel Vandita slowly planting soft kisses on his neck and he closed his eyes and gripped Vandita's saree tight to savour the moment. Her wet lips were leaving love marks on his chest now!
It was too much for Awnirudh to bear. In a quick moment, he had drawn Vandita even closer making their legs intertwined with each others. He had touched her chin in order to pull her face close to his lips.
Vandita, suddenly had looked breathtaking...
She was breathing rapidly, her eyes closed and her red lips parted a little inviting him to leave his mark on her too. The sensation was overpowering!
Awnirudh couldn't control his emotions any longer. In a swift moment, he had touched Vandita's eyes one by one with his lips, planting soft kisses on them before moving down to her lips...
There was just an inch gap between the two quivering lips willingly ready to be united. Awnirudh had squeezed Vandita's waist making her gasp a little and part her lips a little more so as to fit his lips in the hers perfectly...
His hands had moved further down, grabbed the softness of her buttocks as Vandita curled her toes in the first ecstasy of submission.
'Vandita...' Awnirudh had hushed seductively as Vandita managed to let out a soft inexperienced moan.
The intimacy of their closeness was epitomized by their thudding heartbeats, and synced breathing.
'I... I... lo...'
A jolt of blinding light had filled the room with a sudden potency, followed by a loud sky-tearing sound.
Awnirudh couldn't complete his words. He had opened his eyes wide only to realise the vulnerability of the situation. He had quickly moved a little away from Vandita carefully not to break away from her embrace. And instead, he had kissed her forehead and patted her head slowly.
"Try to sleep Vandita... It will be light soon. I'm here, don't worry. I won't go."
Awnirudh had slowly pulled away from a sleeping Vandita after a while. He had gotten out of the blanket and had sat up on the bed contemplating his actions.
Clutching his forehead with both his hands he had made an inaudible grunting noise.
"What was I about to do! Oh dear god." Awnirudh had clenched his teeth, and fist, as he got up from the bed.
He turned one last time to look at Vandita's sleeping face... Calm and angelic.
"What the hell was I about to do!"
He had closed his eyes and let out a deep sigh. And, it was then he decided that the best for her would be to stay away from him, for the time being, to save both of them from such unethical accidents in future.
'Dehradun!' he had thought.