25
Arjun’s story took me back to my own tryst with love. My love story was so intertwined with Arjun’s that it was impossible to separate the two. My love story had started and ended with the case itself. It had its moments of romance however; and it had its own moments of flirting as well. One such incident I remember a lot.
Susan and I were getting close to each other. We were spending a lot of time on the case and off the case with each other. What had started out as a professional relationship and a ‘touch me not’ attitude from her had surpassed to enjoying each other’s company. Quite often we had physically touched each other and felt comfortable about it, although most of the touch was accidental. I had started liking her since the first time I had seen her in Dubai and my feelings had only increased with time as we worked together. A lot of emotions in my heart had arisen but I wasn’t sure about her feelings. A woman never expresses her feelings openly especially at the beginning of the relationship; she likes to keep a suspense over matters. We had started to flirt a lot, only when we were not on the case and I realized behind her strong aggressive detective personality was a normal woman who yearned for love and care. I was only ready to give her that.
I was getting attracted to her more and more every day, emotionally and physically. May be I was falling in love and I didn’t know at times how to react. This was the first time in my busy life that I felt so strongly about someone and I liked the feeling. I used to wait to reach office every morning and see her and always wanted to stay late at work. Work had never been so interesting!!
The investigation had gathered steam and we were quite busy with the case. Most of the days were very hectic and tiring. One such day had just ended, and we bid good bye at work. It was very hectic as we went around the Mumbai city interrogating various people in connection with the case.
After one such hectic day at work and not much progress on the case, I reached home and had just taken my shower. It was also the day when I had been given my first mobile phone. Susan had carried one from Dubai.
After my shower, I checked my phone and was surprised to see a message waiting on my phone from Susan. We had one of the most romantic and naughty chats that day, and it will only be fair if I reproduce it exactly the way it happened.
“Am home, so tired Rahul,” said Susan.
“May be you need a nice massage, get ready for a shoulder rub,” I said in a fresh and naughty mood.
“I wish you were here for a naughty massage,” she was sending a hint to me that she was in a naughty mood as well and I was always charged in any case to get naughty with her. I remember telling her once never to stop being naughty with her and she had agreed.
“Let’s have wine first,” I said.
“Put it in the fridge, will first have my shower and then sit for long, sipping with you.”
“I can help if you want,” I offered.
“Hmmmm, fill the bathtub like with warm hugs and soap it with tenderness.”
“Mmmmm,” I replied
“And I shall be on Cloud Nine!”
“And where shall I be?” I asked enthusiastically.
“Simply looking at me while singing in Hindi.”
“Looking at you in the bathtub! Hmmm that’s motivating. I will sing for sure!”
“Haha, you creep.”
“How about I replace the hugs with real ones,” how I wished do that in the bathtub with her.
“You can after I relax so I can pamper you.”
“And I can make you sip the wine after I taste it.”
“Wow, that sounds quite motivating to me now. Come here Rahul. You are the smartest little Indian I have ever seen.”
“Haha, Little?” I enquired.
“Yeah little but with big heart and brains.”
“Well, there are other big things that you have not seen yet.”
“Really, how big?”
“Well size doesn’t matter; it’s how you use it. I mean I am talking about my brains.”
“Lol, of course,” she replied and I could visualize her laughing on that one.
“I liked what you were wearing today.”
“Thanks.”
“Loved more what was in the dress.”
“LoL, you are getting naughty Mr Detective!”
“I meant your heart.”
“I know what you mean you naughty man.”
“Feel like kissing you right now Susan,” I wished and said it gathering a lot of confidence which I don’t know from where it came. I waited anxiously for her reaction.
“Close your eyes and imagine yourself sitting on the sofa next to me.”
“And?”
“Detach your lips.”
“And?”
“Water it a bit with your tongue.”
“Hmmmm, And?” I was enjoying this boldness from her. She was being like this for the first time.
“Then feel my breath drying your lips up.”
“Feel your breath so close to me. And?”
“Feel my lower lip touching your upper lip.”
“Hmmmm!”
“Gently kissing you.”
“Can feel your lips babe.” I just called her babe, what was happening here.
“While smiling in and out.”
“I hold your face close to mine.”
“Now open your eyes and kiss me madly and let both our eyes close unintentionally.”
“I kiss you, deep and long.” My dream was coming true, at least in the chat.
“I am smiling Rahul.”
“I want to feel your tongue Susan,” now I was going mad with desire.
“Lingering on all edges of your mouth. Then slowly finding its way in and touching the tip of your tongue.”
“Can I do something which I always thought of doing Susan?”
“What is it?”
“Touch you,” I admitted.
“I am laughing now,” and I could imagine her laughing. May be I was being stupid now.
“Don’t laugh, kiss me more,” I demanded and she obliged.
“Biting your lower lip now.”
“I open my lips and bite your lip too gently.”
“And on the bite my eyes opened to melt into yours.”
“As my hands slowly move towards your body to caress it as we kiss deep.”
“And awaken butterflies in stomachs that were long asleep. It feels so real Rahul.”
“It does.”
“Why so? As if it has happened before and I am visualizing it,” said Susan.
“May be because we both have had the secret desire to do it.”
“I hold your chin up and kiss you softly.”
“And I continue to caress your body.”
“I surrender myself completely between your hands.”
“I love your surrender.”
“Rahul, I am not in control of myself, I better sleep now for else I don’t know what will happen.” All of a sudden Susan said. Women can be so unpredictable. I had intended to take this chat till the logical end, but alas.
“Are you sure Susan?” I hoped for her to say no.
“Yes, I want to dream about you tonight, in details, micro details.”
“Don’t stop me in your dreams.”
“I won’t Rahul. Promise. Do what you want.”
We bid each other good night and went off to sleep. It ended with the same suddenness that it had started with.
It’s funny how being away from each other, we could be so close to each other and we could actually state our emotions without being embarrassed about it. I am sure if we were in front of each other, not a single thing discussed above would have come out of our hearts. There was a fondness which we were developing for each other and we both knew that something was happening, but we were professionals enough not to discuss it. The case was more important.
The first step had been taken. We had inadvertently discussed our emotions and I couldn’t wait for the real kiss to happen, my lips had always been attracted to hers and wanted to hug them tight and long. I wished in my heart that the day would not be far now.
I would wait for that day.