Romance My experience with love [Completed]

[avsji]

****

Rachna and I continued to meet more often, in different settings. Sometimes we met at her home, sometimes at my home, and other times outside for movies or dining. While I could notice that Rachna was seemingly closer to us, but I could not say the same for myself. I felt that Neelu was a bit aloof in my presence. Rachna said that she was experiencing changing hormones and perhaps that was why she was behaving in that manner. It was possible. But I wanted to be closer to her… if I were to be her Daddy, then I needed to be her daddy.

So, at one such occasion, I asked Rachna to let Neelu come out only with me for a little daddy-daughter time. Rachna hesitated but agreed when I insisted that I needed to do this. We went to a beautiful, open-air restaurant, where they had a huge selection of food that kids could eat. After some initial hesitation, Neelu chose to have cola and pizza. She seemed a bit more relaxed in my company.

“Are you going to marry mummy?” she asked, as her mouth was stuffed with pizza, and a long rope of cheese still connected her lips to the pizza slice.

“Well, I want to marry her, honey. We would be husband and wife… and you would be my daughter. Do you think it would be nice?”

I had gained enough experience to know that if you let young women express their opinions, they can open to you fast.

“I think it is good. Mummy likes you… I like you.” She reddened as she said the last bit.

“Well, thank you, honey!”

“Mummy is very sweet when she is with you… she has been angry for a very long time.”

I waited. Neelu chewed her pizza and gulped down it with some soda and continued,

“Daddy and Mummy used to have so many quarrels. Each day… not a single day went without them arguing over something or the other…”

I nodded.

“Then at night, they would become friends again…”

“Interesting.”

“Yeah. Daddy and Mummy ‘connected’.”

“Connected?”

“Yes,” she shared conspiringly, “he would slide his penis inside her each night.”

‘Oh God!’ I thought, ‘This girl has taken after her mother. She also watched her parents having sex.’

“It is okay honey… that’s what husbands and wives do with each other.”

“Would you also do that to mummy?”

“Indeed, I will.” I was not comfortable talking about it to her.

“Every night?”

“Every night.” I promised.

“Good. She seems to like it.”

“Neelu… honey… are you okay with us getting married?”

“Yes! Why won’t I be okay?”

“I don’t know… perhaps you might not like me taking place of your daddy?”

“Oh, I think you will be better than him. He used to unnecessarily scold me and beat me all the time. I think he hated me.”

“Oh, you do not say.”

“No. He really hated me. He wanted a boy. But he got me instead.”

“He did not even want me in school… I was one reason why they always fought.”

She had another mouthful of soda. I waited.

“Mummy had it enough when one day he stripped me naked and stood me outside the house.”

“What?” what kind of father that man was!

“Yes. It was broad daylight and many people saw me like that.”

I did not push her to tell more.

“Come home sometime, Neelu. Stay over. Meet Abha. Meet Latika. I hope you like each other. We must like each other if we must become one big happy family.”

I smiled. Neelu too smiled, nodding.

****

 

[Mass]

Good to know avsji that you have successfully recovered from Corona...however, you still need to be careful and not let your guard down.
Stay safe and stay well and healthy.
Also, good to know that you recovered sufficiently to post the updates of the story which is truly appreciated.
Take care and stay safe and yes, post the next updates of the story as and when you find time .... Thanks.

 

[avsji]

Good to know avsji that you have successfully recovered from Corona...however, you still need to be careful and not let your guard down.
Stay safe and stay well and healthy.
Also, good to know that you recovered sufficiently to post the updates of the story which is truly appreciated.
Take care and stay safe and yes, post the next updates of the story as and when you find time .... Thanks.

Thank you so much for your kind words
I am taking all precautions.. and focusing on getting back in shape. Please enjoy the updates.

 

[Ashurocket]

Dear avsji welcome back. What a return. Loving it.

Please take good care of yourself.

A little suggestion - if possible, please scratch less for next few weeks. You know what I mean.

All the updates were very good. Amar is now slowly warming up to the idea of marrying Rachna. The end of update is kind of suspense about past life and bitter experience of Neelu.

It'll be nice to see, how Neelu will respond while joining with Latika and Abha.

Ashu

 

[avsji]

Dear avsji welcome back. What a return. Loving it.

Please take good care of yourself.

A little suggestion - if possible, please scratch less for next few weeks. You know what I mean.

All the updates were very good. Amar is now slowly warming up to the idea of marrying Rachna. The end of update is kind of suspense about past life and bitter experience of Neelu.

It'll be nice to see, how Neelu will respond while joining with Latika and Abha.

Ashu

Thank you Ashu bhai. No scratching anyone or anything! Ha ha!
Please continue to enjoy the story. More is coming soon.

 

[avsji]

****

On my invitation, Rachna and Neelu came over to stay with us for the weekend. I was excited to have her an experience of this home. I also planned to tell Rachna about everything. I planned not to keep any secrets. I was growing more in confidence that Rachna and I had found each other and could advance our relationship to its logical next step.

I welcomed them myself. Kajal got busy with arranging for food and drinks. But Rachna and I were hot with anticipation. Even though we both were in our early thirties, our desires seemed to have peaked. We both wanted lot of sex. It was good that we enjoyed it with each other. As soon as Neelu joined Abha and Latika in other room, I pulled Rachna in a tight embrace. Even our embrace was passionate, and we could feel each other’s body heat. Rachna initiated the kiss: with her lips, she parted my lips and licked the insides of my lips. I just loved it. I savored our kiss. I brought her closer to me: the feeling of her breasts pressed against my chest roused me.

Even in that tight embrace, I managed to slide my hands in between us, and started to unbutton her blouse.

Breaking our kiss, she whispered, “Are we not going to the room?”

“I will die if I wait till then.”

She laughed, “Good… I am already wet for you.”

“And I am hard for you.”

“Aaahh… I feel it... I feel your mighty member.” Rachna whispered breathing heavily.

She hugged me closer. As my penis hardened against her crotch, it pushed her panties inside her ridge. By that time, I had removed her blouse. Her bra was undone just a couple of seconds later. I quickly removed my shirt, so that I could feel more of her skin and body heat.

“Mr. Singh,” she said, when she found me ogling her breasts hopefully, “inme doodh kab aayega (when will they be full of milk)?”

“Soon, my darling, soon.”

Rachna brought her hands to my pants.

“This is too wild…” she said unzipping my pants.

“What is?”

“To have sex in so much open!”

“Don’t worry… kids are in their rooms, and no one will disturb us here.”

“In some ways, I don’t even worry about it.” She said sliding down my underwear, “Being ploughed by you is an amazing feeling!”

She said as she held my penis and squeezed it. A healthy sized precum formed at the tip.

“Oh Rachna!” I gasped, “You have a very sexy touch!”

At one point of the time, when you are having sex, comes a moment when you are solely driven by your primal instincts. You just want to take your woman, join with her, fill her with your seeds and hope to breed her. That moment is magical. That, for me, is the point of no return. That is when your woman is sure to be fucked.

“I am ready honey!”

And so was I. Rachna was at the peak of her sexual desires. There was a buildup of sexual anticipation, and she was now ready to be fucked. Rachna grabbed at my rigid and eager manhood: it felt hot and strong. I shuddered. I positioned my penis between her thighs. Looking into her, I asked,

“What do you want me to do, Rachna?”

"Make love to me honey… I want you to fuck me!” she replied in husky voice.

I slowly lifted her beautiful legs and placed them over my shoulders. I then pushed in. Slowly. She was so wet. A little bit more pressure, and I would have slipped inside in just a fraction of a moment.

“Aahhh…” she moaned.

A variety always helps. I slowly breached her opening and went deep inside her. Her vagina delicately gripped every inch of my penis. Her wetness lubricated me.

“Ooohh… so many times… but it still feels new!” Rachna bit her lips.

She spread her legs more and hugged me.

“Fuck me now! Make love to me…” she demanded.

I complied. I started to pump. But not in any urgency. I wanted to fuck her slow and long.

“Ahh!” she squealed as I began to rhythmically thrust into her womanhood. She felt how powerless she was to resist my slow but determined thrusts. She kissed me and wrapped her arms around me. I was now out of control, but still somehow managed to maintain the rather slow pace. Rachna continued to moan in sweet painful pleasure.

A few more minutes of lovemaking made Rachna go wild. She was now moaning in pleasure as her orgasm started to build up,

“Aaaoo… aaaahhh… oohhh… my love! Aaahhh…”

Each thrust brought a new wave of pleasure to her. And then it hit her… orgasm after orgasm. Rachna was in orgasmic heaven as I continued my teasing pace.

“Ooohh… aaahh… I am done… I am done…”

She declared, violently arched her back, and tightly wrapped her legs around my neck. Her nails dug deep into my back as she experienced the first wave of orgasm that night. I enjoyed Rachna’s orgasmic expressions. They were so uninhibited that prude people will declare that she was a characterless woman! For me the only thing that mattered was to satisfy my lovely partner. I knew that I woo will join her soon in my own orgasmic discharge. But that was okay if Rachna experienced her before me. Her sexy moans brought me on the verge of my own orgasm.

As she hugged me tighter, I started to pick up pace. In no time, I started to thrust with powerful intent, going way deeper as to hurt her possibly even. Rachna experienced something new. She expected that her orgasm would ebb away, but as I picked up my pace, her orgasm started to turn even more powerful!

“Ww… what… what is happening… aaahh… aaah… I… I… am… again… oooohhh…”

As she started to enjoy the more powerful aftershock of her orgasm, Rachna’s high-pitched voice echoed the entire house. I am sure everyone there heard it. There is nothing sexier than your woman moaning in her ultimate pleasure because of you. I too start to lose my resolve… I felt my semen squirting its way up from my testes.

“Aahhh Rachna!” he groaned, “My queen! I am going to come…”,

I started to thrust even more violently ravaging her soft pussy. And then I came. Rachna felt my semen invading her womb. Just a hint of male hormones, and her orgasm intensified, as she gripped around me tighter and moaning even louder. Fully spend, we collapsed into each other in a tight embrace. Rachna was satisfied. I was satisfied.

“Amar…”, she whispered, “I love you! I love you… I am yours.” she breathed.

I held her in my arms and kissed her mouth several times,

“I love you too honey… I love you very much!”

 

[avsji]

****

When we were fully satiated after our few rounds of lovemaking, I told Rachna,

“Rachna… honey… Ma is coming in a couple of days’ time.”

I hesitated to add ‘with her husband and child’ – I don’t know why I was not able to have enough trust and confidence in sharing this detail with her. I had never felt so uncertain about something in my entire life.

“Oh! Wow! That is good.” Rachna said excitedly, “It will be after such a long time that I will finally meet her.”

“Would you like to meet Jayanti Di?”

“Who is she?”

“She is Devyani’s elder sister.”

“Oh.” she thought for a while, and then added, “Do I have to meet her too?”

“No… no… again… nothing like that. She is part of my family and she has been pressurizing me to get married to someone lovely… I think she too will like to meet you.”

She thought for a while, evaluating the information.

“Does that mean I should also bring my parents along?”

“It is up to you… but it is not like Ma is coming to evaluate you or anything… she has always loved you and it would be nice if she can meet you again.”

“Yes… yes… I know. But it has been such a long time. I guess, it will be really amazing to see her after such a long time.”

“I know. When I told her that I met you again, she was very happy.”

“I don’t know why and how we got astray… we should have gotten married way back!”

“Ha ha ha! I agree. Isn’t it? Life would have been so different then.”

Rachna smiled.

“It is not any worse at all… we both have… experience…” she smiled when she emphasized on the word, ‘experience’, “I like… no, I love what we do now!”

She turned to her side to gently embrace me. I felt nice. Her warm and soft body was very comforting. We kissed for a few minutes. We already behaved like old couples. It was just wonderful. I could indeed embrace the marital bliss.

Rachna giggled thinking about something.

“What?” I asked.

“No. Nothing.”

“Tell me.” I too smiled.

There was something infectious about the way Rachna smiled or laughed. One would start smiling or laughing just by looking at her.

“What did you do to Neelu?”

“What? What did I do?”

“She is just going ga-ga over you since you two had a little… date!”

“Oh! Please don’t call it a date… it was our father-daughter time.”

“Indeed. But I think she has a little girl crush on you.”

“WHAT!”

“And I don’t blame her. I mean… just look at me. I have been falling over you since I saw you a few days ago.”

“Oh God.”

“Ha ha… don’t worry honey. I think she loves you. That is a very good thing.”

“I too love her. She could very well have been my daughter.”

I said squeezing her hand. She smiled,

“It is good to have a home full of people who you love.”

I nodded.

She added, “Honey… regarding Ma… don’t let her stay by herself. She needs company. Let her come over here and live with us?”

I smiled. Rachna had kind heart. I decided that it was time to tell her a few things that had been unknown to her so far.

“Rachna… honey. I want to tell you a few things.”

“Sure.”

“Honey… Ma… well… she is, uh… a married lady now.”

“What?”

I nodded.

“Wow! This is so good.”

“Yes… and she has a son.”

“What! Ha ha! WOW! WOW! This is wonderful really… I remember, she told me that she wanted to have one more child.”

‘Interesting’, I thought, ‘Rachna and Ma were very close indeed.’

“Oh… she told you about that?”

“She did. She is my Ma too. When did that happen? Why did you not tell me?”

“Well… she got married a little over four years ago. Her son is now two and half years old.”

“Nice…” I could see in her eyes, Rachna was genuinely happy, “I am so happy that she could have another child.”

I nodded.

“But why did you not tell me earlier?”

“I don’t know… I was just being an idiot.”

“Hmm… that you are. But this is a great news… I am so happy for her!”

“Yes… me too. And, she is expecting again.”

“What! Oh WOW! Ma is so full of surprises. When is she due?”

“In about 3 months.”

“Good! Good.” She thought, smiled, and finally laughed, “WOW! Ma is pregnant! I am happy for her, honey… really happy.”

“Thank you.”

“What does her husband do?”

“Well, he is a senior engineer at *****.”

“Hmmm… that is a very good company!”

“Yeah. He is a good man! He loves her so much.”

“She can not settle for anyone less… A very loving man is what she deserves. She always has. I am so happy that she found one such man.”

“Yeah… it was a love marriage.”

“Nice! Nice! Who proposed?”

“He did.”

“It is really lucky for someone to find love. I am happy that Ma found it twice.”

“I know.”

“Why did you not tell me this before? Being idiot does not explain it.”

“I was not sure how you will take it.”

“What is there to object? Even I am trying to remarry. Why would I judge Ma?”

“I have not told you the full account.”

“Okay,” she said smiling, “… then tell me the full account.”

“Well… Sunil… Ma’s husband, he is Kajal’s son.”

“WHAT!”

I did not say anything and just waited for her reaction.

“B… but… I… I thought… I thought that Kajal is Ma’s sister or something like that…”

I waited some more. Rachna said, “So, Kajal is not your relative?”

I waited to think for a moment and replied,

“Well, she is now… now that her son is Ma’s husband…”

“How old is he?”

“About twenty-six… or twenty-seven.”

“WOW!”

“What do you think about it?”

“What do I think about it? Well… I don’t know really. I mean, yes, if they love each other, then age is nothing… it does not matter.” She waited and then added, “It is interesting though. So brave of Ma. Very brave. Society is not very kind to such relationships… I don’t know how even my parents would take this news.”

I nodded. That could be a problem.

“You know how traditional they have been. I have been trying to break that shackle for a long time now. But now that I am having sex with you and they do not object, I think they have opened up. But I can’t say for sure to be honest.”

I kept quiet. I was not sure how she was going to take the information of my intimacy with Kajal.

“But this is all good… Ma deserved to be happy. That was not an age to be a widow… our society is not kind to women as it is… and it is even more difficult for widowed women… who proposed by the way?” she asked smiling.

Well, it seemed to be going fine with her so far.

“Sunil did. He had fancied her for a long time before finally proposing.”

“Amazing man… and a brave one too… exactly the kind of young dad you needed… ha ha!”

“Ha ha!”

I waited. Rachna did not say anything anymore. I guess she accepted Ma’s new status and respected that. This was good.

Now came the minefield.

 

[avsji]

“Rachna… I need to tell you so more.”

“Oh, is there something else?”

“Yes. Our future together depends a lot on how you will take it.”

“Okay… I am listening.”

“I… ah… I have had sexual relations… ah… before meeting you.”

“I understand that Amar. I can not suddenly come in your life and expect you to be celibate before meeting me… but I demand you to be a one-woman man after you are with me.”

“I agree. But please hear everything that I have to say.”

“Yes… yes… go on.”

“Well… one of the women has been Kajal…”

“WHAT! WHAT!” she almost cried out loud.

I immediately sensed dread. This will not go down well.

“What kind of a cesspool is this…?” she was clearly agitated, “Huh? So… you mean to tell me that one, Kajal is not related to you, two, her son is your mother’s husband, and three, you have had sex with her?”

I kept quiet.

“So why is she living here? Who is she to you?”

“Rachna, please calm down… I will answer all your questions, but please calm down. And to your question… well… you can think of her as my guardian.”

“Oh! And will your guardian live with you after we are married?”

“How can I leave her?”

“She can go to her son and daughter in law.” She stressed the last word, in a teasing mocking manner.

“This is a big house, Rachna… all of us can live together peacefully and happily.”

“Who is she…” Rachna asked in a loud voice.

I wanted to say something, but she interrupted me shouting, “I MEAN WHO IS SHE?”

I had never seen Rachna angry like that. Or angry ever. She was now sitting on the bed… her breathing had elevated… she was naked but seemed menacing right now. My heart broke seeing her like that. I did not expect her to accept everything that I threw her way, but I expected her to hear me peacefully.

“She is everything to me Rachna… everything. She was my guardian in this big city when I started my career… she was my support system when everything around me fell apart and my daughter and I were left all alone in this world… she brought me back to light, when I was in this dark abyss…”

“That still does not answer my question… who is she?”

“If you must know then she was my maid.”

“WHAT! WHAT! What the fuck! She was your maid… and now your mother is married to her son… and you fuck your maid!”

Rachna was clearly even more angry.

“I don’t know why you should be so angry. Yes, she used to be my maid… but she is way much more to me now. What I am is mostly because of her. … she supported me when my whole world fell apart… she loved my daughter unconditionally, without expecting anything in return. I was in a dark abyss… it was Kajal who brought me back to light. She helped me in setting up my business… if I put in ten hours to my business, she devoted twelve… if I am even remotely well-off, it is mostly because of her.”

“Then why don’t you just get married to her?”

“She would not marry me. I asked her many times.”

“WHAT! Oh… oooh… so I am her replacement… an afterthought? An option?”

“Rachna you are overdoing this argument too much. When did I not respect you? When did anyone in this household, including Kajal, disrespect you? And before we get in to any kind of argument, please remember that neither am I the first man in your life, nor are you the first woman in my life.”

Rachna kept quiet, but she was still seething. I ignored it. I knew now that it was not going to work between us. So, I decided to give her my piece of mind,

“It is your right to agree or disagree with my proposal to marry you… but please don’t insult us… Kajal or me or anyone in this family… We only tried to love you and respect you. If you can not give the same love and respect back to us, at least do not disrespect us.”

I had a point. Even Rachna in her raging state should agree with what I said. I continued: one last attempt.

“Neelu will find a loving home here… I know Kajal already likes you so much. Abha and Latika love you. Latika practically worships you. Kajal… Kajal is not your competition… and neither you are her competition. But please try to understand that she is my family too.”

“So does that mean she has a claim in your money?”

‘WHAT?’ I was shocked that Rachna brought in the money issue.

“Rachna, you are still not getting this… Kajal owns a major part of my business. She already has a claim in what I have… That she does not take any money from her rightful claim, is her own greatness… she has gone beyond the need for money. Even her son earns his own money… he earns well… he has his own family and does not want anything with my money.”

I hated Rachna for bringing in the money issue. No one… neither Gabi nor Devy brought in money issue in our relationship. How dare Rachna did! I was angry, but I kept my calm.

“Ma too has a claim in my business. She had invested every last penny that she had into my business. But neither she, nor Sunil and nor Kajal ever made any intention… not even one mention to claim that money. All of them have always maintain that my wealth was because of my hard work… but I know it better. So, if you view it from their perspective, they might even be a majority stakeholder in my business.”

I let it sink in. Rachna was not going to like it.

“If you think that either you, or Neelu or our future children will have any issues or fuss because of Kajal and her family, then you must really spend some time and try to know them a better… They are the kind of people who will even skin themselves alive, if it helps you in any way.”

Rachna was still breathing rapidly and hard. I don’t know whether she was angry or anything else, but she did not seem placate.

Suddenly Rachna got up from the bed and started to pick her clothes up.

“Rachna, what are you doing?”

“I am going home.”

My heart broke. But if she could not understand and respect my relationship with Kajal, then it is better that we parted ways, while we still had time. I did not stop her.

“I understand if you would want to do that… but please listen to me once… one last time… it is very late in the night. Please stay the night. I will sleep in some other room. You won’t have to worry because of me.”

“I want Neelu here.” She said with some finality. Still raging.

I nodded. Good that she was not making much of a nasty ugly fuss.

I wore my clothes and walked out of the room.


***


“Mummy… mummy… what happened? Why did you wake me up so late in the night… and why are you naked?”

“Oh honey… come here… come to me.”

“What happened?” Neelu asked, still confused, and disoriented from being woken up from deep sleep.

“Nothing… nothing… come here… come, sleep with me.”

Rachna said and pulled Neelu to the bed and brought her to sleep.


***

 

[avsji]

Author’s note:


Rachna was not sure how to deal with this new information. Amar had not hidden anything from her and talked honestly about his relationship with Kajal. It was complicated web of relationship that Amar had. I think what blew her away was the fact that Kajal used to be (and perhaps still was) Amar’s maid. Somehow, she thought that having sex with your maid was a lowly activity. It did not end here. Her son was married to Amar’s mother, which made her whole puritan distaste for Kajal even more ugly. It was not only the sex part… Kajal was a ‘major’ stakeholder in Amar’s business… so was his mother. How much they controlled the company, she was not sure.

This means, even if Amar held half of the company, that wealth will be divided between his children – so Abha will get some, and if Rachna and he married, then that child will also get something. What will Neelu get? She was not sure. What will she, herself get, she was not sure. On other situations, a mother can be expected to make a will in favor of her children and or grandchildren. But because she now had two more sons, she would assign her stake in Amar’s business to her two sons as well. That was not very good.

One major reason why she even got interested in pursuing Amar was because she knew from her father that Amar was a wealthy man. It is not that she was in any dire need of money. She had received a good settlement after her first divorce. She was working and earning. Her father too had good enough money. So, there was no paucity of wealth in her life. But there are people who just want more and more. People who are like blackholes. They think that they are entitled to receive infinitely from others, even though they do not give back. If you look around yourself, you will see many such people… always taking, hardly ever giving.

Rachna too belonged to the same category of people. When she came to know about Amar, she became willing to entice him any which way. From her childhood experience with Amar she suspected about his likes and dislikes in sex and she applied those to her advantage. Men are really stupid when it comes to sex. I am not claiming that Rachna was evil – no, she was not. But it is safe to say that what she wanted from her marriage with Amar, and what Amar wanted from her were poles opposite and there was no middle ground for them.

****

 

[avsji]

In the morning, both Abha and Latika looked at Rachna expectantly. Both girls liked her and thought that Rachna would spend some time with her. Rachna, however was rather cold to them. In fact, she was equally cold to Neelu also, which was surprising. Abha and Latika tried to be friendly with Neelu the last evening, but she could not respond accordingly. Neelu may have been a shy or a reserved kind of girl. I just hope that Rachna did not exert unreasonable demands from that child.

I noticed all that and silently indicated Abha and Latika to mind their business while I discussed matters with Rachna. So, the girls left. The expressions on Rachna’s face were still those of confrontation. That was not good. But now even I had decided that I was not going to let go of the people who have been my lifeline for someone outsider. It was good that Rachna had shown her true colors, and I was saved. However, I think that Rachna still thought that she had wrapped me around her pinkie finger. Women must understand that sex is not a way to control a man. It is love.

Rachna and I silently sat for breakfast. Oh God, Kajal was such an angel. I told her how things had panned out between Rachna and I during the night. When she came to know about Rachna’s objections on her being with me, she sided with her. She said that Rachna was right in her reservations. But she must understand that she was as important to me as my mother. In many ways, she was my mother too. So, I did not agree with Kajal’s thought process. I won’t sacrifice my biggest and most reliable anchor.

While having a sip of tea and maintaining a serious gloomy expression, Rachna started,

“Amar… I think that I must speak my mind clearly.”

I nodded.

‘Sure, that’s the way to go!’

“I have no objection getting married to you. You are a good man.”

I did not smile. I had enough thick skin to be swayed by hollow and empty words. Rachna realized that her words did not have any impact on me. So, she came to the point.

“But I will marry you on two conditions: I need you to commit something for Neelu. That is my first condition. And the second condition is that Kajal should not live here.”

I did not say anything at first.

‘Wow! This woman is all about money and control!’

I waited some more and then started,

“Rachna, let me tell you how it is with my money matters.”

Rachna got curious and listened to me attentively.

“Because of her capital invested, Ma is the majority shareholder in my company. She has thirty percent ownership. Kajal has been with me for about thirteen or fourteen years by now… many times she did not even ask for salary and worked for free… and let us not repeat what all she has done for me.”

Rachna waited, so I ended her suspense, “She has twenty five percent. I needed to secure a future for Abha, so she has ten percent. Similarly, Latika has ten percent.”

‘What! So, mother and daughter have more than a third of Amar’s business!’ Rachna’s face contorted as if she got a very bitter taste in her mouth.

“The remaining twenty five percent is with me. Say after our marriage, we have a baby together. I will allocate no less than ten percent for the baby. That leaves me with fifteen percent. Please tell me how you want to split those fifteen percent among the three of us - that is between you and Neelu and me.”

Rachna had already sank. Suddenly I was not as rich as she thought. But still, the value of the shareholding that I had was worth crores.

“Why? All three of us can get five percent each?”

That would be slightly more than five or six crores. That is a good amount of money, isn’t it?

I ignored her.

“And the second issue of Kajal not living with us. Let me be very frank with you – I can not ask her to leave this place and live anywhere else.”

I said as firmly as possible.

“And you want me to commit a part of my labour to which you or Neelu did not contribute even one paisa worth. That is not happening.”

Rachna was stunned. I continued,

“So that means, because I disregard both your ‘conditions’, we can not proceed. Had you not put forth any such ‘conditions’, I would have happily given away all my possessions. I am hungry for love. Only love. That is all I need. But your requirements are different.”

She could not speak for some time.

“So, Rachna… very respectfully, I decline your proposal and let us from now on mind our own business.”

I said and left the breakfast table.

I do not know when Rachna and Neelu left home. I did not care anymore.


*****


Kajal was extremely angry with me when she came to know about how I ‘treated’ Rachna. She said that she was willing to sign off her shareholding in my company. That damn fool woman did not even care for the crores worth she was! All she wanted was my happiness. Imagine, Rachna wanted me to leave such a woman. I told Kajal that it was over between Rachna and me, because we wanted different things from the marriage. If I needed to ‘purchase’ sex, I could easily hire a high-class call-girl. I had enough and more money to make that transaction. I wanted love and I had people around me who gave me pure love, round the clock, without even me asking for it.

Ma came to us for her delivery after about a week. Kajal insisted on this. She wanted to take good care of her bahu. During Ma’s first pregnancy also, Kajal was always there to take care of her. In any case, with her whole family around, Ma expected to be way more relaxed and happier than how she would have been living with Sunil. He had his full-time work commitment, and their first son was a handful.

We did not tell Ma much about the fallout between Rachna and me. She was pregnant and we did not want to give her any unnecessary tension. We only told her that it did not work out between Rachna and I. She was a bit disappointed but respected my wishes not to discuss the matter any further. We focused more on her pregnancy: a later age pregnancy is more complicated than when women are in their youth. But by some miracle, Ma was feeling fantastic. She continued with her morning walks and yoga. Her doctor was of modern thought process and encouraged exercises and natural births over sedentary lifestyle and caesarian deliveries.


*****