Nalini's Navel - "Unfaithful"

Chapter 3: The Mask of Deception

Vishwa was disappointed with Nalini for blindly trusting a stranger on the street. He was furious to see Ejaz in their house, holding Nalini's waist under the guise of being handicapped. He also remembered how Nalini's saree had been displaced by Ejaz's grabbing, exposing her midriff and even her navel. All of this intensified Vishwa's anger. He clenched his fists and took a deep breath to control his rage as the image of Ejaz with a lecherous grin on his face kept flashing in front of his eyes.

"Vishwa... calm down... he is a handicap. Where is your empathy for someone who is a cripple?" Nalini questions Vishwa for his ignorance.

"Handicap...??? Does he behave like one? Did you not notice that swine holding onto you like a sleazy moron.... I can't stand guys like him...." Vishwa takes an abrupt pause, as he notices Ejaz climbing onto the steps, "Whatttt.... Why is that idiot back... I am going to kick his ass back in that taxi and ship him to no man's land....." Angry Vishwa steps out of the house.

"Wait.. Vishwa... Vishwaaaaa...." Nalini attempts to stop him.

Before Nalini can run after Vishwa to stop him from doing anything stupid, she hears a loud cry and a thud which sounded like a body tumbling down the stairs.

"Vishwaaaaaaaaaa... what did you do???????" Nalini screams as she notices Ejaz lying at the bottom of the stairs in pain.

"I did nothing... this moron is pretending... He went down on his own... I did not touch him.... Naliniiiiiiiii.. Nalini... Look at me.... Listen to meee...."

Vishwa watched in anger as Nalini completely ignored him while she helped Ejaz up.

Ejaz's eyes lingered on her bare midriff with her saree's pallu barely clinging onto her shoulder. Vishwa's fury surged as he realized he had fallen into Ejaz's trap, knowing that Ejaz was using him as bait to toy with Nalini's emotions. His heart pounded in his chest, and his hands trembled with rage.

"Thanks Nalini... I will be ok... I guess Vishwa was upset about something...." Ejaz says that, as he cleverly frames Vishwa by planting a devious seed in Nalini's mind.

It was a cunning plan, and one that was sure to have the desired outcome. By subtly implying that Vishwa was being unreasonable and hurtful, Ejaz was driving a wedge between the couple and creating an opportunity for himself to step in and offer comfort and support. Ejaz had only one thing on his mind, Nalini's navel. He was so drawn to it from the very first day he saw her, he was prepared to go to any lengths to get his hands on it, even if it meant going back to prison.

Nalini was furious by the turn of events. She tells the people who are gathered to watch the drama to leave. She then turns to Vishwa fumingly and tells him to go back inside the house and stay there, and in a very assertive tone she says that she is going to drop Ejaz off at his house herself. Vishwa was completely stunned as he couldn't believe what was happening. He was losing control of the situation, even though he knows that Ejaz is nothing but a fraud.

Vishwa helplessly sees Nalini help Ejaz back in the taxi, and as the taxi leaves, he notices Ejaz looking back from the back seat and giving a quick devious smile.

Ejaz's neighbor saw Nalini helping him get out of the taxi and back to his house, she asked, "Ejaz..... What happened to your leg...? It was all fine up until this morning... And who is this woman?"

Ejaz with a puzzled look on his face, gives a quick smile to Nalini, "Ignore her... She does not know what she is talking about half the time."

Nalini helps Ejaz get into his house, which was very small and had no signs of being adapted for someone with a disability. She looks around suspiciously and realizes that Vishwa may have been right all along, and that she is being played by Ejaz.

Ejaz intentionally clenches his fist on Nalini's saree, causing the pallu to slip off her shoulder which exposes her midriff. His gaze immediately goes to Nalini's exquisite navel. Nalini notices a foul play and pushes him off.

"I was so foolish to believe you.... You played me just like Vishwa had suspected.... Didn't you....? Tell me the truth... Why did you do this....?... If you do not start talking I will call the police....." Nalini asked in a very disappointing tone.

Ejaz laughs, "Haha... Police...? You will call the police and say what... I was limping...? Is limping a crime?... Since when? But yes... please..please call them. I will tell them how your husband assaulted me and I also have witnesses to prove that... Whether I am arrested or not, let me tell you.... Your husband will spend a few nights in Jail... And trust me... Jail is no fun..."

Nalini was confused and didn't know what to do. Ejaz was threatening to send Vishwa to jail, even though Nalini was starting to believe that Vishwa was telling the truth that he didn't push Ejaz down the steps.

"What... Why...?? What was the purpose of doing this...? What have we done to you...?"

"Nalini.. Nalini... my naive little sparrow... It is not about what you have done... It is about what I want from you...." Ejaz rubs his chest, "Drop your pallu...."

Ejaz's mannerism changed, she could sense the devilish intentions in his voice. She holds onto her pallu firmly, refusing him to surrender to his demands.

"Drop it... or else I am calling the police..... Vishwa will definitely spend the night in jail.... And I did all this for your navel just in case you are wondering... Haha.... Be proud of yourself to own such a beautiful navel...."

Nalini's heart pounded in her chest, her belly pulsing heavily with anticipation. She took a deep breath, her chest heaving, and with trembling fingers she slid her pallu to the floor, exposing her gorgeous, marble-like belly to Ejaz.

to be continued....