A Taste of the Wild

Meeting the Colleagues

We didn't speak much to each other as we slowly trudged up the small rocky pathway built into the dirt ground that lead up to the resort. The high heels I was wearing made it difficult to properly step on the uneven surfaces of the rocks and the restrictions of being in a saree only added to it. Faizal followed just behind me. I wasn't sure whether he was admiring my back view or keeping an eye out for me in case I slipped. Either way, I felt slightly safer with him behind me.

"DEEPIKAAAA...." the loud voice of my clearly drunk husband carried over to me and I looked in the direction the sound was coming from. The momentary distraction was all it took for me to clumsily step on some wedges in the rocky path and loose balance. I flailed my arms in the air alarmed and momentarily disoriented as I tried desperately to regain my balance. I didn't have to struggle for long though as I felt a pair of strong hands on sides of my waist instantly lending me support.

"Hey Careful !!" said the urgent voice of Faizal from just behind me as he helped me stand straight, his hands still brazenly resting on my bare waist. A small current of pleasure shot up my spine from that touch. The moment felt like something that came right out of my fantasies. I stood still and nodded shyly muttering an inaudible 'Thanks' waiting for him to remove his hands on his own accord and enjoying the sensation of his touch on my sensitive skin every second it lingered. Unfortunately, it didn't last that long as he quickly retracted his hands and I could understand why. Sanjay was looking at us.

I quickly looked in his direction wondering if he noticed my slip and that accidental yet slightly sensual exchange. Turns out that not just Sanjay but just about everyone standing there seems to have witnessed me tripping on my feet. He along with 10 or so other men were lounged out on the sloppy landscape outside. Chairs and small round tables made out of cane were laid all over the place. Bottles of various types of alcoholic beverages and snacks filled those tables. All of those men who were probably drinking and partying minutes before were now looking my way gawking. Judging by their states I could tell most of them are pretty drunk.

Sanjay didn't look too pleased. I couldn't tell if it was due to the public display of my clumsiness or because he noticed something about the exchange between me and Faizal just now. He beckoned me over.

"Come with me please?" I said in a low voice looking behind me at Faizal. I didn't feel like going alone amidst a group of drunk men all by myself. Faizal nodded and followed a few steps behind me as I headed towards them. I could feel all those eyes unabashedly checking me out, making my insides curl in revulsion. Though I came dressed up like this in the first place to catch some eyeballs, this wasn't exactly what I had in mind.

As soon as I was within his reach Sanjay reached forward and pulled me to his side boldly keeping his hand on side of my bare waist and squeezing my flesh into his palms. My eyes bulged at his sudden display of supposed affection over me. No, it wasn't affection, it was a display of arrogant dominance. He was making a statement. That means whatever he saw must have made him feel insecure.

The leering eyes of the surrounding men immediately focused on my midsection feasting on the sight of my waist being caressed in front of them. I immediately kept one of my hands on top of Sanjay's trying to get my fingers underneath his grip so that I can wrench his hands off. But he just tightened the grip making his fingers dig into my hips painfully now. I winced and let go, letting him hold me, not wanting to create a scene.

"Gentleman. Meet my gorgeous wife. Deepika." he said proudly showing me off like a trophy he won. He emptied the glass of whiskey he was holding in his other hand in one swing and continued looking at me while ignoring my clear discomfort. "And Deepika...meet my friends Sukumar, Thomas, Ali...". He kept on telling names pointing at various men who were all gawking at me like I was some sort of delicious meat. I could sense my navel peeking through my pallu and shuddering at the sudden onslaught of creepy stares in its direction sharing equal attention with my hip which was being kneaded by Sanjay's hand. This was not at all how I imagined capturing attention when I set out this morning. Through his actions, Sanjay reminded me once again of what I clearly was to him, his trophy wife. Not a human being that deserved respect. But a shiny toy to show off to his friends and society. I could feel my ego and self-respect being stripped away with each passing second.