Misaligned Stars

Exploration and Discoveries

Note: Let me know if anyone was able to guess from the title what the chapter is about

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Post lunch, Rishabh cornered Karan and asked him for suit makers in the township or nearby.

Karan informed him that there are a few in township but he will find a better quality in the city, an hours drive away. Rishabh requested Karan to drive him to the city. Karan tried to fix a driver for him but Rishabh insisted to go with him only.

On the way, Rishabh sat next to Karan:

Rishabh: "Karan, ye mere gharwale mere liye aisi purane zamaane ke kapde laayein hain shaadi ke liye. Shaadi ek baar hoti hai. Mujhe kuch aur pehenna hai"

Karan: "Aap to kaafi naye zamaane ke hain. Shaadi hi kyon kar rahe hain"

Rishabh (laughing): "Uss same reason se jis reason se Monami kar rahi hai -Gharwalon ka pressure"

Karan heard but didn't react so Rishabh continued, "Par mujhe lagta hai ki Monami aur main sahi match hain. Wo bhi rebel hai aur main bhi, duniya ke rules and regulations follow karna zaroori nahi samajhte. Apne dil ki sunte hain. Tumhe to pata hi hai Monami kaisi hai. Mujhe bohot achchi lagi ab tak. Baaki details tum bata do."

Karan (confused): "kaisi details?"

Rishabh: "Usko kya pasand hai kya napasand? Tum dono to kareeb ho na?"

Karan: "kuch hi waqt se jaanta hoon main usse. Bas itna keh sakta hoon ki Seedhi si ladki hai, par junoon wali hai. Dil aur dimaag main se nahi, jo Sahi ho wo chunti hai. Kabhi chhoti bachchi si lagti hai, jo ek dost dhoond rahi ho. Kabhi itni samajhdaar ki bas lagta hai do pal baat kar le to jee halka ho jaye. Khoobsoorat hai par uska koi abhimaan nahi. Abhimaan hai to factory ki malkin hone ka, par sirf Haq jatana nahi zimmedaari nibhana bhi jaanti hai....."

Rishabh: "Baap re baap, kehta ho zyada nahi jaanta but kitna keh diya Monami ke baare mein ki city aa gayi"

Rishabh and Karan went to the local designer and purchased a suit for Rishabh. Rishabh beamed, " so glad I don't have to wear that long Kurta."

On the way back, Rishabh asked again, " so what were you saying about Monami, Karan"

Karan replied, "I think I've said enough. You're getting married to her. You'll know her soon."

Rishabh: " You haven't said enough. I need to know more. I need to know how do I keep her happy. You know her very closely, right?"

Karan: " just support her and she will be happy."

Rishabh: "I will definitely do that. I hope she supports my endeavours too."

Karan: " I'm sure she will. Like I said she is very passionate about her own dreams and wishes. And she does a lot to fulfill wishes of people she considers her own. You might have heard how she's been trying to to fulfil her father's wish of reviving the factory."

Rishabh: " Buddy, you aren't understanding. I mean you know her intimately. What do you know she likes, I mean sexually.......What does she like in sex?"

" Screeeeeeech" , the car came to a sudden halt as Karan applied a sudden break. " what the hell are you talking Rishabh.... Sir. How would I know what she likes? We are just friends."

Rishabh: " Oh, come on Karan. I'm not a kid. I know you both are into each other. I have seen you talking about each other so lovingly. And I know you were in her room last night. Please do not act as if you haven't been intimate with my fiance."

Karan Remembered their kiss last night and felt extremely guilty Wondering if Rishabh knows about it and worried on how it could affect Monami and her marital life.

Rishabh continued: " I'm good at noticing details, Karan. I noticed the sound of your movement in the darkness behind me when I tried to kiss Monami last night in her room. I noticed how she looked behind me - in your direction - wondering if you are okay. I waited for you to leave her room. I noticed you jumped out of her balcony. You know, I just teased her today about you being her brother, and she was so angry." Rishabh laughed.

Karan sighed and tried to say the right words but he was extremely worried about Monami. " L listen Rishabh. Monami needed a friend here, and I've tried to be one. And I was in her room yesterday to talk to her. She didn't want anything to do with me more than being friends. I swear to god. And she is a great girl. She will keep you very happy. Don't ... Please don't start this relationship on a wrong note"

Rishabh was laughing again. " relax, relax. I'm completely fine with it. Just don't try to make a fool of me. Don't try to lie to me. I will take care of Monami - our Monami." He smirked... "And I'm completely okay with you and Monami's "special" friendship. She is gorgeous, and was alone here. You have a great body. I am okay if you guys f*cked. It only tells that she has a good taste in men. Dude, I am a lot into experimenting and exploring. And I am happy Monami isn't the one to hold back her desires. I think she is my perfect match. Hey...let's come to the point. I want to ask you something. Promise me you will keep it confidential. Well if you don't, I'll deny anyways."

What Rishabh said next moved the ground beneath Karan's feet.

Rishabh asked Karan, "Will you join me and Monami on our first night or suhaagraat post wedding tomorrow?"

Karan was shocked and confused. So bad that he couldn't react.

Rishabh continued, " I'm new with her, but she must be comfortable with you. A threesome could be a great icebreaker . And it will be something new for all of us I guess"

Karan was furious: "Enough! Monami isn't that kind of girl. What kind of man are you? You want to share your wife with another man? If I was..."

"Don't be so goodie two shoes, Karan. And Monami - she's the kind of girl who has a man inside her bedroom and fiancé outside, so don't tell me that I am the only one dirty here. In fact, I want Monami to be happy and comfortable that's why I suggested this. And why do you think I am marrying Monami in 24 hour notice, because I want to run to London - away from hypocrites like you who would fuck someone else's fiancé but still act holy , and you have a fiancée yourself, right? So what kind of person that makes you? you should be the last person to judge me or accuse me." Rishabh retaliated.

Karan was out of words. He took time to process all of Rishabh's words. He finally said, "Rishabh, I swear to god that Monami and I have never had s*x." It was the safest truth he could say. "Okay there may have been attraction but still we didn't. Please treat this wedding as any normal wedding. And if you have any strong desire of threesome etc, please tell Monami before getting married to her.  She should know."

Rishabh calmed down too: "Karan I want you to think about it. Sometimes you learn so much more when you explore. May be you will learn something new too. May be you will see that you can also be close to men. And I do not intend to hurt Monami. But there are things I want to do with my life and I will, like I will happily let Monami do what she wants...... Sleep on it Karan, let's talk tomorrow."... "and I believe you are smart enough to know that if you leak our conversation, I have stuff that I can leak too... don't make me do that"

They both drove the remaining journey in absolute silence.

"What the hell are you getting into Monami?" Karan wondered, still reeling under the shock.

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