Crossing the Mirage - Passing Through Youth

Chapter 20 - Tempting the Fate

That Sunday evening the Vasus called on the Chandras at the Honeycomb. What with Vasu's presence embarrassing him, Chandra turned his attention on Prema only to be fascinated by her in turn. Seeing Chandra ungainly, Vasu readily turned his hopes on Nithya into wild daydreams. Prema, divining Vasu's desire for Nithya from his body language, suspected that he was involving her only to pull the wool over Chandra's eyes. And that made her turn her focus on Chandra. Hooked up as she was with her idea of revenge, Nithya insensibly turned her attention on Prema.

Discerning a feeling of discontent in Prema, while Nithya felt it augured well for her plan, the former thought Chandra's manner suggested that he could be a much better man for his looks. And calling his wife's bidding and goaded by his own inclination, Chandra began befriending Prema in all earnestness. So, Vasu who thought that he still had to contend with Nithya's apathy felt bold to seek her out in the kitchen.

"It is ages since we were alone," he said placing his hand on her shoulder. "Oh, how nice it feels."

"It's neither the right time," she said, moving away from him, "nor the right place."

"What did you do with my seed?" he said. "Did you allow it grow or not?"

"Do you want to dine on now" she said coquettishly, "or dig into the past?"

"I was worried to death that I might have lost you forever," he said, and added, alluding to Chandra's looks, "to some Prince Charming."

"It's not that everyone takes a woman to the dreamland."

"Thanks for the compliment," he said in excitement. "How sad I've lost my way to it."

"Leaving me in the lurch that is!"

"I'm sorry really," he said ardently. "Show me the way to redeem myself."

"Why, haven't you chosen it yourself," she said coquettishly, "through the back door."

"Glad the spark is intact."

"But I don't dream anymore."

"Now we can begin all again, can't we?"

"I'm too bogged down by reality."

"I'll give you the wings of love," he said endearingly, "to fly with me into the orbit of ecstasy."

"What if my hubby clips them," she said seeming helpless, "and ruins it for us?"

"Why this pessimism," he said trying to bring her back on the track, "when we can hope for a high fly?"

"Lest you should misunderstand that I gave you any hopes," she said deviously, "know that I don't share your optimism."

"Do you really need to?" he said flamboyantly. "Didn't I tell you we're natural lovers and won't be able to resist each other?"

"It's you who said that," she said assuming a serious demeanor, "and I don't remember to have subscribed to it."

"Oh, in your resistance," he said in a placating tone, "your look and tone seem even more enchanting."

"Thank you," she said flirtatiously.

"It's my pleasure really."

"Well, they could be looking for us," she said moving away, "we better join them."

"Your husband seems to have lost his eyes for my wife."

"Are you jealous?"

"Don't you think that makes it easier for us to pull the wool over his eyes?"

"I don't know really," she said feigning worry. "What if your wife comes to know?"

"I will tell you," he said. "The world would have one more philosopher to contend with."