After whispering her reminiscences of her honeymoon for Roopa’s ears, Sandhya said, ‘Well, even the vigor of his virility can’t subdue my urge for our union. Oh, how I wish you could come along with us.’
‘I think my luck and love are poles apart,’ said Roopa melancholically. ‘If only I were single, I would have begged you to take me along with you as your co-wife. But what’s worse for me, you would be so far away, increasing my misery even more.’
‘Now I too feel,’ said Sandhya moved herself, ‘we would have been better off living together as co-wives.’
‘I could divorce Sathyam for the Act-1,’ said Roopa in half jest. ‘But for the Act-2, having a wife like you, would your husband suffer me?’
‘Shall I’ll ask him then,’ Sandhya got up, in mock seriousness.
‘When needed,’ said Roopa, as she pulled Sandhya back into her arms, ‘I’ll ask him myself.’
‘Have you told him about us?’ Roopa asked, fondling Sandhya.
‘Not yet, though I was thinking about it all the while,’ said Sandhya dreamily. ‘In a way, our love doesn’t take anything away from him as our amour is not hampering my ardor for him. Yet, I find the associated emotions so different. I see no conflict and I don’t feel any contradiction either. After all, my love to you and him are nursed on different planes. But how come you never talked about it to Sathyam?’
‘As I don’t feel for him much,’ said Roopa dryly, ‘there’s no emotional hitch as such.’
‘But now,’ said Sandhya, ‘it looks like you’re okay with him.’
‘Well, don’t I’ve a duty to perform as wife?’ said Roopa looking vacantly. ‘I thought I’ve no right to make him feel wanting due to my disillusionment. Somehow, I feel it could be risky to reveal it to your husband even, as he might not like it. It would be the death of me if he weans you away from my embrace.’
‘I love you for the way you feel,’ said Sandhya, kissing Roopa. ‘Even if I tell Raja, I know he’ll understand. Nevertheless, I would wait. Imagine, I told him about my escapade in the city bus.’
‘What was his reaction?’ Roopa sat up, as if to watch her Raja’s feelings in Sandhya’s face.
‘He made light of it,’ said Sandhya, ‘as no more than a small pleasure.’
‘I’m happy,’ Roopa kissed Sandhya as if the gesture was meant for him, ‘that you’ve got a confident man.’
‘Good night,’ Sandhya whispered kissing Roopa. ‘Let me see if he got up, you’ve made me need him all again.’