Chapter 3

And so it began. My wife Komal had officially started ‘dating’ Rahul sir. Our aim was to make it appear as if she and Rahul sir were boyfriend and girlfriend, while not actually crossing any major boundaries with him, physically. I’d told Komal that kissing was okay. But neither of us wanted it to get to actual sex. It was a delicate dance that Komal had to perform, to keep Rahul sir’s interest, but not give in to any of his seduction attempts. And my role in all this was to give her unquestioning support and encouragement, while trying not to lose my mind with jealousy.

This was not going to be easy on either of us.

It started off fine. After Komal’s first date with Rahul sir, he asked her out again. This time to a night club, and despite her reservations, Komal accepted his invitation. She wasn’t sure how I would react to the news of her going clubbing with him. But I didn’t give her a reason to be worried at all.

“That’s great ... you love dancing! I am sure you will have a great time, Komal”

“Are you sure you’re okay with this, Nutty? I mean, look at this dress...”, Komal was standing in front of her mirror, trying out the dress she had just bought for this occasion. It was a short shimmery black number that hugged her curves in all the right places. It was still conservative compared to the typical club attire in South Delhi, but it was definitely the sexiest outfit Komal had ever worn in her life.

“You look amazing Komal, and don’t worry, I am completely fine. Just focus on having a good time. And focus on keeping Rahul sir wanting more. That’s the whole point of these ‘dates’, after all!”

And with that piece of encouragement, I sent Komal on her way to her second date. The next few hours were pure torture for me. I was pacing around my room like a caged animal, my mind racing with images of Komal and Rahul sir. I couldn’t take it anymore so I got out of the room and decided to take a stroll in the courtyard. It was nearly 2 AM, and none of the hotel guests were outside. I sat on one of the parapet walls surrounding Hotel Sapphire’s grand fountain. I was deep in my thoughts when I suddenly heard a car pulling up to the hotel’s entrance. I ran towards the entrance and hid behind a bush, so I could get a clear view, while also being unseen.

It was indeed Rahul sir’s car that had pulled up, but interestingly he wasn’t the one driving. It seems he had arranged for a driver tonight. Which made sense, because he had probably planned to drink tonight. I was glad that he thought about safety, especially with Komal in his car. But this also meant that he and Komal were in the backseat all this time. I decided not to pull that thread too much, for my own sanity’s sake.

I saw Komal and Rahul sir get out of the car. He said something to her, and instead of heading into the lobby, they took the side path towards the courtyard. I followed them discreetly, staying hidden behind the bushes. At that point, I also remembered the countless security cameras we had all over the property. I made a mental note to stay off those areas where the cameras were pointed.

Komal and Rahul sir sat down on the same parapet where I was seated just a few minutes ago. From where I was hiding, I could hear them, just barely.

“I don’t know what I am doing here with you...”, Komal said, giggling. Did I detect a bit of slurring? Was she tipsy?

“What do you WANT to do with me, Komal?” Rahul sir said, smiling, his voice gruff from what I am sure was some heavy drinking at the club.

“Haven’t we done enough tonight? I should be going back to my room”, she pleaded. My ears perked up ... what was she talking about?! What did they do ‘enough’ of?

“Oh come on Komal! You know you had fun, and there’s more where that came from...” Rahul sir said, his voice was filled with confidence and seduction.

“You are incorrigible Mr. Oberoi, but I should really be headed back now, it’s very late! And someone might see us here!” she stood up, adjusting her dress which had ridden up her thighs.

Rahul sir stood up too and in a sudden move took Komal into his arms. She let out a small gasp of surprise, but didn’t push him away.

With his arms around her waist, and his eyes looking into hers, he whispered “just one more kiss” to her. Komal’s back was turned towards me, so I didn’t hear what she whispered in response. But whatever she said made him kiss her, deeply and passionately. And she was kissing him back! His hands went from her waist to her butt, caressing her over the short black dress she had worn. Komal’s hands went up to his hair, running through it as she kissed him back with increasing intensity. Their bodies were pressed close to each other, Rahul sir’s hands fondling Komal’s ass, as their mouths explored each other.

As I saw my wife passionately kiss another man, I felt my heard pounding in my chest. Jealousy boiled within me, and I clenched my fists so hard that my nails dug into my palms. I wanted to run out of the bush and put a stop to this insanity immediately. But for obvious reasons, I stopped myself.

What would it accomplish? From the looks of it, this wasn’t the first time they were kissing tonight. They had a sense of familiarity with each other’s bodies, which was clearly on display. What would I gain from jumping in stopping them right now? The ‘damage’ as they say, was already done. Going into this day, Komal and I both knew Rahul sir was going to expect them to kiss on this date. I just hoped and prayed that that’s where they stopped. Based on what I was seeing unfold in front of me, if these two didn’t stop right now, it would definitely escalate!

As if Komal heard me telepathically, she broke the kiss. I saw her push Rahul sir away, her face flushed and her breathing heavy. She tried to regain her composure, smoothing down her dress and running her fingers through her hair.

Rahul sir looked like a kid whose favorite toy had been taken away from him. Before he could say anything, Komal jumped in.

“I think we should stop before...” she said, her voice still breathless.

“Before what?” Rahul sir goaded, his eyes filled with lust.

“Before I end up doing something, no girl should do on a second date!”, Komal said with a mischievous smile.

Rahul sir laughed, “Alright Komal, fair enough, I’ll let you go for tonight. But listen, I’d love to take you out tomorrow night for dinner. I know this amazing Italian place...”

“I’d love to!” Komal said, before Rahul sir could even finish. I could sense the excitement and anticipation in her voice.

Rahul sir laughed again,, “Perfect, 8 PM tomorrow? Meet you doing in the lobby?”

“Yes!”, Komal responded eagerly.

I waited until the coast was clear and made it back to my room. Komal was already sitting on my bed. It seems she was eager to talk to me about tonight’s happenings as well.

“Nutty, where are YOU coming from?” Komal asked, as I entered the room. She was slurring her speech, clearly drunk.

“I was out on a walk in the courtyard, and then I saw you and Rahul sir pull up”

“Wait ... you were out there? But I was just in the courtyard I didn’t see you...”

“Yes, as soon as I saw you both, I hid behind the bushes.”

“Oh...” Komal whispered, her face turning red with the realization. “So ... so you saw us both just now?”

“And heard you too” I said, keeping it very casual.

Komal looked at me, her eyes searching mine for jealousy or anger. But I was ready this time. I had revised the script in my head. I was not going to let my real feelings surface. I went into full-on acting mode.

“Don’t worry, Komal. I saw and heard everything and I think it’s working really well. I can see that Rahul sir is infatuated with you, and that’s exactly what we wanted! I also heard him asking you out on a date tomorrow, you should definitely go!”, I knew she’d already said yes, but this was to satiate my own ego.