Two Sides Of A Coin

It is a truth universally acknowledged. Every coin has two sides and every human has two faces. What would you do if both sides came face to face? What would you do if the mirror reflected the very face that you wanted to hide from the world? It’s not a situation for the faint at heart. But then life is all about facing problems you are least prepared for.

Mumbai – Rhea’s Place - Present Day

It was a flashy, jazzy place and from one look at it, you could tell something was off about it. But naturally, it was what was called the viewing deck.

The girls were all lined up in a row, each wearing cheap imitations of famous designer’s runway designs, their makeup garish, screaming for attention.

The client though was on the other side of the glass pane, invisible to the girls, but viewing all of them. The handler was by the client’s side, explaining, like a car showroom salesman, about the attributes of the girl and if the girl was a fresher or senior (in terms of virginity).

Rhea came to her all excited. “Congratulations Mythu... this is your first assignment, I am so happy for you girl,” she hugged Mythu close. Yes, that’s the word they used. It was the first time she was assigned to a man.

One might think girls like Mythili are forced into the flesh trade. Kidnapped by a trafficking gang, drugged, sold off, abused, and whatnot. But it is much more sophisticated than that. Much more civilized and polished.

See a beautiful girl and they mark her out and do in-depth profiling. She was a student pursuing her Ph.D. in Statics but her family needed her to earn, to support her 2 brothers, living it up. Her meager stipend was not enough to get her through the month in a cosmopolitan like Mumbai.

She needed money and that too without disrupting her demanding research schedule. With her mother diagnosed with ovarian cancer, the need became more urgent. There were only two options left – to beg (like they did on social media these days) or to die.

Both were not acceptable to her. If she had fought all circumstances to make this Ph.D. possible, she could fight this too. She looked all around for a job and gave up on the ambition of a lifetime, the Ph.D. was not an option.

That was when Rhea came into her life. She introduced herself as a Model Coordinator. Mythili had caught her eyes from Day 1

The doe-eyed beauty was a head-turner. What beautiful eyes those were. There was also a carriage about her, a poise so unusual in all the wannabe girls these days. From freshers to even some professors in the University, Rhea knew they could pay any prize for this beauty. But Rhea also knew Mythili was a prize catch and would have to be coaxed gently into the business of trading pleasures. And Rhea had already taken the first step in that direction.

It was after a few modeling assignments when enquires for Mythili become difficult to ignore anymore. “Do you know how much that producer was pestering me for an evening with you? But I refused. I told him you are not that kind of a girl... he nearly offered 7.5 lakhs for just one evening with you,” she said.

Mythili looked at Rhea with her usual poker face. You could never tell what was going on in her mind from looking at her face. NEVER. The silence and the look weighed on Rhea.

Finally, Mythili smiled a helpless smile. “What a tragedy,” she said, her eyes like frozen lakes. “They all tell you how beautiful you are... that God must’ve spent much time and effort crafting this beauty, while their eyes are roving all over your body. They think you can’t tell. But a woman knows exactly what is going on in a man’s mind, from the way his eyes move to the way he stands or sits. She knows exactly what is going on in his mind,” said Mythili with steady eyes.

She spoke only a few words but when she did speak, her words could silence you with their intensity and wisdom.

Rhea observed as Mythili went back to her books. There have been many girls before, who she gently nudged into the flesh trade, but this girl was different from all of them. Rhea felt a sudden surge of protectiveness towards Mythili. She was human too, you know!

Rhea inhaled a deep, weighted breath. She was about to do the unthinkable. “Listen Mythu, I’ll tell you something. I’ve never said this to any other girl before. I coerce girls into prostitution,” she said bluntly.

Mythili just looked on at Rhea, her face calm, her eyes still frosty, like the lakes of Siberia must be in the winter.

“You are a beautiful girl and in this world, it’s a crime to be beautiful and needy. Men, wherever you go...they will try their luck with you, use you, and move on. But I... I will guard you. I will only give you to the most decent men, that come to me. They will not hurt you like the others. No one wants your brains or affections dear. Not if you are poor and from difficult circumstances. The only thing they want is your body and the liberty to own it. Don’t be naive. Put a premium on that body and the time they have with it. At least end the financial problems your family has. Give your mother and brothers the life they have always dreamt of. And once you have your Ph.D., fly away. No one will know, no one needs to know. I’ll take care of you. It’s a word and in my trade, unlike the real world – it’s unbreakable.

“Kabira seep samunder ki

Khara Jal nahin le

Paani piye swat ka

Shobha sagar de”

Replied Mythili, watching Rhea, as the frozen glass showed signs of melting. “You are asking me to trade in the one thing I have left in this world, that I can call my own,” she smiled a sad smile. “Fine...take this too,” she said, the smile disappearing now.

“This is my punishment for being beautiful and poor, simultaneously, in this world. My grandma used to say, women and beauty are the two worst enemies a woman can have. I have both on my side,” she remarked, looking at Rhea, as she came over and hugged her close.

“I’ll take good care of you,” said Rhea, kissing her forehead. “Mythu... all your problems are now mine,” she said, wrapping her arms around Mythili

In the Middle of the Bay of Bengal - A Few Days Ago

The cruise was coming to an end in a couple of days. Dhanvin Sangawat, sat next to a beautiful, young lady, oozing wealth and opulence. She wore a huge rock on her ring finger – a sign of her being married, showing prominently on her henna-embellished hands, symbolic of her being just married.

“You are the only one I can turn to and now, you too, are going away from me?” he asked, the pain in his voice too obvious. “What am I going to do now, Meenu,” he called the intimate name, only a few were allowed to use.

“Ani!” she turned to look at the handsome man sitting next to her, his eyes sad and his voice shaky. She was the only woman in the world, he would show his vulnerable side to. “Listen to me... the world is not all that dark as you make it seem. There are good people out there. You need to open your heart. One chance. That’s all I ask. Please, for my sake...won’t you even try,” she pleaded.

“It’s the one thing I can’t give you my dear. Ask me for anything else. My life even...it’s yours to take, but don’t ask me to give my trust and above all my heart. It won’t happen, just won’t happen,” he said, getting up to walk away.

As soon as he stood up, he halted dead in his tracks. The face never ceased to disgust him. So much beauty, yet so ugly. He hated the look of it from the bottom of his heart.

Amrapali Sangawat, second wife to Randeep Sangawat and stepmother to Dhanvin, though, stood watching the tall, handsome man. As Dhanvin tried to walk past her, looking through her as he always did, she cut his path. “She’ll be gone in two days, Dhanvin. Don’t cling to her. If you want to retain your sanity,” she said, with sharp eyes and observant looks, “take her advice. You are young, but this youth won’t last forever. When you look back at the golden years of your life, all you’ll see is lost potential and regrets. So, listen to her,” she said, in an ominous voice.

Dhanvin ignored every word she spoke and walked away. Meenakshi Sisodia looked on sadly, as did Amrapali.

Mumbai – Rhea’s Place – Present Day

“Today is your debut, my dear,” said Rhea, inspecting Mythili. She looked so classy even in the cheap imitation clothes she wore. “It’s your first assignment. He’s young, handsome, and very very rich...”

“How did he pick me Rhea!” asked Mythili, nearly paralyzed by fear of what she was about to do to herself. “I was not even in the parade, why then did he pick me,” she asked, clutching onto her dress.

“He didn’t want to see the parade. Said he needed someone with class. So, I thought of you,” said Rhea, understanding the fears of the young girl.

“Can I run away?” asked Mythili, looking at Rhea through tear-stained eyes.

“Go... go, gladly go,” said Rhea, meaning the words. Mythili looked on as a single drop of water rolled down her left cheek.

“I am ready,” she said, closing her eyes shut tight.

“The car is waiting outside. It’ll take you to the Hyatt. At the reception, give them this card,” she said, handing over a visiting card with the name “Sangawat Steel” embossed on it. It was some sort of an invitation for some corporate get-together.

“Don’t be afraid. When you come back, we’ll go to the spa. Everything will pass,” said Rhea, hugging Mythili close. The truth was, Rhea was equally scared for Mythili.

Mythili stepped out into the hot summer evening and got into a waiting Mercedes C class. The Chauffer held the door open as a handsome young lady, with an upright carriage but from a dubious-looking building came and sat in the car. “Thank you,” she whispered to a surprised chauffeur. After an hour and a half in the Mumbai traffic, she stepped out into the drop-off area at The Hyatt.

As she walked up the stairs to the entrance, the guard ran up to her, to hold the door open for the fine young lady. Mythili smiled a friendly thank you smile and entered. At the reception, she presented the card she was given and the receptionist looked at her, her sense of shock not hidden from Mythili. She wondered why though. She was taken to the 27th floor and the elevator opened into what seemed like a private entrance into a suite.

The bellhop indicated that this was her destination, looking at the woman in awe. “Was she a prostitute!” he thought to himself.

Mythili drew in a deep breath and stepped out into the suite, walking slowly and uncertainly. She stood in the middle of the huge living room, set with classic furniture, with upholstery that must’ve been from France. She looked around the room unsure, scared, and awestruck.

“Good Evening!” she heard the strong voice and jumped in her skin, turning around abruptly.

He saw her then, her hair flowing like the soft river, as she jerked her head around to look at him. His eyes immediately went to her alluring eyes, shaped like those of a gazelle, wide, set to perfection in a pear-shaped face, a slightly pinched-up nose, and a dimpled chin with eyebrows that could put any model to shame. But it was the eyelashes, set against the grey pupils that gave a “can’t look away once you see me” feature to her face.

She had a medium build, at about 5′4", and a slender figure, small, taut breasts, a waist that could be measured by the palm of his hand, and long thin legs. Mythili stood still like a mannequin, as she saw him study her head to foot, feeling the heat rise in her cheeks.

He was tall, athletically built, his face shaped like a diamond with a square set jaw, his eyes, balls of fire, deep brown, a sharp, straight nose, thick brows, and small, forbidding lips. He radiated an aura of power and wealth.

Each took the other’s breath away and both stood stunned at the unabashed display of the supremacy of God’s creation.

He turned his face in a slight angle to the left and Mythily’s eyes responded by widening what were already huge eyes. He observed her eyes widen, to reveal the glorious lashes in full bloom and a smile forced its way out of his lips. Unwittingly, he enjoyed the effect he had on her. It gave his ego a boost. “I must say I am pleasantly surprised. I was not expecting this,” he said, his hands waving up and down in the air, in slow motion.

Mythili looked down, at the obvious reference to her body, her heart pounding inside her chest. Her hands and feet turned cold and her ears, a deep pink.

Dhanvin was amused at her hesitance. If he did not know better, he would have thought she hesitated like a new bride entering her husband’s chamber for the first time. He smiled more openly now. “Sit down,” he pointed to the sofa.

Mythili looked up at him, her eyes calm despite the nervousness, he knew she was feeling. Quietly, she sat down and sunk into the comfortable sofa.

Dhanvin went to the bar counter and returned with two huge balloon glasses of deep red wine. He sat down next to her, his sides brushing the sides of her exposed skin. Mythili’s body went up in flames at the slight touch. She swallowed hard, wetting her lips.

He offered the glass of wine to her. “I don’t drink,” she told him, her voice faint and hesitant.

Dhanvin looked at her incredulously. “I am sorry!” he exclaimed.

Mythili looked into his eyes and the smile vanished from Dhanvin’s lips. The girl was serious. He studied her for a few seconds, gazing into the icy grey of her eyes. Mythili looked away unable to bear his gaze, but Dhanvin caught her chin and implored her to face him. Her eyes rose to meet his again.

Something stirred inside of Dhanvin. “Have you ever been in love?” he asked her.

Mythili’s face was calm, but a small smile appeared on her lips, a rather hesitant smile. “Yes!” she confessed.

Dhanvin watched, more shocked now. “And you can still do this for money?” he asked her, an edge of disgust appearing in his tone. Mythili looked on, her eyes now slightly narrow. Dhanvin read her silence to perfection. “You don’t think you are doing anything wrong?” he asked her.

“How do you understand my silence?” asked Mythili, looking at Dhanvin, her gaze turning more observant now.

“What is your name beautiful,” he left her question unanswered. Mythili looked away from the question.

“No names!” Rhea’s advice rang in her ears. She looked up at Dhanvin then, her eyes calm. “Mythu” she stated.

Dhanvin smiled. “I am Ani!” he offered his hand.

Mythili took his hand, rather hesitantly, her eyes bound to his by an unseen cord.

He didn’t let go of her hand, turning his attention from her eyes to look down at the slender fingers. It was not a soft hand as he had expected. It was a firm hand, one that showed signs of hard work, but the slender fingers and the bright red paint on the nails did make them look pretty.

Dhanvin pressed her hand to his lips. Mythili bit back on the sigh that was caught in her throat. He looked up at her face which had turned pink. A thought struck him. “Let’s play a game,” he suggested. Mythili looked up at him, her smile gone, her eyes worried.

“Let’s pretend that we both love each other and that we care for each other... deeply....” he said, looking into Mythili’s eyes.

Mythili smiled at his words. He had no idea how much his idea had put her at ease. “I can do that,” she said.

Dhanvin’s eyes changed to sad disillusionment. “I am tired Mythu... very very tired....” he told her, his shoulders drooping.

Mythili’s hand went up to caress his cheek. “Have you eaten anything since morning?” she asked him softly.

Dhanvin’s eyes widened. “No, I was so busy running from one thing to another, I completely forgot about food,” he admitted. “Let’s order something...”

Mythili shook her head. “Is there a kitchen here?” she asked.

Dhanvin watched her with curiosity. “You will cook for me?” he asked.

“Of course, my love,” she said.

Dhanvin felt a knot tightening around his chest. He bent down and touched her lips with his, ever so lightly. “And what’s on the menu?” he asked, a look of mischief coming over his face.

Mythili looked over him. “Where is the kitchen?” she asked again, looking around.

Dhanvin stood up and held out his hand.

Mythili took his hand into her warm hand and followed him to the kitchen as if they were just married. She had not seen anything like that before. A huge room, with a marble top aisle in the middle, with shelves at the top and bottom on one side, fitted with all the latest gadgets that you could imagine.

Mythili went over to the shelves and opened them one by one. She turned around sheepishly looking at Dhanvin, who watched her amused. “I don’t have the things that we need,” she told him.

“And what are the things we need?” he asked her.

Mythili stood thinking for a second. She went to the refrigerator, pulled out the fruit juice, and then cut the mangoes that had been arranged in a fruit bowl. Dhanvin watched as she filled a big bowl with cut fruit and juice, and arranged a fork and a straw. “Why don’t you have this while I arrange for dinner,” she said, putting the bowl in front of Dhanvin and pulling the chair for him.

Dhanvin caught her by her waist and pulled her close. Mythili’s hands came instinctively to his chest, as she watched him wide-eyed. Her eyes, like the arctic ice, like the mercury solidified, her pupils wide, dilated.

“What beautiful eyes you have,” he said, as he pressed his lips gently to both her eyes.

Mythili felt her core melt as his lips touched up on her eyelids.

As Dhanvin withdrew, she took a few seconds to open her eyes.

Dhanvin watched her, astonished at her behavior. What an actress she was. She made it so convincing. He still held her close. “And how will you do that?” he asked.

“With your permission...” she said, holding onto his chest.

Dhanvin smiled a smile that melted her heart. “Go ahead,” he told her.

In the next few minutes, a couple of calls were made to the kitchen of the Hotel, and some lentils, a pressure cooker, and a few other things were arranged. In about 45 minutes, a freshly cooked Dal Khichdi with Rajma and Raita was ready on the table.

Dhanvin polished off the whole meal as Mythili watched him with a sense of satisfaction. As he finished the simple meal, he came up to her and saw her plate was empty and the food all gone. “You haven’t even eaten?” he asked, looking from the empty vessels to her.

Mythili smiled at his question.

Dhanvin raised an eyebrow. “How? Aren’t you hungry?” he asked.

Mythili drew in a deep breath. “This has been the most satisfying meal of my life,” she said, her chin supported by her palm, her elbow resting on the table, as she looked up at him.

There was something at that moment, a most intimate, soul-stirring feeling, as Dhanvin stood gazing at her calm, serene face. His arm came from his trouser pocket to her cheek, stroking it tenderly. Mythili sat upright as he touched her. “Get up” he ordered.

Mythili swallowed hard but got up almost immediately. He was much taller than her and she had to crane her neck to look at him.

Dhanvine watched her almost as if her eyes compelled him to not turn away. “Take off your shoes,” he ordered.

Mythili’s face froze at his words, her breath now coming in soft, uneven spurts. She caught the chair with one hand, to balance herself, but the next minute Dhanvin’s hand came around her waist. “I won’t let you fall,” he whispered, stepping closer to her.

Mythili studied him for a few seconds and let the chair go, quietly. She bent over to her right side first, taking off her shoe with her right hand and then to her left. Dhanvin’s eyes though, went from her eyes to her lips, which she seemed to wet from time to time. It showed him she was nervous, even afraid. He would know soon, what those lips must taste like. His eyes narrowed.

His gaze drifted to her slender neck and the plunging V-neck that revealed a cleavage that had not fully matured. Her breasts were small and taut and merged into an almost non-existent waist, which he held secure in his arms.

Mythili looked up just at that moment and caught him studying her. He felt the goosebumps rise on her arms as his eyes lingered on her waist. He looked at her then. “Step on my shoes,” he ordered.

Mythili’s eyes widened slightly as if she was not sure she heard him right.

Dhanvin smiled then. “You heard me right, step over my shoes,” he repeated. He saw her wet her lips again. “You need to hold on to me, if you don’t want both of us to fall,” he said.

Her breath was warm, forceful. Mythili closed her eyes for a couple of seconds and opened them to look into his eyes again. Dhanvin was not sure why she was so scared, maybe a bad experience with a previous customer! He saw the hesitation turn into a decision.

Mythili slowly brought her hand to his sides, holding him hesitantly, and then put her feet one by one on his shoes. She was immediately 3 inches taller than earlier.

Dhanvin’s head tilted to the left now, noticing how she bent away from him. He could feel her pushback in his arms. “Hold on tight...” he whispered as he bent low. “I don’t have to bend too low to kiss you now!” he teased, as her eyes widened in panic and shame, her cheeks wild with blushes.

As she pushed back in his arm, Dhanvin's eyes turned into balls of fiery desire and he pulled her closer to him. His lips touched her lips slowly, as he watched her with half-open eyes.

Mythili shut her eyes tight, her grip on his shoulders, tightening into a firm grip. Dhanvin pressed his lips on hers now, pushing to find entry into the paradise she withheld from him. His right arm came from behind her waist to the nape of her neck, adjusting the angle of her head, to give him better access. Her hair felt like the softest silk he had ever touched.

A small warm sensation began in the core of Mythili and as Dhanvin pressed his lips into her, the warmth seemed to expand into a ball of fire around her naval. Unable to bear the pressure, her lips capitulated and Dhanvin’s mouth plunged into hers, taking all he found in the way. He crushed her to him, his mouth going in deeper and deeper as Mythili’s hands left his shoulders and came around his neck, gripping his hair tight at his intensity.

Within seconds, they were both fighting to breathe and Dhanvin changed the angle of the kiss, his tongue now mercilessly dictating terms to hers. Mythili’s heart was close to exploding at the things he did to her. He let go slowly, still holding her close, his mouth moving away, but his lips still lingering on hers. He didn’t want the moment to end, he didn’t want to be parted from those lips.

Slowly, after kissing her softly a couple of times more, Dhanvin withdrew, his eyes heavy with desire and passion. Mythili though was not in her senses. She had no clue what had happened, panting hard, her breath caressing his throat, eyes shut tight. Dhanvin smiled at her. He bent over and whispered in her ear, “Mythu, you are crushing my toes.”

Mythili opened her eyes abruptly, realizing what had just happened. “I am sorry,” she said, trying to get off his toes.

“Uh huh!” said Dhanvin shaking his head slightly. “Where do you think you are going?” he asked, his right hand coming to stroke her lips, which were somewhat swollen at his kisses. “Your toes...” Mythili started uncertainly.

He looked up from her lips then, his eyes intent on hers, his eyebrows raised. “I said that to wake you up from your dreams,” he stated. “I enjoyed that kiss... You are a great kisser!” he complimented.

Her eyes changed from confusion to gloom. Her head and heart screamed to her simultaneously. ‘You are falling for him’. She wanted to tell him the three words that seemed to have taken over her existence in the past few minutes.

Dhanvin watched as her eyes, ran amuck all over his face. It seemed like she wanted to say something, but the words were stuck in her throat. “You want to say something?” he asked, his face curious.

Mythili’s brows came together in a frown and separated as quickly. She smiled then, the gloom gripping her eyes now. “I enjoyed that kiss too,” she replied, relinquishing her shame.

Dhanvin smiled widely, observing her closely. He released her from his grip slowly and Mythili stepped away from him. “I have eaten, you have not. I’ve had some dessert too, ” he said, coming close and playing with her hair, as Mythili looked to the ground. “What should we do now?” he asked.

Mythili’s head rose hopefully then, searching his eyes.

“I am waiting!” said Dhanvin after a few seconds, knowing there was something she had in mind.

“Let’s talk about you,” she asked sheepishly.

Dhanvin shook his head. “I can’t do that,” he told her, his hand running up and down her arm.

Mythili drew a deep breath. “I know,” she said. “Don’t give me any specifics. Talk in generality,” she asked.

Dhanvin studied her for a moment. Sure, he had bought pleasures of the flesh before too, but this was way abnormal. The girl was quiet, there was a poise about her, that he had never seen in girls from this class, she was too reserved for a girl from this profession. If he had not known better, he could have sworn, she behaved like she was an intern at some corporate house or something.

“Then let’s start with you,” he said, pulling her closer and sweeping her off her feet. Mythili, looked down as he caught her close to him. He took her to a room beyond the dining area. It seemed like a bedroom. He carried her past the bed to the French windows, that were open and an infinity pool lay in front of him. He set her down on one of the lounge chairs laid there. “Can you swim?” he asked. Mythili nodded shyly. He pointed to the far left. There’s a woman’s changing room there. You’ll find everything you need over there. Change and come back here,” he told her.

Mythili got up to walk towards the room barefoot. He caught her hand immediately. “Don’t keep me waiting long,” he said, his eyes smoldering with uninhibited desire. She nodded shyly and walked away.

A few minutes later, as she walked in with a bathrobe around her, she saw him making a lap from one end to the other end of the swimming pool. He heard the sound of footsteps even as she tried to tread softly, the watery surface around the pool announcing her arrival. Dhanvin hauled himself out of the pool right where Mythili stood.

Mythili did not know where to look, for Dhanvin wore nothing but swimming shorts, that barely reached his lower thighs. He was dripping wet with water and he was coming towards her. She stood clutching her robe close to her chest. She had never undressed before a man and her heart was doing strange things inside its chamber, thudding fast one moment and skipping a beat the other.

Dhanvin came over to Mythili and stood towering over her. He put his hand on her hand and slowly opened the knot tied to the robe. The belt fell away and Dhnavin gently pulled away the bathrobe from her slender shoulders. She had chosen a black backless one-piece, which had blue piping running across the hem. It fit her like a second skin.

Mythili’s chest was heaving erratically as she stood in front of him. She was scared to look up, scared to see what she would find in his eyes. Dhanvin’s eyes though rested on her chest, watching her nipples go taut as he looked on.

“Mythu, are you a good swimmer!” he asked coming closer, hugging her close to him.

Mythili closed her eyes as he caught her in his embrace. “I am ok, I can manage in swimming pools, not oceans and rivers,” she said, just to keep her mind occupied.

Dhanvin separated from her and looked at her strangely. He caught her hand in his and led her toward the pool. As they came close to the pool, he saw Mythili, put one foot into the water. “Is it OK?” he asked.

Mythili looked up at him unsure what he meant. He held her eyes captive with his burning browns. “The water?” he asked. She nodded a yes. Dhanvin cupped her cheek in his palm and bent over to kiss her lips again.

They entered the pool together, holding hands. Mythili stayed close to the edge and Dhanvin swam to the middle. He saw her hesitate and indicated towards the shallow side. The pool was about 4 feet deep at the shallow end and 9 feet deep at the other end. As Mythili reached the shallow end, Dhanvin caught her and pulled her to him. This time though, his lips took her throat, pressing into her jugular.

Mythili gasped, pushing up out of the water, and stood up. He came from behind her and caught her to him. “Did I scare you?” he asked, looking just a tad worried. “Are you OK?” he asked, not waiting for an answer. His lips brushed across her shoulder and ran over to her neck. He pressed his lips over her earlobes and then bent down to kiss the area under her earlobe. Mythili shivered at this unknown intimacy. Dhanvin felt Mythili shiver in his arm. He turned her to face him slowly.

Her face had turned a deep pink. “Your face...you are blushing....” he exclaimed, unwittingly.

Mythili looked into his eyes, holding the tears in her eyes from falling. “Is that abnormal!” she asked.

“Who are you?” he asked her. “You know the answer to that question,” she told him.

Dhanvin studied her for a minute. She was sharp and witty. “I’ll ask again. You don’t have to give me specifics. Who are you?” he asked.

“It’s not important. What is important is that I am human, just like you,” she told him. Dhanvin’s brows knotted in a frown. “I feel everything that you do Ani, every emotion that you feel, I feel too,” she explained.

Dhanvin pulled Mythili closer, but this time, her eyes did not look away. They withstood the intensity of his gaze, overpowering them with an aura of their own.

“I have known many women in life Mythu, very well educated, educated in some of the best universities of the world, ambitious, gorgeous, wealthy....but there is something here, that I have not seen in a young woman before. What makes you so wise?” he asked, his eyes intent on her.

Mythili looked down, a half smile on her lips.

“Why do you smile?” he asked impatiently.

Mythili looked up at him, drawing a deep breath. “I am so wise, that I am here today, in front of you, giving in to your carnal needs. This is the reward for my wisdom,” she said, with calm eyes.

“Pothi padh padh jag muya,

pandit bana na koi,

dhai akshar prem ke,

padhe so pandit hoye,”

Dohe by Kabir Das.... said Mythili, walking away from him for the first time.

Her words were powerful, filled with pain, pain that her beautiful face expertly concealed and was unmatched. He had no answer to give her. Dhanvin went after her and caught her hand as she was about to get out of the pool. Mythili turned around to look at him, stopping where she stood.

“Mythu, pull me out or drown with me,” he offered.

Mythili turned around fully and caught him with both her hands. “Help me,” she told him. He smiled at her and let her haul him up.

“Do you still care for me?” he asked her, studying her eyes. He is reminding me it’s all a game, thought Mythili to herself.

She walked up to him and touched his cheek with her palm, looking up at him. “For as long as I am here, I will care for you...Ani,” she told him. She is reminding me that it’s all a game, thought Dhanvin.

“You know you are a very good actress. I know some producers and they could help you land good roles. Would you be interested?” he asked, studying her keenly.

Mythili looked at him, her eyes, sheets of cold glass, her face pale now. “Is the state my life is in, not enough, that you want to ruin it some more?” she asked him

“What is the state of your life Mythu?” asked Dhanvin. The curiosity in his face seemed so genuine. Don’t fool yourself, Mythili. This is dangerous for both of you, her inner voice said. “A dream, I am living a dream right now, a beautiful dream, but, bound by time,” she told him.

“Then let’s not waste any more time,” he said and picked her up once again, his arms holding her close, his eyes stormy again.

Mythili’s eyes though, had a warm glow about them. She was sure for the first time in her life. There was no turning back now.

Dhanvin carried Mythili to one of the lounge chairs near the pool and sat down with her on his lap. Both were wet, dripping water, but the wet bodies, as they touched each other, created unimaginable heat.

Dhanvin bent down and took her lips urgently. His left hand went from her waist down to her hips and thighs. His hands kneaded her slender thigh muscles as his lips wreaked havoc over hers. He came down to her throat and his mouth took her collarbone, in a kiss that set fire to Mythili’s insides.

She was like an instrument and he an expert, extracting myriad tunes from it. Where his lips touched her, a new note of music emerged. Unable to hold himself, Dhanvin pushed Mythili under him and stripped away the straps of the swimsuit, to expose her breasts. He took his fill at the sight of the ready, taut breasts. He took his time, fondling and kissing them, one by one.

Mythili was in seventh heaven, her head spinning with a dizziness she had not known before, her core a furnace of need. Dhanvin stopped for a brief moment to look at her, as she lay under him. He carried her from the pool to the bed and lay her there. Mythili opened the sheets and Dhanvin got in next to her, coming over to her immediately.

“Hmm! Where were we?” he exclaimed, as he bent over her naval. She was warm now, her fingers caught in his hair, as he went back up to take her lips. His hands went from her naval to her hips as he raised her to meet his waiting needs. He had now stripped her naked, studying her slender form as Mythili lay with her eyes shut tight.

This was it. She was crossing over now, from one side of the social order to the other, to be forever dammed. The word prostitute would apply to her from this moment on. The pleasure she felt a few moments ago was gone. People buy services, like medical, financial, etc. And people buy services like carnal pleasure too. The only difference between the first category and the second is, somethings should never be sold or bought.

The body is a temple of the soul and she had just sold it off to a man who wanted to use it to satisfy his base needs. Mythili was ashamed of herself and waited for the ordeal to end soon. It was over in a few minutes, the last guard to her virginity breached.

Dhanvin withdrew and saw a few traces of blood on the sheets. He looked from the sheets to Mythili, who lay still like a dead body. The tears that raced down her eyes, confirmed his worst fears.

Dhanvin sat up with a jolt and rushed into the bathroom. He came back dressed and helped her clean up. Wordlessly Mythili took Dhanvine’s help to clean up and then dressed up. Dhanvin got her a glass of water and she drank a little and put the glass away.

“Have some more water,” said Dhanvin softly.

Mythili shook her head in refusal. “I am OK... I would like to leave now,” she said, unable to look him in the face. She was not sure, she would be able to look anyone in the face after that day.

Dhanvin came over to her and kneeled in front of her. He cupped her face with both his hands. His eyes were sad, like hers. He kissed her on her eyes and then came down to kiss her lips. Mythili swallowed the tears in her eyes. Dhanvine released her and looked at her for a long time, as she sat with her head held down. “Look at me Mythu,” he ordered.

“I can’t,” she whispered.

“I want to feel your gaze on my face once more,” he told her.

Mythili raised her head slowly and looked at him, her tears barely held back.

Dhanvin’s fingers balled into fists. “I wish...” he left the sentence hanging.

Mythili smiled a sad smile. “I wish too Ani...” she said.