A Tale of Transfer

She sat outside the "Recruitment Room', as part of a group which shared a debut nervousness. This was their chance to make it to the corporate world. They had all worked sufficiently well as interns. Shuvangi wanted the placement be made in Hyderabad. That was where Arshit flourished in his late father's pearl business. She met him online -- blackpearl73 -- two years back, and like in an era bygone, they decided not to meet till they could be together. It was not that she had never seen his face, or spoken to him. They just did not meet, ever.

When she was placed for an internship at Delloitte, she chalked up a plan to togetherness. She slept with the boss. Gradually, and regularly. And each time she did, she saw Arshit's face making love to her. Defying all distances, truths and norms, she delved deeper in her act. The boss was a charming bachelor, who never got into an earlier relation, no one understood why. But Krishnammam's solid shield could not resist Shuvangi's appeal.A fresh face, buzzing with ideas, her pixie-hairstyle exposing an elongated neckline, in harmony with her waist and legs. She seemed a creature out of a graphic novel, with a taste for clothes which never failed to be noticed. In fact, nobody could believe they did not know a thing about her. She hid well. One from the other.

Outside, at the waiting area, Shuvangi knew the job was hers. Wisely, she had kept herself away from Krishnammam for the last ten days, but been deliberately dirtier over the phone. She casually slipped in, 'The night after the interview, when I am happiest, I shall make you happiest too." Krishnammam used to ask her why she wanted Hyderabad when he could arrange for her to stay on in Chennai and work along. "Oh Krishna, distance will make things more exciting", as she ran her nails, softly, over his ankles.

As expected, she got the job where and how she wanted and assured Krishnammam she would return to their pact of convenience whenever they would be in each others' cities, and would keep in touch. He did not seem convinced.

Arshit was there to greet her. A flood of love swept over the virtualness of their beings. He took her straight to the house he had set up, meticulously, for her and served her succulent mutton biryani. He informed her over their intense coming together that in two months' time there was an auspicious date to wed. Next morning he left for his shop leaving Shuvangi wrapped in the smell of newness.

She moved around the cozy flat in her Tintin bathrobe and coffee. She opened the window and put up her dusky, unending legs on the parapet. Everything was happening in a super-fast movement. She decided to pause for a while and take in the air and relish how things fell in place. Arshit had nobody in this world, and her parents lived with her brother in Pune. She was financially independent and could fix a decent dinner if she so wished. She was at home with the comfort of love, and luxury. 

As she pulled down her legs to realize she had fallen asleep, she made herself another cup of coffee to return to the same position. All episodes fitted well. All, except one. And no amount of re-calculations could bring forth where the error lurked. 

Last night when they melted into each other, and made wild love, it was Krishnammam all over.