First Chapter Of " Almost Like Paramours"

Prelude

'Yes yes, your loan will be sanctioned within the next 24 hours. Don't worry!' 

Rohini said as she looked at the screen of her laptop. 

Two more personal loan files are to be cleared and five house loan files too.

Arghya, the manager had sent back three files cleared by her yesterday with notes of varied kinds. 

One file in particular, she knew, needed to be scrutinized more as the CIBIL score was low.

But the other two? 

She never thought Arghya would send them back too. Perhaps she had overlooked something.

'If I take fifteen minutes for each one, then for 10 files it will be 150 minutes...meaning 2 and half hours of slogging more!' 

Rohini looked at the lower end of the laptop screen.

It was already 5 pm. 

' Then no way of going out before 7.30 pm.' 

Rohini typed in Riju's number.

' Will you be able to pick up Jojo from tuition?'

' How can I? You know I am in a service that does not allow me to tweak my work hours as you people do!' 

Riju blurted out. 

Like the way he usually does, giving always a priority to his work, and his work ethic to be more specific.

'okay...I will do something...' 

After hanging up she sighed.

She dialled Vikram.

After four or five rings, Vikram picked up.

'Yes...what's up?' 

'Are you busy?'

'Nah! we never remain busy...people like us...we got no work to do...madam ' 

Vikram laughed a bit.

'Arey baba... tell me Nah...are you busy? ' 

' not at all... how can I serve you?'

'can you pick up Jojo from tuition? I got stuck at the bank...it will take 2 and half hours more...can't go out before that' 

'from where? that tuition near five point crossing?' 

' yes...dear...' 

Rohini replied, feeling relieved already, sensing that Vikram would pick Jojo up.

'okay...don't worry...I will 

' thank you

Rohini almost gushed.

She felt she was not only feeling relieved but also quite happy. 

For the last few months, since Vikram had come into her life, like the scent of lost spring, Rohini noticed she was feeling happy unnecessarily.

At curious hours too.

Early morning when she wakes up, the first thing she finds in her WhatsApp is one or two unseen messages sent to her by Vikram.

Almost every morning Vikram sends her WhatsApp messages carrying pictures or images.

In most cases, she sends back smiley or similar emoticons.

On some rare occasions, she sends a reply, forwarding similar befitting messages with pictures or images.

Despite having been in many relationships in her forty-plus life, Rohini feels Vikram has certain qualities which she has not found in many men.

Vikram has never shown any interest, at least outwardly, in getting physically nearer to her, despite getting opportunities.

Once Vikram picked her up from Lake Mall.

It was a late evening of a rain-filled day. Rohini went there for collecting the documents from a client.

Riju was constantly calling her and asking when she would come home as Jojo was alone at home and Riju had night duty.

Rohini, that evening, did not take her scooty. 

Being desperate she called Vikram.

Vikram arrived with his motorcycle within 45 minutes.

The rain had by then turned into a drizzle. A soft misty kind of drizzle that could never wet anyone and yet that could create a feeling of romantic sensation was on.

Rohini distinctly remembered how she felt after riding pillion for a few minutes in the drizzle. 

That was for the first time she was riding pillion with Vikram in the driver's seat. When they were crossing the bridge at Chetla, the drizzle turned into a light rain. 

Vikram stopped the motorcycle by the road and they took shelter in front of a closed shop.

By then a rain-filled breeze was flowing. 

Rohini had felt goosebumps. She recalled how the teats under her half-wet bra got hardened a bit. Vikram was humming a song. Rohini, in that half-light of the evening, standing under the shed of a shop, for the first time perhaps, looked at Vikram, sort of stared, with a different mind. 

She admired Vikram. 

Knowing fully well she was drifting away to a very slippery and risky zone, she stared at Vikram, his arms, portion of the chest, his side profile.

Vikram was, however, not even noticing her. 

Had he even slightly noticed him, he would have made out that look of admiration in Rohini's eyes? 

But certain things happen for a reason. 

As Vikram was ignorant, Rohini was keen.

One's ignorance sometimes helps others' keenness.

This time, Vikram took the responsibility of picking up Jojo, and Rohini opened the house loan files.

She hoped that she would be checking all boxes quickly and easily and wrapping up the work within the next two or two and a half hours.