Even as Raja Rao began to stir in hope, leaving the door ajar, Roopa started shedding her sari. ‘Why cover myself when he’s coveting me,’ she felt amused as she undressed languidly as if to allow him time to catch her in the act. When she became stark naked, she turned towards the door only to find it still ajar. Reaching her wardrobe then, she pulled the nylon lingerie that she earmarked for the occasion in all her anticipation, and fondling it lovingly, she wore it leisurely. In time, she was in front of the mirror thinking amusedly, ‘Won’t it reveal my mind to him besides my body. It’s time I find out.’
When Roopa was about to pull open the door, Raja Rao pushed it open for her.
‘I love you,’ he took her hand.
‘I’m lovesick,’ she said pressing against him, ‘I need treatment.’
‘Oh, how I’ve been dying for you,’ he said, lifting her head and looking into her eyes with all his longing.
‘I wonder how I didn’t turn mad in my craving for you,’ she said holding him deliriously.
‘I felt wretched fearing I might have lost you,’ he said tightening his hold on her.
‘I was worried to death that I may not make it with you,’ she said as she began to sob.
‘Roopa, don’t cry,’ he said as he kissed her tears. ‘Now I am yours forever.’
‘Longing for this moment,’ she said cuddling him, ‘how I became an urchin of love.’
‘I always felt your love in the pulsations of my heart,’ he caressed her head even as she wetted his shoulder.
But when he felt her heavy, realizing that she had fainted, gliding her tenderly, he put her on her bed, and rushed for water.
‘Are you okay, my darling?’ he asked her, as she opened her eyes.
‘Come on, feel for yourself,’ she stretched her hands, inviting him into her embrace.
‘I’ve always felt you are mine,’ he rested his head on her ample breasts, turned heady by her heaving.
‘You’ll never know how I craved to be yours,’ she said, running her fingers through his curly hair.
‘Ever since we’ve met,’ he said pushing his head into her enticing valley, ‘I always felt my life would be half empty without you.’
‘You know how scared I was about leading a loveless life,’ she pressed him into her, further.
‘I’ll give you so much love that you can spare as much as you want to Sathyam,’ he said enigmatically.
‘I can never love him,’ she said dismissively. ‘Moreover, he doesn’t need my love any more. Anyway, I could never think of loving anyone but you.’