Priya stood for a moment, refusing to believe that Aman could do such a thing.  Surely there was explanation for all of this.  He couldn’t really be this angry, could he?

Priya knew Aman wouldn’t be back til later tonight because tonight was Boy’s Night, but she needed answers now.  Priya hesitated before picking up her phone and dialing Aman’s number.  It rang for a while, but no one answered.  Should she try again?  Two missed calls might make him worry.  This was important though.  Priya tried again.  

“Hello?” Aman’s voice answered.  

“Aman, I need to talk to you. It’s urgent.” Priya said hastily.  

“What’s the matter?” Aman replied coolly.  

“I came home and all of my things were no longer in the bedroom,” Priya explained.  

“Touchdown bitches!” Hiten’s voice came hollering through the receiver. Obviously, the guys were watching football.  

Aman went into another room in order to get more privacy.  

“And your point?” he asked snarkily.  

“Why would you do that?” Priya asked.  

“There’s no need for us to keep up this facade any longer.” Aman replied.  

“What do you mean?” Priya asked.  

“With Payal gone, what’s the need to share a bedroom anymore?” Aman answered.  “If you aren’t going to act like my wife, why live like my wife?”

Priya’s heart sunk.  How could he say such a thing?  She enjoyed being with him.  She’d grown so much closer to her husband by sharing a bedroom with him.  And she spent so much time with him.

“But…” Priya couldn’t think of anything to say.  This was all her fault.  

“Priya, just leave it alone.  All of your stuff is in your old room.”  Aman interrupted.  

“Aman, you’re not being fair.” Priya pointed out.  

“Not being fair?  Priya, you’re the one who is reluctant to be with me in every way I need you to be.  What’s the point of sharing a bedroom and sharing a bed if you aren’t willing to satisfy my needs?  We’re just roommates, not a married couple and you know it!” Aman grew angrier as he spoke.  

Priya couldn’t bring herself to reply.  She knew this was all her fault.  She had been reluctant to go along with the arrangement in the first place, and now she was the one complaining about things going back to the way they were.   Aman was right.  There was no point in sharing a bedroom unless they maintained a physical relationship.  

“I have to go. Don’t wait up.” Aman said before hanging up on Priya.  

Priya stared at her phone in disbelief.  Aman was being particularly rude to her, and she hated every moment of it.  

Boy’s Night was finally here.  Rajiv, Aman, and Hiten had spent the evening at Rajiv’s apartment, and they planned to spend the rest of the night in New York City’s hottest clubs.  

“Rajiv, my boy, take a look and choose wisely.” Hiten told Rajiv as the trio approached the long line of people, mostly scantily clad women, waiting to be granted entrance.  

Rajiv looked at the women, but didn’t say anything.  Crimson streaked his cheeks as one of the women winked at him.  Hiten slipped the bouncer a couple hundred dollars to let them in without having to stand in line. Men with wealth like Hiten and Aman had didn’t need to wait in lines.  

“First round of drinks, I’m buying.” Aman announced when they got to the bar.  

“Whiskey first then tequila shots!” Hiten exclaimed.  

“I don’t drink much.” Rajiv interjected.  

“It’s okay. Drink what you want.” Aman answered.  His job was not to force Rajiv over his limits, but to observe how far Rajiv’s limits reached.  

After the whiskey, Hiten tried his hand at flirting with the lonely looking girls around the bar.  Aman did his best to be Hiten’s wingman, but not many of the girls were interested.  One even asked for Aman’s number instead of taking Hiten’s when offered.  Rajiv watched all of this in silence.  He was secretly grateful that getting Payal to talk to him hadn’t been half as difficult.  

“All of this effort and only two phone numbers.” Hiten said disappointedly.  

“Tequila will make you feel better.” Aman replied. He order four rounds.  

“Ready?” He announced.  His companions nodded.  They simultaneously tipped their glasses upward, feeling the alcohol simmer down their throats.  

“This really does make a person feel better.” Hiten said.  Another round of shots were taken.  

After the first two, Rajiv had stopped but Aman and Hiten finished all four.  They were nearly out of their sense but neither of them cared.  

“Sir, I should call it a night. Would you like me to take you home?” Offered Rajiv as it approached two o’clock in the morning.  

“No! Rajiv, the night is young.  Stay.” Aman said.

“Rajiv, don’t you wanna dance with any of these fine ladies?” Hiten countered, noticing that Rajiv hadn’t approached a single woman tonight.  

“No sir, I am not good with women.” Rajiv blushed, looking at his shoes.  

Rajiv again asked if Aman and Hiten would make it home alright.  Aman practically shooed him away.  

“He’s a nice boy.” Hiten commented once Rajiv left.  

“Great for Payal.” Aman agreed.

“Hey.” A blonde girl with way too much makeup on greeted Hiten.

       “Well hey there.” Hiten shot her a charming smile.

       “My friend thinks you’re cute.” She said.

       Aman stifled a laugh.  Hiten’s smile faded.  He thought he was going to get lucky with this blonde bombshell standing in front of him, but instead she was trying to fix him up with her friend.

       “Oh.” Hiten sounded disappointed. “So where is this friend of yours?” he asked, quickly losing interest.

       “Right over there.” The blonde girl pointed over a table in the left corner of the night club.  Sitting at the table was an Indian girl wearing a long, sequin dress with a sizeable slit on the side.  Her entire leg was exposed as she sat there by herself with a drink in her hand.  Hiten’s eyes stayed glued to her leg.        

       “Maybe I should go introduce myself.” His eyes never left the girl sitting at the table as he began to stand up.

       “Her name is Aditi. You’re welcome.” The girl said as she walked away.

       Once Hiten was gone, Aman found himself feeling low. He and Priya weren’t on the best of terms right now, and everything just seemed bleak.  He watched in jealousy as women moved their bodies sensually against the bodies of their significant other or even just strangers in the club.  Aman gulped down some vodka and began to feel his mood lighten.  Without thinking, he walked up to a group of girls and asked if one of them would like to dance with him.  All of them seemed willing.

       “Choose whoever you like.” Said one of them.  Aman’s eyes immediately fell on the girl standing in the back of the group.  She had tan skin and dark hair.  She seemed Indian and reminded Aman of Priya.  She was taller than Priya and her body was clad in a skin tight, short black dress that he knew Priya would never wear.

       “Hi. I’m Aman.” Aman held his hand out to the girl.

       “Tamanna.” She said, taking his hand.

       “Would you like to dance with me?” he asked.

       “Sure!” she replied.

       The rest of the girls in the group watched on jealously as Aman pulled Tamanna onto the dance floor.  Aman rested his hands on Tamana’s hips, unsure at first whether she’d mind or not.  Tamanna pulled Aman closer, snaking her arms around his neck.  The song they were dancing to had a slower beat than what normally played in the clubs.  They swayed along with the music feeling intoxicated by the mixture of alcohol and music in the atmosphere.          

       “You’re married.” Stated Tamanna.    

       Aman held up his left hand bringing his wedding ring into plain view.

       “Yeah.  Newly married.” He confirmed.

       “Where’s your wife?” she asked.

       “This really isn’t her type of scene.” He answered.

       “Arranged marriage?” asked Tamanna.

       Aman was taken aback at Tamanna’s question.  How had she known he’d had an arranged marriage?  He stopped abruptly as he looked at Tamana with bewilderment.

       “H-how did you know that?” he asked still surprised.

       “I had one too.” She answered nonchalantly.  She began to sway to the music again, but Aman stayed still.

       His eyes wandered back to her very revealing dress.  He turned back to her group of friends, who were no longer paying attention to them.  He concluded that she was having a Girl’s Night Out away from her husband.

       “You’re married too?” he said in disbelief.

       “Yeah. Come on.” Tamanna grabbed his hand and pulled him back towards the bar.  She took a seat on one of the bar stools and patted the seat next to her, indicating Aman to sit.   

       “Does your husband know you’re here?” he asked.

       “No. He’s out of town.  He’s the traditional type, you know.  Keep the wife at home.  Wear a sari. Cover your head. Don’t go in public by yourself.  Cook, clean, and care for the children.  That’s not me.” She said.

       “Clearly.” Aman replied gesturing to her outfit.

       “I hate being married.  My uncle found him for me.  It wasn’t the best choice.  He chose him because he was well off and valued culture or some shit like that.  If he’d have chosen someone like you instead, I’d be one happy girl.” Mused Tamanna.

       Aman chuckled.  He found Tamanna very entertaining.  He liked her forwardness and boldness.  She held a certain level of confidence that he found attractive.

       “Damn. Sounds rough. My marriage was a business deal.” Aman replied feeling that he could open up to Tamana.

       Her eyes widened in disbelief.  She paused to assess what Aman had just said.

       “Seriously? A business deal! That’s ridiculous.  Wow. I didn’t think that actually happened in real life.  Did you know each other at all before getting married?” asked Tamanna.

       “Not at all.  We met a few days before we got married.  We got married in India and I brought her back to New York right after.  We were practically strangers.  What about you?  Did you know your husband before getting married?” replied Aman.

       “For six months.  We met, stayed in touch for two months, were engaged for four months, then we got married.  The honeymoon sucked.   He took me to Toronto and we stayed in the hotel for a week.  Literally, in the hotel. He wouldn’t take me sightseeing or anything.  And he wasn’t even that great in bed.  He wasn’t exciting, you know.” Tamanna said casually as if simply mentioning the weather, instead of divulging private details about her married life.

       Honeymoon?  Aman hadn’t taken Priya anywhere for their honeymoon.  She freaked out at the mere mention of going on a honeymoon with him.  He couldn’t even think about what could happen on a honeymoon right now.   Now that he’d forced her back into her old room following Payal’s departure, he’d all but given up hope on ever consummating his marriage.

   “Did you hear me?” asked Tamanna, interrupting Aman’s thoughts.

       “Sorry, what did you say?” he asked, shifting his attention back to her.

       “I asked where you took your wife for your honeymoon.” She answered.

       “We didn’t go on one. She didn’t want to go on one.” Aman admitted.

       “Really?  It’s a free vacation! I hope the sex doesn’t suck.” Tamanna commented.  There was that confidence Aman liked.

       “Oh well…we haven’t…done anything.  We even sleep in separate bedrooms now.” Aman confessed.

       “Damn. It doesn’t even sound like you’re married. You’re just living under the same roof!” exclaimed Tamanna.

       Their conversation continued.  They were both enjoying their night away from their less than satisfying married lives.  They ordered more tequila shots.  Aman was in the mood to let loose and get drunk.  He hadn’t had any fun since his bachelor party, and Tamanna seemed like she was a lot of fun.

       “What’s your wife like?” asked Tamanna after downing her first shot.

       “Traditional.  She always wears saris even if I tell her not too.  She loves to cook.  She’s shy. She’s sweet.”  Aman said.  He didn’t know what else to say about Priya.  Traditional was the perfect word to describe her.  He also thought she was beautiful, but for some reason, he didn’t want Tamana to know that.

       “Sounds like the perfect match for my husband.” Tamanna said.

       Her response bothered Aman.  Priya was his and only his.  He didn’t like the thought of her being the “perfect match” for another man.  He downed another shot.  The alcohol burned in his throat.   He felt his senses deteriorating, but he didn’t care.

       “Let’s dance.” Tamanna said, forgetting about the rest of the tequila shots that lay on the bar counter untouched.

       Aman was more than happy to oblige.  He and Tamana pried their way through the crowd to the center of the dance floor.  Tamanna positioned herself in front of Aman, her back leaning against his front.  She moved her hips provocatively to the music.  Aman’s hands found her hips.   He didn’t hesitate to dance against her.  His hands roamed freely over her body.  She turned around to face him.  Their eyes locked.  Tamanna inched closer to Aman until there was no distance between them.  She gently touched her lips to his.  Aman allowed passion to overwhelm him.  The alcohol had numbed his senses.  Instead of pulling away, he kissed back.  Their kiss became more fervent.  Aman was the one to break the kiss.  He took a step back, completely shocked at what he’d just done.

       He’d just kissed another woman!

Aman hurried off the dance floor and began to search for Hiten.  He needed to leave before things went too far with Tamanna.

       “Aman!” Tamanna called from behind him.  She placed a hand on his shoulder.  “It’s okay.  I don’t care that you’re married.  And from what you said, it doesn’t seem like you’re completely happy with your wife.  I can make you happy.” She said.

       Aman turned to her.  He looked into her pleading eyes.  She was suffering the same way he was.  They were both trapped, tied down to people they didn’t love, people that couldn’t make them happy.  He did the unthinkable.  He kissed her again.  Tamana had received her answer.

       Aman led her out to his car.  The drive to his mansion was silent.  They both knew what they were about to do was a sin.  Neither of them cared.  The silence was broken by the sound of pelting raindrops from the heavy downpour that had abruptly started.  Aman glanced at Tamanna.  She seemed calm.  Internally, he was anything but calm.  He hadn’t been with a woman since a week before he had left for India.  This was much too long.  Aman wasn’t the type to stay celibate, nor was he the type to stay faithful to a single woman. He was surprised he’d lasted this long.  

       Aman’s car pulled up to his mansion.  The car came to a stop.  Neither he nor Tamana made any effort to move.

       “You live here?” Tamanna asked in disbelief.

       “Yeah.” Aman said.  “Listen, don’t make a sound.  My wife is home.”

       “Really? Okay. I love a challenge.” Tamanna said confidently.

       Aman entered the door first.  He motioned Tamana to follow.  The two silently climbed the stairs.  Tamanna stifled a laugh.  She found it amusing that Aman was so afraid of a wife that really wasn’t his wife.  They were only married for the sake of a business deal.  He didn’t love her, just like she didn’t love her husband.

       Once they were safe and sound in Aman’s bedroom, Aman let out a huge sigh of relief.  His heart was pounding a million miles a minute.  He knew that he shouldn’t be afraid of Priya finding out that there was another woman in his bedroom, but he really didn’t want to disappoint her.    Aman closed and locked his door.  He waited for a few seconds, pausing to listen to any possible signs of Priya walking in the hallways.  After hearing nothing, Aman turned his attention back to Tamanna.  She was wandering around his room, gaping at its expansiveness.

       “Damn. Your bedroom is huge.” She commented.  Her eyes landed on a bottle of vodka that stood on a table that served as a sort of makeshift bar in the corner of Aman’s bedroom.  She grabbed it and took a swig straight from the bottle.  She turned back to Aman, handing him the bottle.  He drank enjoying the renewed intoxication that engulfed him.

       Tamanna entered his vision as he set the bottle aside.  She sat on his large bed beckoning him to join her.  He took a spot beside her.  She leaned in and kissed him.  His hand snaked around her waist, pulling her closer.

       “We shouldn’t.” Aman whispered once he broke their kiss.

       “We should.  We deserve to have our needs satisfied.” Tamanna whispered back as she connected her lips with Aman’s again.

       Tamanna’s hands traveled around Aman’s neck, pulling him closer.  Her fingers intertwined in his hair as she deepened their kiss.  She brought her hands forward and placed them on his chest.  She stroked the buttons of Aman’s shirt, undoing them as her hands traveled down his torso.  She peeled his shirt off, and led his hands to her waist.  Aman hesitated.  This felt wrong, but he didn’t want to stop.  He turned Tamanna around so that her back was against him.  He moved her hair to the side, exposing her shoulder and back.  He kissed her neck before trailing kisses down to her shoulder.  Aman reached for the zipper on the back of Tamanna’s dress.  Once he pulled the zipper down, he stripped the dress off of Tamana’s body.  He couldn’t help but stare at her.  She laid down on the bed as he positioned himself on top of her.  Their lips met again.

       “Aman, let me make you happy.” Tamana whispered against Aman’s lips.  

YOU ALL HATE AMAN!!! I know it! This was shocking right? OMG!! Priya will have a field day! It’s not like she’s about to find out any time soon though.

Tamanna means 'desire' like the girl that fulfills Aman's desires !

 I actually wrote this scene quite a while ago. The story was always leading up to infidelity.  Let’s see if Priya can learn to love him despite all of these hurdles.   

Unfortunately, updates will be a lot slower (hopefully once a week!) because classes have started and my life just became soooooo difficult :(   Sorry to leave y'all hanging for a prolonged amount of time at such dramatic turn of events in the story. Blame it on my school! 

Tell me your reaction! Don’t hate on Aman too much.  

COMMENT and VOTE!!!!