Swara blew out a deep sigh, still basking in the endorphins of release. It was as if the valve had been opened, releasing all the pent-up pressure she'd been holding back for so long. She risked a glance at Sanskar, to see if he'd felt it too - the connection b/w them. The handsome face gave nothing away, but his usual half smile had disappeared. A little of her euphoria slipped away. Was he disappointed? It was by far the best s*x she'd ever had, made even more spectacular by his insistence that she lock her gaze with his. Those deep dark eyes had tugged at her emotions & it had taken everything she had to shut down her feelings b4 they took her over. He would hate that...hate her...if she fell for him like all the rest. If he knew that he'd gotten to her, he'd never respect her.

Swara- I suppose we need to get back.

With concerted effort, she forced her features to mirror his expression of indifference. She reached for her blouse, but Sanskar saw her intent & snatched it up b4 she could get to it. He held it up over his head like a third grade recess playing keep away. She made a feeble grab for the blouse, but he was much too tall.

Swara- Come on. It's late & I need to go home. I have to work tomorrow.

Sanskar- Yeah, you're probably right.

His eyes glittered like black onyx, almost as if he was angry with her. He seemed oblivious to his own nakedness & unconcerned about hers. Despite the heat, she snatched the blanket from the ground & wrapped it around her shoulders.

She told herself...
You got what you wanted. No strings. No guilt. Don't be a baby about this.

She spun around in a circle, looking for her pa*ti*s. They were nowhere to be found.

Sanskar- Are we good here, Popsicle?

The look of puzzlement on his face brought a quick stab of guilt to her gut, along with relief that some emotional distance had been forced b/w them.

Sanskar- You aren't going to get weird on me, are you?

Swara- I can't find my pa*ti*s.

They were La Perla (The Pearl), her favorite pair, & expensive. She spumg in a circle, squinting in a dying daylight. After a few minutes she gave up. The man was a pa*ty magician. She found her skirt & yanked it on undercover of the blanket.

Sanskar- What happens now? We just walk away now? Like nothing happend? Is that what you want?

A muscle twitched in his cheek, but his face remained impassive. She knew what she didn't want; she didn't want this night to be over & she didn't want him to think she was pathetic groupie like all the rest.

Swara- Sure...I guess...Yes.

Was that a flicker hurt in his eyes or she or did she imagine it? With a shrug she went back to putting on her skirt, amused on her own stupidity. That was a ridiculous idea fueled by a naïve girlish fantisies.

Sanskar had an ego the size of Texas. Of course, he wasn't hurt. She was just another notch in his bedpost.

Swara- I don't think I'm capable of having feelings right now. I mean, it's only been a few weeks since Sameer. And you are so not my type. I'd be an idiot to fall for you just bcoz we had some great s*x.

The words were hollow, meaningless, but she said them anyway to fill up the empty space b/w them & bcoz that's what he wanted to hear.

Swara- This was just what I needed. A little cheap & meaningless s*x to take the edge off & set my head straight. And we both got what we wanted, right?

Sanskar- What's that supposed to mean?

The hard edge of his voice caught her off gaurd.

Swara- I mean, we both know the last thing you want is another girl hanging on your jock. And the last thing I want is a relationship with someone like you.

The verbal diarrhea just kept pouring out of her mouth & she seemed powerless to stop it.

Sanskar- Someone like me?

He threw her blouse at her. It hit her in the chest & slid to the ground.

Sanskar- God, you are the most frustating women i have ever met!

Swara- I don't understand. Are you mad at me?

She dropped the blanket, shoved her arms into the blouse, & began to button up the front.

Swara- Why are you mad?

Sanskar strode over to the crumpled heap of his clothing. He yanked on his jeans & t-shirt with short angry jerks, muttering to himself about mules & crazy women.

When she was dressed again, she attempted to run her fingers through the snarls in her hair & risked a glance at him.

He threw the food & empty wine bottle into a sack, stashed the cooler behind a tree & shoved the blanket into the saddle bag of the motorcycle. By the scowl on his face, he was pissed--- really pissed. He hopped on the motorcycle & started it up,revving the motor into the red line.

Birds exploded from the trees. The angry sound split the silence & rumbled over the lake like thunder. After a few seconds, he shut the motorcycle off & dismounted. He crossed the distance b/w them in two paces, chest heaving.

With trembling hands, he ruffled his hair & scrubbed at his face. She'd never seen him so angry b4. He took another step toward her. Confused, she backed away. When at last he spoke, his voice shook with emotion.

Sanskar- Just so you know...as a general rule. I don't do this.

He shoved his hands through his hair again.

Swara- What do you mean?

She shrank back another step.

Sanskar- This.

With his right hand, he drew a circle in the air b/w them.

Sanskar- I don't do this. Whatever just happened b/w us...I don't want that.

She stared at him, feeling foolish but unsure how to remedy the situation.

Sanskar- You made me feel something that I don't want to feel.

Swara wanted to believe him. Sanskar the Ripper don't say things like that unless he meant it. But she had her own walls to break down & her heart wouldn't allow her to believe. She could do nothing but stare back at him, wordless as a garden statue.
After a minute, he shrugged, got back on the bike & started it up.

Sanskar- Get on the bike, Swara.

His tone was cold & harsh.

Swara- No, not until you explain this to me.

By this time, she was close to tears & too stubborn to admit that she might have been wrong about him. He had gone to a lot of trouble to set up this night & it had been perfect until she had messed everything up.
Contrite & humiliated, all she wanted was to get as far away from him as she could.

They were miles from the city & well past midnight. She would have to go back with him. The idea of sitting behind him in the motorcycle --- pressed against him after the intimacy they had shared --- knowing that she had insulted him was too much.

Swara- Get on the goddamn bike. Now.

A cloud passed over the moon & left them in darkness. He turned the motorcycle around & came up beside her.

Sanskar- I'm not going to say it again.

It was a long cold ride back to the city. When he dropped her at the entrance to the parking garage.
She hesitated b4 dismounting the motorcycle.

Swara- I'm sorry.

The words tumbled out of her mouth. Apologies came hard for her, but she swallowed her pride & did it anyway.

Swara- I did't mean what I said. I don't know why I said all those things.

Sanskar- Forget it. It was just s*x, Swara. No big deal.

His cold casual dismissal made her heart sink. She watched him ride off into the darkness until he turned the corner & disappeared.

Precap- Leap of...(guess😝😝😆😆)

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