Date, Mate and Marry

Greetings

Monday morning. It was 9:58 AM. We had a meeting with our Project Manager with all team members participating. Indhu, Bindhu and me were all expected to participate. The PM was a terror and a stickler to time. Good Morning Sindhu wished Bindhu. In moments followed Indhu. We were all there in the Meeting Room at 9:59:59 AM. PM John Jerry arrived sharp at 10:00 AM and kick started the meeting. At 11:00 AM, the meeting ended and we three girls went to the cafeteria.

Sindhu: “So Indhu how was your date last weekend”
Indhu: “Just great. As usual”
Bindhu: “Indhu, Why don’t you marry and settle down with a person? What charm do you get by dating?”
Indhu: “I don’t believe in a marriage. It’s a pain. It’s not fun anymore. Look we are all working. We do earn handsomely - Enough to lead a comfy life. See there is a lot of fun in dating. You get to meet so many guys and understand the diverse mindsets”
Sindhu: “No comments. I always try to test out things before I accept anything!!!”
Indhu: “So you want to have fun upfront is it. That’s what dating is all about.”
Sindhu: “No. Not your kind of dating. My dating definition does not have physical flings at all. A big NO to love-making”
Indhu: “Stupid…What’s wrong? When you can touch and hold hands and fingers then why not play with other parts. That’s just another part of the body. Is it not? For me all are equal and all parts in a body are equal too!”
Sindhu: “That’s not my belief. But I don’t want to advice you not to do something that you believe in. Go ahead. Enjoy”
Bindhu: “I want to break a news to all of you. My father has fixed the Bride-Parade-Ceremony for tomorrow. I want you to attend the same and help me in that.”
Sindhu: “Why not?”
Indhu: “By the way, how are you progressing with Rahul, Sindhu?”
Sindhu: “Rahul strongly believes in the concept of marriage. He wants to marry me. I am against. He says he loves me very much”
Bindhu: “Accept a person who wants you”
Sindhu: “No. Not me”

The next day we attended the function. The bridegroom’s party arrived with the groom in simple attire. Bindhu was all decked up for the occasion. I stood in a corner, in clear line with the groom. In minutes, the bride was called upon to serve hot coffee to the groom. Without batting an eyelid, I was just observing the groom. When Bindhu was approaching the groom with a glass of coffee, he took a good look at her face. As she neared him, his eyes fixated on Indhu’s flat midriff. As Indhu started moving away from the groom, the groom was all smiles. The crowd there asked the groom if he wanted to have a word with the bride. He nodded in agreement.

Bindhu Weds…Manu sucks

Bindhu: “Hi. I am Bindhu. You are Manu right?”
Manu: “Yes. I am Manu. How come you are confused with my name?”
Bindhu: “So many grooms have trooped in and out”
Manu: “From the bottom of my heart, I am telling you…I like you. I liked the first time I saw you. How about you?”
Bindhu: “If you like me, I too like you”
Manu: “Wow. I like that. So our marriage is almost fixed. Ha…ha…ha”
Bindhu: “hee…hee…seems so”
Manu: “Don’t worry. It’s my word that prevails at my home. Everything will start rolling on from this moment”
Bindhu: “Ok. Bye”
Manu: “Ok. Bye Bindhu”

The groom and bride moved out of the room and went in opposite directions. Indhu moved into the house while the groom moved towards the main hall.

Indhu: “So all over? Success?”
Bindhu: “Yes. I think”
Sindhu: “Congratulations Bindhu”
Indhu: “What the heck. He just saw your face, hips, color of your forearm skin, and whatever little he could see in the sides and your bums when you walked back, and said he liked you is it? I just can’t believe it. Anyways…wish you the best”

Bindhu and Manu got married in a month. They had a short honeymoon and Bindhu reported back to office. But as days progressed Bindhu’s married life started to rock. She had typical problems faced by millions of young married girls in India. She had a tough husband, nagging in-laws and demonic mother-in-law. Her word never prevailed at home. Though she was earning good enough, she had nothing to spend. The salary was to be handed over. When she questioned mildly, Manu told her that, he married her because she was earning well and that he had already planned his financials taking her income into account. “My matrimonial ad clearly stated – Wanted BE/MCA qualified, Good looking, Fair, Home loving and Employed in IT – you responded to this ad, right?” countered Manu. She did not protest, but realized that he was a sucker. She used to couch and weep in privacy, thoughts of her pregnancy held her back.

Rahul offers…Sindhu suffers

In the office next day, Rahul pings Sindhu for a coffee at café. In the café Rahul spoke, “Sindhu, My parents have started looking at marriage proposals. We need to decide up fast. If you have any reservation, let me know. I will not make an issue out of it. Why don’t you open up your mind? Say yes or no. Do you want me to beg you so many times? You are so friendly. And you have not shown any signs of hatred towards me. Shall I presume, that you are in love with me, or at least the same feelings that I have for you?” “No. Don’t conclude anything. At this moment I can’t say whether I am in agreement with you or not. Give me some time. I will come back to you, on your proposal” I replied. “Bullshit ^ Are you evaluating other options? Am I a commodity for you?” thundered Rahul. I suffered a mild spasms at his thunders, but took deep breaths and cooled down. “No. Don’t mistake me. See, marriage is a serious thing. I for one don’t believe in marriage. Shall we have a sort of live-in arrangement? No-loss, no-pain arrangement?” I queried. “No, no way. I don’t believe in live-in relationship or different forms of that. I will offer anything to you. Think of a marriage and come back to me ASAP” replied Rahul. “Ok. Let me take some time” I replied and we moved on. Though I never had anything against Rahul, I had some reservations. But I was confused though. We have gone to movies together. We have had dinner together. Something was holding me back.

Sindhu’s Surmise…Sachin’s Surprise

That weekend Indhu and myself went to a movie in the afternoon. We met Sachin in the movie theater. I had not met him for quite sometime now. We watched the movie together. In the evening we three went to a restaurant, amidst heavy rain. Indhu’s guy arrived at the restaurant and they left us. Rain was belting; it was late; there was power cut all over; and I was forced to go along with Sachin and stay put in the apartment. We spoke on current affairs and the struggles that we encountered in life thus far. The conversation veered towards love and relationships.

Sindhu: “Its quite a while since you divorced your wife, right?”
Sachin: “Yes”
Sindhu: “May I ask you with your permission…if you planning one more wedding?”
Sachin: “Bullshit @*#(…hell with a marriage”
Sindhu: “Cool down…calm down please. I am sorry if I troubled you”
Sachin: “That’s ok”
Sindhu: “What are your plans then? What you never had many years back, you have now…in your life, right?”
Sachin: “Yes, I do. But I don’t believe in the concept of marriage anymore and I don’t preach on that any more. There was a time when I used to say ‘what’s life without a wife’ No more of that now”
Sindhu: “Then do you believe in some sort of live-in arrangement…?”
Sachin: “May be I can consider that…”
Sindhu: “If it’s a no-loss, no-pain one, will you vouch for that?”
Sachin: “It sounds interesting. Have you designed one?”
Sindhu: “Yes”
Sachin: “May I know that? In case if you believe in that or strongly vouch, you may explain that to me!”
Sindhu: “My pleasure”
Sindhu: “It’s a sort of live-in arrangement. But allows retaining each other’s space. Live separately during the weekdays. Meet up on holidays and weekends. Share feelings. Share private moments”
Sachin: “Sounds interesting. Your surmise surprises me. Very close to what I was having in mind. But could not put in words as lucidly as you did now. Wow. I like it”
Sindhu: “Ah. What a moment. Thank God. I have now come across a person who believes in my concept”
Sachin: “I am interested. Do you also?”
Sindhu: “I strongly vouch for this concept”
Sachin: “Good”
Sindhu: “Yes”
Sachin: “Is it not just friendship. I meet up my friends too on weekends and party together. What’s different in this concept you say?”
Sindhu: “Yes exactly. It’s a friendship. But something more. You share your feelings with your friends too. But here it is with the opposite gender. Probably you can share some intimate moments too, if need be. A sort of no obligation friendship with opposite gender. A female requires support. In marriage so many strings are attached leading to enormous pains on either side. In the model that I am proposing, the female can avoid many pains, but can get the much-needed support – the guy gets support too. Parting is easy, with no strings attached ”
Sachin: “Ok. I am sort of convinced. But is there a precedent to this model”
Sindhu: “To the best of my knowledge no. Anyways, when you are fully convinced let me know, we can discuss further”
Sachin: “Sure”
Sindhu: “Good Night”
Sachin: “Bonne soirée”

Sachin offered a bedroom with a small cot to spend the night. Since there was nothing to be done at my place, I stayed put with Sachin the Sunday morning. We skipped breakfast, had lunch at Anna Lakshmi and went for a movie. After the movie, I went back to my home. I wondered why life could not go on like this every weekend. I started to admire Sachin – he was appreciative of the concept, shared the same sort of feelings, never tried to entice me physically, he was accommodative, et all.

The following Friday evening, I called up Sachin, and asked him, if I could accompany him to his apartment. He obliged, with a condition. He said, Friday nights he will have a peg or two. I agreed. I spent the whole of Saturday with Sachin, and left Sunday morning.

Indhu argues…Sindhu counters
Sunday evening, I called Indhu home. When Indhu arrived I told her that I had spent the last two weekends with Sachin.

Indhu: “Wow! What a surprise!! Great Going!!!”
Indhu: “Do your parents know?”
Sindhu: “No. But I have decided to continue this arrangement. I am planning to aggress with Sachin, to know his response”
Indhu: “Was there any physical relationship?”
Sindhu: “No. No way”
Indhu: “But do you mind having?”
Sindhu: “Never thought about it. Even Sachin did not rake up this issue”
Indhu: “Good going. But what about Rahul? And the proposals that your father sent you?”
Sindhu: “Father’s proposals – to hell with that. Rahul…if Sachin agrees, then Rahul will be out of my scene”
Indhu: “You suddenly sound aggressive. Good. Step in the right direction, I believe”
Indhu: “Look, Rahul is well off; wealthier than Sachin; much younger than Sachin; carries a better physique than Sachin; he is fresh!”
Sindhu: “Yes, of course, all your points are true and valid. But Sachin is much more stronger emotionally; carries lesser ego; has experienced life; shares my views; Rahul believes in marriage but I don’t; he’s seen a divorce and knows the reasons – so I believe he can handle a relationship better that Rahul; so Rahul is a baby of sorts; and hence my first choice will be Sachin”
Indhu: “Nothing to beat your argument”
Sindhu: “I want to believe in my conviction and reasoning”

The following weekend Sachin left for Bangalore to catch up with his friends. Without Sachin around the weekend was very boring and frustrating. Thoughts of Sachin filled my mind. I didn’t know if that was love or not. I missed Sachin for sure. I skipped food. And never even prepared my wardrobe for the coming week. Indhu arrived in the evening.

Indhu flirts…Incurs dirt

Sindhu: “How was your date?’
Indhu: “Bad. He was a cheat. He never was a Bank executive. He exploited me and left me. We were dating for the last six months or so”
Sindhu: “But for six months did you not know that he was not a bank executive?”
Indhu: “He was working with the bank. Not a direct employee. Not in executive cadre too. He was just a lower level staff, but dressed hep.”
Sindhu: “Oh so sorry. Just forget it as a bad dream and move on”
Indhu: “You see. I only was dating him and never married. To that extent I am safe. Yes we made love couple of times. But that was with my consent and anyway I enjoyed it as much as he enjoyed. So nothing to regret”
Sindhu: “Hmm. But I would have been shattered, had I been in your place.”
Indhu: “Not to worry. Inder already sounded out to me. I may start dating him”
Sindhu: “Is it our 9th floor Inder?”
Indhu: “Yes. You are right”
Sindhu: “Too much. But be careful”
Indhu: “Yes. I need to be careful. He might look average but…He’s got money, car, and is in good position in our company. And single. What else do you require from a man. See you cannot sometimes trust external guys telling you they work for so & so company. It might not be true. In Inder’s case, we know for sure that he works for our company in a good position”
Sindhu: “But tell me… why do you date. What is the objective for your dating spree?”
Indhu: “You cannot afford to make a hasty decision right? Marriage is not like going to a restaurant with your hubby. You order what you want, but when you see the items in the other table, you feel you should have ordered that”
Indhu: “It will be foolish, if you try to find the meaning of happiness after marriage”
Indhu: “Marriage is like a mousetrap. Those on the outside are trying to get in. Those on the inside are trying to get out.”
Indhu: “Understood Sindhu? Have fun. Derive happiness before marriage. Get to know a guy. If he sounds ok, then may be we can start living together and then marry. Who knows…?”
Sindhu: “I am confused”

Indhu’s experience with her date and logic scared me very much. It terrifies when I imagine marrying or living with an unknown person. I just started to look forward to the next weekend with Sachin. The week kept me busy with tight work schedules and Friday arrived in a flash. My mobile started ringing, at about 1 PM, with Sachin’s signature tone. We decided to meet up in the evening.

Sachin agrees…Sindhu kisses

The whole of the week I had never spoken to Sachin and had lots to speak to him. Sachin arrived at about 8:15 to my office and picked me up. While having sumptuous dinner at a restaurant...

Sindhu: “So how was the weekend in Bangalore?”
Sachin: “It was fine. Enjoyed with my friends. Lots of discussions, etc”
Sindhu: “Lucky you. Mine was very boring and frustrating. I could not catch up with any of my friends. Indhu and me had dinner last Sunday. That’s it. I missed you a lot”
Sachin: “Hmm”
Sindhu: “Can I ask you something serious now? Are you in a good mood to talk philosophy?”
Sachin: “Why not. Talking philosophy with a drink will be fun. Anyways. Go on”
Sindhu: “Marriage is NO more than four bare legs in a bed. Honeymoon is just a short period of doting between dating and debt”
Sachin: “What do you think of Live-in arrangement, Sindhu?”
Sindhu: “Not a bad idea. But it is too close to a marriage. Living together in the same place and sharing lives on a daily basis, is more like a marriage, I feel. If you start living together…the returns gradually decrease, frustration gradually increases.”
Sachin: “I understand. Good Research by you. I appreciate that.”
Sindhu: “Sachin. You are working full time. I am working full time. You have a career. I have a career too.”
Sachin: “Yes”
Sindhu: “I need space. You need space”
Sachin: “Yes”
Sindhu: “For the last couple of weeks, I have been feeling great. I have been able to concentrate on my work better, with better energy levels. This is all, I guess, is because of you! I have always looked forward to the weekends with you. I enjoyed life with you during the weekends”
Sachin: “Me too”
Sindhu: “So why not we live separately as we are now, but spend time together only during weekends? The model I explained sometime back.”
Sachin: “I agree. I definitely have found no issues between us. In fact, I relish the weekends too. But do you think we need to bother about society”
Sindhu: “Damn it. What is society? Who is society? Society will be eagerly waiting for something negative to happen, blow it up and make a mountain out of a mole. If our minds are together we need not bother about society. The word society is not there in my dictionary”
Sachin: “Cool. I appreciate this the most. I too don’t care about society. Society always wants to make public, someone else’s private issue. I don’t know who stays next to me in my apartment.”
Sindhu: “For a change why don’t we stay in my apartment for the weekend? Do you mind?”
Sachin: “No. Not at all…”
Sindhu: “Are you confirming to my model. I am ok with that and if you agree, we can start off…”
Sachin: “Sure. Cheers. In principle I am OK”
Sindhu: “Agreed…I have a colleague of mine, Rahul, who was doting me. I will move him out of my scene”
Sachin: “Oh. Sure go ahead”
Sindhu: “Thanks”

We came to my apartment and on entering into the home I just hugged Sachin tightly and planted a sweet peck on his cheek. He was surprised and awed, but after a pause, pulled me closer gripping my soft midriff. While I saw stars; his thumb circled my midriff tantalizing my navel; I smiled at Sachin; I felt relieved; tears rolled down my cheeks; while we gazed at each other; Sachin punched a great deep kiss on my cheek and necked me. I pulled back and parted; and went to sleep.

Bindhu Conceives…Manu Deceives
Indhu arrived that Sunday evening. Surprisingly Bindhu too arrived after a long time.

Bindhu: “Hi girls. Whassup?”
Sindhu: “Nothing…what a surprise?”
Sindhu: “Why are you looking so forlorn?”
Bindhu: “Too many issues at home. So I just came to your place to spend the night with you.”
Sindhu: “What happened?”
Bindhu: “My husband has started drinking too much. In laws constantly bicker. I feel like committing suicide. The hell with marriage.”
Indhu: “Why don’t you divorce him at once?”
Bindhu: “The thought of my pregnancy, society and parents – all put me off the divorce path”
Sindhu: “Forget society. Society is just a mirage. There is nothing called society”
Indhu: “Yes, I agree. What the heck is marriage for? It is to share feelings, support each other physically. Did you both plan for the pregnancy or was he conceived just like that?”
Bindhu: “No. It was not planned”
Indhu: “I know. That’s what happens in India. First child is the result of the first hot crossfire and the second one is always due to misfire”
Bindhu: “But I want my kid”
Indhu: “Do you remember what I told you? I repeat, First date, Then Mate, Marry-if-u-want”
Sindhu: “No Comments”

Bindhu was stuck in a muck called marriage. Bindhu’s travails and Manu’s deceit scared me and Indhu’s dating never convinced me. I was confused and terrorized.

Indhu Dates…Inder Mates

Two weeks later on a Sunday Indhu came home.

Indhu: “Inder is really a nice person. I spoke to him on a live-in arrangement with him. He was ok with it.”
Sindhu: “That’s great.”
Indhu: “We had fun too”
Sindhu: “What?”
Indhu: “Yes. We made love the whole of last night. Real fun it was. My God”
Sindhu: “He agreed for a Live-in arrangement and you spread your legs is it?”
Indhu: “May be that promise tempted me”
Sindhu: “I just can’t believe it”
Indhu: “What about your decision on an arrangement with Sachin?”
Sindhu: “We both have decided in principle”
Indhu: “Wow that’s great”

Few weeks later on a weekend with Sachin…

Sindhu: “Sachin, shall we continue our discussions. Our In-Principle agreement should be put into practice. Its high time, I feel”
Sachin: “Why not?”
Sindhu: “Great. In fact without any commitment we have been very regularly meeting on most weekends in the last few months”
Sachin: “Yes. I agree. I like it that way. No commitments”
Sindhu: “Me too”
Sachin: “So if you are in agreement we can deck up our apartments, make it look more like a home than a bachelor’s accommodation”
Sindhu: “Is there any legal formalities’
Sachin: “No. Its my wish and your pleasure – and Vice Versa”
Sindhu: “I feel great. Sense of relief”
Sachin: “Good. I too feel great”
Sindhu: “Will you force me to have a physical relationship?”
Sachin: “I will not force it unilaterally. But if both of us agree then we can go physical. I have tasted all. You?”
Sindhu: “Nope. But…sounds perfect”

The next day in office, at café, Indhu told me that Inder had resigned and was about to get relieved. He has taken up a new job. He reneged on his promise to me. He said he couldn’t have a live-in arrangement with me confided Indhu. I was flabbergasted. But I couldn’t do much. So she was once again cheated upon. I was shit scared. The same could happen to me too, who knows. I prayed that Sachin would be a nice person forever.

I decked up my apartment and Sachin’s too was fully decked up. We tossed a coin to decide whether we stay at my place the first weekend. It was. I was looking for the first Friday after we formally decided to stay together during the weekends. During the week Sachin had to leave for a 3-month trip to New York, for a Client Project. I was shocked. But that was life and I had to digest it.

No-Loss, No-Pain… Life Starts

Sachin came back and we met during the mid-week over a dinner. We decided to start the arrangement with a weekend stay in my place. Many months passed by and we both are happy with the arrangement. Though our parents have stepped up the pressure insisting that we marry, we are convinced we are happy this way. We never even speak to each other during the weekdays. We both look forward to the weekends to share and speak up. I have retained my individual space and so too he. In traditional marriages, we need to compromise on this aspect. Generally, small issues cropping between couples tend to get blown out of proportion by people within the house or neighbors. In our arrangement, that is not there. Every alternate week we swap our stays – between his home and my home. So the element of change too is built-in. In fact, few weeks back, we had been on a three-day holiday to Ooty – the Queen of Hill Stations.

Indhu too was convinced with this arrangement and she is looking for a partner now. Pregnant Bindhu was staying with Indhu. After a few months Bindhu got a son and divorce - gaining custody of her son. She continued with her life as a successful software engineer, but a failed married life. She dedicated her life to her son.

Sindhu yearns…Sachin strokes
Many months passed like this and Sachin arrived at my place on a Friday. He was fully drenched when he entered home. “What happened?” I enquired. “Car broke down and I had to wade in the rains. I got drenched. Car is ok now though!” replied Sachin. I tried to help him remove his wet dress. I removed his wet shirt and moved down, while he was toweling his head and face. Wantonly I caressed his chest and rump. His hand moved shyly caressing down my shoulder. He started wheedling my tender flesh and it started to stiffen gradually. In minutes I was aroused to the brim by his sensual triggers. I started to squirm lasciviously on the edge of the bed. au naturel! He went down on his knees on the floor and I wrapped my legs around his shoulder. His face wriggled between my thighs. While we gazed at each other, he grew harder and my sluice gates opened slowly. I smiled and he creamed the ooze in my folds. My heart raced merrily and tiny butterflies flew inside my stomach. My yearning peaked; I squeezed him by clamping my arms and legs around him. When he gently but firmly thrust in, my folds started pulsating and gripped his stony-member. While his thumb fondled my love-button; his firm thrusts in my folds lifted my excitation beyond control. My body throbbed in intense bliss with mild grunts. When I felt, I was about to irrupt; I enticed him to stroke harder and deeper. In minutes thereafter, I climaxed with a volcanic eruption deep in my cave. He reclined with his soft member. I smiled. He smiled. I showered kisses all over him to show my gratitude. The thrill of sexperience is beyond words.

Life that is going on like this! Sharing feelings…Sharing weekends… Bonheur eternal
Sindhu