Page 14 of Driven By Desire

K rish came home at seven that evening to find Chirag sprawled on the couch with a cloth draped over his eyes.

Lips twitching, he took in the pained exhaustion in his pose. “Rough day?”

The cloth shifted enough for one plaintive eye to peep out. “I need alcohol.”

“I’ll finish my shower and pour us both a glass. Where’s Pooj?”

“Retired hurt from the arena and sulking in her bedroom.”

Grinning, Krish made his way to his bedroom. Dumping his laptop on the bed, he yanked his tie off and loosened his shirt cuffs. Walking out again, he made his way over to Pooja’s room, which was on the same level as his, and knocked.

“Go away.” The surly response satisfying him as to the normalcy of the day, he went back to his room and turned the geyser on. He was just loosening his shirt buttons when Chirag walked in.

“How do you feel about going out? All three of us. It’s been a while and it’s Saturday night.”

Freezing in the middle of pulling his shirt off, Krish raised an eyebrow, “What about Pooja?”

“Maasi’s house?” Chirag asked, hopefully.

“Twice in less than a month.” Wincing, Krish finished taking his shirt off and tossing it into the laundry hamper. “We’ll never hear the end of that.”

“It will be worth it.” Plopping down on the bed, Chirag added dreamily, ‘Booze, music, women.” The last word came out on a dreamy sigh that had Krish laughing.

“Fine. I’ll ask Maasi.” Pulling his mobile out of his pocket, he started to dial when Chirag grabbed it from him.

“You go have a shower and get ready. I’ll talk to her and handle the flak and the lecture. It’s about time someone took a turn from you. I’ll wake Adi as well.”

Frowning over the last bit, Krish asked, “Why is he sleeping at this time? Is he sick?”

“No. Just lazy.” Making shooing motions towards the bathroom with one hand, Chirag dialed with the other.

Grateful for the reprieve, Krish headed for the shower.

Checking to see that the spray was steaming hot, just the way he liked it, he shed the rest of his clothes and stepped under it with a sigh.

Bliss. Bending his head forward, he let the water stream down his back.

His mind emptying of the stresses of the day, he found himself looking forward to the night out with his brothers.

Unbidden, imagined pictures of Max on her night out reeled through his head.

He wondered if she wore her cargo pants when she went out on a date as well.

Cargo pants with scandalously sexy underwear underneath.

He found himself hardening as an image of Max in siren red lace underwear and nothing else sprang to mind.

Groaning, he rested his head against the cool tiles and desperately tried to think of something else.

He’d managed to block her out for most of the day but she’d popped up at regular intervals just to remind him that some things in life stayed constantly out of his reach.

Maybe he should run through Pooja’s exam timetable.

That was something that could cool anyone’s ardor.

When even that didn’t work, he gave up and swung the shower handle from hot to cold.

Grimly making sure the icy water rained down on the most recalcitrant part of his body, he waited for it to behave.

He was in the bathroom a long, long time.

He’d pulled on jeans and was shrugging into a pale blue collared t-shirt when Chirag walked back in.

“We are irresponsible, immature and incapable of any form of morals and family values.” Pausing, he pretended to try and remember before adding, “Oh! Also, selfish and inconsiderate.”

“We’re still going out right?” Grinning at Chirag’s chuckle, Krish quickly tucked his shirt in and ran a brush through his hair.

“I’m ready.” Adi bounded through the door with his usual burst of excessive energy.

“And I’m blind.” Chirag managed, dryly, as he took in the neon green shirt, tight black jeans and gelled, spiked hair.

“It’s called style.” Doing a snazzy turn in the middle of the room, Adi shot a pointed look at Chirag’s sedate grey and white checked shirt tucked into light blue jeans. “Something you obviously don’t know much about.”

“Really? I had no idea the parrot look was in style.”

“It’s a heck of a lot better than blending into the wallpaper.”

“Whatever else you’ll do tonight, it won’t be blend.”

“Leave him alone, Chirag.”

Enjoying his older brother’s support, Adi shot Chirag a triumphant look before saying “Thanks Bhai. I knew you would understand.”

“Of course I do.” He turned the lights and air conditioner off before leading them out of the room. “Blink twice if you need to be rescued from the fashion police. I’ll be there in an instant to post bail.”

The loud laughter and good natured bickering continued all the way to the car and through the drive to their aunt’s house and had even Pooja forgetting her earlier bad mood and joining in with a smile.

Pulling up in front of the house, he looked over to see his aunt’s plump figure framed in the door of the house.

Waiting to lecture them a bit more no doubt.

Refusing to let anything ruin his mood, he got out of the car and took Pooja’s hand.

When he felt the tiny hand squeeze his own, he looked down.

“I’ll go on my own.”

Gratefully accepting the out she was offering him, he went down on one knee next to her. “Thanks. I owe you.”

“You’re welcome.” Throwing her arms around him in a brief hug, she whispered, “If you let me pierce my ears, I’ll consider us even.”

“We’ll negotiate.” She was going to make a terrific businesswoman one day.

Grinning, he ruffled her hair and stood.

Waiting in the driveway for her to safely reach the front door, he eyed the militant stance of his aunt.

Hands on her hips, saree pallu tucked into her waist, she glared at him over the tiny figure approaching her.

“Pooj?”

Halting close to the front door, Pooja turned back and called, “Ya?”

“Consider it a done deal. We’ll go tomorrow.”

A scream of joy rent the air even as she ran back towards him. Throwing her arms around him and squeezing with all her might, she yelled, “Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.”

Staggering under the weight of her gleeful hug, Krish laughed, “You’re welcome. Plus you earned it.” Gesturing discreetly towards the door, he added, “Look what you’re saving me from.”

“Leave her to me.” With that strangely adult statement and the confidence that went with it, she gave him one last exuberant hug and ran back to their aunt.

He waited and watched until she was safely inside with the door shut behind her before getting back into the car with the two other juvenile delinquents he called family.

---***---

She definitely wasn’t wearing cargo pants.

She was wearing a handkerchief. And God help him, it was red!

Two pieces of string tied around her neck held up the scrap of cloth that clung to her toned, lithe body like it was painted on.

Her hair streamed down her back in a waterfall of black ending at her waist. Her dress ended mid-thigh exposing lean, shapely legs that seemed to go on forever before ending in pale gold stilettos that would make lethal weapons.

However, nothing would ever be more lethal than her face.

He’d never seen her with makeup on before, he realized a trifle dazedly.

Her eyes looked like deep, mysterious pools while her lips, sweet heaven, were a moist, succulent slash of crimson that had him craving a taste of them more than he did his next breath.

When Chirag gave him a friendly shove from behind, he realized he was still standing in the entryway of the pub. Taking a few shaky steps forward, he gestured the steward over.

“Table for three.” He mouthed over the blaring music.

The man acknowledged him with a brief nod and led them to a booth a scant few feet away from the spot near the bar where Max sat perched precariously on a barstool.

The Goliath leaning over her seemed thrilled with his vantage point which afforded him an excellent view of Max’s cleavage.

Sliding into the booth, Krish dragged his gaze away from them and glared at Chirag. “Did you know she was going to be here?”

Pretending not to hear, Chirag buried his face behind the menu. Emerging a few minutes later, he realized his brother’s glower hadn’t in any way dimmed. Handing the menu over to him, he cleared his throat uncomfortably before telling the waiter, “I think I’ll have a beer.”

“You needed the menu to decide on that?” Yanking the menu out of Chirag’s hand, he tossed it to Adi. Blissfully unaware as always of the undercurrents at the table, he ran through the selections quickly before settling on a Bloody Mary.

“Scotch and water, please.” Krish added briefly to the order before waiting for the other two to decide on the starters they wanted. He was going to strangle Chirag before the night was over. He didn’t know where this new urge to play matchmaker came from.

Letting the retro music wash over him, he settled back in the seat as Chirag ordered enough food to feed an army. Although, they had Adi at their table so even that might not be enough.

Familiar husky laughter floated across to them causing all three of them to turn towards the bar.

“Is that Max?” Adi’s incredulous voice had Krish glancing back at him. If his jaw dropped any further, it was going to be dragging on the floor.

“Is there anything going on between the two of you?”

Krish’s grim question had Adi staring at him in horror.

“What? NO! Max is, she is…” After spluttering for a second, he managed, “She’s a bud.

” When his eldest brother only continued to stare at him like he wanted to disembowel him, he thought a little translation might be helpful. “One of the guys.”