Previous cut:-Shalini blew a kiss at the phone screen and said, "Okay…" Then she hung up.
Rupam placed the phone on the table and let out a long breath. There was a strange, burning hunger in his eyes.
Sarmistha returned home and found herself thinking again about the man she had met at the tea stall. He had seemed eager to tell her something, but Rupam's sudden arrival had stopped him. *What if I ask him about Rupam?* she wondered. She decided then and there that she would go back to the tea stall first thing the next morning. If the man wasn't there, she would get his address from the tea vendor and meet him. She had to know the truth.
Rupam drove to Shalini's house to pick her up. When he arrived, she was already standing at the door. She wore a short mini-skirt, and her face glowed with a soft, enchanting radiance. At first glance, no one would ever guess her profession. Unlike other women in her line of work, she wore no heavy makeup and spoke without any trace of artificiality. She was strikingly ordinary, yet irresistibly attractive.
Rupam pulled up beside her. Without a word, Shalini slid into the car and immediately leaned over to kiss him on the cheek. Rupam cupped her face in his hands and kissed her deeply on the lips for a long moment.
Afterward, he smiled and asked, "It's been a while since we last met. So tell me—how do you want to spend tonight?"
Shalini smiled lightly. "First, let's go somewhere and eat."
"Where? What do you feel like?"
"You already know," she replied. "Chicken Manchurian and mixed chowmein from Red Dragon."
The Red Dragon restaurant wasn't far from Rupam's flat. He had ordered food from there for Shalini many times before. Without wasting a second, he sped off.
When they reached the restaurant, it was surprisingly quiet. They picked up the food quickly and drove back. Rupam's car came to a stop right in front of the house.
Sarmistha was standing on the balcony, holding a cup of coffee. She saw the car pull up and two people inside. In the next instant, she recognized him. *That's Rupam!* And the woman beside him—who was she?
The coffee cup slipped from her hand and shattered. Her entire body began to tremble. Who was that woman with him?
Inside the car, Shalini asked, "Who's that? She's watching us from the balcony."
Rupam answered indifferently, "My wife."
Shalini looked surprised. "You're married?"
"It can't really be called a marriage," he said. "From the very first day, she hasn't let me come near her."
Shalini spoke gently. "Give her some time, Rupam. It must be hard for her to adjust."
Rupam stayed silent. He knew exactly how he had treated Sarmistha.
Shalini continued, "Won't she mind? Seeing you with me like this, right in front of her…"
Rupam twisted his lips into a cold smile. "I don't care what she thinks. This is exactly how I planned to punish her."
Sarmistha's lips were quivering. She had no idea what to say or do.
Rupam stepped out of the car and walked toward the house. Shalini held his hand, staying close. As they passed Sarmistha, Shalini looked at her with a bright smile and said, "Hi, I'm Shalini—Rupam's girlfriend. And you must be Sarmistha, right? You're really beautiful."
Sarmistha couldn't speak. Humiliation and disgust burned through her. She turned and walked inside, then began packing her belongings. She wouldn't spend another moment in this house. Tonight, she was going back to her father's home.
To be continued....