Strawberries and Cream

Okay people, here's another episode in the lives of Ajay and Avi. Tell me what you think! :)






The traffic had died down now that it was a little past eight in the evening, late for most others. Ajay had finished his work and had called me to check if I was done as well. A guy in the office was working a little more diligently than usual trying to meet Thursday’s deadline - an effort that I shouldn’t thwart if possible - so I told Ajay to head home and that I’d just take a rickshaw back.

He had agreed and put the phone down, and had nonetheless appeared at the office a half-hour later with ice cream from Corner House. I couldn’t help break out into a smile when I saw him at the door, package in hand, smile on face. He came in and sat across the table and began to remove and lay out everything without saying a word. Without needing to explain.

I heard a knock on the glass door. It was Vinay.

“Avi, I’m going to head off now, I’ll finish up on Monday. I’m just too tired to think right now,” he said.

I wanted to kill him. If it wasn’t for him, I could have headed home early and spent the evening with my lover-boy instead, doing something romantic. But then again, lover-boy was here, and we were doing something romantic, so I guess there’s no need to split hairs over this.

“Alright, off you go. I’ll see you on Monday.” I said, smiling.

Vinay turned to leave, nodding to Ajay, who smiled back. I guess Ajay was a regular at the office. And NOT someone most people would forget. Ajay was magnetic – he had charm that could melt butter at a distance of thirty-two feet (yes I had measured), and people’s hearts were putty in his hands. So, yeah, it was pretty hard for most people to forget him after he had had even the slightest bit of interaction with them.

Me? Most people did not forget me either, but for rather different reasons. A family trait, I had one of the most volatile tempers known to mankind. It would take me all of two seconds to change from being at peace with the universe and all it’s children, to a Tsunami that spared no one. And back again. So, yeah, we were, as a couple, wholly unforgettable.

There was a pitter-pattering on the windowpane, and I turned to see droplets of water lashing against the glass. The water drowned out the noise outside, and I heard the city sigh and shake the day’s toil out of her hair.

Ajay pulled his chair to and relaxed into it. I loosened my tie, and stared at his face, watching how every gentle feature looked in the soft yellow light. There were no sharp corners, just warm, fuzzy edges everywhere. A full, pink set of lips stood out like an island on his fair face. His eyes caught the light and danced a naughty, innocent dance, while his thick black eyelashes fanned them lazily. A hint of stubble ran across his beard giving him a rugged look, and adding to the depth in his personality.
I had been staring silently for a while and had been filled with a sense of peace that spread right through my being. Here was a love that overwhelmed me, a love that I had waited for all my life. The brilliant moment that I met him ran through my mind yet again and a smile crossed my heart in recognition of how lucky I was. I was finding it hard to breathe. I loved this guy so much; I was feeling blessed, glad to be alive, glad to be in love with this perfect human being.

It hadn’t always been like this – it wasn’t always that that I had only love for him. I had been jealous in the beginning. I was absolutely stunned at the effect he had on people. It was absolutely unfair according to me, that he had this power and I didn’t. I had really wanted to bonk all those women who came in shyly into my office, and asked about him once Ajay had come and gone. But then it dawned on me that the object of their affection was mine, that he wasn’t running anywhere, and that he was fast becoming part and parcel of who I was. Eventually the bonking urge disappeared and I began to revel in the attention that Ajay got. You see, I had begun to take them as personal compliments.

I guess you can say I had fallen in love.

And there he was, sitting across the desk, waiting to share strawberries and cream with me.

I got up from my table and padded silently across the carpet to him. I cupped his face in my hands as I reached him, and he squeezed his lips together until he looked like a pleasantly surprised goldfish. I just had to kiss the fellow now didn’t I!

He grabbed me with both hands and drew me into him. His hands caressed my back and I melted into his arms, his lips, and his glorious presence. My hands were running through his short hair, touching his head, feeling every strand, each finger wanting more.

We kissed for quite some time. I withdrew eventually, and turned and sat down between his legs, my back to his chest. His arms were quick to encircle me, softly. I felt his lips on the back of my neck.

“How was your day honey?” he asked, slowly smoothing my hair.

“Well, one of my good people quit. And then there was a phone battle with Mani at Virat. Those jokers just can’t seem to be able to make up their mind about anything, and I end up having to scurry to make the deadlines.” I said, exasperatedly recounting the day’s events.

There was a pause, and then Ajay piped up “Hmm!”

I laughed. “Fine, my day was just fine; sorry I killed the mood. How was your day honey?” I asked back, smiling, twisting my head to have a better look.

“It’s picking up,” he said, smiling back, reaching for the strawberries and cream.