The Known Stranger - Part 2

I felt a shiver going right through my body. He touched my skin and an electric shock went through my body. My body was his and I realized that bodies communicate more easily than souls. My excitement and tension was slowly becoming unbearable. We both were perspiring and the smell of his body was simply intoxicating.

After an hour of foreplay, we made love. That moment I realized that he was the man I was looking for; that we were made for each other. I wanted this night to continue forever. My mind started becoming numb. I wanted to push him away, but I enjoyed that pain. That moment I had become completely numb, it felt that I was no longer on earth and had reached heaven. I could feel GOD and I knew what it feels to be like in heaven. It felt as if we were walking through the gardens of heaven; pain and pleasure became one and my feelings had completely taken me over. That moment made me feel that time and space do not exist and that I belonged to another world.

After we stopped, I felt like I was parachuting back to earth. My body felt a bit stiff and we both lay down. We embraced each other and it felt as if our bodies could not do without each other. I loved this man, but I knew that this was once in a life time experience. I wanted to store this moment in my mind forever. I realized about the mistakes I had made in my past affairs. I was possessive about all the men I loved and tried to hold them tight, but I didn’t want to repeat the same mistake with Rahul. I loved him but I didn’t want to be with him again. I didn’t want to spoil this moment. I knew I was being selfish, but I knew this is the best thing for both of us.

The next morning I decided to cut short my trip and return back to Delhi. Rahul did propose me but I refused. I tried to explain him my reasoning, but he was adamant. Somehow I managed to persuade him. I could see and feel his disappointment, but I knew this was best for both of us. Some things are meant to happen only once just like birth and death.

As I was leaving for the bus stop, Rahul hugged me. There were tears in his eyes. I knew if i became weak this moment, I will spoil both our lives. As we parted our ways, we both felt heavy and disappointed. We kept on hugging each other and the pain of separation was becoming unbearable. It was as if the time had stood still. I felt that from now on, every minute spent besides him would be a decade of suffering in the future, for everything I could have said to him and I didn't, for memories of his fingers moving across my body, his skin, his husky voice, his loving support, his touch and the stories he told me during our bus ride.

I sat in the bus and felt that I always knew this man. His skin had given me gratification like never before. I felt like he knew my Body, my soul, my happiness and my pain. He made me feel like a woman and gave me the most precious gift and took me to heaven where I could experience God.

The journey back to Delhi was a slow one. It was just 3 days back that I had met this incredible man who came into my life from nowhere and unknowingly made me learn to live life again. The streets, the hills, the clouds, the smell of the road all made me remember Rahul. I realized that when we're away from the person we love everyone we meet in some way or the other reminds us of them. The images of me and Rahul sitting together in the bus kept coming back. That known stranger had become the most important part of my life although I had decided not meet him again. He made me live again. He made me forget my past and gave me the gift of present. I owe my happiness to Rahul and will continue to do so till my last breath. He has given me this incredible power to feel happy whenever I will feel low. The memories of last night will be treasured forever. I know that I will use these memories whenever I want to feel alive and kicking. The known stranger will be treasured for the rest of my life”.

6 months later

May, 2011

Maya had got a transfer to Mumbai and was shifting to the maximum city. She packed her bags as she had to catch a flight to Mumbai. She reached airport at about 1pm. As she was walking towards the security counter she saw Rahul. He was on the flight counter to Bangalore. All the memories of that night started coming back to her. She wanted to call him and tell him how much she missed him, but she knew it wasn’t the best thing to do. Her thoughts were interrupted when she saw a woman calling out Rahul. They were smiling together and were holding hands. She was watching them intently and later she saw a engagement ring on the woman’s hand. Maya smiled and felt happy. The known stranger was happy and so was she. Maya closed her eyes for a second, smiled and walked towards the gate for the flight. A new life was about to start. Mumbai was waiting for her.