Secrets & Saris by Shoma Narayanan Page A

apparently.’
    ‘Hmm,’ Neil said. ‘Did Nina tell you that?’
    Shefali nodded, hardly daring to breathe as Neil got to his feet, taking her hands and gently pulling her up to stand next to him.
    ‘I don’t believe I thanked you for taking care of Nina, did I?’ he said.
    Shefali shook her head. Her body seemed to be doing things on its own, and she found herself leaning closer to him, tipping her head back and puckering her lips invitingly, leaving him in no doubt about how exactly she wanted to be thanked.
    Neil bent his head and, not being able to wait any more, Shefali went up on her toes, dragging his head down with both hands and claiming his lips hungrily with her own. The kiss was explosive, their enforced four-day separation making them desperate. The world seemed to tilt just a little bit for Shefali, and she clung on to Neil’s broad shoulders as she gave herself up completely to the sensation of his hot, eager lips on hers.
    ‘Daddy, should I wear the blue dress or the pink?’ Nina called out from her room.
    Neil broke the kiss for a second to say, ‘Blue,’ before he slammed the door shut behind him and pulled Shefali back into his arms. This time, however, he buried his face in the nape of her neck, taking deep shuddering breaths and soothing her trembling body with his hands before he said huskily, ‘Another two seconds and I wouldn’t have been able to stop myself.’
    Too shaken to speak, Shefali just nodded, knotting her fingers in the material of his shirt. He was right to stop. Her mind acknowledged that. But her body was clamouring for more. It wasn’t fair, being so close to him and not being able to do more than run her hands over his fully clothed body. So frustrated that she could scream, she dug her nails into his arms, feeling the smooth brown skin break under the pressure. He flinched, but didn’t say anything, bending down to drop butterfly-light kisses on her eyelids.
    ‘Tonight,’ he said, and Shefali raised her eyes to his at the promise in his voice.
    ‘How?’ she asked softly, having finally regained control over her vocal cords. ‘You can’t leave Nina.’
    He shook his head vigorously. ‘You stay,’ he said. ‘Have dinner here. Bela’s on sedatives, she’ll go to bed early, and the nurse will be in her room. Nina sleeps in her own room. All we need to do is wait for all of them to go to sleep.’
    He knew he was being reckless, going against all the rules he’d set for himself, but the feel of Shefali’s body against his was sending a kind of madness coursing through his veins. He could wait till tonight—just about—but not any longer.
    Nina was banging on the door, demanding to be let in, and Neil released Shefali to open it. The little girl had changed into her blue frock and was ready to leave. Luckily Neil seemed to have his wits around him, and he managed to get them to the nearest mall without any trouble. Shefali was still so disorientated that she didn’t think she was capable of walking in a straight line, let alone driving. She’d regained use of her wits by the time they were in the mall, however, and helped Nina pick out a party dress and a tiny bright-green salwar kameez set.
    ‘Let’s get you something as well,’ Neil suggested to Shefali. ‘You can help us celebrate Pujo.’
    Nina bounced up and down in excitement. ‘Teacher, I saw a salwar kameez just like mine in the grown-ups’ section. Can you buy it? Pleeease? We’ll be matching, then!’
    Shefali barely suppressed a shudder. Parrot-green looked cute on a four-year-old, but on a full-grown woman it would be hideous. But Nina had grabbed her by the hand and was dragging her towards the shelf where the salwar kameez was. Shefali looked back mock-pleadingly at Neil.
    ‘Nina, let Shefali buy what she wants,’ Neil said, frowning slightly.
    Nina’s face fell. ‘But we should match !’ she said, looking up into Shefali’s face.
    ‘No,’ Neil said brusquely. ‘Come on, Nina,