THE MAGICAL PALACE by Kunal Mukjerjee Page A

parents would find Rani and me our spouses when we grew up. It was my turn to envy Ranjan and Shubho and the freedom they enjoyed.
    ‘Hey, Rahul, I really like Rani. She is so much fun and really beautiful, you know,’ Ranjan said as he poked me in the ribs with a wink.
    I shifted uncomfortably.
    ‘Bet she has a boyfriend and you don’t even know about it,’ he said with a nasty laugh, as if he knew something I did not.
    ‘Of course not. My parents would never allow it.’
    ‘Sure. Whatever you say.’ He shrugged as we reached the car.
    Mr Bose smiled at us and got out of the car. ‘I have left the keys in the car. Don’t take off and leave without me,’ he joked. ‘Call me when you are ready to leave. I am going to chat with Rahul’s parents.’
    Shubho looked at us, his genial smile welcoming. All of a sudden, I felt really shy.
    His strong jaw and chin were speckled with a faint shadow of an early beard. He reminded me of the old Amit in some ways, but he was older and manlier. I pushed away the heaviness I felt when I thought about my close call in front of Rani that afternoon. It wasn’t too difficult to do that in Shubho’s presence. I noticed his sinewy arms again, the veins outlined clearly against his rich brown skin. His shirt was open at the neck and I felt an irresistible urge to reach out and touch him and breathe in his scent. I felt a movement in my groin and turned red with embarrassment. I’d never got hard down there in the presence of a man— only in my dreams and fantasies.
    ‘Rahul, this is my girlfriend Anamika,’ Shubho said.
    Smiling, she said, ‘Hello, Rahul.’
    ‘Hello,’ I mumbled.
    ‘Rahul is Ranjan’s best friend. He will be a handsome fellow, I tell you. All the girls will be after him,’ Shubho told Anamika as he reached out of the car and patted my head with his right hand. ‘Hey, Rahul, got a girlfriend yet?’
    I just stood there, tongue-tied. My scalp tingled at his touch and I wanted him to touch me again.
    ‘Oh, Mr Bose, you must stay for a few minutes,’ I heard my father say hospitably as he took Mr Bose towards the palace.
    ‘Rahul, what is the matter with you? Are you frozen or something? Let’s go. I have to go inside and get my bag,’ Ranjan said impatiently as I stared at Shubho. He ran off and I followed him inside. When I realized that I had left my slippers by the gulmohar tree, I turned around. It was almost dark and I walked swiftly towards the garden. As I neared the car, I saw Shubho and Anamika kissing. It was dark enough that I could not see too well, and they certainly could not see me. I hid behind a pillar of the portico and peeped cautiously around.
    I could hear soft kissing sounds and light moans. Shubho was holding Anamika’s face in his hands. Her eyes were shut, like his. It was getting darker and I stepped out from my hiding place. The windows of the Fiat were down, so I could see inside. Hot and flushed, I wanted to see Shubho better. I wondered if his mouth was open when he kissed, like when James Bond had kissed the Japanese girl in You Only Live Twice . I had heard the boys in class talk about kissing girls and none of it sounded very interesting. But this was more than interesting—it was exciting.
    As I watched, one of Shubho’s hands moved from Anamika’s face down to her shoulder and lay on the hollow of her neck. She sighed and arched her back. Shubho’s hands moved lower down her body, towards her breast. I was as excited as I was scared. I wanted to see Shubho more clearly and I stepped a little closer. Just then, to my horror, I saw him open his eyes and look directly at me.My excitement was replaced by instant dread as I steadied myself for being scolded for spying. But nothing happened. Shubho’s eyes sparkled in the dim light from the dashboard and he continued to look at me as he kissed Anamika and touched her breasts. I watched for a few more seconds more and then turned and ran towards the garden.
    My heart