Jacuzzi Night

“And then she never talked to me ever again…” The leaves of the pine trees surrounding the jacuzzi rustled in tune with Aditya’s deep sigh. He had just narrated an unfinished love tale of his childhood to everyone.

Aditya, Prashant and Mahesh, three friends, were enjoying a weekend getaway with their families at the top of the mountains in a secluded cottage. They wanted to spend a relaxed time far away from the hustle and bustle of daily life and this place had been the perfect choice.

It was late in the night. All sat together in the bubbling warm water of the big jacuzzi narrating stories to each other. The stillness of the night soothed the body and the soul. It was therapeutic.

“Was she beautiful?” Prashant asked with enthusiasm.

“The sadness on his face is directly proportional to that girl’s beauty!” Mahesh chuckled. 

As Mahesh and Prashant continued with their funny banter, Meera, Aditya’s wife, nudged his feet from below the water.

“It was me…” She whispered in his ears.

“I know darling… such butter-like feet can only be yours!” He gently nudged it back.

“Not that!… I mean it was me who spoiled your love story with that girl…” Her face dropped in guilt. 

“But how is that possible? That was ages ago… we are from different places… we hadn’t even met…” Aditya found it hard to believe.

“I had a thing for you even when you didn’t know me…” She avoided his gaze and played with the water bubbles with her dainty fingers “I just had to pull some strings and that girl was out of your life…”

She paused as Aditya looked bewildered at her.

“And over time some other girls too who dared to look at you…” She added shyly “Can you forgive me?” Meera pleaded, battering her eyelashes.

She looked so ethereal in the soft moonlight that Aditya couldn’t move his gaze away from hers. The way she asked for forgiveness melted Aditya ’s heart. Her sudden revelation was downright unbelievable but strangely he didn’t want to argue with her. He was on cloud nine to know that he was so desirable that his pretty wife schemed to get him!

In another corner of the jacuzzi, Prashant sat still with his glass of mocktail untouched, eyeing his wife Manini, sitting next to him with suspicion.

“Why are you so silent? You’re not liking this?” 

“I’m absolutely loving this… the warm bubbly water… the icy weather…you and me…” Manini said in whispers with a twinkle in her eyes.

“Then why are you not howling?… Sorry…I mean, not talking like you usually do?”

“Because that’s not very ladylike…” Manini rolled her eyes and spoke in a hushed tone.

Prashant looked perplexed.

“Remember in our last vacation, you screamed so loud out of joy on seeing the Statue of Liberty that the onlookers called the police complaining that the statue was shaking because of you! It was a relief when the officer agreed with me that a happy wife is a happy life!”

Prashant laughed remembering one of the multiple incidents like this but was surprised that Manini was still quiet and she seemed to shift slowly towards him with a mischievous look on her face. In normal times, she would have jumped right on his lap crushing his bones with her heavy weight!

Mahesh was sitting alone. He lowered himself further in the warm water and observed his friends. Aditya and Meera had created a little world of their own in the jacuzzi, giggling and whispering to each other’s ears oblivious to their surroundings. On the other side, Prashant had extended his neck like a hawk towards Manini and was struggling to understand her low voice. Yet, a smile danced on his lips. He seemed to enjoy the peace. 

Mahesh felt it hard to believe that he was the youngest one. He was supposed to be more adventurous! Yet, where was his ladylove? How can loading the dishwasher take all night? He sipped his drink in a melancholy mood as he watched the floating clouds play hide and seek with the moon. Then what he saw made his jaw drop.

Amrita emerged from the cottage and walked towards the jacuzzi. Her face looked brighter than the moon and a sweet smile adorned her lips. Her silky hair flew in the cool night breeze. She walked in slow paces towards him and looked nothing less than a goddess. Mahesh felt ecstatic!

All women are beautiful… but a woman who finishes all her chores yet manages to look this magnificent is just too adorable! I’m the luckiest man alive!

Mahesh’s heart skipped a beat as he embraced Amrita with an open arm. His voice echoed in the forest “Today is the best day ever!” All agreed with him and clinked their glasses to raise a toast.

“I will get refills…” Mahesh picked the empty glasses and jumped out of the jacuzzi and walked towards the cottage. He entered the kitchen all the while humming a happy tune.

“More glasses now! Do you want me to be here all night?” 

Mahesh got startled and almost fell off. Amrita was glaring at him with piercing eyes and loading the dishwasher. His whole body went numb. The glasses fell off from his hands and shattered to pieces. He screamed at the top of his voice.

“Aditya bhai… Prashant bhai…  come inside immediately!!”

Aditya and Prashant came running, dripping water all over the place. They looked baffled when they saw Amrita in the kitchen and ran towards the bedroom following the voices coming from there.

Meera and Manini were still deciding on which swimsuit to wear for the jacuzzi. Their conversation had drifted towards a certain friend and they were caught in a never-ending loop of gossip. 

“Then who are they!!??” The three friends cried in unison.

Intense fear gripped them as they walked towards the jacuzzi with wobbly legs. Each could hear their hearts thumping loud in their chest. An icy cool breeze brushed their bodies giving them goosebumps. All they could see was an empty jacuzzi with warm water bubbling in it. A big bright moon peeped from behind the pine trees. The trees swayed making an eerie sound and an owl hooted somewhere…

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