The Second Coming by Shubha Menon

Author:Shubha Menon
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: HarperCollins
Published: 2014-01-15T00:00:00+00:00

5

Mini stood in front of the bathroom mirror, examining herself critically. All that stood between her and a great body was five kilos, give or take a few. If the lights were off, the stretch marks would be invisible. The overhanging stomach was a bigger problem. Corsets were not quite the answer. They could disguise but could not deceive permanently. Maybe it was time to invest in a tummy tuck? Or lasers? Or Botox? Or all of them?

The physical difficulties could be dealt with but the social ones were trickier. There were whispers all around. She could sense eyes following her. Mini was certain that she had overheard Sandra calling her a shameless hussy. Was it was so obvious, her attraction to Rustom and their growing closeness? But why should she care, Mini thought defiantly. She was away from her hometown, in a city where not many people knew her. If anyone had to worry about reputation, it should be Rustom. She was simply looking for her last hurrah before menopause. When it was over, she would go back to her life in Delhi, Mini decided, as she sucked in her cheeks and tried to highlight her cheekbones.

* * *

It was late in the evening. The office was almost empty. The design for the bridal chamber was ready. Mini had kept the graphics bold yet sophisticated. Rustom had walked by several times, waving the to-do list. They needed to sit down and take stock. Mini was deep in thought, trying to figure out if she could get horses with blush-pink manes for the bridesmaids, when Rustom walked into her cabin. She didn’t hear him coming and he stood for a moment, staring at her. She looked so cute. Hair unkempt, top button come loose, eyes dreamy, all curled up in her chair. Gosh, she was sexy. He wondered how she would react if he heaved her up from the chair and kissed her deep on her blush-pink mouth. She had the hots for him, no two ways about that. Maybe it was time he did something about it?

Mini looked up, saw Rustom and blushed. Rustom smiled. ‘Tired? Want to discuss our to-do list over coffee?’ Mini stretched. Another button popped open.

Rustom swallowed. ‘Let’s go to the coffee shop down the street. We can discuss deadlines and then I’ll drop you home.’

Mini picked up her bag and followed Rustom out, rejoicing at the prospect of spending time alone with him.

Rustom ordered two cappuccinos. Mini asked for sweetener. They went over the list, item by item. Mini gazed longingly at the strawberry pastry calling her from the confectionery counter. It looked like it had just the right amount of gooeyness and cream. Her mouth watered. Resolve weakened. Just one little pastry couldn’t do much harm, could it? Rustom asked if she had frozen on the colour and graphics for the trousseau packaging. ‘Blush pink with sugar on the top,’ she blurted, her mind still on the pastry. But Rustom was staring at her lips.

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