Immeasurable Offence

ONE

The sun was blazing overhead when Parvana and SULAYMAN stepped off the bus.

Beyond the tamarind trees that lined the road, all they could see were vast expanses of arid land. There were no houses anywhere in sight. With each searing gust of wind, the white summer heat spread over everything as if white saris had been flung across the sky. There was not a soul on the road. Even the birds were silent. Just an ashen dryness, singed by the heat, hung in the air. Parvana hesitated to venture into that inhospitable space.

'Step down with your right foot first,' Sulayman had said to her. She was now unsure whether he had said this in jest or if he had meant it. By habit, anyway, she had descended from the bus with her right foot first, but she was not sure he noticed that. The courage she had gathered until then suddenly vanished, leaving her feeling uneasy. When her feet touched the ground, she had prayed within her heart, 'Everything should go well.' She could not think of a specific god. She only knew the name of SULAYMAN'S family deity, Goddess Kali, but she would not have been able to confidently recognise Kali's idol in the temple. The only image of Kali that come to her mind was that of a goddess with widened eyes, terrifying teeth and her tongue sticking out. She could not pray to that Kali who only inspired fear.

Sulayman had already walked quite some distance. Parvana quickly found her bearings and trotted ahead to join him. Shifting the heavy bag to his other hand, he looked at her. Nothing here appeared new to him. He was used to navigating this place even in the dark.

He always walked with a spring in his step when he was here, and he felt the same way now. abut she was new. She seemed like a fertile crop of corn— perhaps a little withered and dull right now, but easily refreshed with just a few drops of rain. He noticed her struggling to keep pace with him and slowed down, conscious of how briskly he'd been marching ahead. The very sight of her took away his anxiety and brought him some calm. He could sense that, as a girl from a crowded city, Parvana was probably terrified by the emptiness of this place.

He looked at her face. A lock of hair had escaped her plait and swayed against her cheek. He longed to gently tuck it behind her ear. He tried to control himself, but his heart's desirous reach could not be checked. His gaze still on her, he smiled and said, 'During midday, not even a crow or a sparrow ventures out in this heat. This is not a big city like yours, just a little village. But wait and see. You will be amazed at how many different people live here. Don't worry about a thing. I an here.'

Sulayman had rehearsed his strategy several times in his head. He believed that every thing will go according to plan; it had to be.

TWO

SOLOMON

I'D BEEN TRUE to my words.Seven long days and nights passed, and not once did I pick up the phone to call her. She needed the time I promised her. Although it killed me not to at least hear her voice, she'd never come back to me if I pushed too soon after revealing everything.

But today was the day I'd promised to go and get my woman. Well, I'd promised myself, never telling her anything beyond the fact I was willing to give her a week to sort everything out.

Making sure to finish up any outstanding business I had by two in the afternoon, I grabbed for my cell and dialed her number.

"Hello." Her voice calmed the erratic thrum of my heart.

"Hi, Diva. How are you?"

"Fine."

The rude women's jaw hot the table , but she quickly gathered herself and stalked off in a huff.

"Wow. Where did that come from?" I dared to ask. There was no mistaking my pleasure. It only drove home how much she cared, her jealousy like a stamp of ownership all over me.

"Sorry. I normally wouldn't say anything, but I couldn't take her brazenness one more second. I had to say something. I mean, come on, she was being so freaking obvious, coming on to you every time she came over here."

I continued to smile, shaking my head in amusement.

"What ?" she asked, confusion plastered all over her face. She looked so beautiful, trying to hide a cluster of emotions. Our waitress had clearly riled her up, anger dancing on her brow. But confusion was there also, mainly at me. I was sure she wanted to know what I'd found so funny.

"I like the fact you're jealous over me. It makes me feel good. Makes me feel wanted."

There was no time for her to respond because we'd been interrupted once again. Out of the corner of my eye, I'd seen the waitress talking to the manager. He'd come over in a hurry to give me the bill, no doubt trying to quell any forthcoming issue.

Glancing down at the piece of paper, I grabbed a wad of bills from my wallet and threw everything back in the receipt holder.

"If you're the owner, why are you paying for the meal? Can't you write if off or something?"

"If I didn't pay for anything at any of my business, well, I wouldn't have any money, I suppose." I stood and held my hand out for her. When her fingers touched my palm, I felt a warmth only she could give me. It was wonderful. Magical even, although I didn't think I'd ever used such a word in my entire life.

As we walked toward the front door, I wrapped my arm around jet waist and pulled her close, kissing her temple. What I'd really wanted to do was claim her mouth, bit I thought better of it, not wanting to act too fast too soon.

On the drive home, all I could think about was how to make things right between us again. I was trying to do the whole nice-and-slow dance, but it was driving me insane. I hated that I'd fucked up so much her trust in me had been shaken. But I'd do whatever it took to make her fully come back to me, trusting me once more

THREE