Watch your steps, keep your wits about you. Salman yelled at his son.
Despite knowing his son was a licensed obstetrician and gynecologist he still talked to him like a child.
He was a disciplinarian and was well known for his no-nonsense attitude.
He hated clumsiness, to him it showed a sign of weakness.
Salman was a very influential and rich plastic surgeon. He moved with the high and mighty in society.
Kabir corrected himself immediately and did as his father told him.
He was always in awe of his father who stood at almost 6ft, he was lean and very athletic.
His father believed that appearance speaks a lot about your personality and as such he ate right and exercised.
Today was the day his father would be appearing on television to talk about his work and Kabir decided to tag along.
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Juliet was Salman's personal assistant, she helped him organize his daily activities and sometimes warmed his bed.
As Salman was interviewed she couldn't resist but admire him, his hair was rich black with touches of grey and thick, styled to perfection, it's natural curls added to the attractiveness of his sensual face.
She was just twenty-five years old, and their affair started two years ago.
Her parents were divorced and she spent her growing up years in Paris with her mum who remarried a French hotelier.
She had graduated from school with a certificate in business studies and had gotten the job not just because she was beautiful but she had brains to match it.
The interview ended at the scheduled time and they all left for their car Kabir in tow.
"The interview went well father."
"Indeed, Kabir."
"Are you heading to work." His father asked
"No, I have other engagement."
"Hmmm…." His father looked at him smiling.
Salman could see himself in his son. He had taken up medicine as he advised him and treated his body like a good as he should.
He also knew his son loved women just like him. He loved them sleek like models from vogue.
He glanced at his personal assistant, their eyes met and locked. Secrets known to only them both shared and sealed within seconds.
Kabir walked to his car and sped off to his appointment. He had continued the affair with Sheila, her boyfriend was not aware of what was going on between them and he loved the thrill of the hide and seek relationship they had.
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Juliet waited for her boss to invite her for a drink, or maybe come over to her place.
There was no need for her to go to work today and she had all the time in the world.
She was highly disappointed when he said he was going home straight and she couldn't hide it.
"I know what you want Juliet, maybe next time." Without another word, he entered his Mercedes-Benz and sped off
She watched him go, she hated how he made her feel, helpless, and in love.
Sometimes she wondered if he loved her or just her body, she knew the answer but refused to acknowledge it.
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"Hope the interview went well." his wife enquired
"Yes it did, what's for lunch, am starving."
He said to his wife dismissing further interrogation. His wife didn't age well, she was too fat from overindulgence with a sweet tooth. Her hair had lost its youthful glow and her eyes had wrinkles more than necessary.
He had wanted to help her with some reconstruction surgery but she was not interested.
"What if I die." She said. "I prefer to be fat and alive."
He had also paid for a dietician to plan her meals, the chef was available round the clock to prepare it, but she preferred greasy and high-calorie food.
He had stopped taking her to functions and fundraisers, his fellow surgeon's wives' body silhouettes were like models but his wife was round like a pig.
When he came downstairs after changing into a cardigan and pants, his meal had been laid on the table..baked beans, steaks, and hard-boiled eggs.
His wife had gone back to her room. They rarely talked only in monologue when they did.
He ate his meal quickly, grabbed his car keys, and left.
Veronica just watched from the window in her room. She went back to the bowl of ice cream and cookies. They always made her feel better.
Salman had an appointment with a new client all the way from India, she had gotten his contact from a friend.
He prided himself in his job and always got referrals from satisfied customers.
Most of them came to him after they had a botched plastic job and needed someone to correct it.
This client of his had cement injected into her buttock and it made her unable to sit well.
"You are my last hope, Dr. Salman."
"Don't worry, you are in the right place."
"I have scheduled your operation for tomorrow so you can heal properly before your visa expires and you need to go back home."
"My personal assistant would call you and give you all the details, she is not on sit now."
"Thank you, Doctor, I feel relieved and hopefully."
They both shook hands and went out of the building together before they both went their separate ways.
Salman had some time to spare and he didn't want to go home yet, certainly not to his wife.
He picked his phone and dialed her number, she never said no to him.
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Juliet was excited when Salman called her, she had microwaved some popcorn, and was watching some series when the call came through.
She was already bored and needed some excitement, she quickly showered and put on some perfume.
She knew he loved it when she wore just lingerie and pumps. She was ready to receive him when he knocked.
Salman inhaled her sweet-smelling perfume that was appealing to the senses.
She wore his favorite color of lingerie and pumps with red lipstick.
"You look like a whole meal." He said drawing her thin waist to his bulky frame, he kissed the nape of her neck, her eyelids then her lips.
She loved it when their bodies touched so she could feel his growing bulge.
He scooped her and carried her to the bedroom where he made passionate love to her amidst moans from their building passion till both climaxed.
They both lay naked breathing hard, in companionable silence
Veronica stood at the window watching the husband of her youth walk away. She gripped her window blind to stop her tears from flowing.He entered his car without looking up as he used to years back.
************************************5 months ago************************************&nb
************************************Kabir's Graduation Party.************************************The s
Maya had completely forgotten she had planned another date with Ethan. She had been so engrossed with work and school.She was in her final year and didn't want to lose focus and end up losing her scholarship.
Ethan called Maya early the next day. Due to his bad habit of smashing his phone whenever he was angry, he always bought an extra phone."Hello, Maya," Ethan said immediately his call went through.
Clara was excited about her engagement with Kabir and flaunted her ring for all to see.It didn't matter to her that she had masterminded the whole thing or whether Kabir was happy or not.
Kabir was not happy with his father, he had always interfered with his life and now he has dabbled into the most important stage in his life. Marriage was a big deal and his father had gone ahead to announce his engagement with Clara. Of all the ladies it had to be Clara and he did this without consulting him or at least given him time to adjust to the idea.He al
Salman watched his wife walk past him as he ate his breakfast of sausages and brown toast with sunny-side-up eggs. He noticed something strange about her, she had an air of confidence in her. The way she walked with her head held high, he also noticed other things, she looked slimmer and her skin shone under the sun.As he thought about her he also noticed other things,
Kabir went straight to the airport from Maya's home, the flight to Florida was smooth without hassles and he arrived in Florida before it was too dark to make out where he was. He logged into a hotel close to the airport as this was his first time here and he didn't know his way around town. He had not eaten the whole day so he went to the hotel restaurant for a quick dinner of mashed potatoes, gravy and steak, before retiring to his room. He didn't come with any luggage either, his plan was to get whatever he needed at the mall, especially some change of clothes.
*******Maya********
Maya was awake early on Saturday morning. This was the day Kabir would be coming over to teach Mark how to ride his new bike. Mark had been excited about it and so was she, though she didn't know whether her excitement was seeing her son learn to ride or if it's because she will get to see Kabir again.She brewed coffee for herself and her mother then made pancakes and scrambled eggs for her son. Maya still lived with her mother, it was more convenient for both of them and they needed each other now more than ever before.Mark was also as excited as his mother, he was going to learn how to ride a bicycle today."Mum has uncle Kabir come yet., '' Mark said as he entered the kitchen and walked towards his mum, his face puffy from sleeping."Not yet honey." She bent over and gave him a light kiss on the cheeks before putting him on his highchair. "Eat your food okay, and be a good boy." She placed his meals in front of him and watched him eat. Her heart swelled with love for him.It was p
****************Kabir felt lost, the woman he had come to love with all his heart had left him forever. Theirs wasn't a perfect love story but somehow they found love and peace in their imperfection. The night has become cold and lonely and the warmth of her body against his is gone. It was almost a month since Clara died but the vacuum she left in his life and heart was indescribable.Going home after work had become torture for him that he spends most part of the day at the hospital and whenever he comes home he is too tired and goes straight to bed. He worked extra hours and took shifts as he would rather be anywhere but home. Home reminded him so much of Clara, and her memory was everywhere.Everything Kabir did became mechanical, he didn't put any feeling into what he did and operated like a robot from his waking up till the day was over.He was on his desk one morning and going through some files on the desk when a small piece of paper fell off from a file he just opened, he pi
"What do you mean by, you are dying Clara," Kabir asked, trying to control his temper. She looked at her husband trying to gauge her words."I have stage 4 cancer and the chance of survival is very slim Kabir." She replied her voice inaudible from her emotions."Okay, assuming that what you just told me is true. Then tell me, how long have you known about this?""When we came back from France, I went for the test before we traveled as I had cramps and bloody stool. ""And you are just telling me now, ma chérie," Kabir said his voice mixed with pain and anger"I didn't want you to be worried until I was sure of what was happening to me.""You have hurt me again Clara, my heart bleeds from this pain you have inflicted on me for the second time."Clara's nose was already red and swollen from the tears her eyes glassy from the tears that filled it and spilled down her cheeks, she stared at Ethan in confusion.Kabir watched her stare at him looking uncertain and thinking of how she had hur
Clara walked into the doctor's office like a zombie, she didn't know how she was able to drag her heavy cold feet towards his office. She was scared beyond words and when she sat down facing him, the first word that escaped her mount was "I'm going to die, doctor, ain't I.""Don't say that you don't know your diagnosis yet, allow me to explain to you what is happening to your body and also the treatment you need to get better.""I'm sorry doctor, what is wrong with me." The doctor opened her file in front of him and read through, Clara tried to watch his facial expression to know if she could read it and probably guess if it's good or bad news. But the doctor's face was unreadable."From your test result Clara and your symptoms, you have Stomach cancer."Clara froze and was left speechless but the doctor continued.There are usually no symptoms of stomach cancer early on until later, and since you have started developing serious symptoms already I have to run some more tests on you to
"I want us to go for a mini-vacation to any location of your choice," Kabir said to his wife after they had made love and laid down cuddling."Are you serious right now.""Yes, I want to make up for our honeymoon that was cut short and I also have some free time.""That would be great. Do you have a particular place in mind for the vacation.""Hmmm….I want you to make your choice. This vacation is especially for you." He said smiling down at her."I would go anywhere with you Kabir, it doesn't matter the place as long as you are there."Kabir looked at his young wife, she had stopped dying her hair blond at his insistence, her hair was originally red and it suited her more, she looked her age now and had also started eating healthier and more food. She looked happier than he had ever seen her and so did he. "Let's go to the city of love," Kabir suggested."Then you have to learn how to say I LOVE YOU in French. So you can tell me that every morning while we are there.""I can start no
Maya found herself being so emotional lately, she cried at unnecessary things and her mother had told her it was just the pregnancy hormones, she assured her it would stop after delivery.Even at work, she had gone to the school restroom to cry whenever the emotions hit her up on several occasions.Her baby bump had grown bigger and round that everyone knew she was pregnant, she couldn't hide it anymore. They didn't ask about the father but you would notice their stares and whispers, they judged her without knowing the truth.Maya remained positive in all this and tried as much as possible not to allow people's opinions about her matter too much. She did not owe anyone an explanation, her only concern was her child. She didn't know the gender yet, as she had asked her doctor not to reveal it to her. She wanted to know the gender only after birth.************Hospital*************Maya walked down the hospital corridor, tugging at the hem of her maternity top and thinking that her mo
The day started with a heavy downpour, you could hear the splattering of the rain on the rooftop. As a child, Maya had always loved it when it rained because she was sure of an offering of cookies and some hot cocoa by her mum. Life had been simpler those days, she had little or nothing to worry about. Growing up had not been all that rosy with an absent father and the little resources available to them, but somehow they survived it all especially her mothers' power to provide her with what she needed to have a better future.Now it was her turn to ensure she provides her own baby with what it needs, getting pregnant at her age with no husband was not the future she had envisioned for herself but life happened. She had choices to make but she believed that she took the best decision and would live by it.Her baby bump was already showing but only when she took off her clothes, her outfit to work or church was still able to conceal it but it was a matter of time before people started no