Monsoon Romance

Flames

“Samuel, what are you doing? Somebody might come!! Ibha gasped and looked around pensively.

“They won’t, I made sure of it!! ” Samuel sniggered and showed Ibha the keys to the Johnsons villa while his other hand continued to untie her red corset.

“Are you CRAZY!!” Ibha caught his fingers and pushed him on the soft hay below. “Locking your employer is NOT funny!” She retorted but Samuel was determined to make love tonight in the Johnsons barn. 

“Arr, feisty as ever, just the way I like!” Sam teased Ibha in a pirate tone and pulled her down to lay over her.  Locking her in a tight embrace he brushed off a few hair strands from her face and pressed his thumb hard against her moist soft lips. 

Ibha’s lips parted as a soft murmur escaped “Sam…” 

“I’ll finally have her tonight…” A train of wild and exciting thoughts rushed through his mind as he pressed his hungry lips over hers. Reluctant at first, Ibha soon gave in and reciprocated to his kiss with equal passion. There was no denying Samuel was the best kisser in this hamlet of Silvertrench. A gorgeous territory in the mountains that was untouched by industries and the hustle and bustle of the city that was miles away.

The clouds rumbled as lightning struck the midnight sky. Ibha squirmed in fear and dug her nails in his strong arms. “Still scared of thunderstorms my love?” He pulled backed and whispered. 

Ibha opened her eyes and looked at the dusty oil lamp that swung by the window.  The wind blew violently outside as another cloud rumbled in the distance. It had been this way since the past few weeks, all noise but no rain. 

“I need to go home,” She shifted her gaze back at him. Samuel pretended not to hear her and unbuttoned his shirt. “Sam, are you even listening?” She frowned before he saddled over her and undid her corset.

“Sam No!!’ Ibha held back her corset but Sam pulled it down to expose her soft supple breasts. “Praise the Lord!” He licked his lips and groped both her breasts with his sweaty hands.

“Did you just say grace?” Ibha quipped.

“You’re not less than a meal, love” Samuel chuckled and began kissing his way down her neck.

He had been waiting for this moment ever since he’d set eyes on her when they were barely teens. Samuel was popular with the ladies but his heart was stuck on Ibha.

“UGH!! You’ll anger the mountain God,” Ibha swiftly rolled away. “I don’t believe in old grandma tales! Come back here!” Samuel was now losing his patience. 

“Ibha what’s gotten into you? Why do you torment me like this? He balled his fist.

Ibha faced him with guilt in her eyes, “I’m sorry, you must hate me a lot, right?” 

“I don’t know what to say, Ibha…This whole relationship? I don’t even know if you love me anymore,” Samuel frowned.

“I do! You’re my best friend, remember?” Ibha smiled and ran her finger over his jawline.

“That’s a subtle way of putting me in the friendzone!” Samuel huffed and walked out of the barn.

“Sam wait-,” Ibha was interrupted when a bolt of lightning struck a stack of hay outside. 

“Oh, My GOD!!” Samuel froze as the hay caught fire. The blaze grew bigger and brighter. 

“It’s the mountain God, I told you not to anger Him!” Ibha put on her corset and hurriedly joined him outside.

“FIRE!!” An unknown shrill voice alerted everyone including the Johnsons.  

“Oh no! The fire is heading towards the villa!” Ibha panicked and reached into his pockets for the keys. “They need to get out!!”

“Calm down! It’s not like I’d anticipated this!” Samuel retorted as the locals gathered outside to douse the violent flames. “Quick! Head home before someone sees you!” Sam kissed Ibha on her forehead and rushed towards the villa. 

“This is all our fault, the Mountain God disapproves of us getting intimate out of wedlock,” Ibha felt guilty and sneaked out of the Johnsons estate.

Running through the misty woods, she turned behind to see the Johnsons estate glowing in red. "Forgive me, oh God of the mountain...I promise it won't happen again!" She touched one of the trees and prayed to the mountain God before heading home.

The next morning...

 Slicking back her damp long hair, Ibha poured the last bucket of warm water over her feet and turned off the faucet. Her sun-kissed body looked refreshing and steamy as she reached for her towel. Not caring to wipe herself dry, she merely wrapped it around her body, revealing her midriff. Pausing by the broken mirror, she rubbed off the smog and gazed at her reflection. Her moist lips looked redder than ever as she clumsily tied her damp black hair into a bun. Being a native, her exotic local beauty was what caught the tourists' eyes apart from the breath-taking mountains of Silvertrench, a land rich with ancient history, myths and tales of love and the art of lovemaking.

Ibha's bronzed skin shimmered as she drew in a deep breath and stepped out of the dingy bathroom. The sun was yet to rise, but Ibha as always was the early bird to wake up and finish all her chores. Walking past her siblings who were snuggled in bed on the floor, she stopped by the congested kitchen and bent to check on the kettle boiling with tea.

"Nido, Kiyah! Wake up, you've got school today," She shouted from the kitchen as she raised the kettle, and placed another vessel on the stove. Pouring two hot cups of cinnamon tea, she gently walked towards her blind and ailing father seated by the window.

"Good morning papa!" She whispered and kissed his cheek before offering him tea.

"Good morning Ibha, aren't you running a bit late today?" Her father spoke softly as he blew air over the hot cup of tea.

Ibha shifted her gaze towards the sun as it rose between the mountains and cast its golden rays over her tiny cottage. "Don't worry papa, I've brought all the supplies already. I've just got to get these two ready for school and leave for the villa," she assured him with a pat on the head and called out to her brother Nido & kid sister, Kiyah.

No sooner she heard them complaining and turning in bed, she smiled and rushed to get dressed for the long week in the Walkers villa. Ibha, after completing her studies had taken up the responsibility of taking care of an elderly Aussie couple who had been living there alone for quite some time. Wearing her traditional long dress with sleeves to the wrist and an apron draped around the waist with its folds cascading behind, Ibha prepared her siblings' lunchboxes.

"Will you be coming back?" Kiyah enquired sleepily as she struggled to brush her hair. "Not today dear, but I'll surely drop by in a day or two to check on father and don't worry, I've told Mrs Lohia to cook for you all till I return," Ibha replied and shoved the lunchboxes in their school bags.

"Do you have to go?" Kiyah sulked.

Ibha smiled and pulled the brush from her, "You see me go there every week, besides I do come and stay over the weekends with you all, right?," Ibha explained and brushed Kiyah's hair while Nido hurriedly gorged on his breakfast.

"Can't grandpa and Grandma come live with us? I and Nido will sleep with you in the kitchen and let them sleep with papa," Kiya innocently suggested and made her laugh.

"Not possible, Kiyah. Who will look after the huge estate then? Now finish up your breakfast before your school bus arrives," she giggled and rushed to pick up her backpack and a basket of fresh supplies for the Walker couple.

Ibha had taken over as the official caretaker of the Walker couple after her father fell ill and lost his sight. Coming from a poor background, Ibha was the only bread earner of the family. Having lost her mother in a landslide five years ago and the unfortunate sickness that took away her father's sight, her siblings Nido who was thirteen & Kiyah who was five, were left with only Ibha to look up to.

"Nido, remember to pick your sister on the way and don't wander with your friends at night and please light the oil lanterns before sundown," She reminded him as she got ready to leave.

"Fine, you don't have to tell me the same thing over and over again. By the way, what's up with the traditional garment? It isn't the festival season," Nido made a face and scrutinized her from head to toe.

Ibha merely smiled and carried Kiyah along as she stepped out. Their tiny brick cottage stood on the peak of the rocky slope with neighbouring cottages that spread all the way down till the main road that coiled the mountains.

After seeing her off, she rushed towards her friend, Gina who had been waiting for her near a tea stall on her scooter. The sun had basked everything in its glory, the crisp cold wind brushed her body as she approached her friend in excitement. The locals had just started coming out of their houses and leaving for their daily chores. A group of men seated at the tea stall ogled at the girls as they met and exchanged greetings.

"Sorry to keep you waiting, I hope you won't get late to school?" she panted and smiled sheepishly as Gina started her scooter and invited her to hop on.

"It hardly matters, my students are never on time. It won't make much of a difference if I walk in late, except for the principal,” Gina replied and stuck her tongue out as they drove down the steep road.

"Ahh, your future husband can't stay a second without seeing you, huh?" Ibha giggled and pulled Gina’s leg.

"Please, he's the last being I would consider marrying, all he does is stares at my legs," Gina rolled her eyes and grimaced. “Ooh, by the way, did you hear about the Johnsons?” She asked.

Ibha bit her lip and pretended to know nothing. “What about them?” She asked softly. 

“Man, their whole villa went down in a fire last night,” Gina commented.

“Oh no! I hope Sam opened all the doors in time…” Ibha thought and grew tense. “Um oh that’s bad...Are the Johnsons okay?” She enquired.

“I thought so too but my brother told me there were no survivors inside,” Gina sighed. “Apparently the doors were locked when the fire broke out. The police are at the scene as we speak,  this seems to be a well-planned murder,” She completed.

“Oh no! Samuel!” Ibha broke into a sweat as a chill went down her spine.