The Storm Without and the Storm Within

Vina crouched in fear when the thunder pierced the sound of the thick rain that lashed the tin roof of her humble home. The strong winds shook the entire structure like a straw, threatening to blow it away. She had just moved in recently from one of the slums of Luanda, the capital of Angola. The ramshackle structure belonged to a Lebanese firm where she worked as a salesgirl of milk powder. It was one of the perks of the job. She had access to electricity and drinking water.

Helpless and lonely, she sat on the bed with her face buried in her knees. The storm would last all night. Water had already started dripping from the holes in the roof and she could feel the steady trickle on her head and back. Her blouse was getting wet, and she felt cold and scared. A sudden explosion startled her. Instantaneously, the bulb switched off drowning the room in darkness. She began to sob.

Moments later, she heard a knock at her door. She sat up with a start worried that it could be an intruder with nefarious designs. Not that she had any valuables to protect, but a shiver ran down her spine. Then she heard the familiar voice. “Vina! Are you there?”

The next moment she jumped down from the bed, opened the door of her home and rushed into the arms of the man standing there. She was so numbed with relief that the inappropriateness of her behavior mattered little. When the man’s arms wrapped around her, she felt soothed.

“I was so worried for you when the lights went. I wanted to make sure you are safe.” It was the voice of her boss, Raja, the man in whose embrace she had melted.

She did not reply; instead continued to hug him tightly.

“It’s all right, Vina. I am here now. Let us go in,” he said.

“It is all wet. There is no place for you to sit,” she replied softly.

Raja was carrying a torch. Still at the door of her home, he flashed the light inside. The simplicity astonished him. The only furniture was a bed and a cupboard. In the corner he spotted a kerosene stove next to which was a plate and a glass. He marveled at Vina’s infectious enthusiasm for life for someone staying in such penurious surroundings. Forever cheerful and helpful, she was also intelligent and sincere in her work.

She had a knack for always being appropriately dressed or maybe it was he who found her so attractive irrespective of what she wore. Coming to think of it, she had only a few dresses which she wore alternatively, but he adored her too much to notice. And that dazzling smile, those large innocent eyes and glowing black complexion had always plunged a dagger into his heart.

He was her boss, but he always felt inadequate before her effervescent personality. Both were single but he hadn’t found the courage to open his heart to her.

“Please don’t leave me alone today,” she said. She had released him. In the scattered rays of the torch, he saw her beautiful face. He had a strong urge to kiss those luscious lips, taste the fragrance of her mouth, but he restrained himself, mentally admonishing himself for harboring such thoughts about the lady of his dreams.

“Lock up your room. You will stay with me today,” he said. It took him a lot of courage to say that to woman he had loved from afar. He feared that she would spurn him, but it took her only a moment to shut the door and hold his hand.

“Wait,” he said. “Hold this,” he added handing her the torch. She did as bidden. He removed his heavy raincoat and put it around her.

“What about you?” she said. He ignored the question; instead, carefully folded her hair inside the built-in cap and fastened the strings.

She started to giggle. He queried his eyebrows. She pointed at her feet. Given her short height, the bottom of the raincoat puddled around her legs. It would be difficult for her to walk as the hem of the jacket would drag in the mud.

Raja pondered for a moment before sweeping her off her feet in his arms. Then cradling her, she began to walk towards his house. She folded her arms around his neck and raised her head so she could feel his warm breath on her cheeks.
The guard of Raja’s villa watched the scene with amusement. With a gesture of his eyes, Raja asked him to unlock the door. Only when the man had lighted the candle and closed the door behind him, did Raja place his precious cargo on the floor and removed the raincoat.

“Go and change,” Raja said, pointing at the bathroom. “You can wear the bathrobe.”

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Some time later, they were both seated in the living room. Two large candles illuminated the room. Vina was comfortably ensconced on the sofa. She was wearing a bathrobe and was sipping a cup of hot chocolate that Raja had made. Her feet were immersed in a basin of warm water. He had changed into a comfortable jersey and Bermudas. Gently, he picked one of Vina’s feet and began to massage gently. Inside, the well-built house, they were both safe from the storm that raged outside.

When she chuckled, he silenced her with a stern look. “You might catch a cold. I am just trying to warm up your body.”
He massaged both her feet by turn, delighted at how soft they were. The fact that beneath the robe, she was completely naked thrilled him. A couple of times, when she shifted slightly, the robe parted, and he caught glimpses of her ebony thigh. The sight made his heart thump especially. It pleased him that she did not hurry to slide the robe back into place.

“Enough, now!” said Vina. There was a finality in her voice which he could not ignore.

Raja looked up to see that she was patting the place next to her. He sat where she beckoned. Gently, she stroked his cheek. Their eyes locked and revealed their hearts without a word being spoken.

“I love you, Vina,” he said at last. “I have always loved you from the first day I saw you.” It took him a lot of courage to speak those words.

“Why did you never tell me?” she asked.

“You are so beautiful. I was worried that I was not good enough for you,” he replied.

There was complete silence for a few moments.

His heart sank at her quietness, but he took heart from the softness in her eyes.. “I have just told you what I felt. I fully understand that you might not feel the same way about me. And I am sorry that I used this opportunity to say all this. You are scared and lonely. I should not have taken advantage of you!”

Still she remained silent, making him crestfallen.

After a few moments, he resumed. “Look I am really sorry. You don’t need to do anything silly. You need this job. I am okay if you complain to my bosses. I will leave and go.”

He opened his mouth to say something more, but couldn’t, because deftly Vina had come astride him. She had flung her arms around him and was kissing him deeply. He tasted the sweetness of her mouth and felt Vina’s hand grab his hardness from outside his shorts.

Reluctantly, he released his mouth and whispered into her ears. “I love you, Vina. Let’s not do it today. I want our first time to be very special. I want to marry you and make you, my princess.”

"Do you know how much time we have wasted?" she asked.

"What do you mean?" he enquired.

"Secretly, I admired you. You are so polite, so kind, so learned. I am nothing compared to you. I have not even completed high school. How I prayed that my children would have a father like you. No, not like you. But, you," she spoke softly.

Suddenly, the lights in the room switched on. Raja saw his lover’s lovely face. He couldn't resist pulling her head towards him and kissing those sensuous lips again. When they finally released each other, he saw a radiance in her face which made her look even more lovely and desirable. He had fantasized about this woman so many times! Of undressing her and exploring the treasures of her curvy black body. He had wanted to quench his thirst inside her. Now, he despised himself for even harboring such thoughts. Vina's beauty went much beyond her physical attributes. Her qualities meant she would be a great companion for a lifetime. Such a woman was to be worshipped and pampered not ravished and plundered.

“Ok, take me to your room. We both need to sleep. It’s been a long night,” she said. Both lovers walked to the bedroom holding hands. They were determined to be together for life. Today, was the first night. Their souls were one. Their bodies, though hungry for each other, would have to yearn a bit more to be united. The wait would only make the consummation more delightful. And sacred.

WC 1554