Mandeep felt a sense of loss: Tanya was married and out of reach. His stay with Roomi wasuncertain. The thing to do was to not get her pregnant for as long as possible. Of course, another optionwould be to buy a house and get a young chick to live with him; a young, good-looking, sexy chick. Doit all proper...get her to sign a legal document laying down the terms of endowment covering thelength of their stay together. No marriage will be involved and they could or would part with mutualconsent. He would give her a set amount as severance to cover each year that they lived together. Nochildren. No!

Mandeep made his way to Gulprasad. He would have to find a way to get as much money as hecould off the ol' fart whether he got Roomi pregnant or not. It wasn't going to be easy to wheedle thesly ol' fox. But he had plans...yes he did and he would have no hesitation to put them into action. Hesmiled to himself; he could see a rosy life ahead, a life of luxury and abundance."Where have you been?" Gulprasad looked at Mandeep with his characteristic sneer. Mandeepwas slouching in a cane chair on the open verandah.

"Out and about."

"What does that mean?"

"Whatever you want it to mean. I'm not about to give you a detailed report of my goings andcomings."

"You're getting very cocky these days."

"Your money is making me cocky." He said waving his hand in a flippant way....Roomi walked out with the kid Sundram in tow. That helped diffuse any shouting match thatwas building up to explode.

"Hello, darling wife, Mandeep has decided to visit us,"

"Yes I know - he came into my bedroom at five in the morning."

Gulprasad felt a pang of jealousy. "Who allowed him into the house at that hour?""Your faithful menials did, "quipped Mandeep, "They are more fond of me than they are afraidof you."

"Shut up, idiot! You want to get wupped?" Gulprasad sneered and glared at him."Sure do. But do you have enough slaves to do it? Maybe your Grandmother could help."Gulprasad exploded out of his chair breathing fire. Mandeep rose casually and disdainfully.They faced each other - Gulprasad was shaking with heightened emotion and anger Mandeep facedhim dismissively unconcerned. He was brought up on the streets and was a hardened dirty fighter. Onehard kick in the nuts or a head butt and Gulprasad would be incarcerated in bed for a week. Gulprasad'ssixth sense indicated that this was not a normal scene; Mandeep looked far too confident and it didn'tlook like a put on job either. He'd better back-off for the time being at least. He sat down abruptly.Roomi stood frozen with terror, one fist to her mouth, eyes big and staring with fright. The childtoo was terror stricken and clutched his mother's leg as hard as he could. He now let out a shrill andpiercing scream that distracted and galvanized the antagonists. Gulprasad rushed to the child lifting himto his chest kissing him repeatedly and stroking his head whilst making conciliatory and soothingsounds to calm him. Mandeep swiftly went to Roomi and hugged her shivering body tight.Roomi calmed down rapidly and now an intense anger took its place. She pushed Mandeepaway and admonished loudly, "Don't you dare behave like a brute...like fighting dogs in my houseever again. And that goes for you too Mr. Gulprasad. You behave like an animal again and I'll shut youout of the house. You can do your fighting out in the yard - not in front of me or my child."Both Gulprasad and Mandeep stood stunned and wide eyed with astonishment. Mandeep wasamazed to realize that Roomi welded such power over Gulprasad and the affairs of her home.Gulprasad was jolted into realizing that Roomi had covertly and compellingly ascended to becomemistress of the house. He was befuddled and looked at her with new found respect. He felt an urge tofold his hands and ask her forgiveness; such was her sudden escalated stature.Both Mandeep and Gulprasad looked at Roomi with unblinking eyes... and a singular thoughtwent through both male minds: She looked utterly desirable and they both wanted to bed her. Roomicaught the look of raw desire on both males and swiftly took command of the situation."I am, in a way, married to the pair of you and I shall do my wifely duties to both. I shall brookno arguments and certainly no bickering. You will concede to my decision without rancor or ill-feeling.Is that understood?" Both men nodded their head with puzzled expressions. They felt subdued andpositively humbled. The rapidly changed circumstance left them both un-nerved and unsure. Suddenlythey realized they were reduced to playing second fiddle to Roomi. She would decide their futurerelationship with her. Neither of them wished to assert their 'male superiority' at present with her.Gulprasad felt any overtly assertive gesture from him at this delicate moment may drive Roomito firmly side with that ass, Mandeep, and then anything could happen - he could even lose his darlingchild.

Mandeep held his peace for any belligerent showing may well result in his forceful evictionfrom the house when he may stand to lose both Roomi and his son.

A fragile peace overlay a simmering circumstance.