The excerpts from Mohan Deep's- It's My Life, a novel about Mumbai's high society.

Most unclothed girls seem vulnerable, embarrassed about the shortcomings in their figure. Bhairavi had all the reasons to feel so yet she looked at ease with her nudity as she smoked with eyes half closed, savoring every second. -'Vasant, I have missed my chums again.' she grimaced suddenly. -'Oh....!'he appeared apologetic as if he was responsible for that which, he could well have been. He didn't know what to say. This was the third time it had happened.Vasant knew the gynecologist's stern warning to her.' Another abortion can be risky for you.' Bhairavi sensed that he had remembered the medical advise. - 'Look Bhairavi....Don't take the risk this time. Don't go for abortion,' Vasant pleaded. Bhairavi didn't intend to, either.' I intend to deliver the baby,' she declared. He hiccuped and didn't know what to say except 'Huh!'. He thought she has finally decided to marry him and grinned victoriously. -'You?...paagal ho kya.'said Bhairavi with a contempt she reserved only for morons.' Do you think I want your messy divorce to screw up my life?, she snorted as she took out a white cotton fishnet T-shirt and a blue denim jean she had purchased while in San Francisco a couple of months earlier and transparent Lycra underthings from the closet.

'Pour me a drink,' she told him as she stepped in the pair of jeans. The bar was a smart little job perfect for a love nest like this which Bhairavi had designed. The design had a phallic symbol which hid a variety of exotic world famous brands of liquor. He poured two drinks. His a stiff whiskey with water and her's a gin with soda as she liked. - 'What do you plan to do?' he asked, as she brushed her hair standing before her dressing table. Not that he really thought that she may marry him. But then strange things are known to have happened. She remained quiet, sipping her drink, critically watching herself in the full size mirror. She knew that the life inside, or even a delayed abortion, would further spoil her figure. She could imagine herself bloated like a shapeless balloon and wish for a way by which she could simply deposit, what could be a full life,somewhere to be picked up and given a chance to live. Tho' she got rid of the unwanted pregnancies she would have loved to have them...

All rights reserved, Mohandeep, 2000