Adultery No going Back:his worst mistake

[Zoz34]

On the way back to the barbecue, platter of marinated chicken trembling in his hands,Until now it had been a vague unease jealousy, irritation, something unspoken. But now it had shape. It had a name.Fear.Fear that Meher was about to leave. That in a week, she'd be surrounded by guys like Kunal and Rocky older, buffer, cockier. Guys who’d fuck without blinking. Guys who wouldn’t mind fucking her if they got a chance.

Jake was wolfing down kebabs, mouth slick with oil, while Jiya giggled beside him, thighs pressed close, her tank top riding dangerously low. A little to the side, sitting on a stone ledge like she was posing for a swimsuit calendar, was .

Meher,His girl.Her bare ass cheeks spread against the sun-warmed stone, tiny bikini strings lost between them, her back arched slightly as she leaned to one side, pretending to scroll. But he knew her too well. The subtle twist of her hips. The way her chest puffed just slightly, pushing the barely-there bikini top higher, almost tipping a nipple free.

Then he noticed something on the metal side table.Jiya’s phone.Screen up. Lighting up from a fresh text.Meher’s name glowed on the notification bar.

Meher to jiya:
kunal’s body is gives me palpation.

His breath caught. Something inside him snapped.She was sitting half-naked her tight, tanned body glistening, thighs parted slightly, strings digging into her skin… and texting her friend about another man’s body?

His gaze darted up.

Meher was still on the ledge. Phone in her lap now, arms stretched behind her, chest up. Was she… was she posing? Wanting Kunal to notice?Aarav’s grip on the grill tightened. What the fuck was happening?

He didn’t even hear Aayan approaching until he was right beside him.Meher Big brother.Maybe his presence would bring some order to the chaos. Maybe he'd rein in Meher’s teasing and the boys’ constant, hungry stares.


Aayan:Hey, look at the chef. Command Central right here.
Aarav:Do I?
He chuckled, trying to sound normal, though inside he felt like his stitching was coming apart thread by thread.
Aayan:Sure looks like it, Aarav. Did you marinate this chicken yourself?
Aarav: Yup.
He forced a nod, avoiding eye contact. He could barely look up — not with his head swarming with thoughts and his chest tight from jealousy and dread.

Aayan:Nice. Good job, chef.

Aarav nodded again, but his attention was pulled — tugged like a puppet string — toward the poolside. Across the patio, Meher sat on the low wooden ledge, posture straightening just as he looked. Her fingers tangled her wet hair into a loose top knot, arms raised high, showing off the toned curves of her bare back and the delicate sway of her hips. The turquoise bikini strings clung to her damp skin. Her breasts, small and perky, pressed against the thin fabric, flexing slightly as she moved.Then he noticed movement from the side. Turning, he saw Mahira, Meher’s older sister and Aayan’s too walking toward the group, smiling as she carried a drink.

Aayan:Well look at that the Sharma siblings, all together.

Mahira and Meher were now seated together on the same bench, plates balanced on their laps. 

Someone said,Hey, look at this, all the Sharmas together someone ought to take a picture.


Aayan:Aarav, would you take it?

Aarav: Man, I’d love to.

The sisters Meher, Mahira, and shuffled into frame. Aarav noticed how Meher adjusted the strap of her bikini top, tugged it higher, hiding just a little more of her cleavage. Maybe it was subconscious. Or maybe it was because she felt his eyes on her.Good.

Aayan: “We have time so Meher can put a shirt on?”

Mahira wagged a finger and said sternly: “Oh, don’t you dare. You don’t tell a girl what to wear.” Aayan dropped it with a laugh, but the slight shift in his smile told Aarav everything — the nerves, the weight of expectations, the public performance of ease. 

Aarav:Say cheese.

They did and he fired off several shots of the picture-perfect Sharma siblings, arms looped, sun kissing their faces, eyes twinkling with nostalgia and family pride.

Meher had leaned into Mahira’s shoulder, her smile soft, that tiny curl of lip Aarav always noticed when she wasn’t thinking about who was watching her. He locked that image in his mind.

Mahira:Send me those, Aayan!

Meher:Me too, please!

Aayan: Aarav, you got some good ones?

Aarav: Gold. You’ll love them.

He handed the phone back,Aayan went into the house.Mahira turned to Meher now, her tone catching as the moment suddenly felt heavier.

Mahira: I can’t believe my little sister is going to college next week...

She wrapped her arms around Meher tightly.

Meher:Stop it…


Riya joined them.

Meher:What’s with this?”.grabbing Riya

Mahira:You like it?

Meher: Yeah... I do.

Mahira:made a cartoonish face puffed cheeks, slow exhale but then her eyes narrowed slightly.

Riya:Are you ready for this?

Meher: What?

Her voice trembled with confusion. Innocent.
But something shifted in Riya’s tone. Riya stood up slowly.

Loose tee. Obscenely short denim shorts. Flip-flops. Her legs gleamed under the soft garden light, thighs thick and oiled from lake water. The baggy T-shirt sagged off one shoulder, showing the neon strap of her bikini.

And then like she knew exactly what she was doing she peeled the T-shirt off.

Male heads turned, one by one, as if pulled by instinct.A black scorpion tattoo curled up from her shoulder blade, coiled seductively over the top of her toned arm. Sharp. Sleek. Sexy.

Meher'smouth fell open.Her eyes widened.her fingers long, delicate, almost trembling reached out and traced the inky lines of the tattoo. Fingertip on bare skin. Slow. Curious.

Meher: It’s... awesome.

Riya:You think so?

Meher: I really love it.

Breathless. She actually sounded breathless.

Kunal turned and saw it too.

Meher: How much did it cost?

Riya: Like... 10k


Meher: really 

Aarav : a tattoo also suit u

Meher:you think...

Aarav:i know
Meher hugged him.

Riya :“I can’t stand to think of you guys apart.”

Kunal:Apart why?

Riya: she is going to delhi for uni.

Rohit:Oh shit, dude.He sounded honestly shocked, not mocking.Then, suddenly, silence.

.Kunal: Tell me about it.

JAKE:I’m sure you guys will stay together.

He said it in his deep voice flat, unreadable. Could’ve been sincere. Could’ve been sarcastic. Nobody laughed.

Not even Meher.
KUNAL: Oh yeah. College girls are always faithful to their boyfriends, especially long distance one. Said sarcastically 



Uncomfortable giggle somewhere in the group.Meher’s face twitched.Eyes gleaming.A little wet maybe.I saw her eyes tremble.



After barbeque,Aarav and Meher walked hand in hand in the shade of the trees, just like they used to. Five years ago wasn’t that far away on a calendar, but it might as well have been another lifetime. Back then, Aayan was the naughty one, splashing around in the lake; Sharma Uncle ,her dad ,at the helm of the boat, laughing and teaching Aarav how to fish. Sharma Uncle had been gone for a while now, but the memory still sat fresh in Aarav’s chest.

Meher: "Why the long face, Aarav?"
Aarav: "Thinking about your dad."

She groaned. "Don’t bum me out."
Aarav:"Sorry. I just… hate that things change."
Meher: "Things are always changing."

Aarav:"Remember how he used to take everyone fishing all day?"

It was risky territory talking about her father but her profile softened, and he caught a small smile. Sunlight reflected off the lake, and though they were shaded, her skin still glowed.

Meher: "Yeah," she sighed, wistful.

He let it drop before nostalgia turned into hurt.
Aarav: "I miss those days."

Meher: "At least you’ll still be in Mumbai. I’m going to be so far away. By myself."
Aarav:"You scared?"

Meher: "Not scared, no."

Aarav: "Excited?"

Meher: "I think so."

Aarav: "You stressed?"

Meher:"Definitely."
Aarav: "Maybe I can come visit."

She didn’t answer right away  just kept looking out at the water.

Meher: "I’ll be home for Diwali."

Aarav just nodded. Truth was, he couldn’t afford random flights to Delhi. 

They sat quietly, watching friends laugh on the shore.

Meher: "Okay," she said, setting her empty plate down. "Can you take my cup too? Kitchen fridge has a pitcher of fruit punch you know, the grey one with the rooster on it?"

Aarav: "Yeah."

Meher: "Refill it for me?"
Aarav: "Is there booze in it?"

Meher: "Aren’t you nosy." 
Aarav: "Fine, 

She passed him her plate and cup.

Aarav: "Don’t eat my burger. Take yours and put it on my plate."

She swapped them with a smirk. Aarav stood, looking down at her sitting in that flossy turquoise bikini, sunlight licking the damp edges of her skin.

Aarav:"I’ll be right back."

Inside, the house felt cooler. He climbed up from the basement door to the kitchen, found the rooster pitcher in the fridge, and for once didn’t check for alcohol.
When he stepped back outside… she wasn’t where he’d left her.
She was farther down the sandy beach.

From behind, she almost looked naked that narrow, tanned back, ridged with faint muscle, the pale curve of her hips exposed, only a thin turquoise string disappearing between her cheeks and looping low around her waist.

And in his spot was Rocky Thakur.
Hat turned backward, curls spilling out, Rocky was leaning in — saying something that made her laugh hard enough to hide her mouth with her hand, tossing her hair over her shoulder.

Her bikini top shifted just enough in the movement that Aarav saw the faint, tight bud of her nipple pressing against the turquoise triangle.Aarav’s fingers tightened around the handle of the pitcher.
Rocky leaned closer. She didn’t lean away.


When Aarav handed Meher her plate, he didn’t say a word. He was mad, and she could probably tell.

Meher:"Thanks."

Rocky:"Where’s mine, dude?"

Aarav ignored him completely, eyes still on Meher.

Aarav: "You don’t want to sit in the shade anymore?"

Meher:"I came down into the sun," she said lightly.

The plate with both their burgers was on the sand beside her, tilted where the edge had sunk into the beach. A sprinkle of sand clung to the rim.

Rocky was right next to her  too close  his bare feet almost brushing hers. He sat with his knees pulled up, muscular arms looped around them, one veiny hand gripping the opposite wrist like he owned the space.

Aarav:"You pass my burger?" He set himself down in front of Meher, back to the water, making sure he was just as close to her as Rocky was.

Meher: "Yup," she said cheerfully, twisting at the waist to grab the other plate.

The twist pulled her taut tummy into view  ribs shifting beneath bronzed skin  the string of her bikini bottom dipping loose across her hipbone, leaving just enough of a gap that if someone looked at the right angle…

Aarav didn’t miss Rocky’s glance. The guy’s eyes slid down, shamelessly, straight into that gap.

Meher got onto her knees, sand sticking to the sheen of her thighs, and handed Aarav his burger with a little wriggly mouth face.

Meher:"Sorry about the sand."

Aarav: "It’s fine."

They swapped burgers, and she sat back on her heels, feet tucked under her nearly bare bottom, thong string vanishing between the round curves.

Rocky: "You’re gonna miss food like this at University "

Aarav"I’m staying in Mumbai. With my parents."

Rocky (to Meher): "You?"

Meher:"Got into St. Stephen’s."

Rocky: "Delhi… so you’re gonna commit to that college life."

Meher: "I am," she said confidently  but Aarav caught the tiny flicker of nerves in her face.

Rocky: "I think someone’s looking forward to a little freedom, far from home. You should check out this place in Delhi"

Meher: "You studied there, right? You’d know all the spots."

Rocky:"I know all the pleasure points."

She giggled. Aarav’s jaw tightened.

Aarav"What’s that? Pleasure points?"
Meher: "Part of the university experience."

Rocky: "I’m well known there."

Aarav: "I thought that area was dangerous for outsiders."

Rocky: "Trust me, they’ll love you."
He looked her over again  openly.

Meher:"Shut up."

Aarav hated how she smiled at that.[img]<a href=[/img]" />

Rocky: "No, seriously. Call me when you’re there. I’ll hook you up with some guys who’ll be good to you."

She didn’t answer. Instead, she set her burger down in the sand, turned away, and crawled toward her bag.

The view she gave them both was indecent  thong wedged high, the sun warm on the pale curves of her ass, making her look almost naked.

She dug in her bag and pulled out her phone.

Aarav’s eyes darted to Rocky  the bastard was watching her like a hawk.

She returned, kneeling again, and passed her phone to Rocky so he could type in his number. His large hands dwarfed the device, fingers moving slow, deliberate.

Aarav:"You really that into that?
She didn’t even glance at him. Her eyes stayed on Rocky’s hands.

Meher:"I don’t know I think so."

Something burned up Aarav’s throat jealousy, anger, humiliation all mixing into something far hotter than just rage.


Rocky leaned back ,smirk tugging at his lips.
Rocky: "You know… this place has a story. They say a girl drowned here years ago. People still see her walking the shore at night."

Aaravsnorted, popping open a beer.
Aarav: "Bro, please. Every lake in India has a drowned-girl story. Next you’ll tell me she wants revenge."

Meher giggled, tucking her knees up.
Meher: "No, no… let him finish. I wanna hear this  bhootni tale."

Rockys gaze lingered on her bare shoulders a second too long before he went on.
Rocky:"I’m serious. I saw her last summer—white saree, wet hair, just… staring."

Aarav:And then you woke up?"

Meher:laughing "Your ghost is total bullshit."

Rocky: "Wanna bet?"

Meher:"Bet… that you saw a ghost? How do we prove that?"

Rocky: "No, bet that she’s real. We’ll walk to the far dock after midnight. Loser has to streak across the beach."

Meher’s eyes went wide, mock-offended.
Meher:"In front of our friends? No way."

Rocky: "Nothing they haven’t imagined already." His eyes dipped briefly, deliberately, toward her chest.

Meher: "Gross. Not my friends. Maybe when I was eight."

Rocky:"Aw, so someone’s shy? You’re already in half a bikini, what’s a little less cloth?"
Meher:
smirking back, taking a bite of her burger* "And you’re not shy?"

Rocky: "Fear just stops people from having fun."

Meher: (eyes down on her burger, voice low)"Easy for you to say…"

Rocky:"Why’s that?"

Meher, glanced up, mischief in her smile.
Meher:"Because aren’t you supposed to have, like… a really big one?"

Rocky erupted in laughter, but Aarav’s jaw clenched, eyes narrowing on Rocky  and on the way Rocky’s smirk only deepened.




Aarav bent forward like someone had socked him in the gut, shoving his hands into his shorts pockets. Rocky threw his head back, laughing loud, his broad shoulders bunching up. Meher giggled too, then caught Aarav staring. She crinkled her nose.

Meher: "What? Why you looking like that?"

Aarav: "Why you will say like that?
Meher: "Like what?" She tilted her head, eyes glancing up, then back at him, pretending innocence.

Rocky: "He means how you will even know?"

Meher: "Ohh…" She laughed lightly, rolled her eyes, then sat back on her heels, taking another small bite of her burger. She leaned to one side, knees drawn up, her hand with the burger resting on her thigh.
Meher:"Girls talk, yaar."

Rocky:"I bet they do."

Aarav: "I’m hoping you don’t." His voice was too parental, even to his own ears.

Meher: "Please. Like you boys don’t talk 'which girl is easy’ and all that."

Rocky laughed again, letting handfuls of sand run between his fingers.
Rocky:"So what about you? You easy?"

Her jaw dropped in mock outrage, but she smiled through it.
Meher:"How dare you. You know I’m not like that."

Rocky: "Yeah, yeah. Your brother says you’re a good girl. You’re not on that list."

Meher: "Thank you." She lifted her burger again.

Rocky: "You want to be?"

That froze her mid-bite. She burst out laughing, covering her mouth with her wrist so she wouldn’t choke, shoulders shaking.

Aarav: "Easy, boss."

Rocky:grinning without looking at him
"Relax, just joking." His eyes were fixed on her, following the way her bikini strap had slid a little over her shoulder as she laughed.

Meher,still smiling, looked down at her burger, voice lower now.
Meher:"You wish."

Rocky didn’t reply just kept that knowing half-smile, as if silently agreeing. Aarav could feel the heat rise in his chest, that same burning, borderless anger from before.