26-09-2025, 04:23 PM
Chapter 82: Forest Revelations
Raghavan looked at Nivi as they walked the trail. The forest was quiet. Birds chirped above. The sun peeked through the leaves. "You did well back at the falls," he said. "Those boys couldn't keep their eyes off you. You had them eating out of your hand."
Nivi smiled. She felt a bit shy. "It was fun. Winning the race. Teasing them. But I didn't expect that."
Raghavan nodded. "You have a way with people. They see you and they want more. That's power, Nivi. You use it well."
She looked at the ground. "Power? I guess. But sometimes I wonder if it's too much. Like, is it okay to let them look that way?"
He chuckled. "Why not? It's your choice. You decide who looks and how much. That's control. Remember the buffet? Those guys following you by the pool. You handled it. You always do."
Nivi nodded. "Yeah. It felt good. But I worry. What if it's changing me? Making me... different."
Raghavan walked closer. His arm brushed hers. "Different how? You mean bold? That's good. Life's short. You have kids. They need a strong mom. One who knows how to get what she wants."
She glanced at him. "Strong? I try. But this... flirting, teasing. Is it right? For a mother?"
He shrugged. "Right for who? Society? They say one thing. But look at successful women. They use what they have. Beauty. Charm. It helps them climb. Get better jobs. More money. For their family."
Nivi thought about it. "Like climbing the ladder?"
"Yes. Your beauty is a tool. Use it. Talk to people. Make connections. It opens doors. For you. For your sons."
She bit her lip. "But if I explore... like with Vikram. Is that bad? What if it hurts my family?"
Raghavan smiled. "Explore if you want. It's your life. Keep control. Don't let it take over. Be smart. Have fun in private. Be the perfect mom at home. Balance it. That's the key."
Nivi nodded. "Balance. I like that. But I'm scared. What if I lose control? Become... too loose."
He stopped. Looked at her. "Loose? No. You're smart. You know what you want. Use it. Men like to look. Let them. It gives you power. To get ahead. Better job. More money. For your boys."
She felt better. "Power. Yeah. I felt that at the falls. They listened to me. Praised me."
"See? That's it. Use your beauty. Climb up. Be the best mom. Provide for them. That's not bad. That's smart."
Nivi smiled. "You're right. It feels good. To be wanted. To control it."
Raghavan squeezed her hand. "Good. Remember that. Explore if you like. But stay in charge. No one owns you but you."
She nodded. "I will. Thanks, Raghavan. You make it clear."
They walked on. The trail twisted. Trees shaded them. Birds sang. Nivi felt stronger. Her doubts faded. Raghavan’s words stuck. She could be bold. In private. Strong in life. For her sons.
The forest opened up. The resort was close. Nivi looked at Raghavan. "This trip changed me. I feel new."
He smiled. "Good. Use it. Climb that ladder. Be the best."
She nodded. Her mind raced. Beauty as a tool. Control the men. Provide for her boys. It made sense. She felt ready.
The end of the trail came. The resort gates appeared. Nivi took a deep breath. Her adventure ended. But her power began.
Raghavan looked at Nivi as they walked the trail. The forest was quiet. Birds chirped above. The sun peeked through the leaves. "You did well back at the falls," he said. "Those boys couldn't keep their eyes off you. You had them eating out of your hand."
Nivi smiled. She felt a bit shy. "It was fun. Winning the race. Teasing them. But I didn't expect that."
Raghavan nodded. "You have a way with people. They see you and they want more. That's power, Nivi. You use it well."
She looked at the ground. "Power? I guess. But sometimes I wonder if it's too much. Like, is it okay to let them look that way?"
He chuckled. "Why not? It's your choice. You decide who looks and how much. That's control. Remember the buffet? Those guys following you by the pool. You handled it. You always do."
Nivi nodded. "Yeah. It felt good. But I worry. What if it's changing me? Making me... different."
Raghavan walked closer. His arm brushed hers. "Different how? You mean bold? That's good. Life's short. You have kids. They need a strong mom. One who knows how to get what she wants."
She glanced at him. "Strong? I try. But this... flirting, teasing. Is it right? For a mother?"
He shrugged. "Right for who? Society? They say one thing. But look at successful women. They use what they have. Beauty. Charm. It helps them climb. Get better jobs. More money. For their family."
Nivi thought about it. "Like climbing the ladder?"
"Yes. Your beauty is a tool. Use it. Talk to people. Make connections. It opens doors. For you. For your sons."
She bit her lip. "But if I explore... like with Vikram. Is that bad? What if it hurts my family?"
Raghavan smiled. "Explore if you want. It's your life. Keep control. Don't let it take over. Be smart. Have fun in private. Be the perfect mom at home. Balance it. That's the key."
Nivi nodded. "Balance. I like that. But I'm scared. What if I lose control? Become... too loose."
He stopped. Looked at her. "Loose? No. You're smart. You know what you want. Use it. Men like to look. Let them. It gives you power. To get ahead. Better job. More money. For your boys."
She felt better. "Power. Yeah. I felt that at the falls. They listened to me. Praised me."
"See? That's it. Use your beauty. Climb up. Be the best mom. Provide for them. That's not bad. That's smart."
Nivi smiled. "You're right. It feels good. To be wanted. To control it."
Raghavan squeezed her hand. "Good. Remember that. Explore if you like. But stay in charge. No one owns you but you."
She nodded. "I will. Thanks, Raghavan. You make it clear."
They walked on. The trail twisted. Trees shaded them. Birds sang. Nivi felt stronger. Her doubts faded. Raghavan’s words stuck. She could be bold. In private. Strong in life. For her sons.
The forest opened up. The resort was close. Nivi looked at Raghavan. "This trip changed me. I feel new."
He smiled. "Good. Use it. Climb that ladder. Be the best."
She nodded. Her mind raced. Beauty as a tool. Control the men. Provide for her boys. It made sense. She felt ready.
The end of the trail came. The resort gates appeared. Nivi took a deep breath. Her adventure ended. But her power began.