27-10-2025, 06:55 PM
For the next few days, Devika noticed a remarkable change in Pathan. The student who once slouched at the back of the classroom, eyes wandering everywhere but his textbook, now arrived early with notes prepared. During lectures, his hand shot up with questions that showed genuine engagement with the material. His crude comments and leering glances hadn't disappeared entirely—she still caught him watching the curve of her hip as she wrote on the board—but a newfound focus tempered his usual brashness.
Vishnu, too, maintained his academic momentum. Their competition seemed to fuel both of them, though for different rewards. When Devika called on Pathan to answer a complex question about cellular mitosis, his detailed response drew surprised looks from classmates.
Pathan: "The centrosomes begin to move to opposite sides of the cell nucleus during prophase, madam. By metaphase, they've established the polar regions where chromosomes will eventually segregate."
The pride in his voice was unmistakable. After class, he lingered behind, casually flipping through his notebook.
Pathan: "Did you notice my answer today, madam? I've been studying all night."
Devika couldn't help but smile. "Yes, I noticed. Your improvement is impressive."
Pathan: "So when can we... you know... watch that movie together? Like you promised?"
The smile faded from her lips. "Focus on your exam first. Then we'll discuss rewards."
As she gathered her papers, Devika felt a strange mixture of guilt and satisfaction. Using these boys' desires to motivate their studies was manipulative, yes—but seeing actual academic growth made her wonder if the end might justify her questionable means.
Later that afternoon, Seenu summoned her to his office again. When she arrived, she found him hunched over his desk, picking at a takeout container of biryani.
Seenu: "Ah, Devika. Thank you for coming. Just finishing my lunch."
The rich aroma of spices filled the room, but Seenu seemed to take little pleasure in the food. He pushed it aside with a sigh.
Seenu: "I've been meaning to congratulate you. Vishnu scored remarkably well on his last assessment. Whatever teaching methods you're employing seem quite effective."
His tone carried a weight that made Devika shift uncomfortably. She glanced at the half-eaten meal.
Devika: "Hotel food again, sir? That can't be healthy."
Seenu shrugged, his shoulders sagging slightly. "What choice do I have? My cooking skills extend to boiling water, and barely that."
She remembered what Saradha had mentioned about Seenu's personal life—his wife leaving years ago, the loneliness that had hardened into a bitter shell. Looking at him now, picking at restaurant food in his sterile office, she felt an unexpected pang of sympathy.
Devika: "It must be difficult... eating alone all the time."
Seenu looked up, surprised by the personal turn in conversation. "It's my fate, I suppose. After so many years, you get used to it."
His voice cracked slightly on the last word, and Devika saw something vulnerable flash across his face before he masked it with his usual stern expression.
"Everyone has their burdens," he continued, pushing the food container further away. "Mine is an empty house and hotel food that all tastes the same after a while."
Devika thought of her own apartment, of meals eaten in silence while her husband video-called with excuses from Dubai. She thought of Saradha's advice about taking control of Seenu, about using his loneliness to her advantage. The suggestion had seemed manipulative and cruel, but seeing him now—this aging man with his sad lunch—she felt a genuine connection in their shared solitude.
Without overthinking, she stepped forward and placed her hand over his. "We all need someone to lean on sometimes."
Seenu froze, staring at her hand covering his. Devika herself was surprised by her boldness, but didn't pull away.
Devika: "My husband... he's been unfaithful. Multiple women in Dubai. I pretend not to know, but..."
She trailed off, surprised at how easily this confession tumbled from her lips. Seenu's eyes widened, his hand turning to hold hers.
Seenu: "That fool. How could any man look elsewhere when he has you?"
His thumb stroked the back of her hand, a gesture at once comforting and possessive. The touch sent an unexpected warmth through her.
Devika: "We should both eat better than this. What's the point of living if we're just going through motions, right?"
She moved around his desk and settled on the edge of his chair. "Come on, let's share. Food tastes better when it's not eaten alone."
Seenu: "Share my biryani?"
Devika: "No, let's share my lunch. I made too much this morning."
She opened her tiffin box, revealing neatly packed chapatis, vegetable curry, and rice. The homemade aroma filled the room, making the takeout smell flat in comparison.
Seenu: "That's very kind of you, but—"
Devika: "I insist. Let me at least do this small thing."
She took a piece of chapati, dipped it in curry, and held it toward him. Seenu stared at the morsel in her fingers, then at her face, clearly uncertain.
Seenu: "You want to feed me?"
Devika: "Yes. We all need to be cared for sometimes."
He hesitated, then leaned forward and accepted the food from her fingers, his lips brushing against her skin. A strange intimacy hung in the air as he chewed slowly, his eyes never leaving hers.
Devika: "Good?"
Seenu: "The best meal I've had in years."
She continued feeding him, piece by piece. Each time, his lips lingered a moment longer against her fingers. The door was unlocked, someone could walk in any moment, yet the risk only heightened her awareness of every touch, every breath between them.
When she reached for a sweet gulab jamun from her dessert container, Seenu caught her wrist gently.
Seenu: "I've always loved these. My wife used to make them for special occasions."
His voice grew husky as he added, "Feed it to me... differently."
Devika: "Differently?"
Seenu: "With your mouth."
Devika froze, the sweet balanced between her fingers. She should be offended, should gather her things and leave. Instead, she stood and walked to the door, turning the lock with a decisive click.
When she returned to Seenu, she placed the gulab jamun between her lips and settled onto his lap, feeling his body tense beneath her. His hands automatically came to rest on her hips, steadying her.
Devika leaned forward, the sweet held delicately between her teeth. Their faces hovered inches apart, his breath warm against her skin. Seenu moved to meet her, taking half the sweet into his mouth, his lips pressing against hers in the process. The sugary syrup melted between them, sweet and sticky.
She felt his hardness beneath her, his grip on her waist tightening as they shared the dessert. When they'd finished, a thin strand of syrup connected their lips briefly before breaking.
Seenu: "Devika..."
His voice was thick with desire, but she placed a finger against his lips.
Devika: "That's enough for today."
She stood, straightening her saree and wiping her mouth delicately. Seenu remained seated, looking dazed.
Devika: "Perhaps we can share lunch again tomorrow. I make excellent payasam."
As she gathered her things and unlocked the door, she felt a shift in the power between them. For the first time since arriving at the college, she was the one in control—not just responding to others' desires, but directing them, using them. Saradha had been right about this much: there was power in being wanted, in deciding how much to give and when.
Devika made her way to the staff room, her body still humming with the aftereffects of her encounter with Seenu. The sensation of his lips against hers, separated only by the sweet gulab jamun, lingered pleasantly. As she entered, she spotted Saradha alone at the far table, grading papers.
Saradha glanced up, her eyebrows rising slightly as she noticed Devika's flushed appearance.
Saradha: "You look... different. Something happened?"
Devika hesitated, then closed the staff room door and approached Saradha's table. She sat down, checking that they were truly alone before leaning forward.
Devika: "I followed your advice."
Saradha set down her pen, giving Devika her full attention. "Which part, exactly?"
Devika: "All of it."
She described her encounter with Vishnu in the boys' toilet—how she'd taken him in her mouth, explored his body with increasing boldness, the shocking intimacy they'd shared. Her voice dropped to barely above a whisper as she detailed how she'd disrobed for him, how she'd used her breasts, how she'd tasted him completely.
Saradha's eyes widened, her breathing quickening almost imperceptibly as she listened.
Saradha: "And he scored ninety-two percent? That's remarkable improvement."
Devika: "Yes. He studied all night after I promised him... rewards."
She continued, describing how she'd manipulated Pathan with similar promises, making him work harder for the possibility of intimacy. A small smile played across her lips as she recounted his eager response in class.
Devika: "And just now, with Seenu... I fed him lunch. By hand."
Saradha: "By hand?"
Devika: "And then... I locked his office door and shared a gulab jamun with him. Mouth to mouth."
Saradha's lips parted in surprise. "You didn't!"
Devika: "I did. I sat on his lap and felt him harden beneath me. But I left him wanting more."
A strange expression crossed Saradha's face—something like satisfaction mixed with excitement. She reached across the table, squeezing Devika's hand.
Saradha: "I knew you had it in you. The power to control these men through their desires."
Devika nodded, a new confidence evident in her posture. "You were right all along. When I first came here, I felt so helpless, so exposed to their stares and comments. But now..."
Saradha: "Now you're the one in control."
Devika: "Exactly. Vishnu's hands trembled when I allowed him to undress me. Pathan nearly fell out of his chair when I bent over his desk to check his work. And Seenu—I could feel him practically melting when I fed him."
Saradha leaned back, observing Devika with something like pride. "And how does it feel? This power?"
Devika considered the question, her fingers tracing patterns on the wooden table. "Intoxicating," she finally admitted. "When I was kneeling before Vishnu, I should have felt degraded, but instead... I felt powerful. Watching him come apart because of me, because of what my mouth could do to him..."
A flush crept up her neck as the memory washed over her.
Saradha: "And what about your husband? Has he called recently?"
Devika's expression hardened. "Yes. With the usual excuses about working late. I heard a woman's voice in the background before he quickly covered the phone."
Saradha: "And did you feel guilty about Vishnu? About Seenu?"
Devika: "That's the strange thing. I thought I would, but I don't. Not really. It feels like... reclaiming something that was taken from me."
Saradha nodded knowingly. "The guilt fades when you realize you're not the one who broke the contract first."
A comfortable silence settled between them as Devika absorbed this perspective. She had never thought of her marriage in terms of contracts, but perhaps that's exactly what it was—an agreement Rajeevan had already violated repeatedly.
Saradha: "So what's next with Vishnu? With Pathan?"
Devika smiled, a subtle, confident curve of her lips that would have been unrecognizable to anyone who knew her before.
Devika: "Pathan needs to earn what Vishnu received. I told him if he studies and scores well, I might watch those... videos he mentioned with him."
Saradha: "Adult films? Devika, that's brilliant! The anticipation alone will keep him focused for weeks."
Devika: "And Vishnu... I promised him more if his scores continue improving. Perhaps next time I'll let him touch more than just my waist."
Saradha's eyes gleamed with something like vicarious pleasure. "And Seenu? Will you feed him lunch again tomorrow?"
Devika: "Yes, but this time I might let him taste more than just gulab jamun."
The boldness of her own words surprised Devika, but she didn't retract them. Something fundamental had shifted within her—her conception of herself, of what she was capable of and entitled to.
Saradha: "You've taken to this strategy better than I could have hoped. These men who once thought they could control you—now they're the ones begging for your attention."
Devika nodded, feeling a surge of satisfaction. "It started as just doing what I needed to survive here, but now..."
Saradha: "Now you're enjoying it."
Devika: "Yes. I am."
She thought of Vishnu's expression when she'd taken him into her mouth, of Pathan's desperate attention during lecture, of Seenu's trembling lips against her fingers. These men who had once made her feel so small now orbited around her like planets around a sun, their trajectories completely under her control.
Devika: "I should have listened to you sooner, Saradha. All those weeks I spent feeling helpless, feeling violated by their stares and comments..."
Saradha: "You weren't ready then. You needed to come to this realization on your own."
Devika's phone vibrated in her purse. She checked it—a message from Vishnu, filled with gratitude and promises to study even harder for her.
Devika: "He wants to see me again tomorrow."
Saradha: "And will you?"
Devika considered this, turning the phone in her hands. "Not yet. Let him earn it with another excellent test score first."
Saradha: "Perfect. Make him work for every touch, every glimpse."
Devika: "I've told Pathan the same—no rewards until he matches Vishnu's performance."
Saradha gathered her papers, satisfied. "You've become quite the strategist, Devika. I admit I'm impressed with how completely you've embraced this approach."
As they prepared to leave the staff room, Devika paused by the door.
Devika: "There's one thing that still bothers me."
Saradha: "What's that?"
Devika: "Seenu mentioned something about Vishnu. About how he knows what happened between us. How could he know unless..."
Saradha: "Unless someone told him? Or unless he saw you."
A chill ran through Devika. "You don't think there are cameras in the toilets, do you?"
Saradha's expression revealed nothing. "I doubt it. More likely Vishnu couldn't keep his achievement entirely to himself. Boys that age—they boast, even when they promise secrecy."
Devika frowned, making a mental note to question Vishnu about this. If word was spreading, she needed to know how far and to whom.
Saradha: "Don't worry too much. Even if Seenu suspects something, what can he do? He's as compromised as anyone after your lunch together."
The thought brought a smile back to Devika's face. "You're right. We're all entangled now."
As they walked out into the corridor, Devika caught sight of herself in a window reflection—the same saree, the same face, but something fundamentally different in her eyes, in the set of her shoulders. The frightened woman who had arrived in Pune had vanished, replaced by someone who understood the currency of desire and wasn't afraid to spend it.
Saradha watched her with quiet satisfaction, as if observing the successful completion of an experiment. "Tomorrow will be interesting, won't it?"
Devika: "Very interesting indeed."
She thought of the various men now caught in her web—Vishnu with his desperate devotion, Pathan with his raw hunger, Seenu with his lonely vulnerability. Each one dancing to her tune, each one believing they had some special connection to her. In reality, they were merely players in her game now, a game whose rules she was still discovering but was increasingly eager to master.
Devika: "Thank you, Saradha. For showing me this path."
Saradha: "No need for thanks. Just keep me informed of your... progress. I find your adventures quite educational."
The gleam in Saradha's eyes might have given Devika pause had she noticed it—a hunger that went beyond mere interest in a colleague's welfare. But Devika was too absorbed in her own transformation to see the subtle signs that perhaps her mentor had motivations of her own.
As they parted ways in the parking lot, Devika felt a curious lightness. For the first time since arriving in Pune, she was looking forward to tomorrow—to the hungry looks, to the desperate attention, to the power that now rested firmly in her hands.
The proper Kerala wife was fading, replaced by a woman who understood that in a world where men took what they wanted, sometimes the greatest power lay in controlling what they desired most.
The morning sun filtered through the blinds as Devika approached Seenu's office, carrying her packed lunch. Yesterday's conversation with Saradha had emboldened her—transformed her understanding of power. She knocked lightly.
"Come in," Seenu called, his voice lifting with anticipation when he saw her.
Devika stepped inside, her saree dbangd elegantly around her curves, the pallu hanging slightly lower than usual. Seenu's eyes immediately tracked the movement.
Seenu: "Devika! I wasn't sure you would come today."
Devika: "I promised you payasam, didn't I?"
She locked the door behind her with deliberate slowness, watching how Seenu's eyes widened at the soft click. Moving toward his desk, she set down her tiffin boxes and began unpacking them methodically.
Seenu: "The department meeting got cancelled. We have the full lunch hour."
Devika smiled, arranging the food containers in a neat row. "Perfect timing."
She served rice and curry on a plate, then sat down on the edge of his desk rather than taking the chair opposite him. The position allowed her saree to dbang open slightly at her ankles.
Seenu: "You didn't have to go to all this trouble."
Devika: "It's no trouble at all."
She gathered a small portion of rice with curry between her fingers and held it toward his mouth. Seenu leaned forward eagerly, his eyes locked with hers as his lips parted. His tongue briefly touched her fingertips as he accepted the food, sending a subtle current through her.
Seenu: "Delicious. Your cooking is exceptional."
Devika: "My husband never appreciates it. He prefers hotel food in Dubai."
She fed him another morsel, deliberately allowing her fingers to linger against his lips. Seenu's breathing deepened, his chest rising and falling more rapidly.
Seenu: "That man is a fool. How could anyone prefer restaurant food to this?"
Devika scooped up more rice, this time allowing some to stick to her fingers. When Seenu finished the bite, she offered her fingertip.
Devika: "There's some rice stuck here. Would you mind?"
Seenu hesitated only a moment before taking her finger into his mouth. His tongue swirled around the digit, cleaning away the rice but continuing well after it was gone. Devika felt a warmth spread through her body, starting from where his mouth encircled her finger.
Devika: "He's been unfaithful, you know. Multiple women. I have video evidence."
Seenu released her finger reluctantly. "And yet you're still loyal to him?"
Devika: "Am I? Sitting here with you like this?"
She fed him another bite, watching his reaction. Rice stuck to the corner of his mouth, and Seenu reached up to wipe it away.
Devika: "No, let me."
Before he could react, Devika leaned forward and licked the corner of his mouth, slowly and deliberately removing the grain of rice with her tongue. Seenu froze, his breath catching in his throat.
Seenu: "Devika..."
She pulled back slightly, her face inches from his. "Did I overstep?"
Seenu: "No! No, not at all."
Devika opened another container, revealing semiya payasam—vermicelli pudding glistening with ghee and cardamom. Seenu reached for a spoon, but Devika took it from his hand and tossed it aside.
Devika: "I prefer a more direct approach."
She slid fully onto his lap now, feeling his immediate physical response beneath her. Seenu's hands instinctively moved to her waist, steadying her. The heat of her body against his made him inhale sharply.
Devika dipped her fingers into the sweet pudding and brought them to Seenu's lips. He eagerly accepted, sucking the sweetness from each finger with growing confidence.
Seenu: "I've never tasted anything so good."
Devika: "There are better ways to taste it."
She collected some vermicelli strands and syrup in her mouth, then leaned forward, pressing her lips against his. Seenu's eyes widened in shock before closing in pleasure. Their lips locked together as she pushed the sweet mixture into his mouth with her tongue.
The taste of cardamom and sugar mingled between them. Seenu's hands tightened on her waist, pulling her closer against him. Devika broke away just enough to speak.
Devika: "Is this how you imagined feeding time would go?"
Seenu's heart hammered wildly against his ribs. His decades of fantasizing about younger colleagues had never resulted in anything like this reality. His voice came out hoarse.
Seenu: "I never dared to imagine this."
Devika licked a drop of sweet ghee from his lip, then extended her tongue to trace his. Seenu hesitantly met her tongue with his own. Their tongues danced together, exploring, tasting the sweetness that lingered.
Devika: "Your turn now."
Seenu: "My turn?"
Devika: "Feed me."
Understanding dawned on his face. With trembling fingers, Seenu scooped some payasam and placed it in his own mouth. Then, gathering courage, he pulled her close and sealed his lips over hers.
His tongue pushed the sweet mixture into her mouth, more forcefully than she had done. Devika accepted it, feeling the warm, sweet liquid slide across her tongue. She sucked gently on his tongue, drawing it deeper into her mouth.
Seenu groaned, his hands roaming more boldly now, tracing the curve of her back where her blouse met her saree. The ghee from the payasam made their lips slick and sweet.
Seenu: "I never thought a Kerala professor would allow me such liberties."
Devika smiled against his mouth. "There's much you don't know about Kerala women."
She pulled back slightly, reaching for another container she'd brought. Seenu watched, transfixed, as she unwrapped a paan—betel leaf with areca nut and sweet fillings.
Devika: "Have you ever shared paan with someone?"
Seenu: "Never. I didn't know you chewed paan."
Devika: "I don't. But today seems like a day for new experiences."
She placed half the paan in her mouth, then offered the other half to Seenu directly from her fingers. He took it eagerly, their eyes locked in understanding. The spicy-sweet flavor burst on their tongues as they chewed.
Devika leaned forward again, this time sharing the partially chewed paan in a deep, messy kiss. The red juice stained both their lips as their tongues tangled together. The sensation was entirely new to her—the texture, the taste, the intimacy of sharing something so foreign yet exciting.
Seenu: "A proper Kerala professor chewing paan? What would your colleagues say?"
Devika: "They wouldn't believe it. Just as they wouldn't believe I'm sitting on your lap right now."
The weight and heat of her body against him was driving Seenu to distraction. Her movements on his lap created a delicious friction that made him grip her waist tighter, trying to control himself.
Seenu: "Devika, you're driving me mad."
She smiled, enjoying the power she held over him. "Good. That's the point."
Devika shifted deliberately on his lap, feeling his hardness press against her. Seenu's eyes closed briefly, his self-control visibly slipping.
Devika: "Is this what you think about when you watch me in class through the CCTV?"
Seenu's eyes flew open in shock. "What? How did you—"
Devika: "Women always know when they're being watched."
She leaned close to his ear, her breath warm against his skin. "I might give you more to watch in the future, if you're good."
Seenu swallowed hard, his hands trembling against her waist. "What would that entail?"
Devika: "Better grades for Vishnu and Pathan. No questions about my teaching methods. Complete autonomy in my classroom."
Understanding dawned on his face. "You're... you're using this to control me."
Devika: "I'm offering a mutually beneficial arrangement. You get these lunch sessions, and I get professional respect."
Her fingers traced his jawline. "Is that so terrible?"
Seenu considered this for only a moment before pulling her closer. "Not terrible at all."
Devika: "Good. Same time tomorrow, then?"
She made to rise, but Seenu held her firmly on his lap.
Seenu: "Wait. The lunch hour isn't over yet."
Devika smiled, settling back onto him. "What else did you have in mind?"
Seenu: "More payasam. More... everything."
She dipped her fingers back into the sweet dish and brought them to his lips. As Seenu sucked them clean, Devika felt a surge of satisfaction unlike anything she'd known before. This was power—raw and immediate. The ability to reduce this man, who had once intimidated her, to a trembling supplicant.
Saradha had been right. The men who had made her feel small now orbited around her, controlled by their own desires. First Vishnu with his academic ambition mixed with lust, then Pathan competing for similar attention, and now Seenu—the head of department himself—eager for whatever scraps of affection she chose to offer.
As she fed him the remaining payasam and felt his hands grow bolder on her body, Devika realized she was no longer the same woman who had arrived in Pune. That woman had been afraid, constantly on guard against predatory gazes and unwanted advances.
This woman—the one currently making Seenu moan with a deliberate shift of her hips—was something else entirely. Someone who understood that power could flow in unexpected directions, that vulnerability could be transformed into strength.
When the lunch hour finally drew to a close, Devika straightened her saree and gathered her empty containers. Seenu looked dazed, his lips still stained slightly red from the paan, his eyes unfocused with lingering desire.
Devika: "I should go. My next class starts soon."
Seenu: "Tomorrow? Will you come tomorrow?"
The eagerness in his voice, the naked need, gave her a thrill she had never experienced in her marriage.
Devika: "Perhaps. If you're good."
She unlocked the door and stepped out into the corridor, leaving Seenu to compose himself. As she walked toward her classroom, Devika noticed several students watching her with curious expressions. Had they heard something? Did they suspect?
It didn't matter. Let them wonder. Let them whisper.
She was no longer afraid of their gaze. Now, she controlled it.
Vishnu, too, maintained his academic momentum. Their competition seemed to fuel both of them, though for different rewards. When Devika called on Pathan to answer a complex question about cellular mitosis, his detailed response drew surprised looks from classmates.
Pathan: "The centrosomes begin to move to opposite sides of the cell nucleus during prophase, madam. By metaphase, they've established the polar regions where chromosomes will eventually segregate."
The pride in his voice was unmistakable. After class, he lingered behind, casually flipping through his notebook.
Pathan: "Did you notice my answer today, madam? I've been studying all night."
Devika couldn't help but smile. "Yes, I noticed. Your improvement is impressive."
Pathan: "So when can we... you know... watch that movie together? Like you promised?"
The smile faded from her lips. "Focus on your exam first. Then we'll discuss rewards."
As she gathered her papers, Devika felt a strange mixture of guilt and satisfaction. Using these boys' desires to motivate their studies was manipulative, yes—but seeing actual academic growth made her wonder if the end might justify her questionable means.
Later that afternoon, Seenu summoned her to his office again. When she arrived, she found him hunched over his desk, picking at a takeout container of biryani.
Seenu: "Ah, Devika. Thank you for coming. Just finishing my lunch."
The rich aroma of spices filled the room, but Seenu seemed to take little pleasure in the food. He pushed it aside with a sigh.
Seenu: "I've been meaning to congratulate you. Vishnu scored remarkably well on his last assessment. Whatever teaching methods you're employing seem quite effective."
His tone carried a weight that made Devika shift uncomfortably. She glanced at the half-eaten meal.
Devika: "Hotel food again, sir? That can't be healthy."
Seenu shrugged, his shoulders sagging slightly. "What choice do I have? My cooking skills extend to boiling water, and barely that."
She remembered what Saradha had mentioned about Seenu's personal life—his wife leaving years ago, the loneliness that had hardened into a bitter shell. Looking at him now, picking at restaurant food in his sterile office, she felt an unexpected pang of sympathy.
Devika: "It must be difficult... eating alone all the time."
Seenu looked up, surprised by the personal turn in conversation. "It's my fate, I suppose. After so many years, you get used to it."
His voice cracked slightly on the last word, and Devika saw something vulnerable flash across his face before he masked it with his usual stern expression.
"Everyone has their burdens," he continued, pushing the food container further away. "Mine is an empty house and hotel food that all tastes the same after a while."
Devika thought of her own apartment, of meals eaten in silence while her husband video-called with excuses from Dubai. She thought of Saradha's advice about taking control of Seenu, about using his loneliness to her advantage. The suggestion had seemed manipulative and cruel, but seeing him now—this aging man with his sad lunch—she felt a genuine connection in their shared solitude.
Without overthinking, she stepped forward and placed her hand over his. "We all need someone to lean on sometimes."
Seenu froze, staring at her hand covering his. Devika herself was surprised by her boldness, but didn't pull away.
Devika: "My husband... he's been unfaithful. Multiple women in Dubai. I pretend not to know, but..."
She trailed off, surprised at how easily this confession tumbled from her lips. Seenu's eyes widened, his hand turning to hold hers.
Seenu: "That fool. How could any man look elsewhere when he has you?"
His thumb stroked the back of her hand, a gesture at once comforting and possessive. The touch sent an unexpected warmth through her.
Devika: "We should both eat better than this. What's the point of living if we're just going through motions, right?"
She moved around his desk and settled on the edge of his chair. "Come on, let's share. Food tastes better when it's not eaten alone."
Seenu: "Share my biryani?"
Devika: "No, let's share my lunch. I made too much this morning."
She opened her tiffin box, revealing neatly packed chapatis, vegetable curry, and rice. The homemade aroma filled the room, making the takeout smell flat in comparison.
Seenu: "That's very kind of you, but—"
Devika: "I insist. Let me at least do this small thing."
She took a piece of chapati, dipped it in curry, and held it toward him. Seenu stared at the morsel in her fingers, then at her face, clearly uncertain.
Seenu: "You want to feed me?"
Devika: "Yes. We all need to be cared for sometimes."
He hesitated, then leaned forward and accepted the food from her fingers, his lips brushing against her skin. A strange intimacy hung in the air as he chewed slowly, his eyes never leaving hers.
Devika: "Good?"
Seenu: "The best meal I've had in years."
She continued feeding him, piece by piece. Each time, his lips lingered a moment longer against her fingers. The door was unlocked, someone could walk in any moment, yet the risk only heightened her awareness of every touch, every breath between them.
When she reached for a sweet gulab jamun from her dessert container, Seenu caught her wrist gently.
Seenu: "I've always loved these. My wife used to make them for special occasions."
His voice grew husky as he added, "Feed it to me... differently."
Devika: "Differently?"
Seenu: "With your mouth."
Devika froze, the sweet balanced between her fingers. She should be offended, should gather her things and leave. Instead, she stood and walked to the door, turning the lock with a decisive click.
When she returned to Seenu, she placed the gulab jamun between her lips and settled onto his lap, feeling his body tense beneath her. His hands automatically came to rest on her hips, steadying her.
Devika leaned forward, the sweet held delicately between her teeth. Their faces hovered inches apart, his breath warm against her skin. Seenu moved to meet her, taking half the sweet into his mouth, his lips pressing against hers in the process. The sugary syrup melted between them, sweet and sticky.
She felt his hardness beneath her, his grip on her waist tightening as they shared the dessert. When they'd finished, a thin strand of syrup connected their lips briefly before breaking.
Seenu: "Devika..."
His voice was thick with desire, but she placed a finger against his lips.
Devika: "That's enough for today."
She stood, straightening her saree and wiping her mouth delicately. Seenu remained seated, looking dazed.
Devika: "Perhaps we can share lunch again tomorrow. I make excellent payasam."
As she gathered her things and unlocked the door, she felt a shift in the power between them. For the first time since arriving at the college, she was the one in control—not just responding to others' desires, but directing them, using them. Saradha had been right about this much: there was power in being wanted, in deciding how much to give and when.
Devika made her way to the staff room, her body still humming with the aftereffects of her encounter with Seenu. The sensation of his lips against hers, separated only by the sweet gulab jamun, lingered pleasantly. As she entered, she spotted Saradha alone at the far table, grading papers.
Saradha glanced up, her eyebrows rising slightly as she noticed Devika's flushed appearance.
Saradha: "You look... different. Something happened?"
Devika hesitated, then closed the staff room door and approached Saradha's table. She sat down, checking that they were truly alone before leaning forward.
Devika: "I followed your advice."
Saradha set down her pen, giving Devika her full attention. "Which part, exactly?"
Devika: "All of it."
She described her encounter with Vishnu in the boys' toilet—how she'd taken him in her mouth, explored his body with increasing boldness, the shocking intimacy they'd shared. Her voice dropped to barely above a whisper as she detailed how she'd disrobed for him, how she'd used her breasts, how she'd tasted him completely.
Saradha's eyes widened, her breathing quickening almost imperceptibly as she listened.
Saradha: "And he scored ninety-two percent? That's remarkable improvement."
Devika: "Yes. He studied all night after I promised him... rewards."
She continued, describing how she'd manipulated Pathan with similar promises, making him work harder for the possibility of intimacy. A small smile played across her lips as she recounted his eager response in class.
Devika: "And just now, with Seenu... I fed him lunch. By hand."
Saradha: "By hand?"
Devika: "And then... I locked his office door and shared a gulab jamun with him. Mouth to mouth."
Saradha's lips parted in surprise. "You didn't!"
Devika: "I did. I sat on his lap and felt him harden beneath me. But I left him wanting more."
A strange expression crossed Saradha's face—something like satisfaction mixed with excitement. She reached across the table, squeezing Devika's hand.
Saradha: "I knew you had it in you. The power to control these men through their desires."
Devika nodded, a new confidence evident in her posture. "You were right all along. When I first came here, I felt so helpless, so exposed to their stares and comments. But now..."
Saradha: "Now you're the one in control."
Devika: "Exactly. Vishnu's hands trembled when I allowed him to undress me. Pathan nearly fell out of his chair when I bent over his desk to check his work. And Seenu—I could feel him practically melting when I fed him."
Saradha leaned back, observing Devika with something like pride. "And how does it feel? This power?"
Devika considered the question, her fingers tracing patterns on the wooden table. "Intoxicating," she finally admitted. "When I was kneeling before Vishnu, I should have felt degraded, but instead... I felt powerful. Watching him come apart because of me, because of what my mouth could do to him..."
A flush crept up her neck as the memory washed over her.
Saradha: "And what about your husband? Has he called recently?"
Devika's expression hardened. "Yes. With the usual excuses about working late. I heard a woman's voice in the background before he quickly covered the phone."
Saradha: "And did you feel guilty about Vishnu? About Seenu?"
Devika: "That's the strange thing. I thought I would, but I don't. Not really. It feels like... reclaiming something that was taken from me."
Saradha nodded knowingly. "The guilt fades when you realize you're not the one who broke the contract first."
A comfortable silence settled between them as Devika absorbed this perspective. She had never thought of her marriage in terms of contracts, but perhaps that's exactly what it was—an agreement Rajeevan had already violated repeatedly.
Saradha: "So what's next with Vishnu? With Pathan?"
Devika smiled, a subtle, confident curve of her lips that would have been unrecognizable to anyone who knew her before.
Devika: "Pathan needs to earn what Vishnu received. I told him if he studies and scores well, I might watch those... videos he mentioned with him."
Saradha: "Adult films? Devika, that's brilliant! The anticipation alone will keep him focused for weeks."
Devika: "And Vishnu... I promised him more if his scores continue improving. Perhaps next time I'll let him touch more than just my waist."
Saradha's eyes gleamed with something like vicarious pleasure. "And Seenu? Will you feed him lunch again tomorrow?"
Devika: "Yes, but this time I might let him taste more than just gulab jamun."
The boldness of her own words surprised Devika, but she didn't retract them. Something fundamental had shifted within her—her conception of herself, of what she was capable of and entitled to.
Saradha: "You've taken to this strategy better than I could have hoped. These men who once thought they could control you—now they're the ones begging for your attention."
Devika nodded, feeling a surge of satisfaction. "It started as just doing what I needed to survive here, but now..."
Saradha: "Now you're enjoying it."
Devika: "Yes. I am."
She thought of Vishnu's expression when she'd taken him into her mouth, of Pathan's desperate attention during lecture, of Seenu's trembling lips against her fingers. These men who had once made her feel so small now orbited around her like planets around a sun, their trajectories completely under her control.
Devika: "I should have listened to you sooner, Saradha. All those weeks I spent feeling helpless, feeling violated by their stares and comments..."
Saradha: "You weren't ready then. You needed to come to this realization on your own."
Devika's phone vibrated in her purse. She checked it—a message from Vishnu, filled with gratitude and promises to study even harder for her.
Devika: "He wants to see me again tomorrow."
Saradha: "And will you?"
Devika considered this, turning the phone in her hands. "Not yet. Let him earn it with another excellent test score first."
Saradha: "Perfect. Make him work for every touch, every glimpse."
Devika: "I've told Pathan the same—no rewards until he matches Vishnu's performance."
Saradha gathered her papers, satisfied. "You've become quite the strategist, Devika. I admit I'm impressed with how completely you've embraced this approach."
As they prepared to leave the staff room, Devika paused by the door.
Devika: "There's one thing that still bothers me."
Saradha: "What's that?"
Devika: "Seenu mentioned something about Vishnu. About how he knows what happened between us. How could he know unless..."
Saradha: "Unless someone told him? Or unless he saw you."
A chill ran through Devika. "You don't think there are cameras in the toilets, do you?"
Saradha's expression revealed nothing. "I doubt it. More likely Vishnu couldn't keep his achievement entirely to himself. Boys that age—they boast, even when they promise secrecy."
Devika frowned, making a mental note to question Vishnu about this. If word was spreading, she needed to know how far and to whom.
Saradha: "Don't worry too much. Even if Seenu suspects something, what can he do? He's as compromised as anyone after your lunch together."
The thought brought a smile back to Devika's face. "You're right. We're all entangled now."
As they walked out into the corridor, Devika caught sight of herself in a window reflection—the same saree, the same face, but something fundamentally different in her eyes, in the set of her shoulders. The frightened woman who had arrived in Pune had vanished, replaced by someone who understood the currency of desire and wasn't afraid to spend it.
Saradha watched her with quiet satisfaction, as if observing the successful completion of an experiment. "Tomorrow will be interesting, won't it?"
Devika: "Very interesting indeed."
She thought of the various men now caught in her web—Vishnu with his desperate devotion, Pathan with his raw hunger, Seenu with his lonely vulnerability. Each one dancing to her tune, each one believing they had some special connection to her. In reality, they were merely players in her game now, a game whose rules she was still discovering but was increasingly eager to master.
Devika: "Thank you, Saradha. For showing me this path."
Saradha: "No need for thanks. Just keep me informed of your... progress. I find your adventures quite educational."
The gleam in Saradha's eyes might have given Devika pause had she noticed it—a hunger that went beyond mere interest in a colleague's welfare. But Devika was too absorbed in her own transformation to see the subtle signs that perhaps her mentor had motivations of her own.
As they parted ways in the parking lot, Devika felt a curious lightness. For the first time since arriving in Pune, she was looking forward to tomorrow—to the hungry looks, to the desperate attention, to the power that now rested firmly in her hands.
The proper Kerala wife was fading, replaced by a woman who understood that in a world where men took what they wanted, sometimes the greatest power lay in controlling what they desired most.
The morning sun filtered through the blinds as Devika approached Seenu's office, carrying her packed lunch. Yesterday's conversation with Saradha had emboldened her—transformed her understanding of power. She knocked lightly.
"Come in," Seenu called, his voice lifting with anticipation when he saw her.
Devika stepped inside, her saree dbangd elegantly around her curves, the pallu hanging slightly lower than usual. Seenu's eyes immediately tracked the movement.
Seenu: "Devika! I wasn't sure you would come today."
Devika: "I promised you payasam, didn't I?"
She locked the door behind her with deliberate slowness, watching how Seenu's eyes widened at the soft click. Moving toward his desk, she set down her tiffin boxes and began unpacking them methodically.
Seenu: "The department meeting got cancelled. We have the full lunch hour."
Devika smiled, arranging the food containers in a neat row. "Perfect timing."
She served rice and curry on a plate, then sat down on the edge of his desk rather than taking the chair opposite him. The position allowed her saree to dbang open slightly at her ankles.
Seenu: "You didn't have to go to all this trouble."
Devika: "It's no trouble at all."
She gathered a small portion of rice with curry between her fingers and held it toward his mouth. Seenu leaned forward eagerly, his eyes locked with hers as his lips parted. His tongue briefly touched her fingertips as he accepted the food, sending a subtle current through her.
Seenu: "Delicious. Your cooking is exceptional."
Devika: "My husband never appreciates it. He prefers hotel food in Dubai."
She fed him another morsel, deliberately allowing her fingers to linger against his lips. Seenu's breathing deepened, his chest rising and falling more rapidly.
Seenu: "That man is a fool. How could anyone prefer restaurant food to this?"
Devika scooped up more rice, this time allowing some to stick to her fingers. When Seenu finished the bite, she offered her fingertip.
Devika: "There's some rice stuck here. Would you mind?"
Seenu hesitated only a moment before taking her finger into his mouth. His tongue swirled around the digit, cleaning away the rice but continuing well after it was gone. Devika felt a warmth spread through her body, starting from where his mouth encircled her finger.
Devika: "He's been unfaithful, you know. Multiple women. I have video evidence."
Seenu released her finger reluctantly. "And yet you're still loyal to him?"
Devika: "Am I? Sitting here with you like this?"
She fed him another bite, watching his reaction. Rice stuck to the corner of his mouth, and Seenu reached up to wipe it away.
Devika: "No, let me."
Before he could react, Devika leaned forward and licked the corner of his mouth, slowly and deliberately removing the grain of rice with her tongue. Seenu froze, his breath catching in his throat.
Seenu: "Devika..."
She pulled back slightly, her face inches from his. "Did I overstep?"
Seenu: "No! No, not at all."
Devika opened another container, revealing semiya payasam—vermicelli pudding glistening with ghee and cardamom. Seenu reached for a spoon, but Devika took it from his hand and tossed it aside.
Devika: "I prefer a more direct approach."
She slid fully onto his lap now, feeling his immediate physical response beneath her. Seenu's hands instinctively moved to her waist, steadying her. The heat of her body against his made him inhale sharply.
Devika dipped her fingers into the sweet pudding and brought them to Seenu's lips. He eagerly accepted, sucking the sweetness from each finger with growing confidence.
Seenu: "I've never tasted anything so good."
Devika: "There are better ways to taste it."
She collected some vermicelli strands and syrup in her mouth, then leaned forward, pressing her lips against his. Seenu's eyes widened in shock before closing in pleasure. Their lips locked together as she pushed the sweet mixture into his mouth with her tongue.
The taste of cardamom and sugar mingled between them. Seenu's hands tightened on her waist, pulling her closer against him. Devika broke away just enough to speak.
Devika: "Is this how you imagined feeding time would go?"
Seenu's heart hammered wildly against his ribs. His decades of fantasizing about younger colleagues had never resulted in anything like this reality. His voice came out hoarse.
Seenu: "I never dared to imagine this."
Devika licked a drop of sweet ghee from his lip, then extended her tongue to trace his. Seenu hesitantly met her tongue with his own. Their tongues danced together, exploring, tasting the sweetness that lingered.
Devika: "Your turn now."
Seenu: "My turn?"
Devika: "Feed me."
Understanding dawned on his face. With trembling fingers, Seenu scooped some payasam and placed it in his own mouth. Then, gathering courage, he pulled her close and sealed his lips over hers.
His tongue pushed the sweet mixture into her mouth, more forcefully than she had done. Devika accepted it, feeling the warm, sweet liquid slide across her tongue. She sucked gently on his tongue, drawing it deeper into her mouth.
Seenu groaned, his hands roaming more boldly now, tracing the curve of her back where her blouse met her saree. The ghee from the payasam made their lips slick and sweet.
Seenu: "I never thought a Kerala professor would allow me such liberties."
Devika smiled against his mouth. "There's much you don't know about Kerala women."
She pulled back slightly, reaching for another container she'd brought. Seenu watched, transfixed, as she unwrapped a paan—betel leaf with areca nut and sweet fillings.
Devika: "Have you ever shared paan with someone?"
Seenu: "Never. I didn't know you chewed paan."
Devika: "I don't. But today seems like a day for new experiences."
She placed half the paan in her mouth, then offered the other half to Seenu directly from her fingers. He took it eagerly, their eyes locked in understanding. The spicy-sweet flavor burst on their tongues as they chewed.
Devika leaned forward again, this time sharing the partially chewed paan in a deep, messy kiss. The red juice stained both their lips as their tongues tangled together. The sensation was entirely new to her—the texture, the taste, the intimacy of sharing something so foreign yet exciting.
Seenu: "A proper Kerala professor chewing paan? What would your colleagues say?"
Devika: "They wouldn't believe it. Just as they wouldn't believe I'm sitting on your lap right now."
The weight and heat of her body against him was driving Seenu to distraction. Her movements on his lap created a delicious friction that made him grip her waist tighter, trying to control himself.
Seenu: "Devika, you're driving me mad."
She smiled, enjoying the power she held over him. "Good. That's the point."
Devika shifted deliberately on his lap, feeling his hardness press against her. Seenu's eyes closed briefly, his self-control visibly slipping.
Devika: "Is this what you think about when you watch me in class through the CCTV?"
Seenu's eyes flew open in shock. "What? How did you—"
Devika: "Women always know when they're being watched."
She leaned close to his ear, her breath warm against his skin. "I might give you more to watch in the future, if you're good."
Seenu swallowed hard, his hands trembling against her waist. "What would that entail?"
Devika: "Better grades for Vishnu and Pathan. No questions about my teaching methods. Complete autonomy in my classroom."
Understanding dawned on his face. "You're... you're using this to control me."
Devika: "I'm offering a mutually beneficial arrangement. You get these lunch sessions, and I get professional respect."
Her fingers traced his jawline. "Is that so terrible?"
Seenu considered this for only a moment before pulling her closer. "Not terrible at all."
Devika: "Good. Same time tomorrow, then?"
She made to rise, but Seenu held her firmly on his lap.
Seenu: "Wait. The lunch hour isn't over yet."
Devika smiled, settling back onto him. "What else did you have in mind?"
Seenu: "More payasam. More... everything."
She dipped her fingers back into the sweet dish and brought them to his lips. As Seenu sucked them clean, Devika felt a surge of satisfaction unlike anything she'd known before. This was power—raw and immediate. The ability to reduce this man, who had once intimidated her, to a trembling supplicant.
Saradha had been right. The men who had made her feel small now orbited around her, controlled by their own desires. First Vishnu with his academic ambition mixed with lust, then Pathan competing for similar attention, and now Seenu—the head of department himself—eager for whatever scraps of affection she chose to offer.
As she fed him the remaining payasam and felt his hands grow bolder on her body, Devika realized she was no longer the same woman who had arrived in Pune. That woman had been afraid, constantly on guard against predatory gazes and unwanted advances.
This woman—the one currently making Seenu moan with a deliberate shift of her hips—was something else entirely. Someone who understood that power could flow in unexpected directions, that vulnerability could be transformed into strength.
When the lunch hour finally drew to a close, Devika straightened her saree and gathered her empty containers. Seenu looked dazed, his lips still stained slightly red from the paan, his eyes unfocused with lingering desire.
Devika: "I should go. My next class starts soon."
Seenu: "Tomorrow? Will you come tomorrow?"
The eagerness in his voice, the naked need, gave her a thrill she had never experienced in her marriage.
Devika: "Perhaps. If you're good."
She unlocked the door and stepped out into the corridor, leaving Seenu to compose himself. As she walked toward her classroom, Devika noticed several students watching her with curious expressions. Had they heard something? Did they suspect?
It didn't matter. Let them wonder. Let them whisper.
She was no longer afraid of their gaze. Now, she controlled it.


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