21-11-2025, 07:28 AM
Laxman stepped back reluctantly, his eyes never leaving Devika's reflection. He watched as she adjusted the front of the blouse, smoothing the fabric over her curves with trembling hands.
"We should rejoin Seenu," Devika said, gathering her composure. "He'll wonder what's taking so long."
A thin smile crossed Laxman's scarred face. "Let him wonder."
Nevertheless, he moved toward the curtain, parting it with a dramatic flourish. "Behold," he announced to Seenu, "a transformation complete."
Devika stepped out, the copper blouse gleaming against her skin, complementing the rose-gold saree perfectly. Despite her discomfort, she cut an impressive figure—elegant, poised, every inch the Kerala beauty both men had been fantasizing about.
Seenu rose from his chair, eyes drinking in the sight. "Magnificent," he breathed, circling Devika as Laxman had done earlier. "Worth every minute of waiting."
"I really must change back now," Devika insisted, already moving toward the changing room. "It's getting late."
"Of course," Laxman agreed, though disappointment flickered across his features. "Though you wear it beautifully."
Once back in her original saree, Devika emerged with the rose-gold fabric carefully folded over her arm. She placed it on the counter. "Thank you for showing me your collection, but I don't think I'll be making a purchase today."
Laxman nodded, having expected as much. He reached into a drawer beneath the counter and extracted a small business card, its edges worn and slightly yellowed. "For when you change your mind," he said, pressing it into her palm. "I'm not just a merchant—I'm also a tailor. If you ever need something... custom-fitted, I can accommodate all your measurements."
His emphasis on the word "all" wasn't subtle. Devika accepted the card without comment, sliding it into her purse beside her vibrating phone.
"I also make house calls," Laxman added, his voice dropping to a conspiratorial whisper. "For special customers."
Seenu watched this exchange with narrowed eyes, recognizing the silent communication passing between them. A territorial tension stretched across his features.
"We should go, Devika-ji," he said abruptly. "You mentioned you had other errands."
Outside, the afternoon sun beat down on Pune's streets, the heat intensified after the air-conditioned shop. Seenu guided Devika to his car with a hand placed possessively at the small of her back.
"Did you enjoy meeting my old friend?" he asked as they pulled away from the curb.
Devika gazed out the window, watching the buildings blur past. "He's very... attentive to detail."
"What happened in the changing room?" Seenu's question was direct, probing.
"He helped me with the hooks," she answered, purposely vague. "The blouse was too small."
Seenu's knuckles whitened on the steering wheel. "He took his time about it."
They drove in tense silence until Devika spotted an intersection she recognized. "You can drop me here," she said. "My friend's house is nearby."
"Friend?" Seenu's brow furrowed. "You didn't mention visiting anyone."
"It was a last-minute plan," Devika improvised. "She called while I was changing."
Seenu pulled to the curb but didn't unlock the doors. "Before you go," he said, turning to face her, "I'd like something in return for the morning."
"In return?" Devika echoed, her hand already on the door handle.
"A kiss," he said, leaning toward her. "Just a small token of appreciation."
"I can't," she protested. "Not here, in public—"
"No one can see through the tinted windows." His hand covered hers on the handle. "Just one kiss, Devika-ji. Then you're free to go."
Devika glanced at her phone—eight missed calls from Vishnu now. She needed to leave, to explain herself to Dattu, to salvage what remained of her promise. A kiss seemed a small price for freedom.
"Fine," she whispered, turning toward him.
Seenu didn't wait for further invitation. He pressed forward, capturing her lips with surprising gentleness that quickly gave way to hunger. His hands rose to cradle her face, holding her in place as he deepened the kiss, his tongue seeking entrance.
Devika surrendered, matching his intensity with her own, determined to make the kiss satisfying enough to end this encounter quickly. For nearly a minute, they remained locked together, breath mingling, until Devika finally pulled away.
"Satisfied?" she asked, slightly breathless.
Seenu's eyes had darkened with desire. "For now."
The car locks clicked open. Devika stepped out into the heat, closing the door firmly behind her. As Seenu's car pulled away, she extracted her phone and dialed Dattu's number.
"Hello?" Dattu's voice was rough, accusatory. "You forgot about our agreement already?"
"I'm so sorry," Devika said, flagging down an approaching auto-rickshaw. "There was an emergency at college. I couldn't get away."
"You promised," Dattu replied, his tone shifting to wounded disappointment. "I've been waiting all morning. Even refused a drink when my friends came by."
"I'm on my way now," she assured him, climbing into the rickshaw and giving the driver directions. "Please, Dattu-ji, don't be upset. I'll make it up to you."
"We should rejoin Seenu," Devika said, gathering her composure. "He'll wonder what's taking so long."
A thin smile crossed Laxman's scarred face. "Let him wonder."
Nevertheless, he moved toward the curtain, parting it with a dramatic flourish. "Behold," he announced to Seenu, "a transformation complete."
Devika stepped out, the copper blouse gleaming against her skin, complementing the rose-gold saree perfectly. Despite her discomfort, she cut an impressive figure—elegant, poised, every inch the Kerala beauty both men had been fantasizing about.
Seenu rose from his chair, eyes drinking in the sight. "Magnificent," he breathed, circling Devika as Laxman had done earlier. "Worth every minute of waiting."
"I really must change back now," Devika insisted, already moving toward the changing room. "It's getting late."
"Of course," Laxman agreed, though disappointment flickered across his features. "Though you wear it beautifully."
Once back in her original saree, Devika emerged with the rose-gold fabric carefully folded over her arm. She placed it on the counter. "Thank you for showing me your collection, but I don't think I'll be making a purchase today."
Laxman nodded, having expected as much. He reached into a drawer beneath the counter and extracted a small business card, its edges worn and slightly yellowed. "For when you change your mind," he said, pressing it into her palm. "I'm not just a merchant—I'm also a tailor. If you ever need something... custom-fitted, I can accommodate all your measurements."
His emphasis on the word "all" wasn't subtle. Devika accepted the card without comment, sliding it into her purse beside her vibrating phone.
"I also make house calls," Laxman added, his voice dropping to a conspiratorial whisper. "For special customers."
Seenu watched this exchange with narrowed eyes, recognizing the silent communication passing between them. A territorial tension stretched across his features.
"We should go, Devika-ji," he said abruptly. "You mentioned you had other errands."
Outside, the afternoon sun beat down on Pune's streets, the heat intensified after the air-conditioned shop. Seenu guided Devika to his car with a hand placed possessively at the small of her back.
"Did you enjoy meeting my old friend?" he asked as they pulled away from the curb.
Devika gazed out the window, watching the buildings blur past. "He's very... attentive to detail."
"What happened in the changing room?" Seenu's question was direct, probing.
"He helped me with the hooks," she answered, purposely vague. "The blouse was too small."
Seenu's knuckles whitened on the steering wheel. "He took his time about it."
They drove in tense silence until Devika spotted an intersection she recognized. "You can drop me here," she said. "My friend's house is nearby."
"Friend?" Seenu's brow furrowed. "You didn't mention visiting anyone."
"It was a last-minute plan," Devika improvised. "She called while I was changing."
Seenu pulled to the curb but didn't unlock the doors. "Before you go," he said, turning to face her, "I'd like something in return for the morning."
"In return?" Devika echoed, her hand already on the door handle.
"A kiss," he said, leaning toward her. "Just a small token of appreciation."
"I can't," she protested. "Not here, in public—"
"No one can see through the tinted windows." His hand covered hers on the handle. "Just one kiss, Devika-ji. Then you're free to go."
Devika glanced at her phone—eight missed calls from Vishnu now. She needed to leave, to explain herself to Dattu, to salvage what remained of her promise. A kiss seemed a small price for freedom.
"Fine," she whispered, turning toward him.
Seenu didn't wait for further invitation. He pressed forward, capturing her lips with surprising gentleness that quickly gave way to hunger. His hands rose to cradle her face, holding her in place as he deepened the kiss, his tongue seeking entrance.
Devika surrendered, matching his intensity with her own, determined to make the kiss satisfying enough to end this encounter quickly. For nearly a minute, they remained locked together, breath mingling, until Devika finally pulled away.
"Satisfied?" she asked, slightly breathless.
Seenu's eyes had darkened with desire. "For now."
The car locks clicked open. Devika stepped out into the heat, closing the door firmly behind her. As Seenu's car pulled away, she extracted her phone and dialed Dattu's number.
"Hello?" Dattu's voice was rough, accusatory. "You forgot about our agreement already?"
"I'm so sorry," Devika said, flagging down an approaching auto-rickshaw. "There was an emergency at college. I couldn't get away."
"You promised," Dattu replied, his tone shifting to wounded disappointment. "I've been waiting all morning. Even refused a drink when my friends came by."
"I'm on my way now," she assured him, climbing into the rickshaw and giving the driver directions. "Please, Dattu-ji, don't be upset. I'll make it up to you."
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