02-12-2025, 07:18 PM
## Update 128: The Terrace Encounter and the City Park (Avi and Sital Didi)
My sleep broke early, at 6:00 AM. I immediately headed to the terrace to get my blood pumping. I had very few casual clothes, so I took off my shirt and started exercising. My body quickly got drenched in sweat from the strenuous workout. There wasn't much space between Jyoti Bua's house and the house next door; both houses' terraces were practically attached. On the adjacent terrace, two girls were doing yoga. I recognized them instantly: they were the same twin girls who had laughed at me at the *golgappe* shop the previous evening. I did not pay much attention to them, focusing on the burn in my muscles.
After exercising for a full hour, I was dripping with sweat and went back to the room to take a bath. By 8:00 AM, everyone was freshened up and sitting down for breakfast. Uncle had also returned from his night shift. After having breakfast, Uncle retired to his room to sleep.
"Avi. Poonam Didi and I are going to college now. We'll be back in the afternoon. Then we'll go for a proper trip," Sweta Didi said, sipping her tea, looking at the clock.
"It's much better to go in the afternoon than in the morning heat. You both go to college. Until then, Raj and I will go out with Sital Didi," I suggested, taking a bite of my food.
"Yes, Didi. I'll show Avi and Raj the large park nearby," Sital Didi volunteered brightly, grabbing her keys.
Sweta Didi leaned forward and whispered something into Sital Didi's ear, her eyes suddenly serious.
"Sital, you know exactly what kind of park that is after the early morning hours," Sweta Didi murmured, glancing at Raj, her voice low.
"Didi, all that *adult* stuff happens in the late evening, not so early in the morning. And we won't go deep into the secluded parts," Sital Didi promised, waving off the concern, rolling her eyes a little.
"Okay, but keep a very sharp eye on Raj so he doesn't accidentally see anything dirty," Sweta Didi cautioned, her brow furrowed.
"I'll handle it, don't worry," Sital Didi reassured her, patting her arm.
Sweta Didi and Poonam Didi soon left for college.
"Let's go, too," Sital Didi said, jumping up and grabbing her purse.
Sital Didi, Raj, and I left for our excursion. We came to a massive, sprawling park. Raj immediately ran off to play on the swings and slides. Sital Didi and I found a quiet bench under a tree and sat down.
"Didi, how did your final papers go?" I asked, making conversation, watching Raj run.
"They were good, thankfully. I think I did well. How were yours?" Sital Didi asked, smoothing her dress, looking over at me.
"Mine were good too. I'm hoping for a decent result," I replied, feeling optimistic.
"And Komal's? She's always studying," Sital Didi inquired about her cousin, leaning back against the bench.
"She'll probably come first in the entire college," I said confidently, smiling.
"What have you thought of doing next year, after the tenth?" Sital Didi asked, looking at me intently, her expression serious.
"I think I'll take Arts since it's easier. Komal will probably take Science," I explained my plan honestly.
"Stay far away from Arts, Avi. You need to take Science like Komal," Sital Didi advised, shaking her head firmly.
"But you have to study much, much more in Science," I pointed out, wrinkling my nose, disliking the idea.
"It doesn't matter. Do this: if you get good marks, take Science. Otherwise, reluctantly take Arts," Sital Didi suggested a compromise, tapping her fingers.
"Yes, that sounds like a good plan. But in our small village, they only teach Arts at the higher level," I reminded her of the difficulty.
"Then you can come to the city and study after the tenth. Komal will also get your company here," Sital Didi said, making it sound appealing, her eyes bright.
"Let's see. By the way, what are *you* going to do now that your exams are over?" I asked, turning the conversation back to her.
"I desperately wanted to become a doctor, but my marks weren't quite high enough for the entrance exams. That's why I'll do a B.Sc. like Didi," Sital Didi confided with a sigh, her voice dropping.
"B.Sc.? Then you'll also get to use Didi's notes and books," I noted, trying to find the upside.
"Leave that boring talk. Tell me, have you made a girlfriend yet, Avi?" Sital Didi asked, nudging my elbow playfully, a mischievous look in her eye.
"Where would all these things happen in the village?" I deflected with a casual laugh, looking away. *(Internal thoughts: It's better that as few people in the family know about Mala as possible.)*
"Looking at you now, with that look of yours, it certainly seems like you have a girlfriend," Sital Didi insisted, crossing her arms, her head tilted.
"Where, Didi? You can ask Komal herself. Besides Komal, no one even talks to me in college," I lied convincingly, shrugging slightly.
"Then you need to start talking to them," Sital Didi countered immediately, her voice firm.
"I can't just do all that initiating," I mumbled, feeling a little shy.
"We'll see about that this afternoon," Sital Didi said, a secret smile playing on her lips, looking forward to the plan.
"What exactly is happening this afternoon?" I asked, confused by her strange excitement.
"If the city girls immediately look at you and check you out after you put on your new city clothes, then I'll understand that you secretly have a girlfriend back home," Sital Didi explained her strange test, her eyes challenging me.
"Nothing like that will happen, Didi. And you don't find out about a boy's love life just by watching girls look at him," I argued, amused, trying to hold back a smile.
"Oh, it will happen like this, trust me. If the city girls start looking at you in new clothes, then even the village girls must be looking at you in your village clothes. You are perfect to be a perfect boyfriend in every way. And I'm sure that today the city girls will practically sigh looking at you. If that happens, Avi, you'll have to promise me you'll make a girlfriend," Sital Didi said, her voice full of confidence, holding out her hand.
"Okay, let's see. It seems to me that *you* must have a boyfriend, Didi," I said, turning the tables on her, a teasing glint in my eye.
"I do not have a boyfriend," Sital Didi said, looking away quickly, crossing her arms tightly.
"That can't possibly be true. A beautiful girl like you?" I challenged, leaning closer to her.
"These city boys first make girls their girlfriends, then they secretly make videos of them fucking and then blackmail them for money. Or, they first love a girl deeply, and after their *work is done*, they immediately betray the girl and abandon them," Sital Didi said, her voice turning hard and resentful, staring straight ahead.
"Not everyone is like that, Didi," I insisted gently, feeling a pang of sympathy.
"It happened to one of my close friends, Avi. Her boyfriend recorded their fucking. And by blackmailing my friend, he completely ruined her life and reputation. The same thing happened with my other friend. Her boyfriend first showered her with love, then had his fun, and as soon as he found another girl, he left my friend like a discarded doll. After this happened with both my friends, I stay far, far away from all this romance and love," Sital Didi concluded, a visible shiver running down her arm.
"Poor boys," I said softly, a mischievous glint in my eye.
"Why 'poor'?" Sital Didi asked, narrowing her eyes, turning back to me.
"If such a beautiful girl like you thinks like this about them, then the poor boys will die of heartbreak," I said, and immediately started running away from the bench, laughing hard.
"Stop right there, Avi! I'll show you now!" Sital Didi shouted, chasing after me, jumping up from the bench.
"Not me! Show your anger to the boys you hate!" I shouted back, running faster.
Sital Didi quickly caught me by the arm, her chest heaving from the sprint.
"Now what were you saying about my beauty? Tell me again," Sital Didi demanded, holding me tight, trying to look angry.
"I was just joking, Didi. You're the one who is too fast to believe me," I said, still grinning, catching my breath.
"You've started joking too much since you came to the city. But thank you for the compliment, Avi. It was sweet," Sital Didi admitted, her anger dissolving into a happy smile, letting go of my arm.
Then we walked around in the park for a while. Raj kept playing happily on the slides. Sital Didi and I kept walking and went deeper into the park, the trees becoming denser. No one came to this isolated side of the park. We were walking while talking when we suddenly saw a pair of naked feet sticking out from behind a large, thick tree trunk. Then we heard soft, rhythmic moaning sounds coming from behind the tree. *How can they possibly be doing such things so early in the morning, out in a public park?* Sital Didi froze, staring transfixed at the tree, her eyes wide.
I quickly broke the tension. I bent down, picked up a stone, and threw it hard into the bushes nearby, making a loud rustling sound. Hearing the sharp noise of the stone hitting the leaves, Sital Didi snapped back to reality, her eyes wide and startled. We quickly turned and walked back toward Raj. Didi was not making any eye contact with me, her face flushed crimson, her breathing shallow.
I broke the silence. "Didi, let's go eat ice cream," I suggested, needing a quick escape from the park. Raj instantly jumped up and down, cheering at the name of ice cream. Sital Didi, relieved by the change in topic, agreed: "Let's go. We get ice cream nearby."
We came to a bustling ice cream shop. We sat down at a small table. We ordered our ice creams. A boy and a girl were sitting at the table next to us, openly kissing, their faces pressed tightly together. Raj's back was turned to them, and he was busy attacking his ice cream. Sital Didi and I could not help but look at the public display. Sital Didi's face had turned dark red again, and she was shifting uncomfortably. I felt it was better to leave this place immediately. I could not watch this display of affection and intimacy in front of Didi. We quickly finished our ice creams and rushed back home.
---
My sleep broke early, at 6:00 AM. I immediately headed to the terrace to get my blood pumping. I had very few casual clothes, so I took off my shirt and started exercising. My body quickly got drenched in sweat from the strenuous workout. There wasn't much space between Jyoti Bua's house and the house next door; both houses' terraces were practically attached. On the adjacent terrace, two girls were doing yoga. I recognized them instantly: they were the same twin girls who had laughed at me at the *golgappe* shop the previous evening. I did not pay much attention to them, focusing on the burn in my muscles.
After exercising for a full hour, I was dripping with sweat and went back to the room to take a bath. By 8:00 AM, everyone was freshened up and sitting down for breakfast. Uncle had also returned from his night shift. After having breakfast, Uncle retired to his room to sleep.
"Avi. Poonam Didi and I are going to college now. We'll be back in the afternoon. Then we'll go for a proper trip," Sweta Didi said, sipping her tea, looking at the clock.
"It's much better to go in the afternoon than in the morning heat. You both go to college. Until then, Raj and I will go out with Sital Didi," I suggested, taking a bite of my food.
"Yes, Didi. I'll show Avi and Raj the large park nearby," Sital Didi volunteered brightly, grabbing her keys.
Sweta Didi leaned forward and whispered something into Sital Didi's ear, her eyes suddenly serious.
"Sital, you know exactly what kind of park that is after the early morning hours," Sweta Didi murmured, glancing at Raj, her voice low.
"Didi, all that *adult* stuff happens in the late evening, not so early in the morning. And we won't go deep into the secluded parts," Sital Didi promised, waving off the concern, rolling her eyes a little.
"Okay, but keep a very sharp eye on Raj so he doesn't accidentally see anything dirty," Sweta Didi cautioned, her brow furrowed.
"I'll handle it, don't worry," Sital Didi reassured her, patting her arm.
Sweta Didi and Poonam Didi soon left for college.
"Let's go, too," Sital Didi said, jumping up and grabbing her purse.
Sital Didi, Raj, and I left for our excursion. We came to a massive, sprawling park. Raj immediately ran off to play on the swings and slides. Sital Didi and I found a quiet bench under a tree and sat down.
"Didi, how did your final papers go?" I asked, making conversation, watching Raj run.
"They were good, thankfully. I think I did well. How were yours?" Sital Didi asked, smoothing her dress, looking over at me.
"Mine were good too. I'm hoping for a decent result," I replied, feeling optimistic.
"And Komal's? She's always studying," Sital Didi inquired about her cousin, leaning back against the bench.
"She'll probably come first in the entire college," I said confidently, smiling.
"What have you thought of doing next year, after the tenth?" Sital Didi asked, looking at me intently, her expression serious.
"I think I'll take Arts since it's easier. Komal will probably take Science," I explained my plan honestly.
"Stay far away from Arts, Avi. You need to take Science like Komal," Sital Didi advised, shaking her head firmly.
"But you have to study much, much more in Science," I pointed out, wrinkling my nose, disliking the idea.
"It doesn't matter. Do this: if you get good marks, take Science. Otherwise, reluctantly take Arts," Sital Didi suggested a compromise, tapping her fingers.
"Yes, that sounds like a good plan. But in our small village, they only teach Arts at the higher level," I reminded her of the difficulty.
"Then you can come to the city and study after the tenth. Komal will also get your company here," Sital Didi said, making it sound appealing, her eyes bright.
"Let's see. By the way, what are *you* going to do now that your exams are over?" I asked, turning the conversation back to her.
"I desperately wanted to become a doctor, but my marks weren't quite high enough for the entrance exams. That's why I'll do a B.Sc. like Didi," Sital Didi confided with a sigh, her voice dropping.
"B.Sc.? Then you'll also get to use Didi's notes and books," I noted, trying to find the upside.
"Leave that boring talk. Tell me, have you made a girlfriend yet, Avi?" Sital Didi asked, nudging my elbow playfully, a mischievous look in her eye.
"Where would all these things happen in the village?" I deflected with a casual laugh, looking away. *(Internal thoughts: It's better that as few people in the family know about Mala as possible.)*
"Looking at you now, with that look of yours, it certainly seems like you have a girlfriend," Sital Didi insisted, crossing her arms, her head tilted.
"Where, Didi? You can ask Komal herself. Besides Komal, no one even talks to me in college," I lied convincingly, shrugging slightly.
"Then you need to start talking to them," Sital Didi countered immediately, her voice firm.
"I can't just do all that initiating," I mumbled, feeling a little shy.
"We'll see about that this afternoon," Sital Didi said, a secret smile playing on her lips, looking forward to the plan.
"What exactly is happening this afternoon?" I asked, confused by her strange excitement.
"If the city girls immediately look at you and check you out after you put on your new city clothes, then I'll understand that you secretly have a girlfriend back home," Sital Didi explained her strange test, her eyes challenging me.
"Nothing like that will happen, Didi. And you don't find out about a boy's love life just by watching girls look at him," I argued, amused, trying to hold back a smile.
"Oh, it will happen like this, trust me. If the city girls start looking at you in new clothes, then even the village girls must be looking at you in your village clothes. You are perfect to be a perfect boyfriend in every way. And I'm sure that today the city girls will practically sigh looking at you. If that happens, Avi, you'll have to promise me you'll make a girlfriend," Sital Didi said, her voice full of confidence, holding out her hand.
"Okay, let's see. It seems to me that *you* must have a boyfriend, Didi," I said, turning the tables on her, a teasing glint in my eye.
"I do not have a boyfriend," Sital Didi said, looking away quickly, crossing her arms tightly.
"That can't possibly be true. A beautiful girl like you?" I challenged, leaning closer to her.
"These city boys first make girls their girlfriends, then they secretly make videos of them fucking and then blackmail them for money. Or, they first love a girl deeply, and after their *work is done*, they immediately betray the girl and abandon them," Sital Didi said, her voice turning hard and resentful, staring straight ahead.
"Not everyone is like that, Didi," I insisted gently, feeling a pang of sympathy.
"It happened to one of my close friends, Avi. Her boyfriend recorded their fucking. And by blackmailing my friend, he completely ruined her life and reputation. The same thing happened with my other friend. Her boyfriend first showered her with love, then had his fun, and as soon as he found another girl, he left my friend like a discarded doll. After this happened with both my friends, I stay far, far away from all this romance and love," Sital Didi concluded, a visible shiver running down her arm.
"Poor boys," I said softly, a mischievous glint in my eye.
"Why 'poor'?" Sital Didi asked, narrowing her eyes, turning back to me.
"If such a beautiful girl like you thinks like this about them, then the poor boys will die of heartbreak," I said, and immediately started running away from the bench, laughing hard.
"Stop right there, Avi! I'll show you now!" Sital Didi shouted, chasing after me, jumping up from the bench.
"Not me! Show your anger to the boys you hate!" I shouted back, running faster.
Sital Didi quickly caught me by the arm, her chest heaving from the sprint.
"Now what were you saying about my beauty? Tell me again," Sital Didi demanded, holding me tight, trying to look angry.
"I was just joking, Didi. You're the one who is too fast to believe me," I said, still grinning, catching my breath.
"You've started joking too much since you came to the city. But thank you for the compliment, Avi. It was sweet," Sital Didi admitted, her anger dissolving into a happy smile, letting go of my arm.
Then we walked around in the park for a while. Raj kept playing happily on the slides. Sital Didi and I kept walking and went deeper into the park, the trees becoming denser. No one came to this isolated side of the park. We were walking while talking when we suddenly saw a pair of naked feet sticking out from behind a large, thick tree trunk. Then we heard soft, rhythmic moaning sounds coming from behind the tree. *How can they possibly be doing such things so early in the morning, out in a public park?* Sital Didi froze, staring transfixed at the tree, her eyes wide.
I quickly broke the tension. I bent down, picked up a stone, and threw it hard into the bushes nearby, making a loud rustling sound. Hearing the sharp noise of the stone hitting the leaves, Sital Didi snapped back to reality, her eyes wide and startled. We quickly turned and walked back toward Raj. Didi was not making any eye contact with me, her face flushed crimson, her breathing shallow.
I broke the silence. "Didi, let's go eat ice cream," I suggested, needing a quick escape from the park. Raj instantly jumped up and down, cheering at the name of ice cream. Sital Didi, relieved by the change in topic, agreed: "Let's go. We get ice cream nearby."
We came to a bustling ice cream shop. We sat down at a small table. We ordered our ice creams. A boy and a girl were sitting at the table next to us, openly kissing, their faces pressed tightly together. Raj's back was turned to them, and he was busy attacking his ice cream. Sital Didi and I could not help but look at the public display. Sital Didi's face had turned dark red again, and she was shifting uncomfortably. I felt it was better to leave this place immediately. I could not watch this display of affection and intimacy in front of Didi. We quickly finished our ice creams and rushed back home.
---
![[+]](https://xossipy.com/themes/sharepoint/collapse_collapsed.png)