20-02-2026, 05:17 AM
Chapter 4: Cracks in the Shell
One week had slipped by since Ramya and Dilip landed in this whirlwind of a new life. While the skyline was beautiful, the social landscape felt like navigating a minefield.
Ramya noticed the difference every single day. When she walked down the hallways, she felt "male eyes" trailing her—sometimes teasing, sometimes mocking her quiet demeanor. Yet, no one dared to pull those stunts with Shiny. Shiny moved through the world like she owned it.
One evening, unable to suppress her curiosity any longer, Ramya turned to her roommate. "Shiny, can I ask you something personal?"
"Yeah, shoot," Shiny replied, not looking up from her vanity mirror.
"How are you always so... active? So studious and bold? I feel like I'm constantly shrinking, but you just stand your ground."
Shiny turned around, a small, knowing smile on her lips. "Look, Ramya, a girl has two choices. She can let her beauty be a burden and be shy, or she can use it as a weapon. I choose the weapon. I don't hesitate to ask for help—in fact, I expect it. Most of my assignments, my grocery runs, even my local shopping... some guy or the other gets it done for me."
Ramya blinked, stunned. "But... isn't that awkward?"
"Not if you stay in control," Shiny said firmly. "If you act shy, boys try to dominate you. If you are bold, they hesitate to cross the line. I dress how I like, and I command respect by the way I speak. It’s all about the attitude, babe."
Ramya sighed, looking down at her hands. "You are great, Shiny. But I’m from a small village. I don’t even have the guts to tell a guy what to do, let alone command him."
"If you don't control them, they will control you," Shiny warned, her tone softening. "You have to become bold. Don't worry, just take your time."
Ramya watched Shiny closely over the next few days. It was like a masterclass in confidence. Shiny would casually handshake with guys, hop on the back of their bikes for a lift, and always had someone dropping her off or running her errands. Ramya, meanwhile, did everything herself, too terrified to even make eye contact.
Saturday at the Beach
The weekend brought a trip to the resort. While the rest of the gang plunged into the waves, Dilip sat apart on the sand. The vastness of the ocean only made him feel more homesick.
Hari ran over, kicking up sand. "Hey Dilip! Come on, man, join the game!"
"No, no, you guys carry on," Dilip waved him off. "I’ll come in a bit."
A few minutes later, Priya walked up. She was wearing a bikini with a sheer sarong tied loosely at her waist. She looked effortlessly comfortable. "Dilip, don't be a spoilsport. Come play!"
She reached out, grabbing his arm to pull him toward the water. The physical contact sent a shock through Dilip. He started shivering, his face turning beet red.
"Leave me! Just go!" he shouted, pulling his arm back abruptly.
Priya froze, startled by his outburst. She began to turn away, looking hurt. Suddenly, reality hit Dilip like a cold wave. What am I doing? he thought. If Hari finds out I shouted at his wife, he might kick me out.
"Priya! Wait!" Dilip scrambled to his feet and rushed toward her. "I’m so sorry. Please... I didn't mean to shout."
Priya stopped, looking at him curiously. "What happened, Dilip?"
"I am from a very traditional village back home," he stammered, his voice low. "I have never seen girls in... modern clothes like this. And a girl pulling me... I just got scared. It’s all new to me."
Priya’s expression softened. She had noticed his hesitation since day one. "Dilip, it’s okay. But you’re in a different world now. You have to be more open. Forget the 'village rules' for a while."
"I will try," Dilip promised. "I want to mingle with the gang."
"I’m more than happy to help you find your feet," she said with a warm smile.
Later that afternoon, Dilip actually joined the basketball game. In the heat of the match, he found himself giving high-fives to the girls and laughing when they scored. For a few hours, his shyness vanished into the game. As they packed up, Priya caught his eye and nodded. "Better."
"Thanks," Dilip replied, feeling a genuine spark of confidence.
The Mission
That night, back at the apartment, Ramya and Dilip sat together, reflecting on the day.
"Dilip, are we really too naive?" Ramya asked quietly. "Too 'rural type' for this place?"
"Yes, dear," Dilip sighed. "Even I was thinking that today." He described the beach—the bikinis, the casual touching, and how no one thought twice about it.
Ramya shared her observations of Shiny. "She commands them, Dilip. And here I am, getting teased by random guys because I’m an introvert. It’s like they smell my fear."
They sat in silence for a moment before Dilip spoke up. "We need to take steps. A mission. This next week, I’m going to start speaking to the ladies here. Just casual talk, to get comfortable."
Ramya looked worried. "I can’t just start talking to guys or asking for help. People in class will think I’m 'that kind of girl' or have a bad character."
"Then don't start at college," Dilip suggested. "Try here in the apartment."
"But I don't know anyone here."
"What about Ramu Anna and Raj?" Dilip pointed out. "They are the apartment helpers. If you make them your friends, they can help you with the daily chores and heavy lifting. It’s a start."
Ramya nodded slowly, the gears turning in her head. "Okay. I will try."
Both of them ended the night with a silent pact: it was time to stop hiding and start opening up to the world.
One week had slipped by since Ramya and Dilip landed in this whirlwind of a new life. While the skyline was beautiful, the social landscape felt like navigating a minefield.
Ramya noticed the difference every single day. When she walked down the hallways, she felt "male eyes" trailing her—sometimes teasing, sometimes mocking her quiet demeanor. Yet, no one dared to pull those stunts with Shiny. Shiny moved through the world like she owned it.
One evening, unable to suppress her curiosity any longer, Ramya turned to her roommate. "Shiny, can I ask you something personal?"
"Yeah, shoot," Shiny replied, not looking up from her vanity mirror.
"How are you always so... active? So studious and bold? I feel like I'm constantly shrinking, but you just stand your ground."
Shiny turned around, a small, knowing smile on her lips. "Look, Ramya, a girl has two choices. She can let her beauty be a burden and be shy, or she can use it as a weapon. I choose the weapon. I don't hesitate to ask for help—in fact, I expect it. Most of my assignments, my grocery runs, even my local shopping... some guy or the other gets it done for me."
Ramya blinked, stunned. "But... isn't that awkward?"
"Not if you stay in control," Shiny said firmly. "If you act shy, boys try to dominate you. If you are bold, they hesitate to cross the line. I dress how I like, and I command respect by the way I speak. It’s all about the attitude, babe."
Ramya sighed, looking down at her hands. "You are great, Shiny. But I’m from a small village. I don’t even have the guts to tell a guy what to do, let alone command him."
"If you don't control them, they will control you," Shiny warned, her tone softening. "You have to become bold. Don't worry, just take your time."
Ramya watched Shiny closely over the next few days. It was like a masterclass in confidence. Shiny would casually handshake with guys, hop on the back of their bikes for a lift, and always had someone dropping her off or running her errands. Ramya, meanwhile, did everything herself, too terrified to even make eye contact.
Saturday at the Beach
The weekend brought a trip to the resort. While the rest of the gang plunged into the waves, Dilip sat apart on the sand. The vastness of the ocean only made him feel more homesick.
Hari ran over, kicking up sand. "Hey Dilip! Come on, man, join the game!"
"No, no, you guys carry on," Dilip waved him off. "I’ll come in a bit."
A few minutes later, Priya walked up. She was wearing a bikini with a sheer sarong tied loosely at her waist. She looked effortlessly comfortable. "Dilip, don't be a spoilsport. Come play!"
She reached out, grabbing his arm to pull him toward the water. The physical contact sent a shock through Dilip. He started shivering, his face turning beet red.
"Leave me! Just go!" he shouted, pulling his arm back abruptly.
Priya froze, startled by his outburst. She began to turn away, looking hurt. Suddenly, reality hit Dilip like a cold wave. What am I doing? he thought. If Hari finds out I shouted at his wife, he might kick me out.
"Priya! Wait!" Dilip scrambled to his feet and rushed toward her. "I’m so sorry. Please... I didn't mean to shout."
Priya stopped, looking at him curiously. "What happened, Dilip?"
"I am from a very traditional village back home," he stammered, his voice low. "I have never seen girls in... modern clothes like this. And a girl pulling me... I just got scared. It’s all new to me."
Priya’s expression softened. She had noticed his hesitation since day one. "Dilip, it’s okay. But you’re in a different world now. You have to be more open. Forget the 'village rules' for a while."
"I will try," Dilip promised. "I want to mingle with the gang."
"I’m more than happy to help you find your feet," she said with a warm smile.
Later that afternoon, Dilip actually joined the basketball game. In the heat of the match, he found himself giving high-fives to the girls and laughing when they scored. For a few hours, his shyness vanished into the game. As they packed up, Priya caught his eye and nodded. "Better."
"Thanks," Dilip replied, feeling a genuine spark of confidence.
The Mission
That night, back at the apartment, Ramya and Dilip sat together, reflecting on the day.
"Dilip, are we really too naive?" Ramya asked quietly. "Too 'rural type' for this place?"
"Yes, dear," Dilip sighed. "Even I was thinking that today." He described the beach—the bikinis, the casual touching, and how no one thought twice about it.
Ramya shared her observations of Shiny. "She commands them, Dilip. And here I am, getting teased by random guys because I’m an introvert. It’s like they smell my fear."
They sat in silence for a moment before Dilip spoke up. "We need to take steps. A mission. This next week, I’m going to start speaking to the ladies here. Just casual talk, to get comfortable."
Ramya looked worried. "I can’t just start talking to guys or asking for help. People in class will think I’m 'that kind of girl' or have a bad character."
"Then don't start at college," Dilip suggested. "Try here in the apartment."
"But I don't know anyone here."
"What about Ramu Anna and Raj?" Dilip pointed out. "They are the apartment helpers. If you make them your friends, they can help you with the daily chores and heavy lifting. It’s a start."
Ramya nodded slowly, the gears turning in her head. "Okay. I will try."
Both of them ended the night with a silent pact: it was time to stop hiding and start opening up to the world.
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