Yesterday, 01:49 PM
Chapter 29 – The First Step
Sneha sat still for a moment, processing everything. Then something small but significant hit her.
“You called me ‘Sneha’ just now,” she said softly, looking at him. “Not Anni. That’s the second time.”
Gowtham gave a small, knowing smile.
“You felt it, right? That sudden doubt… that slight unsettling feeling in your chest?”
Sneha nodded slowly.
“That’s exactly what we are going to make Suresh feel,” Gowtham said. “Little things. Small changes. Instead of forcing him to stop, we will make him urge us to stop by himself. At the beginning, he might even appreciate it. But as we get closer inch by inch, insecurity will start eating him alive.”
Sneha looked at him, a mix of nervousness and reluctant admiration in her eyes.
“You are too sharp, Gowtham.”
He didn’t smile this time. His expression was serious.
“Are you in, Sneha?”
She took a long breath, then gave a small nod.
“Yes… I’m in.”
Gowtham’s eyes darkened with satisfaction.
“Good. We start tonight. At the dinner table. I will call you ‘Sneha’ in front of him. I will pass a few double-meaning comments. Nothing too obvious at first. And by the way…” he added casually, “prepare idlis for dinner tonight.”
Sneha raised an eyebrow. “Idlis?”
Gowtham smirked.
“The very act tonight will push him to react immediately. He will stop contacting strangers once he sees things moving. Trust me.”
Sneha stood up to leave, but Gowtham stepped closer.
“Wait.”
Lets hug he said..
Sneha asked why?
We may need to practice closeness. we should not feel awkward and expose ourself before him.. we must look normal and natural .. we may need to do a lot in future. consider this as training.
He moved forward and gently pulled her into a hug.
Sneha stiffened at first, her body going rigid. But Gowtham held her calmly, one hand on her upper back, the other lightly on her waist. The hug lasted longer than necessary. She could feel the warmth of his sturdy chest, the strength in his arms.
“From now on,” he whispered near her ear, “I will touch you like a close male friend would. Don’t hesitate. Don’t show him you’re uncomfortable or doubting me. Everything will get spoiled if you do. For him, you are still innocent… and I am the one taking advantage, slowly seducing you.”
Sneha’s heart pounded heavily. She felt a strange mix of guilt, nervousness… and something else she didn’t want to name.
As Gowtham finally released her, she stepped back, avoiding his eyes.
“I understand,” she whispered.
Gowtham gave her one last look before heading to the door.
As soon as he left, Sneha stood alone in the hall. She placed a hand on her chest, feeling her racing heartbeat.
A sharp pinch of guilt hit her.
What am I doing? This feels so wrong…
But then she remembered Suresh’s chats, his desperation, the stranger he was trying to involve.
She closed her eyes and took a deep breath.
I'm doing just to fix Suresh
But deep down, a small, dangerous voice whispered:
Then why does it already feel different?
Sneha sat still for a moment, processing everything. Then something small but significant hit her.
“You called me ‘Sneha’ just now,” she said softly, looking at him. “Not Anni. That’s the second time.”
Gowtham gave a small, knowing smile.
“You felt it, right? That sudden doubt… that slight unsettling feeling in your chest?”
Sneha nodded slowly.
“That’s exactly what we are going to make Suresh feel,” Gowtham said. “Little things. Small changes. Instead of forcing him to stop, we will make him urge us to stop by himself. At the beginning, he might even appreciate it. But as we get closer inch by inch, insecurity will start eating him alive.”
Sneha looked at him, a mix of nervousness and reluctant admiration in her eyes.
“You are too sharp, Gowtham.”
He didn’t smile this time. His expression was serious.
“Are you in, Sneha?”
She took a long breath, then gave a small nod.
“Yes… I’m in.”
Gowtham’s eyes darkened with satisfaction.
“Good. We start tonight. At the dinner table. I will call you ‘Sneha’ in front of him. I will pass a few double-meaning comments. Nothing too obvious at first. And by the way…” he added casually, “prepare idlis for dinner tonight.”
Sneha raised an eyebrow. “Idlis?”
Gowtham smirked.
“The very act tonight will push him to react immediately. He will stop contacting strangers once he sees things moving. Trust me.”
Sneha stood up to leave, but Gowtham stepped closer.
“Wait.”
Lets hug he said..
Sneha asked why?
We may need to practice closeness. we should not feel awkward and expose ourself before him.. we must look normal and natural .. we may need to do a lot in future. consider this as training.
He moved forward and gently pulled her into a hug.
Sneha stiffened at first, her body going rigid. But Gowtham held her calmly, one hand on her upper back, the other lightly on her waist. The hug lasted longer than necessary. She could feel the warmth of his sturdy chest, the strength in his arms.
“From now on,” he whispered near her ear, “I will touch you like a close male friend would. Don’t hesitate. Don’t show him you’re uncomfortable or doubting me. Everything will get spoiled if you do. For him, you are still innocent… and I am the one taking advantage, slowly seducing you.”
Sneha’s heart pounded heavily. She felt a strange mix of guilt, nervousness… and something else she didn’t want to name.
As Gowtham finally released her, she stepped back, avoiding his eyes.
“I understand,” she whispered.
Gowtham gave her one last look before heading to the door.
As soon as he left, Sneha stood alone in the hall. She placed a hand on her chest, feeling her racing heartbeat.
A sharp pinch of guilt hit her.
What am I doing? This feels so wrong…
But then she remembered Suresh’s chats, his desperation, the stranger he was trying to involve.
She closed her eyes and took a deep breath.
I'm doing just to fix Suresh
But deep down, a small, dangerous voice whispered:
Then why does it already feel different?
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