6 hours ago
Chapter 8 - The Lists
They came home later than usual.
Both had stayed back a little longer at office — not for work, but to finish writing the names.
Tara dropped her bag, washed her face, and came to the bedroom with a small folded paper in her hand. Jeeva was already sitting on the bed, back against the headboard, another folded paper resting on his thigh.
Neither of them spoke for a few seconds.
It felt strangely formal, like they were about to start a serious project.
Jeeva went first. He unfolded his paper and placed it between them.
“Here. My list.”
Tara laughed, someone was so hesitant yesterday, but he was the first one to give the list...
Jeeva didn't smile.
Tara picked it up and read slowly.
“Is Ramya special?”
Jeeva frowned. “Why?”
“There’s no alphabetical order. No age order. You just put her at the top. Is there any order?”
“No. It’s random.”
Tara gave a small smile.
“So I thought… maybe you’ve been interested in Ramya for a long time and that’s why she came first. Psychological.”
She laughed softly. Jeeva didn’t.
He reached for her paper.
“What about your list? Any specific order?”
Tara handed it over. Jeeva opened it.
The list had no order like age/alphabetical.. he just recalled what Tara said..
Jeeva smirked and with a fake smile, like fun intended he said... “So you like to get fucked by him?”
The words came out sharper than he intended.
Tara’s expression cooled.
“Watch your words, Jeeva.”
He looked away for a second.
“I’m sorry.”
“But your question is fair,” Tara said calmly.
“Do I want to get fucked by him? Answer is no.
But my list does have an order. Unlike what you would have thought.
I arranged it based on how they look at me.
Sam undresses me with his eyes every time we talk.
That’s why he’s at the top.
The order is simple — these are the men who are already looking for a chance to bed me.”
Jeeva stared at her.
“Then why are you risking it?”
You should have removed Sam name.
Tara smiled, but there was no playfulness in it this time.
“Because controlling temptation from people like them is the real challenge.
Its no use to select people who has no interest in me.
If I select someone like Nikhil — he’s kind of nerdy — in six months I might only get friendship.
He won’t even have the courage to step into our house for a casual visit.
With someone like Sam Arya or Karthik, friendship comes easy in the first month.
Deeper by the end of the month. Flirting by the second. Hanging out, dinners… and the real test begins soon after.
If we are playing this game, we need to be serious, Jeeva.”
She picked up his list again.
“I would like to rearrange your order based on the same logic.”
“I don’t think any of them are like that,” Jeeva said.
Tara looked at him steadily.
“Imagine you are their colleague. You hear gossips, you see things.
Just tell me — if all five of them had to have a reason to sleep with you, what would that reason be for each one?
Think about it and tell me tomorrow. I’ll decide based on that.”
She folded both papers neatly and kept them on the side table.
“I’ve given you my list. Tomorrow we’ll talk about every single person in detail.
I’ll study them. You study yours. Then we share.”
Jeeva didn’t reply immediately.
He kept looking at the name “Sam Arya” that was still visible on the folded edge of her paper.
Tara switched off the main light and lay down with her back to him, as if the discussion was finished for the night.
Jeeva remained sitting against the headboard for a long time, the two lists lying quietly between them like a contract neither of them could fully take back.
They came home later than usual.
Both had stayed back a little longer at office — not for work, but to finish writing the names.
Tara dropped her bag, washed her face, and came to the bedroom with a small folded paper in her hand. Jeeva was already sitting on the bed, back against the headboard, another folded paper resting on his thigh.
Neither of them spoke for a few seconds.
It felt strangely formal, like they were about to start a serious project.
Jeeva went first. He unfolded his paper and placed it between them.
“Here. My list.”
Tara laughed, someone was so hesitant yesterday, but he was the first one to give the list...
Jeeva didn't smile.
Tara picked it up and read slowly.
- Ramya – 29, married, soft-spoken, visibly unhappy in marriage, beautiful in a quiet way, good figure, often stays late.
- Divya – 27, single, very stylish, flirty eyes, known for office banter.
- Sneha – 31, divorced, confident, gym-going, direct personality.
- Anjali – 26, newly married, cheerful, slightly naïve, laughs too easily at male colleagues’ jokes.
- Priya – 30, married but husband works in another city, elegant, reserved, high-performing.
“Is Ramya special?”
Jeeva frowned. “Why?”
“There’s no alphabetical order. No age order. You just put her at the top. Is there any order?”
“No. It’s random.”
Tara gave a small smile.
“So I thought… maybe you’ve been interested in Ramya for a long time and that’s why she came first. Psychological.”
She laughed softly. Jeeva didn’t.
He reached for her paper.
“What about your list? Any specific order?”
Tara handed it over. Jeeva opened it.
- Sam Arya – 32 (3 years older), married, Senior / Manager level, gym body, calm and controlled, not an obvious flirt but has presence, good dresser, known for sharp conversations.
- Karthik – 28, single, charming, talks a lot, slightly immature.
- Vivek – 34, married, quiet, intense eyes, rarely smiles.
- Arun – 29, recently separated, athletic, open about liking Tara’s work.
- Nikhil – 31, married, funny, popular, a bit of a people-pleaser.
The list had no order like age/alphabetical.. he just recalled what Tara said..
Jeeva smirked and with a fake smile, like fun intended he said... “So you like to get fucked by him?”
The words came out sharper than he intended.
Tara’s expression cooled.
“Watch your words, Jeeva.”
He looked away for a second.
“I’m sorry.”
“But your question is fair,” Tara said calmly.
“Do I want to get fucked by him? Answer is no.
But my list does have an order. Unlike what you would have thought.
I arranged it based on how they look at me.
Sam undresses me with his eyes every time we talk.
That’s why he’s at the top.
The order is simple — these are the men who are already looking for a chance to bed me.”
Jeeva stared at her.
“Then why are you risking it?”
You should have removed Sam name.
Tara smiled, but there was no playfulness in it this time.
“Because controlling temptation from people like them is the real challenge.
Its no use to select people who has no interest in me.
If I select someone like Nikhil — he’s kind of nerdy — in six months I might only get friendship.
He won’t even have the courage to step into our house for a casual visit.
With someone like Sam Arya or Karthik, friendship comes easy in the first month.
Deeper by the end of the month. Flirting by the second. Hanging out, dinners… and the real test begins soon after.
If we are playing this game, we need to be serious, Jeeva.”
She picked up his list again.
“I would like to rearrange your order based on the same logic.”
“I don’t think any of them are like that,” Jeeva said.
Tara looked at him steadily.
“Imagine you are their colleague. You hear gossips, you see things.
Just tell me — if all five of them had to have a reason to sleep with you, what would that reason be for each one?
Think about it and tell me tomorrow. I’ll decide based on that.”
She folded both papers neatly and kept them on the side table.
“I’ve given you my list. Tomorrow we’ll talk about every single person in detail.
I’ll study them. You study yours. Then we share.”
Jeeva didn’t reply immediately.
He kept looking at the name “Sam Arya” that was still visible on the folded edge of her paper.
Tara switched off the main light and lay down with her back to him, as if the discussion was finished for the night.
Jeeva remained sitting against the headboard for a long time, the two lists lying quietly between them like a contract neither of them could fully take back.
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