13-08-2026, 02:14 PM
(This post was last modified: 14-08-2026, 09:44 AM by SilverArrow. Edited 4 times in total. Edited 4 times in total.)
The paperwork for the eco-tourism project went through without a hitch.
Rakesh and Monica held up their end of the bargain. Every Sunday morning, they would help Ustad with investor decks and accounting help.
Then came the phone call on a warm Thursday afternoon.
"Rakesh bhai," Ustad’s gruff voice crackled through the speaker. "The investor decks you and monica prepared... they worked. A big party down here is interested."
"That’s fantastic news, Ustad," Rakesh said, "Did he sign off on the funding?"
"Not yet," Ustad replied.
"His name is Ranga Saab. He controls a massive cash pool down in the border district. He was impressed by the numbers, but he wants to meet the people who built the deck before putting in his money. He has some specific financial clarifications I can't explain on my own."
Rakesh paused, tapping his pen. "He wants to meet us?"
"Why don't you and Monica take the upcoming long weekend and come down to Chennai?" Ustad suggested " This border district is 5-6 hours drive from there….Stunning place…... It’ll be a great break for both of you."
"Let me talk to Monica and call you back," Rakesh said.
That night, Rakesh brought it up over dinner.
Monica set her fork down, her brow furrowing slightly.
"A local money man? Rakesh, he’s probably a rough, uneducated local syndicate boss. What are we going to explain to him? Internal rates of return?"
"That’s exactly why he wants to meet us," Rakesh reasoned. "Guys with that kind of raw cash don't trust local bookies. They trust polished corporate professionals like us!"
Monica leaned back in her chair, a quiet realization taking shape.
"Rakesh... if this Ranga Saab actually has liquid cash” Monica said slowly, "why don't we pitch him on the eco-tourism project?"
Rakesh blinked. "The resort?"
"Think about it," she urged, leaning forward. "If we can convince him to put his money into our eco-resort deal as a primary corporate investor, we can buy out Ustad’s company stake entirely”
Rakesh stared at her, a grin spreading across his face.
"That... is actually brilliant, Monica. That completely cleans up our paper trail"
Monica offered a small, tired smile "Plus... I really need a vacation. Getting out of Gurgaon for few days sounds good right now"
Two days later, they landed in Chennai.
The monsoon had hit the Chennai coast hard. All night, torrential rain lashed against the French windows of their hotel room, the gusting winds rattling the glass panes.
Rakesh paced the floor around 10:00 PM, looking down at the flooded hotel driveway. Anxious about the five-hour highway drive the next morning, he dialed Ustad.
"Ustad, the rain down here in Chennai is relentless," Rakesh said into the receiver. "Is it even safe to drive toward the river valley tomorrow?"
"It’s just water, Rakesh bhai," Ustad completely unbothered. "Down here in the hills, rains are normal this season. The roads are fine. Just make sure you and Monica madam carry proper swimming attires. The river level near the waterfalls is high right now, and the water currents are strong," Ustad explained smoothly
The next morning at 5:30 AM, the rain had settled into a steady, grey drizzle.
They hit the highway early, leaving the coastal skyline behind as they drove west toward the midway town of Pennakot.
Two hours into the journey, Rakesh’s phone buzzed on . It was Ustad.
"Rakesh bhai, small update," Ustad said, his voice cut through by highway static. "Ranga Saab doesn't like outside city cars entering his border district. Local check-posts are tricky. So your taxi drops you at Pennakot. Ranga Saab is personally coming in his own vehicle to pick us up from there."
Rakesh nodded. "Okay, that's fine."
"And one more thing..." Ustad paused, taking a slow breath. "Ranga Saab is an ex-convict. He has two old land-dispute cases in the local security officer station. So just... keep things smooth."
Monica’s head snapped toward the phone. She leaned over from her seat "Ustad! You told us he was an institutional investor! We are not gang negotiators! We haven't even structured our numbers to talk to a criminal!"
"Monica, calm down," Ustad defended himself quickly. "I only found out about the old records last night from his local boys, though I’ve met him a few times. He’s a local heavy-weight, yes, but he has raw cash and respects business people. Don't worry."
In the back of the cab, silence settled heavily.
Monica took a deep, controlled breath and told Rakesh "Hey don’t panic. A man with dirty money still understands clean balance sheets. Let's just review our pitch so we don't fumble and we do a good job!”
Rakesh nodded “ Yes Monica, let me go through the EBITDA numbers once again, you read a bit about the market!”
Around 10:30 AM, the cab pulled into a quiet, muddy tea station on the outskirts of Pennakot.
Ustad was already waiting by a roadside stall, towering in a dark linen shirt. Moments later, a rugged, mud-splattered Mahindra Thar pulled into the gravel lot.
From the driver’s side stepped Selvam, a wiry, sharp-eyed man in a plain grey shirt who moved with quiet, observant authority.
From the passenger side stepped Ranga. Broad-chested and heavily built, Ranga carried the undeniable weight of a man who commanded his territory. He wore a simple, dark blue shirt rolled up at the elbows and rugged trousers. His dark skin, thick silver-dappled mustache, and a faint scar along his jaw gave him a scary look!
As Ranga walked over, his eyes settled on Monica as she stepped out of the taxi.
Monica wore a trendy, grey satin shirt that was unbuttoned just enough at the collar to reveal a slight line of her cleavage. The sleek fabric clung to her chest before tucking tightly into a pair of high-waisted, denim travel trousers.
"Hello.. brother. Hello Madam," Ranga spoke in a low, gravelly voice
“Welcome. Rain is heavy in the hills today, but we will reach the island comfortably. Please, step in."
“Good Morning Ranga Saab” Rakesh greeted him
Selvam shifted the gear into drive, and the Thar rumbled out of the gravel lot, Ranga shifted his broad frame in the front passenger seat and turned halfway around, looking back at Rakesh and Monica.
“Road is bad,” Ranga said
“City people usually start complaining by now. You okay at the back?”
“We’re fine, Ranga Saab,”
Rakesh answered, clearing his throat. “The vehicle is solid.”
“Has to be,” Selvam grunted from behind the wheel, “Other cars get stuck in two minutes out here. Then we have to pull them out with tractors.”
Ranga spat a bit of paan out the crack of his window before rolling it back up and said “ Don’t worry about the rain Rakesh bhai .. once we are in the river you all will enjoy the place!”
Ustad smiled “Ranga Saab..they were worried about the water currents in the river”
Selvam assured “ Don’t worry …how long will you guys take for the presentation?”
Rakesh answered “ Not more than an hour at max .Selvam bhai!”
Ranga Saab nodded “ Okay then we will show you the Island properly so that you understand the full scope of our Project!”
The Thar moved through thick mountainous national forest road which got wet and slippery due to the torrential rains. The rain splattered very heavily outside!
Monica asked “ So Ranga Saab you went through our deck I suppose?”
“Yes Madam …Ustad showed me those papers you made on your computer. Good job both of you” Ranga spoke with heavy authority …and then added “ Look, madam …In my business, cash comes in black bags. Local bookies write numbers on cigarette packets and lose them by night. Half my boys are illiterate ..that’s the biggest issue!”
Rakesh nodded “ Well
Ranga Saab..We kind of thought about that , hence we got the proposal done that way “
Selvam interrupted
“Well..Rakesh Bhai..… It’s a more complicated problem than that … We will explain you when you see the Island site …”
Ustad added “ Well Rakesh ..what Selvam Saab means is..… it’s a difficult terrain ..the law is always chasing us…so we…. we can’t leave any loose end!”
Monica looked at Ustad and then at Ranga Saab…“ Yea.… I agree to Ustad ..this business has risk!”
The Thar suddenly struck a deep, rain-filled pothole. Everyone was thrown slightly off balance. Monica shirt fabric slid down along her shoulder, the neckline popping open just enough to give a stark view of the upper swell of her cleavage.
She quickly caught the button and adjusted her shirt, but up front, Ranga’s eyes had caught the sequence in the side-view mirror. A flash of raw, male appreciation of Monica’s momentary massive cleavage show passed through his eyes before he casually looked back out at the muddy track ahead..
“Selvam, drive slow,” Ranga said “We have guests.”
“Track is slick, anna,” Selvam replied
The Mahindra Thar ground to a halt beside the rusted iron barrier of the forest check-post.
Selvam grabbed the registration papers from the dashboard. "Guard takes his time with entry logs. I’ll go sort it out."
Ustad stretched his arms, opening his door. "I need to stretch my legs and pee… Rakesh bhai, coming?"
Rakesh looked out at the muddy, waterlogged post, then turned to Monica. "You want to come along? Might be a ladies restroom near the guard room."
"No, its okay"
Monica replied “It won’t be clean enough for me to use "
"Alright” Rakesh said and went..
Ranga and Monica stepped out of the jeep and stood near the shade!
"Long drive from Chennai madam," Ranga said, his voice " was it raining a lot in there ?”
"The rain was bad Ranga Saab…" Monica said.
"Honestly, the highway was fine, but these mountain turns take a bit of getting used to.. but the river looks pretty! "
" Oh yea… we will go around this place properly …So how long have you guys been married?"
"Two years," Monica answered naturally “We met back in Delhi during a seminar, settled in Gurgaon after”
"Any children?" Ranga asked.
"Not yet," Monica smiled slightly, looking up to meet his eyes.
"Our work schedules are pretty demanding .frequent travel, client decks... we haven't really found the right time.
What about you, Ranga Saab? Does your family stay here at the river estate?"
"No," Ranga said, shaking his head. "Family stays in the main town, two hours back. My wife manages the home there. I have two sons—the elder one runs a hosiery business, the younger one helps Selvam and me with local transport and quarry leases "
Monica nodded “So you spend most of your time out here in the forest?"
"Most of the week," Ranga replied “ work does not happen if these lazy assess don’t see the face of their boss every day .. they are all lazy morons.."
Monica laughed “ They must be then scared of you then…”
" Ha .ha .. this business has risk… lot of illegal stuff happens in the forest …if these guys don’t fear me ..I can’t run my business…. Ustad mentioned you guys have few days at hand?" Ranga asked
“ yea a couple of days Ranga Saab..” Monica clarified
Ranga added “ Ok then I can help you both see the place properly around and you guys can then tell me how to invest properly”
Monica smiled “Only if the rain does not play spoil sport.. But the whole place really looks pretty ..not a place where you want to waste giving business presentation…”
“ Don’t worry, we will make it fun for you guys!”
Monica looked at him, feeling the heavy, grounded weight of his presence. He wasn't trying to impress her or act tough; he was just stating the reality of his world. There was a raw, masculine authority to him that was entirely different from the polite, corporate men she dealt with every day in office.
Before the conversation could go any further, the heavy rear door latch clicked open. Selvam tossed the stamped entry slip onto the dashboard as he climbed into the driver's seat, while Rakesh and Ustad slid back into the rear seats, shaking rain off their coats.
"Guards ask a hundred questions out here," Rakesh sighed… Selvam looked at Rakesh and smiled wicked
“ Don’t worry bro so much..now we are inside forest ..no more questions…” He quickly opened a big bottle of desi local made liquor and poured into plastic glasses…
“Whats this?” Rakesh enquired surprised
Range gave the glass to him
“Drink it Rakesh bhai… it’s forest daaru…we locals always start our forest journey with this .drink ..drink” Ranga coerced Rakesh …
The sharp, earthy scent of raw mahua immediately filled the humid cabin of the Thar.
"Here, madam," Ranga said, his heavy voice leaving little room for refusal. "A little warm-up before we hit the river."
Holding up her hands with a warm, apologetic smile, Monica chose the middle ground. "Ranga Saab, it smells incredible, but local forest spirits on a bumpy road will give me a terrible migraine.. Let’s reach the estate first."
Ranga grunted, though there was a glint of genuine amusement in his eyes.
"Okay, madam. First time we can excuse you... but the next round starts with you. No escaping then."
"Fair deal," Monica replied softly, holding his gaze with a confident smirk.
Ranga handed the glass to Rakesh instead. "Drink up, Rakesh bhai. Don't be shy like a behenji."
Rakesh burned inside, but seeing Ustad already gulping his down in one long draught, he took a sip. The raw, fiery alcohol burned down his throat, making him wince and cough slightly. Ranga laughed heartily, clapping Rakesh hard on the shoulder, while Selvam took a quick swig directly from the bottle before setting it between his knees and shifting the Thar into gear.
"So Rakesh Bro…two years of marriage and such a beautiful wife and no children yet, what’s the scene bro?” Selvam asked and his eyes shifted casually to the side-view mirror, catching Monica’s reflection as she adjusted her posture in the backseat…
Rakesh smiled awkwardly “ Ere…Selvam Saab We both get very busy with our jobs and schedule…
Selvam let out a short, wicked chuckle from behind the wheel. " Ranga anna. Would have got 4 kids by thirty if he had such a beautiful wife!”
Ustad Laughed out real loud “ Rakesh bhai ..Ranga Saab thinks without four kids, his business won’t survive in future”
***†***"
The conversation in the Thar had already loosened under the effect of the forest daaru.
Selvam glanced at Monica in the side-view mirror and smirked.
“Ranga anna would have got four kids by thirty if he had such a beautiful wife.”
Ustad laughed loudly from the back.
“Rakesh bhai, Ranga Saab thinks without four kids his business won’t survive in the future.”
For a moment the three men seemed to expect Monica to look away or fall quiet. Instead she leaned forward slightly,
“ Wait Ranga Saab …you said you have Only two kids?” she asked lightly. “Does that mean you’re implying bhabhi is not hot enough? I don’t think she’ll be very happy if she hears that.”
There was a short, stunned silence. Then Ranga let out a genuine, rough laugh that filled the cabin. Selvam grinned widely. Even Ustad’s shoulders shook.
“Arre, madam has got a sharp tongue,” Ranga said, still chuckling. “two kid is enough headache already.
When the vehicle stopped at the muddy bank, everyone climbed out. A narrow wooden raft waited at the edge, tied to a thick root, two wiry boatmen already standing ready with long bamboo poles. They stepped onto the raft one by one. Monica moved carefully toward the centre. As the raft tilted sharply to one side, her balance faltered for a second. The front of her grey satin shirt plunged downward, the neckline gaping open. For a clear, unhurried moment both Ranga and Selvam had a full view of the deep cleavage and the soft, heavy upper curves of her breasts pressing against the fabric.
Monica caught herself, one hand going to the side of the raft, the other quickly adjusting her shirt.
Ranga’s eyes lingered a fraction longer than necessary before he looked away toward the water. This is the second time he caught Monica with her shirt pulled down!
The boatmen pushed off.
“Now the next round starts with you, madam. No excuses left.”
“You remembered. I was hoping you’d forget.”
She took the glass without further protest, raised it slightly in a mock toast, and took a measured sip. The raw burn hit her throat immediately. She controlled the reaction, only the slightest tightening around her eyes giving anything away, then lowered the glass and met Ranga’s gaze again.
“Stronger than it looks,” she said evenly. “You people don’t play around.”
The raft continued across the wide, muddy river. Water slapped against the sides.
The raft rounded a sharp bend around a massive black rock.
Without warning a powerful overhead waterfall came crashing down.
Cold, heavy water slammed onto the wooden platform in a sudden, roaring sheet. Everyone was drenched in seconds. Monica, sitting on the left side closest to the cascade, took the full force of it. The icy water hit her shoulders and chest like a physical blow, soaking her completely.
Her grey satin shirt instantly turned transparent.
The thin fabric clung tightly to her body, outlining every curve. The dark shape of her tiny black bikini bra became fully visible underneath — the thin straps, the small triangular cups that barely contained the heavy swell of her breasts, the deep cleavage that the wet satin now framed and emphasised. Water streamed down her neck and between her breasts, making the fabric stick even closer.
Monica gasped sharply and crossed her arms over her chest in pure reflex, trying to cover herself.
“Shit—!”
The others were equally soaked. Rakesh shook water from his hair, coughing. Ustad wiped his face with one hand. Selvam cursed under his breath as he steadied the raft. The two boatmen simply laughed, used to the sudden cascade.
Selvam’s eyes, however, had locked onto Monica for a full second longer than necessary. The transparent shirt, the clearly outlined bikini bra, the way the wet fabric hugged the full shape of her breasts — it was not every day a man like him saw a polished Gurgaon corporate woman sitting exposed like that in the middle of a forest river.
“Rain has made the water really treacherous today, madam. Sorry about your dress getting soaked like that.”
“Its okay… I should have seen it coming!!”
Ranga, who had also taken in the full view without bothering to hide it, gave a low, gravelly chuckle.
“That’s why swimming dress is must, madam. . Everyone should change into swimming costume and wear life jackets before we go further.”
Selvam looked at Monica again, this time with open curiosity.
“You carrying any swimsuit, madam?”
Monica pushed her wet hair back from her face with one hand. The movement made the transparent shirt shift, briefly revealing even more of the black bikini bra and the soft upper curves of her breasts.
“I’m already wearing a bikini underneath,” she said plainly, as if it were the most ordinary thing in the world. “I came prepared.”
Selvam’s eyebrows rose
“I don’t like being unprepared, Ranga Saab.” Monica looked at him as the boatman threw life jackets at them.
“I need a bit of privacy to change properly,” Monica said, voice calm and authoritative. “Is there somewhere on the other side I can step away for two minutes?”
“There is,” he said and yelled at the boatman to park somewhere..
Rakesh and Monica held up their end of the bargain. Every Sunday morning, they would help Ustad with investor decks and accounting help.
Then came the phone call on a warm Thursday afternoon.
"Rakesh bhai," Ustad’s gruff voice crackled through the speaker. "The investor decks you and monica prepared... they worked. A big party down here is interested."
"That’s fantastic news, Ustad," Rakesh said, "Did he sign off on the funding?"
"Not yet," Ustad replied.
"His name is Ranga Saab. He controls a massive cash pool down in the border district. He was impressed by the numbers, but he wants to meet the people who built the deck before putting in his money. He has some specific financial clarifications I can't explain on my own."
Rakesh paused, tapping his pen. "He wants to meet us?"
"Why don't you and Monica take the upcoming long weekend and come down to Chennai?" Ustad suggested " This border district is 5-6 hours drive from there….Stunning place…... It’ll be a great break for both of you."
"Let me talk to Monica and call you back," Rakesh said.
That night, Rakesh brought it up over dinner.
Monica set her fork down, her brow furrowing slightly.
"A local money man? Rakesh, he’s probably a rough, uneducated local syndicate boss. What are we going to explain to him? Internal rates of return?"
"That’s exactly why he wants to meet us," Rakesh reasoned. "Guys with that kind of raw cash don't trust local bookies. They trust polished corporate professionals like us!"
Monica leaned back in her chair, a quiet realization taking shape.
"Rakesh... if this Ranga Saab actually has liquid cash” Monica said slowly, "why don't we pitch him on the eco-tourism project?"
Rakesh blinked. "The resort?"
"Think about it," she urged, leaning forward. "If we can convince him to put his money into our eco-resort deal as a primary corporate investor, we can buy out Ustad’s company stake entirely”
Rakesh stared at her, a grin spreading across his face.
"That... is actually brilliant, Monica. That completely cleans up our paper trail"
Monica offered a small, tired smile "Plus... I really need a vacation. Getting out of Gurgaon for few days sounds good right now"
Two days later, they landed in Chennai.
The monsoon had hit the Chennai coast hard. All night, torrential rain lashed against the French windows of their hotel room, the gusting winds rattling the glass panes.
Rakesh paced the floor around 10:00 PM, looking down at the flooded hotel driveway. Anxious about the five-hour highway drive the next morning, he dialed Ustad.
"Ustad, the rain down here in Chennai is relentless," Rakesh said into the receiver. "Is it even safe to drive toward the river valley tomorrow?"
"It’s just water, Rakesh bhai," Ustad completely unbothered. "Down here in the hills, rains are normal this season. The roads are fine. Just make sure you and Monica madam carry proper swimming attires. The river level near the waterfalls is high right now, and the water currents are strong," Ustad explained smoothly
The next morning at 5:30 AM, the rain had settled into a steady, grey drizzle.
They hit the highway early, leaving the coastal skyline behind as they drove west toward the midway town of Pennakot.
Two hours into the journey, Rakesh’s phone buzzed on . It was Ustad.
"Rakesh bhai, small update," Ustad said, his voice cut through by highway static. "Ranga Saab doesn't like outside city cars entering his border district. Local check-posts are tricky. So your taxi drops you at Pennakot. Ranga Saab is personally coming in his own vehicle to pick us up from there."
Rakesh nodded. "Okay, that's fine."
"And one more thing..." Ustad paused, taking a slow breath. "Ranga Saab is an ex-convict. He has two old land-dispute cases in the local security officer station. So just... keep things smooth."
Monica’s head snapped toward the phone. She leaned over from her seat "Ustad! You told us he was an institutional investor! We are not gang negotiators! We haven't even structured our numbers to talk to a criminal!"
"Monica, calm down," Ustad defended himself quickly. "I only found out about the old records last night from his local boys, though I’ve met him a few times. He’s a local heavy-weight, yes, but he has raw cash and respects business people. Don't worry."
In the back of the cab, silence settled heavily.
Monica took a deep, controlled breath and told Rakesh "Hey don’t panic. A man with dirty money still understands clean balance sheets. Let's just review our pitch so we don't fumble and we do a good job!”
Rakesh nodded “ Yes Monica, let me go through the EBITDA numbers once again, you read a bit about the market!”
Around 10:30 AM, the cab pulled into a quiet, muddy tea station on the outskirts of Pennakot.
Ustad was already waiting by a roadside stall, towering in a dark linen shirt. Moments later, a rugged, mud-splattered Mahindra Thar pulled into the gravel lot.
From the driver’s side stepped Selvam, a wiry, sharp-eyed man in a plain grey shirt who moved with quiet, observant authority.
From the passenger side stepped Ranga. Broad-chested and heavily built, Ranga carried the undeniable weight of a man who commanded his territory. He wore a simple, dark blue shirt rolled up at the elbows and rugged trousers. His dark skin, thick silver-dappled mustache, and a faint scar along his jaw gave him a scary look!
As Ranga walked over, his eyes settled on Monica as she stepped out of the taxi.
Monica wore a trendy, grey satin shirt that was unbuttoned just enough at the collar to reveal a slight line of her cleavage. The sleek fabric clung to her chest before tucking tightly into a pair of high-waisted, denim travel trousers.
"Hello.. brother. Hello Madam," Ranga spoke in a low, gravelly voice
“Welcome. Rain is heavy in the hills today, but we will reach the island comfortably. Please, step in."
“Good Morning Ranga Saab” Rakesh greeted him
Selvam shifted the gear into drive, and the Thar rumbled out of the gravel lot, Ranga shifted his broad frame in the front passenger seat and turned halfway around, looking back at Rakesh and Monica.
“Road is bad,” Ranga said
“City people usually start complaining by now. You okay at the back?”
“We’re fine, Ranga Saab,”
Rakesh answered, clearing his throat. “The vehicle is solid.”
“Has to be,” Selvam grunted from behind the wheel, “Other cars get stuck in two minutes out here. Then we have to pull them out with tractors.”
Ranga spat a bit of paan out the crack of his window before rolling it back up and said “ Don’t worry about the rain Rakesh bhai .. once we are in the river you all will enjoy the place!”
Ustad smiled “Ranga Saab..they were worried about the water currents in the river”
Selvam assured “ Don’t worry …how long will you guys take for the presentation?”
Rakesh answered “ Not more than an hour at max .Selvam bhai!”
Ranga Saab nodded “ Okay then we will show you the Island properly so that you understand the full scope of our Project!”
The Thar moved through thick mountainous national forest road which got wet and slippery due to the torrential rains. The rain splattered very heavily outside!
Monica asked “ So Ranga Saab you went through our deck I suppose?”
“Yes Madam …Ustad showed me those papers you made on your computer. Good job both of you” Ranga spoke with heavy authority …and then added “ Look, madam …In my business, cash comes in black bags. Local bookies write numbers on cigarette packets and lose them by night. Half my boys are illiterate ..that’s the biggest issue!”
Rakesh nodded “ Well
Ranga Saab..We kind of thought about that , hence we got the proposal done that way “
Selvam interrupted
“Well..Rakesh Bhai..… It’s a more complicated problem than that … We will explain you when you see the Island site …”
Ustad added “ Well Rakesh ..what Selvam Saab means is..… it’s a difficult terrain ..the law is always chasing us…so we…. we can’t leave any loose end!”
Monica looked at Ustad and then at Ranga Saab…“ Yea.… I agree to Ustad ..this business has risk!”
The Thar suddenly struck a deep, rain-filled pothole. Everyone was thrown slightly off balance. Monica shirt fabric slid down along her shoulder, the neckline popping open just enough to give a stark view of the upper swell of her cleavage.
She quickly caught the button and adjusted her shirt, but up front, Ranga’s eyes had caught the sequence in the side-view mirror. A flash of raw, male appreciation of Monica’s momentary massive cleavage show passed through his eyes before he casually looked back out at the muddy track ahead..
“Selvam, drive slow,” Ranga said “We have guests.”
“Track is slick, anna,” Selvam replied
The Mahindra Thar ground to a halt beside the rusted iron barrier of the forest check-post.
Selvam grabbed the registration papers from the dashboard. "Guard takes his time with entry logs. I’ll go sort it out."
Ustad stretched his arms, opening his door. "I need to stretch my legs and pee… Rakesh bhai, coming?"
Rakesh looked out at the muddy, waterlogged post, then turned to Monica. "You want to come along? Might be a ladies restroom near the guard room."
"No, its okay"
Monica replied “It won’t be clean enough for me to use "
"Alright” Rakesh said and went..
Ranga and Monica stepped out of the jeep and stood near the shade!
"Long drive from Chennai madam," Ranga said, his voice " was it raining a lot in there ?”
"The rain was bad Ranga Saab…" Monica said.
"Honestly, the highway was fine, but these mountain turns take a bit of getting used to.. but the river looks pretty! "
" Oh yea… we will go around this place properly …So how long have you guys been married?"
"Two years," Monica answered naturally “We met back in Delhi during a seminar, settled in Gurgaon after”
"Any children?" Ranga asked.
"Not yet," Monica smiled slightly, looking up to meet his eyes.
"Our work schedules are pretty demanding .frequent travel, client decks... we haven't really found the right time.
What about you, Ranga Saab? Does your family stay here at the river estate?"
"No," Ranga said, shaking his head. "Family stays in the main town, two hours back. My wife manages the home there. I have two sons—the elder one runs a hosiery business, the younger one helps Selvam and me with local transport and quarry leases "
Monica nodded “So you spend most of your time out here in the forest?"
"Most of the week," Ranga replied “ work does not happen if these lazy assess don’t see the face of their boss every day .. they are all lazy morons.."
Monica laughed “ They must be then scared of you then…”
" Ha .ha .. this business has risk… lot of illegal stuff happens in the forest …if these guys don’t fear me ..I can’t run my business…. Ustad mentioned you guys have few days at hand?" Ranga asked
“ yea a couple of days Ranga Saab..” Monica clarified
Ranga added “ Ok then I can help you both see the place properly around and you guys can then tell me how to invest properly”
Monica smiled “Only if the rain does not play spoil sport.. But the whole place really looks pretty ..not a place where you want to waste giving business presentation…”
“ Don’t worry, we will make it fun for you guys!”
Monica looked at him, feeling the heavy, grounded weight of his presence. He wasn't trying to impress her or act tough; he was just stating the reality of his world. There was a raw, masculine authority to him that was entirely different from the polite, corporate men she dealt with every day in office.
Before the conversation could go any further, the heavy rear door latch clicked open. Selvam tossed the stamped entry slip onto the dashboard as he climbed into the driver's seat, while Rakesh and Ustad slid back into the rear seats, shaking rain off their coats.
"Guards ask a hundred questions out here," Rakesh sighed… Selvam looked at Rakesh and smiled wicked
“ Don’t worry bro so much..now we are inside forest ..no more questions…” He quickly opened a big bottle of desi local made liquor and poured into plastic glasses…
“Whats this?” Rakesh enquired surprised
Range gave the glass to him
“Drink it Rakesh bhai… it’s forest daaru…we locals always start our forest journey with this .drink ..drink” Ranga coerced Rakesh …
The sharp, earthy scent of raw mahua immediately filled the humid cabin of the Thar.
"Here, madam," Ranga said, his heavy voice leaving little room for refusal. "A little warm-up before we hit the river."
Holding up her hands with a warm, apologetic smile, Monica chose the middle ground. "Ranga Saab, it smells incredible, but local forest spirits on a bumpy road will give me a terrible migraine.. Let’s reach the estate first."
Ranga grunted, though there was a glint of genuine amusement in his eyes.
"Okay, madam. First time we can excuse you... but the next round starts with you. No escaping then."
"Fair deal," Monica replied softly, holding his gaze with a confident smirk.
Ranga handed the glass to Rakesh instead. "Drink up, Rakesh bhai. Don't be shy like a behenji."
Rakesh burned inside, but seeing Ustad already gulping his down in one long draught, he took a sip. The raw, fiery alcohol burned down his throat, making him wince and cough slightly. Ranga laughed heartily, clapping Rakesh hard on the shoulder, while Selvam took a quick swig directly from the bottle before setting it between his knees and shifting the Thar into gear.
"So Rakesh Bro…two years of marriage and such a beautiful wife and no children yet, what’s the scene bro?” Selvam asked and his eyes shifted casually to the side-view mirror, catching Monica’s reflection as she adjusted her posture in the backseat…
Rakesh smiled awkwardly “ Ere…Selvam Saab We both get very busy with our jobs and schedule…
Selvam let out a short, wicked chuckle from behind the wheel. " Ranga anna. Would have got 4 kids by thirty if he had such a beautiful wife!”
Ustad Laughed out real loud “ Rakesh bhai ..Ranga Saab thinks without four kids, his business won’t survive in future”
***†***"
The conversation in the Thar had already loosened under the effect of the forest daaru.
Selvam glanced at Monica in the side-view mirror and smirked.
“Ranga anna would have got four kids by thirty if he had such a beautiful wife.”
Ustad laughed loudly from the back.
“Rakesh bhai, Ranga Saab thinks without four kids his business won’t survive in the future.”
For a moment the three men seemed to expect Monica to look away or fall quiet. Instead she leaned forward slightly,
“ Wait Ranga Saab …you said you have Only two kids?” she asked lightly. “Does that mean you’re implying bhabhi is not hot enough? I don’t think she’ll be very happy if she hears that.”
There was a short, stunned silence. Then Ranga let out a genuine, rough laugh that filled the cabin. Selvam grinned widely. Even Ustad’s shoulders shook.
“Arre, madam has got a sharp tongue,” Ranga said, still chuckling. “two kid is enough headache already.
When the vehicle stopped at the muddy bank, everyone climbed out. A narrow wooden raft waited at the edge, tied to a thick root, two wiry boatmen already standing ready with long bamboo poles. They stepped onto the raft one by one. Monica moved carefully toward the centre. As the raft tilted sharply to one side, her balance faltered for a second. The front of her grey satin shirt plunged downward, the neckline gaping open. For a clear, unhurried moment both Ranga and Selvam had a full view of the deep cleavage and the soft, heavy upper curves of her breasts pressing against the fabric.
Monica caught herself, one hand going to the side of the raft, the other quickly adjusting her shirt.
Ranga’s eyes lingered a fraction longer than necessary before he looked away toward the water. This is the second time he caught Monica with her shirt pulled down!
The boatmen pushed off.
“Now the next round starts with you, madam. No excuses left.”
“You remembered. I was hoping you’d forget.”
She took the glass without further protest, raised it slightly in a mock toast, and took a measured sip. The raw burn hit her throat immediately. She controlled the reaction, only the slightest tightening around her eyes giving anything away, then lowered the glass and met Ranga’s gaze again.
“Stronger than it looks,” she said evenly. “You people don’t play around.”
The raft continued across the wide, muddy river. Water slapped against the sides.
The raft rounded a sharp bend around a massive black rock.
Without warning a powerful overhead waterfall came crashing down.
Cold, heavy water slammed onto the wooden platform in a sudden, roaring sheet. Everyone was drenched in seconds. Monica, sitting on the left side closest to the cascade, took the full force of it. The icy water hit her shoulders and chest like a physical blow, soaking her completely.
Her grey satin shirt instantly turned transparent.
The thin fabric clung tightly to her body, outlining every curve. The dark shape of her tiny black bikini bra became fully visible underneath — the thin straps, the small triangular cups that barely contained the heavy swell of her breasts, the deep cleavage that the wet satin now framed and emphasised. Water streamed down her neck and between her breasts, making the fabric stick even closer.
Monica gasped sharply and crossed her arms over her chest in pure reflex, trying to cover herself.
“Shit—!”
The others were equally soaked. Rakesh shook water from his hair, coughing. Ustad wiped his face with one hand. Selvam cursed under his breath as he steadied the raft. The two boatmen simply laughed, used to the sudden cascade.
Selvam’s eyes, however, had locked onto Monica for a full second longer than necessary. The transparent shirt, the clearly outlined bikini bra, the way the wet fabric hugged the full shape of her breasts — it was not every day a man like him saw a polished Gurgaon corporate woman sitting exposed like that in the middle of a forest river.
“Rain has made the water really treacherous today, madam. Sorry about your dress getting soaked like that.”
“Its okay… I should have seen it coming!!”
Ranga, who had also taken in the full view without bothering to hide it, gave a low, gravelly chuckle.
“That’s why swimming dress is must, madam. . Everyone should change into swimming costume and wear life jackets before we go further.”
Selvam looked at Monica again, this time with open curiosity.
“You carrying any swimsuit, madam?”
Monica pushed her wet hair back from her face with one hand. The movement made the transparent shirt shift, briefly revealing even more of the black bikini bra and the soft upper curves of her breasts.
“I’m already wearing a bikini underneath,” she said plainly, as if it were the most ordinary thing in the world. “I came prepared.”
Selvam’s eyebrows rose
“I don’t like being unprepared, Ranga Saab.” Monica looked at him as the boatman threw life jackets at them.
“I need a bit of privacy to change properly,” Monica said, voice calm and authoritative. “Is there somewhere on the other side I can step away for two minutes?”
“There is,” he said and yelled at the boatman to park somewhere..
![[+]](https://xossipy.com/themes/sharepoint/collapse_collapsed.png)