Adultery Bhabi’s plan - Krishnakavyam

[Haran000]

Note:- 

This story does not contain any underage content. Everything is expressed in favour of Right to Freedom of expression. 

Contains sexual scenes and bad language.

Krishnakaavyam

Introduction:- 



My name is Harikrishna, and my earliest memory is of a void. My parents, vibrant and full of life one moment, were gone the next, swallowed by the highway after a late-night wedding return. We lived in the city then, but their absence propelled me into a new life. My paternal uncle ( dad’s brother) and aunt, with hearts bigger than their humble home, adopted me. We left the city's sprawl for the quiet embrace of our village, where their only son, thirteen years older to me, became my elder brother. He soon found work as an assistant in the post office of the next village over, and with his departure, the mantle of household duties fell to me after primary education.

The fabric of our lives, however, was woven with threads of both comfort and sorrow. Three years into my brother’s employment, tragedy struck again when my uncle, the man who loved me more than his own flesh and blood, succumbed to a heart attack. I often wondered, in those quiet moments, what my life would have been if he hadn't opened his arms and taken me in as a son.

Time, as it always does, marched on. My aunt found solace in her son’s steady job, and the four acres of ancestral land in the village offered a sense of security. Life settled into a rhythm.

Then came the discussions of my brother's marriage. When the "bride-seeing" day arrived, I, with the youthful exuberance of my burgeoning classes, insisted on being there.

"No," my aunt said, her voice firm but kind, "you have your studies." That evening, returning home, I learned the match had been finalized.

"Do you have a photo of her, brother?" I asked, eager for a glimpse of this new person entering our lives.

He simply beamed, a wide, uncontainable smile. "No," he chuckled, "but I saw her. She’s very beautiful."

In the days that followed, their constant texting, the little ping of notifications, became the soundtrack to our evenings. It subtly nudged me, shifting my focus entirely to my studies.

The wedding date, thankfully, was set for after my exams, a small relief that meant no conflicts between academics and celebration. I wrote my exams with a lightness in my heart, and soon, our home hummed with the joyous chaos of wedding preparations.

Thus, in the balmy air of May 2015, two seemingly disparate events collided:

TOPPER – HARIKRISHNA
SANDHYA RANI WEDS RAM SANTHOSH

My exam results were released on the very same day as my brother’s wedding. Full marks. I was the district topper. A wave of exhilaration washed over me, and clutching my results, I raced towards the wedding hall, my heart pounding with a dual excitement. 

As I burst into the mandap, my gaze instinctively drifted towards the altar.

Two unexpected things happened that day: one was my marks, and the other was my sister-in-law (brothers wife)

For a moment, I felt the desperate urge to pinch myself, to scan my surroundings and confirm I was still grounded on Earth. 

Yet, I couldn't tear my gaze away. It was as if I had stumbled into a heavenly realm, and my eyelids, enchanted, had simply vanished, leaving me to stare, unblinking, lost in an illusion.

Einstein once spoke of personal time, and in that instant, time ceased to exist for me.

Did even brahma the creator comprehend, 
the sheer beauty he had unleashed upon this world?
What if the Indra, king of the gods, were to know? 
Would he not descend with his celestial armies, prepared for war, 
to abduct this celestial Apsara? 
Any great poet, I imagined, would find himself searching, 
perhaps endlessly, for the words to describe her. 
And still, those words might elude them. 
Perhaps new letters, new lexicon, would need to be forged within 
the rich tapestry of the language. 
Even then, there was no certainty that a multitude of new creations would suffice. 

My young mind, then just beginning to unravel the mysteries of the world, and my age, on the cusp of true youth, both gave birth to a nascent, unfamiliar desire.

The spell was abruptly broken by a brusque shove. "Hey, move aside," a voice snapped, laced with annoyance. "If you're not going to stand in the way, you could stand over there, couldn't you?" I emerged from my trance to see a girl, about my age, glaring at me. She walked away, leaving me to process the interruption. I shook off the fleeting irritation, my mind already drifting back to my sister-in-law, but then my uncle’s voice cut through the clamor, pulling my attention to the flurry of wedding arrangements.

.
.
.

1. Desire - Envy

The fourth dawn after her arrival, I found myself by the backyard well, toothbrush in hand. My sister-in-law was the first person I saw, our eyes meeting in a sudden, shared moment. A jolt, a blush, a hesitation—I quickly averted my gaze. Yet, even without looking, her beautiful eyes imprinted themselves on my mind. I shifted, brushing my teeth while staring blankly ahead, when a hand on my shoulder made me shiver. Slowly, shyly, I turned.

"Hari," Sandhya's voice was a summer cuckoo's song at sunrise, each word a sweet melody my ears savored. "There's no shampoo. Can you go to the shop and get some?"

(Vadhina [bhabi] = elder sister-in-law in Telugu)

"Huh… I'll get it, vadhina," I stammered, feeling a strange calm settle over me. Her request was enough. I rinsed my mouth, dashed to the shop, and returned with the shampoo packets.

"Thanks, Hari."

"It's nothing, vadhina."

I couldn't look her directly in the eye. As she stood before me, braiding her hair, then gathering a towel and clothes for her bath, watching her back and the graceful curve of her waist, something stirred within me.

That night, after a game with friends, I bathed and went to eat when Auntie called. My brother, Auntie, and I sat down, and my vadhina served the food.

It was fish curry, my favorite. I eagerly mixed a morsel and savored its deliciousness, happily picking through the bones. I noticed my vadhina watching me, a faint smile on her lips. Perhaps my enjoyment brought her satisfaction. 

After all, if the young ones at home loved a dish, 

it truly meant it was good, didn't it?

After dinner, I washed my hands and settled in front of the TV. My elder brother, Santosh, pulled up a chair beside me.

"Hari, you're going to college in town, to the hostel," he announced abruptly, surprising me into silence.

"Okay, Brother," I managed.

"Just like you studied well and got good marks here, you should stay the same there."

"Huh… I will."

"If you need anything, tell me. It's holidays now, so ask if you want anything."

"Hmm…"

Auntie, Rajamani, sighed, wiping her eyes with the end of her saree. "If your mother were here, how happy she would be, my little one…"

I leaned my head sadly on my brother's shoulder. 

Remembering parents in such moments was always a bittersweet burden.

"Don't mind all that, okay?" Santosh said, gently. "Just study. Play. Whatever you want."

"Ok…"

Before the wedding, my brother and I shared a room, and Auntie had her own. With the wedding preparations, I'd grown accustomed to sleeping next to Auntie, while my brother and sister-in-law had their room.

The next day, my brother went to the post office, and my vadhina began her duties as a quintessential housewife.

Auntie Rajamani, had been the rock of our family since my uncle's passing. She used to stitch blouses and skirts to make ends meet, stopping only after my brother secured his job. She was devoted to TV serials, her days a rhythm of stitching and watching TV. If not glued to the screen, she'd be regaling anyone within earshot with stories spanning generations, from our great-grandparents to the present. Often, when I was free, she'd share these tales, and I'd nod along. This was my only quibble with Auntie; otherwise, we had no problems. However, she sometimes showed a slight favoritism towards my brother—he was her flesh and blood, after all. As she aged, BP tablets became a daily necessity, and it was my responsibility to ensure she took them. She wouldn't take a pill without me. I'd even accompany her to the hospital sometimes. I wouldn't leave the house without telling her, otherwise she'd worry endlessly. And if I came home late, lost in play, a scolding was inevitable.

That afternoon, after lunch, I yearned to go out, but Auntie warned against wandering in the scorching sun, so I stayed indoors, settling in front of the TV.

My vadhina noticed my listless posture. She came and sat beside me. 

Unsure what to say, I remained silent.

"Hari," she called, and I turned to the side. She held out her phone, a faint smile playing on her lips. Whenever I met her eyes, time seemed to halt.

"What is it vadhina?"

"Take it, play games."

"Really?" My eyes lit up. My vadhina had offered her Android phone for games. Who would watch that crappy TV now?

"Yes, take it."

I took it. "Thanks vadhina."

"Why thank me? You were getting bored, right?"

"Yeah…"

"If anyone calls, give it to me, okay?"

"Yes, okay, vadhina."

I immersed myself in "Traffic Racer" on her phone until the battery died. 

Evening arrived. My brother returned, and she made tea. I put the phone on charge and drank my tea.

As dusk deepened, it was lentil curry for dinner, and Auntie sent me for papads. I brought them back and, without asking, instinctively picked up my vadhina's phone to resume my game. She approached me, calling softly.

"Hari…"

"Yes, vadhina?" I replied, my eyes still on the game.

"Nothing… tell me if you feel like eating."

"okay, vadhina."

After she returned to their room, a thought struck me: she might have come to ask for her phone back, and I should have returned it.

I stopped the game and went to their room. The door was slightly ajar, and I pushed it open without thinking. My brother was leaning over vadhina on the bed, kissing her cheeks. 

At my sudden entry, they quickly separated, startled by the sound of the door.

Unsure how to react, I lowered my head, walked forward, and handed the phone to my sister-in-law, who was adjusting her saree. "vadhina, that's enough gaming for today."

"Hmm… Okay, Hari. Come, let's eat."

"Hmm…"

At that moment, I felt nothing, only a vague sense that I had made them uncomfortable. I thought my sister-in-law might be annoyed, but she normally asked for my help in the kitchen.

They still saw me as a child, taking it very lightly. But for me, who had witnessed it, my sister-in-law's facial expressions lingered. When my brother kissed her, she had bitten her cherry lips. Seeing that scene sent a new thrill through my young heart.

Later, all four of us ate together. My brother and I sat outside, talking for over an hour. My sister-in-law joined us, silent at first, but I noticed something when my brother and Auntie spoke. While talking to Auntie, my brother gave my sister-in-law a couple of subtle eye signals. Five minutes later, my sister-in-law went into the room, followed shortly by Auntie.

"Hari, close the door properly," Auntie called out.

"Yes, you go, I'll come."

Another minute passed, and my brother said, "Let's go inside, let's sleep." We closed the door and went in.

Auntie's snoring was a familiar lullaby. I fell asleep. Suddenly, I woke in the dead of night, needing to urinate. I went behind the house, relieved myself, and as I walked back past my brother's room, I heard my sister-in-law scream, "Aah…" 

My steps froze.

Whether it was wrong, or what, I didn't know. I pressed my ear to their bedroom door, straining to understand why she had screamed.

"Ahh… slowly…"

"Don't forget to close the door again."

"How was I supposed to know Hari would come? Sss… Ah, don't pinch."

"Shh…"

"Ahh, mm…"

"Ahh… Ahh!"

"Ahh… continue… Hh hh"

"Uff…"

Listening to their moans made my blood boil. For some reason, it felt wrong, so I went and covered myself with a blanket and slept.

“One thing was certain. That day was the first time,

I felt envy towards my elder brother.”

———————-+++++++

[Haran000]

2. Appreciation

Three days later, the morning sun was already warm when I returned from my cricket game. A quick bath, then into my shorts, the wet towel carelessly tossed aside—a typical habit in a house where only my elder brother and paternal aunt were usually present.

As I reached for a T-shirt on the shelf, my sister-in-law, Sandhya, unexpectedly walked in.

"Oh, Auntie, I'm bringing it…" she began, then approached me. "Hari, where are Auntie's blouses?"

Caught off guard, standing there in just my shorts, my cheeks burned. I fumbled for the towel, quickly wrapping it around myself. A faint smile touched her lips.

"Haha… Tell me where they are."

I pointed to Auntie's cupboard, and she headed that way, retrieving the blouses before leaving.

Once I was dressed, I emerged to find Sandhya handing my brother his packed lunch. As she headed to the kitchen, I seized the opportunity to ask my brother for some money.

"Brother, I'll buy ice cream this afternoon."

Without a word, he pulled a hundred-rupee note from his pocket and handed it to me. I knew Sandhya had seen it.

"Bring some for Sandhya too," my brother called out.

"Okay," I replied.

Later, Sandhya made rava dosas, served with a delicious coconut-peanut chutney. Despite my earlier awkwardness, I found myself craving another dosa. Hesitantly, I made my way to the kitchen where she was pouring batter on the griddle. The rava dosas were in a basin, just under her right hand. It felt strange to ask, and taking one myself seemed impossible with her standing right there.

Finally, I had no choice. "Vadhina…"

She looked up, a slight smile gracing her face. Seeing her expression, my gaze immediately dropped; my courage failed me.

"What is it, maridhi (brother-in-law/devar)?" she prompted.

"…"

"What, do you need chutney?"

I looked up again; she was still smiling, watching me. "Vadhina, I want one more dosa."

"They're right here, come and take them. Take two if you want."

"One is enough."

"Okay, as you wish."

She told me to take it, but I was still wondering how. The dosas were literally under her elbow. "can you give me one?"

"My hands have flour, Hari. You take it yourself."

I felt awkward again. I don't know what it was, but in her yellow saree, with a few strands of hair falling across her forehead near her ear, and the sunlight from the front window illuminating her face like the moon, I was momentarily lost in a trance.

"Hari, take it, how long will you stand there?"

"Hmm…" I moved to her side, still feeling a bit clumsy, and leaned past her shoulder to grab a dosa. The faint fragrance of her hair was intoxicating. In a rush, I quickly put the dosa on my plate and retreated to the TV.

Sandhya turned off the stove, got her own dosas, and joined me. We ate while watching songs on TV.

"How long has he been working, Hari?" she asked, referring to my brother.

"It's been six years, vadhina."

"Since yesterday, I've wanted to ask you something, Hari, but I thought you might feel sad."

I knew immediately what she wanted to ask—about my parents. "When I was studying LKG, we were coming back from Mancherial town, and there was an accident on the highway near Sultanabad."

My casual delivery of such a tragedy stunned her. She moved closer and sat beside me. 

"Sorry, Don't be sad."

"Why would I be sad, Don't I have all of you?"

A small smile curved her lips. She gently held my cheek, her eyes filled with a curious eagerness. Leaning closer, she whispered in my ear, "Hari, are my dishes good?"

I saw a hint of shyness in her cheeks. "Why you ask vadhina, don't you have faith in your cooking?"

My reply seemed to take her aback. The next moment, she pouted, a small, sulky anger making her turn her face away. She looked incredibly adorable; in that instant, her age seemed to drop from twenty-eight to eighteen.

I remained silent, tearing off a piece of dosa and taking a bite.

"I've been cooking for five days," she began, a hint of complaint in her voice. "Your brother doesn't tell me, Auntie doesn't tell me. I worried so much if they were just eating so I wouldn't feel bad, no matter how I cooked. And you, instead of telling me, mock me like that? Go hari, I'll see how will you ask for dosas again."

Something stirred within me. How charmingly she had said that, with such a childlike sulk, as if she had just learned to speak.

"Forgive me, I didn't mock you. My intention was, your cooking is so delicious, why would you doubt yourself like this?"

"Hmm… okay…"

"Eat vadhina."

She began to eat silently.

"Vadhina, if I didn't like it, I wouldn't have eaten it, right? It's because it's so good that I took another dosa."

"Hmm… Thanks."

Having finished my meal, I put my plate outside, washed my hands, and returned to sit. 

Sandhya finished her last bite, washed up, and joined me.

"Vadhina, can I tell you something?"

"Yes, tell me."

"They say that the cooking of beautiful people is definitely delicious… Haha…"

Her cheeks glowed like hibiscus flowers. My words had clearly pleased her. She looked directly at me, and I instinctively lowered my eyes. She gently held my chin, lifting my face until our gazes met. She pinched my cheek playfully.

"Oh, you speak quite well, Hari. Everyone said that younger sons in the house are naughty, and I wondered, so this is it."

"Haha… no."

"Oh, stop… You're praising your sister-in-law, imagine how much you'd say to girls outside."

I was surprised by her sudden question. I turned my face away, feeling shy.

"That's enough, vadhina, you're going somewhere else."

"Oh, you're shy… Haha…"

I never imagined that Sandhya and I would become so close, so quickly. It felt remarkably normal. As I beamed, she released my chin.

"We live in the same house, don't address me formally, Hari. Okay?"

"Hmm."

After a while, feeling the urge to continue our conversation, I wondered whether to ask about her family. Instead, I asked a different question. "Vadhina, you…"
She quickly turned her head and looked at me, noticing my informal address. "What, Hari?"

"I mean, how far did you study?"

"I studied degree, Hari. B.Sc. Computers."

My sister-in-law, with a degree, had married my brother, who had failed his.

"You're more educated than brother, vadhina."

"So he didn't study degree?"

"What, he didn't tell you? Brother failed second year degree. He wrote the exams twice and gave up. Haha…"

When I laughed, she also chuckled softly. "Aha, you're mocking him. Wait till he comes tonight, I'll tell him."

"Oh no, no, vadhina."

"Hahaha… I was just kidding."

Then, sandhya went off to do some work around the house.

Afternoon,

Sandhya served lunch, and when I looked at my plate, it was brinjal curry. I detested brinjal. If I asked Auntie to make something else right now, Auntie might tell my vadhina, creating extra work for her because of me. She might think negatively. So, I decided to somehow swallow the brinjal for today.

I ate the curry, mixing it sparingly. Sandhya looked at me suspiciously, perhaps thinking I didn't like it. As I ate slowly, she asked, "Is it not good today?"

Auntie interjected, "He doesn't like brinjal."

"Oh dear," Sandhya exclaimed. "If you had told me earlier, I would have made something else."

"It's okay, he's eating, let him eat," Auntie replied.

"Hari," Sandhya asked, ignoring Auntie, "there's an egg in the fridge, should I make an omelet for you?"

"No need, he'll eat it tonight. No need of extra work now?" Auntie insisted.

Sandhya, however, disregarded Auntie's words. She looked at me directly. "Tell me, Hari, do you want it?"

"Yes…" I said, a hopeful note in my voice.

She went and made an omelet for me, bringing it back to the table. I carefully picked out the brinjal pieces, put the omelet on the side, and ate.

"Thanks, vadhina."

"Haha… Go wash your hands."

I grabbed my bicycle and rode to the bakery in the center to buy ice cream. Only upon reaching the bakery did I realize I hadn't asked Sandhya what flavor she liked. I preferred butterscotch, so I bought two cones of that, placed the covered ice creams on my bicycle handle, and headed home.

At the doorstep, I pulled them out and called out, " vadhina…vadhina…" impatiently until she appeared. I handed them to her.

"Hari, why are you panting like that?"

"It's ice cream, you see, it would melt, so I cycled fast."

"Oh, I see…"

I unwrapped mine and took a bite when Auntie’s voice cut in. "I didn't know you were getting ice cream?"

Oh no, my Auntie also liked ice cream. I was the one who had gotten her into it. When I was kid, she used to buy it for me and eat it too. I put on an innocent face and looked at her. "I forgot…"

"Yes, you'll forget. How many ice creams I bought for you, how many I fed you, you ate all of them and grew up like a camel, you donkey."

Sandhya laughed. I felt shy.

"Exams are over, now it's just wandering on the roads. Will you stay at home if I tell you to? When will you ever listen to me?" Auntie continued.

"Oh, Auntie, don't start reading all the Puranas from the your days now. I'll bring one for you too."

"No need, just eat."

"No, he'll bring it, Auntie," Sandhya chimed in, taking my ice cream from me. She held both ice creams in her hands. "Go, Hari, you go get another one. We'll eat these."

One minute, would they eat both of these? Did I have to get another one? But I had already licked mine. "That… I… li…" My words wouldn't leave my mouth. I stopped, unsure why. I just stopped.

My sister-in-law took my ice cream, which got my taste on it, in her right hand, then gave the ice cream in her left hand to Auntie, who was to her right. So…? All these thoughts swirled in my head, making it burn.

Anyway, I bought another ice cream and returned home. Both of them were sitting watching TV, having just finished eating.

"Sit down, Hari," Sandhya invited.

"Those serials aren't for me. I'll sit in the back of the house and eat."

I went to the back of the house and ate peacefully.

In the evening, I went out to play with my friends. 

Sandhya clearly enjoyed my appreciation.

———————-+++++++++

[Projectmp]

Haran Garu- One more amazing story and amazing build up.
Been a fan of your writing in English section.Thank you for your stories

[nallapaiyan2]

This too available in telugu i guess, anyway all the best ,

[Haran000]

3. Habit

The aroma of upma hung heavy in the air as I stepped into the house, a scent that usually triggered an immediate groan. Upma. Weddings, baby showers, any gathering, wherever you go — upma seemed to be the universal, uninspired dish thrown in your face. The very thought of it was enough to curdle my mood. Yet, with my vadhina, Sandhya, now in our lives, things had taken an unexpected turn.

She placed a plate before my aunt Rajamani, and another before me.

I, the master of artfully rearranging grains on my plate, found myself actually gobbling the upma down. The secret? Peanuts. Lots of them. And a generous scattering of onions and coriander. 

Unlike auntie, who portioned ingredients as if rationing during a famine – a stingy four leaves of coriander and not a single peanut – Sandhya had been lavish. For the first time, believe it or not, I actually considered a second serving of upma.

Later, I lay beside auntie Rajamani in the quiet of the room. A rumbling "Grrr" soon filled the silence. Her snoring. Loud. If I woke her, I’d be met with a scolding about disturbing her sleep. 

Fifteen minutes passed, the rhythmic roar making sleep an impossibility. I got up, pacing for a restless five minutes. The thought of my brother’s room, an escape from the cacophony, flickered through my mind, but Sandhya was there. Why should I be between them? I thought, dismissing the idea.

Just then, their door creaked open. Sandhya stood there, her eyes questioning.

"What happened, Hari? Didn't you sleep? Why are you here?" she asked, her voice soft.

"Aunt is snoring, so I haven't slept, Vadhina," I replied the reason.

"Oh, is that so..."

She walked to the water pot, scooping a glass for herself. I remained rooted to the spot, silent, listening. I could hear my brother, Santosh, stirring inside. Sandhya took another glass of water, this time for him, went into their room.

"Aunt is snoring, Hari hasn't slept," I heard her say, "Maybe he'll sleep here?"

"He's used to it," brother Santosh’s voice drifted out, a note of amusement in it. "He'll put his leg on me if he sleeps here. He tosses and turns."

"It's okay, he needs to sleep, right?" Sandhya countered, a hint of steel in her gentle tone.

"Okay," Santosh conceded. "You move to this side, and let him sleep on that side."

The faint jingle of Sandhya's anklets grew closer as she moved towards the door. Feeling a sudden pang of awkwardness, turned, intending to head back to my room.

"Hari..." she called, stopping me. "Come sleep in our room."

"No, Vadhina," I protested, my voice a whisper. "That mattress might not be enough for three."

"It's okay, come," she insisted.

I nodded silently, my heart thrumming with a strange mix of apprehension and excitement, and followed her in. Sandhya shifted to the left side of the mattress, beside my brother, and gestured for me to lie on the right end, next to her.

"Vadhina, I'll get my blanket," I offered.

"No need, I have mine, just lie down," she said, her voice warm.

I lay down next to her, stiff and still as a stone statue.

"Your brother said you put your leg on people while sleeping," she teased, a ripple of laughter in her words.

"I won't, Vadhina," I promised, my voice barely audible.

She chuckled softly.

"Hey, did you eat ice cream today?" Santosh chimed in from his side. "Did you bring any for Vadhina?"

"Yes, Annayya," I replied.

"Don't ask your brother for money in the morning," Sandhya interjected, a playful concern in her voice. "Ask me, okay?"

"You'd also ask Annayya and give it to me, wouldn't you, Vadhina...?" I quipped, a flash of humor sparking my words.

"Ohho... is that so?" she pretended to ponder. "Wait, I'll tell him... Hey, your brother made fun of you this morning."

"What did you say, kid?" Santosh demanded, feigning indignation.

"I didn't make fun of you, Annayya," I defended myself. "Vadhina says I'm making fun even when I tell the truth."

"Ohho... didn’t you laugh telling your brother failed in degree or not...?" Sandhya pressed, enjoying my discomfort.

"I just felt like laughing then, Vadhina," I admitted sheepishly.

"See..." she crowed, victorious. "He admitted it."

Santosh let out a hearty "Ha..."

"Annayya, Vadhina also laughed," I blurted out, turning on her. "She's not telling you that."

Sandhya promptly pinched me.

"Ouch... Why are you pinching me, Vadhina?" I yelped. "Admit it you laughed too."

Santosh erupted in laughter. "Hahaha... Sleep now... Enough talk."

"Hmm..." I murmured, settling down.

Sandhya turned her face towards me, her eyes meeting mine in the dim light. We lay in comfortable silence for a while. I closed my eyes, then, cautiously, opened them a crack to see if she had done the same. She had. As I gazed at her red lips, a soft crimson in the faint glow, her eyes suddenly opened. I snapped mine shut. Her hand reached out, gently cupping my cheek.

It was so warm.

"Hari..." she whispered.

I opened my eyes.

"Yes, Vadhina..."

"You can put your leg on me, I won't say anything," she offered, her voice tender.

"Really...?"

"Hmm..."

We were both cocooned under the same blanket. Without a second thought, I extended my right leg, resting it gently on her. I shifted a little closer, my face finding a comfortable spot near her elbow. She took my hand, placing it on her own, then guided it behind her back, making me lie in a comfortable embrace.

Lying beside Sandhya, I felt an inexplicable sense of ease. My heart swelled with a quiet happiness, a joy that our relationship had deepened into something genuinely friendly and warm. As for me, I had tumbled headlong into a quiet infatuation with brothe’s wife.


In the days that followed, Sandhya and I fell into a comfortable rhythm. We'd play carrom and chess, spending hours in relaxed conversation, or simply watching TV together. 

Twice more, just like that night, I found myself sleeping beside her. Once, I even lied to make it happen.


The day for me to leave for the hostel, to begin my intermediate studies in town, loomed closer. My brother had promised to drop me off on Monday in June.


On Saturday, Santosh returned home after a half-day at work. After lunch, he and Sandhya left for a matinee show at the cinema in the next town. I lingered at house. In the evening, sipping the tea auntie had prepared, I found myself anticipating their return. 

Suddenly, auntie Rajamani was wracked by a violent fit of coughing, a loud, guttural sound that tore through the quiet. I rushed to her side.

"What happened, peddamma...?" I asked, my voice laced with alarm.

She gestured with a trembling hand, indicating she couldn't breathe.
Panic seized me, my legs turning to jelly. The coughing continued, a desperate, gasping struggle. Saliva spluttered from her lips with each choked sound.

"Peddammaa, what happened, what happened...?" My voice was strained with fear. I didn't understand. Scooping her from the chair, I gently guided her to sit on the steps outside, hoping the open air would bring her relief. But she remained unchanged, her struggle unwavering.

A lump formed in my throat. My brother and vadhina were gone, and I didn't even have a phone. Sandhya had taken hers. Peddamma seemed to be fading, her eyes glazing over. I held her, gently slapping her face and cheeks, desperate to rouse her.

My heart hammered against my ribs. I remembered my Peddanaanna, experiencing something similar years ago. I was utterly lost, wishing desperately that my brother was here.

Just then, the familiar rumble of a vehicle reached my ears. Sandhya was stepping from bike in front of the gate. A wave of relief, so potent it made me dizzy, washed over me.

"Annayya...." I screamed, running towards him, grabbing his hand in my terror. The three of us rushed to Peddamma, consumed by a shared dread. Sandhya, ever practical, dashed into the house, reappearing with a blanket. She gently covered Peddamma’s chest, unhooking her blouse inside to let some room for peddamma’s chest heavy breath. Santosh was already on the phone, his voice urgent.

Within five minutes, an auto screeched to a halt outside. We carefully lifted Peddamma into it and sped towards the hospital. They gave her oxygen, and slowly, her breathing stabilized.

I had never felt such consuming anxiety in my life. Having lost my parents and my uncle, the thought of losing Peddamma too was unbearable. Tears welled up, and I buried my face in my brother's embrace, sobbing.

"It's okay, it's over. It's okay...mom will be fine now" he murmured, stroking my hair, his voice a balm to my raw emotions.

The doctor explained that Peddamma had high blood pressure, which caused the gasping. This was also likely why her snoring had intensified recently. We returned home that night, the fear still lingering in the air.

I slept in Peddamma's bed, my hand and leg resting on her, a comforting presence. The doctor had said she might have been stressed about something, causing her BP to spike.

"Peddamma, they say you were stressed, why?" I asked, my voice soft.

She affectionately stroked my head. 

"Both of them went to the next town," she murmured, her voice laced with concern, "and it was getting evening, and it's a big road after all..."

I understood. Just like my parents, she had been consumed by worry, fearing something might happen to them on an evening dim roadway. 

I said nothing, and Peddamma closed her eyes, a hint of sadness on her face. Soon after, I drifted off to sleep.

“Little did I know then that the simple habit of 

resting my leg on someone would eventually become a story.”

————————++++++++++

[Haran000]

Haran Garu- One more amazing story and amazing build up.
Been a fan of your writing in English section.Thank you for your stories

Thanx so much of your appreciation.

[Haran000]

This too available in telugu i guess, anyway all the best ,

Thanx. Bro you don’t need to read in Telugu section. 

I’ll post this full story within few days. Just keep reading and comment your reviews readers.

[Haran000]

4. Three years 

The Sunday evening was a balm, the first monsoon rains having cooled the air, but my mind was a furious storm. How was I going to tell my brother I wouldn't be going to the hostel? My sister-in-law and I were deep in a game of chess when he broached the subject.

"What's been eating at you all morning, Hari?" Santosh's voice was firm. "I'm telling you, it won't end well if you say you're not going to the hostel."

"Brother, it's..." I started, but he cut me off.

"I know. This drama always begins with you when it's time to leave."

"It's not that," I insisted, "but if I go to college, peddamma will be all alone at home."

"Sandhya will be there. It's fine."

"What can she do, tell me?" I pressed, "Do you know how scared I was yesterday?"

Santosh waved it off. "Don't worry about any of that. Just study."

I fell silent, defeated.

"Come to my room tonight," he said, the command unwavering.

"Why?" I asked, confused.

"Oh! You'll try to persuade Grandma to let you skip tomorrow. Just shut up and come sleep in our room tonight. I'll wake you up in the morning and drop you off at the hostel."

There was nothing for it. My brother's decision was final.

Still, it wasn't that I disliked studying; mostly, I craved the small joys of home. The incident with Grandma had made me want to linger a few days more, but another feeling tugged at my heart, a desire to stay near sandhya. Deep down, that was a significant reason I wanted to remain.

When my brother told me to sleep in their room, I secretly considered it a gift. After all, I would be sleeping right next to my vadhina. I let out a happy sigh and stole a glance at her. 

Her red, light cotton saree pallu was tucked into her waist, her hair neatly coiled in a bun, revealing the milky-white, dove-like curve of her neck. I often wondered if she knew I watched her sometimes, but quickly dismissed the thought. It wasn't necessary.

Later, as bedtime approached, I played on my phone for a bit before heading to their room. As expected, a space had been made for me on vadhina's right side. Handed her phone and settled in beside her. She pulled her quilt over me, and the warmth of being under the same covers filled me with a quiet joy. Brother, meanwhile, quickly drifted off to sleep.

Sandhya noticed my open eyes. "Sleep, Hari," she whispered.

"Vadhina, college is new, right?" I began, testing the waters. "It won't hurt if I don't go for three days, right?"

"Come here..." she murmured, and I shifted a little closer. She placed her hand on my face, gently caressing my hair. "You are the topper in this district. How can you say you won't go to college, dear?"

"I do small chores at home, right? It will be difficult for peddamma if I leave."

"I'm here, dear..."

"But you don't go out for small things, do you?" I pressed.

"Didn't he tell you not to think about all this?" she chided softly.

"But vadhina, after being here for so many days, it feels strange to go to the city now."

"Hari... you were a good student, and you still need to study. We will adjust somehow here. Just study diligently without thinking about all this."

"Hmm..."

She placed her hand on my right thigh, then gently pulled my leg and rested it on top of hers. I moved even closer.

"Call me if you want to say anything from the hostel, okay?"

"Yes, I will."

"You must tell vadhina everything, no matter what."

"Hmm..."

I didn't quite know what to do, but instinctively, I placed my hand on her. She looked into my eyes and offered a soft, knowing smile.

"Vadhina, when I come home for holidays, you'll make chicken, eggs, and cauliflower for me, right?"

She pinched my cheek playfully. "I will dear. But you must eat properly there too, okay?"

"Yes, I will."

"And will you eat brinjal and ridge gourd if they cook it there... hahaha..."

"You won't be there with me, vadhina, to make omelets... I'll adjust somehow."

She guided my hand to her waist. My palm traced the buttery folds of her skin, so incredibly tender. She hugged me close, and her fragrance enveloped me, a sweet intoxication. Then, she kissed my forehead. "I will make all your favorite dishes when you come home sweetheart."

Until that moment, I hadn't realized such a profound affection existed.

"Thanks, vadhina," I murmured, "no one has ever made me sleep next to them like this. Brother used to fight if I even put my leg on him."

"I won't do that," she promised. "If you can't sleep, come and sleep next to me."

"Hmm..."

She put her hand behind my head and pulled my face gently to her chest. I wrapped my arms around her waist, hugging her back. The comfort was immense. I had never slept so soundly, so warmly, so contentedly.

It was undeniable that sandhya held affection for me, and me for her. However, that night, for the first time, being so close to her stirred something new within me. Whether she knew of my arousal, I couldn't say; that was another truth entirely.


The next morning, I left for college in town. I didn't return until Ganesh Chaturthi festival, with only two days off before I had to leave again. The moment I stepped out of the vehicle and into the house, my vadhina was there, rushing forward. I enveloped her in a tight hug.

My body had yearned for that embrace from the moment I'd learned I was coming home from the hostel for Navratri.

"Are you eating well, dear?" she asked, a familiar concern in her voice. I never understood why she worried so much about my eating habits.

"Yes"

Peddamma, Rajamani, chimed in, "Are you worried about us, dear?"

"No, not about you," I replied teasing.

"Of course not, why would you be?" she grumbled, pouting. 

I went and held her hand.
"Peddamma, in the beginning, I couldn't sleep properly for a week," I confessed, "your snoring wasn't there, you see."

Both sandhya and brother burst into laughter. Peddamma pulled my cheeks. "Who else would you joke on besides me, dear? Is the hostel good?"

"Yes, it's okay," I admitted, "but can it be like home?"

"Hari, take a bath," vadhina interjected, "I'll make tea."

"Okay."

I bathed, offered my prayers, and met up with friends. The day melted away. The following day, I was back at the college hostel.


The Dasara holidays brought a wave of disappointment. My brother took me directly from the hostel to our another uncle's house. I celebrated Bathukamma and Dasara there, then returned straight to the hostel. Hostel life felt like a jail sentence, broken only by festivals.

They didn't even grant proper holidays during Intermediate.

Diwali brought me home again. Everything proceeded smoothly.

On Diwali night, it was well past eleven when we finally went to sleep. I woke early the next morning. With my toothbrush in my mouth, I brushed my teeth, then headed back and pushed open the bathroom door.

Both of us froze. There stood my radiant, beautiful vadhina, her body wet, her hair flowing like the Ganga over her moon-like face, a towel wrapped up to her chest. She gasped, startled to see me, and quickly turned away. I, too, was flustered and immediately pulled the door shut.

"Sorry, vadhina," I stammered, "I thought no one was there."

"Silly boy," her voice came from inside, "the latch of this bathroom door is broken."

"Sorry... sorry..."

Sandhya meticulously adjusted her towel, dbangd a saree over herself, and emerged. I stood, fixated on her red, glowing feet.

"You need to go to the toilet, right?" she asked.

"I mean, I thought of using this to rinse my mouth," I mumbled, feeling my face warm.

"You should be careful, Hari."

She walked into the house, a blush staining her cheeks. From inside, I heard her voice. "I told to get it fixed the other day. You guys are..."

Santosh's voice followed, "I'll get it done today."

How flustered my vadhina had been.

That afternoon, I fixed the latch myself. I also picked up some medicines for Peddamma from the pharmacy.

After that day passed, that night, I cautiously asked if I could sleep next to sandhya. At first, she didn't answer, and worried she was still upset about the morning incident. I was contemplating spreading a mat in peddamma's room and sleeping there when peddamma herself came and told me to go to brother's room, that Sandhya had called for me.

I entered their room normally. "Vadhina, did you call me?"

"Yes, come Hari," she replied. Brother was already fast asleep. "Come, sleep here."

"Vadhina, sorry about what happened in the morning," I said, unable to let it go. "It won't happen again, we got the latch fixed this afternoon, right?"

"Just sleep first," she instructed gently.

I lay down beside her. She moved closer to me and placed her hand on my chest, stroking it softly. Her face was close to my ear. I looked into her eyes; she was blushing.

"Hari, you didn't see anything, did you?" she asked coyly and awkwardly.

"No, I promise."

"Hmm..."

Then, she kissed my cheek. I looked into her eyes, my own cheeks flushed.

"Will you come for Sankranti festival?" she asked.

"No vadhina, only after the exams are over."

"Oh, really?"

"Think so..."

"Maridhee," she said, a playful tone in her voice, "when you come back, this mattress won't be enough for you to sleep on."

"Why, I don't get it."

"By the time you come, there will be three of us. Where will you sleep, tell me?"

So, vadhina is.....

I was utterly shocked. Was that why she had been blushing all this time?

"Vadhina..."

"Hmm... you're going to be an babai (chaacha), Hari."

"What good news vadhina! Why didn't you tell me yesterday when you came?"

"I didn't tell you then because I wanted to tell you now."

"Oh... but I'm so happy. Wait, should I tell you what peddamma said?"

She laughed, confirming my suspicion that peddamma had already shared her thoughts. 

"Tell me..."

"Did she say our paternal uncle is being born again?"

"Haha... Yes, Hari. How did you know?"

"People who watch old movies and serials get such ideas."

"Hey maridhi, you always make fun of me whenever you get a chance."

"I won't make fun of you, vadhina..."

"Nonsense... you were the first one to make fun of me, dear."

"did you feel bad that day?"

"Not at all."

"Can I put my hand on you? I won't put my leg, though."

"You understand well."

"Hmm..."

I gently placed my hand on her waist and soon drifted off to sleep.


 After that night, life sped away like a chariot. The wheel of time spun relentlessly, and I reached my final year of graduation. Not just Intermediate, but for my Physics graduation, I also shared a rented room with friends in town, all three of us living together.

“Consequently, for three years, my visits to home were rare indeed.”

—————————++++++++++

[Haran000]

5. Will

The year after my elder brother's marriage, a son, Vedanth, graced our family. I’d visit home every fortnight, found my joy in playing with the little one. Sandhya, initially delicate, blossomed into a fuller figure after childbirth, yet her beauty remained undiminished; she was as captivating as ever.

A shift occurred, subtle yet profound. Perhaps I’d matured, or perhaps Vedanth’s arrival marked a new era, but from that day forward, the easy intimacy I once shared with Sandhya, the chance to sleep beside her, simply vanished. The closeness we once had began to fade.

I found myself stealing glances whenever the opportunity arose—at her beauty, her curves, the gentle swell of her waist. I knew, with an unspoken certainty, that my sister-in-law was aware of my lingering gaze. She knew that I knew she knew. And with a strange, layered understanding, she knew that I knew that she knew that I knew.

During my graduation, our old home was razed, making way for a new structure my brother built with a bank loan. The new house was a haven of comfort: a sleek LED TV, plush sofas, soft mattresses, three spacious bedrooms, and all the modern amenities one could desire. A vast living hall and a grand dining table completed the picture.

After intermediate, I embarked on my degree, a period marked by an abundance of newfound freedom. Movies and casual hangouts became regular fixtures in my life, though I never allowed myself to excessively bunk college.

My classroom held a peculiar arrangement: two rows of benches, one for girls and one for boys. The first bench in the boys’ row, inexplicably, was always empty. The other boys, it seemed, were gripped by a strange fear of sitting at the front. I, however, with the quiet confidence of being the sole topper, claimed that space for myself, alone.

As for the girls in my college, their descriptions would elude me, for I never truly observed them. A profound shyness enveloped me whenever I was in their presence.

One day, while retrieving my first-year degree memo from the records room, a girl approached me. "Could you please look for mine too?" she asked, a plea in her voice. But shyness, an unwelcome companion, seized me. I didn’t even looked at her. "No, you can look for yourselves," I mumbled, quickly located my own certificate, and made a swift exit.

A curious paradox existed within me: a peculiar weakness for girls, yet an inability to engage with them. My true desire manifested online, where I’d pore over images of actresses with an intense, unspoken longing. 

We all have our eccentricities, don't we? 

The only person I could converse with, devoid of any shyness, was my vadhina Sandhya.

My passion for studying was undeniable, a fervor particularly ignited by Physics. So profound was this obsession that one day, when our lecturer struggled to articulate a topic, I found myself striding to the blackboard, explaining it with a clarity that stunned everyone. Teaching, it seemed, came naturally to me. Even in my youth, the aspiration to become a teacher had simmered within. That evening, a friend, half-joking, half-taunting, remarked, "How did you manage to stand in front of the board without looking at the girls even once?"

In my final year, my family insisted I stay home and commute to college by bus. My aunt and sister-in-law, concerned by my thinning frame—the outside food clearly disagreed with me—argued that a spare room at home already existed. So, with my books and theory papers packed, I moved back.

My brother, in a gesture of generosity, bought me an Android phone. One night, as I emerged from the bathroom, earphones still plugged in, Sandhya spotted me. Startled, I fumbled, folding the earphones and shoving them into my pocket before hurrying into the house.

The next morning, over breakfast, she playfully chided me, a laugh in her voice. "Aren't you ashamed? Ugh, you're becoming spoiled." 

I had no words, choosing silence as my only defense.

Evenings were spent playing with Vedanth, his toys scattered around us. My sister-in-law found immense joy in watching me interact with him. My brother was often at work, and I noticed the toll housework and caring for the little one took on her; she often appeared utterly exhausted.

I had my own room now, complete with a mattress and a study table. A long craving for a cigarette resurfaced, so after dropping Vedanth at the anganwadi, I stopped at a shop on my way home. The thought of being seen by anyone I knew, my reputation ruined, sent a shiver down my spine. In town, where my family wasn't present, I felt a certain daring; not here. I slipped inside, retreated to my bathroom within the room, lit the cigarette, and took a deep puff.

"Hari, open the door…" Sandhya’s voice, reached me through the closed door of my room.

Startled, I instinctively flung the cigarette into the toilet and flushed.

I opened the door, and in the very next instant, She had slapped me hard.

"You donkey, what are you doing inside?" she demanded, her voice laced with anger.

"I was in the bathroom, vadhina?" I stammered, bewildered.

"Yes, what were you doing?" Her gaze was accusing.

As I wondered how she knew, a sudden realization dawned. The bathroom ventilator opened into the alley behind the house. My smoke must have wafted into the alley, where Sandhya, hanging clothes, had undoubtedly seen it.

My head drooped, my face a mask of gloom.

"How long have you been doing these sneaky things?" she continued, her voice sharper now. "Is there any studying happening, or is it all going down the drain...?"

"I'm studying, vadhina, but this..." My voice trailed off.

"Just because I'm not paying attention, you're not behaving properly anymore," she cut in. 

"What are these bad habits? Should I tell your brother?"

"No. No, please..." I pleaded, my voice barely a whisper.

Just then, my aunt arrived.

"What happened, why are you scolding him?" Rajamani inquired.

Sandhya, still annoyed, glanced at me before turning to my aunt. "Nothing, Auntie..." She then retreated into their room.

Sandhya’s displeasure at my smoking was palpable; she remained angry with me for many days, barely speaking to me at home. It took numerous apologies on my part before she finally returned to her usual self.

The lockdown descended upon us all, a consequence of the Covid-19 pandemic.

During this period, my brother was home, and I found myself deprived of even the simple pleasure of looking at Sandhya. Fear of my brother noticing held me captive. This time, however, became an opportunity to engage with Vedanth. I taught him alphabets, guiding his little hand as he traced the letters. Sandhya often joined us, and those moments of conversation with her felt incredibly comforting.

Driven by the fear of Corona, my sister-in-law maintained an impeccable level of cleanliness at home, diligently caring for the child. The lockdown also brought an unexpected benefit for me: I, who had always been thin, gained a little weight. My graduation, however, became a chaotic affair amidst the pandemic. Online applications for university selections for post-graduation began. I meticulously filled out the form for a Masters in Physics. As I immersed myself in studying for those entrance exams at home, May two thousand twenty arrived, marking my brother's wedding anniversary.

Waking that morning, I found my sister-in-law radiant. She had performed puja and was adorned in a silk saree, a deep red that enhanced her beauty beyond words. That day, the house was filled with the sweet aroma of Gulab Jamun.

The grip of Corona had loosened its hold on our village, and a semblance of normalcy had returned. The entire family, taking careful precautions, visited the temple and returned home. Upon our arrival, I meticulously used hand sanitizers and thoroughly washed my hands and feet.

My sister-in-law retreated to her room to change, emerging shortly after in a lighter Chanderi cotton saree. The white saree, with its mud-colored border, beautifully complemented her wheatish complexion.

As she stepped out, her gaze met mine first. I quickly averted my eyes, unsure why she had looked at me. I knew she enjoyed my admiration at her; that was a given. But today, something new flickered in her gaze.

She turned her back to me and walked towards the kitchen. And then I saw it: her blouse. She typically wore blouses that were a hand’s breadth wide, covering half her back. Today, however, she wore one with only a two-inch strap, revealing her back like pristine white butter. Uff… A wave of something akin to madness washed over me.

I leaned back on the sofa, then watched as my brother, after our aunt had settled in front of the TV, tiptoed into the kitchen. I rose and moved silently to the kitchen doorway, peeking in.

My brother enveloped my sister-in-law from behind, his lips finding the curve of her neck.

She playfully struck him as she turned, and he held her face, pressing a kiss to her lips.

"Mmm…" my brother murmured.

"Oh, stop it. What’s this romance here?" Sandhya said, though a smile played on her lips.
He hugged her again, showering kisses on her neck.

"Mmm… Enough, Auntie might come," she whispered.

Just then, Vedanth emerged from their room, crying. I quickly settled back onto the sofa, pretending to be engrossed, and they came out as if nothing had happened.

My brother and sister-in-law were clearly enjoying a romantic moment, but I couldn't shake my sister-in-law’s earlier gaze. I knew she liked me looking at her, but I couldn't fathom if she sought some kind of unspoken approval from me.

In the afternoon, Sandhya prepared a chicken biryani that tasted as if it had come from a master chef. I devoured it with gusto.

Later, peddamma, who hadn't been present since morning, asked me to take her and Vedanth on bike to our relatives' house in the village. Sandhya and brother would stay home, and we would have dinner at our relatives' place, returning at night. Ugh… This, I realized, was my brother’s cunning plan, a magician’s trick to ensure their privacy.

By the time we returned from our relatives' house, Sandhya, who I expected to be in a saree, was instead wearing a nighty. And there, on her neck, was a distinct bite mark. He must have bitten her. Would he really hold back? Sandhya was like soft cheese, so yielding.

She caught me staring at the mark and, embarrassed, pulled her braid forward, as if to conceal it. Perhaps she knew that I understood exactly what it was.

Adding to the torment, my sister-in-law looked incredibly desirable in the nighty. Her breasts were high and prominent, uff… I couldn't bear to look for long. I retreated to my room.

Ten, eleven, even past midnight, sleep eluded me, ignited by the fire Sandhya had unknowingly kindled. Why did I dislike my brother and sister-in-law romancing like that? Why did I feel this burning desire to usurp my brother’s place? These thoughts consumed me.

I, who once reveled in secretly gazing at my sister-in-law, now craved something more, something deeper, something forbidden. I left my room and sat on the sofa, clutching my head in my hands.

My thoughts were wrong, utterly wrong. What were these desires concerning my brother's wife? She was beautiful, and I was looking—wasn't that enough? Was I truly becoming such a scoundrel to lust on my brother’s wife?

All this introspection only fueled my lust further. I wished, with a desperate longing, for a chance to sleep next to my sister-in-law again, just like before.

Just then, the sound of their room door opening reached me. What had happened five years ago seemed to be replaying. My sister-in-law came out and saw me.

"What are you thinking, Hari? Haven't you slept yet?" she asked, her voice soft.

"I couldn’t sleep," I replied, my voice hoarse.

"Why? Close your eyes and lie down, it will come."

"No."

She came and sat next to me, gently guiding me to lean on her shoulder.

"What happened, Hari? You usually sleep early, right?"

"Nothing vadhina."

"Do you want to sleep next to your vadhina?"

Her question startled me; it was the very reason sleep eluded me. Without a word, I rested my head on her lap. She stroked my hair, then pressed a soft kiss to my forehead.

"I know, dear," she murmured. "You should have come and asked, right?"

"So, that...?" I began, confused.

"You're not talking to me like before. You changed after going to the hostel."

"No vadhina, it's not like that."

"Then what is it? At least today, I thought you'd say my saree was nice."

"You looked super hot in that white saree.." I blurted out.

She playfully slapped my cheek. "Is that how you talk to your vadhina?"

"I said what I felt," I defended, a mischievous glint in my eye. "And don't you know vadhina, that you're sexy?"

"There, again..." she sighed, though a hint of a smile touched her lips.

"Haha… Sorry."

"Hmm…"

I slowly placed my hand on her waist. "What gift did brother give you?"

"He bought that saree."

"Hmm, what did you give him then?"

She blushed, a delightful flush spreading across her cheeks. "I gave him something…"

"Yes, you must have given it after we left to relatives place in the afternoon, right?" I teased.

"Ugh, stop it… How can you say things like that?" she exclaimed, feigning exasperation.

"Hahaha… That's why your neck is red," I continued, pressing my advantage.

"Hey, stop talking."

I didn’t know how she felt when I spoke to her like that, but something within me ignited.

"Sorry, vadhina," I said, a sudden wave of propriety washing over me. "I shouldn't talk to you like this."

"It's okay, dear. It feels good when you tease me like that."

"It's been a long time, vadhina, being with you like this. I wanted to ask, but I didn't."

"Hmm…"

For a while, I lay on her thighs, my eyes closed, the warmth of her presence lulling me. 

Sleep began to claim me.

"Hari…" she whispered.

"Huh, vadhina?"

"Did you quit smoking?"

"Forgive me."

"Have a puff once in a while, dear, don't get too used to it, it's not good."

"I thought you'd scold me."

"Of course I would. You're so shameless that even after being hit, you didn't quit. What will you quit, you donkey?"

"Are you angry?"

"Of course. If I see you doing that in front of me again, I'll kill you."

"Then I'll smoke without you seeing me."

"Ugh, you rascal, you have no sense."

"Haha… Thanks for not telling them."

"Hmm… Go to sleep."

She stroked my hair gently, a soothing gesture meant to usher me into slumber.
Just then, my brother entered. She subtly gestured for him to be quiet.

After that, I don't know when I finally drifted off. When I woke in the morning, I found myself on the mattress in my brother’s room, next to Vedanth. This meant I had indeed slept next to Sandhya last night.

Rubbing my eyes, I ventured outside and heard whispers emanating from the kitchen.

"What's your anger about now?" Sandhya's voice.

"Tell me, is he still a child?" Santosh, my brother, retorted.

"He's older, but he's still a child to us, right? Anyway, why are you so jealous?"

"Even now, it doesn't look good for me to see him putting his hand or leg on you like that."

What? I still hadn't gotten rid of that habit? No, no, I'd lost that habit in intermediate itself.

In that case, why would I put my leg on my sister-in-law?

"Oh, what are you saying?" Sandhya scoffed. "You talk as if he intentionally put his leg on me."

"I'm not saying that. You're spoiling him too much."

"So what if I am, go, you're getting late."

I quickly turned back and feigned sleep in bed, anticipating my brother's approach.

I knew he came.

"Hey lazybones, wake up," he said, kicking my butt. May his anger burn.

"Oh… Bro, what's wrong?"

"Get up, you donkey, go brush your teeth… vadhina is making tea."

“It wasn't until three more months had passed 

that the mystery of that night, 

how my leg had found its way onto Sandhya,

a habit long broken, a will of my vadhina, was finally revealed.. ”

———————————+++++++++

[Projectmp]

Amazing updates. The cryptic footnotes are a gem in each update

[Haran000]

Amazing updates. The cryptic footnotes are a gem in each update

Thank you 

[Haran000]

6. Doubt

We were headed to a wedding dinner, Ved cradled in my arms. My vadhina, brother, Peddamma, and I entered the function hall. The main event was upstairs, while the ground floor buzzed with the preparations for the feast. As is often the case at these gatherings, there wasn't much for us to do.

Sandhya spotted her pinni’s (aunt's) family, and joined them. I found a chair beneath a whirring fan, settling down with Ved and amusing him with rhymes on my phone. An uncle seated beside me kept casting glances my way. It’s a familiar scenario, as the saying goes, "If a dog without a home sits idle, a mischievous child comes and pulls its tail."

"Whose son are you, boy?" the uncle inquired.

"I'm my father's son, uncle," I replied, perhaps a little too flippantly.

"Oh, who is your father?" he persisted.

"My father," I stated simply.

"Do you watch more comedyshow, boy?" he switched gears.

"No, uncle, I watch movies," I countered.

"Jandhyala movies?"

"Trivikram movies, uncle."

"Are you being sarcastic?" he asked, a hint of annoyance in his voice.

"It's wit, uncle..." I retorted, and he promptly turned away.

Just then, my brother called out, "Hey, come on, let's take a photo on the stage!"

"You go, don't call me," I grumbled.

"Ved, come on, my dear," he coaxed, then glanced at the uncle next to me. "Oh, Mohan Mama, is that you? How are you? We were just with Auntie."

"Is everything good?" Mohan Mama asked.

"Yes, Mama… He's my younger brother, do you remember him?" Santosh said, gesturing towards me.

"Yes… That's what I was asking," Mohan Mama replied, and Ved, sensing his father, ran to him.

"Oh, so you're Santosh's brother, then you're my son-in-law. My Sandhya mentioned you a couple of times. You've grown quite tall. Do you recognize me?"

"I have a bad memory, uncle, please forgive me," I mumbled, feeling a pang of embarrassment.

"Hmm… We didn't meet properly back then," he mused.

"Hmm…" I offered, and the conversation fizzled out. I found myself simply observing the faces of the people around me.

"So, what's news, boy?" he eventually asked, breaking the silence.

"Just eating and leaving, uncle," I quipped.

He chuckled. "Hahaha… Studies?"

"Graduation is done, I'm thinking of doing post-graduation."

"Study well and find a job, boy, you're also of marriageable age."

"Already?" I blurted out, surprised.

"You're six feet tall, you're fair, what else do you need, son-in-law? I'll find a good girl for you."

"Don't you have daughters, uncle?" I asked, my big mouth getting me into trouble once more.

"Hahaha… See you later, come to our house with your sister-in-law sometime," he laughed, then departed. Thanks to him, I hadn't been bored for a while.

With nothing else to do, I went downstairs and indulged in a hearty meal of mutton. As I ascended the stairs to return, a message popped up on my phone. I paused to check it, and as I continued past the stairs, a girl approached.

I stopped. My gaze fell upon her legs, then the shimmering sequins of a sandalwood-colored embroidered skirt. She stood directly in front of me. I stepped to the right to give way; she stepped to the left. "What's this?" I wondered, then moved to the left, and she mirrored me, stepping to the right. Ugh. I tried moving right again, and she moved left.
I finally stood still. She passed me from the left.

The next moment, hands covered my eyes, and I was gently bent backward. My back brushed against the girl's chest. A warm breath ghosted against my ear. A sweet, low voice, audible only to me, whispered, "What is it, bava (brother-in-law)? Why do you always stand in the way like this? Don't you have anything else to do? If you want romance, you can ask me, why do you need cringe jokes with relatives?" She then kissed my cheek. I was stunned. She released me and descended the stairs, vanishing like a startled deer by the time I turned around.

Before I could even consider following her, my uncle called out from behind. This maternal uncle of mine always wanted me to marry his daughter, yet claimed he had no children. Here I was, wanting to look at another girl, but he wouldn't let me. Ugh…

Who was that girl anyway? Why did she say that? Why did she call me bava? I pulled at my hair, utterly bewildered. Do people who like me even exist? Or was that girl merely playing a prank? Unable to make sense of anything, I walked towards my family, lost in thought, when two aunties I passed along the way giggled. "What's that about?" I wondered, continuing forward, only for an uncle to chuckle at me too.

As I neared my family, I heard four other people on that side laughing. The moment I reached them, Sandhya burst into laughter, hand clamped over her mouth, and pointed me out to my brother. My brother simply put his hand to his head in exasperation.

Sandhya came up to me, still giggling, and captured my face. She then showed it to me.

On my cheek was a girl's kiss, the red imprint of her lipstick clearly visible. A shiver ran through me, a blush creeping up my neck. That's why everyone had been laughing. I quickly pulled a handkerchief from my pocket and wiped my cheek.

"You naughty maridhee, who kissed you?" Sandhya teased.

"I don't know," I mumbled.

"Oh, really? You're even getting kisses from girls without knowing it," she scoffed playfully.

"You're getting too much, kid. Go home, I'll deal with you," Santosh chimed in, feigning sternness.

"Oh, bro, I really don't know," I insisted.

Ved, seeing their amusement, also giggled. I picked him up. "What's so funny kiddo, you don't even understand anything. Shush…"

"Haha…" Sandhya continued to laugh. Just then, peddamma arrived, and all three of us fell silent. But my sister-in-law kept laughing, looking at me all the way home.

After reaching home, we watched TV for a while, and just when everything seemed fine, my sister-in-law came to my room with milk.

"How much did you flatter her that she kissed you?" Sandhya asked, her eyes twinkling.

I folded my hands in supplication. "Oh vadhina, I honestly don't know. A girl just dashed past me, that's all."

"Hahaha…" She bent over the chair behind me, wrapping her arms around my shoulders, and with a smile, kissed my cheek. "I know you don't have that much guts, my innocent maridhee. Don't study tonight. Drink milk and go to sleep, okay?"

"Hmm… Good night…" I replied.

"Good night."



The day after the wedding, I plunged into studying for my entrance exams. I was solving problems, poring over theory, but even amidst all that, as I read certain topics in Physics, my mind would wander. Why is the universe like this? Does God exist or not? How do so many random events occur in this universe? Is it possible to go into the past and future? I'd get caught up in these questions, leaving aside the actual problems in the textbook.

I found genuine pleasure in solving physics problems. Newton stated that an object won't move without energy, and that energy comes from the transformation of mass. But even for mass to form, energy is needed. Where did this initial energy come from? Is the Big Bang real, or is it God's creation as described in ancient texts? I would ponder all these things, and comparing physics with religious texts became a habit.

One night, after nine o'clock, as I paced near my room door, lost in thought, my vadhina appeared.

"Hari, shall I make you some tea?" she offered.

"I'll make it myself," I said.

"You're practicing, right? Wait, I'll get it." My sister-in-law went and returned ten minutes later with a small cup of tea.

We leaned against the door, talking. "Has Ved gone to sleep?" I asked.

"Yes…"

"You go vadhina, I'll go to sleep late. I'm drinking tea now, so I'll stay up until one."

"Hmm… Anyway, I'm not feeling sleepy tonight," she replied.

She then noticed the papers where I had scribbled my thoughts, with various calculations and drawings, which I had pasted on my room wall. "Why have you pasted all this, Hari, like you're in some science lab?"

"I'm thinking about something vadhina. In the Puranas too, they say that our lives are governed by stars, planets, and all that."

"Meaning astrology?"

"Not exactly." 

My sister-in-law came a little closer. She pressed her hand on the door frame next to me and looked at my face, leaning her face close. Looking at those lips, something stirred within me. My dreams of kissing them, dormant until now, resurfaced in my mind.

"But isn't astrology the same, isn't it about birth date and star?" she persisted.

"Not exactly. For example, due to the sun's light, photosynthesis happens in trees, our earth heats up, seasons change."

"Hmm… Yes," she acknowledged. 

I took a sip of tea. "Similarly, there are eclipses, and we know about the full moon and new moon for the moon," I continued.

My sister-in-law moved into my lap. She looked intently into my eyes, her lips curving into a small smile. I didn't understand anything. My cup was touching her shoulder. I moved it aside. She came even closer, pushing me against the door, wrapping herself around me on one side.

"Hmm…" Her voice sounded somehow intoxicating.

"Did they name the twenty-seven stars because the moon had twenty-seven wives, or…" I began.

"Is the tea good?" She caressed my neck with her finger. I stopped talking.

"Yes, it's good."

"Tell me, what were you saying?"

"That is, or did they write the story of the moon's wives because of the movement of the twenty-seven stars?"

"That's a great doubt you've got. So, are you saying there are no gods, and it's all stories?"

"Not exactly, or are there gods, and that's why the science we know operates with proper principles?" I gulped down more tea.

"So, what is it now? Are you going to find out if God exists or not with these lines on papers?"

"Not exactly."

"Anyway, not that, but I'll ask you something," she said.

"Ask, vadhina?"

"Who kissed you at the function?"

"Again? I don't know," I sighed.

"Tell me the truth, you have a lover, don't you, you naughty maridhee? You secretly stare at me, and you're secretly maintaining a lover too, aren't you?"

I felt like laughing. I was struggling even to talk to girls, and my sister-in-law was turning me into Krishna.

"You're laughing, so it's true?" she pressed.

"Oh, no vadhina, I told you, a girl just dashed past me. Her lips just touched my cheeks, that's all."

"You're so tall. How could she kiss you like that in a dash? There's no logic maridhee"

Oh no, sister-in-law, where do I find logic now? If I tell her what happened and that the girl called me bava, my sister-in-law will weave a whole story. It felt best to drop this topic here, so I stepped towards my bed. "It just happened by accident. How can we explain logic for that?" I turned away, my face flushed with embarrassment and shyness.

She grabbed my shoulders and bent me backward. She put her face close to my ear. "No, maridhee, there's no logic. My cheek, being five and a half feet tall, wouldn't reach yours, would it?"

"Why wouldn't it, vadhina? If you hold me like this and pull me, wouldn't it reach, tell me…" I turned my neck to the left. My lips brushed my vadhina's cherry lips.

Both of us froze as if shocked. She let go of me in surprise. I moved forward. I started trembling, wondering what had just happened. What about my sister-in-law's situation? I started to get scared. Would she scold me, hit me, or say something else?

"That's how the accident happened, vadhina…" I stammered, trembling.

She left. When I turned back to look, she was gone.



The next day, I couldn't look my sister-in-law directly in the eye. She also knew it was an accident, which was why she didn't scold me. Yet, thinking about it, more desires grew within me. The warmth of sandhya's lips still enveloped me.

A few days after this, just when I thought everything was back to normal, I noticed that every time my sister-in-law spoke to me, she would move closer, and she would act shy more often in front of me. I don't know if she was doing it intentionally, or if it was just my imagination.

Naturally, my sister-in-law usually only wears an unlined blouse; she doesn't wear a bra underneath. She only wears a bra for functions. I know she wears a bra inside a Punjabi dress. After Ved was born, she became a little plump, and after that, she stopped wearing Punjabi dresses. She only wears sarees and nighties at night. I know there's a bra in her nighty.

In July, Ved started going to college. In the beginning, my sister-in-law used to drop him off, but now I'm the one who drops him off. Brother goes to the office, and peddamma doesn't pay much attention to the house, usually chatting with neighbors. During these times, I'd think twice. I noticed my sister-in-law wasn't wearing a bra even in her nighty, and she knew I was looking at her. The shape of her nipples was visible through the nighty. I observed them thoroughly, and my sister-in-law caught my gaze. Every time I looked away after looking, I felt like she was either secretly smiling or feeling shy.

Thinking about all this, I started to doubt whether my sister-in-law only wanted compliments from me, or if she had any ulterior motives. Why would my brother support me when I told him it was uncomfortable for me to sleep in their room even at this age? He could just think I'd play on my phone and sleep, right? Why should she let me rest my head on her lap and caress my head? Especially with her beauty pushing close to my face.

Days passed, and my post-graduation finally began.

First week of August.

It was the first day of college, but I woke up late. I got ready. Brother goes to the office by eight-thirty. Today, my sister-in-law gave lunch to my brother as he said he would drop Ved at college. Brother and Ved both left. She gave idlis to peddamma. I went into the kitchen.

"Vadhina, four is enough, if I eat too much, it's the first day today," I said.

"It's nothing, you always eat five anyway," Sandhya replied.

My college starts at ten. If I took the bus at nine here, it was a half-hour bus ride, and then a fifteen-minute walk from the bus stop to the college. So, I hurried, and as soon as my sister-in-law gave me the plate in the kitchen, I started eating and choked on a mouthful. 

As I coughed, my sister-in-law gave me water. She came close to me and patted my head.
"Slowly, Hari… Why the rush?"

"Hmm… If the buses don't come, I'll be late vadhina, that's why."

"It's nothing. Sit there and eat leisurely. It's okay to be late on the first day. Anyway, is it not junior college…l?"

"Okay… vadhina, can you fill water in the bottle and put it in the bag?"

"I'll do it, you go eat."

After I had eaten and put on my shoes, ready to leave, as I was about to say goodbye, she held my hand, pulled me close, and bent my face. That's when I clearly saw it; my sister-in-law was about to kiss my cheek, but her lips were searching for my lips. But she quickly let go of me, perhaps realizing that I had seen it.

"Be careful, Hari."

"Yes, vadhina, I'll be back."

“I don't know why this doubt. 

Have I fantasised Sandhya into my mind too much? 

Is that why I'm feeling this way?”

————————++++++++++

[Haran000]

7. Question 

The vast, echoing halls of the university swallowed me whole. I found an attendant and mumbled my query about the first-year Physics classroom. He pointed vaguely, and I followed the direction, my footsteps strangely loud on the polished floors. The classroom was a sea of polished wood – about thirty benches, each a silent promise of knowledge, yet barely thirty souls occupied them. The first two benches were taken, but the third held a fellow whose face struck me as peculiar, so I veered off, finding refuge in the very last bench. It was a first for me, this act of rebellion, this embrace of the back row.

The lecturer arrived, a man of few words, or perhaps, no words at all. He launched into "Solid State Physics" with the dry cadence of someone reading a grocery list. No introductions, no pleasantries, just a monotone delivery that made the subject sound as engaging as a history lesson. Useless, I thought, a silent indictment against his pedagogical methods. A teacher should connect, not just recite. He droned on, then left, leaving behind a lingering sense of unfulfillment. My gaze swept the room, and I noticed the girls, all dutifully facing forward. I, on the other hand, had a newfound mission. Having rarely paid much attention to girls, I decided now was the time. I scanned each one, a critical eye assessing, but to my dismay, not a single face registered as even average beauty.

The second period brought a different kind of energy. Another lecturer, entered, a genial smile already gracing his lips. "Today," he announced, his voice warm and inviting, "let's get to know everyone's names. Then, I'll share a fascinating physics fact. Perhaps you know it, perhaps not." 

We all nodded in unison, a collective anticipation building. "My name is Muralidharan," he declared, a small, cheerful laugh punctuating his introduction. 

A voice, I think from the third bench, chimed in, "Mutthayya Muralidharan," followed by a ripple of laughter.

Murali Sir chuckled, a genuine, hearty sound. "Hahaha.... that's good. Cracking jokes like undergrads even in post-graduation means that youthful spirit hasn't gone yet, yes... that young spirit should always be with us." 

We stared at him, a collective assessment. He had truly taken it in stride, not a hint of annoyance tarnishing his jovial demeanor.

"Do you know something?" Murali Sir continued, his voice shifting, imbued with a deep reverence. "This subject, Physics, is like that. Those who love Physics, who have a passion and an intense desire for it, they have a curiosity. That curiosity to know something, to discover something, something else, something unknown that this universe holds, to search for it, that's what makes us like little children who don't understand what's in front of them, asking, 'Mommy, what is this?', 'Daddy, what is this?', 'Brother, why is it like this?'" We hung on his every word, captivated.

"The curiosity in Physics also makes you ask 'this is like this, like that, how?' just like small children. Those who study this are always like growing children." 

A quiet "Wow... what did sir say?" escaped my lips, unheard by others but resonating within me. How deeply he must love Physics to speak of it with such fervor. Truly, I resolved, when I become a Physics teacher, I must tell my students something like this.

The name-sharing commenced, first the girls, then the boys. Now, the promised physics fact loomed, a tantalizing mystery.

"Okay," Murali Sir began, a mischievous glint in his eye. "You all just said your names, but there's no guarantee I'll remember them. Hahaha..." His laughter was infectious, and a wave of chuckles swept through the room.

"You've all been studying science since childhood," he continued, "and you chose Physics because you like science. I expect many of you already know this fact."

Akhil, a bespectacled figure two rows ahead, raised his hand. "Sir, one moment. Sir, you haven't told us what you're going to talk about."

"Oh, right," Murali Sir said, a playful self-reprimand in his tone. "I'm your relative Physics professor. I'll be teaching you about gravitational force, space and time relativity, Einstein's general relativity theory, Newtonian and Einsteinian gravity, gravitational field properties, and the time paradox, all of which are in your syllabus."

Uff, a great sir like this for my favorite topics! I thought, a thrill of anticipation running through me.

"In May 1919," Murali Sir continued, his voice dropping to a conspiratorial whisper, "there was a total solar eclipse. Einstein had two astronomical photographers, one in Princeton, Africa, and the other in Sobral, Brazil, take photos of that eclipse. In those eclipse photos, the moon completely covered the sun, and only the corona—not that virus corona, but the sun's surface, the corona—was visible. It appeared like a ring. Small stars were also visible in the rest of the photo. Then, using a photographic micro-filter measuring equipment, when they compared the same stars in a photo taken at night when the sun wasn't there, with the same stars visible during the solar eclipse, they appeared to have shifted slightly. That is, the stars that should have been there at night seemed to have deviated a bit; they weren't in their expected place. Why?"

A hush fell over the classroom, a profound silence. Hehe... I knew the answer. But I looked around, hoping someone else would vocalize it.
.
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.

The silence in the classroom was palpable, a heavy blanket that smothered any lingering sounds. I was baffled. Were these students truly engrossed in their academic texts, oblivious to the fascinating saga of physics' past? My own evenings were often spent lost in the YouTube, of scientific giants – Newton, Einstein, the polymath Da Vinci.

Murali Sir’s voice cut through the quiet, a playful prod. "No sound is coming." He paused, a theatrical beat. "The brain is thinking. The brain is processing. The brain is not giving an answer."

A ripple of laughter spread through the room as he repeated the phrase.

"Oh, doesn't anyone know?" Murali Sir finally asked, a feigned exasperation in his tone.

"Sir, I'll tell," I blurted out, a sudden rush of confidence.

"Yo… tell me," he encouraged, and I rose to my feet.

"Sir, due to the Sun's gravitational force, the light rays from those stars, when traveling past the Sun towards Earth, bend at a very small angle." I delivered the explanation with a proud flourish.

Murali Sir’s response was immediate and dismissive. "Light travels straight; light has no mass. There is no gravitational force on an object with no mass. How can it bend like that, hero? There's no logic at all." His words, laced with mockery, stung.

Then, from somewhere in those benches, a familiar, sneering voice echoed Murali Sir's derision. "You got punched, sit down, topper." I did know who it was, but the audacity ignited a fire within me.

I couldn't bite my tongue. "I haven't given the full answer. Be ready for a punch, third bench..."

Heads swiveled. Every eye in the room, even the girls', fixed on me, and I felt a flicker of unease. My gaze met Sir’s. I had to finish this.

"Sir, with Newtonian gravity, that's the limit. However, with Einstein's General Relativity, what was proven by the experiment you mentioned is that..."

"Hmm... can you give the formulation?" Murali Sir interjected, his curiosity piqued.

"No, Sir, I read this on YouTube and in some articles. It's not the light rays that bend there. Due to the weight of our Sun, a dip forms on the spacetime fabric. That is, space gets distorted. Because of that, space curves." The words tumbled out, each one a revelation.

"Explain it simply, okay."

The room was utterly silent, every student hanging on my every word, as if I were reciting sacred hymns.

"Anything in our universe exists in this space. Matter has mass. If everything travels in this space in a certain direction, meaning a vector, with a velocity and acceleration, then it travels on space itself. For example, if a car is going on a highway and there's a downward curve in the road, the car also goes on that curve, it doesn't fly straight in the air, right? Similarly, a straight-traveling light ray travels on the curve of space created by the Sun at that spot. That means it's not the light that bends there; space itself is curved."

A wave of astonishment swept through my classmates. I doubted any of them had encountered this concept before.

"Super Harikiran. You explained it very well," Murali Sir praised, a genuine smile on his face.

"Thanks, Sir, but my name is Harikrishna."

"Oh, okay, okay." He chuckled. "Alright, see you tomorrow."

The remaining periods felt uneventful after that intellectual sparring match. After lunch, as I walked into the campus, I noticed three seniors under a tree, a junior boy standing before them, undergoing some sort of interrogation.

The afternoon held only one more class, then the freedom of going home. As I crossed the corridor and emerged from the building, I saw them again, still by the same tree. I pulled out my phone, checked the time, idly scrolled through Instagram, and casually walked past them.

"Hey... Black T-shirt," a voice called out.

I turned back. " yes bro...?"

The speaker was as tall as I, with a well-built physique that suggested regular gym visits.

"What, you're here and you're just walking by, engrossed in your phone, ignoring us?"

"What phone, brother...?" I feigned innocence. "I didn't bring my phone, it's not allowed in class, right?"

He glanced at my hand. Indeed, my phone was nowhere in sight. It was a small trick I’d mastered – making my phone vanish into my back pocket in a blink, only to reappear at my stomach if viewed from the back. I had executed the maneuver as I turned.

His surprise was evident. "Just now you were walking with your phone. You must have put it in your pockets just now, take it out."

"No, bro, I didn't bring my phone at all. You're mistaking someone else for me."

He turned to the guy beside him. "Hey Karthik, this guy was walking with his phone just now, you saw it, right?"

"Yes. Hey, take out your phone, man. Don't you have respect for seniors? Don't you know you should greet them and then go?" Karthik chimed in.

"Seriously, bro. I didn't bring my phone." My voice was earnest.

He then addressed the third person. "Srujan, check his pockets."

Srujan, a shorter boy, approached and began searching my pockets. Nothing. He came up empty-handed. A silent laugh bubbled up within me.

His hands continued to pat my pockets, shoulders, and waist. "Brother, what is this? I thought it was ragging, but what is this... sexual harassment to me?" I blurted out, a hint of outrage in my voice.

"Hey, let him go, you go," they finally said, dismissing me.

"Brother, what's your name?" I asked before leaving.

"My name is Mahesh."

"Okay, brother, I'll go."

By the time I reached home, Peddamma was already there. Vadina, and Vedanth were nowhere to be seen. I washed my face and feet, shed my jeans, and slipped into comfortable track pants.

"Peddamma, did you drink tea?" I asked.

"I'll make it, wait, I'm coming," Rajamani replied.

"Should I make it?"

"Can you make it or will you mess something up? Vadina will scold you when she comes back."

"Ha, I'll do it, you sit. By the way, where did Vadina go?"

"She said she'd go to her aunt's house and come back, dear. Karimnagar."

"Oh, she didn't tell me then. If she had told me, I would have met her there, right?"

"I don't know, dear. She said she'd come by the time brother arrived."

"Ha, okay."

"There's milk in the big pot. First, heat the big pot, pour some into the small pot, and make tea," Peddamma instructed.

"Ha, I know."

I strode into the kitchen, lit the stove, and placed the large pot of milk on it. For two minutes, my attention drifted to my phone. The milk was hot. I ladled some into the smaller pot, enough for Peddamma and me. Lighting the second burner, I placed the small pot on it. Both pots simmered and began to boil.

Then, I reached for the tea powder, opened the lid, and with a confident scoop, dumped a spoonful into the first, larger pot.

I bit my tongue, a wave of dread washing over me. Now, Peddamma would surely turn my asscheeks into parathas.

"Hasn't the tea been made yet, dear?" Rajamani’s voice, closer than I expected, sounded the alarm.

I’m done for.. She was here.

One doesn't need grand reasons to commit suicide, this was enough. I imagined myself diving into that enormous pot of milk and ending it all.

"Why are you not making any sound, dear?" she pressed.

"It's just Peddamma, I, tea powder, accidentally put too much in the milk," I stammered, pointing to the colossal tea-in-the-making.

Her gaze hardened, an angry glint in her eyes. "Are you making tea for just us two, or did the whole neighborhood say they're coming to our house for tea?"

"That's not it..." My explanation trailed off as she spotted the phone in my hand.

"You're holding that wretched phone, looking at it, standing there."

"Oh, I didn't see?" I mumbled, a pathetic attempt at deflection.

"What do you mean you didn't see? You're old enough to get married, and when I tell you to make tea, you put so much milk and tea powder like it's for relatives? Now who will drink all that tea?"

An intense wave of annoyance washed over me, directed solely at myself. "Hey, go away, you. When Vadina and they come, they'll drink it, it'll be fine."

"That's not it, these days, kids get married and raise children. You don't even know how to make tea. What will you feed and give your wife then?"

"My goodness, what's your fuss? I said it was an accident, and you're talking about marriage and children. You... go away. You confused me with the small pot and big pot."

"Ha, you get confused by such a small thing, what are you even studying then?"

"Did you ever teach me to make tea when I wanted to do chores since childhood? Vadina is there, you are there. Now you're old. What should I do?"

"That's why I asked if I should make it," she retorted, her voice laced with triumph.

"Oh, go away, you. I'll get the tea."

She muttered something unintelligible and retreated to the living room. I added sugar and three more spoons of tea powder to the voluminous milk, transforming the entire pot into tea. Now, even if four of us drank this tea, it wouldn't be finished.

If Anna, ever found out, he'd just look at me and say, "You’re done for my brother, Vadina will give you a good one."

Coincidentally, an hour later, Anna arrived home with three other people. Seeing that Vadina wasn't there, he asked me to make tea. I simply reheated the existing concoction and served it to them.

Peddamma approached me, a whispered conspiracy in her voice. "You survived, son."

"Don't tell Vadina, please," I pleaded.

After his guests left, Anna received a phone call. Vadina was at the bus stop, and he needed to pick her up on his bike.

"Hari, Vadina got off at the bus stop. Go pick her up. I'll wash my face." He tossed me the bike keys.

I rode the bike and pulled up in front of Vadina. She was radiant in a yellow churidar. It had been ages since I’d seen her in one. She placed her hand on my shoulder and swung her leg over, not sitting sideways, but with both legs straddling the seat. I positioned Ved on the tank in front and began to drive.

On the way home, as I slightly slowed the bike, I felt it from behind, on my back... Uff... You understand, right? My pants tightened.

The sensation was so pleasant that I deliberately applied a small brake again and released it. It touched again.

Ah...

A hard knock landed on the back of my head. Oh no, what if she hits me even harder next time? I resolved to be careful. But it was unavoidable. A speed breaker lay at the turn near our house. As the bike went over it, Vadina's breast pressed against my back. It felt incredibly good, soft, warm, oh, something inexplicable stirred within me.

I stopped in front of the house. Vadina dismounted. I helped Ved get off. I thought of getting off myself. Oh no... no no.... if I stood up, it would be truly bad.

"Put the bike inside the gate, I'll close the gate," Sandhya said.

Now, how could I get off the bike? Damn.

"Vadina, I'll go out for a bit, tell Anna. I'll be back in ten minutes."

"Son, you go wash your feet..."

Ved, meanwhile, toddled towards Peddamma, calling her grandmaa.

"To smoke?" Sandhya asked, a hint of amusement in her voice.

"No, no, just to meet a friend."

"Okay, go..."

I had no destination in mind, so I just took a roundabout trip to the bus stop and returned. 

By then, things had cooled down.

After dinner, I sat with Anna on chairs on the veranda in front of the house. "You got good marks, why did you choose Karimnagar for your college, I wanted to ask you the other day but let it go, thinking it was your choice."

"Anna, I want to become a college lecturer. I don't desire any other job. I don't want anything grand. I'll just do this PG here and get a job as a government college teacher."

"Hmm... If not, are you not doing something because you think your education will be too expensive?" Anna probed.

That was a thought I had entertained a year ago. Back then, I'd even harbored a desire to study abroad. But I no longer felt the need to restrain myself simply because Anna had a good job. "No, Anna. I told you, I just like being a teacher."

"Hmm... Okay, your wish. But..." Anna placed his hand on my shoulder.

"What is it, Anna?"

"If father was here, he would have been so happy, dear. He used to say I studied well and that there were no degree holders in our family. I didn't even pass. You went up to PG."

"It's okay, Anna. You have a good job. What are we lacking now? Besides, how am I even doing PG, tell me? You didn't pass your degree, but you looked after me until I could study PG."

"Hmm... Go to sleep."

I went into the house, and Vedanth and I played for a while. Anna came and took him to sleep. After coming home, Vadina hadn't spoken to me for some reason.

Vadina and Peddamma watched something on TV. I was in my room, the door ajar. After the TV was turned off, Peddamma went to her room. Vadina talked to Anna, put Ved to sleep, and then, while I was watching YouTube and pacing around, she entered my room.

She was in a nighty, her braid falling forward, resting on her left breast. I caught a glimpse, quickly averted my gaze, and met her eyes.

"Hari, I thought of calling you when I came to Karimnagar, but then I thought, why bother you coming here from college?"

"I would have come, Vadina, you should have called."

"Hmm, okay, but how's college?"

"It's fine."

"Your college is quite far from the bus stand, right? My uncle told me. But you said you'd walk."

"Yes, it's far, but I can walk, Vadina, it's not so far that I need to take an auto."

She took a step closer. For some inexplicable reason, my gaze drifted towards their room. The door was still slightly ajar. She came even closer, a small smile playing on her lips. "So, did you like any girl, maridhee? I'll ask your brother to arrange a marriage at her house."

I laughed. "Until recently, I was the one making jokes, now you've started, Vadina. Do girls just fall for me at first sight? I even feel awkward just looking at them."

"What's wrong with my maridhee?"

"It's not that anything's wrong." I looked at Vadina and smiled. "There are no faces there as beautiful as your maridhee would like."

"Oh, really... How many are there?"

"About twelve, thirteen."

"So few?"

"Well, there are fewer girls who study physics, right?"

"Hmm... Not even one is good-looking?"

"It's not like that, maybe I just didn't like them."

"Oh, why..."

I didn't know if it was wise to be so direct, but the words tumbled out. I leaned down and looked naughtily into Vadina's beautiful eyes. "Maybe because I see such a beautiful Vadina at home every day, they don't seem that appealing to me."

Vadina's cheeks flushed a delicate pink. "Oh, you're flattering your vadhina quite well."

"But don't you know, Vadina..."

"That's right, there's no shortage of sneaky glances," she finished, a playful glint in her eyes.

"Haha..." We both stood opposite the door, leaning against the wall.

"Am I really that beautiful, dear?" she asked, her voice soft.

"You also ask intentionally, Vadina. Do you even know how you looked on your wedding day? Bring a girl who looks like that for your maridhee, and I'll marry her."

She pinched my cheek, a playful punishment. "Donkey. Chee. What are you saying?"

"What did I say now, Vadina?"

"Enough, your words are quite something. I thought my maridhee only knew how to study."

"Oh Vadina, I didn't say anything. Don't make up all these stories." I moved closer to Vadina, my gaze fixed on her eyes.

For a few moments, silence enveloped us, broken only by the hum of the fan. I leaned down and brought my face close to her ear. The fragrance of her hair was intoxicating. "To be honest, I'm very jealous of Annayya”.

She looked at me shyly, nodding her head as if to ask, "Oh, really?"

"Hmm..." I murmured, and then, slowly, my palm encircled her neck. Perhaps my touch warmed her, for she blinked her eyelashes once.

"How much do you like me, dear?" she whispered.

"Let's talk tomorrow, Vadina." I took a step back.

But she grabbed the collar of my T-shirt and pulled. My face stopped inches from hers. "Tell me first."

I don't know what intoxicating breeze had enveloped us both. I rubbed my nose against her nose. Vadina didn't respond. With lips close to lips, I whispered, "Your lips."

"And..." she breathed, anticipation in her voice.

"Your eyes." We gazed deeply into each other’s eyes. As my gaze fell to her lips, a strange spell seemed to take hold. I instinctively bent my neck, about to claim her lips, I don't even know.

A sharp slap landed on my cheek. "Donkey... What is this? Move aside."

I stumbled back, disoriented. Not knowing what to say, I turned my face away like before.

She grabbed my shoulder and spun me around. "Are you getting tempted...?"

"No, no," I mumbled, though my racing heart betrayed me.

"Stop your crazy thoughts and go to sleep."

"Hmm... Okay, Vadina."

As she turned to leave, I called out. "Vadina..."

She turned back. "What?"

"I want to sleep next to you today too."

She came closer and hugged me, her warm softness pressing against my chest. "Not today, okay?"

"Why, did you give Anna an appointment?"

She elbowed me in the back. "Chee, naughty. Don't say whatever comes to your mind. Go to sleep. Good night."

"Vadina.... You're so adorable. Can I have one kiss?" The question slipped from my lips, unbidden. My legs trembled, and a cold sweat broke out.

"My dear maridhee wants a kiss, go, go find a girl in your college and ask her."


But Vadina merely said it naughtily, a playful glint in her eyes, and walked away. 

“I want answer for my question, one kiss or beyond.”

—————————++++++++++

[Haran000]

8. Answer

The third week of August rolled in, and I was slowly, painstakingly, adjusting to the rhythm of college life. Most professors were decent, their lectures flowing smoothly, but Solid State Physics remained a stubborn snag. Yet, my biggest hurdle wasn't the quantum world; it was the peculiar universe of human connection. I simply couldn't make friends.

Back in my degree days, the three of us in the room were practically inseparable, and in class, Abhiram completed our small circle. Beyond those three, my world remained largely silent. Here, in the PG, ten days had passed, and my only acquaintance was a senior named Mahesh. He'd occasionally summon me in the canteen or library, even making me fetch his coffee and, on one memorable occasion, pay the bill. I'd just brush it off, thinking, "Why bother?" Conflict wasn't my style, and I had no intention of starting now.

With that thought humming in my mind, on the nineteenth, as I crossed the campus gate and headed towards the building, I saw Mahesh. He had stopped a girl, deep in conversation with her. A flicker of surprise. He wasn't usually around in the mornings. Why today?

My gaze drifted to the girl. She stood there, arms crossed, her bag clutched defensively in front of her, head bowed, an undeniable aura of discomfort radiating from her. Mahesh must have prompted her, for she finally lifted her head.

They say in movies that eyes sparkle, temple bells chime, flowers rain down, and one floats on air as clouds gather. None of that dramatic fanfare unfolded, but my feet, seemingly of their own volition, began to move towards her.

She was speaking, her words a soft murmur. Those red, strawberry lips were undeniably kissable. Her innocent pupils, wide and flustered, darted around, lending her a captivating beauty. The way she fidgeted with her finger near her elbow, the slight tremor in her hands – I didn't like it.

For some reason, her gaze briefly met mine. My steps faltered. I mentally chastised myself. What a fool I'd been to assume the girls on our campus were merely average. How utterly charming she was.

Mahesh's voice cut through my thoughts. "Physics, sir."

Her voice, when it came, was as enchanting as a small child's chuckle.

"What have you been doing all these days?" Mahesh pressed, a hint of impatience in his tone. "It's been more than ten days since class started."

"Well... well... my family told me to quit studying, sir," she stammered, her voice soft and hesitant. "But I wanted to study, so I fought with them all these days and came today, sir."

I was now four steps closer to them.

"Oh, really?" Mahesh said, a hint of feigned concern in his voice. "Why did they tell you to quit studying?"

"They said, for a girl, instead of studying, they would look for marriage proposals."

"Oh, really..." Mahesh dismounted his bike and moved closer to her, bending down slightly, as if to share a secret. "Then tell your people that there's a senior named Mahesh in our college. He's good. And he's a counselor's son."

The girl's discomfort was palpable. She lowered her head and subtly stepped away. That's when I decided to intervene.

"Good morning, Mahesh bro," I said, my voice deliberately cheerful.

He merely gestured with his hand for me to stand there, not bothering to look at me.

"What's her name, bro?" I prodded.

"Kavya..." he replied, a hint of annoyance in his tone.

"Oh..." I feigned innocence.

He subtly glanced up, his eyes narrowing slightly as he looked at me. "Why do you care?"

"Just asking."

"She's my would be, ok. Shut up and stand here for a bit."

"Hey..." I couldn't resist. "Mahesh bro is getting married!"

"Don't talk nonsense, shut up you moron!"

"Oh, bro," I continued, pressing my advantage, "why do you talk like that in front of ladies?"

"Oh, right. Sorry, Kavya, I spoke like that in front of you because of him." Mahesh offered a perfunctory apology. Kavya remained silent, her discomfort evident.

Before Mahesh could say anything else, I spoke again. "Mahesh bro, is this vadhina also Physics?"

"You... didn't I tell you to shut up?" he snapped, his face reddening. "Yes, she's Physics, so what?" His annoyed expression filled me with a strange satisfaction.

"Then don't worry, bro," I said, a mischievous glint in my eye. "I'll make sure no one bothers Kavya vadhina in class."

He stepped closer to me, an arrogant smirk on his face. "You'll take care of her?"

"Yes, I'll take good care of her. I'll keep an eye on her."

"Go then," he conceded, gesturing towards the building. "She doesn't know where the class is. Take her to class."

"Okay, bro."

"If anyone acts up, tell me."

"I told you, bro," I reiterated, a subtle challenge in my voice, "Kavya has me."

"Meaning?"

"I mean, I'm here. I'll take care of her."

"Huh." Mahesh huffed, clearly irritated.

"This guy's a bit weird," Srujan murmured from somewhere nearby.

"Something's off about this. Hey Harikrishna, stop," Karthik called out.

I stopped.

"Did you bring your phone?" Karthik asked.

"You know I don't bring my phone, bro," I replied, feigning innocence.

"Oh, okay, go."

Just then, someone walked past us, completely ignoring the trio.

"Hey, newcomer, stop," Mahesh commanded. He turned back. It was Abhiram.

I was stunned. He saw me and, with a broad grin, pulled me into a hug.

"Hey, what are you doing here, didn't you go to Hyderabad?" Abhiram exclaimed.

"No, buddy, I decided to stay here," I replied, equally surprised and delighted. "Why didn't you tell me you're in this university? You said something about a job, didn't you go?"

"No, buddy, I just felt that small job wasn't worth it," he explained. "And besides, did you even call me?"

"I did, dude, your number was unreachable."

"Oh, sorry, buddy, I changed my number."

"Oh, really, tell me the new number."

The three onlookers, completely ignored, grew increasingly annoyed as Abhiram and I chatted away. Then, in my excitement, the sheer joy of reuniting with Abhi, I added fuel to the fire. I pulled my phone from my pocket and began typing as he rattled off his new number.

Mahesh's hand landed squarely on my phone. I froze, looking at him in stunned silence.

"What's this, a small box?" Mahesh asked, a smirk playing on his lips.

Shit... I was caught.

"Hey buddy, look," Mahesh said to Karthik, holding up my phone, "this box even has light coming out of it. Have you ever seen anything like this, buddy?"

"Yes, buddy, it's new. What do you even call it, buddy?" Karthik chimed in, looking at me.

"Well, bro..." I stammered.

He turned his gaze to Abhiram. "What's your name?"

"Abhiram..."

"You're more arrogant than Hari," Mahesh declared, a mischievous glint in his eye. "Both of you do thirty squats and go to class."

"Bro, the phone?" I pleaded.

"Do the squats, I'll give it to you."

"Can I go to class, sir?" Kavya's soft voice interjected.

"Go, sweetie, we'll meet in the evening," Mahesh said, his tone softening considerably for her.

We began our squats. As Kavya walked away, Abhiram's eyes followed her, a strange intensity in his gaze. A jolt of suspicion went through me. What was with him? Had he also fallen for her? Regardless, I needed to make sure this Mahesh guy didn't come between me and Kavya.

"Vadhina," I thought to myself, a silent promise, "the girl you told me to find, I found her."

After completing our thirty squats, I practically begged for my phone back, and then Abhiram and I headed to class. I spotted Kavya sitting in the fourth row, alone on her bench. My eyes lingered on her, but she was absorbed in the board. I walked past, settling into my usual spot on the last bench. As I sat down, I glanced over and saw Abhiram sitting next to her. How did he manage that?

To my surprise, Kavya was shaking hands with him, her lips moving in soft conversation. They both chuckled softly once, then turned their attention to the board. 

No, no... were they already acquainted? Had they come to college on the same day? The suspicion that they were lovers gnawed at me. I was better than him. How could she have fallen for him?

Ugh, had I ever even spoken to a girl in my life? No use regretting it now.

*

The scent of lunch still hung in the air, a faint whisper of biryani and spices, as I found myself in the familiar orbit of Abhi and Kavya. They chatted effortlessly, their voices a comfortable murmur, while I stood by, a silent observer. My tongue felt heavy, my throat tight. Even a simple "hello" to Kavya seemed an insurmountable task, a mountain I lacked the courage to climb. Shyness, a constant companion, gripped me, mixed with a strange, unreasoning fear.

The evening deepened, and with it, my unspoken anxieties. Kavya mentioned taking an auto, a casual remark that sealed my fate for the moment. Then, Abhi, ever the chivalrous friend, offered her a ride on his bike. He waved goodbye to me, a friendly, dismissive gesture, and they rode off, leaving me amidst the fading light, a prickle of something akin to jealousy stirring within.


The next week mirrored the last. Our daily ritual involved meeting during break time. They would engage in lively conversation, while I, anchored by my timidity, would only manage to speak with Abhi. Yet, despite their easy camaraderie, I couldn't shake the feeling that their connection was one of friendship, not romance. They seemed like two comfortable souls, not two hearts entwined.

Every day, the scene repeated itself: Kavya and Abhi on the same bench, their heads often close in shared laughter or quiet discussion, while I, relegated to the last bench, could only watch Kavya from afar, a silent, longing gaze.

Monday arrived, bringing with it a fresh wave of nervous anticipation. I stood at the college gate, eyes scanning for Abhi, when a flash of color caught my attention. Kavya got off from an auto, her head bowed as she paid the driver. She walked past me, a quiet presence, and again, the words caught in my throat. My "big mouth," usually a source of endless chatter, was now paralyzed by fear.

Then, Mahesh, stopped Kavya. I gravitated towards them, drawn by an invisible thread.

"Good morning, bros," I offered, my voice a forced cheerfulness.

"Get lost…" Mahesh's curt reply was par for the course.

A recent discovery surfaced in my mind. "Brother, I heard you're also in Physics Group A," I ventured.

"Yeah, that's right. Did you just find out?" His tone was laced with a familiar taunt.

"Brother, I have a doubt," I pressed on, a plan forming. "Will you explain the Newtonian Physics chapter? I'll pass this semester by taking your name."

Mahesh scoffed. "Why should I explain it, buddy? If you listen well in class, you'll get it. What are you doing instead of listening?"

My gaze drifted to Kavya. She stood silently, a subtle tension in her posture.

"I'm looking at sister-in-law, brother," I declared, hoping to disrupt the flow, to create a ripple.

"Hari, I'm telling you, I'll smash you," Mahesh warned, his eyes narrowing.

"But you told me to look, didn't you?" I countered, pressing my luck.

"I didn't say that." As he spoke, he reached out, his hand dipping into Kavya's braid, pulling out a jasmine gajra. Kavya flinched, a silent curse forming on her lips, a grimace of annoyance crossing her face.

"Sweetie, you look very good," Mahesh purred, his focus entirely on Kavya. I needed to intervene. He looked dangerously close to touching her.

"Brother, will you explain the Newton physics doubt?" I interrupted, my voice insistent.

"What's there to explain, man?" Mahesh's annoyance was palpable.

"You're a senior, so I'm asking for help. Please, brother, tell me."

"Hey, get lost."

"Do you even know it or not?" The words slipped out before I could stop them. In a flash, he grabbed my collar, pulling me close, his eyes blazing with fury.

"It's not that I don't know it, it's that I have no interest in telling you."

Just then, Karthik interjected, "Ask your professor about Mahesh, Hari, he'll tell you."

Srujan added, "He was the topper last year, man. You ask him if he knows it or not, wouldn't he get angry?"

"Oh, sorry, brother, please let go, I'll go," I mumbled, a strategic retreat.

"Get lost…" Mahesh released his grip.

I looked around. Kavya was gone.

"Where's Kavya?" Mahesh asked, a flicker of concern on his face.

"She left," Karthik replied. 

A wave of relief washed over me. This was exactly what I wanted.

I turned and walked away.

Upon entering the classroom, my eyes immediately found her. She sat alone on a bench, a solitary figure. As I walked past, a jolt, like an electric current, shot through me. She had reached out, her delicate hand closing around mine. The softness, the unexpected touch, sent a shiver down my spine.

I looked back. Her gaze was direct, unwavering, fixed on me. A flush crept up my neck. I, a man, would feel awkward in such a situation, yet she met my eyes with an unsettling frankness.

"Why didn't Abhi come today?" Kavya asked, her voice soft.

"He didn't tell me either," I replied, my voice a little rough.

"Sit down."

"I'll sit over there."

"Sit next to me, Krishna."

The name resonated. Krishna. Not Hari, the easy, common part of my name, but Krishna, the part my mother used. It was a subtle shift, yet it held a profound weight. 

People often called you by the easy part of your name – Hari from Hari Krishna, Pawan from Pawan Kalyan, Mohan from Chandra Mohan, Raja from Rajashekar. But when they used the "difficult" part, it was a mark of genuine interest.

I sat silently beside her, the unexpected intimacy almost overwhelming.

"If you’re a friend to him, then a friend to me too," Kavya said, breaking the silence.

"Hmm…" I offered, unsure how to respond.

"Hmm… What is it? You don't talk at all."

"I mean, I don't know how to make useless small talk. I only talk about things that matter."

She looked at me, a flicker of annoyance in her eyes, then a burst of laughter. 

The sound was light, melodic.

And just like that, the conversation ended. I didn't initiate anything further. She didn't greet me again. 

Tuesday passed in the same quiet rhythm.

Wednesday brought with it the college's traditional dress code event for freshers. Men were expected to wear silk dhotis, women sarees. The idea filled me with disdain. I ignored the directive, arriving in my usual chinos and cotton shirt.

Abhi, however, embraced the spirit, appearing in a crisp white khadi shirt and a silk dhoti. 

"What happened, you came in normal clothes?" he asked, a hint of amusement in his voice.

"I'm not interested, man," I shrugged.

"What will you say if someone asks?"

"I'll say I'm not interested. What's the big deal? Nothing will happen."

As we spoke, Abhi suddenly froze, his gaze fixed on something behind my shoulder.

Curious, I turned around.

From the college gate, Kavya emerged, a vision in a rose-colored saree, walking with an almost ethereal grace, like moonlight embodied. She waved at us. Abhi, his hand already raised, waved back, a silent greeting.

My heart hammered against my ribs, a rapid "dhap dhap" as she drew closer. Kavya reached us and joined her hands in a traditional greeting. I reciprocated, my own hand movements clumsy. She whispered something to Abhi.

"He doesn't bother with all this, Kavya," Abhi explained, a slight dismissiveness in his tone.

"Oh, really? Okay. Let's go inside."

A wave of self-loathing washed over me. Why was I so incapable of speaking to her? Perhaps she, being a girl, felt awkward, I reasoned, trying to find an excuse for my own inadequacy.

We moved into the seminar hall. The air buzzed with polite chatter, a meaningless drone. Kavya and Abhi remained close, their voices a continuous murmur as they discussed things I couldn't comprehend. What on earth were they talking about?

After what felt like an eternity, two hours passed, and the small talk ceased. We emerged from the hall. Kavya, ever the enthusiast, suggested taking photos in the campus garden.
I became the designated photographer, capturing Abhi and Kavya together. Without a special outfit, I felt out of place, excluded from the visual narrative. Abhi, with a casual familiarity, even posed with his hand on Kavya's shoulders. I clicked, a bitter taste of jealousy in my mouth, before focusing my lens solely on Kavya, trying to capture her beauty.

Later, I sent the photos to Abhi's WhatsApp. He, in turn, forwarded them to Kavya.

Ugh, my pathetic life. An absolute ass, utterly devoid of the sense to ask for a girl's number under the pretext of sharing photos. I deserved to jump into the nearest garden dustbin, hold my nose against the stench, and—commit suicide from lack of breath.


=
=

The quiet of the afternoon, a holiday reprieve from classes, settled over me as I arrived home around 1 PM. My Vadina, had prepared a comforting cabbage curry, and after eating, I found myself sprawled on the sofa, lost in thought. Peddamma, was out, and Vadina was engrossed in some work in her room. My mind drifted to Kavya and her friends. 

They’d asked me to download photos to my phone, but the thought of deleting them had never crossed Kavya’s mind. Why not? Perhaps she worried about my reaction.

Regardless, it felt wrong to keep a girl's photos without explicit permission.

I opened my gallery, my fingers drawn to Kavya’s solo shots. I tapped one, and there she was, breathtaking in a saree. 

There’s a certain allure a saree lends a woman, a grace that even a bikini can’t touch. The way it subtly reveals, the tantalizing glimpses it offers—the inventor of the saree was a genius, truly. 

My gaze lingered on her slender waist, sending shivers down my spine. Her face, so beautiful and sweet, and those twinkle-like eyes, utterly mesmerizing. That slender waist… when would the day come when I could taste those strawberry lips? Kavya, Kavya, Kavya… 

For her, I felt I could become a poet, weaving an epic ode to her beauty.p

"Who's Kavya, Hari?" Vadina’s voice, startlingly close, snapped me back to reality. My eyes flew open. She was standing right in front of me. Had I spoken my thoughts aloud? 

Damn! She was about to peek at my phone. I quickly exited the gallery, my heart thumping. Vadina’s smile was mischievous.

"Show me the photo, Hari."

"Which photo, Vadina?" I tried to get up and escape to my room, but she caught my hand, holding me firm.

"Hari, show me the photo."

"There’s no photo, Vadina."

"Kavya’s photo."

Osh…. She even heard the name.

"Who’s Kavya?" I feigned ignorance.

"Stop acting and show me."

I bolted towards my room, Vadina hot on my heels. "Hey, stop… Show me."

"Oh, there’s nothing, Vadina."

"If there’s nothing, then show me."

"I told you there’s nothing."

"If there’s nothing, why are you hesitant to show it?"

As I tried to evade her, to put distance between us, she lunged for my phone. I dodged left; she mirrored my move. She chased me, intent on snatching it.

"Oh, those are my photos."

"Oh, okay, show me your photos then."

"I’ll show you later."

She seized the phone from my hand. Fearing she'd open the gallery, I blocked her, gripping her hand.

"Oh, let me see, Hari."

"I said there’s nothing to see, why aren’t you listening?"

I moved forward, she turned back. I moved back, she turned forward. She playfully evaded my attempts to retrieve the phone, her movements fluid and quick. When I tried to grab her hands from behind, she’d slip further away.

"Give me the phone, Vadina, please."

"Aha… I’ll give it only if you show me the photos."

"No, I’ll show you later."

"No, I and Aunt will see them now."

"To Peddamma? No, wait."

As Vadina tried to escape my room, I swiftly wrapped my arms around her waist from behind, bringing her to a halt. I tightened my embrace, trying to reach the hand that held my phone, but she kept it just out of reach. I leaned further into her back, my long arms straining to pull back her right hand.

"Hari…"

"Give it, Vadina."

"I’ll just look once. Just see who Kavya is and how she looks."

"No, Vadina, it’s not what you think. I need to delete those photos. Give it to me."

"I won’t." With that, she tried to free her hands. I tightened my grip on her soft waist, then buried my face in the crook of her neck, asking for my phone, my eyes on hers, but she remained unyielding.

In that moment, Vadina turned her face and kissed my chin. My eagerness faltered. I looked down into her eyes, her body held captive in my arms, my hands still around her waist. She smiled slyly, her gaze playful.

"Give me the phone, Vadina, please."

"I’ll just look once at the photo of the girl you like."

"Is it necessary?"

"Hey, shouldn’t I see?"

"Hmm, okay…" I rested my face on Vadina’s right shoulder. She opened the gallery, right in front of me, and looked at Kavya’s photo.

"Oh my God, Hari, she’s beautiful ra!"

I don't know what came over me, but I was intoxicated by the scent of Vadina’s hair. I kissed her neck, just below her ear.

"Is she really good?"

"Mmmmm…" That wasn’t an answer, not really. Unable to control my burgeoning desire, I pressed my lips into her delicate neck.

"Shhh… What are you doing?"

I tightened my hold on her waist, parted my lips, and bit her soft neck.

"Agh… Hey, let go!"

She freed herself from my embrace, turned, and slapped my face, her anger radiating. 

"Rascal. Are you crazy? I’ll kill you… Do you have any sense at all?" She thrust my phone back into my hand. "Take it. Ugh… I didn't think you'd be like this, so shameless. I was just being playful because you’re my maridhee. I’ll knock your teeth out." Disgusted, she stormed out of my room. It was true, I had been too hasty.

Just then, she returned, cupped my face, tilted it, and showered it with kisses. "Mwah, mwah, mwah…" As her lips brushed my face, I wrapped my hands around her waist from behind and pulled her closer. She stopped, looking into my eyes.

"Forgive me, Vadina."

The next moment, her lips found mine. In surprise, overwhelmed by desire, I fiercely squeezed her waist. She deepened the kiss, her lips moving more passionately. I leaned in, taking her lower lip into my mouth. She pulled away.

"Enough, Aunt might come."

"Just one more kiss." I whispered, and kissed Vadina’s lips again. For the first time, our salivas mingled. She pushed me back and left. 

I never expected Vadina to harbor such feelings for me. 

“Sometimes, answers don't come immediately when asked. 

It seems, situations prepare the arrival of those answers.”

——————————++++++++

[Projectmp]

Wohhha .. finally it has happened. After all these years they tasted each other

[Haran000]

Wohhha .. finally it has happened. After all these years they tasted each other

Thank you for encouraging.

[Haran000]

9. Fate

The phone was the initial spark. My sister-in-law and I wrestled for it, a playful struggle that quickly ignited a deeper current within me. As my hand found her waist, a thrill shot through me, and I impulsively kissed her neck. She told me to stop, but I was beyond listening, pulling her in for another kiss. A slap, a scolding—her initial reaction was one of resistance, yet the warmth of her own desire must have drawn her back, for soon she returned the kiss, a passionate response that utterly shattered the fear I had so long suppressed. Emboldened, I kissed her again. Our lips met, a shared warmth that spoke volumes of her growing affection. A craving for more intensified within me, and I tightened my embrace around her waist, pulling her closer still. Then, a subtle hesitation flickered across her face. After a moment's thought, she gently disengaged from my grasp and slipped out of the room. 

Was it fear? A sudden sense of impropriety? I couldn't say.

The knowledge that we were alone in the house, just the two of us, fueled my courage and resolve. I followed her, catching the end of her saree just outside her room. She turned, her hand gently closing over mine.

“Let go, Hari,” Sandhya said, her voice soft.

Ignoring her words, I tugged the saree, stepped forward, and once more, my arms encircled her waist. I leaned in and kissed her cheek. I felt her resistance begin to melt under the heat of my kiss.

“You asked for a kiss, I gave it,” she murmured, her voice a little breathless. “Go away.”

“There’s no limit to human desire, is there, Vadina?” I countered. “If you have a hundred, you desire a thousand; if you have a thousand, you desire a lakh; if you have a lakh, you desire a crore.” I bent my head, pressing my warm lips against the soft skin beneath her cheek. She attempted to push me away, but her body was already softening in my embrace.

Finally, I released her. She walked silently into her room, and I followed. She turned away shyly as I entered, but I stepped closer, wrapping my arms around her from behind. Her alluring back welcomed me, a silent invitation that intensified the heat already building inside. Slowly, I brought her thick, long braid around to the front. She offered no protest. I pressed my lips just beneath her head, at the nape of her neck, feeling a subtle shiver run down her spine.

“Vadina,” I whispered, “am I right, that you like?”

“Hmm…” she responded softly.

I trailed another kiss lower, on her back. “You didn’t say you like kissing too.”

My kiss seemed to electrify her. She reached back and held my hands, which were still clasped in front of her.

“Stop, Hari,” she pleaded, her voice a little strained. “Don’t entertain this thought. Forget what happened.”

I stood up and gently turned her to face me. Her gaze was averted, shy. I cupped her cheeks, lifting her face until her eyes met mine.

“I’ll sleep next to you tonight, Vadina,” I stated, my voice low.

She leaned into me, hugging me tightly. 

I returned her embrace, holding her close. “Is this why you let me sleep next to you?” I asked.

“Mmm…”

She lifted her head, her hand caressing my cheek. I kissed her lips. She responded by locking my upper lip between both of hers, a gentle bite accompanying the kiss. The press of her breast against my chest, the quickening of her breath—it all fueled the intensity. We kissed passionately, drawing on each other’s lips.

Leaving her lips, I moved downwards, inch by inch, tracing a path to her neck. Then, I gently pushed aside the blouse on her left shoulder and kissed the soft skin there. She caught my face in her hands, stopping me.

“I don’t know what it is,” Sandhya confessed, her eyes wide, “but if you keep staring like that, my feelings for you just overflow.”

“I fell for you the day I saw you, Vadina,” I admitted.

“I know,” she replied, a faint smile touching her lips.

“That’s why you didn’t say anything to me, I guess.”

“Hmm…”

“Then why did you hit me a while ago?” I asked, recalling her initial resistance.

“I don’t know…” she mused, a slight frown creasing her brow. “For a minute, I didn’t want it.”

I bit her shoulder gently with my lips again.

“Hah…” A small gasp escaped her lips.

“That day, I didn’t put my leg on you. Did I?” I teased, remembering a previous instance.

“I liked it. I pulled it myself,” she confessed, her shyness returning.

Bending a little more, I attempted to pull her saree down, but she stopped me. Undeterred, I let the saree fall below her chest, giving a kiss an inch above the blouse hooks, between her milky white breasts.

“Mmm…” she moaned softly. “Don’t go that far.” Yet, her hand went behind my head, pulling me closer.

“Umm… How can I not?” I whispered, intoxicated by her body fragrance and the scent of her sweat. I showered kisses there, reveling in the moment.

“Sh… Hari, stop,” she urged, though her body betrayed her words. I pressed into the crease of her waist, a deliberate, lustful touch.

“Ahh…” A soft cry escaped her. She clutched my head, pulling it back, but I leaned forward with renewed vigor, continuing my kisses in her milky cleavage.

“Ummm… Vadina, the pleasure of sleeping with my head on these is different,” I murmured, my voice thick with desire. “Now, as I kiss, I can’t believe it.”

With my movements, her pallu slipped completely off. The tips of her breasts, outlined by her blouse, seemed to beckon me, and she burned with shyness. I began to stroke my hand upwards from her waist, but she stopped me, pulling me into a tight embrace. She showered kisses on my neck.

“I want you too, Hari,” she confessed, her voice muffled against my skin.

“Then why didn’t you tell me all these days?” I asked, a mix of relief and longing in my voice.

“I was scared. Don’t you think it’s wrong?” she whispered.

“I don’t know all that, Vadina,” I replied truthfully, my focus solely on her. I brought my left palm between us, resting it on her right breast. She flinched at my touch.

“Ahh… No,” she gasped.

I ran my thumb over her nipple. As if numb, she leaned the weight of her breast into my hand. It fit perfectly, completely filling my palm.

“Oh, I don’t know how many eons I’ve waited to touch these,” I murmured, overwhelmed.

“You don’t know how many times you’ve touched them, Hari,” she said, a playful note in her voice.

I didn’t understand. I looked up into her eyes, confused. She kissed my chin.

“Yes, Hari…” she confessed, a blush creeping onto her cheeks. “When you were asleep, I used to put your hand on them and squeeze them.”

“Really? What kind of twist is this, Vadina?” I asked, surprised. I gently squeezed her plump boob over blouse, full in my hand, once.

“Mmmmm…” she moaned, a soft sound of pleasure. “But now, when you’re squeezing it, it’s making me so hot.”

I pressed again.

“Ahh… Mmm…” She closed her eyes, biting her lip. I kissed her neck, squeezing her breast like an orange, showering wet kisses on her neck.

“Hari, I’m scared, let go,” she whispered, her voice laced with a tremor.

“Peddamma is outside, isn’t she, Vadina?” I asked, knowing her mother-in-law was not present.

“No, she might come. Go to your room. After a while, go pick up Vedh from college.”

“I’ll take care of that, Vadina,” I assured her, continuing my kisses on her neck. She reveled in my wet kisses on her warm body. As my thumb playfully caressed her nipple, she eagerly kissed me back, a silent encouragement.

“Move away?” she asked, a hint of question in her voice.

“No, I can’t. Do you know how many days I’ve been waiting?”

“Next week, your brother is going to Hyderabad for a day for some work, he said,” she offered, a new hope in her voice. “Wait until then, Hari. You can sleep next to me then.”

“Really?” I asked, my voice filled with anticipation. I squeezed her breast again, unable to stop myself.

“Ahh… Stop it, you donkey,” she playfully scolded, though her tone was soft.

“Is what you’re saying true?” I pressed, wanting to be sure.

“Yes… He told me himself. I like it too, Hari, just have a little patience. Let go now.” She pushed me away gently and adjusted her saree.

“Go…” she said, a finality in her voice.

“Okay,” I replied, a hopeful smile playing on my lips.


*

The evening brought my brother home, leaving me no room for pretense. Yet Sandhya, was so consumed by shyness that her gaze couldn't meet mine directly. Her bashfulness, however, only fanned the flames of my desire.

A desperate longing to kiss her, even under the flimsiest of pretexts, gnawed at me. Then, a thought sparked: my nightly ritual of drinking milk before bed. Or, when studies called, a cup of tea. Surely, I mused, Sandhya would bring the milk to my room, using it as an excuse. But my hopes were dashed when she simply called out, telling me to fetch it myself from the kitchen. Just then, my brother, Santhosh, emerged from the kitchen, a water bottle in hand.

"Turn off the lights, Sandhya," Santhosh instructed.

"Oh, okay," she replied softly.

"Brother, I'm not going to college tomorrow," I announced, seizing the opportunity.

"Why?" he asked, surprised.

"Just because," I mumbled, offering no further explanation.

"Alright, as you wish," he conceded. "But tomorrow, ask Sudhakar anna next door for his bike and take Peddamma to the Sai Baba temple for Annadanam."

"Oh, okay," I agreed, a plan already beginning to form in my mind.

After Santhosh left, I reached for the milk cup, our shoulders brushing as I did. In an instant, she grabbed my shirt, pulling me closer. The cup clattered as I set it down, her arms encircling my waist.

"Brother will see," I whispered, my heart pounding.

"He's going, isn't he?" Sandhya countered, a playful glint in her eyes. "Why are you staring at me like that? He will get suspicious if you look like that."

"Who told you to smile so shyly in the first place?" I teased, my voice a low murmur.

"Well, you were looking at me like that," she retorted, her lips curving into a captivating smile.

Gently stroking my hair, she rose onto her tiptoes and kissed my cheek. Seizing the moment, I leaned in, my lips seeking hers. She pulled my head down, and we savored each other's lips, a passionate dance of unspoken desire.

"Enough?" she whispered, pulling away slightly.

"Not enough," I breathed, still lost in the moment.

"Go, you donkey..." she said, a soft, affectionate laugh escaping her lips.

I picked up the milk and retreated to my room, the memory of her kiss lingering on my lips.




Thursday, My brother left for the office, leaving the house quiet. After picking up Vedanth from college and dropping him off, I returned home to Peddamma's instruction to bathe; we had to be at the temple by ten.

As the water streamed over me during my bath, an idea, brilliant and audacious, began to crystallize. Peddamma and I would be going to the temple. My role there was merely to accompany her; the Annadanam meal program would likely continue until at least one o'clock, meaning Peddamma would probably be done eating by twelve-thirty.

The crucial detail was that Sandhya had declined to join us at the temple. This meant she would be alone at home. If she'd already packed my brother's lunch, the cooking was likely finished. Vedanth's lunch only needed to be given at noon.

I could drop Peddamma near the temple by ten-twenty and wouldn't need to return until twelve-thirty. That would give me over an hour, precious and uninterrupted, to be with Sandhya at home.

That's enough. This much is enough. Let's go.


I showered, dried myself meticulously, and got dressed. Stepping out into the hall, my anticipation soared, only to plummet. Sandhya, whom I expected to see in a nighty, was in a saree. She had adorned herself with a bindi, her hair neatly braided, and in her hands, she held a small flower basket and a coconut cover. Perhaps Peddamma had asked her to carry them.

"Hari, I'll walk," Sandhya said, her voice unexpectedly firm. "You lock the house and bring Auntie on the bike. Okay?"

She had become a wily one, outmaneuvering me at every turn. I nodded, feeling like a lamb led to slaughter.

"I've packed Vedanth’s tiffin box," she continued, shattering my last shred of hope. "You drop auntie, stay at college for just two minutes to give the ayah the lunch bag, and then come to the temple."

"Okay, Vadina," I replied, the words tasting like ash.

“Fate has a script of its own.”

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[Projectmp]

Waiting for the big day when all barriers will break

[tting4tting4]

love the story and frequent updates, pls keep the updates flowing!

[santhu304]

Awesome