Editor's note: this fictional work contains scenes of fictional mind control, rough, reluctant, dubiously consensual, consensually non-consensual (CNC), or non-consensual sex or scenarios.
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Just after the lively wedding in Ahmedabad, I was set to travel next to Sikar, a small, quiet town in Rajasthan. I was bubbling with excitement, looking forward to meeting my family after a long, lonely year apart. What I didn't realize was that my luck was about to take a turn for the worse.
I planned to catch a flight to Jaipur, then continue to Sikar by road. I reached the airport early in the morning, dressed in a breezy long skirt and a comfy tank top, hoping to keep the summer heat at bay. As I walked into the airport, I was met with a piece of news that felt like a bucket of cold water on my excitement: my flight was canceled due to a technical fault. To add to the woes, there were no other flights available for the next two days due to the peak festival season.
In my mind, I could hear a little voice saying, "What a time for things to go wrong!"
Feeling lost and unsure, I wanted nothing more than to be with my parents. In my desperation, I took up a suggestion from a fellow traveler to rent a car and drive to Jaipur. I hurried to a nearby car rental agency, hoping for a silver lining. All they had left was an old car. It wasn't ideal, but in my situation, it was a lifesaver.
Then came another shock. They didn't accept card payments or online transfers. I found myself thinking, "Who in this day and age doesn't use digital payments?" But, with little choice left, I parted with all the emergency cash I had tucked away, leaving me with an empty wallet but a glimmer of hope.
Finally, I set off on my journey to Jaipur, not a penny left with me but glad that I would be with my family in a day. Little did I know, my troubles were far from over, and my trip was about to become a series of unfortunate events.
I'd been driving for about an hour when my car started to grumble and groan as if complaining about the journey. Suddenly, it just stopped, refusing to budge another inch. My heart sank as I stepped out, lifted the hood, and was immediately hit by a cloud of smoke. The engine had overheated, and there was no way it was going to take me any further.
I reached for my phone, hoping to call the rental agency, but my heart sank further when I realized there was no cell reception in this remote area. No cash, no phone signal -- I felt completely cut off from the world. In my frustration, I kicked the car's tire and slumped down by the side of the road, tears welling up in my eyes.
"No use crying over it, Mansi" I muttered to myself, brushing away the tears and dusting off my clothes. I stood up and started flagging down passing vehicles, hoping to hitch a ride to the nearest town. But despite my pleas, nobody stopped.
Just when I was beginning to lose hope, a large truck rumbled to a halt, and two men climbed out. I couldn't help but feel a small glimmer of hope returning.
The two men were opposite to each other. The driver, a burly man with a sun-weathered face, had a thick mustache that seemed to hide his expressions. He wore a faded plaid shirt, the sleeves rolled up revealing muscular arms marked by years of labor
Beside him was a younger man, perhaps in his early twenties. He was lanky and had a lean look about him, like he was all skin and bones wore a simple white shirt and denim jeans, slightly stained from dust and grime.
The driver approached me, his broad frame casting a long shadow in the rising sun. His words were laced with a thick Bihari accent, as earthy and robust as the man himself. "Madam, what seems to be the issue?" he asked, his voice echoing the concern reflected in his dark, deep-set eyes.
I found myself pouring out my predicament, explaining the unfortunate events that had left me stranded in the middle of nowhere. His face softened as he heard my tale, and he offered a glimmer of hope. "We're heading towards Jaipur," he said, "we can give you a lift." His offer, though generous, brought a twinge of skepticism. I was alone, in an unknown territory, and the prospect of traveling with two strangers was intimidating.
"My name's Brijesh," he said, breaking through my thoughts. He gestured towards the younger man standing a few feet away. "And this here is Raju, my conductor." He then instructed Raju in a firm tone, "Fetch the lady's luggage."
As Raju dutifully moved towards my stranded car, Brijesh leaned in, his voice dropping a few decibels. "Madam," he began, the weight of his following words hanging in the air, "I will need some payment for this trip."
My heart pounded in my chest as I answered, "I don't have any cash on me right now, but I can pay you when we reach Jaipur."
He shook his head, his gaze drifting over me in a way that sent a shiver of unease down my spine. "I don't need money, madam ji," he said, his tone heavy with unsaid implications.
At 22 years of age, I stood five feet five inches. I was skinny from childhood and wore a pair of A cups till high school. In college, I blossomed and moved to a B cup and I gained some fat in the right places after puberty. I was now a head-turner. I was by no means fat but had weight right where it should have been. A nice rack was complimented by a slim waist with a hint of fat around the hip. A taut, round butt above a pair of nicely fleshed thighs completed me.
Feeling a rush of fear, I immediately retreated a step. "I can find another ride. You can leave," I managed to say, my voice firmer than I felt.
"No problem, madam ji," he replied nonchalantly, signaling to Raju to stop loading my luggage. As he turned to leave, he threw over his shoulder, "Just so you know, this highway isn't the safest. There are robbers around. We might be your only chance."