Disclaimer:
This story is a work of fiction, crafted from my imagination and narrative instincts. While I acknowledge that no story is created in a vacuum--and many ideas are shaped by the stories we read, live, and dream--this work remains my original creation. Any unauthorised copying, reproduction, or redistribution is strictly prohibited.
All characters in this story are fictional and above the age of 18.
Please respect the boundaries of creative ownership--and enjoy the journey.
--Harshita
I
Fifteen minutes ago, in the rising heatwave of mid-October, the gang--as they liked to call themselves--decided to chill at their usual hookah bar, "Smokes." Their final exams were over, and today was the last day to get all their assignments checked and graded. Nitesh and Omkar were done and had already left for Smokes to make a reservation. Rishabh had left too--he'd pick up his father's car from the service station and then head to Smokes.
The remaining four--Ajay, Ankita, Vineeta, and Ashwini--were the only ones still stuck at college. Ankita and Vineeta were in line, waiting to get their projects signed and graded. Since they had no vehicles of their own, Ajay and Ashwini had stayed back with them.
Ankita was the first to get her assignment graded. As she walked toward them, Ajay found himself thinking how much of an ideal girl-next-door she was. She was short, with shoulder-length hair that framed her face and drew attention to her striking hazel eyes and bright smile. Her curvy figure--with ample breasts and rounded hips--naturally turned heads wherever she went. She also had this distinctive way of walking--a slight bounce in her steps that gave her an air of playful energy.
That day, Ankita wore a snug khaki T-shirt, neatly tucked into her olive-green, baggy cargo pants, accentuating her frame. The fit of her shirt, combined with the spring in her step, made her chest bounce slightly--something Ajay couldn't help but notice. For that matter, neither could Ashwini. As soon as Ashwini caught it, she flicked her gaze toward Ajay, like she was trying to catch him red-handed. She did.
"Done and dusted, finally! No more assignments, just the wait for results now," Ankita said, sounding both relieved and exhausted.
"Vineeta?" Ashwini asked.
"I think she still has four or five people ahead of her in line. She should be out in about ten odd minutes."
"Ten? I don't think that's long," Ashwini replied. "We should wait for her, shouldn't we? Or should two of us go ahead?"
Ajay knew she was being earnest--she didn't want to leave her friend behind--but he also knew Ashwini didn't like waiting. The shorter the wait, the more easily she broke down. He also feared she wanted to leave with Ankita just so she could tell on him for looking at her breasts.
"Not a problem. Two of us can go on ahead," Ankita agreed, then turned to him and asked, barely able to hide her excitement, "Did you bring your bike to college?"
The anticipation in her voice was impossible to miss. Catching the energy, Ajay simply smiled, pulled out the keys, and tossed them over--a silent answer to both her questions: whether he brought the bike, and whether she could drive it.
**
Ankita did not drop the keys. She jumped and hugged Ajay tightly.
"Thank you so much, I've been waiting to give it a try since you said you booked one. Let's go!"
Lost in her own excitement, she failed to notice Ashwini's disappointed face--or the excitement brimming in Ajay's eyes. She just gave Ashwini a few instructions on where to wait for Vineeta and walked away with Ajay.
Ankita was crazy about bikes, and the gang knew it. She would practically beg anyone who'd listen to let her take their bike for a spin. And she was good at it. Her elder brother, an instructor in race track courses, had shown her the ropes. So she was pretty sure she could handle it better than Ajay himself. But she also knew--when you're riding an Italian for the first time, best not to be boastful about it.
And just like that, fifteen minutes had gone by. Ankita was having the time of her life on the bike. The grunts that brought the engine to life as she shifted up and down the gearbox were pure, smooth pleasure. They'd left the college far behind, unaware of what lay ahead.
Ajay held her waist firmly, yet gently, as they neared Smokes. Ankita liked Ajay--but not in that way. He was sweet, kind, and honest to a fault. The kind of person whose face betrayed every emotion he felt, making it impossible for him to lie or hide what was on his mind. There was something endearing about that--about knowing exactly what he was thinking without him having to say a word.
So yes, she liked him. As a friend.
But her adorable friend wasn't always so sweet. Ankita had, on occasion, caught him staring at her breasts. Whenever he realised she'd caught him, Ajay would turn beet red and quickly make himself scarce. Ankita found it harmless--and frankly, a little amusing--to watch him fumble and stutter in those moments. Slowly though, she realised she'd stopped reacting altogether. As if she'd just allowed him to sneak glances, relying on the confidence that she was completely covered and wouldn't reveal a thing.
Just like those times, Ankita knew he wasn't being adorable with the waist grab either. As they neared Smokes, Ajay's hands, which had initially rested near the curve of her lower back, seemed to have slowly slid along her sides, his fingers inching forward, moving across her waist towards the taut plane of her stomach. To confirm her suspicion, at the next turn, she leaned the bike more as she entered the corner. And sure enough, his hands slipped further ahead--but didn't return to their original position when they straightened up.
Even through her top, she could feel his fingers trying to map how far away her navel was.
She chuckled to herself. Never had men will be men resonated so strongly before.
Wait a minute, is this okay? she wondered.
Before she could say anything, an unseasonal October rain caught her off guard. The rain was sudden, heavy, and unrelenting, drenching everything within seconds. Ankita quickly but safely switched to the slow lane. Not only was the prickling rain on her face a concern, but Ankita was also dreading to look at what it was doing to her top.
But she had to look. And unfortunately, her fears proved right. As she glanced down, she was greeted with the deepest cleavage and a rich purple bra. It was as if the T-shirt had dissolved in the rain.
She knew they had to stop.
"Bro! We have to stop. You'll have to take over," she said out loud to Ajay--but he couldn't make out anything. The rain and traffic noises completely swallowed her words.
"What did you say?" she heard him ask over the honking cars.
Instead of repeating, she halted in front of an isolated half-baked shed and asked Ajay to get down.
"You'll have to take over the riding," she said, reading the perplexed look on his face.
He relaxed.
But as Ankita got down and turned toward him, his mouth fell wide open. His face said exactly how little her soaked top left to the imagination. Ajay couldn't take his eyes off her. She saw his gaze travel all over her body--from her chest to her flat belly, to the thin waist, and the widening hips. As his eyes drank it all in, Ankita could only cover her body in shame. One of her hands went to her bosoms, and the other covered her mostly bare belly.
"I'm so sorry, Ankita," Ajay snapped out of it and mumbled an apology. "I didn't mean to stare."
Ankita was amused by his choice of words. She saw the genuineness in his apology and knew it could get awkward fast if she dragged it out.
So instead, she tried to keep it casual.
"Dude, your jaw was practically on the ground," she said. "You were gawking at them--I mean, me." She stuttered.
Why did I do that to myself.
Maybe it was guilt, or some sense of responsibility, but Ajay began digging into his backpack.
"Wait--let me see if I can help you."
To both their dismay, Ajay couldn't find a single extra layer of clothing to cover her. Ankita, not wanting to be a passive participant in protecting her own modesty, withdrew the hand covering her belly and fished out her phone.
"This call will decide whether you drop me home or take me with you to Smokes," she said.
She called Vineeta, only to find out the girls had also been caught in the rain and ended up in a similar situation. They'd made the smart move and headed straight to Ashwini's house nearby. Which meant--they couldn't help her.
Ankita hung up and, as she was dialling another number, caught Ajay stealing glances at her again.
"Dude!" was all she said, exasperated.
The ringer tone in her ear merged with his apology. Without thinking, Ankita raised a finger to signal him to stop, her other hand still holding the phone. And instead of reaching back for her breasts, she absentmindedly covered her ear--to hear better--not realising yet that it left her chest completely exposed.
"Oh, Omkar! It's you. Where's Rishabh?" she asked.
Omkar was that friend who always took a few extra seconds to catch on--so talking to him meant keeping it simple. Real simple.
"Never mind. Listen! Yes and no answers only, okay? Does anyone there have a jacket I can wear?"
"I don't. Wait, let me ask Nitesh... He says no too. Wait! Rishabh has a jacket in his car."
"Great." Ankita pumped a victory fist in the air. "Okay, good. We're just around the corner from Smokes. Tell him to bring it outside, and let him know I owe him a 'no questions asked' favour. One favour. No strings attached. Thanks, bye."
She hung up and looked at Ajay--only to find him having a deep heart-to-heart with her breasts. It was then she realised her mistake. She waited, hoping he'd notice on his own.
A couple of seconds passed.
"What are they saying?" she asked him.
"Who?" Ajay replied, still focused on her chest.
Ankita realised this could take forever. She snapped her fingers in his face.
"Shit!" was his response. He began speaking but Ankita rolled her eyes and interrupted, "Drop it. Seriously, just drop it."
"No no! Actually, I was thinking what we could do till we reach Smokes. You obviously can't go like this. So, I was thinking--you could use this backpack to cover yourself up."
And truly, he did have his backpack in his hand.
Good save.
Without saying anything, she put the backpack in front of her, covering her torso, and sat behind him as they made their way to Smokes.
As planned, Rishabh was standing outside, puffing on his cigarette, waiting for them. By then, the rain's violence had reduced to a musical pitter-patter, but it was still pouring. Ankita got down before Ajay could even park the bike, and without wasting any time on greetings, snatched the shopping bag from Rishabh's hand and headed down the alley toward Smokes behind him.
II
