"Since you are staring at it for such a long time, the least you can do in return is to massage my feet." Kalpana announced flatly.
Mahesh froze. He had no idea she was awake. They were on the first class bogey in the Rajdhani Express. It was an AC premium train and the journey was for 36 hours. Their bogey had a sliding door and had six berths. Today, being a weekday, the entire compartment was deserted and they were the only ones in their bogey with 4 empty berths. Normally, men would have been overjoyed at this. 36 hours, alone with a gorgeous woman clad in shorts and a halter top. However, Mahesh was a colossal failure with women. At 25, he had never even kissed a girl before. He was a stuttering, nervous wreck around women and most of his attempts to ask women out ended in laughter. Once he landed a job, however, he grew in confidence and was able to at least talk to women. However, it was very difficult to find dates now, since most women he met were already committed.
Kalpana, on contrast, was a bold, outgoing 27 year old woman who had a bunch of ex-partners in her life. She estimated her current list was over 41 and she was actively searching for no42. It was not lost on her either that she would be spending the next 36 hours in a closed bogey with this man. However, one look at him and she was filled with disdain. He was scrawny, definitely younger than her and was not a lot to look at. Nevertheless, teasing men was in her instinct and she had deliberately crossed and uncrossed her legs, bare past her short shorts from the moment she walked in while ostensibly reading a Novel. Mahesh had been mesmerised and was staring shamelessly. She deliberately flicked her slippers aside and moved her feet up and down. After around half hour, she went to sleep. Some time later, when she woke up, she was shocked to see him still staring at her legs.
Of course, she loved it when men stared at her body. She even encouraged it constantly. For the last six years, she had never won anything that covered her feet past her knees. But this. It was ore than an hour now. And, in addition, he was staring while she was asleep. That was creepy. Of course, she had no fear. She was an expert Karate fighter and could hold her own against even 3-4 able-bodied men when needed. This boy was not able-bodied and she could tear him to pieces if needed. However, she decided to handle things in a different way. Admittedly, she had worked out more than usual that day and her legs were aching. And so, she gave a flat statement.
"Since you are staring at it for such a long time, the least you can do in return is to massage my feet."
"I, um. I was not-" Mahesh could not even deny it outright. He knew he was caught.
"Don't you dare." She announced with such venom that Mahesh flinched. " I gave you more than half hour to stop this creepy behaviour. Now, stand up."
Mahesh stood up instantly. "Drop your shirt and pants."
Mahesh stared in shock. "No, I won't."
Kalpana got down from her berth and towered over him. She repeated her order and all fight went out of Mahesh. He dropped his shirt and his pants and stood meekly in front of her.
"My suitcase is under my berth, pick it up and hand it to me."
Mahesh praised the Gods that, he was wearing his brand new underwear today. Guilt at being caught staring made him completely unable to disobey Kalpana. She was standing regally with her hands on her hips while he bent down to retrieve her suitcase. He pulled it out and stood up.