The heat of the New Year pressed at the Lakshi's ancestral home.
"Finally decided to join us?" Lakshi asked.
She leaned against the wooden doorframe, her bare shoulders glowing with sweat under her untied sarong.
Nimmi's throat went dry.
"I.wasn't sure if I would."
"That's enough stalling." Riya said in a commanding voice.
Riya was seated on the polished teak bench, in her lavender nightie.
"Come inside girl. We've been waiting."
The door clicked shut behind them with ominous finality.
The bathing courtyard was a hidden place where a massive clay pot of warmed coconut oil stood in the center.
"Remove your slippers," Riya commanded.
"You won't need them."
Nimmi obeyed, her bare feet pressing against sun-warmed stone.
Lakshi circled behind her like a contented leopard.
"Such pretty toes," Lakshi said, her hands coming to rest on Nimmi's shoulders.
"So delicate. I wonder."
"Enough teasing, Lakshi. We have rituals to observe." Said Riya.
"But the teasing is the best part," Lakshi said, though she obediently stepped back.
"Eyes on me, little one." Riya said as she patted the space between her spread thighs.
"Sit."
Nimmi settled between Riya's knees.
"Good girl," Riya said.
"Now let's begin."
The first touch of Riya's oil-slick hands on her bare shoulders made Nimmi gasp.
"You're holding your breath," Riya said.
"Don't. I want to hear every sigh, every hitch in your breathing."
"She's trying so hard to be good," Lakshi said.
She tracied patterns in the oil dripping down Nimmi's arm.
Riya's hands moved lower, skimming the edge of Nimmi's diya redda where it clung to her upper back.
"This is in the way," she said, her fingers slipping beneath the fabric.
Nimmi stiffened.
Riya's other hand came up to cup her throat, not squeezing, just holding.
"We're just getting you comfortable. Isn't that right, Lakshi?"
Lakshi's response was to lean in and drag her tongue along the newly exposed curve of Nimmi's shoulder.
"Very comfortable."
The diya redda slid lower, catching momentarily on the swell of Nimmi's breasts before Riya gave a firm tug, baring her to the waist.
Nimmi gasped, her nipples pebbling instantly in the warm air.
"Beautiful," Riya said.
Her hands came up to cup the aching flesh.
"Now let's see how much more of you we can uncover."
Riya's hands glided over Nimmi's bare torso with possessive ease, circling her breasts, thumbing her nipples, and the delicate ridges of her ribs while Lakshi watched.
"Stand up," Riya commanded suddenly, giving Nimmi's hip a light slap.
Nimmi rose suddenly aware of how exposed she was from the waist up.
Lakshi made a show of slowly licking her lips as she rose to circle Nimmi.
"I think.we're being unfair," she said.
Her hands come to rest on the knot of Nimmi's diya redda.
Riya arched one perfect eyebrow.
"Oh?"
"Poor thing is half naked while we're still dressed," Lakshi pointed out
"Shouldn't we even things out?"
The look Riya gave Nimmi was positively predatory.
"An excellent point."
Riya reached for the hem of her nightie and drew it over her head in one fluid motion, revealing a body.
Lakshi too simply let her sarong fall in a pool at her feet, standing gloriously naked in the sunlight.
Nimmi's breath came in short as Lakshi's fingers returned to the knot of her diya redda.
"Shall we?"
Riya moved behind Nimmi, her bare breasts pressing against the girl's back.
The fabric slid away, leaving her utterly exposed.
