Author's Note:
Hey folks! A huge thanks to all the readers for the tremendous response to my last story, 'The King's Last Wish'. Loved all the positive feedback and comments.
Welcome to my new story. This started out as something very smutty and raunchy. But, as the characters took shape and the story developed, it finally ended up very heartfelt, sentimental and romantic. I reworked it quite a bit. Just like the title, the story itself has gone through metamorphosis.
Hope you enjoy it. I'll look forward to your comments. Special thanks to Literotica author PennameWombat for reviewing this chapter.
All the characters in this story are above 18 years of age.
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Metamorphosis
. A process during which a small larva transforms into a beautiful butterfly. The larva spins a cocoon around itself and undergoes a transformation within. It finally emerges from the cocoon as an adult butterfly; fully developed; ready to spread its wings and take flight.
I gazed into Shreya's cute, pixie face. We sat in the food court of PVR IMAX, waiting for our show to start. There was still half an hour left. Shreya sipped her coffee. I indulged in a scoop of Belgian dark-chocolate ice-cream.
I tried to focus on her words but her red glossy lips distracted me. I wanted to reach across the table and kiss those succulent lips. Her long, black hair shone under the lights. She'd had them curled recently with maroon highlights.
She looked stunning in her pink off-shoulder top. It displayed quite a bit of skin on her shoulders and chest. The top hugged her figure and accentuated her curves. White capri jeans complimented her tight butt and toned legs.
At 23 years of age, Shreya was three years younger than me. She was a banker and a big movie buff. That's how I had met her a year before, during one of the regular movie hangouts that I have with my team. One of my teammates, Nicky, was roommates with Shreya and had invited her along. Luckily, Shreya had sat next to me during the show. We had hit it off instantly and had been dating since. We really liked each other and the sex was mind-blowing!
She stopped talking, suddenly. There was a frown on her face.
"Sam, that fellow's done nothing but stare at us since we arrived," she said in a hushed tone. With her eyes, she gestured towards an adjacent table.
I turned sideways and caught the guy looking at us. A sense of recognition came over both our faces, simultaneously.
"Sameer Negi?" he asked, waving at me.
Shit! Of all the people in Delhi, we had to run into this guy!
I smiled and waved back. He excused himself from his friends and walked over to us. We greeted each other.
"Sameer! It's so good to see you, buddy!"
"Likewise!" I lied, smiling.
"This is Aryan, an old school mate," I said to Shreya, "And... this is Shreya, she's..."
"...his girlfriend," said Shreya, immediately. She reached out and shook Aryan's hand.
I was pleasantly surprised. This was the first time Shreya had introduced herself as my girlfriend. We had a discussion about these semantics when we first started dating. We had agreed to take it slow with the emotions and romance. Her previous relationship had left a sour taste. She didn't want to commit in haste.
"Join us, please. I've never met any of Sam's school friends," she said.
Aryan pulled up an empty chair and joined us. I could immediately sense that he was smitten by Shreya.
He said to her, "I am really sorry for staring from over there. I just kept looking at Sameer, wondering if I knew this guy. He looked familiar yet different. I'd never have thought, this was the same Sameer I knew back in high school."
He turned to me and said, "I mean, look at you, dude! Nice physique, styled hair, no spectacles, impeccable fashion sense. You look like a professional model! Wait, are you?"
I smiled and said, "Nope."
I ran an event management company with two of my friends from MBA. I wore an olive-green t-shirt with blue jeans for the evening. I had been using contact lenses for the past two years. Regular workout and a bit of hair care completed the ensemble.
Aryan turned to Shreya again and said, "Most intriguing was that he was sitting here, with you. In a million years, I could've never imagined Sameer to be dating such a beauty!"
Here we go!
Shreya had her fair share of experience dealing with flirts. She knew how to handle them.
"I guess I am the fortunate one, to have hooked up with such a hunk like Sam!" she said.
She put her hand on mine and gave a gentle caress. The gesture wasn't lost on Aryan and he backed off.
We spoke briefly, about life in general. Aryan mostly spoke about himself; how he's taking a break after graduation before he joins his family business. He boasted of having a good time in Delhi, partying and enjoying life. I and Shreya stole several covert glances at each other, rolling our eyes each time.
About twenty minutes later, I said, "It was nice meeting you, Aryan. I am afraid, we need to get going. The movie is about to start."
"Yeah, sure. I need to get back to my friends. It was nice seeing you. Such a transformation! You talk and carry yourself so confidently now, with such flair. We definitely need to hangout," Aryan said.
We exchanged contact details and said goodbyes. As soon as we were out of the food court, I cursed, "Jerk!"
Shreya burst out laughing. "What an asshole! What was that all about?"
"Aryan was the heartthrob back in high school. He was the star batsman in the school cricket team. Girls loved him. Unsurprisingly, he was an arrogant jackass with an air of superiority. I was a pathetic nobody. We rarely spoke."
"Wow! He was almost gushing over you back there."
"Yeah! Funny, isn't it? He was taken by surprise seeing me like this, with you."
"His reaction towards you, really intrigued me. You never talk about your school or college days. You get all defensive."
"I don't get 'defensive'. There's nothing to talk, really. It's all very boring."
She rolled her eyes and said, "Please! People don't just transform from a 'pathetic nobody' into a 'professional model' overnight. You need to tell me about it."
"Alright, some other time. Come on, let's enjoy the movie."
We entered the multiplex. Shreya ran giddily towards a huge cardboard cutout. It was a character from an upcoming animated movie. She posed with a huge smile in front of it. With her big eyes, small cute nose and tapering chin, she herself looked like an animated princess. I smiled at her child like enthusiasm and general fun-loving attitude. She brightened my life.