By the time she reached home, neither her son nor her husband had returned. Prameela tossed the vegetable bag into the kitchen, went to the bedroom, and collapsed onto the bed.
Everything that had happened felt like a dream. She couldn't fathom how she'd given in so easily to a young boy. "Ugh! I should never stoop this low again," she scolded herself.
But no matter how much she berated herself, her mind and body refused to settle. Her entire body buzzed with a sweet ache. "That idiot stirred up a whole beehive and left me like this," she muttered, cursing him for a while.
With nothing else to do, she dragged herself to the bathroom and surrendered her body to the shower. After soaking in the cool water for a bit, she felt a little lighter. "Tch! I can't make a mistake like this again," she resolved.
By the time she finished bathing and freshened up, her son was back from tuition and her husband from the shop.
After dinner, her son retreated to his room. Prameela tidied up and went to her bedroom, where, as usual, her husband was already asleep. "Ugh..." she sighed, lying down beside him and drifting off.
The next day was Sunday. Her husband bathed, had breakfast, and left the house. Her son, Ravi, was holed up in his room, studying. Prameela was bustling around in the kitchen when the doorbell rang.
"Ravi! See who's there!" she called out. Ravi opened the door to find Kavitha standing there.
"Hey, what're you up to?" she asked, stepping inside.
He stole glances at her curves and mumbled, "Studying, Aunty."
"Good! Keep at it. Where's your mom?" she asked. He pointed toward the kitchen with his eyes.
As she walked that way, he ogled her swaying hips, practically celebrating the sight, before slipping back into his room. Kavitha caught him eyeing her out of the corner of her eye and smirked to herself as she joined Prameela in the kitchen.
Seeing Kavitha, Prameela said, "Come in! Done with your cooking?"
"My husband's off at camp, and my son's gone to watch cricket. I didn't feel like cooking just for myself, so I came over," Kavitha replied.
Prameela laughed. "Alright! Tell me what to cook then."
"Whatever you're making is fine," Kavitha said, then leaned in. "But what happened yesterday?"
"What do you mean?" Prameela asked.
Kavitha glanced around and whispered, "You know, that boy who followed you--he got on the same bus, right? Did he do anything?"
"Nothing happened," Prameela said flatly.
"Hmm... he followed you all the way home without doing anything?" Kavitha teased with a sly grin.
Prameela jolted. "All the way home!?"
"Mhm. Look out the window if you want," Kavitha said. Prameela went to the window, parted the curtain slightly, and peeked out.
There he was, standing right across from the house. Her heart skipped a beat, and she snapped the curtain shut.
A faint tremble started in her legs. Noticing it, Kavitha asked, "What's wrong?"
Unable to hide it anymore, Prameela pulled her into the kitchen and spilled everything that had happened the day before. After hearing it all, Kavitha laughed. "No wonder he's here again!"
"Tell me how to get rid of him, please!" Prameela pleaded, flustered.
"Why get rid of him? You could just enjoy yourself!" Kavitha said.
"Shut up! I'm already dying of shame over yesterday," Prameela snapped.
Kavitha sighed, "Hmph... Just give him what he wants once. It'll scratch your itch, and he'll get his fill too. Don't let a good opportunity slip away. It's fun with a boy that age," she said, lost in her own excitement.
Prameela eyed her suspiciously. Catching her look, Kavitha grinned. "I haven't been that lucky yet. If I were, you think I'd let it go like you? I'd be at it every day."
Prameela sank into thought. The mere idea of giving in to him set her body ablaze. Her nipples stiffened. A hot sigh escaped her lips without her meaning it to.
Seeing her state, Kavitha said, "Your husband won't be back till evening anyway. I'll take Ravi out for a couple of hours on some excuse. You enjoy yourself."
Prameela lowered her head. "I'm scared."
"It's always like that at first. Just go for it," Kavitha urged.
"Ravi's studying. You think he'll go out?" Prameela asked.
"Leave him to me. If you say you'll stay with that boy, I'll drag your son out myself. Deal?" Kavitha teased.
Prameela stayed silent, head bowed. Kavitha chuckled.
"Got it. Be careful--he's young, don't scare him off. Bye!" She headed to Ravi's room and called, "Hey! I've got some work outside--wanna come?"
He perked up instantly. "Okay, Aunty!"
As they left together, Kavitha threw Prameela a knowing gesture.
They were gone, but Prameela still felt uneasy. She knew if she invited him in even once, he'd keep coming back every day. "Should I call him in or not?" she wondered, stepping to the window again to peek out.
He wasn't there. A twinge of disappointment hit her, but she muttered, "Thank goodness..."
Even as she said it, that sweet ache flared up in her body again. "Mmm..." she sighed, glancing out the window once more.
There he was again. Her heart jolted, and she slammed the window shut. It pounded in her chest. "God, why am I torturing myself like this?" she grumbled. Just then, the doorbell rang. She froze.
"It's got to be him. What do I do!?" she thought, as the bell rang again. With no choice left, she walked to the door on shaky legs and opened it. But it was her husband standing there.
Relief washed over her--until she saw Srinu beside him. Her jaw dropped in shock. "What's with that look? Who'd you think it was!?" her husband asked.
Still reeling, she gave a vague "No one!" look.
"You know Brahmaji from the shop next door? This is his son. He asked for some money, so I told him to come home. He sent the kid," her husband explained, stepping inside.
"Come in," he called to Srinu. The boy walked in, head down.
"Sit inside. I'll head to the ATM and be back," he told Srinu, then turned to Prameela. "See if he needs anything."
With that, he left. Prameela looked at Srinu and said, "Come, sit..."
