Not My Little Sister

Chapter 8 - Tales of Woe

Vinaya climbed onto Nithin's bed, fingers delicately working on the buttons of her shirt.

"Shit!" Nithin's heart raced; resisting her was a formidable challenge.

"Vinaya, stop," Nithin pleaded wrestling the desire that threatened to consume him. "What are you doing?"

She halted, casting a penetrating gaze at him. "I don't need to be rescued."

"I never said you do!" Nithin exclaimed, unsure if this was about holding her when she had been unsteady or something else altogether.

"You had all Aces. And you folded," Vinaya's yelled in frustration. "No one needs to pity me or lose to me to save my ass."

His inhibitions crumbled, and he impulsively responded, "Are you saying you wanted to strip naked in front of all of us?" Her anger perplexed him; he had done her a favor, yet she seemed to resent him for it.

"I would've... I don't need you to save me," Vinaya declared defiantly. "So here you are, my defeat. I accept it." With that said, she began to remove her top, but Nithin swiftly grasped her wrists, perhaps a bit too tight in an attention to balance his desire and restraint.

Vinaya's widened eyes met his, surprise etched across her face. "Let. Go," she uttered through gritted teeth, attempting to free her hands, but his grip remained unyielding.

"I'll let go if you promise to get out of my room," he declared. He couldn't fathom the consequences in his intoxicated state, if she proceeded with her stripping. As it was, his eyes roamed to her body disrobing her in his minds eye. He couldn't do this, he let go of her wrist.

At the same time, she attempted to pull her wrist away and an unintended momentum drew her closer to him. She collided against his chest and propelled both of them down.

The world became a blur; she found herself on him and she looped her arms around his neck. Fatigue settled. He was saying something to her. She gazed at his lips, hearing her name escape them. In response, she hummed, her eyelids closing as a peculiar calm enveloped her.

Suddenly, brightness pierced through, her head throbbing as heavy lids reluctantly opened. Harsh sunlight filtered through the curtains, and she sat up, rubbing her eyes, taking in her surroundings—Nithin's bed.

Recollections of the previous night flickered in fragments. Embarrassment gripped her as she recalled how she had attempted to strip in front of him based on some drunken logic. Had she gone through with it? She remembered his firm grip on her wrist, the hardness of his chest but the details remained elusive.

Questions echoed in her mind. Did they sleep on the same bed? Where did he sleep? The futon, she mused, might have been too small for him. At least, she reassured herself, there was no evidence of a having made out with him.

Despite the throbbing headache, she navigated to the restroom. She brushed her teeth, combed her hair, and tied it into a ponytail. She then applied sunscreen and lip balm before heading to the living room to look for Nithin.

In the living room, Nithin sat with a wary expression, and Ria stood with arms crossed. Taking a seat next to Nithin, Vinaya braced herself for the impending conversation, her head still throbbing.

Ria, with a small smile reminiscent of Vinaya's mom, sat on the ottoman. Vinaya sensed a lecture on the horizon.

"Are you guys..." Ria began, pausing as if navigating delicate territory. Her gaze shifted to Nithin. "See, when Mohan and I broke up, we were both pretty devastated. You know how it was for me."

Nithin nodded, surprising Vinaya. She had assumed their breakup was amicable.

"You get attached, even if you decide to just have fun and go with the flow," Ria continued, and Nithin massaged his temples. The tension in the room heightened. Vinaya wondered where this was going.