The family home was cloaked in the hush of late evening, the kind of quiet that amplifies every creak of the floorboards and every drip of a faucet. Dim light spilled from under the bathroom door, casting a warm, amber glow into the hallway. Inside, the sound of water pattering against tiles mingled with the faint hum of Ruma’s voice as she sang an old Bollywood tune, off-key but with unapologetic gusto. Outside, in the shadows of the corridor, Rishi crouched like a thief in his own home, his breath shallow, his heart hammering against his ribcage. At eighteen, he was all gangly limbs and unchecked curiosity, his wide eyes fixed on the sliver of light where the bathroom door didn’t quite meet the frame.
He didn’t hear the footsteps behind him until it was too late.
“Well, well, what do we have here?” Alok’s voice sliced through the silence, low and laced with amusement. Rishi jolted, nearly toppling over as he spun to face his father. Alok stood there, arms crossed, a smirk playing on his lips, his salt-and-pepper hair mussed from lounging on the couch earlier. The man looked more entertained than angry, which was somehow worse.
“Dad! I—I was just—” Rishi stammered, his face flaming red as he scrambled to his feet, his oversized t-shirt flapping awkwardly.
“Just what? Conducting a stealth mission to inspect the plumbing?” Alok raised an eyebrow, stepping closer. His voice dropped to a conspiratorial whisper. “Or were you hoping for a front-row seat to something a bit more... scenic?”
Rishi’s mouth opened and closed like a fish out of water. “I wasn’t—I mean, I didn’t mean to—Dad, come on, don’t make this weird!”
“Oh, I’m not the one making it weird, champ,” Alok shot back, chuckling. He clapped a hand on Rishi’s shoulder, steering him away from the bathroom door before Ruma could catch wind of their little hallway conference. “You’ve got the subtlety of a bull in a china shop. If you’re going to play peeping tom, at least invest in some ninja skills.”
They stopped near Rishi’s bedroom door, the faint sound of water still echoing from down the hall. Rishi rubbed the back of his neck, avoiding his father’s gaze. “You’re not... mad?”
Alok tilted his head, studying his son with a glint of mischief in his dark eyes. “Mad? Nah. Surprised? A little. I didn’t think you had the guts for this kind of espionage. But let’s be real, kid—curiosity like yours? It’s as old as time. Hell, I’ve got stories from my teenage years that’d make your hair curl.”
Rishi blinked, unsure whether to be mortified or intrigued. “You’re... okay with this?”
“Okay’s a strong word,” Alok said, leaning against the wall with a lazy grin. “But I’m not here to play morality police. Tell you what—let’s make a deal. You want a little thrill? Fine. I’ll let you sneak a peek or two when your mom and I are... let’s say, preoccupied. But you’ve gotta promise not to get caught. If Ruma finds out, I’m not saving your sorry ass. She’ll skin us both alive, and I’m not keen on being a martyr for your hormones.”
Rishi’s jaw dropped. “Wait, you’re serious? You’re just gonna... let me watch?”
“Don’t make it sound so noble,” Alok quipped, rolling his eyes. “I’m not handing you a VIP pass to a strip club. I’m just saying, if you’re gonna do it anyway, might as well do it on my terms. Keeps things tidy. Plus, it’s kinda funny watching you trip over yourself trying to be sneaky.”
Rishi groaned, dragging a hand down his face. “This is the weirdest conversation we’ve ever had.”
“Stick around, kid. I’ve got weirder up my sleeve,” Alok said with a wink. “Now, go pretend to be innocent in your room. I’ve got a wife to sweet-talk before she starts yelling at me for not fixing the leaky faucet she’s been on about for weeks.”
As if on cue, the bathroom door swung open, and Ruma emerged, wrapped in a plush towel, her wet hair cascading over her shoulders. She was a vision of effortless authority, her sharp eyes narrowing as she spotted Alok lingering in the hallway. Her full lips curved into a smirk, but there was a dangerous edge to it.
“Alok, if I catch you slacking off one more time instead of fixing that damn sink, I’m gonna make you sleep on the couch with nothing but your regrets for company,” she called out, her voice a sultry mix of command and teasing. She didn’t even glance at Rishi’s door, oblivious to the scheming duo just feet away.
Alok raised his hands in mock surrender, turning to face her with a boyish grin. “Ruma, my love, my queen, I’m on it. Just got distracted by our son’s... academic pursuits. Right, Rishi?”
Rishi, who’d barely ducked into his room, poked his head out, muttering a weak, “Uh, yeah, sure,” before disappearing again. Ruma arched a brow, her gaze flicking between Alok and the now-closed bedroom door.
“You two are up to something, I can smell it,” she said, sauntering past Alok toward their bedroom. Her hips swayed with a confidence that demanded attention, and she tossed a final barb over her shoulder. “Don’t think I won’t find out, Alok. I always do. And when I do, you’re gonna wish you’d fixed that sink months ago.”
Alok watched her go, a low whistle escaping his lips. “That woman,” he muttered to himself, shaking his head with a mix of admiration and dread. Then, turning back to Rishi’s door, he knocked lightly. “You heard the boss. Keep it low-key, champ. Tomorrow night, I’ll leave the bedroom door cracked. Don’t make me regret this.”
From inside, Rishi’s muffled voice replied, “I can’t believe I’m agreeing to this.”
Alok chuckled, already heading toward his own room. But as he walked, his smirk deepened into something more calculating. This little arrangement with Rishi was just the beginning. There was potential here—potential for games, for control, for a thrill that went beyond a teenager’s clumsy voyeurism. Ruma might be the queen of the house, but Alok had always been a master of chess. And this? This was shaping up to be one hell of a match.
He shut the bedroom door behind him, the sound of Ruma’s voice already barking orders about where to put the laundry. Alok grinned to himself, the wheels in his mind turning. “Oh, darling,” he murmured under his breath, “you’ve got no idea the wild ride we’re all in for.”
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