Hello, and welcome to everyone. This is Anjana, and I would highly recommend you all to read an overview about me in my series introduction, before reading this story.

The incident I am about to share happened shortly after I finished my final semester of my bachelor’s degree. Instead of letting me relax at home after my tiring exams, my strict father enrolled me in a one-month computer course, which turned out to be the start of something that changed my life forever. It was a two-hour course on weekdays, held in the afternoons at a small computer centre in my hometown, just a few kilometres from my house. And that was the first time I found myself in a co-ed setting, with boys in the classroom, which made everything feel new to me.

I was a charming twenty-year-old girl back then, with fair skin, large, expressive brown eyes, a long nose with a stud on one side, and well-maintained long hair that reached my shoulders. I was slim, with a figure that balanced out nicely in all the right places, measuring 34-26-34, to be specific. I had developed the habit of walking and doing light workouts on my house’s terrace since the beginning of college, which helped me maintain my physique very well.

I was in my prime then and enjoyed the attention I received from guys and men when I passed by, which made me feel extremely proud. I received similar attention from tutors and coursemates at the computer centre, which made other girls in my centre really uncomfortable and jealous of me. Among my admirers, a guy named Manoj was particularly persistent, and he found creative ways to get closer to me. He was one year older than me and had just finished his first year of postgraduate studies at a nearby coed college. He was tall and handsome, with a dusky complexion and a fit physique that stood out among the other guys in my course.

Manoj wasn’t loud or flamboyant, yet there was an undeniable allure about him that captivated me, and I found myself developing a quiet crush on him. It didn’t take long before we exchanged a few words, and over the next couple of days, those words turned into lengthy discussions during our time at the centre. There was a subtle magnetism between us, an unspoken connection that deepened steadily over time. We sat beside each other throughout the course, and his playful teasing, often laced with clever, mature humour, would leave me blushing. I occasionally caught him casting lingering glances my way, scanning me from head to toe during our conversations and I must admit that I returned the favour more than once. The more time we spent together, the stronger our bond grew, and I genuinely cherished every moment of it.

During the last week of the course, Manoj informed me about his plan to go on a short trip to a nearby tourist town for the upcoming weekend and asked me if I could join him. I was intrigued, since exploring a new place seemed like the perfect way to break free from my routine life. However, I hesitated to accept his offer, fearing the thought of getting caught by anyone who knew me since my father had several friends in and around our hometown. But Manoj was persistent, and over the next few days, he kept reminding me about the trip, which gradually tempted me to consider it more seriously.

On the last day of the course, Manoj confirmed the plan as if I had already agreed to go with him. He informed me that he would be waiting for me at the coffee shop beside the computer centre the next day, at the same time we were supposed to go for the computer course. He even messaged me a couple of times that evening to confirm and said that he was really looking forward to spending some time with me. My heart fluttered with a mix of excitement and nerves, and I couldn’t sleep properly that night, constantly thinking about him. While the fear of being seen with a guy outside by someone known to my family made me nervous, the desire to spend time with Manoj kept growing, and I was eager to see how things would turn out if I managed to go with him.

The next morning, I woke up early despite not sleeping well and decided to try my luck by going with Manoj. I lied to my parents during breakfast, saying I was visiting a friend’s house and would return home only in the evening. Surprisingly, they didn’t question me about anything, which usually doesn’t happen, and I felt excited at the thought of meeting my crush. After lunch, I dressed in a beautiful churidar and kurta set with its shawl that my parents had gifted me for my recent birthday. I felt a flutter of anticipation in my chest while applying makeup, and my nerves sharpened as I stepped out of my house.

My mind was racing in all directions, and I kept looking around in search of prying eyes while walking toward the coffee shop, where I could see Manoj from afar. He was standing outside the coffee shop, leaning casually against his motorbike, and his eyes widened with a smile upon seeing me, which made my heart race again. As soon as I stood in front of him, he had a good glance at me and my attire from top to bottom and then beamed at me.

“I knew you’d show up,” he said softly, his voice low and smooth, like honey dripping from a spoon.

I couldn’t stop myself from smiling as he gestured toward the coffee shop, silently inviting me to join him. Inside, the scent of coffee and baked goods wrapped around us as we found a quiet corner table. My fingers tapped nervously on the tabletop, and I was looking around the room to see if I recognised someone, or if someone recognised me. Manoj understood what was going through my mind and comforted me with a simple smile.

“Relax, Anju,” he murmured, gently putting his hand on mine across the table. “Don’t worry, nobody will notice us here.”

Even though Manoj’s words grounded me, my heart was still racing, since I had never been the type to sneak away and had never lied to my parents about where I was going. A small part of me couldn’t believe I was actually doing all this, and those thoughts made me feel that I was in a dangerous situation, yet exhilarated. Manoj figured out the battle that was happening in my mind, and he gestured to leave the shop as soon as we finished having our coffee. He led, and I followed him, heading straight to his motorbike, where he handed me his helmet. I hesitated for just a second, looked at him, unsure of what lay ahead, and then grabbed his helmet from his hand.

“Put it on and get on the bike,” he told me, giving me a little wink and a cheeky smile.

While Manoj swung his leg over the bike, I doubted and asked myself whether I should go with him or not. But, with a quick breath, I wore the helmet and then climbed onto the bike behind him, gripping his waist instinctively with my hands. The engine roared to life, and we sped off from the coffee shop as the wind whipped past us. The world seemed to blur as we moved faster, and soon, every ounce of worry, fear, and guilt faded into the background. All I could focus on was the thrill of the ride, the warmth of Manoj’s back pressing against mine, and the rush of adrenaline that made everything else seem insignificant.

The ride itself was intense, with sharp turns, sudden accelerations, and playful manoeuvres. In fact, there were moments when he deliberately applied the brakes, causing me to cling to him so he could feel my boobs pressing against his back. His mischievous behaviour made me smile beneath the helmet I was wearing, and the way he seemed to enjoy our closeness only heightened the electrifying sensation flowing through me. The moment felt like the start of something exciting, and deep inside, I sensed it was the beginning of an unforgettable adventure.

After about half an hour’s ride, Manoj stopped the bike at the main junction of the charming tourist town he had been talking about for a week. We both explored there for a while, visiting quaint shops and colourful cafés, before finally making our way to a peaceful park. We sat on a wooden bench beneath a large tree, talking easily, laughing, and sharing moments of both our lives till then. The discussions were more about what we had done until then and what our plans were, mostly in terms of our education. However, I caught Manoj ogling at me repeatedly from top to bottom over my kurta in between and smirking at me whenever our eyes met, which made me blush at him quite a few times.

After spending some time at the park, Manoj gestured to me to leave from there, and I followed, curious about where he was taking me next. We got on his bike, and he rode the bike for around five minutes before stopping in front of a small house on the outskirts of the tourist town.

“Get off, Anju,” he said, turning off the motorcycle’s engine.

My heart started racing again as I got off his bike and looked around the quiet surroundings, with no one in sight.

“Why are we here, Manoj?” I whispered, staring at him and glancing around.

“We can discuss this in a few minutes,” he replied with a sly smile. “Just follow me now.”

I hesitated, suddenly unsure of myself since there was something in Manoj’s smile, hinting to me that he had something on his mind more than just an afternoon out. In the meantime, he took a couple of steps towards the house and then returned, seeing me unmoved.

“What happened?” he asked me as we stared at each other. “Don’t you trust me?”

I remained silent, still staring at Manoj in confusion, wondering what to say as he kept asking me the reason for my hesitation.

“It’s okay,” he said quickly, dejectedly taking his motorcycle keys from his pocket and getting on his bike. “If you don’t trust me, there’s no point in continuing this. Get back on the bike. I will drop you back at the coffee shop.”

“No, no!” I denied, grabbing his hands before he could start the engine. “I trust you, Manoj. But ... I just ... I don’t know why. Don’t be mad at me, please.”

Manoj stared right at my eyes for a few seconds after hearing that and then got on the bike, putting it back on its stand.

“Listen, Anju,” he paused for a moment, looking me straight in the eye. “If you really trust me, just come with me without asking any questions. I guarantee you’ll be safe with me here.”

I swallowed hard and nodded, silently following Manoj as he led me to the house. Soon, he unlocked the door with another key he had and gestured for me to step inside the family room, which was simple and clean, with soft sunlight filtering through the curtains. While I looked around the room, the sudden sound of the door slamming behind me made me turn around. I froze as I saw Manoj locking it from the inside. Our eyes met as he turned, and he gave me a wicked smile while slipping the key back into his pocket.