Priya - The Radiant Presence

Priya was a breath of fresh air, the kind of woman who brought light wherever she went. In the bustling clinic where stress often hung in the air like a thick fog, Priya was the one who effortlessly dispelled it with her infectious laughter. At 27, she was young, ambitious. Priya was always the life of the party, even in the most mundane of situations. Her colleagues would often marvel at how she managed to bring joy into their daily routines, making long shifts seem lighter and the most challenging days feel manageable.

She was beautiful in a way that went beyond mere appearances. Priya had a natural charm, her curly hair was her main highlight, and her captivating eyes often held a mischievous glint. Her almond-shaped eyes, deep and expressive, were the kind that seemed to draw people in without effort and the gentle curve of her lips always seemed to be on the verge of a smile. When she did smile, it was like a burst of sunshine, lighting up her face in a way that made everyone around her feel at ease. Priya’s style was elegant yet casual, blending tradition and modernity. Most days, she would stroll into the clinic in well-fitted jeans paired with a simple T-shirt or a kurta that accentuated her graceful figure. On some days, she wore churidars that flowed beautifully with every step she took, making heads turn without her even realizing it. There was something particularly captivating about the way her clothes hugged her curves—not overtly provocative but subtly sensual, leaving just enough to the imagination. She exuded class in every
outfit she wore, and the subtle sway of her hips as she walked was impossible not to notice.

Despite her beauty, it was Priya’s professionalism that had earned her the respect of those around her, especially Dr. Sandeep. She had worked under him for nearly three years, and in that time, she had become his most trusted assistant. Always by his side, she was a perfect blend of competence and compassion. Priya knew how to handle difficult cases with calm and precision, and she was always prepared, anticipating Sandeep’s needs before he even asked. More than just an assistant, she was his
confidante, the one person he could rely on in the most stressful of situations. She admired him deeply, not just for his medical expertise but for the man he was—dedicated, kind, and unwavering in his commitment to his work. Priya had always had a thing for Dr. Sandeep. Though she kept a professional distance, her admiration for him had grown into something more, something she never fully expressed but always felt.

A few days had passed and the shipment Sandeep had eagerly anticipated had finally arrived. The clinic was unusually quiet for a weekday, and Priya seized the opportunity to step into Sandeep’s office with a soft knock. “Sir, the shipment’s arrived. The new medical equipment from Qatar is here”. Sandeep looked up from his paperwork, a small smile forming on his lips. “Perfect timing. It’s a bit slow today, so we can finally go through it all,” he said, leaning back in his chair. Priya nodded and added playfully, “Finally! I thought you’d ordered something from Mars with how long it took to arrive.” Sandeep chuckled. “Qatar’s not that far, Priya,” he said, rising from his chair. “Let’s see what we’ve got.”

They made their way to the storage area, and Priya handed Sandeep a box cutter as they stood side by side, ready to open the shipment. As the cardboard flaps popped open, the scent of new equipment filled the room. Inside were various machines, neatly packed in protective foam.

“The ECG scanner,” Sandeep read aloud, pulling out a sleek machine. “And… this one’s the new pulse monitor. Looks compact.” Priya raised her brows, clearly impressed. “These look great! State-of-the-art stuff,” she remarked, running her hand along the edge of the equipment with curiosity.

Sandeep nodded in agreement. “Yeah, the latest models. We’re lucky to have them.”

As they continued unboxing, they came across a smaller, carefully packed box, set apart from the rest. It was marked with a special label. “What’s this?” Priya asked, intrigued.

Sandeep looked at the label closely, his brows furrowing in concentration before a smile spread across his face. “Ah, this… this is something special. It’s an abdomen palpation device. It’s sort of a belt i guess”

Sandeep briefly explained the basics of abdominal palpation to Priya who was already familiar with the procedure. He described how the process was usually done by pressing specific regions of the abdomen with bare hands, feeling for any abnormalities, tenderness, or masses and recording the patient’s reactions to pressing the zones on the abdomen. “This new device assists in the process,” he added. “It’s still not widely available in the market, but thanks to my connections, we’ve got an early model. It helps
provide more accurate readings.”

“So, what do you think, Priya?” Sandeep’s voice cut through her thoughts, and she blinked, trying to focus on the moment.

“Huh? Oh, yeah, it’s… really impressive,” she managed to say.

Sandeep smiled. “Good. Let’s learn how it works then, I hope the user manual is in this box somewhere” he said, picking up the machine box. Sandeep stood with the user manual in his hands, the sleek, modern
device resting on his desk. Both of them eager to understand how this device worked. Sandeep’s eyes scanned the details in the manual. “It’s a belt… interesting,” he muttered. Priya leaned in to get a better look. The belt had small pads and markings that showed the zones of the abdomen, just like how doctors divide the stomach area when examining patients by hand.

“So, what does it do exactly?” she asked, a mix of intrigue and playfulness in her tone.

Sandeep smiled, clearly impressed by the innovation. “It’s like a wearable diagnostic tool. The belt is designed to be worn around the abdomen, When it’s worn, it connects to this monitor,” he gestured towards the screen beside them, “and it gives real-time readings of any abdominal masses,
irregularities, and things like that.”

Priya’s eyebrows shot up. “So instead of using your hands, the belt does the job?”

“Not entirely,” Sandeep corrected, “It assists with the diagnosis but nothing can fully replace the intuition of a manual hand palpation. It just enhances what we’re already trained to feel for.” Priya’s thoughts briefly wandered as she heard him say that. She remembered seeing that navel picture on his phone a few days ago, and now here they were talking about examining the stomach area. His comment about using his hands for abdominal palpation made her mind swirl with thoughts she hadn’t been able to shake since that day. Could it be that Sandeep really had a thing for navels? The way he spoke about it now almost confirmed it for her. She wasn’t a stranger to this kind of discovery, and she wasn’t naive either. But the realization that her admired mentor, the man she had a soft spot for, had this particular preference stirred something deeper within her. There was an awkward, electric tension in the air now, but at the same time, it felt oddly exciting. She stole a glance at him as he continued explaining the device.

He continued reading from the manual, explaining how the belt could be adjusted according to the patient’s waist size. Sandeep continued, unaware of Priya’s train of thought. He spoke again, interrupting her thoughts.“ I think this will be an incredible tool. I can’t wait to try it on a patient.

Priya looked at him, an idea forming in her mind. She had a playful streak in her, and she enjoyed pushing Sandeep’s buttons every now and then. The awkwardness of the scene two days ago hadn’t fully dissipated, but now, with him talking about the abdomen and palpation, it felt strangely
relevant. “Why wait for a patient?” she said, her tone light and teasing. “Why not try it out on someone right now?”

Sandeep chuckled. “Do we have someone with stomach pain waiting outside?”

“No,” Priya said, her voice playful. “I mean, why not try it on me?

He looked at Priya, his brain trying to catch up with what she was suggesting. It was innocent enough on the surface, but after what she had seen on his phone, this suggestion felt like a nudge at something deeper— this was her playful way of testing him, of seeing how he’d react to a situation that could easily push him out of his comfort zone. After all, it was no secret to her now that women’s navels had a particular effect on him.

“I don’t know if that’s necessary…” he said. Priya saw the uneasiness on his face and smiled, enjoying his reaction. “Come on, it’s just a test. We’re both curious about the new machine, aren’t we?” she added. The
realization hit him hard—Priya knew. And now, with her standing in front of him offering to be the test subject, it felt like she was testing him, too. There was nothing overtly sexual in her offer, but it was the subtext that made the moment electric. She wasn’t being coy or overly forward—this was her way of showing that she understood him in a way few others did. And that, more than anything, intrigued her.

“Well, Dr. Sandeep?” she asked, her voice low and teasing. “Are we going to try out your fancy new machine, or are you going to keep waiting for a patient?”

Sandeep finally managed a chuckle, though it was strained. He looked at her, trying to regain his composure. “Alright, Priya,” he said, forcing a smile. “Let’s give it a shot.

(The reality of the situation settled in. This was more than just a test of a new machine—it was a test of his self-control, his ability to keep things professional despite the undeniable tension between them. Priya had thrown down the gauntlet, and now it was up to him to navigate this delicate moment without letting his desires get the better of him.)