There was a charged silence in the room as Navneet stormed out of their flat and Amy shut the door behind him. Both Shalu and Akki fidgeted uncomfortably next to each other neither knowing what to say. Both looking guilty at having insulted a guest who has come over for a visit. Amy however had no such qualms.

“Shalummaaaa……” she squealed delightedly and rushed to Shalu and threw her hands around her neck. “You are going to be starring in a freaking Omkari Ad? Thats amazing. Congratulations.”

“I haven’t decided that yet Amy. “ Shalu said with a grudging smile unable to fend to Amy’s infectious enthusiasm.

“What is there to decide? Please don’t tell me you are actually bothered by what Navneeth uncle said.”

Shalu sighed. “Its not because he said it Amy. The concerns he raised were things that were dalready nagging at my mind. What he said about this ad potentially changing my public image is all true. And if that image is vulgar it is going to affect all our lives. Especially mine and Akki’s. The last thing I want is to see is the day he will feel ashamed for being my son.”

“What the hell Mumma? How could you even think that I would ever be ashamed of you? ” Akki protested. “I don’t care if doing this ad negatively impacts your public image, which I highly doubt it will. The concept is sensual for sure and is beautiful. But I find nothing vulgar in it.”

“Exactly Akki.” Amy piped up. “Its sensual and beautiful. There will always be dimwits who will see such beautiful things through vulgar eyes. We don’t need to live life on their terms. We only need to do right by ourselves. Don’t worry about us Shalumma. We are behind you 100% on this. You should take the offer. Its too good a offer to let go”.

“Yes Mumma you should.” Akki encouraged.

Shalu looked proudly at both her kids and wrapped them both in a hug. She had raised them well. “Thanks a lot for your support dears. Still I have to think through this well before committing.”

“Hmm if you are still feeling uncertain why don’t you have a talk with Arjun uncle Mumma? He is a fashion photographer. Isn’t he? He knows the media world well. He can give you a better idea on what to expect.”

Arjun was one of Shalu’s best friends from college who ran a modelling studio. “You know what Akki. You are right. I will give him a call. Infact I think I would do it right away.” Shalu said excitedly standing up and going back to her room.

Amy sighed dreamily feeling both proud of Shalu and a also little wistful at the same time. Maybe if Shalu decides against doing the ad she can suggest herself in her place? She was lost in thoughts when she suddenly felt a sharp pinch on her waist. Ouch !!

“What are you standing there and daydreaming about Amul baby?” Akki asked with naughty grin.

“Was dreaming about throwing you from the top of the building, you little….” Amy started while picking up a throw pillow from the sofa and swinging at his head. Akki ducked and ran taunting “HA !! Like your weak ass can even touch me. !!”. Amy jumped up on the sofa, took aim at running Akki’s head and threw the pillow like a giant shooting star and found her mark.

**********

Meanwhile in Shalu’s room she was dialling her best friend.

Shalu: “Oye Arjouu….” Shalu started as Arjun picked up the call. “Please tell me you are somewhere within the state.”

“Missing me that badly Shalu bee?”Arjun laughed. “Well guess what? I am indeed in Banglore. Landed just yesterday. I have a project here. So I’ll be around for probably a week. What’s up?”

Shalu: Arrived yesterday and telling me only now ha? Idiot ! Wait! If I hadn’t thought of calling you just now, would you have told me at all?

Arjun: Woa Woa….hold it there. The only reason I haven’t told you yet is because I have been planning to come there and surprise you. Come on, do you really think I would come to Banglore and leave without meeting the sexist woman here?

Shalu: Yea yea, nice buttering. Anyways listen Arjou, I wanted to talk to you about something important. And I would rather not do it over a call. When can we meet?

Arjun: Woa ! That important?

Shalu: Potentially lifechanging.

Arjun: Damn !! Not gonna propose me. Are you?

Shalu: In your dreams. Get serious idiot. This is important.

Arjun: Alright! Alright ! (*laughing*). I am staying here at Hotel Velvet Vista for the week. When do you wanna meet?”

Shalu: Cool, I always wanted to visit there. Shall I come over at Saturday?

Arjun: Sure. But small warning though. Another mutual friend of ours is also coming over that day. The one with whom you haven’t talked in years.

Shalu: Oh! Marcus? He is in Banglore as well?

Arjun: He is and has been here for the past couple of years Shalu bee. He works here now.

Shalu: Really? I didn’t know that. He hasn’t told me. And neither have you. Why am I only learning about this now?

Arjun: Geee why do you think? Because Marcus asked me to ofcourse.

Shalu(sadly): I see. So he still haven’t forgotten anything.

Arjun: I doubt he will forget that whole fiasco in this lifetime. Shall I give him a headsup you are coming as well? Or you wanna meet at a different day?

Shalu: No No. Just…don’t tell him yet. I have been wanting to meet him too for a long a while now. Things got so awkward and complicated between us ever since that fiasco that happened at Chithra’s wedding all those years back. I guess its hightime I make it upto him for what happened. Let it be a surprise. If he knows beforehand I am also going to be there, he may duck out.

Arjun: Fair enough. So see you on Saturday then Shalu bee. I gotta run now. I was in middle of a shoot when you called.

Shalu: Oh ok ok. See ya!

Shalu sat back down on her bed after disconnecting the call deep in thought.

“Marcus….” She whispered.

Marcus used to be one of her best friends during her college days. He was a scholarship student from Nigeria. Being a big black boy with african features and unfamiliar with the local language he used to be an outcast in college. That was until Shalu and her two best friends Chithra and Arjun decided to give him company and made him part of their little gang. Being two of the prettiest girls in college Shalu and Chithra had no shortage of admirers and stalkers in college. But after they began hanging out with big black Marcus, guys would think twice about bothering either of them. Though he looked like a wild bear who could rip you apart with his bare hands from outside, only Shalu and her friends who knew him closely knew that his actual nature was like that off a cute teddy bear. Innocent and protective.

Arjun who was a flirt and ladies man always used to be tangled up in some affair. And Marcus would protect him whenever he was in trouble. Being so easy around women in general, Arjun was very carefree around Shalu and Chitra as well. Whenever he was with them it wasn’t unusual for him to casually put his hand around their waists or to playfully tease them with pinches and tickles. Mostly it was Chithra who has been the subject his teasings as he has always been a little preferential towards her. Marcus on the other hand has always been more drawn towards Shalu. Probably getting inspired by watching Arjun’s interactions gradually he also started holding Shalu casually by her hips during the times they hang out together. He only did it with Shalu though and never with Chitra. He was always extra loving and caring towards Shalu. At times she even suspected if he harboured a secret crush towards her.

All was well until Shalu started dating Navneet. Navneet has always been jealous of Shalu’s closeness with Marcus from the start. And the cosy nature of their relationship irked him to no end. Initially he used to bottle them all up in his quest win over Shalu. But he began to show his true nature once they got married. Shalu at first thought his possesiveness and jealousy was cute and used to assure him he have nothing to be worried about and that Markus was just a friend. She would even try to keep her distance with Marcus without making it obvious for Navneet sake. But still she refused to cut Marcus totally from her life like she knew Navneet wished.

The boiling point of Navneet’s jealousy reached its peak at a incident that happened during Chithra’s wedding. Shalu in her sexy lehenga was an eye-candy for everyone that attended the wedding much to the dismay of Navneet. Marcus who was also present at the wedding was mesmerised by how sexy she looked and was tagging alongside her all through the function, getting touchy and casually holding her bare waist while taking photos and everything. Shalu who knew of Navneet’s jealous nature requested Marcus to keep the touchings to a minimum in a jovial tone. Markus who didn’t grasp the seriousness of the matter didn’t pay any heed and continued the behaviour.

Navneet who have been getting increasingly agitated all through the wedding finally lost it when he saw Markus trying to tease Shalu jokingly by throwing a flower at her navel. He came unhinged grabbed Marcus by his shirt collars and yelled at him in front of everybody. Shalu alarmed and embarassed dragged Navneet away before the situation escalated. Once they were in private he turned his wrath towards her instead and said very mean and demeaning things about her nature and diginity which hurt her deeply.

She knew what happened was not really Marcus’s fault alone. She did give Marcus such liberties in the past and was embrassed to communicate with him clearly that her situation have changed post her marriage. So she knew it was partially her fault. Still she couldn’t bring herself to face him all through the rest of the wedding. Nor could she bring herself to call him afterwards in the coming days with a explanation or apology. She simply cut him off from her life. At the time it seemed like the easier thing to do for the sake of her marriage. And Marcus who was deeply hurt by what happened never tried to talk to her after that either. Infact that wedding was the last time she saw Marcus. A few months later she heard from Arjun that he had gone back to Nigeria.

And now after all these years she was going to meet Marcus again. Hopefully they can restore some semblance of the friendship they once shared. She made up her mind and went to find the kids to tell them she will be out over the weekend.

Amy was holding a protesting Akki’s head in a sleeper-hold and messing up his hair when she found them in her room. “For God’s sake Akki and Amy, don’t you two have anything better to do than fighting all the time?” Shalu asked exasperated.

“It not my fault. He started it first” Amy protested reluctantly letting go of his head.

Shalu just shook her head and said. “Listen. I will be going to to visit Arjun on Saturday. I maybe out all day. You two will be on your own. Please don’t destroy the house while I am gone. And eat from outside or order in if you don’t feel like cooking. ”

“No worries Shalumma. We will be fine. Have fun” Amy said. Akki just gave a thumps up as he was still catching his breath after Amy’s chokehold.

As soon as Shalu left the room Amy turned to Akki and whipered excitedly. “Perfect. So Saturday is going to be the day we go and get my navel pierced, while Shalumma is away.” Akki just repointed his thumps up towards her.

**********

Saturday Morning

Shalu didn’t hold back at all while getting ready for her visit to Hotel Velvet Vista. She wore a sexy black transparent saree with golden prints and a sleeveless golden blouse with netted shoulders. She brought it years ago out of impulse when she came across it in a boutique, but never quite dared to wear it owing to its sheer nature and eye-popping looks. Velvet Vista was a posh 5-star hotel with a new age party vibe to it. If this wasn’t a suitable place to wear it, she didn’t know what was. Besides she was going to meet her two male besties. One with which whom she had a lot of making up to do. And by years of life experience she knew that there was no male heart that can’t be melted by sight of a sexy woman in saree.

Akki who have been sitting idly in the living room , sipping his coffee while watching Amy doing her morning yoga spat out his latest sip and started coughing when the door to Shalu’s door opened and she walked out ready to go. Amy who has been balancing herself on one leg doing a tree pose lost her balance and fell flat on her ass.

Shalu was taken aback by their overreaction. “Is it that bad? Should I change?”

“Goodness no. You look amazing Mumma.” Akki said in awe.

“Holy Crickets…Shalumma !!! “ Amy gushed from her sitting position on the floor astonished. “You look hot as hell. Are you planning on giving Arjun uncle a heart attack or something?”

Shalu blushed. “Is it vulgar?” She asked feeling very self-conscious now and adjusting her pallu pointlessly, whose sheer material had no effect at all in hiding her gorgeous navel.

“No. Not at all. Its classy sexy. Not vulgar sexy. “ Amy reassured her.

“Well then. I’m heading out guys. I need to start driving now to get there in atleast 3 hours through the Banglore traffic. “ Shalu said getting her bag and keys. “Be good. House should still be in one piece when I get back tommorow.” She warned by the door in mock anger before leaving.

“Who would guess she is mother of a 15-year-old looking like that?” Amy said dreamily looking after her.

“Yep. She is a real-life Santoor Mummy.” Akki said proudly.

**********

“I am going to order from McDonalds from breakfast.” Akki announced shortly after Shalu left. “You want anything Amul Baby?”

Amy who was still doing her yoga routine looked at Akki disgustingly from her lotus pose. “Who eats McDonalds for breakfast? You are mad. Eat something healthy idiot.”

“Eat whatever healthy shit you want. I am going to order french fries and bucket chicken.” Akki shrugged and left the hall.

A few minutes later Amy became acutely aware of the utter silence in the room, she tentatively opened one of her eyes through her meditation routine and surveryed the living room. Akki was nowhere to be found. He was probably playing one of his stupid video games early in the morning now that Shalumma was not here. This was the perfect opportunity for her to try out that elusive 5 minute backbend she have been trying to do for weeks without him bothering her.

She silenly set her stopwatch timer to 5, paused and then increased it again to a good 10 minutes before gracefully positioning herself on the yoga mat. Who knows. Perhaps she may actually be able to last that long. She extended her arms overhead, reached towards the floor behind her, while her feet found solid ground, firmly planted and pointed upwards. And in one fluid motion, she lifted her hips off the ground, creating an alluring arch with her body.

DING DONG !! The doorbell rang just a few minutes into her bankbend. Amy swore under her breath as Akki rushed into the living room yelling “FOOD IS HERE” and went to get the door. Akki collected the packets and was on his way to dining room when he noticed Amy. “Looks like my table is also set” Akki said sniggering wickedly and coming over to Amy.

“Akki please…please…please….dont put your hands on me for the next few minutes.” Amy begged.

“Alright !!” Akki said simply. Amy was taken aback. He was actually listening to her?

“I will put some sauce instead.” He declared and next second Amy felt her navel filling up with something warm and sticky. “Eww Akki..what the hell are you doing????”

“Eating my breakfast ofcourse.” Akki said casually taking couple of french fries and dipping it into her tomato sauce filled navel and giving a few twists. “Aaaaaaaahh……shalumm” Amy started screaming out of habit. “Your precious Shalumma is not going to come to your rescue today Amul baby.” Akki said enjoying himself . “Mmmmm…..these are the best french fries I ever had.” He moaned savouring the taste in his tongue and dipped another couple of french fries into her navel and pressed it all way to the bottom.

“Aaaaaaaah” Amy gasped again, this time in a more aroused voice as she felt the tip of those french fries pressing against the sensitive bottom of her navel sending tingles through her body and making her weak on hands and legs. Her body began to wobble and her stance began to fail. “Not so fast Amul Baby” Akki said suddenly going down on one knee and putting his other knee under her back, giving her support and balance. While this reduced the tension Amy put on her arms and legs, she had another problem now. She was stuck in this position now with Akki hovering over her belly totally at his mercy. Strangely enough she didn’t really mind, Amy realized. Infact she was feeling rather thrilled at the situation she found herself in. So she remained in her backbend position, protesting weakly as Akki poured even more sauce, this time not just her navel, but all around it as well and began scooping it bit by bit with his french fries.

“Akkieeeeee…..” She screamed. “Get off me, you mad fellow.”

Just then her stop watch alarm started going off. “Wow look at that. You have finally accomplished your backbend goals.” Akki sniggered.

Amy rolled her eyes. “Right !! If its like this I am pretty sure I can do way more than just 10 minutes. Are you done yet?” Amy asked even as she convulsed involuntarily feeling another one of his french french fries trying to scoop up last drops of tomato sauce from the bottom of her navel. “Mmm yes !! That was the last one. Best breakfast I ever had. Thanks for the table top Amul Baby. I am going to release you now. Get ready ! ” Akki said gently moving his knees from under her and helping her lay back down on the mattress. Amy laid back down gasping and grinning up at Akki. “Gotta admit. That was actually kind of fun.” Akki grinned down at her and said “I know. Now get up and get cleaned up, your belly is still covered in sauce.” Amy popped up one her elbows and looked down at her belly. Sure enough her belly was spotted with sauce all over the place.

She looked up at Akki shrewdly and said. “Where are your manners Akki? Haven’t Shalumma taught you to clean your table and plates yourselves after a meal?” Akki’s eyes popped open like saucer as he heard it and looked at her. “Come on. What are you are waiting for? I don’t want even a single droplet of sauce remaining on my belly. Let’s see how clean of a job you can do.“ Amy said with a naughty grin.

“Oh trust me. I will be very thorough” Akki said in a excited voice as he rested his elbows on either side of her waist and leaned in gently scooping up the droplets of tomato sauce with his tongue. Amy laid her head back down and sighed blissfully letting the sensations of Akki’s tongue lovingly painting her belly with his saliva envelope her senses. Akki took his time and licked every inch of belly skin exposed in her sports bra, occasionally sucking and nibbling on her skin making Amy moan and giggle delightedly. Akki slowly licked his way towards her navel in a circular motion, closing in on that gasping navel which was shivering in anticipation with every circle. He slowly drew his final circle along the very rim of her gasping navel, and in excruciating slowness slowly inserted his tongue all the way into the bottom of her navel and kept it still for a few moments letting his saliva drip and pool inside its depths. Amy whimpered, her belly shivering with vulnerable need feeling that wetness enveloping her sensitive navel. Akki slowly started moving his tongue in firm gentle strokes gradually building speed and rhythm. Amy grips his head and presses his head even more into her belly while arching and pressing her belly even more into his face, writhing and moaning. Akki greeted her enthusiasm by rapidly fluttering his tongue inside her navel driving her into oblivion. He pushed deep and worked continously on her navel knot with powerful strokes of his tongue as though it was made out of sweetest of candy.

Amy didn’t know how long she laid like that nor she cared. There were both lost deep in the slippery slope of lust, nether wanting to come back and face the reality. After what seemed like an eternity Akki finally tired himself out and reluctatly rolled off her. And she slowly came back to her senses breathing hard. How long have they been at it? She checked her watch and made a rough calculation – 57 minutes. Wow! They have been at it almost an hour.

She didn’t know what to make of it or what was going on between herself and Akki. The first time this happened a few days back she had been wracked in guilt. But also consumed with a carnal need to feel it again. Now that they had crossed that line two times a row she had no doubt now that they are going to do it again many more times in the future.

“Akki …you do know what we are doing is wrong.. right?” Amy asked in a small voice while laying panting beside him.

“Meh! We are not real siblings anyways.” He replied sounding as though he was trying to reassure himself than her.

“Yeah.” Amy agreed. “That is right. Perhaps its not that bad after all. Its just……harmless fun.”

Shalini was still in a daze, as she reached back home late in the evening. The events of the day kept replaying in her mind – The board meeting, the reactions she received for her presentation, the more private meeting she had later in the day at Tanveer’s office where she was pitched that insane ad offer, Tanveer’s surprisingly bold advances on her and the way he teased her navel in front of Xavier and Sreekath, all kept coming to her mind making her cringe in shame and embarrassment.

Why did I let Tanveer do that? What would Sreekanth and Xavier think of me? Aaarghhhh…

She barely acknowledged Akki who opened the door for her and didn’t even notice Amy who was walking out of Akki’s room.

What am I gonna do? What am I gonna do?

Her mind kept repeating the words like a mantra as she absent mindedly went about changing herself out of her fancy saree, into a more comfortable cotton one she had reserved for home use. As she stood in front of the mirror in just her blouse and petticoat to start draping the saree she had chosen, she caught sight of her reflection in the mirror and paused. It occurred to her this would be more or less what she would look like in the costume required for performing the ad. She let go of her pallu and critically assessed herself in the mirror.

She tried to imagine what she would look like in the ad if she did it, wearing the kind of costume she saw in the ad concept video. She definetly didn’t carry the kind of body those models and actresses she usually saw in TV did. Though she wasn’t fat, she wasn’t exactly slim either. It was all because of the allure of her belly. Even she had to admit herself that the gorgeous expanse of delicious skin on her midriff along with her deep oval shaped navel was a sight to behold. And that allure was no accident either.

After her separation with Navneet she made it a mission of hers to make her belly look as good as possible. Navneet who was big navel fetishist used to adore Shalu’s belly and rarely a day went by without him pampering her belly during the initial days of their marriage. However after her pregnancy with Akki, her belly lost much of its initial charm to stretch marks and post pregnancy fat. And she wasnt able to look after her figure much either having her hands full looking after a toddler. Though it was not exactly said out loud, Shalu always had a feeling that it was one of the reasons Navneet gradually distanced himself from her and eventually cheated on her with young and vivacious Kavitha who was is current wife.

The sight of Kavitha and Navneeth making out in his office as Shalu dropped in for a surprise visit all those years back was still etched so clearly in her mind as if it happened yesterday. And and it was that memory that fueled her to get into her best shape again. It was a hard thing to do initially, as looking after Akki alone wasn’t an easy job but after Amy came to live with them Akki finally had somebody else beside her to spend his time with at home. Shalu gradually tidied up her diet and began doing daily morning jogs. She took skin treatments to get rid of her stretch marks and further enhanced the radiance of her belly using facials done on her belly using a paste made of sandal, turmeric and rosewater. Though she used to do these belly facials by herself initially, later Akki who found the whole process fascinating volunteered to do it for her. And Shalu who used to find the whole process a little tedious, decided to let him. This weekly routine of him lovingly applying the paste on Shalu’s supple belly caught Amy’s interest as well and soon she began wanting it for herself as well. Akki was only too glad to oblige and thereafter he had two pretty bellies at his disposal every weekend to take care of.

Gradually overtime the skintone of her belly cleared and become spotless. With the lose of some of those excess fat, her navel which had sagged into a horizontal slit for a while regained its natural oval shape. Her belly began to shine with a radiance like never before and became the show stopper that it was today. She would never miss a chance thereafter to flash her belly subtly whenever she met Navneet occasionally on the instances he came to visit Akki. The purpose of this was not to win him back, but just to rub it his face what he lost because of his stupidity. Him desiring her still and lusting after her navel filled her with a sort of sick satisfaction. Never in her dreams had she thought it would all lead to something like this.

DING DONG !!!

She was broken out of her stupor by the sound of her door bell ringing. Who was it at this time? She quickly began wearing her saree, keeping her ears sharp for any sounds from the hall. She raised her waistline to a modest level and just as she was begining to fold her pleats she heard Akki’s cheerful greeting from the hall.

“Pappaa !!!”

Shalu slapped her head. Amidst all the office drama it slipped her mind that Navneet was coming to visit Akki today. Looking at herself in the mirror, a sly smile spread across her lips. She readjusted her waistline back down to 4-5 inches again and began folding her pallu into rather thin pleats with a smirk. It was time to have some fun.

**********

“What’s up champ?” Navneet greeted Akki with a warm smile and a hug as he opened the door. “Wow you have grown taller since I last saw you. Taller than even me now. And you have even more hairs on your chin and cheeks than last time.”

Akki rolled his eyes. “Don’t be so dramatic Pappa. You saw me just a couple of months ago .“

Navneet shrugged. “Two months is a long time my boy. Where is your mum by the way?” he asked looking around. “Isn’t she home?”

“Oh yes she is. She must be changing. She just came back from office a few minutes ago. She will be out in a minute. Come on in Pappa.”

Navneet came in looking around Shalu’s 3 bhk apartment wistfully. It was never a good sight to see your ex-wife who left you doing so well in life without much of your help. Just then Amy walked out of her room as well and gave him a curt greeting. “Navneet Uncle. Been a while since I last saw you. How are you doing?”. Though she acted civil, Amy never really liked him. Knowing the full story of what transpired between him and Shalu, she had lost all respect for him. Somebody who was dumb enough to cheat on an awesome woman like her Shalumma was not worth her respect. But still she put up a civil face whenever she saw him for the sake of Akki. And the feeling was mutual. Navneet knew one of the reasons Shalu was able to afford such a comfortable lifestyle was Amy’s Dad, Vasundar, who poured copious amounts of money into Shalu’s account everymonth from Germany in the name of looking after his daughter. He loathed Vasundar for that and in extension his daughter as well.

“I am well Ameya beti. Akki has been coming over to my house last few times, so there was no need for me to come here. That is why. How are you doing by the way? You have become even more beautiful than the last time I saw you. Quite the spitting image of your mum you have become. “

Amy smiled politely and nodded “I am doing well uncle. Thank you. Shall I get you something to drink? “

Just then door to Shalu’s room opened and the goddess herself walked out looking sexy in her full homely sensual might. Navneet’s jaw dropped. ‘Shalini !!’

“Oh Navneet !!” Shalu greeted him acting all surprised as though she hadn’t known that he has arrived. “When did you come?”

Navneet didn’t answer. He was staring straight at Shalini’s navel which she had graciously left out in the open. Her thinly folded pallu was nowhere near it and as though that wasn’t enough she had tied her saree lower than she usually does leaving more than half of the delicious expanse of her belly wide out in the open. His gobsmacked stare gave Shalu the sick satisfaction she was seeking. She allowed him a few seconds to stare before grabbing her pallu and covering her navel. She sniggered in her mind watching him struggle come back to his senses.

“Ummm yeaa….Shalini….Hi !!…..I am sorry. What did you ask? Ahh yes. I just came in. How are you doing?” Navneet asked flustered.

“I am doing quite well. Thanks Navneet. Make yourselves comfortable. I will get some refreshments while you catch up with Akki.” She said sweetly before turning her back to him and walking towards the kitchen making sure to give a little extra swing to her hips as she walked knowing fully well where Navneet’s eyes must be now.

Navneet eyes followed Shalu’s hips as she dissappeared into the kitchen. He yearned to go after her and grab those curvy love handles with every fiber of his body. If she was still his wife he would already be in kitchen with her by now making out passionately. For the upteenth time in his life he internally cursed his stars for making him do things that eventually resulted in him losing a gem like her from his life. Is there any chance he will ever get her back?

Amy who noticed the entire exchange joined Shalini in the kitchen with a knowing look on her face and began to help Shalu in setting up stove for tea . “Don’t think I haven’t noticed what you just did Shalumma.” She said smirking.

“What?” Shalu asked innocently.

“That little navel show with your saree you just did. You were trying to seduce Navneeth uncle weren’t you?”

“Seduce? Oh please !! I just wanted to give him a little reminder of what he lost. “

Amy shook her head. “Why bother Shalumma? Instead of wasting away your life finding satisfaction in petty things like, you should start thinking about finding a partner again. Navneeth uncle remarried just a few months after your divorce. And that was years ago. Its high time you do as well. ”

Shalu sighed and didn’t respond. She knew Amy had a point. She also knew why Amy was especially interested in the case of her remarriage. She wanted her to marry her father Vasundar. Her brother in law. And truth be told it wasn’t a bad idea at all. Even her family wholeheartedly supported it. But she always felt like she would be dishonouring the memory of her sister even by merely entertaining the idea. So she always tried not to. But all that can wait. Right now she just wanted to make Navneeth squirm where he sat and make him question his life decisions. And she knew just what to do.

**********

“So Navneeth.” Shalu started as soon as she set the tray of tea and biscuits on the table( making sure to give him a amble view of her expansive belly from the sides as she did so) and made herself comfortable beside Akki who immediately threw his arm around her shoulder and held her close. “What is going on with your life? How is Kavitha?”. She made sure Navneeth got a generous glimpse of her belly folds as she sat, something she knew turned him on.

Navneeth squirmed. He was never comfortable talking about Kavitha with Shalu, the woman with whom he had an affair with behind Shalu’s back and later married . That too while trying to ignore the distracting view of Shalu’s gorgeous belly. “She is well.” Navneeth said curtly. “Tell me about you. How is your job going?”

“Surprisingly well I must say. Infact just today I was made quite a mindblowing offer by the CEO of the company Tanveer himself. To act in an ad for our jewellery.”

Navneeth sat stunned. “You mean that ad for Omakari Gold and Diamonds? With the whole medieval theme concept?”

Shalu was surprised. “Actually yes. How do you know about that?”

“Because I created it. It was one of the many concepts I pitched them. And this was the one that got selected. We have been working with Xavier to find a suitable model to perform the ad for a few months now. So far Tanveer has rejected every willing candidate we found.“

Suddenly everything clicked for Shalu. Navneeth was creative director of a popular Advertising Agency in Banglore. Infact it was through his connections at Omkari that she got her interview at Omakari all those years ago in the first place. It totally slipped her mind that Omakari Group was one of his agency’s clients. Now that she thought about it this whole ad concept had Navneeth writtern all over it. Only a navel maniac like him could have come up with such navel centric concept for an ad.

“I see. I didn’t know that. So you know what all that ad script entails.”

“Ofcourse I know. So you are telling they offered you that princess role?” His eyes dropped towards her belly and back to her face. “Please don’t tell me you have accepted it.” Navneeth asked alarmed.

“Wait ! Wait ! Wait !. Somebody fill me in too. What are you guys talking about? What is this offer Mumma?” Akki interjected looking confused.

Shalu quickly explained everything that happened in the office that day, leaving out the parts where she did that little navel show at the presentation and Tanveer’s teasings later at his office.

“Wow Mum.” Akki said thrilled and looking down at her navel in amazement. “Sounds like an amazing offer. And you have the perfect navel to pull it off too. You will be amazing.”

“Shut up Akki. You don’t know what you are talking about. Doing this ad will bring all sort of negative publicity for her.” Navneet said agitated.

“And just why do you think you get to have a say in what I should and shouldn’t do Navneeth? I am a single woman. I can and will do what I please. Whether you like it or not. What society does or does not think doesn’t concern me.

“Forget me and society. What would your family think?” Navneeth asked desperately.

Amy who has been listening in from the side interjected before Shalu could respond “Well I for one think its a wonderful idea and will whole heartedly support her. Akki aleady does. And I am pretty sure we are the only family she needs to concern herself with.”

“Stay out of this Ameya.” Navneeth retorted irritably. “You are not immediate family.”

Shalu bristled. “The only one here who is not my family is you, Navneeth. Amy may not have been born in my womb. But she is and always will be every bit of my child as Akki is.” She said fiercely.

Amy eyes filled with emotional tears hearing that from Shalu. Navneeth recoiled under Shalu’s anger. “Yes I know. I am sorry. I didn’t mean that. Listen. I was only telling you this out of concern. If you do this ad, it will change your entire public image overnight. Everybody you know will begin seeing you in a different light. You will be objectified for your navel everywhere you go. “

“I will be fine Navneeth. Just like how fine I have been doing for the past 12 years without your or society’s help. I thank you for your concern.” Shalu said coldly.

He shook his head dissappointed. “I have said what I needed to say. Rest is upto you. Its your life. You maynot be my wife anymore. But you are still the mother of my child. Whatever you do will indirectly affect his life as well. It will bode you well to think of that too before making such decisions. And incase you didn’t already know, I will be the one directing this ad. So should you decide to do this, you will be working with me.”

“Oh so that is the real reason. Isn’t it? You don’t want to direct another guy into doing things with me that you can’t do with me anymore in your life EVER again.”

Navneeth blanched. He didn’t know what he expected. But the finalty with which Shalu said “EVER” pierced his heart like an arrow. And if he was honest with himself it was exactly the reason why he wanted to turn Shalu against doing this ad. Somewhere inside he still thought of her as his. And her calling him out directly on it was more than what his ego could handle. He scoffed at her.

“Oh please. As if I would want to. EVER. Get yourself down from your high horse Shalini. I am not the one who is still staying single hung up on the past. I am happily married to a beautiful woman now. You are the one…”

“PAPPAA !!!” Akki interjected suddenly in a stern voice uncharateristic of him and everybody quieted down shocked.

“Please leave. We will meet another time.” He said looking down without meeting his eyes. He maybe his Dad. But nobody, not even him was going to disrespect his mother in front of him. He took Shalu’s hand in his and squeezed it.

“Akki…I….” Navneet started despairingly realizing this was gotten totally out of his hands. He forgot Akki was there in the heat of the argument.

“You heard what he said Uncle.” Amy said cooly walking over to the front door and holding it open for him while absently checking her nail polish.

Navneeth gave one last look of contempt at Shalu and Amy and then stormed out of there. But not before he heard the sound of Amy closing the door loudly behind him.

**********

Navneeth was beside himself with anger as he got back inside his car and started driving back home on overspeed. He wanted to rage out his frustration with someone. He plugged in his earpods and said curtly. “Hey Siri. Call Xavier.”

Xavier picked up on the second ring itself. “Hello.”

“Xavier !! What the hell man? Of all the people you could have chosen for doing your stupid jewellery ad you chose my wifff…..my ex-wife??? And you didn’t even bother to inform me beforehand?”

“Woa woa. Calm down man. It wasn’t my decision. Tanveer chose her himself and made the offer after getting a glimpse of her navel during a presentation. It was a spontaneous decision. I was as surprised as you were. Also Shalu hasn’t accepted the offer yet. Or has she? Judging by your temper I guess you heard about it from Shalu herself.”

“What the hell was Tanveer thinking? Choosing someone who is mother of a 15 year old to do an ad like this? To play the part of a young princess, no less. There are plenty of young models out there who would be much more suitable than her.” Navneeth seethed.

“Why are you getting so worked up over this man? She isn’t your wife anymore. Plus Shalu has maintened herself so well over the years. Nobody will guess she is in her mid thirties by her looks alone. I personally think Shalu is an excellent choice for the ad. She has one of the most beautiful navels I have ever seen and that was the primary requirement for the person doing this ad.”

“Thats…not…” Navneeth stuttered. There was no arguing those points. Shalu was indeed not his responsibility anymore. And she did have a gorgeous navel which was perfect for the ad. But that navel belonged to him. “Forget it.” He said finally and cut the call.

He noticed Kavitha’s car was already in the parking lot when he reached back his building. She must be home. Good. She was exactly what he needed at the moment to take his mind off Shalu and her infuriatingly beautiful navel.

“Back so fast?” A facepack covered Kavitha in a croptop and shorts asked in a surprised voice as she opened the doors for him. “I thought you were going out with Akki for dinner.”

“Umm change of plans.” Navneeth said immediately pulling her close and kissing her senseless. Kavitha protested as she felt her facepack dried skin crumbling unpleasantly while being kissed in that state. Once she finally succeeded in pushing him back she look at him crossly and asked “Whoa what brought that on?”

“Umm do I need a reason to kiss my wife.” Navneet asked in husky voice trying to pull her close again. “Come on Navneeth. Not now. Can’t you see I am wearing facepack? Let me go and wash this off first.” She said turning her back and heading for the washroom.

He watched her from behind, his thoughts suddenly taking him back to the moment he was watching Shalu’s moonhips swinging into the kitchen. Kavitha’s figure was everything Shalu’s was not. She had typical model’s body. Very slim, with tiny hips and washboard abs. There was barely any flesh in her body. Her hair was cut short to her shoulders and dyed in a dark blue color. She was gorgeous. But she was not what he craved. But now was not the time to entertain such thoughts at all.

He removed his shoes and shirt and followed her into the washroom. She was still splashing water onto her face when he entered. Her tiny crop top getting soaked in the water in the process. Her freshly cleansed face shining with radiance. Her bare hips and stomach sparkling with droplets of water. Navneeth heated up. He closed the distance between them and wrapped his arms around her stomach from behind and buried his face into her neck kissing her shoulder blades. Kavitha moaned relenting and turned around to face him and captured his lips in a kiss. Navneeth closed his eyes and tried to imagine she was Shalu. He deepened the kiss with a ferocious intensity making her whimper, his palms caressing her hips and squeezing. But instead of buttery soft skin that squished into his fingers, he was met with taut skin and toned muscles, a harsh reminder that this woman ain’t Shalu.

He sinked onto his knees and tried to bury his face into her stomach. Only to hurt his nose against hard toned ab muscles. He gritted his teeth and settled for just kissing over her smooth skin, picturing Shalu’s heavenly belly in his mind. The way Shalu’s belly skin would melt into his lips as he kissed and whimper under his touches. He reached her navel and thrusted his tongue in, only to be met with a hard knot of skin. And this was the harshest reminder for Navneeth that Kavitha was no Shalu. Unlike Shalu, Kavitha had a outie navel. It had no depth to it. Still Kavitha was pretty sensitive at her navel as well. She moaned when Navneeth sucked her knot into his mouth and nibbled on it. Outie navels did have its own perks like this, Navneeth thought as he chewed on that knot with savage intensity, electrifying and enthralling Kavitha where she stood, dissolving her into a peal of moans and whimpers.

“Akki Bearrrr” Ameya crooned as she sauntered into Akshay’s room early evening. Akshay groaned internally and looked up from the comic book he was reading. He knew that tone of Amy’s very well. She only used it when she wanted to pamper him into doing something for her. 

“No Amy, I am not shooting another one of your stupid reel videos. ” Akki said flatly.

 “Don’t you have a tripod? Do it yourself !!”

Amy scowled. “It’s not that… although I was hoping you will help me shoot one later on. But now I just came here to see my Akki bear.” she said coyly in a childish voice sitting beside him on his bed and wrapping her hands around his neck in a hug.

Akki rolled his eyes and closed the book he was reading. “Right!!!!. You can stop with the caring sister act now.  I know you want something from me. Spill it.”  

“Ummm..” She made a pouty face and started pulling on some loose threads on his cargo shorts anxiously as she decided how best to ask him what she wanted to ask. “The thing is I really want to get my navel pierced Akki. You know I am participating in the ongoing intercollege beauty pageant competition. The finale is approaching and I have made it to the top 10. Having that piercing would greatly increase my appeal and chances of me reaching the Top 3. So please yaar, can you take my side when I ask Shalumma this again when she returns from the office? I can easily convince her if I have you by my side. And you know my Dad. He will listen to anything Shalumma says.”

Akki was taken aback at her request. He was momentarily lost for words. “But Amy. Piercing would leave a permanent scar on your skin. Isn’t it foolish to do that just for a competition? Also if you ask me….you have a…” he abruptly stopped speaking realizing what he was about to say. 

“I have a … ?” Amy prompted him with a smile. 

“Ummm a very beautiful navel. It needs no decorations to look appealing” he said a little grudgingly. It was the first time he was openly admitting what he thought of her navel.

Amy was both surprised and delighted to hear that from him. She has heard him complimenting Shalu’s belly and navel before and it always left her feeling envious and jealous as he never did the same for her even though he liked to play and tease her navel every chance he got. 

“Ha! So you think my navel is beautiful huh? Is that why you keep bothering my navel every chance you get?” She asked teasingly.

“That’s not the point…” Akki grumbled trying to change the subject.

“Oh yes. Admit it !! You LOVEEEE my navel.” She goaded.

“That is not…” he scrambled for words embarrassed. Akki and Amy always had a love-hate siblings kind of relationship where they mostly expressed their love and care for each other by pranking and irritating the hell out of each other. So somehow complimenting Amy to her face felt very odd to him. Amy on the other hand always craved to hear such compliments from Akki as she always witnessed him giving it in abundance to Shalu. When it came to Shalu he only had praises to sing about her beauty and he would never miss a chance to pamper her satin belly with affectionate caresses and kisses while on the other hand all he wanted to do with Amy’s belly was to irritate her by poking, proding and tickling. Not that she minded all that as she secretly enjoyed those too. But seeing him do all those nice things to Shalu’s belly would often fill her with longing and she secretly wished Akki would treat her own belly that way too. 

“What I am trying to say is, you don’t need a piercing at all..” he said blushing.

Amy sniggered “Unfortunately you are not the judge Akki Bear. And you make a piercing sound like something that will grotesquely disfigure my navel. It’s just going to be a tiny incision just above my navel. You will barely notice it.” She cupped his chin with one palm and shook his face to and fro in a pampering manner. “So Please Akki Bear. Help me convince Shalumma na.”  

Akki didn’t say anything. He really liked her navel the way it is. But he didn’t feel like denying her request either when she was seeking his help so earnestly.

“Please….” Amy begged. She pulled his face close to hers and whispered in his ear. “Tell you what!  Help me do this and I will let you play with my piercing whenever and however you want.” 

Akki’s eyes bulged. Perhaps it is not a bad idea after all. He thought as a small grin began to stretch across his face. “Deal !!”.

“Awieeeee……Thanks a lot Akki Bear.” she said happily hugging him close again. Akki grinned and returned a half hug wrapping a hand around her waist.

“Still I am not sure Mumma would listen just because I take your side. What if you get pierced first and then tell Mumma about it afterwards? She may get a bit angry at first but I am sure we can calm her down. Besides, you forget that you are an adult now. You don’t really need her permission or Vasuppa’s.”

“That maybe. But I am still living under Shalumma’s roof and with Pappa’s money. I need to follow their rules as long as I am doing that.” 

“Sometimes you gotta be a little rebellious to get your way Amul Baby. Trust me it’s going to be easier that way.” 

Amy bit her lip nervously. What Akki said did make sense. “Alright fine. But I want you to come with me to the piercing studio when I go to get it done.”

“I would love to..but before that let me see your navel in its untouched natural form one last time.” Akki said with a sly grin before suddenly pushing her to the bed.

“Eeeeeek…..alright! alright!” Amy said giggling as she fell on her back and Akki straddled her. “But no tickling please..”. 

Akki hummed an silent agreement as he raised up her t-shirt and exposed her lean and supple belly. He traced his index finger along the rim of her perfectly round navel with a look of love and wonder. Amy’s breathing inexplicably began to pick up making her belly shudder slightly. She was used to his wild tickles and pokes. But this gentle loving treatment of her navel was getting her strangely turned on. Her navel began to tingle with a strange pull, like a craving that she didn’t know existed. What was happening? She never felt like this before.

“Mmmm….Akki?” She called him tentatively. 

“Hmmm?”

“Can you….umm…..would you like to do …..that thing that you do when you are lying on bed with Shalumma?” she asked in a small uncertain voice. 

Akki looked at her face with a surprised grin. “You mean…” he started as he slowly brought his head towards her expectant belly. “This thing ??” he asked as he gently laid her head on her belly, resting his cheek against her warm skin. 

“Mmm yess. This thing.” She said sighing at the surprisingly pleasant sensations coursing through her at the feeling of his cheeks against her belly. She brought her hands up and gently caressed his head. Was this ok? She thought uncertainly. Akki rubbed his cheek against her supple skin relishing in its warmth. Her belly emanated a pleasant aroma of cherry blossoms, the fragrance of the body lotion she used. That mixed with her own feminine smell was a strangely intoxicating combination. He was used lying atop Shalu’s fleshy pillow-like belly. But lying on Amy’s lean and supple belly was a very different experience for him. More alluring in a way. He could feel the hollow of her navel under his cheeks and felt a strong pull towards it that was just too hard to resist. He couldn’t resist slowly turning his head more face first towards her belly and taking in her essence. He brushed his lips against her navel and pressed a kiss and immediately felt her navel shuddering in reaction.

Amy gasped in surprise both at feeling that kiss and the unexpected surge of pleasure she felt at that kiss. Common sense told her that they were dangerously close to crossing the lines of their platonic relationship. But her navel seemed to have suddenly developed a mind of its own and was tingling madly with a strange hunger that stemmed from its depths. As though sensing that primal pull Akki’s tongue darted out of his mouth and before he knew what he was doing, his tongue scaled all the way into the bottom of her navel and stroked at her pulsating navel knot. He momentarily panicked realizing what he has done. He has crossed a line. Was she going to be mad at him? But next thing he knew he felt Amy’s hands grabbing onto his hair and pushing his head deeper into her belly as she let out an almighty gasp. 

Amy reeled as her navel felt that wet lick and lighted up sensations in her body she never knew existed. And now that her navel got a taste, it screamed for more. Way way more. And before she knew what she was doing she gripped Akky’s head firmly and arrested it in its place so that his lips wouldn’t move away from her navel. Next thing she knew his tongue exploded into action and thrashed around in her navel like a wild rat trapped in a bottle. Her whole body writhed as her navel sang its happiest song ever and lighted up the nerves in her body like fireworks. Waves after waves of pleasure rose from her navel with each stroke of his tongue and exploded out of her head, opening up her being into a plane of infinite pleasure.

DING DONGG

The unwelcome sound of doorbell pierced through their consciousness like a bolt of lightning harshly pulling them back down into reality and they jumped away from each other as though electrocuted. They looked at each other panting hard. Both were lost for words.

DING DONG DING DONGG. The doorbell rang again.

“I will get it.” Akki said quickly and rushed out. 

A distracted-looking Shalini walked in looking pensive-faced as soon as Akki opened the door. She was so distracted that she neither noticed Akki’s guilty-looking face nor the fact that she hasn’t received her customary hug from Akki as she walked in. She didn’t register anything odd about the flushed-looking Amy coming out of Akky’s bedroom either. She walked straight to her bedroom lost in a world of her own and closed the door. 

Instinctively Akki and Amy looked at each other with a look of confusion over Shalu’s odd behavior and immediately felt awkward as their gazes met. Amy turned on her heels like a robot and went straight to her own bedroom locking herself up.

“Thank you so much for pulling me into this mess Sree. Now instead of just you, it looks like both of us are about to get fired.” Shalini said darkly as she walked towards Tanveer’s office along with Sreekanth and Xavier.

“I highly doubt he is going go that far….” Sreekanth started.

“Don’t worry guys.” Xavier said butting into their conversation. “I have a feeling that this is going to be a very different meeting than what you guys are expecting.” He says while throwing a meaningful look at Shalini. By then they reach outside Tanveer’s office so Shalini doesn’t get a chance to ask what he means by it.

“Come on in guys. ” Tanveer says with a warm smile as he ushers all of them into his office. Shalini exchanged a surprised look with Sreekanth wondering why Tanveer was looking all chirpy all of a sudden. 

“Don’t look so tense guys. Don’t worry. You guys are not in trouble. I called you here to discuss something else.” Tanveer said jovially seeing their nervous faces.

Shalini and Sree breathe out sighs of relief hearing that and exchange a smile. “So what is it sir that you wanted to discuss with us?” Sreekanth asks now genuinely curious.

Tanveer takes a deep breath and starts “Shalini…this concerns you mostly. I have an offer for you.” A slow smile spreads across Xavier’s face hearing it. His hunches were right. 

“Oh, an offer? For me Sir?” Shalini asks baffled at the direction this meeting was going.

“Yes, Shalini for you. I would like for you to star in our Omkari Gold and Diamonds Ad. Xavier and I have been looking for a suitable person to do this ad for ages now. But today while watching you doing the presentation, it just clicked on me that you were the one I have been looking for. You would be perfect!”

“What?  Me?” Shalini squeaked in a high voice surprised beyond measure.

Suddenly it clicked on Shalu what this, was all about. The Ad! Of course. The one that even top models and actresses were declining to perform due to it containing scenes that laid extra emphasis on their navel. And on top of that Tanveer only wanted someone with a beautiful navel to perform it. Now it made sense why he concluded the meeting so abruptly the way he did earlier. It happened just a minute or so after she made her navel visible. She blushed beet red realizing where this conversation was headed towards. 

“Yes, Shalini. You. And I will tell you why in a minute. Before that, there is something I want you to see. Xavier, can you play the ad concept presentation slides on the TV please.” he asks turning to Xavier.

Xavier nods and moves to the wall-mounted TV on the other side of the office and hooks in his pen drive. On Tanveer’s gesture, Shalini and Sreekanth stand up from their seats and joins Xavier in front of the TV. Tanveer also joins them and stands just behind Shalini admiring her curvaceous figure from behind. Like most men, Tanveer too feels the strange burning urge to just reach out and squeeze her love handles. Tanveer gulps and controls himself. The sheer feminine allure of this woman was something else. Just then the presentation starts playing on the TV.

Shalu fidgets a bit nervously feeling Tanveer’s presence just behind her. For some reason, her skin was breaking out in goosebumps at his proximity. She shakes her head and puts her attention on the TV. She needed to watch this closely and find out what this much-hyped ad idea was all about. 

^{**Presentation starts**}
The screen began to present a series of slides that graphically illustrated the scenes present in the ad. The first slide showed a cartoon illustration of a curvy woman sitting alone by a water fountain looking at a distance. Dressed in a dark green silk dhoti and matching blouse she looked like a woman from medieval times. However, she wasn’t wearing a single piece of jewelry on her body which struck as very odd to Shalu as this was supposed to be a jewelry ad. Suddenly her face brightens up as she sees something in the distance and slowly stands up and her belly becomes fully visible as she does so.  Even in the cartoonish representation attention to detail has been given to the woman’s belly and navel which was looking very appealing. 

The next scene showed someone coming from far away on a horseback. The man riding the horse looked like a prince of some sort wearing an expensive-looking dhoti and angavastram. However unlike the woman he was wearing expensive-looking ornaments all over his body. The woman jogs upto him with an expression of happiness as he stops his horse a few meters away from her and gets down. They look at each other with expressions of joy. 

However, her face falls slightly as she sees him looking at her unornamented neck, ears and arms. She looks down sadly as though embarrassed for not having any ornaments on her. However, the prince smiles and makes a gesture that indicates he would take care of it. His hand immediately goes for the golden hilt of the sword that was hanging by his waist and pulls it out of its scabbard. He points the tip of the long gleaming curved sword at her face, and then slowly brings it down and touches its pointed tip just under her neck. As soon as the metal touches her skin, golden flowery sparks appear all around her neck and a necklace magically appears around her neck. 

Her face morphs into an expression of wonder as she feels the weight of the necklace on her neck. She brings up her hands to feel its texture with her fingers. Not stopping there the prince moves the sword and taps both of her ears with its tip where golden dangling earrings appear with a flourish of golden sparkles. As she brings up her hands to feel those earrings on both of her ears the prince taps both her wrists with the sword and as she watches in delighted wonder her wrists get surrounded by golden sparkles and with it the appearance of a set of ornate golden bangles. She looks at him with a delighted expression. But he wasn’t done yet. 

And next came the scene that really stunned Shalu. The prince brings his sword further down her torso and inserts the tip of the sword right into the depths of her deep navel with a naughty smile. Stunned and aroused by that intimate touch she throws her head back in an orgasmic gasp. And a thin golden waist chain magically appears around her waist in a burst of golden sparkles. He turns the hilt of the sword making the blade twist inside her navel driving her crazy. She turns her head sideways, her eyes shut tight with an expression that conveyed orgasmic pain and pleasure. And a tattoo of a sun magically appears around her navel in cue of that twist. Finally, he releases her navel from the captivity of that intruding sword and takes it off.

She slowly opens her eyes and looks at him with a shy expression and turns away covering her face with her hands in embarrassment while he laughs genially from behind. The focus goes to her belly and navel again. And the tattoo of sun around her navel shines brightly in gold color as everything else disappears from screen until only that sun remains indicating that was the official logo of Omkari Gold and Diamonds. Letters appear beneath it.( Pic below )

And then the presentation comes to end. Shalini just stands there still staring at the blank screen with  slightly opened jaws. A thousand thoughts passed through her mind at the same time. She jumps as suddenly she feels a hand on her shoulders. She slowly turns around to face Tanveer.

“So as you can see Shalini, the idea behind this ad is to associate our logo which is an O decorated like a sun with a sensual part of the female body like the navel which has a similar shape. Something like that is a sure-fire way to imprint the brand of Omkari instantly on people’s minds.”

Even Shalu had to admit that it was indeed an ingenious idea. This ad when it is made and gets released will instantly go viral and the Omkari brand name with it. But it will bring instant fame and attention to whoever performs it too and not necessarily in a good way. The ramifications it could have on the life of the actress who does this could be huge. Even more so for someone like Shalu who was neither an actress nor a celebrity. It could greatly impact how people saw her in her real life. 

But right now she had more pressing things in her mind as Tanveer who was now standing just in front of her brought up his hands towards her belly. Shalu’s breath hitched in his throat as she braced for his touch. But Tanveer momentarily stopped his hands inches away from her waist and asked in a low voice while looking intensely at Shalu’s face. “May I?” Shalu gulped and gave a curt nod strangely aroused by the situation. Tanveer smiles and slides the pallu of her saree sideways, dragging the tip of his fingers along her skin in the process and putting her tantalizing belly on full display.

‘So Shalini…” he continued in a low voice, his eyes going down to admire her midriff. “As you can see, the belly and navel of the female character  has a lot of importance in this ad.” He slowly graze the back of his fingers across her belly delicately feeling her shuddering skin. “So it is very important that this ad is performed by a girl with good looking belly.” His fingers glide back to the center, and he slowly withdraw all except his index finger which begins to draw slow sensual circles around her alluring navel. “And you Shalu, has the most beautiful belly I have ever seen in my life.” Shalu breathes hard aroused to the core feeling Tanveer’s finger drawing a torturing slow circle around the very rim of her navel. “And the most gorgeously round and perfect navel…” 

“UFFFFF……..” Shalu gasps as Tanveer slips his index finger deep inside her navel. Sreekanth and Xavier watch this sensual exchange with open jaws feeling both turned on to the core and extremely jealous. Shalu closed her eyes, her facial expressions contorting with the efforts she was putting on in keeping the orgasmic sensations spasming through her nerves at bay. Sensitive as she was at her at her navel, it was all she could do to stop herself from breaking apart then and there in throes of pleasure.

“The moment I saw your navel during that presentation…” Tanveer continued now slowly rolling his finger inside her navel making her squirm. “I knew you were the one.”

“Ahh….Sir…Please….” Shalu gasps out weakly. Tanveer smiles enjoying teasing her feminine dignity under his fingertips. He understood the sensations were getting too much for her to handle. So he slowly withdrew his fingers. 

“So what do you think guys? Doesn’t she have the perfect belly?” Tanveer asks turning Shalu towards Sreekanth and Xavier who were just standing there with gobsmacked expressions struggling with their bulging erections. Shalu who has finally opened her eyes blushes furiously as Tanveer puts her belly on blatant display in front of two men and asks them to comment on it.

“Oh yes Sir.” Xavier says coming forward eager to join in. “She would be perfect for the ad. I can see the ad in my head right now. I mean..” To Shalini’s surprise Xavier too brings up his hands towards her belly. “Her belly is so perfect…Imagine it adorned with a waist chain…” he says drawing an imaginary line with his index finger from her left hip all the way across to her right” 

Shalini giggles “Hey hey come on guys. That is enough teasing on my belly. I get the point.” she says politely pushing away Xavier’s hands. Already Tanveer has driven her crazy with his fingers. She barely survived that. The last thing she wanted was for this to turn into a 3 on 1 Shalu’s navel teasing contest. She immediately readjusted back her pallu to cover her belly properly much to the chagrin of Xavier and Sreekanth.

She turned to face Tanveer, feeling a strange shyness in facing him now after the way he just teased her navel. “I am flattered by the offer sir. I truly am. But I am afraid I must decline. I don’t want that kind of publicity on me.”

“Hold that thought Shalu. Let me tell you one more thing. On the course of seeking suitable people to perform this ad we reached out to many popular stars. Do you know who our top pick was for doing this ad? It was actress Malavika. And you know how much we were willing to pay her for performing this ad?  60 lakh rupees. And that was mainly due to her popularity and brand value. But unfortunately, she turned down the offer.“

Shalu started at him stunned. Malavika was a well-known south indian actress. She was especially popular among the young crowd for her alluring navel. Shalu could see why she was the top choice. She declined the offer even after being offered 60 lakhs? 

“Only top actresses like Malavika were offered such a large sum in the range of 40-60 lakhs because of their popularity. What we offered the other lesser-known actresses and models was a significantly less amount. However, if you choose to do this Shalini, I am willing to give you the very same offer I gave Malavika. 60 LAKHS.” 

Shalu was stunned. She had no words to say. 60 lakhs !! That was like 6-7 times the money she currently earned in a single year. 

“And that is not all. Effective from the moment you sign the contract to do this ad your monthly salary as a fashion designer at Omakari Sarees will be hiked by 30% effective from the very next month of signing the contract. That is how much I want you to do this ad Shalini.” Tanveer said earnestly.

Shalini was reeling. A 30% hike? She will be fast-tracked on her career by a whopping 3 years if that happens. Tanveer has made an offer so huge that no person in their right mind would object. She was way too overwhelmed by everything she experienced and learned in the past one hour to make a rational decision now. 

“What are you waiting for Shalini? This is huge. You will never get an offer like this in your life again. Just accept it.” Sreekanth said from beside her,  his face dripping with excitement.

“This is a mind-blowingly generous offer, sir. Truly I am flattered and honored. But still I need to think about this. Is it ok if I let you know my answer in a few days?” Shalu asked tentatively turning to look at Tanveer. 

“Of course Shalini. Of course. How about you take the rest of the week off and think it over carefully. Let me know your answer coming Monday. How does that sound?”

“That sounds perfect. Thank you sir.” said Shalini gratefully.

“Awesome. All right then. I guess I will see you on Monday, Shalini.” He says shaking her hands with a handsome grin.

“This is bad Sree, Really bad !” said Shalu looking sideways at her manager and friend  Sreekanth with concern. He has just shown her the latest quarterly reports of Omkari Sarees looking gloomy. He was supposed to present them at the upcoming board meeting that was happening the next day in front of the entire board of directors which included their boss Tanveer Omakari. 

“I know Shalu. I know. A 10% drop in sales this time. It was 8% in the last quarter and 5% in the quarter before that. I only barely escaped, getting fired last time. I still get nightmares from the way he yelled at me in front of the whole board during the last meeting.” Sreekanth said shuddering at the memory. “This time I am surely done for.”

Shalu didn’t know what to say as she too thought he could be right. Tanveer was notorious for his boiling temper and firing people on the spot. Working closely with Sreekanth as the lead fashion designer for Omakari Sarees she was aware how hard he worked and the losses incurred wasn’t for lack of trying. She looked sadly at his sulking face and wished there was something she could do to help. 

“Hey don’t loose hope now yet. ” Shalu said going around the table to stand beside him and patting him sympathetically on his shoulder. “Tanveer Sir might take it easy on you this time as its pandemic season. Its not just us. Most businesses are incurring losses.”

As always Sreekanth’s heart rate began to pick up as Shalu came close to him. As though being pulled by a powerful magnet his eyes automatically travelled to the her creamy waist. Shalu smirked and snapped her fingers in front of his face. “My face is up her Mister.” 

“Mmmm not interested. This is a much more pleasant vision.” Sreekath quipped back laughing but not taking his eyes off of her waist. He knew Shalu didn’t really minded. He knew her well enough by now and had learned many of her tricks. Though she pretended otherwise Shalu was very much aware of the allure of her midriff and never hesitated to use it to her advantage. For instance whenever she wanted to ask something of Sreekanth that he won’t usually allow, like taking extended leaves and asking other favors she would make sure she is flaunting her creamy hips to its full effect and capture his attention before asking it. And he in turn in his horny and captivated state ends up giving Shalu whatever she asks for. 

Shalu flicks his forehead and says with mock anger “Hey stop that! We are having a serious discussion here”.  And moves her pallu to better cover her waist for good effect. Sreekanth pouts and finally looks up and sheepishly grin at her mock angry face which somehow made her look even cuter. What was it about her that made her so alluring? He wondered. Suddenly an idea flashed to his mind. 

“Hey Shalu !! I have an idea. What if you do the presentation in my place?” he asked suddenly.

Shalu was taken aback at the odd request. “Me? How is that going to help? Are you trying to get me fired as well along with you?”

“Of course not. Don’t be silly. But you presenting may help tame his temper down and potentially save my job. You have that effect on people.“

 “I highly doubt that is going to help at all Sree. Besides, it is a board meeting. Only upper-level management is going to be there. It would make no sense for me to even participate.“ 

“Oh don’t be silly Shalu. You are our top designer. Everybody knows and respects you. Your views and opinions are highly valued by everyone. Nobody is going to question you being there.”

“Perhaps! Still, I can’t see how me doing the presentation is gonna make any difference. The results are still the same. The only difference it will make is that instead of just you, I will also end up being at the receiving point of his wrath.”

“I highly doubt that. Because I have never seen him so much as raise his voice against you while he rolls over everyone else here like a bulldozer. He likes you and values you. Just do what you always do when you want something from me. Look pretty, put on that dazzling smile, and flaunt these yummy curves.” He says and teasingly pokes Shalu’s waist with the back of his pen. The reaction was instantaneous. Shalu breaks out in giggles and scoots away with a “Hey !! Stop that.” But doesn’t reprimand him nor deny his claims. She was used to such occasional teasings from him. But as he always stayed within limits of her comfort levels she didn’t really mind it. 

“So what do you say? “ He asks again.

Shalu thought about what he said. There was some point what he said. Tanveer had never raised her voice against her and did give her a lot of respect. Plus she also found him quite attractive.

“Fine. But if I do this, you will owe me big time Mr.Sreekanth Shivraj. Because what you are asking me to do is nothing short of jumping in front of an angry tiger.” she says mockingly pointing her index finger in front of his nose.

“Absolutely!! Help me out and I will owe you big time. You can ask anything you want.” Sreekanth says looking happy and relieved.

“Hmm Fine. I’ll do it.”

*******************************************

Tanveer Omkari was a genius. But he was also an extremely short-tempered and impatient man. Perhaps this eccentric nature of his was what made him the most successful CEO, Omkari Enterprises ever had. After taking over the leadership of the family business from his father Rajveer Omkari over a decade ago he has grown the once small garment business into a giant conglomerate. Omkari Sarees was quickly becoming one of the most sought after saree brands in India. And the new jewelry business venture Omkari Diamonds and Jewellers was also looking promising. Getting on his wrong side was a nightmare for most of his employees especially the top-level management who answered directly to him as he was notorious for firing his employees on a whim whenever things don’t go the way he expected.

This was the reason why Sreekanth, the Manager of Omkari Sarees was sitting terrified in the meeting room as the board meeting went underway. Tanveer already seemed to be in a bad mood as he rounded up on the manager of his budding Jewellery Business, Xavier. And it was his turn next as soon as he was done with him.

“Seriously Xavier? These are the best models you could find for doing our jewelry ad?” Tanveer asked aghast. Xavier wanted to yell back an indignant ‘Yes!’ because they were indeed the only models he could find that were willing to do the ad. But something told him doing that was a sure-fire way to lose his job. So he smartly kept quiet and let Tanveer do his ranting.

‘What is the most basic requirement I told you that our model should have,” Tanveer asked in a deadly calm yet menacing voice. 

Xavier, gulped nervously as he answered. “That she should have a well-maintained belly and a beautiful navel.”

“Oh, so you do remember that. Then please tell me which one of these skinny wenches you brought me even remotely fits that description?” Tanveer exploded sliding the laptop he was viewing the profiles on across the table in his direction. Xavier winced as he brought up his hands to catch the laptop in time. 

“It’s not that these were the best I could find Sir. It’s just that these were the only ones that were willing to perform the scenes required to do this ad. Perhaps if we change up the scenes a little. Remove that sword scene for example…More models will come forward”.

Tanveer breathed hard. “That sword scene you just mentioned is the most crucial scene of this whole ad. It is the scene that I am banking on the most. It is the scene that will imprint the name of our brand in the minds of public. Removing that scene is non-negotiable.”

Shalu who was seated beside Sreekanth on the opposite side of the table observed the proceedings with interest. Navel? Sword Scene? Unwilling models? What the hell was going on? Working entirely in the garment division Shalu was cut off from the proceedings of other departments and had little to no idea what was going on there.

“I understand sir. But all the models and actresses we had on our top preference list declined the offer despite the huge sum of money we offered. They are not comfortable doing scenes that will objectify and bring attention to their navel at such a huge scale.”

“We are not settling for mediocrity just because some of them declined the offer, Xavier. Reach out to more modeling agencies. Reach out to more actresses. I am giving you one more month to find a suitable candidate. One more month !!. I don’t want to hear any more excuses. Is that clear?” Tanveer asked warningly.

Xavier nodded looking highly relieved at being off the hook for the time being. “Ofcourse. Thank You sir. I won’t let you down.”

Tanveer gave him one last warning look before turning his attention to Sreekanth. “Sree…, you are up !!.”

Sreekanth gulped and turned towards Shalu. She nodded and stood up bracing herself for the impending disaster. “Sir, Shalini will present the report in my place.”

Tanveer’s lips stretched into a rare smile as Shalu stood up along with Sreekanth. He nodded indicating he doesn’t mind at all. And judging by the sudden pique of interest around the table at the sight of Shalu, nobody else minded either. 

Shalu took a deep breath and walked towards the presentation screen placed on the wall as Sreekanth hooked up the projector into his laptop and began playing the slides. And Shalu started her magic. She smiled dazzlingly at the men seated all around the table, enjoying the sight of them caving under her sensual appeal and charisma as she started her presentation. 

Earlier in the day, before coming to the meeting room she had briefly stepped into the washroom to apply some last-minute makeup and pulled down the waistline of her designer net saree an extra few inches than she usually does. She carefully adjusted the pleats to expose a generous amount of her curvaceous waist yet made sure it was covering her sexy navel although only by a few centimeters. 

As a result of that tiny preparation she now had the undivided attention of every single person in the room. Though the figures and statistics she was presenting were far from ideal, everyone kept looking at her as though she was presenting the most wonderful news in the world. It was obvious from their looks that they couldn’t care less about what she was saying and were more interested in enjoying the sight of her mesmerizing waist. Because of the sheer nature of the net saree, she was wearing they could also see dark outlines of her gorgeous navel lying hidden behind that piece of fabric. They were following every movement of her body, hoping for a single slip that would bring out that sacred pit out in the open for everyone to behold and they didn’t want to miss the sight even if it happened just for a few milliseconds. 

Even Sreekanth who was no stranger to these tricks of Shalu, watched her performance in awe and excitement. Whenever she wanted to take extra long leaves or some other favors from him she would switch into this seductive mode that starts with a subtle cock of her hips that jut out that delicious expanse of her mesmerizing waist in a alluring way. The sight would instantly make him weak on his knees. Add to that her mouthwatering navel which she lets play peek and boo behind her pallu with subtle movements, he would pretty much goes blank. He would let her get away with just about anything when she was being like that mostly because he would be too entranced by her sensuality to notice anything she was saying. 

And today he was hoping she would perform her belly enchantment on the room at large. He took a subtle look around and sniggered to himself watching the entranced faces of those old buggers. And then he caught sight of Tanveer’s face. Sreekanth could tell he too was enjoying the visual delight of just watching Shalu. But unlike the others he wasn’t oblivious to the things she was saying. He seemed to be hanging on to her every word and wasn’t looking entirely too pleased. That was not a good sign. Shalu was only one slide away from presenting the portion that contained the graphical representation of garment sales in the last 4 months now. Just as he dreaded as soon as that slide came on screen Tanveer’s eyes narrowed. He suddenly turned his gaze towards him, anger writ on his face. Sreekanth could almost sense the impending explosion. 

But then something amazing happened. Tanveer turned his gaze towards Shalu one more time and his anger immediately evaporated from his face and got replaced with a look of someone who has just found some long lost treasure he has been looking for. Sreekanth followed his eyes to see what has grabbed his attention like that and froze on his seat himself as he was presented with a sight he himself has only seen a few times. 

Shalu who has been observing Tanveer’s reactions out of the corner of her eyes decided to take out the final trick in her playbook. A last ditch attempt to tame down his temper. She raised her hands pretending to adjust her flowing mane of wavy hair which she has left loose over her shoulder giving her saree pallu the tiny shift it required to bring her stunning navel out in the open. And it had the desired effect she was hoping for. Tanveer’s expression froze as his eyes immediately beheld one of the biggest and beautiful navel he ever saw in his entire life. He stared at her navel without blinking as though afraid the vision will disappear if he so much as blinked. And it wasn’t just him. Shalu heated up feeling the penetrating gaze of every single person in the room boring into her navel.  Though she would let her navel play peek and boo behind her pallu a lot of times it was a extremely rare sight for her to put it out on open display like she was doing now. She had never done this even with Sreekanth. But then again he was never that hard to please as just flashing her side waist alone with momentary flashes of her navel does the job. She checked his reaction now and inwardly smirked at his utterly gobsmacked expression at the sight of her navel. She had the full room under the spell of her navel now. 

Blushing furiously Shalu decided to quickly conclude her presentation and get out of there before Tanveer had a chance to get back his bearings. However, before she could proceed any further she was stopped by Tanveer with a raise of his arm. She was slightly taken aback. It still didn’t work on him? 

Tanveer abruptly stood up with a small bang on the table that immediately captured the attention of everyone in the room on him. “Thank you for that beautiful presentation Shalini. ” He said looking at her with small smile. Shalu nodded confused.

 “Gentleman !! Thank you for coming. This meeting is adjourned. You may all go now.” He said looking at the room in large. Everyone looked at each other confused at the abrupt way in which Tanveer concluded the meeting. 

“Sreekanth, Shalini and Xavier. Meet me in my office before you go. Rest of you have a great day ahead.” he told to the room at large. He turned to look at Shalini and like being pulled by some unknown magnetic force, his attention was drawn towards her navel again. This time however Shalini readjusted her pallu to cover her navel wondering if Tanveer has caught on to her little trick. Tanveer smirked at her before turning and walking out of the meeting room.

It was typical Monday morning in apartment 201 as its residents went about their early morning rituals. 35-year-old Shalini, the matriach of the family was bustling around in kitchen racing against time as usual, trying to prepare breakfast and tiffins for her son and niece in a hurry before getting ready for office. Though she was a fashion designer by profession she was especially partial to sarees and liked to wear them at all times. It was a habit that she picked up during her initial days of marriage as her ex-husband Navneet loved to see her in those – not just because it made her look extremely attractive, but it also gave him easy access to his most favorite part of her body – her sexy midriff. 

Blessed with a milky white complexion, flawless skin and good features, she was a beautiful woman as is. But her midsection was something else entirely – slightly chubby with the most delicious-looking skin, curvy love handles that begged to be squeezed and right in the middle of that gorgeous expanse of skin laid her extremely deep oval-shaped navel whose unforeseen depths that promised only the sweetest of nectar. Its sheer beauty can freeze any man and sometimes even woman dead on their tracks. Having lived a long enough life she was very much aware of the effect the sight of her navel had on people. This was also one of the other reasons she loved to wear sarees as it was the one costume that let her be classy and also allowed her to harness the full power her navel wielded by intelligently letting it play peek and boo behind her pallu. A skill that often came in handy navigating her life as a single woman in a society dominated by men. As good as her belly looked from the outside she was also extremely sensitive in the area, especially on her navel which was so sensitive  that she could even achieve an full blown orgasms by navel stimulation alone. 

Just then a 15-year-old boy sauntered into the kitchen yawning and stretching his hands wide. He has finally deemed to get up from his bed after hitting the snooze button on his alarm for the 4th time. He groggily opened his eyes and was greeted with the pleasant sight of Shalini’s tantalizing waist as she worked with her back to him. Not being able to resist he went to stand by her side and kissed her cheeks while simultaneously keeping his right hand on her bare waist and caressing her love handles gently.

“Good Morning Mumma….” He said brushing his cheeks against hers while giving her waist a slight squeeze making Shalini who was very sensitive there jump slightly in surprise. But she quickly recovered and turned her head to kiss him back on his cheeks saying “Good Morning Akki…” 

Akshay or Akki as he was called at home was Shalini and Navneet’s only son. Among the things he inherited from his dad, he has certainly inherited his  fascination and love for midriffs and navels. To him, his mum was the most beautiful woman in the world, and he never hesitated to praise her beauty every chance he gets. Shalini loved those praises from him and didn’t mind his occasional open display of affection on her midriff as it gave her tingles of pleasure as well.. Though Shalini got full custody of Akshay after her divorce from Navneet, she still let him go and stay with Navneet and his new wife Kavitha once in a while. After all whatever the issues between her and Navneet, he was still Akshay’s dad. 

“Chi…Akki…..How many times do I have to tell you to brush your teeth before having coffee?” Shalu scolded him as he went directly for the coffee machine.

“What’s the big deal mumma? What difference does it make whether I drink it before or after? Brushing it afterward helps get rid of that tang of coffee from my mouth.”  He said offering a sweet smile while pinching Shalu’s cheeks. She swatted away his hand and tried to slap the back of his head in mock anger which he ducked and escaped into the living room laughing. “Teenagers !!”  Shalu muttered shaking her head before getting back to her work.

In the living room, again Akki was greeted with a pleasant sight. This time an even sexier one. A young 19-year-old woman clad in yoga shorts and a fitted crop top was busy doing her daily yoga routine in the hall. She was currently standing on a backbend balancing on her hands and toes. Her lean and supple body was tensed with the effort she was putting into holding the pose. But Akki had eyes only for the delicious expanse of bare skin of her midsection that was currently arched out in front of him like a tabletop. Akki’s eyes immediately locked on in the middle at her cute navel. Though not as big as Shalu’s this girl also possessed a gorgeous circular innie navel which currently appeared like an oval due to the arched position she was in. A wicked smile spreads across his lips as he begins to silently tip toe up to her.

Meanwhile, the girl was trying to retain her pose with the utmost concentration. She had been trying to beat her own record of standing on a backend on 5 minutes straight for over a week now. But she was yet to succeed. One of the reasons for that was….

“Good Morning Amul Babieee !!…” Akki crooned the nickname he uses to annoy her as he reached near her. Her eyes open wide in dismay on hearing his sound. Oh No! Not Again! Here comes the reason for my repeated failures. She thinks darkly already bracing for what she knows is coming.

“Akki…No !!…Please don’t. I’m so close.” She begs. She was already at 3 minutes and 45 seconds. Just had to hold on for another minute and a few more seconds to surpass her target.

“Please don’t what?” Akki asks innocently as he gently touches her bare belly with the back of his fingers, enjoying the feel of her satin smooth skin shivering under his touch as he ran it up and down.

“Hehehehe THAT !!! Stop touching my belly you idiot !! You know I am ticklish there.” She said trying her best to hold the pose despite the tickling sensations beginning to wrack through her nerves.  But Akki was unforgiving. 

“Oh yes I do. And I also know where it is at its extreme.” He says teasingly as he slowly begins to draw concentric circles around her navel making her skin shiver under his fingers.

“Oh no no please don’t…hehehehe…I beg you…hehehehe….” she says wiggling under his touch but still refusing to give up her pose. She was so close…just a few more seconds. But Akki’s evading index finger was getting closer and closer to her navel with each circle. He wasn’t gonna stop. So she does the only thing she could. Yell for backup.

“SHALUMMAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA…………..THIS IDIOT IS BOTHERING MEEEE.” Now that she had sent out her distress signal help will arrive any second now. Knowing that he just had seconds, he stops with the teasing and directly goes for the kill by plunging his index finger straight into her deep navel ‘TADAAAAAA’  and starts wiggling it around.

“AAAAAHHHHHHHHH NO NO NO….AKKI……I SWEAR TO GOD….” she screech loudly holding onto her pose with everything she got, her belly shuddering violently as she felt his finger nails scratching at her sensitive navel base driving her insane.

“Uffoo…these kids….started early in the morning itself.”  Shalu mutters hearing the commotion and goes to check what its about. She sees what is going on and rolls her eyes. 

“AKKIEE…” She shouts in a loud voice and give him a hard exasperated look. Akki retracts his hands from her belly finally and looks at Shalu sheepishly. 

“Why do you always have to annoy her? Leave Amy alone in peace.” 

He pouts and starts to leave but not before kicking at her legs, causing her to loose her balance and fall back hard on her back.

“AKKIEEE….YOU ARE DEAD !! YOU ARE SOO DEAD” Amy yells getting up and taking off after Akki who has already started running away into his room laughing loudly. Shalini shakes her head and goes back to complete her work in the kitchen with a small smile. Though they fight like cat and mouse most of the time she knows they both deeply cared about each. 

Ameya, or Amy as everyone called her was the daughter of Shalini’s elder sister Shradha. Shradha passed away due to cancer when Ameya was just 10. Ever since then she has been staying with Shalini. Her father Vasundar worked abroad in Germany and came to visit her whenever his job allowed. As much as he loved his daughter he knew that in the absence of his late wife she was better off left growing up with Shalini in India who also loved Ameya like her own daughter. Ameya also loved Shalu like her own mother and Akki was the little brother she never had. To make sure his daughter and his surrogate family is well cared for, Vasundar sends an obscene amount of money to Shalu’s account every month. Shalini had tried to tell him multiple times that it wasn’t needed as she herself was making sufficient amounts of money with her fashion designer job. But Vasundar would have none of it and insisted on sending her the money citing “Who else am I making all this for?”. So Shalini has given up on trying. Though not much her ex-husband Navneet also payed her a some money every month in the name of child support as he was legally required to do so until Akki reached of age. So the multiple streams of income afforded the small family to live a pretty comfortable life in a posh 3 bhk flat at the heart of Banglore city.

“AKKIEE…..AMYYYY……..COME HAVE YOUR BREAKFAST” Shalini yelled from the dining area as she set plates for breakfast. She has prepared Ghee Roast and Chutney for herself and Akki. For health-conscious Amy, she has prepared a  bowl of oats sprinkled with dry fruits and apple. Amy was a fitness freak who inherited her father Vasundar’s health consciousness and watched everything she ate. Soon the kids came out of their rooms. Akki in his school uniform and Amy in a sleeveless crop top and tight fitting jeans that showed off her hourglass figure gloriously. Akki’s eyes automatically went to her deep round navel out of instinct admiring its sensual beauty. Shalu however frowned at her choice of clothes.

“Is wearing such revealing outfits even allowed in college?” She asked while serving Dosa to Akki. His eyes immediately go from Amy’s navel to his mum’s yummy waist that was in front of him.

“Relax Shalumma..I will be wearing a jacket on top of this too.” she says rolling her eyes. 

“Very convenient. So that you can open and close the jacket from front depending on whether any staff is around or not. Isn’t it?” Akki asked with a smirk.

Amy scowls at him but doesn’t refute. She turns back to Shalu and starts “By the way Shalumma. I wanted to ask you something.” Shalu looks up at her. “Yes?”

“Umm I was thinking of piercing my navel.” Amy starts twisting some strands of her hair between her fingers a bit nervously. 

“What?” Akki interrupts looking aghast. “You already have multiple piercings. One on your nose and three in your ears. You want even more holes in your body?”

“Nobody asked you Chotu. You won’t understand.” she says scowling at him. But Shalini smiles. She knew why Akki was reacting the way he was. He was panicking at the thought of his favorite toy getting mutilated.

“Ask your Dad. If he gives you his permission go ahead.” Shalu says knowing full well no way in hell her brother-in-law is gonna allow that.

“I was hoping you will ask him. You know he is never going to agree if I ask him. On the other hand, he will listen to you.”

“And why in the world would I do that? I am with Akki on this one. You have more than enough piercings on your body already. No need to add another one. Besides you have a beautiful navel as is. Why on world would you want to mutilate it with a piercing? It will leave you with a permanent mark on your body.”

“Because it’s sexy and it’s the trend Shalumma. All my friends have it. Please Shalummaa…” Amy asks pouting with puppy eyes. 

“Your navel is plenty sexy as it is. I am definitely not going to ask Jeeja Ji this. You can ask him yourself if you want it that much.” Shalu says sternly.

Amy huffs and goes back to eating her oats muttering darkly under her breath. Akki sighs feeling relieved at the way that conversation has went. Shalu hides a smile noticing his reaction. 

Another half hour later the three residents of apartment 201B walk out locking the door behind them preparing to go about their separate ways for the day. A small group of young men that usually lurk in the parking lot at this time of the day turned their heads as the two gorgeous ladies walked out followed by a tall boy in school uniform. The one that stood out most was of course Shalu, looking elegantly sensual in a dark maroon-colored saree. Being a little tall for a normal Indian woman at 5ft and 9 inches with a slightly voluptuous figure she was really a sight to behold. The generous amount of fleshy moon waist that she has boldly left out in open was partially out of necessity as her height made it difficult for her to tie her saree any higher without looking awkward. Though they couldn’t see her navel, just by looking at her waist alone they could tell what was hidden behind that pallu would be a true vision to behold and that alone was enough to make their mouth water. Though they weren’t lucky enough to catch a glimpse of Shalu’s navel, the young and sexy woman that walked beside her gave them an eyeful of her own sexy navel by openly displaying it in a crop top that was partially hidden behind her unzipped jacket. With her hourglass figure, stunning good looks and lean sexy belly, the chick could give any Bollywood actress a run for their money. As usual the middle-aged woman and the boy stepped into one car while the young chick got into another car of her own. None of the guys uttered a word and watched dreamily as the two women drove out and went about their separate ways.