Episode 4

After school was over, like every other day, Sneha's aunt came to take her home. Sneha never returned alone-her aunt, Nitu, was like a shadow that never left her side. It wasn't just affection; there was always a kind of restless worry in her eyes. When it came to Sneha's beauty and physical form, a silent fear seemed to reside in her heart.

A constant anxiety gnawed at her-a concern about Sneha's appearance, especially her body. Though Sneha was just a teen, she was unusually tall and had a strikingly developed figure. She stood at 5 feet 7 inches, carried a mature kind of beauty, and had a fuller bust than average-something that easily caught the attention of many men.

Her physical maturity, particularly the fullness of her breasts at such a young age, was impossible to ignore. Her aunt was well aware of the different kinds of male gazes in the city. That's why her worry knew no bounds. She feared that Sneha's innocence might one day ensnare her-that in this patriarchal city, if not protected, she might lose everything.

She had realized by now that while Sneha was pure-hearted, the eyes of the city were anything but innocent. Her concern was that such a mature figure, exuding such warmth at such a young age, would eventually become the center of male attention-of attraction, lust, and unfulfilled desires. Her mission was to shield Sneha from it all.

That's why she always kept Sneha close.

She even kept a closer eye on Sneha than her own daughter. She believed her daughter looked nothing more than a little child, a petite, underdeveloped girl-though sixteen, she could easily be mistaken for twelve. No one would harbor any indecent thoughts about her. Hence, it was Sneha whom she kept out of public view as much as possible.

But there was a deep past behind why Sneha lived with her uncle and aunt-and why they never once treated her like a burden.

Many years ago, when Sneha's uncle Surajit Roy was diagnosed with kidney failure, the entire family plunged into worry. Treatment in the city, the surgery-it all required a great deal of money. At that time, Sneha's father donated one of his kidneys to save his brother's life. Not only that, he gave away eighty percent of his rightful ancestral property to his brother, so that Surajit could start a new life in the city and pay off all his debts.

Sneha's father had said then, "The most important thing is that my brother can stand on his own two feet."

To her uncle and aunt, that debt was eternal-something they could never repay. Nitu, Sneha's aunt, was newly married at the time. Dealing with her husband's illness and the financial strain had left her devastated. But Sneha's father's selfless support became a beacon of light in her darkest hours. That very day, she silently vowed-if ever given the chance, she would fulfill her duty toward his family.

Even the education of Sneha's uncle had been funded by her father. After so many sacrifices, it was unthinkable for the uncle and aunt to be ungrateful toward his family.

That's why, since seventh grade, they had brought Sneha to live with them. They admitted her to a good school in the city and fulfilled her every need. Although Sneha was a simple, straightforward girl with very few desires, her aunt never wanted her to grow up lacking anything.

This is why Aunt Nitu loved Sneha dearly-no less than her own daughter.

Sneha had a cousin sister named Medha, who was four months younger than her. Her parents had named her "Medha" (which means "intellect") with the hope that she would grow up to be brilliant in her studies. But in reality, she was the complete opposite. She considered studying to be the most annoying thing in the world. Still, her parents kept hiring tutor after tutor in hopes of improving her grades. But without genuine effort, external pressure rarely works.

Medha was in eleventh grade and also studying science. Though both girls had been admitted to the same school initially, Medha later switched schools for the sake of her friend. Now both girls studied in different, but equally reputable, institutions.

Medha had a very childlike appearance, almost like a 12- or 13-year-old girl. Her body lacked any sign of maturity. Barely 4 feet 8 inches tall and extremely skinny, she always suffered from low self-esteem about her appearance. Her thin, frail body looked like a bamboo stick. At times, Medha wished she were taller, with a more developed figure. Most of all, whenever she looked at Sneha's chest, she felt as though God had distributed beauty unfairly.

Whenever Medha stood in front of a mirror, she felt a deep dissatisfaction. And that feeling became sharper whenever she looked at her cousin. Especially when she glanced at Sneha's full breasts, countless questions and a sense of envy stirred inside her-feelings she never voiced, but which showed subtly in her expressions.

These two girls of opposite natures were growing up under the same roof-one unaware of her own beauty and silent, the other burning inside while watching that beauty unfold.

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A little while after the school bell rang, Sneha came out through the gate. Head lowered, she walked slowly towards her aunt, who was waiting by the roadside.

Just like every day, her aunt had come to pick her up.

As Sneha silently came and stood beside her, her aunt looked at her face for a moment. Then, suddenly leaning in a little, she asked in a gentle but concerned voice-

"Hey Sneha... what's wrong, dear? Why does your face look so dull today? Did something happen at school?"

Sneha looked up once, then lowered her eyes again. She adjusted the bag on her shoulder but said nothing. Her aunt stepped a bit closer.

"I know you well. You don't usually walk around with a face like that. If something's bothering you, talk to me-don't keep it bottled up inside."

Sneha only nodded. Her aunt didn't say anything else after that, just walked silently by her side.

To be continued...

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