The Red Dragon's Lair

Regatta

Anya

She reached Andy’s college a little after the event had already begun. Unlike the horde of students milling around, she was a professional and had a job. A last minute case had held her back. She had to wrap up her work and rush to the college in a tuktuk (a yellow and black three-wheeled motorized vehicle used as a taxi in India). 

After haggling with the tuktuk driver and paying an obscenely inflated fare she thought to herself, 'I really need to get a vehicle for myself. This daily haggling is a pain in the ass. Once the EMI (Equated Monthly Installments or mortgage) for the gym equipment is done, I should look for a motorbike.'

A PSI's salary was just enough to pay the rent of her apartment and her monthly bills, yet she was happy. It was still more money than she ever had. 

The college campus was enormous,. but finding the area where the event was being held was easy due to the earsplitting noise of the spectators cheering for their teams. Several teams were rowing, racing to reach the finish line in their canoes. She wasn’t sure if Andy was in one of them. 

The onlookers were sitting on the bleachers at the bank of the river. Just across from the bleachers was a floating stage in the river Mula. The people who didn’t get space to sit were standing on the ground overlooking the river bank. Some were perched on the parapet wall running parallel to the river bank. She chose to walk upto the back of the bleachers to get a better view. She didn't mind standing. She was fit as a fiddle.

As she was busy trying to figure out which canoe Andy must be in, a young boy came up to her sprinting, “Ma’am, we… ha...ve” breathless with the run he took a few deep breaths before completing his sentence, “a seat reserved for you.”

She looked at him through her aviator glasses. The young boy looked nervous. Must be the effect of her uniform. She smiled at him and put him at ease, “Are you in the rowing team?”

“No mam,” he said looking down at her sparkling clean leather shoes. “I am only a junior. I might participate next year.”

“How did you reserve a seat for me?”

“Andy sir told us about you,” he looked towards the river bank. A group of well built men and women sat in the front row in their rowing clothes.

Anya looked towards them. Her tummy did a flip flop as she saw Andy wave at her. She knew how his dazzling black eyes must be looking gorgeously handsome right now. Keeping her face composed, she waved back. She saw him say something to the woman next to him and sprint towards her.

She sat down at her reserved spot. The shell games were in progress. Andy came over to her.

His blue rowing suit showed off strong arms with well defined muscles and a flat tummy. She felt a sweet spasm of arousal as she looked at him.

“Hi! Didn’t get time to change?” His innocent boyish smile made her forget all the stress from her workday (what the f**k was wrong with her?). “It’s not like I mind seeing you in your uniform, but I was hoping to see what a cop looks like in plain clothes.”

Anya was in one of her better moods. She laughed, “me managing to come here itself is a treat! I literally had to dodge off my constable to wriggle out of work in time!” 

They both laughed and Anya continued, “This is my first time here. So what is this fest about?” She wanted to avoid the distraction of constantly watching Andy’s crotch which was at her eye level and those shapely muscular legs giving her naughty thoughts.

Andy’s eyes lit up with excitement at her question. “We have been practicing for over six months now! Our Regatta showcases the talent of the rowers from the COEP boat club showing their fitness, perseverance, team work, art and much more. Check this out.” He handed her a pamphlet detailing the 3 hour long program.

Shell games were third in the itinerary and she had missed the arrow formation. “Wow!” she let out a whistle, “this is a lot of stuff. I thought it was only races!” she had to raise her voice to be heard, “What would you be doing?”

“I am going to be kayak dancing,” he winked, “and then my team races in the telematches.”

His smile continued to distract her and it took some effort to concentrate on his face as her eyes wanted to devour the delectable body standing in front of her. She had this irrational desire to run her fingers on his sexy chest and her hand itched to give a squeeze to his shapely butt. Controlling her impulses she replied, “Dancer! I would love to see that!”

“Would you like to join me for a quick dinner after the program?”

Anya thought about her empty house. She did not understand her attraction for Andy. She had never felt this raw s****l desire for anyone before and she wasn’t a person to deny herself any pleasure. 

“Sure! Only if you allow me to pay.” 

"That's not fair! I invited you!"

"Yes you did. But you are a student while I am a professional," Anya winked.

“Deal madam,” he hugged her and headed back to his team before she could register this sudden act of his and react.

She was surprised with the hug. More so, as she did not feel any kind of violation of her personal space. It was as if it was meant to be. As if her body really wanted this and it was just fine. She smiled to herself. It had been a long time since she had enjoyed the company of a man. After a short fling with Vikram during her training, no man had managed to catch her attention. Rather, she was more consumed by her work and least interested in drooling over men. She knew how men would want to first pull her into a relationship, then clip her wings and tie her into the responsibilities of a family.

She smiled to herself as Andy reached his group and turned to look at her again.

Interesting! She thought to herself as she felt the butterflies in her stomach. She would definitely like to know this man better.

Andy

He was looking forward to seeing Anya again. Surprised that she had agreed to visit, he still couldn’t believe it as he saw her walk into the crowd of revelers. He sent Jagdish, his junior, to show her to the spot which he had reserved. Being a senior helped. 

As she walked towards her spot he saw how people around her tended to quieten. She looked sexy in her uniform and he had to use all his control to stop his body from reacting. The tight pants of his rowing suit would have made it difficult to hide his reaction and his buddies would have made sure that he remembered it for as long as possible. 

So he turned to his kayaking partner, Seema, "mind if I go say a hi to a friend of mine? She has just arrived."

Seema said in a teasing tone, "Oh sheeee! Sure, go on."

"Thanks buddy. Be back in a jiffy," he said and pranced off to Anya. Better to speak to the object of his musings than get embarrassed in front of his cronies!

As he hugged her and headed back, he did a mental dance. He had seen the look on her face as he stood in front of her while chatting. She had to stand up to avoid discomfort. The cheeky fellow that he was, he had caught her off guard with the hug. He just couldn't help himself after she winked. Although he wanted to kiss the cute cop, he settled for a hug instead.

Her sexy soft body was going to give him some sleepless nights and he was going to make sure that she felt the s****l tension too. He got into the kayaking mode as the shell games got over.

Anya

Still feeling warm from within she looked ahead as Andy and the girl he had spoken to directed their kayak into the water. It was an amazing sport to watch as the rowers perform using speed, balance and artistic precision. The telematches started as it got dark. The boats slicing through the lit up waters, the angular ripples in their wake shining in a golden hue. It gave her an adrenaline rush similar to the feeling that she got when she chased criminals.

Once the torch dance concluded, she saw the crowd disperse. She walked towards the now silent river and stood looking at the dark, calm waters, waiting for Andy.

Someone tapped her shoulder from behind and she turned around to see Andy. He had changed into denims and a casual white T- shirt and stood smiling at her. His mesmerizing black eyes and playful manner managed to distract her from her despairing thoughts.

Andy

Why did she look as if she was carrying some kind of a burden? As Anya turned around to look at him and smiled, the sadness in her eyes tugged at his heart. His protective side wanted to hug her again and comfort her until that sadness was gone. But he knew that he would lose all progress with her if he did that. 

Her smile did not reach her eyes. What were the secrets behind her melancholic look?

“I love looking over the peaceful waters,” he said looking towards the dark river flowing steadily, “the sound of the water soothes me.”

“It sure does. You are lucky to be studying in such a lovely campus! Isn’t it over 150 years old?”

“Yes. The college was established in 1854 by the Brits. Some of the good things that they did while in our country!”

“So you are interested in history?” she was surprised as most youngsters her age, lived in the present.

“Yes. It is good to know about your past. It keeps you grounded. We can never take our freedom for granted, can we?” 

“True that!”

“Come on, let's go! I am famished.”

*****