Hey Everyone I am new to I-F and have always been a silent reader. Anyways I don't know even if I have posted this properly? If I have then let me know if I should continue ok?
Thanx for Ur support
Also one more warning this content I am posting may contain some very Er*tic and Se*ually Explicit Scenes in some chapters since I have adopted this story line & L*vemaking scenes from a Favourite Mills& Boon novel of mine so people read @ ur own Risk!!
Furthermore it is based on a paranormal setting namely people who can shift into animals like cougars!
P.S. Also let me know how to post the next chapter to this ok?
Short FF: The Wallflower
Prologue
"So, have you heard? Jai is back." Purva watched with a friendly smile as Bani carefully wrapped her purchase. Bani felt her heart give a little jump at the news, though it wasn't the first time she'd heard it. The knowledge that the hunky Dr. Walia had moved back home for good after ten years away was hot gossip to all the women who trooped through her store.
Purva Randheria was there to pick up a hand-crafted mirror with beautiful hand-painted tiles. Pia was there, even though she hated both Bani and Rano, because she was friends with Purva. As far as Pia was concerned, they were directly responsible for her breakup with Jai.
Pia Chopra was one of the town beauties and knew it. Fine boned with alabaster skin, she had just the right dusting of rose at her cheeks to set off her pale brown-blonde perfection. Add blue eyes the color of forget-me-nots and a tall, wispy build, and she was the epitome of the fragile blonde. The woman could brawl like a linebacker when the time came; she could shriek, and bats for miles around fell dead to the ground; but man if she didn't work the whole Penelope Pitstop thing, and men fell for it. They loved that whole delicate flower of womanhood crap she managed to pull off so flawlessly. Not that Bani envied her or anything. Not really.
Men looked at Bani and saw sturdy womanhood. Hips made for birthing, plain brown eyes and nondescript black hair, at five-foot-four inches Bani would never, literally, be able to stand up to Pia. Add in the fact that most of the town thought she was in a gay relationship with Rano and her social calendar remained depressingly empty.
"Apparently Jai is planning on taking over Dr. Dananjay's practice; he and Aditya will be partners," Pia cooed.
"So you've already spoken to him?" Purva's expression of polite curiousness didn't quite mesh with her tone of voice. Bani didn't dare look too closely, but she thought Purva was almost exasperated with her friend. Everyone knew how hard Pia had once chased Jai. Maybe she thought she could get the old fires burning once again?
"Yes, Jai just bought his parents' old house. I can't wait to get in there and redecorate." Bani could practically see Pia rubbing her hands in anticipation. "Of course, nothing in this shop will do. No real craftsman things. I want genuine antiques, not knock-offs." Pia's contemptuous gaze raked the store, and its owner, with equal derision.
When Pia's back was turned, Bani, in a fit of childishness, mimicked the blonde as closely as possible. Purva wound up choking on a sip of tea as Bani put her hand on her hip and mouthed along with Pia's words. "Of course, everyone knows Jai would never set foot inside Wallflowers. Does he even know you exist, Bani?"
Bani tapped her nail on her chin thoughtfully as Pia turned back to her. "Yes, actually, I believe he does. Something?something to do with?punch. Cherry punch, if I recall correctly." That had been the incident that broke up Jai and Pia; Rano had spilled cherry punch all over Pia's white prom dress in retaliation for some comment of Pia's concerning Bani. Jai had, apparently, taken Bani and Rano's side and had broken off his relationship with Pia. Pia had hated Bani and Rano ever since. Bani was pretty sure Pia was the one who kept the whole gay couple rumor alive.
The look on the blonde's face was filled with hatred until she smoothed it out, once again the cool, delicate woman most of Halle (Note: Halle is a fictitious town) knew. She smiled at Bani with pity. "I hear Pushkar left town recently. What's wrong Bani, didn't he like sharing you with Rano? Or perhaps you couldn't talk her into a mnage a trois?"
Bani smiled back, hiding the hurt over Pushkar with practiced ease. They'd known before he left that their relationship wasn't going anywhere, and it wasn't Pushkar's fault. "So you've been invited to Jai's housewarming party?" Sometimes it helped to have friends in odd places; Jai's best friend had become one of her best artisans and closest friends. He'd made Purva's mirror and supplied quite a bit of glass wall art for the store.
Pia's eyes flickered; she knew nothing about the party. Bani mentally chalked up a score on her mental scoreboard. On the downside, Bani hadn't been invited either, not that she'd expected to be.
"That party is supposed to be a surprise." Pia waved her hand airily. Bani merely raised an amused eyebrow, not deceived in the least. "Oh, well, hopefully you won't spill the beans to Jai. Oh, wait. When, exactly, was the last time you spoke to Jai?" Pia smiled coldly.
Bani clapped in mock approval. "Wow, Pia. Way to express your inner twelve year old."
Grinding her teeth on a fake smile, Pia turned to Purva. "I'll wait for you outside. The atmosphere in here is so cloying and sweet. I really don't know how you can stand it." She stepped outside and sat on the bench Bani and Rano had put out front, looking dainty and sweet as she waved hello to her friends and acquaintances.
"Sorry about that, Bani. I forgot how much she dislikes you."
Bani turned and looked at Purva's apologetic face. She grinned. "It's no problem, Purva. If she actually came in here to buy something I'd take great pleasure in charging her double."
Purva laughed just as Rano stuck her head out of the curtained-off back room. "Has the wicked witch ridden off on her broomstick yet?"
Bani waved towards the picture window. "Not quite. She's flying our bench at the moment."
Rano carried out the mirror with a sigh. "Here you go, Purva. Hope you and Daksh like it."
"Oh, I'm sure we will," Purva replied, her eyes glued to the boxed up mirror. She paid, chatting quietly with Rano and Bani, then left the store with a cheery wave. The two women could see her giving Pia something of a hard time as they crossed the street, but quickly lost sight of them.
"So. Jai is back in town." Rano leaned back against the counter, obviously hiding a grin.
"Yup."
"You going to make a play for Dr. Yummy? I mean, since you've had a crush on him since, what, grade school?"
"Given half a chance? Maaaybe."
The two women looked at each other and laughed; they both knew Bani didn't stand a chance in hell of catching Jai Walia's attention. She hadn't done it in high school, and she certainly hadn't changed all that much since.
What would a man like Jai want with someone like her?
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