"The principles of lust are easy to understand...
Do what you feel, feel until the end."
• Enigma, MCMXC a.d.
The Holidays! It's that time of the year again. A time of joy and celebration like none other. Like most people, some of my fondest memories are of time spent during the Holidays. Especially Christmas.
As I go down memory lane this Holiday season, I can't help but wonder how my life would have turned out without the Christmas of 2022. It was anything but pleasant. But it was a life-altering event to its core. A Christmas that would change me forever.
After I landed my 1st job with an MNC in India's Gurgaon city, I have been staying at a rented apartment there all by myself. I love the freedom and privacy of living alone. I could come and go as I please, eat whatever and whenever I want, roam inside the apartment wearing nothing but my undies, listen to music at a high volume.
Life was bliss until the Christmas holidays started. The catastrophic events of those 2 days brought my entire world crashing down.
Now, before you jump to conclusions, let me assure you that my apartment did not lack security measures. In fact, my apartment is on the 14th floor of a highrise condominium, a typical feature of the Gurgaon landscape. And in India, the higher you stay, the safer you are. So, why did my world turn upside down?
The answer lies in 5 names -- Santa Claus, and his 4 elves -- Bernard, Buddy, Dobby and Winkie. These are not their real names, of course. These are the characters they dressed up in on Christmas Day. Santa and his 4 elves.
All 5 are my neighbours. All of them are in their 40s and 50s. All stay inside the same housing complex as mine. All have apartments either on the ground or 1st floors. And all of them invaded MY apartment on Christmas Day, 2022.
Was it a coincidence that all 5 of these middle-aged 'uncles' would come to my place to celebrate Christmas? That's what I thought initially. But I realised soon enough that it was a carefully thought-out plan by these 5 bastards, to do what they always wanted to do -- ravish my delicate nubile body to satisfy their lust.
Below is a chronicle of those 2 days of nightmare.
Christmas, December 25, 2022
It had been raining since early morning. The skies opened up all of a sudden, and there was no end to the incessant downpour. By afternoon, the streets were flooded, and so was my housing complex. I went to my balcony and looked down -- the ground floors were submerged already.
It was 2.30 PM in the afternoon when the doorbell rang. I was not expecting any visitor, so before opening the door, I looked into the looking glass to check who it was. It was Vinod. Dressed in a green elf costume, with the name Bernard written on it.
Chapter 1: Bernard the Elf
Vinod (Bernard) is Punjabi, somewhere in his mid 40s. He lives on the ground floor with his wife and 2 teenaged sons. He and his wife have always been very affectionate towards me. So, I opened the door as soon as I saw him through the looking glass.
"Hello, Bernard! How are you?" I asked.
"Not well, Payal. Can I come inside?" Bernard looked a little disturbed.
I opened the door and let him in. I completely forgot that I was wearing only a long t-shirt, and no shorts or skirt. The t-shirt reached up to my mid-thigh.
"What's up, Bernard? All ok?" I asked as he entered the living room and sat down on the sofa.
"Sorry to disturb you, Payal," replied Bernard. "Our entire apartment is flooded with water. I somehow managed to book a cab and send my wife and children to my in-laws place in Delhi."
"Oh no! Sorry to hear that," I felt pity for him. Though this was the 1st time he had come to my flat alone (his family had always accompanied him on previous visits), he has always been affectionate towards me.
"Bernard, I saw the water on the ground floor from my balcony. Also watched on TV. Its really very bad," I said. "Have you had lunch?"
"No dear," he replied, "My kitchen is submerged in water, and I have sent my family away. How could I have had lunch?"
"Don't worry. Have lunch with me." I said.
"No, no. There's no need. I just need a place to stay for a few hours," he replied. "I will leave as soon as the water recedes. Hope you wont mind."
"Nonsense. You are having lunch with me," I said. "Its 2.30 PM already, and I was about to have my lunch. There is enough food for both. Lets go to the dining room."
"No, lets have it in the living room," he replied, "I want to watch the news on TV."
So, I brought lunch to the living room and turned on the TV news. I kept the lunch on the coffee table at the centre, and sat down on the sofa opposite Bernard.
"There are no security guards today, dear," he said. "The room of the security guards at the main gate is submerged in water, so they have fled. The manager and the caretaker are also gone."
Really? I didn't know that.
"Payal, since there is no security today, do not open the door yourself if someone knocks. Let me open it while I am here," he said.
"Oh! Ok." I found the suggestion to be a bit strange, but agreed nevertheless. Bernard must be concerned about my safety, I thought. How nice of him!
While we were eating, I noticed he was staring at my bare thighs. My t-shirt had moved up my thighs since I was sitting on a sofa, and he was stealing glances from the opposite end of the table.
I felt uncomfortable. I usually don't wear shorts, or skirt, or leggings when I am alone at home during summer. Just a long t-shirt makes me feel comfortable. But I should have put on my shorts before I opened the door and let him in. Did he catch a glimpse of my panties underneath the t-shirt? He might have, since he was sitting right opposite to me.
I was wearing a bright red Brazilian thong and matching bra under the t-shirt. I suddenly became conscious and crossed my legs.
"You have lovely fleshy thighs," he said suddenly. "Do you wax them?"
"What?" I was taken aback by his question.
"Do you wax your thighs, dear? They are so smooth and silky," he asked shamelessly.
I could not believe my ears. Vinod had always looked upon me with affection. His wife was very close to me. They were both as old as my parents. How could he ask me such an inappropriate question? I got up from the sofa and started walking towards the kitchen.
"Where do you think you are going?" he grabbed my hand suddenly.
"Uncle, what are you doing?" I was shocked.
He pulled me by my hand, grabbed me by my waist, and made me sit on his lap, facing him. It was so sudden and so quick that I did not get any time to react.
"Uncle, what are you doing? Stop!" I said again.
"First you answer me, then I will let you go," he whispered. It sounded like a threat, even though it was just a whisper. I was too shocked to either react or reply.