3

Vihaan

Darren and I both sat together and enjoyed some sorts of wine as provided by the Hotel management. We were in our room respectively. I discussed few things with him regarding my short stay in India and the few things he must do while he was here.

I shared him some place and locations which he should pay a visit as I won't be there with him.

Since I have come to India, I had to do some little things all alone by myself. I had to visit my ancestral farmhouse, located in outskirts of Pune. As I had spent my childhood their along with my family, so some great memories were attached to it.

Last night I had a conversation with my Mom and she wanted me to send some pictures of the farmhouse before I fly back to Italy.

I asked Darren when we shall be leaving to attend my friend's anniversary, he informed that he required some time to check out the venue, surroundings and safety.

As a businessman, our top most priority is to ensure safety first. He wanted me to take some of my bodyguards but I insisted that it would not be necessary.

I know Daksh since our childhood, he loves to manage everything, adequately and neatly. If he had selected a place to celebrate his anniversary, then surely, he must have ensured proper arrangements and ....

After finishing our short lunch, we attended an online meeting with some Italian delegates. It was about a factory set up in France for an easily accessible transportation of the beverages.

When the meeting was over, Darren informed that we will leave by evening for the event and so he exited to get ready and I also went to shower to groom myself.

Who knows I might attract few ladies?

The black, lavish tuxedo was well packed, ironed and when I unfolded it, the fresh fragrance floated into my nose. I wore it quickly and then applied my most desirable perfume. I picked my Rolex watch to wear it on my left hand but accidentally it slipped through my hand and fell down on the floor. I crouched down to pick and my eyes fell on that magazine. Perhaps, due to deel slumber, it might have skidded from hand and fell down. The cover page had the picture of the elevator girl.

There was no name on that cover page but only a glimpse of her face, her eyes and plump lips.

"Damn, isn't she beautiful?" Brown hairs and plump lips; At some point, while standing and gawking at her in Coffee shop, I wanted to punish her for her impulsive behaviour but so strange!

My mood changed when I drooled at her. Wishing that I could touch her and, a dirty little desire pricked me.

Darren knocked in and I got up. Wearing my shoes and taking the gifts that I bought, we headed over to the car. I took my place on the back seat and Darren sat on the driver's place.

This time he was driving.

"So where's the place?" I asked him as he turned the keys of the car.

"It's Cordelia Cruise." He spoke.

"Cruise …. that is great."

 I had always wanted to spend a short time in an amazing Cruise. Darren apprised me of the breathtaking beauty of both Indian and International destinations with Cordelia Cruise.

It was recently developed in India, hardly a year ago but it has gained massive popularity among the people.

We arrived at the Green Gate, Alexandra Dock where the Cruise was located. Thanks to the Traffic in Mumbai, a journey that could have been covered within 1 hour, unfortunately, it took us more than two hours.

How pathetic!

We received our boarding passes through a security guard after he checked the guest list. We did not have to stand in the queue as we were VIP guests. Entering in the cruise, we met a man called Vishal Sampath who assisted us in showing our rooms. He oversaw taking guests to their respective rooms and while we were on the way, he presented a detailed picture of the cruise.

It was an Empress-class ship that had a capacity of around 1800 people, 796 cabins and 11 Passenger Decks.

"Can we find luxurious Bars here?" asked Darren.

"Of course Sir," He replied enthusiastically. "You can find restaurants, bars, lounges, clubs, and even a casino. There are more facilities available in your rooms."

We checked in our room and it was splendid. Located in the 8th deck, it has an ocean-view room, an amazing balcony with a perfect sunrise to observe.

"Magnificent…."

Darren had already informed the times when to attend the anniversary party and we had enough time for that. But I was in no such hurry to rest or sleep. I wanted to hear a sound, a soothing sound of dark ocean, of crashing waves and so Coming out of my suite, I strolled towards an empty place of the ship. There were not many people on this side of the Cruise. It was an open terrace but space was small. And so, little away from crowd, I stood at the railing and gazed the dusky sky, the mere appearance of stars, unobscured by Pollution.

Stunning!

While I was hearing, my earbuds got disturbed by the sounds of heavy heels, racing past. A woman in a white shimmery dress ran exceedingly towards the Cruise's terrace and climbed up the iron railing. On a closer look, she resembled the elevator girl I bumped into the other day.

"Hey, Miss! What are you doing?" I approached with my mild steps so that she would not jump hurriedly.

"None of your business, go away." She said looking at me and then I was clear she was that girl or possibly the model whom I saw in the magazine. The first day we accidentally met, she uttered the same lines, the same words.

"Don't do it. Please." I said concernedly.

"Stay away. Do not come near me. I mean it." She said and sobbed.

"I wanted to pull her over but we had ten steps gap and I feared if I approached her, she might jump. Her stubbornness was quite evident because she did not listen to me on the first day. I thought if I indulge her in my absurd conversation and killed the gap, then I could save her.

"You will not jump, I know it. I said diplomatically. 

"What do you mean?" She asked.

"You will not jump coz if you wanted to, you would have," I said and this time I was standing a few distances away from her. " C'mon give me your hand and I will pull you over if you change your mind."

"Who are you? Jack Dawson?" She growled. "Why would I change my mind? If I come here to jump, then I will jump."

"I might be the Jack but you anyway don't look like Rose…." I told her and now I just removed my shoes.

"How dare you say this? Just stay away. You are manipulating me."

"I will not stay away coz now I'm involved and if something happens to you, I will be charged," I said and now I was standing barefoot.

 Despite my attempts to prevent her from falling, she was still looking at the deep sea. I got frightened.

"Don't look at the water, its cold and scary and if you jump, I will anyway jump to save you." 

" Don't say that you will jump and save me. You do not know me?

"Well Of course, I don't know you, but if you resume, maybe we will get to know each other, so now, please give me your hand."

"I won't." She was adamant and began weeping. I knew this was the moment I must get a grab on her before she did anything extreme.

"What are you doing? Stop you, maniac!" I held her waist from behind.

"Do not move or else we both gonna fall. I said and told her to turn around slowly. Thank God! She listened."

I was still holding her by the waist and told her to keep her arms on my shoulder. She was breathing heavily but I assured her that I would not let her go. She looked fragile and vulnerable when I stared into her eyes.

She was light-weight and it was convenient to grab her so using my strength I pulled her up. I could feel her tempting breath when our heads were drawn close. She looked and her eyes were filled with fear and innocence. The woman I saw in the magazine yesterday was in front of me and I was holding her

"On a count of three, hold me tightly. I will pull you upwards." She nodded her head and with a final click, I pulled her up.

Balance lost, my foot slipped and she screamed we both fell on the ground. Hearing her voice, I saw a man come, running towards us. He called her 'Madam' and picked her up.

"Did this man do something?" He asked.

"Jaiden, it is fine…. I was trying to look down and my foot slipped and he helped."

Jaiden looked suspiciously at me and said, "How did this man get time to open his socks and shoes."

I chuckled.

The woman I saved walked out with Jaiden without saying her name. Jaiden whispered something into her ear and she walked off without a head turn. As if she was scared of something and it made me more intrigue about her.

The moment came when I was finally meeting my friend. I arrived at a hall with Darren. And a man with an elegant suit, smiling and talking. I knew it was Daksh. He had his amazing friends standing with him, giving him bouquet.

"Will I have the pleasant to hug you?"

He turned, " Vihannnn" He screamed my name and embraced me with open heart and love

"After so long time brother." He told and shook hands with me, patted my shoulder and this noteworthy occasion of meeting my friend turned into a 'Bromance'

"Congratulations, my friend," I told and passed the gift in his hands. "But where is your other half? Your precious one? Why don't I see her?" I inquired when I could not see his lady nearby to him.

"Here comes my precious one" He replied and pointed his fingers at the grand staircase. All the lights were shut down and the hall was pit black. The crowd started mumbling in low until a white light focused on her face and everyone turned to look at her in awe. She was taking her steps in the staircase, wearing a glowing sculpted shimmery white gown, it was a sleeveless V-type neck and she resembled like a Princess. The crowd was stunned to see an exquisite beauty.

But my eyes only looked at her. It was her. The woman whom I saved a moment ago. "She is my friend's wife."

Disaster!