[A special story for the Silver Jubilee of this series].
[Part 25]
Two days later when the ship docked in Bangkok, the guys took the chance to go for another massage. Again, Vikas arranged for it and refused to go himself.
Shriya offered Vikas a massage again but he gently declined.
Their cruise was finishing in Bangkok so they got off the ship and moved into a hotel in Bangkok.
Being in Bangkok was very exciting for the guys as they had heard about the city a lot. For Indians Bangkok is the ultimate destination for partying. That kind of partying.
At lunch, all they could talk about was which clubs were good and what time they opened. Vikas could understand their excitement but did not take part in their conversations.
"Vikas, I know you said we should all do what we want," Amisha said "but frankly, I don't want to spend all the time in the clubs."
"So, do what you like to do, Amisha." Vikas suggested "The suggestion to do as you want applies to everybody, not just the guys."
"But you ask us to go with them." Amisha said.
"Well, just don't listen to me." Vikas said simply.
"How is that possible?" Amisha said "Of course, we can't do that."
Others around the lunch table also shook their heads to indicate that what Vikas said was most important.
Vikas said "Ok, what do you want to do?"
Amisha said "There is an all night prayer and meditation session in the big Buddhist temple here tonight. I want to go there."
"Oh, that sounds good. I want to come, too." Sonali said.
"Me too." Kajal said "May I, Patidev?"
Vikas nodded "So why don't you go there? What's stopping you?."
"Will you come?" Amisha asked.
"No, I am not the praying type." Vikas said "But you girls can go, nobody will stop you."
"Baby, I don't want to go if you don't want to go." Kajal said.
"That's nonsense, Kaju." Vikas said firmly "You are not joined to me at the hip. You are your own person. You will do what you like, and we will also do things we both like. I won't give up my hobbies if you don't like them, and I won't ask you to do that either."
"Patidev, you are not asking me, but I don't feel like going without you." Kajal said.
"Darling, I don't want to allow that kind of thinking. If you like that sort of thing, you go and enjoy it."
"But what will you do?" Kajal asked.
"I have lots to do. I have my hobbies. I can process the photos I have taken so far. There are literally thousands of them and I know I won't get time to work on them when I get back to my work in Bombay, so I can use the time to start on them." Vikas said "But even if I didn't have that, I could read a book or sleep. You don't need to worry about that. You go and take part in the prayer."
"You won't mind me leaving you alone for the night?"
"Not at all. This chance to take part in this kind of prayer might not come your way again, whereas you will be my wife for the rest of your life."
"Aw, you are the most amazing man I know." Kajal said and leaned in to kiss him on the cheek.
Rhea also opted to go with them to the temple but Shriya stayed silent. The guys carefully kept quiet during this planning, letting it be understood that they would go to the club while the women will go to the temple.
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Kajal asked Vikas three more times that it was ok for her to go before leaving for the night with her sisters and mom. Shriya didn't go and nobody asked her for it. Vikas didn't question it.
He came back to his room and started working on the photos. He had taken a lot of photos which took him a while to import into his photo editing software. Then he started organising them and selecting the best ones for processing. He was still doing that when the room phone rang.
Vikas picked it up "Hello."
It was Shriya calling from her room "Vikas, I am getting bored. Can't we go out, please?"
"Oh, I thought you went to the club with the guys."
"No, it's no fun going with them. All they want to do is get drunk and make a nuisance of themselves."
"Yes, I have heard." Vikas said "Well, what do you want to do?"
"Are you very busy?"
"Just working on the photos. It's not world-changing work, I can take a break." Vikas said "Do you want to go down to the restaurant on the ground floor and have a coffee or something?"
"Actually, I was looking at the brochure here in the room and there is a club in the hotel also, on the top floor. Can we go there? Please?"
"Umm, sure. We can go for a couple of hours." Vikas accepted "What time does it open?"
"It's open from 11 PM to 4 AM." Shriya said.
"Ok, it's almost 11PM now. Do you want to get ready and let's say we go about midnight?"
"Sounds perfect." Shriya chirped "Thank you, Vikas."
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It was still 15 minutes to midnight when there was a knock on Vikas' door. He had taken a shower and put on business trousers and a clean shirt. He had picked out socks and put them in his shoes but not worn them yet. His coat was also ready to be worn but lying on the bed right now.
He opened the door and Shriya came in. She had her long jacket closed but her face was beautifully made up for going to a party. Her lips looked soft and luscious with the dark red lipstick on. She had spent time on brushing her hair and styling it so that it fell all on right shoulder.
"Are you not ready yet?" She asked.
Vikas went to the bed "I am ready, just left the shoes and coat for the last."
Shriya said "Do I look ok?" She opened her jacket and dropped it on the bed.
"Damn!" Vikas' jaw dropped.