Note: This story is copyrighted from January 1, 2024 to EvolvedHSapiens. All authors are proud of their works, no matter how badly received, so plagiarisers are earnestly requested to desist.
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It all began when Mohan returned from his Jaipur tour and told me his story.
Remember, this was back in 1980. The best way to travel to many small cities from Delhi was by bus, and truth be told, the air-conditioned buses were pretty comfortable to ride. The trip to Jaipur took around three hours. Both Mohan and I worked for the same company--I was in the corporate office and he was in sales. Mohan's job entailed a lot more travel than mine did.
India was a very conservative place to live in those days. Mohan was one of the few who had a girlfriend--an older Bengali girl who lived in Calcutta and visited him once every three months or so. He had also told me of how he had gotten to know a couple of other women, one of whom was married, while in college in Calcutta. He was also a devoted exponent of yoga.
--- I landed up at the bus station well in time (said Mohan) and got to my seat as soon as the bus arrived at the boarding point. There were two seats on each side of the aisle, as usual. I found myself in an aisle seat and settled down with a book. Then I heard a voice.
--- Excuse me
--- Her voice was low and very attractive, but that wasn't what transfixed me. It was because she was a foreigner. Blonde-haired and green-eyed to boot. And a really sexy figure. But it was important to be courteous and cool, so I just got up and gave her a smile as I made way. I didn't try to talk to her, but simply returned to my book.
Neither of us spoke for a good twenty minutes or so. Then, slowly, we got into conversation. I discovered she was American, from California, named Sarah, and had come on a cheap holiday tour package to India, but had managed a couple of days extra and a cheap ticket back. She was keen to visit Jaipur again, because she felt she hadn't had enough time. She was taking the bus to save money. I told her I was traveling on work for three days.
Then, to my surprise, she asked me if I could suggest any good inexpensive hotels in Jaipur. I wasn't very familiar with Jaipur hotels, I replied, since I always stayed at the same hotel, which cost me Rs 250/- a day (a modest but not low amount those days). Again to my surprise, she nodded and said that was okay for her, and could I help to get a room. Not a problem, was my response, and sure enough, we took an auto to the hotel. Fortunately, there were some rooms still available, and she was able to get one.
It was getting time for me to head out on work, so I got quickly showered, changed in my own room, and left for my client meetings. Those took all day, and since sales requires entertaining, I was able to take my last client out for dinner. It must have been around nine o'clock when I got back to my room. I hadn't given much thought to Sarah during the busy day, and assumed she would have taken care of herself.
Imagine my surprise when the phone rang, and it turned out to be Sarah on the line.
--- Hi, she said. You've taken a long time. I thought the plan was we would have dinner together.
I then remembered that I had mentioned something like that, but had forgotten it because of all the sales calls I had made.