At thirty I felt I achieved everything in life that I had hoped for during my formative years. I've never been too ambitious and when I paused to look at my life over my shoulder I felt I couldn't have done anything better. Graduation from Eton, a plush job at one of the best software firms, an amazing wife for whom my happiness towers over her deepest needs and a miracle kid of five who adores me so much she actually believes everything in the world belongs to her daddy.
I am Kris for you (would love to declare my real name but I don't want to risk my beautiful world just coz I wanted to show off how lucky I've been this month). For the sake of the narration and to thrill your senses I could've claimed I'm a hunk, but I decided against it. I shall keep this as close to reality as I can dare.
So let's start again. I'm Kris, your average looking Indian. I'm five foot eight, sun tanned and although I don't visit the gym everyday, I did manage to stay in shape better than most guys at my age.
The story begins at the Bombay International airport where I was waiting for my flight to London to arrive. From London, I was to take another flight to Rio where I was to deploy one of the company's new software products for a bank.
Rhea from the client management team was to join me on the trip - to manage the client of course. I expected her to be a bubbling young manager in her early twenties dressed like a corporate bitch. I would never know what triggered that portrait in my head, maybe its the name, maybe not.
I scanned the arriving crowd for a few minutes looking hard for Rhea and after four incorrect guesses I gave up.
I was engrossed in a Hollywood magazine's predictions on the Oscars when I heard it.
'Excuse Me, Are you Kris?'
I looked up mesmerized by the husky voice. She needed no introduction, the mental image in head vaporized and my heart appreciated how perfectly she suited her role, at least her personality did. She must've been seven or eight years elder to me, was draped in a beautiful black Saree and was a good two inches taller to me considering she was wearing flats. Sarees cover everything if worn with the intention to do so, but the male hormones in me got my eyes to work and I deduced she's well endowed in all the right areas. I suspected she's not exactly slim and would have a little extra to play with everywhere. Her skin was dusky, almost a deep chocolate. Savings the best for the last was her face, a real beauty even at that age, would've been absolutely ravishing in her best years.
'Hello!' said she with a smile, almost enjoying the effect she is having on me.
I recovered and responded 'Hi, this is Kris. Glad to meet you. Its just that I was expecting someone much...'
'Younger' she completed my sentence. She continued before I had a chance to cover up the slip 'Well, I'm all you are getting for the next one month. For starters you can help me with my suitcase through the security check.'
The sway of her hips as she walked away had me in a trance before the call for my flight rang over the speakers.
On the flight Rhea informed me she was married for fifteen years to a Navy commander and had two kids. She added she maintained a very busy social life and that month was going to kill her unless I give her company. I was only overjoyed anticipating a fun filled month ahead.
The rest of the journey was uneventful till we arrived at Rio. The company had arranged for a car at our disposal and we went straight to the hotel. We checked in into our adjoining rooms on the tenth floor promising each other we will be downstairs in the restaurant by eight.
