[This is continuation to chapter 01. While not required, reading the previous chapter will build the context of how an Indian girl continues to discover herselves ]
I asked "would you like to come in for a drink."
Mario and Tray were astonished to hear this. Never inn their wildest dreams had they thought that this Indian girl will invite them inside her home at this time of the night. They stood there stumped.
"Are you sure, Monika?" asked Mario.
"I am. Unless you are in a hurry to go home," I ventured trying not to sound too eager.
"No hurry and tomorrow is a holiday." Said Mario. He looked at the surprised face of Tray. Tray nodded.
The butterflies in my stomach that began when I opened the door of my apartment were now storming. Every part of my brain was telling me that this was wrong. Turnaround and tell them that you made a mistake. You cannot allow them in. What will your parents think of you, if they found out. What will you friends think of me. They all thought that I was a nice girl. In the sense nice girls are described in India. Nice girls do not invite two black men into her apartment well past midnight.
The die was cast. Mario walked in and Tray followed suit.
We all settled down in the living room. Mario and tray occupied each the sofa chair and I sat on the couch. There was a stony silence for a few moments. No one knew what to talk about.
"What do you have for a drink?" Inquired Mario.
This got me thinking. I have never been much of drinker and usually did not serve spirits to people visiting. The only time I had vodka and tonic when I was eating out with friends. I had coffee, juices in the fridge. I had no spirits, no beer. It struck me that I had a few bottles of wine, mostly red stacked in a cabinet over the microwave. These were brought by gifts by people who come to my place for dinner. I had never opened them. I virtually never served alcohol.
"I just have wine." I blurted. "I am sorry, nothing else."
"That will be fine". He said.
He walked with me to the kitchen to help me bring down a bottle of Merlot. He opened and poured for all of us.
"To a Happy New Year". We toasted. The wine was somewhat dry, which did not prevent me from taking a big sip.
"Have you ever kissed a black man before tonight?" Mario asked me.
"No, Never." I was embarrassed at myself.
Mario who was not sitting beside me on the couch placed his hand on my thigh sending a shiver up my spine. He turned his face toward me and gives me a soft kiss.
"Please..Mario.. No," I pleaded. "I cannot do this."
"Do what?" He asked innocently.
"Whatever..," I was undecided.
He tried the second time. Instinctively I moved back a little. But he was quick and planted a passing kiss on my lips.
"Please, Mario, I have never done this before "
"You mean Indians do not kiss?"
"I don't know. I am a good girl." I stayed put in my seat. My heart was jumping wanting more. My brain was telling me to ask these men to go away.
"So the good girls don't kiss, I did not know that," he mused, "okay I will not kiss you." He continued to caress my thigh over the denim jeans making me shiver.
"Are you okay, Monika?" He asked by taking my hand in his hand to comfort me. Of course it made it worse for me. The touch of his hand triggered a second round of shivers round my body.
He pulled my hand toward him that cause me to turn in his direction. My face moved too. He reached out put his other hand behind my head pulled me closer and pressed his lips on mine. He had lied to me that he will not kiss me!
"Mario!" I tried in vain to ask him to leave me, He was too strong. The lock on the lips was tight and his other hand pinned my thighs down.
He held me there as what seemed like eternity. I warmth from his lips slowly drifted to mine. I could feel myself loosen up. I let myself to be kissed. Eyes close and I was floating. The sensation reached down causing me to clamp my legs together. I was aware that Tray was watching us.