23-10-2022, 07:28 AM
"Aishwarya. What time is it?" I asked as I wiped the sleep from my eyes.
"1:30 am. I can't sleep. But now I feel bad because I see that you had no problem sleeping."
"No, don't worry about it. Anything I can do to help?" I asked, desperate for both of us to ignore what happened earlier.
"No, probably not. It's just jet-lag I think. I'm just lying alone in bed, it's a bit boring and lonely."
Even though I was dreadfully tired and far from focused, I was aware enough to note the tiny implication in what she had said. The tiniest sliver of a request beneath her guarded words. But I wasn't about to dive in headfirst again. Before I could reply, she continued,
"I'm sorry I asked you to leave before. That was rude of me," she said.
This took me by surprise me. I had assumed I was at fault. After all, I was the drunken lawyer who had forced himself onto a famous actress in a hotel room. It seemed like typical Bollywood scandal. I chose my words carefully and replied,
"No, it was my fault. I overstepped."
"Not really. I was leading you on but I couldn't pull the trigger on it. I got nervous when things got serious."
She was obviously tired. She leaned against the door frame wearing only a hotel bathrobe. I took a good look at her and saw just a tiny hint of shame in her expression. This was turning out to be a strange situation for all involved.
"Are you okay Aishu?" I asked.
"No. No I'm not. I haven't had time to relax in months. I broke up with my boyfriend not long ago and since then it's been non-stop filming movies and doing press junkets for months. It's too much Jack. I just need something to take the edge off. I just need some relief."
"Anything I can do to help?"
"Well, maybe there is. To be honest, I've been feeling rather under-fucked lately."
It took me several moments to process that statement. The meaning sounded clear, but the fact she said it, and said it so freely had me on edge.
"Does that mean the same thing in North India as it does in South India?"
"Keep me company tonight. I won't get cold feet again, I promise. I don't know what that was before but it won't happen again. I just....I want you."
"Have you been drinking since I left," I asked, just to be cautious.
"Don't worry, I'm completely sober now," she replied with a mischievous smile. "And you?"
"Me too. That champagne wasn't very strong."
She laughed quietly, not wanting to wake up anyone else in the hotel. It was an infectious sound and soon I joined her in her laughter. It's true, she didn't appear drunk. But guys like me don't meet girls like her, and girls like her sure as hell don't make such proposals to guys like me. What happened earlier was vexing but in all honesty, it seemed like a realistic end to our courtship. We looked at each other for several long moments, neither wanting to make a move, but both of us clearly wanting it.
After a moment, she simply extended her hand. I looked at it for a moment, before taking it in my own. And with that, she led me out of my room and into hers.