A JOURNEY  WITH STRANGER -STORY BY WILLIAMSJI MAVELI

A JOURNEY  WITH STRANGER 
The bus groaned to a halt, throwing Sunil off schedule. Marine Drive by 4:30 pm was fading into a distant dream. Traffic, a constant serpent on the National Highway, had coiled him in its grip for an extra thirty minutes. His friend's words echoed - "The five o'clock boat trip, Sunil. That's when the magic happens. Sunset paints the sky in fire, and the lagoon shimmers like scattered jewels."
Sunil disembarked, the container terminal a dull thrum against the rising tide of anticipation. Bolgatti Palace, a whisper of history, and the Grand Hyatt, a beacon of modern luxury, flanked the water. The city lights began their nightly dance, painting the bridges with a rainbow of seduction. This was a feast for the senses, a symphony for the soul.
He climbed into the weathered boat, the last passenger it seemed. The front seat, a throne overlooking this aquatic spectacle, remained unclaimed. Then, a rush of wind and laughter announced Tessa's arrival. Her eyes, the color of the approaching dusk, held a mischievous glint.
"Dibs on the front seat!" she declared, a smile playing on her lips. "Best pictures, you know?"
The boatman, weathered by sun and salt, approached Sunil with a hesitant question. Tessa, catching the drift, intervened. "He wouldn't mind sharing, would you Sunil?"
Sunil, initially wary, felt a warmth bloom in his chest as their eyes met. The air crackled with unspoken possibilities. They squeezed into the shared space, their shoulders brushing, sending shivers down his spine.
The scent of Tessa's perfume, a heady mix of jasmine and sea salt, mingled with the earthy musk of the backwaters. It was intoxicating. As the boat carved through the water, their cameras became extensions of their desires, capturing not just the scenery, but stolen glances and shy smiles.
Suddenly, Tessa's hand, cool and confident, slipped into his. "Look there," she whispered, her voice a caress against his ear. "That deserves a picture, don't you think?"
Sunil, a stranger to such impulsive intimacy, felt a flicker of fear. Yet, the press of her hand against his was strangely comforting.
"Forget the crowd," Tessa murmured, as if reading his mind. "Let's lose ourselves in this moment."
The boat rounded the bend, revealing the Grand Hyatt in all its glory.
"Imagine," Tessa purred, leaning closer, "a wedding here, overlooking the Arabian Sea. Wouldn't that be a dream?"
Sunil swallowed hard, the image of her in a flowing white dress, bathed in the golden light of sunset, a delicious torment.
"Or maybe," she continued, a playful glint in her eyes, "the top floor of the Hyatt. All windows open, the wind whispering secrets, and the Arabian jinns joining us for a night of passion."
A shiver of delight ran down Sunil's spine. "You have a vivid imagination," he managed, his voice husky.
"Maybe that's why I write for the Deccan Herald," she winked.
Their laughter mingled with the rhythmic slap of water against the hull. A shared secret, a connection forged in the heart of a bustling city.
"Bolgatti Palace," Tessa murmured, gazing at the historic building. "Next time, I'll stay there. Right by the sea."
Sunil watched, captivated, as her gaze drifted to the cruise ships docked beyond.
"An Arab prince, a love story for the ages," she sighed, a touch of yearning in her voice. "Maybe a bit crazy, but isn't that what makes life interesting?"
As the boat docked, a comfortable silence settled between them. They walked along Marine Drive, the salty breeze carrying the scent of Tessa's ice cream.
"Looking for a stranger," she said, handing him a cone. "Maybe I found him in you."
The warmth in her eyes mirrored the setting sun. The backwaters, a tapestry of scents and secrets, seemed to hum with unspoken promises.
"Let's walk this path together," she whispered, her voice a siren song. "Even if the answers remain unspoken, I can find solace in your presence."
Sunil, his heart pounding a frantic rhythm, nodded silently. The taxi pulled up, not where he expected, but at the very doorstep of the Grand Hyatt. The top floor room, bathed in the soft glow of the setting sun, awaited them. Food and wine, an invitation to a night of untold possibilities.
As Tessa disappeared to freshen up, Sunil stood by the window, the city lights twinkling like a promise. He may have been looking for the tranquility of the backwaters, but fate, it seemed, had a different adventure in store - one laced with.
-WILLIAMSJI MAVELI