FF In Her Majesty's Secret Service COMPLETED 2/9 pg 79 (R18) - Page 7

The Duty Manager had shown Ishita to a luxurious suite on the top floor of the hotel, decorated in tones of white. There was an elegant living room fitted out with stylish leather furniture, arranged facing the picture windows, which had views of the Delhi skyline. The bedroom was dominated by a huge four poster bed, the snowy white linen dotted with cushions in jewel colours. The bathroom had a two person spa tub and a huge shower alcove. Ishita blushed deeply as she wondered just what Raman had in mind for them that evening.

There were two spa attendants waiting for her in the suite, and the next hour passed in a pleasurable blur for Ishita. She was given body scrubs and wraps and then a milk bath, her feet received a pedicure, her hands a manicure and her face was treated with some heavenly products which left her glowing.

After the spa, the beauticians set out the clothes which Raman had ordered for her. The dress he had chosen (when? Ishita wondered. Or God forbid, did Mihir choose it?) was a soft pink in colour, similar in length to the blue dress he had chosen for her earlier, and which she had worn when they had been locked up together at home. The style was different however, with a high necked mandarin collar in front, and open at the back up to her waist, with tiny buttons from the waist to the hemline. It was impossible to wear much underneath the snugly fitting dress, and Ishita could not stop blushing as she put on the flimsy undergarments that were placed before her. The spa attendants did up the buttons for her, and then helped her with her make up, enhancing her eyes with kohl, and her lips with a glossy pink lipstick. Her hair they left down, adding soft curls that cascaded down her shoulders.

Ishita gasped when she looked at herself in the mirror when they had finished. The woman staring back at her looked nothing like the woman who had entered this room an hour ago. The spa and the skilful make up had put a glow on her face, her kohl darkened eyes dominating, her soft lips wet with gloss, looking enticing and inviting. The look wasn't overtly sexy, Ishita realised, instead she looked like a woman in love, waiting for her lover, wanting to be ravished and adored. She blushed again. That's exactly what I am, she told herself, a woman in love waiting for her lover. My lover. My Raman.

The beauticians had just left after helping her to put on the silver sandals which came with the dress, when her phone beeped. Raman! He had been strangely incommunicado after acknowledging her text that she had arrived at the hotel.

She eagerly brought up the message.

"The bar at the Atrium Level. It's called Rendezvous at the Taj. Meet me now. I can't wait to make your acquaintance, Ms Deepika"

Butterflies did the karma sutra in Ishita's stomach as she took a deep breath and walked out to meet Raman.

Ishita walked into Rendezvous Bar in the Atrium, followed by the gaze of every male between the ages of 10 to 80 within her vicinity.

She was oblivious to their stares, her mind fully occupied by the knowledge that she was finally going to be in Raman's arms again soon, was finally going to take her second step into the journey of passion she had so eagerly embarked upon with him a month ago, but which life, family and commitments had put a temporary brake on.

She wondered why Raman wanted to meet her in the bar, when he could just have come up to their room, but she was beginning to know her husbands playful side, and she knew she would play all his games just to see that oh so sexy smile light up his eyes at her acquiescence. So even though these clothes and this place made her somewhat uneasy, Ishita was willing to do what he wanted, just to return some of the joy her husband gave her.

She looked for him as her eyes adjusted to the dim lighting, but could not spot him anywhere. There was soft music playing in the background, and some couples swaying on the dance floor to the romantic ballad.

Ishita took a deep breath and walked up tentatively to the bar. There were 4 empty stools at the bar, and she perched on one, her eyes continuing to rake the faces before her to find the one she craved to see.

"What can I get you ma'am?" The bartenders voice interrupted her search for her beloved.

"What, oh, uh, orange juice, please" she waited until the glass was handed to her before her eyes resumed their fevered search for Raman. She knew she should play it cool, he was probably hiding somewhere just to watch her reactions, but truth be told, she was getting desperate to see him. The cravings of her body, muted by the denials of the past month, had started clamouring loudly and with increasing intensity since their kiss earlier today.

She was oblivious to the admiring stares of the bartenders and the other men in the bar, all her concentration focused only on finding Raman.

The music stopped, and the couples started to move off the dance floor, two of them heading to the empty stools next to where she was seated. She looked down, not wanting to engage with anyone.

A soft chuckle reached her above the muted sounds of the bar. Raman. He was here.

She looked up eagerly, and saw him. He was dressed in a black tuxedo jacket and black trousers, a white shirt underneath his jacket, and a narrow black tie. His hair was slicked back. He looked exactly what he was - suave, debanoir, a successful man in his prime. AND HE WAS WALKING TOWARDS HER WITH A WOMAN BY HIS SIDE!!!! She was clinging to his arm, her face tilted towards him.

Ishita looked on silently as Raman and the woman took the empty seats beside her, Raman sitting on the stool right next to her.

"Well, thank you for the dance, Ms...?"

"Sonia" she replied eagerly. "And you must tell me your name. I could just feel a connection when we were dancing, couldn't you?"

"Hmmm" he smiled at Sonia, turning to face Ishita.

"Rahul" he said, offering his hand to her. "Rahul naam hai mera. Aur aap?"

Ishita stared at him in silence. She was livid, all her expectations for the evenings crashing into a heap, knocked for a sixer by the jealousy igniting in her heart. She ignored his hand and tore her tearing eyes away from him, staring at the dance floor instead.

She felt his hand on her shoulder. "Can I buy you a drink?" There was still amusement in his voice, but it was underlaid by a subtext of concern. She continued to ignore him. " I said, can I buy you a drink?" His voice was definitely more worried now.

Ishita stood up, jerking his hand off her shoulder.

"No thanks" her anger had reduced her voice to a whisper. " why dont you buy her a drink."

Ish ... He began, but was interrupted by a tall man in evening dress who had come up to them.

"Hey buddy" the stranger said. "I think the lady said no"

Raman stood up just as the band struck up another tune:

"Sometimes when we touch, the honesty's too much

And I have to close my eyes and hide

I wanna hold you till I die

Till we both break down and cry ..."

"Ishita" he said plaintively

"My name is not Ishita, it's Deepika" Ishita replied. She turned to the tall stranger. "Would you dance with me?"

"My pleasure, ma'am" he responded, taking her hand and leading her onto the dance floor. " I would be honoured to dance with the most beautiful lady in the room"