Chapter Six #2
A gust of wind blew across the sandy expanse.
Haneul welcomed the caress on his face. Timira, not so much.
Sand inside her nose, she woke up sneezing right under Haneul’s ears.
Gathering her wits and quickly coming to terms with reality, she decided it was best to pretend like she had gone back to sleep.
Except, she was anything but sleepy anymore.
Haneul could feel her heart rate pick up pace against his back, and he smiled jubilantly.
Evidently, Timira’s heart didn’t believe in fair play—just like his.
Well done, Haneul. Looks like you’ve still got it, dude. Woohoo!
Timira, meanwhile, had pressed her cheek against his slightly sweaty traps. Trying hard to rein in her mischievous heart that had been threatening to leap outside of her body, she burrowed her face deeper inside his strong muscles and chuckled to herself.
What is this thing of beauty? Good grief! Are these muscles for real?
This was her first adult piggyback.
Why did I refuse all those offers back in the day? This feels so good!
Lakdi ki kathi, kathi pe ghoda …
Timira giggled as she hummed a popular song from her childhood, a song about a galloping horse. She smiled gleefully, like a child, and turned her head to focus her gaze on Haneul’s neck.
Such cute ears! Almost like Spock’s! Why do they look familiar, though? Do I know someone with such ears? Does Bhaskar have pointy ears? Ummm, wait, hang on. What are his ears like? Why have I never noticed his ears? What are MY ears like? Wow, I have no idea! Let me check …
She unfastened her arms that had been clasped across Haneul’s chest, hanging from his neck like a limp garland, and tried to reach for her ears. In doing so, she slid down a little and Haneul had to intervene.
‘Whoa! Hands, hands!’
‘Relax, will you?’ Haneul replied, one hand still under Timira’s butt, trying to prop her up. He removed it only when he was sure she was secure.
‘Nice arse, no?’ Timira teased.
‘Don’t know about the arse, but its owner is most definitely a handful.’ Haneul wasn’t one to be left behind.
Timira kicked him lightly and they both laughed. They were now close to the car park. The air was warmer here and the silence around them was now slowly getting filled with traffic cacophony and human chatter. Their banter? Still on.
‘Do you feel all right? I didn’t realize you were awake. You could’ve made some noise to let me know, you know …’
‘I only woke up when you creepily felt me up,’ Timira grinned and lied through her teeth, too ashamed to admit that she had been living a creepy ‘bringing sexy back’ moment herself.
‘Now, now, now … let’s not get cheeky here,’ Haneul turned around and winked.
Why is this stranger winking at me? This is outrageous! I should be offended; why am I not? Why is my heart fluttering instead?! I really ought to quit drinking!
They reached his car, a sweet, sleek ride, Timira could tell, despite her suspect knowledge of automobiles.
Inside the car, Timira was fiddling with the button to roll the window down when Haneul leaned across.
His face was dangerously close to hers and she could smell him—salt, beer and what smelt like Santal 33, one of her favourite Le Labo fragrances.
Her mind went blank for a second, and then she remembered her antics from a little while back.
Is this payback? Oh, God! Why did I even do that?
Did he think it was an invitation? Did I appear easy?
Ugh, why am I such an idiot? Not that I mind kissing him again …
I mean, I can’t even remember what it felt like.
Did he kiss me back? NO, HE DIDN’T. Okay, this is too embarrassing.
Wait, is this him kissing me back? Let me shut my eyes …
Timira heard a click and with that the sweet fragrance that had engulfed her senses for a few moments began to fade.
‘There, you’re all set.’ Haneul had fastened her seat belt and rolled her window down.
Shabash, Tim! Way to go. Gadhi!
‘Where are you staying? Let’s get you home,’ Haneul suggested half-heartedly, feigning ignorance.
He was yet to figure out a way to explain to Timira about the coincidence of their shared local address. He appeared a little nervous now.
‘Can we go for a spin before you send me home? I haven’t had a smoke all evening.’ Timira pouted at him, her eyes wide and round like Puss in Boots.
Relieved at having a little more time to strategize, Haneul agreed most readily and pulled his car out of the park.
Seminyak is always busy, its streets always bustling. Like any Indian, Timira was unperturbed by the traffic jam they were now stuck in. The narrow lanes, in fact, reminded her of Goa. Except, in Goa, she had only ever been on bikes. Never inside a four-wheel drive. Especially, one with a sunroof …
While Haneul was busy navigating the crowded streets, Tim had slyly unfastened her seatbelt, moved the roof back, and her space buns were now sticking out of it, bobbing back and forth and sideways to the beat of ‘I Want to Break Free’.
Haneul realized what she’d been up to only when her voice reached his ears. He was pleasantly surprised to discover she has melodious pipes and looked on with adoring eyes like an indulgent, proud parent.
‘I don’t wanna be alone. So, baby, can’t you see … ’ Timira was doing a fine job of imitating Freddie Mercury’s vocal style, a transfixed Haneul observed.
Wow! She has the voice of an angel , he thought to himself, and the liver of a sailor . Chuckling a little, he continued to watch her adoringly.
By the time a distracted Haneul had steadied his hands on the steering wheel and pressed the brakes, the damage had already been done. A two-wheeler appeared out of nowhere and Haneul had had to swerve and brake urgently in order to dodge him.
Timira, unprepared, had been caught unawares and halted mid-song. Having taken a tumble, she had hit her head against the glove compartment. It now felt heavy …
I’m fine, I’m fine. Let me just rest my head for a minute.
‘Timira! Timira! Gwenchana ?’
Haneul, panicking, seemed to have forgotten that Timira probably didn’t speak Korean. ‘Sorry, sorry, I mean, are you okay? Hey! Don’t go off to sleep.’
He gently stroked the back of her head.
‘Yeah, don’t worry. I just want to rest my head for a bit,’ Timira groaned.
They were now parked by the side of the road and a couple of onlookers had come close to investigate the curious case of the cool car with a crazy singing woman that miraculously averted a definite accident.
‘Timira, can you lift your head?’
‘Um, give me a second?’ she replied groggily.
Timira felt something cool trickle down her temples and her head now felt lighter than before.
‘Aaah, wow. That was a close shave! Thank goodness I didn’t topple out of the car!’ Timira laughed nervously.
Haneul didn’t join in. He was staring at her face … her forehead, to be precise.
‘Timira, um, stay still for a second, will you?’
‘Why, what’s wrong? Why do you look pale? I feel perfectly fine, okay? You don’t have to feel sorry …’ she tried to brush off his concern and act nonchalantly cool.
Before she could finish, Haneul had shoved his kerchief on to her forehead, his free hand cupping her neck.
Timira, now sensing trouble, reached for the rearview mirror and turned it towards her. The white kerchief was soaked in red.
With that, she promptly passed out, as though right on cue.
* * *
Bhaskar, having spent the night trudging behind Alice as she shopped for the trinkets and clothes at snazzy boutiques Seminyak is famous for, is now catching up on the football.
‘Oi, have you heard from Timira? Is she back?’ ‘She texted a couple of hours back …’
‘What? Why didn’t you tell me? What did she write?’
Before Bhaskar can answer, Alice has grabbed his phone.
‘ Dost , you’ve lucked out. Kya biwi mili hai tujhe. Pappi diyo usey meri taraf se. ’
Alice shakes her head and grins upon reading the text, but frowns almost immediately.
‘Fool, she drunk-messaged you. What sort of a friend are you?’
She starts to dial her number, but the phone buzzes before she can place the call. Startled, Alice drops the phone, but it continues to buzz. Bhaskar leaps to pick it up and answers.
‘Yes, this is he. Yes, yes. I’m her guardian. Wait, what? Where? WHERE IS SHE? Is she in danger? Yes, yes. No, please don’t. Do what you must. Make sure she’s all right. Yes. Please look after her. I’m on my way.’
Alice is, by now, frozen in fear. Bhaskar has to grab her shoulders and shake her.
Snapping out of her daze, Alice grabs her wallet and throws it to Bhaskar.
‘She’s not in danger, right?’ Alice asks nervously as she trades her pyjama bottoms for jeans.
‘Don’t think so … hey, hey, don’t start weeping already!’
Bhaskar pulls her in for a quick hug.
‘Can you get the hotel guys to unlock her room? She won’t be happy in hospital clothes.’
‘Babe, it’s a hospital. You are supposed to wear their clothes!’
‘What is your problem if I carry clothes? Don’t waste time arguing with me right now!’
Rolling his eyes and quickly throwing in the towel, Bhaskar follows Alice’s orders and rings the reception for the master key. He has been quick to learn that to survive in long-term relationships, it’s important to pick the right battles to fight.
* * *
Timira’s wound has needed stitches. She’s yet to come around, but the doctor on call has assured Haneul that she’s in absolutely no danger. It’s only a gash that will heal soon and, most likely, not leave a scar.