Damion leans against the wooden dock as he watches the scenes unfold in front of him. Its a warm day. The breeze is refreshing and the warmth of the sun heats up the skin. That familiar feeling of summer. The sky is blue with scattered clouds around forming familiar and unfamiliar shapes in the sky . The sea gleaming in sparkles of white and shades of blue. He observes the dock-men work tirelessly getting the ship ready before the journey. The word Princess Cruises splayed across the cruise liner is majestic. The men below are working hard and quick getting the cargo and required necessities into the belly of the beast. The large anchors hoisting the ship down as they work. He sees the captain on the deck going through what looks like an itinerary with the first officer. The rest of the crew buzzing around them.
The passengers around him crowd and chatter. The excitement of a cruise trip adventure is evident in the air. Photos snapping and iPhones recording. Children laughing.
But he is not laughing. Just a weak smile looking at his surroundings. More of a frown with the sun strong on his middle aged wrinkled face. This was meant to be a trip to patch things up with Jennifer. A last effort to reconnect. He recalls the talk with her after planning the trip. It ended up with an argument of course. All he wanted to do was to surprise her, to try and make her smile again. But of course with her ever growing career in the firm there was never time. The relationship grew distant over the years. He was proud of her for what she had achieved. She was always an ambitious lady and he supported her as her place in the firm grew. There was even rumours of her making partner in the office. He didn't realise that the ambition would take over.
" I cant do this anymore" he recalls her saying. The rest of the conversation was a blur. It was over. 5 years of his life. They weren't married but it was nothing short of one without it being official. Well for him anyway. He planned the trip without discussing it with her. It wasn't cheap. luxury suite and a three week trip from Sydney to Singapore, Bali and back again to Sydney. It was a spontaneous decision. Not something he is used to being. It was what was needed he thought, to spice up the relationship. But it was the final nail on the coffin.
He holds the cruise brochure in his hands more firmly, tapping it against the hard wood. " Well" he thinks to himself. " Better here than drowning my sorrows at home". His thoughts gets interrupted by the sound of the horn. Its time to board he sees passengers crowding to get in line.
Among the passengers he sees her getting in line. A stunning beauty. The kind of lady that makes a man look twice or pretend not to a third time.
Deepika had been in love with Raj for few years now, ever since she met him in her first year of college. They have been together since then and when she finished her studies, they decided to take the step in their relationship. She was determined to finish her studying and so decided to give it all and once done, she looked to a better life. He proposed her 3 months before she actually graduated and their big fat Indian wedding was planned over the summer that followed. There was no way she could forget that day ever. It was her dream wedding but thinking back to the summer of 2010, it seemed like a distant memory. The marriage albums had been nicely tucked away in some closet along with the DVDs of their marriage.
Her husband had a career in medicine while she graduated with a Business degree. Smart and sexy...rarely goes together but here god blessed her with everything, even a tall stature and long slender legs. Her boyfriend was smart and was able to woo her when she was new and naive to the whole world of dating. Her Indian parents were like any parents…strict and with cultural values that they had instilled in their daughter. She wasn’t allowed to date and that’s what she exactly did when she went to college away from home. Fortunately, she met him and fell for him. He was her first and last…so much for experience and exploration.
Something about her beauty was so exotic and way different, unique than the girls that you typically see day to day basis. One can easily spot her in the crowd as all the eyes sooner or later would draw towards her magnificent beauty. Her pitch black hair nicely tucked into style of ‘French braids’ that exposed left side of her supple neck and tail of her hair nicely displayed over her right front. She had a white tank top and red and white print jeans on. Something so simple and yet elegant. Standing tall at 5'8” with a slender figure, she was having a casual conversation with a 65 year old lady, standing ahead of her in the line to board the cruise ship. She was a sight that everyone would want to take a close look at and would continue to find their gaze drawn towards her even after finding her standing with some man who might be her partner.
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It was then, she pulled out her phone and patted the shoulder of the guy behind her, Indian by his looks, her husband, “Come on. Let’s take a picture!” She said and nudged him when he made a face after putting away the phone he was glued to, talking to some of his clients at the hospital. They posed for a snap with the cruise in the background and before she knew, it was their turn to enter the cruise. They were given an access key that would serve as identification as well as their room key and when done, she and her husband disappeared making an entry into the cruise. First few years of their marriage was fun and exciting. It felt like they never left college since they continued to live as if they were in college, she working part time at some firm and him working part time and setting up his clinic. While it made him tiresome, he had it in him to come home to her and spend some quality time together.
It was just like college except their parents knew and they get to live together. But with marriage, came other responsibilities. She managed to work and do house chores while he managed to work at the hospital and also run his clinic. In short time, he’d earned enough so they moved to a nicer neighborhood and made her quit her work. For past two years, she’s been home and while it has its perks, boredom it its biggest downfall. Since then, she’d tried different hobbies and tries to keep herself entertained. While she had more than enough time to kill, he had no spare time and that had created some invisible rift between the two. She loved him but she complained that he didn’t give her enough time. Not having gone anywhere since over a year and half, she complained and bugged him until he came up with a plan that they take go on a cruise to Singapore and Bali, vacation overall consisting of three week in total. She couldn’t believe it but was pretty excited and besides, she’d never been on a cruise so this ought to be fun. One small concern of his was that he had to be on call for his clinic as well as hospital since he was on the committee. Since that wasn’t her concern, she only shrugged her shoulders when he told her how it was going to be.
His eyes were fixed on her as they wait in line to board the cruiser. But he is trying not to be too obvious. His fingers keep flicking through the brochure in hand. But his eyes betray him. How could he resist. Her slender body, tall and elegant. And she had a sense of style. A sense of elegance and sophistication about her. Her smile was sexy and could melt any mans heart.
He wasn't too far behind her but far enough not to be too obvious. She was obviously with the gentleman next to her. The gentleman constantly on the phone. " Lucky bastard" he thinks to himself. How things have changed in such little time. He too was once with the woman of his dreams. A dream that he has finally woken up from. He used to be the guy thst everyone called the lucky one.
He recalls back to the time he first met Jennifer. it was a chance meeting that became something else. Something he never expected. From a casual meet at a friends gathering their connection grew strong and grew quickly. She lit a spark in him that he never knew existed. He was always a quiet guy. Dating and socialising was never something he was used to , but she changed everything. Brought out a part of him that layed dormant for years. He was happy. And they shared something special he thought to himself. Maybe he took things for granted. Maybe that's why he is here, lusting over a strangers woman. A woman clearly out of his league.
He shrugs his shoulders gazing back at the brochure in hand. It's amazing how much activities can go on in a boat...... But his eyes and thoughts trail back to her. She looks exited. A far cry from her partners experession. Looks like he is in a different world. But how could you be. How could you not pay attention to such a beauty next to you. He even seemed irritated as she asked for a photo with him.
She makes her way with her partner to the arranged quarters and dissapears out of site. The steward hands him 2 keys but he only needs one. The steward seemed confused but Damion did not want to explain. He just brushes him off and heads to his room. He notices that she is heading to the floor above him in the cruise.
Great looks like I've become an official stalker he thinks to himself as he heads into the room. He lays on the bed as he waits for his bags to be delivered to the room. One of the luxuries of staying in a high end suite. Looking up at the room ceiling a trickle of tear runs down his right cheek. A sense of loneliness creeps in. Maybe this wasn't a good idea after all he thinks to himself. But the thought of her, this stranger puts a smile on his face. A brief one.
Her dark eyes roamed over the height and the width of the cruiseshe was about to board on. It was going to be hell of a vacation and she knew it. She was very much excited and part of the reason being was that this was her first time ever on a cruise and other half the reason was that it’d been while since they went on a vacation. Her husband wasn’t as much excited and that was because this would be his third time on a cruise like this, prior ones being with his parents and his friends during his bachelor life.
Her husband was indeed a lucky man and he did get that a lot. All of his colleagues always say that when she’s accompanying him at some function that she has to attend pretty often. He was indeed an important person where he worked and had to keep up with appearances. There was a life where they didn’t have to share their time with anyone but them but now, it seemed that they actually spend time doing other things rather than spending time with each other.
She wasn’t too receptive of people around her, how they looked at her and what they might be thinking. She was in her own little bubbly world that had become a little lonely with her husband spending most of his time in his work. She wasn’t the one to complain because she knew he was doing it for them, for the family…speaking of which, none of the two wanted any kids at the time, not until they were ready. Certainly not now or for few years.
She noticed a brochures in many passenger’s hands and she grew curious. Upon looking, she found a stack of it on a table nearby. Once it was in her possession, she looked through it, a childish smile sprung on her face as she read through it. Turning around occasionally towards her husband to show him what they should attend. Many of the adult comedies and shows happened during night hours, shortly after 10 pm or so and kept it that way so kids activities were finished earlier in the night. She usually had a bubbly nature about her, easy to be pleased with an inviting smile about her face. Not the one to get mad over little stuff and that’s why she didn’t get offended when her husband expressed irritation when she snapped their picture.
She took her key card and shoved it in the back pockets of her jeans, walking towards their quarters, disappearing from people’s prying eyes, not that she was aware of it. Once in the room, she took some time to freshen up and was eager to go up on the top deck, to see the cruise pull away into the sea. Of course, there was a drill where everyone had to be on the deck so after spending about 20 minutes, she and her husband made their way out of their cabin to head up to the decks. She smiled as they were waiting for elevators and once it’d arrive, they’d go up like everyone else was. She carried that same brochure in her hand, thinking when time permits, she'll go over today's activities list to see what she might be interested in.
His thought interrupted by the sound of the room doorbell. The bags had arrived and he tips the bellboy well. He is always a good tipper. The bellboy gives a nice smile and asked if he is getting up to the deck. Its custom apparently to be up there as they pull away from port. What the hell he thinks to himself. The room was getting a little too lonely for his liking anyway.
He makes his way to the elevator together with some of the other eager guest. Then he sees her familiar face again waiting for the lift. They get into the lift as it takes them up to the deck. She doesn't seem to notice him looking at her. Caught up in her own world. Her voice is sexy as she talks to her partner. There is a playfulness about her. He hears her laugh as they make a joke about something. It lightens up his mood a little.
They get on board to the deck and everyone is looking out waving at strangers as the cruiser disembarks from the port. A loud horn fills the air as the ship begins to shudder. The powerful engines roar as the ship heads to sea. The passengers are looking out at the open sea and admiring the view of the deck form the ship. All he can admire is the sight of her. She soon leaves the deck with her partner. "ok enough stalking for one day" he smiles to himself.
He looks through the brochure and skips the events related to couples and families. He needs something to relax himself. To take his mind off things. The late night comedy shows is a definite must. He might even check out the cruise bar later on tonight. But first a nice cruise massage he thinks to himself. He heads down to the massage parlour to make an appointment.
She was in her own little world to notice anyone in the elevator so after entering it, she snuggled a little towards her husband, keeping enough space between them and others. She did run her hand through her hair, flicking few strands of hair out of her sight as she opened the brochure in her hand, circling activities that she might be interested in checking out. A whiff of her perfume would soon fill the small spaced elevator, letting others enjoy the scent and wonder who smelled so great.
She kept her voice soft and low as she pointed few things out to her husband and nudged him when he made an odd face when she told him that they should check out the massage parlor. It was obvious he didn’t like the idea so she let it be. Letting an elderly couple exit first, she placed her hand over her husband’s back while holding the pamphlet in her hand which slipped right as they made a turn to walk the other way. It wasn’t a big deal, she told herself when she realized she had lost it. Figured, she’ll just get another one and circle the activities again that she was interested in. She remembered them for the most part.
Once on the deck, she made sure that she snapped a picture or two with her husband by asking someone, which was always better than taking a selfie. She wasn’t the one to cause chaos like everyone else as the cruise disembarked from the port. Initially, the vibration from the engine was felt but soon after, you couldn’t even feel the cruise moving as it sailed away. Soon the port seemed tinier to her gaze as she enjoyed the view and the breeze, standing by the rail as she looked at the water. The water seemed like a silver bedsheet with the sun shining bright over it, that’s what it felt like to her.
She knew it then that she was going to enjoy this trip for sure and whether her husband accompanied on them activities or not. Speaking of which, when it had been almost 45 minutes or so, the husband suggested that they go back down to the room and unpack so it’s once task out of the way. She smiled at him, agreeing but also told him that she will catch up to him in the room because she wanted to run by the massage parlor and make an appointment before it gets booked. What a better way to start her vacation…
It was obvious he was glad that she didn’t drag him along with her and soon they split up. Once she got to the parlor, she saw a man standing there and she knocked on the glass door, “Hi? I’d like to make an appointment for a massage.” She said in her sweet and polite tone, offering a bit of a soft smile as she entered and stepped up to him, assuming that he worked there.
It was always a difficult pleasure making a decision when it comes to massages. 30 minutes or a whole hour? Or should he go crazy for a whole 2 hours.... And then there is the type of massages. Legs only or full body. He always enjoyed a good massage and giving one. Who wouldn't. The warm ambience, scented candles, aromatic oils. He definitely could do with a long one today. 2 hour massage. Yes that's what it shall be. He deserved a little spoil.
The receptionist had left and said he would be back in a minute. No sign of him yet. There wasn't anyone else there. The room was quiet. Soft music played in the background. The lighting was warm white and relaxing as it should be. Then he heard a voice calling from the back.
He turned looking at her. His heart skipped a beat when he realised who it was. She walked towards him and smiled as she asked a question but he couldn't hear her. His mind went a blank mesmerised by her beauty and sweet voice.
Finally coming to his senses he hears her. " sorry but I would like to book for a massage"
"Hmmm yes so would I but the receptionist is gone out for a second but will be back. "
He wishes he never returns. He gives her a smile as she soon blushes realising her mistake
" oh sorry " she says as her cheeks turn red against her olive tone. " it's ok,it happens" he tells her.
He tries to look confident but inside his heart is pulsating a little faster than usual. He tries to make small talk with her finding out that she is here with her husband. He acts like this is news to him. If only she knew he had been noticing her all day. She was not only beautiful but spoke well. Her voice had a cheerful tone almost a sparkle to it. It lighted up his mood. How could a stranger have such an effect on him. Is this all because of his recent breakup? And she is married. Get over yourself he thinks to himself.
" So, are you here alone? " she asks
His mind is caught up in his thoughts... Yes he stammers.
" I'm here alone just needing some time for myself really"
She looked perplexed with his answer...
They soon are interrupted by the receptionist walking back in. The young inexperienced receptionist looks at the two of them... " sorry guys couple sessions are not available at the momeant due to short of staff"
They both look at each other with raised eyebrows. Now both their cheeks turn red.
" well maybe we'll come another day" he says as he looks at her before they erupt in laughter.
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Deepika was actually excited to get a massage since it had been a while she last had one. Usually, she lives a pretty simple life when at home and this is the time to go about exploring new things. Massage was surely one of the things as she wanted to try the how stone massage, having never had one. They had a nice little poster at the entrance where a pretty lady’s laid down and the stones are placed over her spotless back.
She knew to spoil herself if her husband won’t and it had come to a point where if she wanted something, she tries not to ask him since she’s the one who ends up getting it for herself. It saves the trouble of going back and forth for his approval of some sort. Upon seeing a man in the reception area, she assumed that he worked there and when she realized he didn’t, she gave him an apologetic smile, “I am really sorry!”
She said, taking a step back to give him his space and then smiling as he seemed nice to not get offended. Once he told her the receptionist is around somewhere, it was obvious that they were waiting for someone to help them so when he started making small talk, she gladly jumped in. Normally, she held back with new people but once she gets to know them, she really opens up. But here, she felt different, “No…I am here with my husband actually.” She smiled softly, hearing his answer, she added, “Well you’re luckier than me I guess! You get to be yourself with no one to judge you!” she laughed and added, “Though I can’t imagine myself taking a cruise all on my own.”
She shook her head no and turned around when the receptionist came back and assumed they were couples. He also said that single’s sessions are all booked and couples’ sessions are almost but waiting for confirmation. If someone drops out, likely chances are in couple’s session, then they can let them know. She turned to look at the man, her eyes widen when he spoke for them two as if he was her better half and she could only tilt her head. She smiled softly before tapping his shoulder and then step into him a little to whisper so the receptionist won’t hear them, “It seems there are chances of couple’s session opening up. We should put our names down. Though, we can’t show two different cabins so how about you give them your cabin number and let me know if they open up a spot. It’s the only way?” she said in questioning tone. She turned to look at the man awaiting for their answer, “Um we will give you our room number. Would you please let us know when a spot opens up?” she said and looked at him, turning to look at the guy who she just met.
He toyed with the idea of getting a massage together. It didn't take long for him to agree. Her soft breath against his ear was arousing to say the least. But she didn't know that. He didn't show it.
"Well our room number is 310" he tells the receptionist as he looks at her giving a soft grin. " Give us a call when there is an opening"
The receptionist offered them the couple special menu
He leans closer to her as they go through the menu together looking through the options. Taking in her scent and smell. The picture of a lady with stones arranged on her back looked intriguing. similar to what was posted out in the entrance of the parlour "Ive never tried that one dear" as he points towards the picture smiling coyly.
" Sounds perfect to me" she says as she looks at him. The massage was a stone massage. The description states its a full body massage using volcanic rock as a source of heat. Stones are later placed along the spine to relax the nerves and muscle.
They make the bookings and make their way out. She gives him her room number and tells him to call her if anything turns up. " So do you do this with every stranger you meet." She looks at him and laughs. "No only when I'm desperate" she smiles. " well I'm in desperate need for a drink. can i offer you one. Just a friendly offering to say thank you." He leans a little closer brushing her hair to the side whispering into her ear. " look there isn't anyone else judging you now is there ? "