Free Losing My Virginity and Other Dumb Ideas by Madhuri Banerjee

chain of thoughts and he quickly added, ‘Relax. I’m not that kind of guy.’
    I had no idea what kind of guy he was! I had been talking about my work, my family, my life, Aditi and I barely knew anything about him.
    ‘Arjun,’ I started, ‘I know nothing abut you! I’ve been going on about myself for the last twelve hours! I must have sounded like a self-obsessed bimbette.’
    He laughed. A deep, throaty laugh that I had become used to by now since he had been pulling my leg with his wicked sense of humour all night.
    ‘Well, if you spend the next two days with me, you’ll get to know everything you want,’ he said that as a challenge.
    But then a thought came to my head—the Princess! I was here on work. I needed to get back.
    ‘Arjun,’ I said apologetically, ‘I can’t. I have work. And then I’m leaving tonight. I’m sorry. Oh God! I so want to though …’
    ‘It’s okay,’ he said, getting up. I followed. We really hadn’t finished, but I presumed he was ready for me to leave, so I got up and looked at him expectantly. But he took his card from his wallet and gave it to me. ‘My cell phone number is on that. You call me if you get free anytime. Otherwise, I’ll hope to see you in Mumbai, okay?’
    ‘Okay,’ I said sadly. This date was ending on a bad note because of me. He had given me his business card. As if what we had last night was a business meeting! I wanted to change his mind about me, us, last night. So I leaned over and kissed him. It was an impulsive gesture and he didn’t protest. In fact, he was quite shocked, but he reciprocated! And the kiss we shared after that was absolutely delicious. It smelt of cologne, Palmolive soap and coffee. It was sweet, not mushy or slimy or like any of the other kisses I had had with those vague men in my life. It felt like ‘the kiss’. The one I would remember for the rest of my life. All girls have had that. It’s the only one you remember every time you think of the kiss that changed your life.
    ‘I’m going to take my bike back home now. There’s a car that will take you back to the hotel,’ he looked the other way and continued, ‘which is not far from here.’ He said smiling down at me, still holding my waist.
    I nodded dumbly.
    ‘Bye, babes,’ he said, and started walking towards his bike, which was parked on the other side of the road.
    ‘Arjun,’ I called after him stupidly, ‘thanks.’
    And then he was gone. And I didn’t know if I would ever see my Great Love again.

Ten
    When I went back to the hotel, I was feeling horrible that I had to leave Greek God. I knew he had given me his number but do people actually end up meeting in Mumbai? With everyone having such busy lives and lazy weekends, it seemed impossible to keep the friends you did have, not to mention, take the effort to add new ones.
    And the kiss … I just could not get over that kiss. I was hooked. I wanted more. I didn’t know if it was a dream I had or if I really met the love of my life. I had to find out.
    I reached the hotel at around 8.30 in the morning and quickly took a shower and wore my business suit so I could be ready for work by 9, as the Princess had asked. But I waited and waited for her to call me, all the while sipping on cappuccino and day dreaming about Greek God. It soon started raining. The monsoon was here. I wanted to jump in joy and run to Greek God. But I had to run to the Princess’s room instead. She finally buzzed me at 10 and I went to her suite on the top floor of the hotel. I waved to the bodyguards on the way and tried to get away from a few photographers who were shooting anything going in and out of her room, looking for a story.
    ‘Good morning, Your Highness,’ I said upon entering, not sounding like my usual cheerful self. But she didn’t seem to notice.
    ‘Darling! You know what has happened?’ she said effusively.
    I shook my head but she didn’t wait for a response as she stood in front of the mirror holding her