Sneak Preview :: Chapter Two (Snippet 11)
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Sneak Preview :: Chapter Two (Snippet 11)
Sanya got off the elevator on the sixteenth floor and strode purposefully towards the end of the causeway. Sanya had been here a zillion times before. Skyye was a contemporary lounge bar with all the trappings of modern-day indulgence and opulence. It served as the meeting place for Sanya and her friends after a long hard day of Psychology and Behaviorism. On days, it also served as her haven of solitude when she needed to unwind and reflect internally. On that day, it was neither.
Dimly lit ambiences altered people’s behavior in fundamental ways. Man ceased to be man. Deliberate acts were passed off as accidental mishaps. Dark conversations turned darker. Touch turned to caress in the blink of an eye. Insistence turned to brutal assault with mind-numbing speed. It never ceased to fascinate Sanya that light, or the absence of it, could have such an unintended yet profound effect on human beings. As she entered the bar, Sanya smiled wryly to herself as she recounted her wild theories relating human behavior to darkness.
Not wanting to appear to be conspicuously searching for someone, she parked herself near the head of the bar and allowed her eyes to get used to the dim interiors. It was neither the outlandish buzz cut nor the ungainly swagger that drew Sanya’s attention to a young Chinese youth sitting on one of the bar stools. His eyes were fixed steadfastly on Sanya’s chest. His gaze constantly followed the twin movements her breasts were making as she shifted her weight on to one foot, and then on to the other.
Suddenly, Sanya became aware of more eyes. Buzz Cut was not alone. Three young men on adjacent stools had joined the staring and were watching her intently. Her striped spandex top and figure-hugging low-rise jeans accentuated her womanly curves yet conveyed a girlish charm that could grab attention anywhere. On that day, it had grabbed the wrong kind of attention.
Where was Anuj? Sanya swung around to search once more for her college heart-throb. As she began to walk away, she could feel the hungry eyes gaping at the undulating rhythm of her derrière. The fleeting feeling of disgust gave way to annoyance as she caught sight of Shirin, Tej and Kanika at a table near the far side window overlooking the terraced section of the bar.
Sanya marched over to the table. “Hey, guys. We are supposed to meet tomorrow. What are you guys doing here?” She minced no words.
“Hey, beautiful. What brings you here?” Tej piped up.
“Yeah. Looking for someone special?” Shirin teased, with a twinkle in her eye.
“Ye. . . I mean, no. What do you mean?” Sanya shot back defensively.
“Well, we all know only three people on earth can make you run from A to B, no questions asked.”
Sanya crossed her arms and arched her left eyebrow, her eyes flashing in mock anger.
“Your mom, Bryan Adams, and…”
“And?”
“. . . Anuj!”
“And since the voice on the call belonged to none of the aforementioned three, it had be yours, Tej. Elementary, my dear Tej. Oh my god, Tej, you are such a jerk!” Sanya grabbed her long strap shoulder bag and pummeled her friend playfully.
“My, someone is really touchy today,” Tej guffawed, as he tried to parry her blows.
“God knows whose cell phone you wangled to make that stupid call. Okay, you guys. Hang in there, and order a Thirst Aid for me. I’ll be back,” broke off Sanya and headed for the women’s room.
Coming soon: the next Sneak Preview.
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