Musings, Music & More

Disclaimer:
This is a work of entertainment fiction. Names, characters, businesses, places, events and incidents are either the products of the author’s imagination or used in a fictitious manner. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental.

“I have a confession to make, Sarah”
Sarah’s eyes didn’t hide her expectations of some revelation.
“Oh mine, tell me fast” Sarah’s voice had an urgency that seemed to mock at Mickey’s words.

Mickey kept staring at the distant shores of Elephanta Island from the Sea Lounge of Taj Mahal Hotel
The immaculately attired waiter set up the table for the masala tea they had ordered.

“Is he going to propose to me?” Sarah’s anxiety soared. They had been going steady for the last three months.
Today is going to be the day, then!

Mickey’s eyes were transfixed on the strands of Sarah’s hair that had strayed onto her forehead
“You know, Mickey” Sarah ventured, “You are a damned lousy nut” and promptly flashed her smile.
He poured some tea into her cup. The aroma of freshly ground spices filled the air.
“Hmm, that smells so overpowering” Sarah took a deep breath.
“Well, your smile is more overpowering “

Why is he testing me?
Sarah straightened her hair back into the loose bun. Mickey hated her bun. Loose hair suited her face more.
His eyes darted across the far end of the lounge where a couple that looked like American was going through the amorous routine.
“Try cooing in my ears, instead, you Dumbo” Sarah wished.
PDA was not Mickey’s forte.
“Well?” The large eyes of a typical Bengali girl pierced him, prompting him for his confession. A tiny crumb of the cookie fell off from his mouth. He hastened to wipe it off from his shirt- gifted by Sarah.

She remembered the occasion. He was a lousy shopper – never proud of his sartorial sense. She had cajoled him to buy three shirts but he insisted on buying only one.
“Come on, I am going to pay for it, Mickey” Sarah had teased him
“Well, may be next time. I am in no mood to buy a new shirt today”
“Why, what is wrong with today?” Sarah was quick to confront him. “Some inauspicious day or something?”
‘Ha Ha. Not really. It is only….”
“… that I am in no mood, my boss almost chewed me up today in the office. Is that so?” Sarah completed the sentence for him.
“You know, Sarah, sometimes you have an illusion of being a smart girl”
“Absolutely, when I am in the company of nuts – like you”
“Ok, try this one “ and pushed him to the trial room.
As soon as he slipped inside, the door showed the sign of ‘Engaged” popping up outside.
She saw a girl slip into the adjoining trial room and the ‘engaged’ sign appeared on her door too.

“Congratulations, Mickey” She welcomed him as he came out of the trial room, clumsily wearing the new shirt that still had the brand labels peeping out
“I haven’t bought it yet, you silly girl”
“No. I congratulated you for getting engaged to that girl in the adjoining trial room”
“Poor Joke”
“But the shirt looks dandy on you”
“I am not so sure” Mickey contorted his face in disapproval
“Now, look who is talking? Are you serious? I just love it”
She made him buy that shirt.

The Sea lounge had started filling up and the amorous couple, blocked by other guests, was no longer visible.

“Ok, enough is enough. “ Sarah resumed her grilling
“What” he asked innocently.
“The confession?”
“Do you want to take that shirt off with the ugly stain?” Sarah’ impatience speared him

“Do you want the confession unraveled or worry about the stain?” Mickey shot back
“It depends. The way you are taking an eternity to come to the point I figured you want to first metamorphose into a shirtless Bollywood hero”

“You know what? Why don’t you loosen that silly bun of yours and let your hair be free?”

“ My soon to be a Bollywood hero, the loose hair tickles my virtually bare back to no end. Get the point? Now then?”

Mickey waved in the direction of the entrance of the Sea Lounge, instead.

Sarah turned her head, inadvertently letting her bun loosen.

A gorgeous looking, ravishing girl entered the lounge, waving at Mickey, blowing kisses at him.

Now who is this? Is he openly cheating on me, or provoking me?

The gorgeous girl went past a confused Sarah and hugged Mickey, wafting a trail of overpowering perfume.

“Hey, Sarah, meet Gabby”; Gabby, this is Sarah”

Sarah’s ferocious eyes met Mickey’s.
Is this your confession?

“What should I order for you Gabby?” Mickey, at his irritatingly best

Sarah gulped down her tea in one go and looked at this Gabby girl.

“Whatever you guys are having, Mickey” Gabriela’s eyes danced

“One more Masala tea, Please” Mickey hailed the steward passing by.

“Okay” Mickey cleared his throat “Sorry love, for this drama” he clasped his fingers.
“Gabby is my colleague at the Consulate of Israel and she wants to brief you about an important assignment”

What is he up to? Why this drama? Sarah’s heart beat faster

“Sarah, don’t get me wrong. You will have to let go Mickey for the next few days. …”
“But why? Why is he not telling me all this?…” Sarah was not to be calmed down
“Relax, baby. Mickey has told me everything about you dating him; “ then turned to Mickey “Should I tell her everything?”
“Yes, please go ahead” Mickey just nodded

Gabriela pushed her chair closer to Sarah and almost whispered in her ears
“Look. This is highly classified information privy only to a select few in the Consulate. Mickey says I can trust you. Mosaad has just alerted us about a possible terrorist attack here in Mumbai, possibly targeting, among others, Jewish installations, synagogue and the likes. Has Mickey told you that he is a trained commando himself? The Consulate of Israel has picked Mickey to get into this mess, get to the bottom of it and try to thwart the attack. Presently we only have sketchy details but Mickey has his task cut out for him”
Gabriela took a deep breath and looked around.

Sarah was now intrigued. Mickey had never told him about his being in a special commando. She had known him only for three months.

“All right, Gabby. But will he be safe? How long will it take?” asked the anxious Indian girl

“No one knows. I wish I had the answer. But the entire Consulate of Israel together with the indirect support of Mosaad is with him
“Why him”
“I told you he has the right background and despite being the son of Jewish mother and an Indian father his features are distinctly Indian”

“Do I have a choice, Gabby?”
“No” Gabby looked at Mickey for approval

…….. to be continued