Chapter 31

Priya crept behind Aman, and he could feel her fear at once.  Rakesh stepped forward and continued to talk.

“Welcome to Detroit. Can I offer you a ride?” Rakesh said.  A sense of dread came over Priya. She did not want to be in a car with Rakesh.

“No thanks.” Aman said curtly.

“Why not, Aman? I’m trying to be hospitable here.” Rakesh replied.

“We’re capable of finding our own way, but thanks for the concern.” Aman said, walking away.

“Don’t worry, Priya.  I had a hotel booked out of the city.  He won’t know where to find us.” Aman reassured Priya as a taxi pulled up.

Priya was grateful that Aman was so clever.  She had no idea that Rakesh was going to be attending this business conference in Detroit, otherwise she would’ve refused to come.  After nearly an hour of driving, they finally pulled up to their hotel.  It was a fancy, five star hotel, probably the most luxurious in the whole state.  Aman had booked two enormous suites for them.  The suites were adjacent to each other and even had a connecting glass sliding door.

“Take your pick.” Aman said once they entered one of the suites.  They looked identical, except the one next door had the bed positioned so that the person could look through the glass double doors when they laid down.  Priya decided to go for that one for no particular reason.

They arrived a day ahead of the start of the conference but Aman didn’t feel like touring the city, instead he wanted to relax at the hotel.  Priya heard the sliding glass door slam  as Aman slid it open and entered her room.

“I wonder why this is here.” He was thinking aloud.

“Probably for married couples who don’t stay in the same bedroom.” Priya replied sarcastically.

Aman let out a laugh.  It was the first time he’d ever heard Priya speak with a sarcastic tone.  He liked this side of her.

“But actually though. There’s no privacy.” Aman pointed out.

“There’s a curtain that can be drawn.” said Priya as she noticed the fabric on either side of the double doors.

“There’s no need for that. It’s not like we’re strangers.” Aman said, pulling Priya closer to him.

“Aman, what are you doing?” Priya asked.

“What do you think I’m doing?” Aman replied.  He didn’t give Priya a chance to reply.  He gently placed a kiss on her lips.  His phone rang, interrupting their kiss. Aman sighed as he answered it.

“Hello?” Aman said into his phone.

“Aman...where are you staying?” Hiten’s voice asked through the phone.

“Hiten? Are you in Detroit?” Aman asked.

“Duh! Did you think I wouldn’t find out where you went?” Hiten replied dramatically.

“Oh my god, such a drama queen,” Aman laughed.

“Tell me where you are!” Hiten whined.

Aman told Hiten where the hotel was located.  Hiten agreed to come to the same hotel after some complaining about its far proximity from Detroit and after a little convincing from Aman.

“Hiten found us.” Aman told Priya, who smiled back in response.

“When does the conference start?” Priya asked.

“This evening.  Let’s hope Hiten doesn’t get lost otherwise we won’t make it in time.” Aman replied.

Hiten bribed the cab driver to drive particularly fast so that he could reach the hotel as soon as possible.

“Bhabhi!” Hiten engulfed Priya in a hug when she answered the door.

“Hiten,” Aman said in a serious voice.

Hiten looked up at Aman.

“Aman!” He exclaimed, releasing Priya and engulfing Aman in an even bigger hug without missing a beat.

Aman shrugged out of Hiten’s hug.

“Took you long enough.” He commented. Hiten pouted.

“Bhabhi, do you see how this guy treats me?” Hiten turned to Priya for support.

“Where’s your room?” Aman asked.

“Right next door, of course.” replied Hiten.  “Whoa! What’s this?” Hiten walked into the room and went to take a closer look at the sliding glass doors that separated Aman’s rooms from Priya’s.

“It’s a door.” said Aman.

“What’s it doing here?  This should count as two rooms!  This isn’t fair!” Hiten said.

Priya stifled a laugh.  Hiten whined over the most menial things.

“Um...we need to get going.” Aman said, changing the topic.

“Fine, let’s go.” Hiten said defeatedly.

The three left to go into the city. During the ride, Hiten kept on complaining about their hotel’s distance away from Detroit.  He didn’t understand that Priya needed to stay away from Rakesh.

“It’s only the opening remarks and a bunch of other boring things. We don’t actually do anything tonight.” Aman explained to Priya.

“And they talk at us...forever.” Hiten added.

Priya took in all the information.  Business conferences did not sound like fun.

When they arrived at the venue, they didn’t see Rakesh anywhere.  Aman thought this was weird.  It was Rakesh that had forced him to attending this boring business conference, and yet he himself didn’t bother to show up.  The conference was being held in order to convince large, multinational companies to go green.  Going green was an initiative that Aman and Hiten had started in their companies years ago.  They didn’t need to be here.

“Can he be any more boring?” Hiten commented under his breath.

“Hiten, don’t be rude.” Aman reprimanded.

“But he’s right.” Priya agreed with Hiten.

Hiten let out a loud laugh, which attracted some unwanted attention.  Hiten tried to cover it up by faking a cough.  It didn’t work.  Aman, Hiten, and Priya left before they could get kicked out.

“What the hell happened to you?” Aman said, trying to stifle a laugh.

“Bhabhi is so funny!” Hiten answered.

Priya gave Aman an innocent look.

“This is bullshit! We’re already using sustainable energy. Why the hell are we here?” Hiten said.  As soon as he said it, he wish he hadn’t. They were here because of Aman’s mistake. Rakesh was blackmailing him.

Priya looked slightly confused, but didn’t comment.

“Um let’s hit the city tonight!” Hiten quickly changed the subject.  “I bet Detroit has all kinds of nightclubs.”

“Hiten.” Aman said in a warning voice.  Aman was never going to set foot in a club again.  Last time he did, he cheated on Priya.

“Well, we might as well have a good time.” Hiten defended, not realizing the problem with his suggestion.

“What about Aditi?” Priya chimed in.

“Yeah, Hiten. I bet Aditi wouldn’t be too happy after she hears about your late night excursions.” Aman teased.

Hiten paused.  Damn! They had him.  He was seriously considering being in a relationship with Aditi. He liked her too much, and he wasn’t sure how jealous she was.

“Dammit. That’s a good point.” Hiten conceded. “So what do we do?”

Aman began to think. The obvious answer was go have dinner.  After that, they’d have to scour the city, looking for something to pass their time.

“Oh. My. God.” Hiten suddenly said dramatically.

“What’s wrong?” Aman asked.

“I’m a third wheel.” Hiten said sadly.  “That’s why you didn’t tell me where the conference was. It’s because you wanted to get all romantic with Bhabhi, and here I am, being a damn third wheel.”

“What the hell are you talking about?” Aman asked

“Aman, you’re a good friend for trying to make me think that all of this is okay. I don’t know what possessed me to come out here.  I’m just in the way.  It’s obvious that you planned this whole thing as a romantic getaway for you and Bhabhi.” Hiten went on.

Aman understood.  Hiten had suggested that Aman tell Priya that this conference was just an excuse to take her out when he’d first told him about Rakesh’s blackmailing.  What he didn’t understand was where Hiten was going with all of this drama.  He couldn’t focus all of this attention on Priya.  He needed to figure out why Rakesh had blackmailed him into attending this pointless business conference.

“I should leave now.” Hiten dramatically turned away and walked off before Aman could say anything.

Aman looked down at his phone that had just beeped.  It was a message from Hiten, giving him directions to some place.  When Aman asked him what this place was, Hiten replied saying it was a secret but to go for Priya’s sake.

“Priya, let’s go.” Aman said.

“Where?” Priya asked.

“It’s a surprise.” Aman said, knowing full well that he didn’t know either.

Aman hailed a cab and gave the driver step-by-step directions exactly as Hiten has sent them to him.  They pulled to what looked like a spa resort.  Aman hesitantly stepped out of the taxi and walked around to open the door for Priya.  He cautiously glanced around, wondering if this was the right place.

“Hi sir, how may I help you?” a young woman at the front desk greeted.  Priya was busy observing the lobby area.

“Um, my friend sent us here.” Aman explained in a hushed tone.

“Your name please?” The woman replied.

“Aman Verma.” Aman replied unsurely.  Priya had wandered to his side.

“Ah yes Mr. Verma. You’re booked for the Sweethearts’ Getaway Package.” the woman said.

“The what?” Aman asked.

“It includes a eucalyptus steam with complimentary champagne as well as side-by-side aromatherapy massages followed by spa facials and a candlelight dinner to top it all off.” The woman explained.

Aman glanced at Priya, who looked hesitant.

“Can you give us a moment?” Aman said to the woman. He took Priya aside.

“Don’t you like the surprise?” Aman asked, though he wasn’t too keen on it himself. Hiten meant well but clearly this wasn’t the thing for him and Priya.

“It sounds lovely.” Priya answered.

“But…” Aman prompted.

“It seems really...intimate.” Priya’s voice lowered.

Those were Aman’s thoughts exactly.  He wasn’t the type to just sit back and be doted on my strangers, and watch other strangers dote on his wife. He was a man of action.  If he wanted to ignite some romance between, he’d make it happen just like he did when he took Priya out on their first date.  Also, he knew Priya would not appreciate being unclothed during the steam session and the massage. Since this was a couples package, he would also be in the room, which he knew wouldn’t sit well with Priya.

“We can cancel. It’s not a problem.” Aman suggested.

“No, we should...um but I…”Priya tried to say.  She felt bad that Aman had made all these plans and she was being reluctant again.  “We shouldn’t cancel. It’s a great surprise.”

Aman didn’t believe Priya, but he didn’t question her.  He was surprised that she’d agreed to do such an intimate thing with him.  Maybe she was changing after all.

Oh my God! This chapter...idk about it.  Hahaha Aman and Priya’s couples spa adventure is going to be so cute! Go Hiten! :P Sorry about the super super late update.

Rakesh drama coming soon! Aman’s confession coming soon after that!

Exams are also around the corner, so I’m not even going to try to make any promises about when I can update next.

COMMENT AND VOTE!!! What do you think is gonna happen between Aman and Priya at the spa?? Something romantic ? :P   Also what’s Rakesh up to?