Saturday 6 September
Desert Luxury Resort, Jaisalmer
12.00 noon

She took a deep breath and opened her eyes.

She was standing just inside the entrance of a huge, luxurious tent. Beautiful Bedouin rugs and dhurries covered the floor, and gossamer draperies in Rajasthani prints hung from the ceiling and on the walls.

She tentatively stepped forward, looking in amazed wonder at the brass vases filled with hundreds of white roses which covered every otherwise unoccupied nook and corner of the tent. It was the fragrance of these roses that she had smelt when he had carried her in.

In one corner of the tent, several large floor cushions and bolsters formed a seating circle around a beautifully polished, carved coffee table. A silver tea set was placed on the table, a steaming urn next to it.

The very centre of the tent was occupied by a huge circular bed, draped in white sheets and covered with pillows, cushions and bolsters in every colour of the rainbow. Translucent white curtains billowed down from the apex of the high tent, forming a canopy over the bed. Red rose petals were scattered over the white sheets, adding to the fragrance in the room. Ishita blushed and averted her eyes from the bed,  acutely aware of Raman, moving slowly towards her, watching her face, gauging her reaction. He was carrying their bags, which he placed on an exquisitely carved dressing table, before continuing his slow walk toward her.

She moved hurriedly towards the door flap at the back of the tent and opening it,  stared in wonder at the enormous walled room the door opened into. Just next to the tent entrance was a separately walled off luxurious bathroom with every amenity. Taking up the bulk of the room however, was a beautiful in ground pool with sparkling crystal clear waters. The roof above the pool was made of clear roof tiles, and the cloudless blue skies were clearly visible from inside.

Ishita gasped as Raman came up behind her, touching her gently on her shoulder.

"So?" He whispered. "Like my surprise?"

She turned around slowly, suddenly seized by an inexplicable shyness. Her boldness in the plane, her fevered responses to his stolen advances of the past few days, all were forgotten as the reality of the occasion dawned on her. She wanted him, desperately, wanted to be his wife in every way, yet now that the moment was nigh, the fear of the unknown assailed her, overwhelmed her.

"I...I love it Raman" she whispered, her face flushed, her eyes downcast. He flicked her chin up with a finger, forcing her to meet his eyes.

"So am I forgiven now?" His voice was husky, deep, his eyes oozing love and desire as he stared steadfastly at her. "Hmm?"

"Raman, woh... Chai" she whispered, unable to look at him any longer, torn between the urge to throw herself into his arms, and a crippling shyness which made her want to run in the opposite direction.

                        Sharm aati hai magar
                        Aaj yeh kehna hoga
                        Humme aap ki
                        Kadmo mein hi rehna hoga
                        Sharm aati hai magar

He could sense her hesitancy, and he stepped back.

"Ok biwi. Make my tea" He smiled at her and led the way to the coffee table, lounging on one of the cushions, his eyes never leaving her as she settled down opposite him, her hands busy with the tea set, pouring and stirring, her heart beating loudly as she tried to escape his gaze.

"What's wrong Ishita?" He asked softly as she handed him his tea cup.

"No..nothing" she stammered.

"Are you hungry?"

"No..I mean...I don't know, a little"

"I'll call for lunch to be served, shall I? Say in half an hour? Why don't you freshen up first?"

"Haan, ok, thanks. Raman, woh..."

"Yes sweetheart?"

"Woh...plan kya hai ab? Shaam ka?" (What's the plan? For today?)

He looked quizzically at her flushed face and averted eyes, and then put down his teacup, standing up and walking around the coffee table to her. He held out his hand to her.

"Come here jaan"

She hesitated then slowly extended her hand, shivering as he clasped it firmly in his, pulling her to her feet.

She followed him as he walked to the front of the tent, holding up the flap for her to exit. The summer blast of the sun directly overhead hit them like the heat of a furnace as they stepped outside their cool oasis.

"Look around Ishita" he urged her. "What do you see?"

She swept her eyes over the landscape and gasped. Apart from their tent and a small buggy parked alongside, she could see nothing. Nothing but undulating sand dunes around them, and red flags marking a path to a road in the distance. There was no sign of habitation, no other tents or buildings.

"Raman" she cried out. "Kahan hai hum?" (Raman, where are we?)

"Jaisalmer" he replied. "This is a tent resort jaan, exclusively for honeymooners. All the tents are secluded, away from each other. We can call for food and drinks and I've booked a folk dance troupe to come over at dusk, so don't worry, kuch plans hai, but unless we want, and unless we call, no one is going to disturb us. There's just you and me here Ishita. Now come here, let's get out of the sun"

He grabbed her arm and pulled her back inside the cool tent, pulling down the flap before he pulled her into his arms.

"Plan kya hai?" He mimicked her words. "I've brought you here, away from the world, just you and me. What do you think my plan is Ishita?"

"Raman, I..I ..." She closed her eyes, his nearness overwhelming her

He bent his head and kissed her forehead lightly, while his hands caressed her gently.

"Why are you so scared baby?"

His tenderness was her undoing and she threw herself into his arms, holding on to him tightly, her arms around his waist. "I don't know Raman" she whispered, raising her face to him.

"Kiss me" He said it softly, but it was an order.

She shivered as she touched her lips to his, then gasped as his urgent tongue forced her lips apart, his mouth hard against hers as he pulled her yet closer. They kissed for what seemed like several minutes, his tongue and lips increasing the intensity, demanding and urgent as she forgot her shyness and followed his lead.

He looked at her in satisfaction when he finally pulled away.

"Now go freshen up" he told her." I'll order lunch"

**********************************************************************************************************

Raman stared after his wife as she walked away.

After the way she had asked him to make love to her at the Taj, the way she been responding to him during their late night trysts during the week, the way she had taken the lead to calm him in the plane with her kisses and her embrace, he had thought that she was completely ready for this, but perhaps he had misjudged things.

She was a conundrum, this wife of his - sometimes shy, sometimes brazen. And he loved all of her. Wanted all of her. Her shyness turned him on as much as her boldness did.

Well, they had almost 24 hours - there was no rush. He just wanted her first time, their first time together, to be perfect.

                       Aapke pyar ka beemar
                        Hamara Dil hai
                        Aapke dhun ka kharidaar
                        Hamara Dil Hai
                        Aap ko apna koi dard na sehna hoga
                        Ab humme aap ke kadmo mein hi rehna hoga
                        Sharm aati hai magar
                        Aaj yeh kehna hoga

**********************************************************************************************************

They had a delicious and leisurely lunch, served by two silent unobtrusive attendants, who melted away as soon as the final course of fruit and tea had been served, leaving no trace of their presence behind.

Afterwards Raman took Ishita for a short drive in the buggy, careful not to expose them to too much sun. They returned to the tent hot and grimy and Raman suggested a swim in the cool waters of their secluded pool.

"The dance troupe will be here around 6.00, and I've booked a spa for you before that, at 4.00, but we have an hour now. Swim karna hai, ya kuch aur?" (Do you want to swim, or do something else?) he asked her suggestively, his eyes roaming over her form, a hint of a smile on his face.

"Swim" Ishita said quickly. "Mein change karti hoon" (I'll go and change)

She escaped into the bathroom with her new black swimsuit and a dressing robe, taking her time before she emerged. He said nothing to her as she came out, simply entering the bathroom with his own change.

Ishita almost ran to the pool, quickly taking off her robe, getting into the water before Raman came out of the bathroom. The water was deliciously cool, but it did nothing to quench the fire that was burning in her, leaving her cheeks flushed and her hands trembling.

She lounged in the water, then looked up with a start as the bathroom door opened.

He walked towards her in his brief swim trunks, looking like a Greek God with his hard muscular body, a soft smile on his face, his unconcerned confidence causing  her heart to pound.

He walked up to the edge of the pool, staring down at her.

"Are you hiding Ishita?" he asked with a smile on his face and laughter in his voice, as she sunk deeper into the water.

"No.." She squeaked, wondering what had happened to her voice.

He laughed and dived in beside her, playfully flicking water on her before starting to swim with powerful strokes around the pool. She could feel his eyes watching her as she stared unabashedly at him, this man, her husband.

He worked out his energies as he sliced through the water. He knew his wife was watching him, and he wanted her to get comfortable with him, with his body. He wanted no inhibitions left by tonight, when he would finally make her his, so he had decided to tease her, to whet her appetite for him, to make her as desperate for him as he was for her.

And so he left her alone in the water, merely watching her, occasionally flicking water on her, keeping the mood playful and light.

Occasionally though, when she was not watching, the fire would return into his eyes. Her swimsuit was modest, but it clung to her curves, and the sight of her beautiful legs and toned arms increased his ache for her.

It was almost four when he remembered the spa he had ordered for her. The attendants would be here soon.

"Listen, I have one last surprise for you. I told you I ordered a spa, right? The attendants must be on their way. Go and shower, I'll stay here a bit longer.

She nodded shyly and got out of the pool close to where she had placed her robe. In the few seconds before she hurriedly donned her robe, he watched, mesmerised. She was beautiful, so beautiful. Damn his plans. The spa, the dressing up, the folk dance, all seemed unnecessary now. He did not want to see her dressed up, all he wanted to do was to rip her clothes off her.

His eyes scanned her from top to toe, the mehendi on her feet and up her calves making him remember his promise to her - that he would find his name on her body.

He jumped out of the pool and walked up to her. "Ishita, wait" his husky voice reflected his state of mind.

She stopped and turned around slowly, water dropping off her as she twisted her hands nervously.

"Kya?" She whispered.

"Mujhe apna naam dhundna hai, remember" he said softly as he dropped to his knees beside her, his hands reaching out and capturing her legs. (I have to find my name, remember)

She stood still as he ran his hands gently over the still dark mehendi, tracing the patterns on her calves with his fingertips. She shuddered as his hands moved up to her thighs, his fingertips brushing the unadorned skin, as his hands moved higher and higher, pushing up her robe.

"Raman" she whispered, her breath coming in jerks as his touch played havoc with her self control. "Wahan toh mehendi nahi hai..." (Raman, there's no mehendi there)

He stood up, sliding his hands over her hips and up to her chest. "You gave me your promise that I could look at every inch"

"Yes" she whispered, aching for him now, her fists clenched at her side, her head thrown back. He moved his head toward her, and then a chime sounded from the front entrance to the tent. The spa attendants were here.

He kissed her lightly, and then moved away regretfully.

"Go" he said. "Go and get ready. I'll find my name tonight"

**********************************************************************************************************
There were two women waiting for Ishita when she re-entered the tent from her shower.

The giggling Rajasthani women were beauticians, they told her. She gave herself into their care, sitting back as they gave her a  full spa treatment, brushing ointments on her body, wrapping her in fragrant wraps, steaming her face, and soaking her feet in toes scented water.

She closed her eyes, unaware that Raman had returned to the tent to pick up his clothes. He showered and changed and left the tent, all while she was still lost in her treatment, her mind racing with thoughts of the night to come, as she sunk into a blissful slumber.

                        Der ke baad yeh samjhe hai mohabbat kya hai
                        Ab humme Chand ki jhumar ki zaroorat kya hai
                        Pyar se badhke bhala aur kya Gehna hoga
                        Ab humme aap ke kadmo mein hi rehna hoga
                        Sharm aati hai magar
                        Aaj yeh kehna hoga