Page 28 of A Kiss in Kashmir

Her carefully composed façade was failing her now. She reached out and took his hand. Once again, it was warm in hers. Their eyes met and lingered for a moment.What is happening here?Sharmila wondered.I need to stop this. I am here for Alina’s wedding. I am too old for this.

The houseboat shook as the storm outside began to build.

He tenderly pulled her closer to him as the music took over and they began to sway to the rhythm of the guitar playing.

Her heart skipped a beat, torn between the desire to indulge in the moment and the fear of betraying her desire to stay content being alone for the rest of her life.

His presence had a calming effect. She could detect a blend of his cologne with the faint aroma of cardamom and saffron on his breath, which was oddly reassuring. There was a warmth that provided a sense of security, like being at home.

As they swayed to the rhythm, an invisible energy enveloped them. His hand gently rested on her waist, pulling her closer, and once more she felt a desire she hadn’t experienced in years. The boat rocked them. It was as though they didn’t even need to move. Nature was lending a helping hand.

With every step they took, a subtle chemistry blossomed between them, drawing them together in a dance of longing. The outside world dissolved into insignificance, and for a brief instant, they found themselves alone, wrapped in a wordless connection.

As the song reached its melancholic crescendo, Sharmila felt a pang of fear—or was it guilt? She knew that she was on the precipice of something significant, and yet the idea of being intimate with a man frightened her. The past had left its scars, and she couldn’t bear the thought of being hurt again.

With a sudden resolve, she pulled away from his embrace, her eyes a mix of sadness and regret.

“I’m sorry,” she whispered, her voice barely audible above the music. “I can’t do this. Not now.”

He looked at her, a touch of disappointment flickering in his eyes, but he understood. Love, after all, could not be forced. He nodded, managing a faint smile, trying to hide his own vulnerability.

In that moment, they both knew that something had shifted between them. George closed his eyes, and the ill-fated words of the fortune teller filled his head, reminding him that there was to be no love in his future.

Sharmila turned towards the doorway, trying to keep her composure. Tears welled up in her eyes, emotions overwhelmed her heart. Then she turned back to look at him.

“Roses, right?”

“What roses?” he asked, perplexed.

“That smell, the one that I couldn’t tell earlier. It’s roses, right?”

“Oh my, yes, I almost forgot. I made you dessert. Phirni—pudding with rosewater and rose petals. Yes, that’s the smell. Please stay. We can eat that together… as friends, yes? It is my birthday so don’t make me eat dessert alone.” He looked hopeful but was clearly so hesitant.

Sharmila came back towards him.

“Yes, we can. I can’t leave a meal incomplete.”

They ate in silence. The air was lighter. The ripples in the lake had stopped. The storm had passed.

Chapter 10

“It has been almost a week now and I finally feel human again.” Alina’s voice was filled with relief as she talked to Emilio on a video call. “I didn’t think it was going to be so long.”

A week earlier, she had come back to the hotel room after the Taylor Swift tribute show and told Sharmila that something was bothering her stomach. That something turned out to be a food allergy. Alina was allergic to mushrooms and in the midst of a fun evening didn’t realize that the rice she was eating had tiny bits of sautéed mushrooms. Since then, she had been stuck in the room, throwing up and dealing with stomach cramps.

“I am glad you are better, and I am happy to see you smiling. Of course, with your mom there, I have to say that I wasn’t too worried.” Emilio smiled into the camera.

It was late in the day in Srinagar but early morning for Emilio, who was back in Washington. He had insisted on talking to her live now that she was feeling better. Alina turned the camera to show him the stunning view through the hotel window. Lined up on the windowsill were bottles of fresh water, a fruit bowl filled with Kashmiri apples, and a large vase of white and pink roses.

“I am actually looking forward to coming there and seeing you and those mountains in person.”

Alina told him how not only her mother had cared for her, but George, too.

“He was here every day—well, you know that since we sent you videos of us. But seriously, he was here with the doctor, then with the medicines, and then making sure I wasn’t bored. Oh, and those roses I showed you in the window? That’s from him. He’s been bringing me fresh roses every day—this room is filled with flowers.”

“Looks like I may have some competition there,” Emilio said.

“Very funny. I don’t think I have played so many card games since I was a kid, and I have to say, sick or not sick, I beat him and Ma at Scrabble four times. He is a sweetheart,” Alina said. In fact, during the week, she had confided in her mom that it was hard to believe George didn’t have children as he came across as a warm father figure, very patient and caring.

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