A Date With A Bollywood Star. Riya Lakhani

came out from the side of the bar.

      ‘Ladies, good evening, welcome to The Palace. Your table’s this way. Mr Khan knows you have arrived,’ he said, and they followed him to an empty table behind the dance floor. Rani’s heart skipped at the mention of his name and she began to think the whole idea was a huge mistake. They sat down and as the waiter turned to ask them what they’d like to drink Sunita had a fit of the giggles.

      ‘Where do you think he puts his tips?’ she whispered, looking at his tight trousers. Her laughter was infectious and Rani began to giggle too.

      ‘Not in his shorts, that’s for sure!’ she said. They hadn’t even finished ordering their drinks when the music began. It was Beyoncé.

      ‘Come on, let’s dance,’ said Shilpa, and the three of them headed to the dance floor, leaving the waiter still hanging on for their order. Rani loved to dance and it felt great being with her best friends. She felt safe on the hard wooden dance floor, as if it were her own private island, a place where all the things she was afraid of couldn’t get to her. A sanctuary in a sea of confusion she was anxious about swimming in. But the tranquillity didn’t last. Rani’s nose twitched. It was definitely his aftershave. She spun around to find Omar standing beside her.

      ‘Very stylish. You dance well,’ he said. ‘Can I?’ and he put his arms out to hold her hands and dance. Rani was in a state of shock and just instinctively let him take hold and spin her away from her friends.

      ‘I’m glad you were able to make it,’ he said, leaning in towards Rani’s ear. His breath felt warm and intimate on her skin as they glided around the dance floor. ‘I wasn’t sure you’d got the messages.’

      Rani felt guilty. She hadn’t responded to the flowers or the invitation and was about to try and explain when Omar continued as if he sensed she was backed into a corner.

      ‘The doormen spotted you as you came in. All the staff had been given a photograph of you, just in case.’

      Rani felt relieved and affronted at the same time. He obviously cared enough to have everyone look out for her, but at the same time she felt vulnerable being identified like that to people she didn’t know.

      ‘Do you make a habit of spying on women?’

      ‘No, but in your case I’m happy to make an exception.’

      Well, at least he’s honest about it, Rani thought to herself wryly. And he does move very well! She let him lead her around the dance floor, trying not to get too carried away.

      ‘How’s the ankle?’ he asked with genuine concern in his voice.

      ‘Much better, thank you. I didn’t have any peas at home, but oven chips work just as well.’ That made Omar laugh out loud.

      ‘You’re a very funny lady.’

      Rani felt a little put out by the description. Funny! Like ha-ha, or odd to look at? she wondered.

      ‘Funny? In what way?’

      Omar looked straight into her eyes and she could feel the intensity of them frazzle her mind.

      ‘In a good way. I mean, saying that about the chips, and the way you wrote about me. I like your sense of humour. It’s very attractive.’

      Rani gulped at his directness. He wasn’t like any of the men her mum and dad had paraded in front of her in an effort to find her a husband. They had all been well-mannered doctors, dentists or lawyers who knew which knife and fork to use and when. They wouldn’t have been caught running their eyes up and down her body, and if they had they’d at least have had the decency to be embarrassed.

      ‘That’s a little forward, don’t you think?’ Rani said in her most cut-glass accent.

      ‘And then you spoil it by being so snobby,’ Omar said in his roughest Mancunian delivery.

      Rani pushed Omar away with a haughty snort, but he still had hold of her hands and pulled her back towards him with little effort. She crashed into his chest and he held her tightly against his body, squeezing her breasts against his silk shirt.

      ‘Are you really as toffee-nosed as you seem, Ms de Silver?’ His eyes burned into her.

      ‘Let’s finish dancing first and I’ll let you know,’ Rani said, giving up the struggle to be free from his muscular grip. Her stomach was spinning with the sheer exhilaration of being so close to him and being so powerless. She wanted to pull away and at the same time wanted to know what it would feel like to be crushed against his bare skin. As they moved gently to the next song Rani knew just what the experience reminded her of. She felt like a cartoon character with a good angel on one shoulder and a naughty devil on the other. So far she thought the mischievous, impish side was winning and she liked it. No wonder her mother had disapproved of the posters of Omar on her bedroom wall. What would she think of her now? Rani let her face fall closer to his and breathed in his aftershave again. His stubble tickled her cheek but she didn’t flinch away; she savoured the feeling.

      As Omar moved cautiously he could feel her heart beating so near to his and he wondered how much closer he could hold her. He was in a playful mood, enjoying the sensation of Rani’s chest pressed against his. She had a lovely smile and, as far as he could tell, a very shapely body. As Rani relaxed in his grip he slowly let his hands slide down the sides of her black sari until his left hand was supporting her shoulder blades and his right hand was in the small of her back just above the curve of her bottom.

      ‘Why don’t we have that drink now?’ Rani said in a rushed tone, twisting her body away from Omar’s. Just as Rani stretched their arms as far as they could go without actually letting go Omar tugged her back towards him like a yo-yo, spinning her back into his arms. It was so quick that Rani didn’t have time to resist as he bent his head low towards her mouth and planted a kiss on her lips. Her eyes were wide open as she stared in shock up into his, and then as his lips gently moved against hers she closed her eyes and let him kiss her.