December 2017, Mysore, India
I dumped my bag in the locker and collapsed on the bunk bed feeling extremely tired from my journey. Although Bangalore to Mysore is just a 3 hour bus ride, it was very bumpy and I had barely any place to even stand in the crowded state government bus. But it wasn't just the journey which had me so tired and sad, the fact that this was a forced holiday and I couldn't get back home to my wife for a couple of days was killing me from inside. My company forgot to confirm my travel back to Mumbai from Bangalore and owing to the Christmas weekend, I couldn't find a confirmed seat on any train or bus and my company was too miserly to book a flight. So my wife had convinced me to go to Mysore and try to chill for a few days before getting back home.
So here I was, in a cramped hostel room as most hotels were already booked, lying on my bed and looking at the bottom of the bunk bed above mine and thinking of my wife. Her cute face and her contagious smile always cheered me up. I finally smiled. Her image in my head removed all the stress. I lay silently with my eyes shut, thinking about her, peaceful.
"Hey Buddy!" cried out someone and I almost snapped at him for interrupting my thoughts.
"Hi," I managed to say calmly without even looking at him. The last thing I wanted was to socialize.
"So early to bed? It's just 10 pm," he asked curiously. I knew I can't get out of this conversation so might as well participate and finish off quickly.
"Just tired. I am Sam, and you?" I asked politely.
"John, from Australia. How many days are you here mate?"
"A couple of days, and you?"
"Great! We are going to be roomies. I am in India for a couple of months. Mysore is beautiful. Very nice people."
"Yes, so I have heard."
"What plans for tomorrow?"
"I am going to visit the zoo. I am an animal lover."
"Wow! I went there last week. I was very impressed. But it's a lot of walking around. I was so tired after that that I had to go take a massage to de-stress."
The word massage got me excited. I had never had a professional massage and one of the must do things in Mysore is an authentic Kerala Ayurvedic massage.
"Where did you go for the massage?" I asked trying not to sound over excited.
"It's close to our hostel and they are very hospitable."
I took the details from him and the conversation went on for an hour or so about his time in India and things here that amaze him. Typical stories of foreigners who are high on culture, tradition, people, and of course food.
The next day I got up early and was out before most people had risen or in some cases fallen asleep. I wanted to avoid any socializing that morning. I went to the nearby café and spent the morning there with a nice cup of hot filter coffee and a typical south Indian breakfast of stew rice and sambar (chowder cooked with tamarind broth). I was excited about the day I had planned. Most of the day was to be spent at the zoo with the animals and birds and then a nice massage. I honestly didn't know what I was more excited about, but I was looking forward to both. I made my customary call to my wife to wake her up and tell her how much I missed her and told her about the day I had planned for myself. I felt nervous for the first time talking to her and decided not to tell her about the massage appointment because I wasn't sure how she would react to it and I didn't want to cancel it. So I decided to tell her later. I had never lied to my wife before and it was excitingly scary.
I spent the next 6 hours at the zoo and all thoughts of lying to my wife were gone and the only thing I felt was satisfaction of being so close to the animals and of course a lot of fatigue in my legs. I had covered more than 10 miles in those 6 hours at the zoo. I finally hailed a rickshaw to take me to the massage place.
Once I reached the street mentioned on the address, it took me a couple of minutes to figure out the exact building as it was a narrow path leading to it. A small standee at the entrance of the narrow path read 'Authentic Kerala Ayurvedic Massage and Treatment'. I entered and at the end of the path was a small wooden door. I opened it nervously. It opened into a small room where they had a desk and a couple of seats. I stepped in and looked at the girl sitting at the reception. She must be in her early 20s. She had a nice chubby face with bright pink lipstick and thick make up. But what was unmissable about her were her big breasts which were hardly covered by the deep neck top which she was wearing. I stood there ogling at them when she looked up at me and caught me staring at her assets.
"Close your mouth and have a seat," she said with a sly smile.
My mouth was indeed agape and I was so embarrassed at her remark I instantly bowed my head in shame and took a seat.
"I am sorry," I said tamely.
"Such a good boy!" she said laughing at me, "So what do you want?"
"I would like a massage," I said matter of factly, trying to sound convincing. I had heard from my friends who were regulars to massage parlours that one must appear confident and in control else they will take advantage of you if they feel you aren't familiar with the protocols.