Meeting Max

by Richard Brumer

  Elena pressed Rick’s hand and began to speak when Rajeev appeared and asked for their dinner order.

  “We’ll talk later. What would you like, Elena?”

  Elena heaved a deep sigh, looked up at Rajeev, and asked, “What’s on the vegetarian Thali?”

  “Oh, that Thali is veddy good, madam. You will most probably like it for sure. It has on it palak paneer, dahl, makhni, rice, of course, pakoras, raita, and your choice of naan or chapati. Whatever you would like, we will make it fresh for you.”

  “That sounds good. I’ll have the Thali with the chapati.”

  “And for you, Mr. Rick sir? What should I be bringing for you?”

  “The Thali too, Shukriya.”

  “It is my pleasure, sir.”

  “Oh, and two more Kingfishers with dinner,” Rick added.

  “Yes, of course. Shukriya, sir.

  Elena sighed. Her eyes filled with tears. “Maybe it’s time you let go of the past.”

  Rick nodded as they slowly sipped their beers, each of them deep in thought.

  Rajeev arrived with their thalis, which were small stainless cups filled with portions of different vegetarian food. He asked if they wanted cutlery. Elena shrugged. Rick shook his head and declined the eating utensils.

  “I see you’re a real Indian already,” Elena said. “Eating with your hands now, are you?”

  “It makes the food taste better when I can scoop up these spiced delicacies with Roti or a small ball of rice with my fingers.”

  “I think they gave us some extra katoris.”

  “Katoris?”

  “Yes. It’s what the little steel cups full of food are called. They gave us more than usual. They must like us. French food was once my favorite. I still like it, but Indian food is more interesting and a lot more colorful,” Elena said, but she still had tears in her eyes.

  The oiliness of the Indian food made her lips shiny. He thought of kissing her and tasting all the delicious spices warmed by her lips, but he knew that was yet to come.

  “I like Indian, Chinese, and French foods, in that order.” Elena scooped up some spicy vegetables with her chapati as she spoke. “That was quite a story about your son...the short version. So, you’re a grandfather.”

  “It was the very short version. The rest of the story will unfold when I find him. I know he is here in India and it will happen. Maybe I’ll even meet Max someday. That would be a dream come true for me.

  “I’m jealous of people who live a family life with their children. My friends made sure I was always Uncle Rick to their kids. They knew it would make me feel good to be part of their families. Maybe it’s not too late. Meeting Max would be the thrill of a lifetime for me.

  “Let’s have the special dessert I asked them to make for us.”

  “You didn’t.”

  “I did. And we will be the only ones having it here tonight.”

  “You’re something else, Rick. I love you,” she purred.

  “I love you too, honey,” Rick answered, knowing she meant the love part in a casual way. “Now, tell me what’s going on?”

  “Let’s have our fried balls and tea first.”

  A few minutes later, the gulab jamun and green chai arrived. Elena asked Rajeev how the dessert was made.

  “Oh, it is a veddy special dessert, madam,” Rajeev bragged. “You will find it all over India. Most Indian desserts are sweet like Kheer, which is like our pudding made of rice. The important part of the gulab jumun is to prepare the syrup properly. It is made with much sugar and water. Sometimes rose water added. Gulab means ‘rose.’

  “Our very wonderful chef here adds a few cardamom seeds to the syrup, but most probably. That is not always. I have watched him make it many times. It is heated and kept warm until the Jamun is made, which are round balls of dough. Oh, and the balls are hand done.”

  Elena and Rick burst into loud, unstoppable laughter. Rajeev soon joined in the amusement by laughing with them even though he didn’t know what was so funny. Rick and Elena continued to laugh uncontrollably, like kids, their hands on their mouths, trying to stifle their giggles, catching their breath along the way and making things worse by trying to suppress it all.

  After dessert, Rick and Elena leaned back on their couch and enjoyed the view and the golden glow of the fort, which was all dressed up in its amber lights. They talked until Rajeev brought them two Mango Lemongrass Lassi’s, compliments of the house. They held their glasses high toward a smiling Jamir, who was standing at the bar, waving.

  Elena clicked her glass against Rick’s and assumed a serious tone. “Tell me, have you ever found the right woman in your life?”

  “I’m sitting with her.”

  “No, seriously. I mean, you’re young, good looking, and can pass for being in your late thirties.”

  “I think that’s pushing it. I’ve traveled a lot and met many nice women, but never felt the spark.”

  “What qualities are you looking for?”

  “I’m not looking for any particular quality. I’ll know it when I feel it,” he said as they smiled at each other.

  “I see. What have you done in Jaisalmer so far?” Elena asked, changing the subject. “Have you visited the Jain Temple?”

  “Yes, and I was surprised at a lot of the sexy sculptures.”

  “Well, it’s part of Hinduism in its early stages.”

  “What do you mean by part of Hinduism?”

  “I think it had to do with worshipping nature. What else did you do in Jaisalmer? Did you get a chance to ride a camel?”

  “I did, and it was an interesting experience in ways I never expected. I’ll tell you about it another time.”

  “That’s another thing we can do together. I have three days free. We could just ride our camels slowly, talk, and catch up.”

  Rick hesitated and gathered his thoughts before he spoke. “Nice, and afterward we can watch the sun sink into the sand. Would you stay overnight with me in a tent?”

  She smiled. Her eyes sparkled. “You mean the two of us, out there under the stars, alone?” She paused. “Yes, Rick, I would. You know I would.”

  They left the restaurant and took an auto rickshaw back to her hotel in town. They agreed to leave on the desert trip the next day. Rick already knew he was in love with her. They kissed and said goodnight.

  Early the next morning, Rick sat with the brothers on the rooftop. They shared a platter of tofu, paratha, and masala chai.

  “I need you guys to help me plan some time away in the desert for me and my friend. Can you arrange something special?”

  Both brothers leaned forward. They were both grinning with wide open eyes.

  “We are so happy to have this chance. Would you kindly be telling us what we can do? Nothing will be a problem. You can be assured,” Jalish answered.

  “Yes, it can be arranged, no matter what is it,” Jamir said. “Whatever you want, we can do it. Tell us.”

  “I’d like to be in the desert with my girlfriend in a special way, alone, out in nature. I know you understand.”

  “We know what you mean without you saying any more. Tell us what is it you will be liking and we will make it happen,” Jalish said with confidence.

  “Thank you for saying that. I feel as you do about many things. I would like to spend a few nights with her out on the desert. Have a tent, food, and our own camels. I will leave the details up to you.”

  “Rick, you must be knowing how happy this is making us feel,” Jamir said. “You honor us with your trust. Leave everything to us. You are our brother. Ganesh will drive you to a part of the desert where the tourist safaris do not go. Trust me, you will be very happy, and you will see no one. We only ask that you each have your fully charged mobile phones with GPS with you. We will put our personal numbers on them so you can have your time together and be safe.”

  More chai was poured.

  “Ganesh, he will bring a tent, set it up, and put a plastic sheet over the sand so the insects do
n’t bother you,” Jalish explained. “There are many what we call dung beetles there. You will have plenty of food to cook. Ganesh will dig holes in the sand for you and fill them with wood. You will have pappadum and other snacks. Please, we will take care of everything, and we will not be disappointing you.”

  Jamir chimed in. “It is good then. We will give you plenty of dry wood for fires, warm jackets for the cold evening desert air, and sleeping bags. Also, if you don’t mind, we would like to send some food already made that would be difficult for you to prepare in the desert, such as chapati, and we will send nice spices. You will also have rice cereal with dried mango and toasted coconut. You will like it very much in the morning. Just add it to hot water. It will be tasting very good. It is a pleasure for us to have you as a third brother.”

  “Thank you. I feel honored.You’ve thought of everything.”

  Jamir went on. “I’m sure we will add a few surprises as we think of something. Give me time to make the arrangements with a special person who knows how to do exceptional things in a very nice way. We can have everything done by early afternoon tomorrow. I’ll talk to Ganesh now. It will be a two-hour drive for you to be arriving to this secluded place.”

  ***

  The Jeep took them along sand swept roads. They arrived in the late afternoon at a spot in the desert surrounded by nothing except sand and a deep blue sky. Ganesh set up their tent and placed a cooler filled with food inside along with items that didn’t require cooling. Their phones were charged and a waypoint was entered on their GPS indicating the position of the tent.

  A camel driver introduced them to their camels, but said that the introduction would be limited because they had never been given names.

  “Rick, how about Lancelot for your camel?”

  “Only if you’ll be my Guinevere.

  “I will, and thank you for the honor of being your queen.” She said, beaming. “It’s settled then?”

  Rick smiled. “It is.” I love this woman

  Ganesh left. They were alone. It was now late afternoon. They kissed under a teal blue sky as the sun sat straight ahead above the tan desert sand. Evening brought a mild breeze that brushed along the dunes, erasing the sandy rivers of ripples accumulated during the day.

  They walked Lancelot and Guinevere to a flat spot, where they stood, motionless, as Rick and Elena sat and held each other, watching the sun as it sank into the cooling sand.

  Elena heaved a deep sigh and spoke in a voice just above a whisper. “Look where we are. I’ve never seen such beauty. It’s a gift for us to be together. I’m glad it’s our first day. Beginnings are always special because the rest is yet to come. I think we became soul mates on the plane. I still feel that way.”

  “I do too. It’s nice having a soul mate. You’re my first one.”

  “I look forward to the time ahead of us. I want it to unfold slowly so I can cherish every moment. Do you think I’m a romantic?”

  Rick looked at her and smiled.

  “We’re the same that way. There’s just something I have to put behind me first.”

  “Is it some kind of obstacle you have to overcome?” Rick said. “If it is, it’s my obstacle too. Is it the secret you were telling me about on the plane?”

  “It is.”

  “Another man? You can be open about it.”

  “No, definitely no,” she replied, smiling. “You men…”

  “Well, let’s talk about it now. We’ll do whatever is necessary to work it out. There’s always a solution. Whatever it is, it will be okay in the end.”

  “I’ll tell you everything when we get back to Jaisalmer.”

  “Why not now? We’re alone, it’s quiet. We can talk it out.”

  “When we get back, Rick. As soon as we get back. Let me have these days together. I’ll tell you everything when we return, and we can put it behind us and go on with our lives.”

  “Go on with our lives together?” Rick questioned.

  “Yes, of course. I don’t have reasons for how I feel. You’re good for me, Rick. What would it be like if we fell in love?”

  “I think it would be fun. We would be good together. Being soul mates is the best start. Have you read Romeo and Juliet?” Rick asked, smiling.

  “Romeo and Juliet, eh? You think we’re a couple of teenagers? I feel like one and it’s okay. Let’s just leave out the final scenes...too tragic.

  “Love is so mysterious and elusive. We read about it in novels and poetry, hear it in music and see it in movies. If it’s in all these things, then it must be the most desired feeling human beings would ever want and need. When you spoke of Romeo and Juliet, I hummed the strains of the love theme in my mind. My heart melted. I want to listen to it with you, Rick. I think I love you now.”

  Rick reached for her hand and kissed her. “I love you too.”

  They sat and watched the sky fill with the colors of the sunset until stars were everywhere. A cold breeze swept over them. They pulled each other closer and remained silent, huddling as it got colder. Lancelot and Guinevere kneeled nearby and formed dark silhouettes against the sky

  Elena asked, “Why did you never marry?”

  “I just never found the right woman. I did want to meet someone, but my search and hunger for love took me down all the wrong paths.”

  “I took those same paths, so I know how you feel. Life isn’t easy. Sitting here together is just where I want to be. Tell me what you’re thinking.”

  “I’m thinking about the story of a man out in the woods, racing around and trying to catch butterflies using his net. He tries for hours but never catches one, until he stops running and stands still to enjoy his surroundings. Then a beautiful butterfly gently lands on his shoulder, flapping its wings.”

  “Nice. You can’t always chase after life. Sometimes beautiful things come to us unannounced. I love butterflies. It’s my favorite stop at the zoo. By the way, I spoke to my parents this morning and told them about us. I said we had good feelings for each other.”

  “What did they say?”

  “My mother was funny. She said, ‘Well, he’s not a doctor, but a college professor will do’. She knows me. She knew it would give me a good laugh. My mom did tell me something about my father, though. His heart condition is getting worse. His pulse rate is low, and he was passing out. He now has a pacemaker.”

  “Oh, I’m sorry. I hope he stays well. I’m sure the pacer will help”

  “He’s seventy-two. I hope he will be okay. I’ll call them again in a few days.”

  They sat on the sand, a world away from any other place on earth, and kissed again. He unzipped her light jacket and explored her slim body with his hands. Soon, a full moon settled on the horizon and more stars filled the sky.

  They walked back to their tent. It was lit by a glowing lantern, making it look like a soft, yellow gazebo. The sand cooled beneath their feet as its heat raced off into the atmosphere and the breeze became colder. The tent was their home.

  Ganesh had dug some holes in the sand so they could cook their food. Rick dug a deep hole in the sand closer to the tent, filled it with small twigs, surrounded the top with stones for a pot to rest on, and started a fire. The vegetable curry and hot tea warmed their insides, taking the edge off the cold night.

  Rick kissed Elena and tasted the exotic spices which still lingered on her soft lips. Then she leaned back on the blanket and looked straight up into the night sky.

  “Rick, this is amazing.All I can see are stars. I feel that if I reached up, I could touch them.”

  “To be in this magnificence is a gift.”

  “A gift we’ll always share.”

  “Always.” Rick hesitated. “Is it really just us? Do you have a boyfriend? You mentioned Aidan once.”

  “He is a friend, a good friend, but what you and I have is what I need in my life.”

  “Well, I guess we each had our share of friends and lovers.”

  “Not me,” she said, shaking her head.

/>   “Elena, you’re beautiful and intelligent, and you mean—”

  “Stop, Rick. The past is over. I want what we have now.”

  Their tent was made of yellowing-white canvas with a large round dome open on the top. They went inside their tent to escape the cold

  “What, no private bath?” Rick said, glancing around the small enclosure.

  “No, it’s not the Taj Palace, but we have a lot more...a whole desert to ourselves. It’s not something a hotel could pack into one of their rooms.”

  Rick smiled.

  Elena turned off the Coleman lantern, allowing only the full moon and stars to shine its light on them through the opening on top of their tent.

  Rick looked at Elena’s face. It was lit by moonbeams. He held her close, kissed her curry-flavored lips, and slid her jacket off. He kissed her again, deeper. Her breasts pushed up against his chest. Rick savored the silence.

  They made love, felt their passions explode, and fell asleep in each other’s arms.

  ***

  Morning came. They kissed wearing sleepy eyes, soft smiles, and made love again. The sun was strong and the sand was still cool. Elena put on a pair of khaki shorts and a black T-shirt with a picture of a Kingfisher bird emblazoned on the front. They sat on a blanket and Elena pulled her knees up and wrapped her arms around them. She looked down, tears flowing from her eyes.

  “What is it, Elena?”

  “I care for you, but I’m afraid. We have to talk when we get back to Jaisalmer.”

  “Let’s talk now,” Rick insisted as he wiped away the last traces of tears from her face. “If it’s something that’s important to you, then it’s important to me. Please, let’s talk about it. We’ll put our heads together and find a solution.”

  “Please, Rick, we’ll do it when we get back. I promise you, we’ll talk about it then. I’m probably overreacting anyway. I’m sure things will be all right, but for now, let’s enjoy our time together.”

  “Okay, we’ll have time to talk in Jaisalmer. I love you, Elena. I don’t want to lose you.”

  “You won’t, ever,” she said, putting on a weak smile.

  “You know, we haven’t done much together,” Rick said, helping her up from the sand, “except ride on an airplane and have dinner in the desert.”