Fortress Of Ashes

~2~

Article from The News Express.

MANIK MALHOTRA ARRIVES IN MUMBAI FOR CHARITY CONCERT

by Meena Iyer

24th November, 2008.

London based singer of Indian origin, Manik Malhotra has arrived in Mumbai for the charity concert that is being organised by United Children's Relief Fund. The lineup for the concert includes a vast variety of artistes from all over the globe. A few Bollywood stars will also be performing at the event. This is the first time Manik Malhotra is performing on his home turf after living in London for a period of six years.

Tickets for the show are still open for booking. Our news paper has exclusive coverage rights for the concert, so watch this space for more details.

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

Manik Malhotra's journal.

24th November, 2008.

Dear Diary,

I've finally reached Mumbai and checked into the hotel. I'm so glad that I made the decision to come! If I hadn't, I never would have met her...

My flight landed  at around 7:00 am I.S.T. After that, it took me about two hours to reach the hotel! Mumbai still suffers from awful traffic and it looks like things have definitely worsened in the last few years.

When I stepped foot in the hotel, I realised that my memories didn't really do justice to its magnificence. It was stunning! The coloured marble and granite flooring, antique decorations, and the lovely M.F Hussain paintings on the wall, enhanced the interiors a great deal. And let's not forget the landmark maroon dome that dominates the exterior view of the hotel...

When the staff informed me that I'd be staying at the Ravi Shankar suite- named after it's most frequent visitor- I was over the moon! It's the most exquisite living quarters one could wish for! The teak wood furniture, the wonderful view of the Gateway of India from the balcony,  everything about the room was spectacular! And let's not forget, the legend Pandit Ravi Shankar's very own sitar- kept in a glass cabinet on the second floor of the duplex room. As a musician, I found myself very fortunate that I'd gotten a chance to stay in this suite!

I had just finished unpacking when I decided that it was time to take a shower. I went into the bathroom and switched the shower on in order to wash up after the long flight. I came out around fifteen minutes later, wrapped a towel around my waist, and walked backwards from the washroom wiping my face with a smaller hand towel. 

All of a sudden, I crashed into something while moving, and before I knew it, I lost my balance and fell down! My eyes remained closed as I cursed my own clumsiness!

However, when I opened them, time seemed to stand still...those beautiful doe eyes...I felt as if I could look into them forever...

The owner of those eyes- she was the most enchanting girl I'd ever seen! Not in the gorgeous super model kind of way-NO! She had lovely long tresses pinned up at the side with a small clip, and the most ravishing pair of full lips. However, her simplicity succeeded in enhancing her beauty a great deal.

She looked just like an angel. My hands rose involuntarily to touch her face, in order to ascertain if she was a figment of my imagination or not!

She looked back at me nervously as I caressed her cheek, and her eyes widened slightly. I loved the feel of her soft skin on my hand...