Scott tried his best to get them to sit together for the 12-hour flight, but to no avail from the stewardess or any of their travelling companions, despite his constant pleas. 

Aimee slept throughout the flight completely devoid of energy after the gruesome last hours spent in the Bay. Scott, on the other hand, frequently visited her aisle searching for an opportunity to engage with the green-eyed girl. He even engaged in conversation with the couple sitting next to her, while her head rested peacefully by the window, just so we could observe her. 

"Your girlfriend?" the old Punjabi man asked him after his fifth trip to the aisle. 

Scott shakes his head, "Just a friend." He smiles when Aimee turns in her sleep, adjusting her position. "But, one hopes." he winks at the older gentleman and makes his way back to his seat.

The dry air that rushes to Aimee's face the moment the plane opens its doors is nothing like she has ever experienced before. She was seven seats ahead of Scott and decided to venture out rather than waiting for him. Once she steps outside of the aeroplane doors, there's a distinct scent in the air and her heart fills with a sense of adventure. 

The airport walls are decorated with cream colour and the floor is paved with a red carpet. In between a sea of sarees and white turbants, she spots the red shorts man, with dishevelled hair and his headphones lingering around his neck. She smiles at his impatience with an older couple that makes their way through the narrow corridor at a snail pace. He tries to overtake the couple a few times, but they frustrate every single one of his attempts. 

He glances up and sees Aimee with her hands on the straps of her backpack while smiling at his movements. Scott opens his arms and gestures at her and Aimee releases a chuckle. 

The walk from the aeroplane to the luggage point was short but lengthy. Passport control was attended by four individuals, each in their own booths, that worked so fast that Aimee compared the situation to the sloths at the DMV in the animation Zoopolis. 

After a long twenty minutes, they were on their way to the luggage point, which was heavily guarded with men with riffles,  throughout the short corridor. Each passenger is stopped three times and asked to show the boarding pass, passport and visa documentation. For each pit stop, the papers get rewarded with blue and purple stamps. 

When they finally arrive at the luggage corridor, the bags are already circulating in the luggage merry round for a while. "I see your bag," Scott says while pointing to the yellow bag that is doing another round. "And, there's mine." he points at another bag. "I'll get them."

Aimee nods and waits for Scott to retrieve the bags. A gentleman in a white shirt and brown pants approaches Aimee. "Taxi?" he asks.

Aimee shrugs, "Do we need a taxi?" she yells at Scott that pulls her yellow bag from the conveyor belt. Scott lays the bag on the ground and gives her a thumbs-up. "How much?" she asks. 

"500 rupees," the man says.

Scott approaches them carrying both their bags. "200," he says to the man.

"Sir, 500" he repeats, "best price."

Scott pulls Aimee softly by her arm and starts walking away. "I'll ask that to your friends."

"400" the man follows.

"250, final offer or I'll go to your friends there." Scott points to the long line of the white shirt, brown trousers wearers just outside the airport.

The man circles Scott and stops him. He takes Aimee's bag from her hand in a silent agreement. "Come, come" he starts walking and Scott nods at Aimee to follow.

Aimee takes the opportunity to tie her hair. She feels her back dripping with sweat, although it's 11 p.m. "You're a good negotiator," she whispers. 

Scott looks at her elegant neck and the traces of her hair flowing from her bun. "Learnt it in Thailand. If you don't negotiate they will murder you with the prices they charge." 

Aimee laughs and they keep following the man that although is small in stature, zig zags through the airport commotion skilfully. 

Scott holds Aimee's hand. "I bet you can't wait to get to the hotel." 

Aimee nods in response enjoying the light touch of his hand brushing hers. 

"It's simple but my friend said the rooms are clean." Scott takes her hand to his lips and touches it slightly. "I missed you..." he says. 

Aimee jolts and removes her hand from his grip. "Maybe I should hold my own bag?" she changes the subject. 

"He won't run away with your stuff." Scott looks down and clears his throat, "Are you ok with us sharing a bedroom?" he asks and glares at Aimee that has her eyes now glued to the ground. 

Aimee nods but her heart is leaping nervously. She thinks about the intimacy shared in New Zealand and his expectations towards her. Her heart thumps at the thought, her mind drifting to Liam, his touch still lingering on her skin. Her eyes dart to Scott that is staring at her, with an impenetrable look.

The row of taxis is never-ending and every single car looked the same. Aimee wonders how the taxi driver can recognise his own vehicle. The short man arrives at the designated vehicle and gestures at Scott to enter. 

"Go inside. I'll help him with the luggage." 

Aimee nods and enters the vehicle that also has a distinctive smell. She notices a small incense holder glued to the dashboard with a small stick burning. She hears Scott talking to the man. She also notices a small dangling red string from the windshield and on the top of the console a small statue of an elephant. Scott enters and sits next to her. The man enters the vehicle and starts patting his trousers looking for something. 

Scott takes his phone out and starts typing on his phone. 

"Excuse me," Aimee directs her attention to the driver. "What is this?" she points to the statue. 

The driver doesn't have two of his front teeth but that doesn't deter him from giving her a broad smile. "That is Ganesh. He is our Lord Protector, ma'am. He brings good luck and fortune."

"Is that so?" Aimee smiles and leans back and stares at Scott that is still typing furiously on his phone, his brow creased. "Maybe I should get me one of those" she whispers to him. He hums in response. "Scott, are you ok?"

"Fine" he raises his eyes to her. "Reservation is changed from one bedroom to two bedrooms."

Aimee's face falters, "I didn't ask you to do that."

"I shouldn't have presumed" He turns his eyes to the world outside.

"We can share a bedroom," she says unsure of herself. "We need to save money to last us for the month."

"It's done" he replies dryly. 

The ride to the hotel was long and eerie. The driver put some music that Aimee couldn't figure out if it was lovely or detestable, while Scott spent the journey either looking outside the window or on his phone. 

Once the taxi arrives at the hotel, Scott checks them in. It's a decent hotel but modest. The walls are painted white and the bedrooms have one small wooden bed and a nightstand. The bathroom is one room with a toilet, a small shower head and a smaller tap, without any sort of divisions between these. 

Scott stands by her bedroom door unsure what to do. "Hope you're ok with this place."

"It's fine." Aimee offers him a reassuring smile. 

Scott stares at Aimee for a moment and leans towards her lips. Aimee turns her face away from him, rejecting his advances. Scott's face falters, "I'll see you tomorrow. I'm next door if you need anything." 

Aimee nods and Scott disappears next door. She closes the door and lays in bed. Aimee feels guilty about rejecting Scott. She wonders for a moment if she should go to him and explain her actions but quickly rejects the idea. She has no idea where to start. She takes her phone and texts Callum and Paulo and sends a pic to Josie of her room and the world outside. 

She hears the shower on the other side and realises the walls are paper-thin. Aimee gets up and decides to do the same as her neighbour. She stumbles on the small bathroom, trying to figure out where is the light and finally flickers the switch that lights up a single light bulb by the small window. She opens the showerhead and a few drops of water pour out. The cold water feels good on her hot body. Once she showers, she takes her pyjamas and puts them on and lays on the bed, staring at the ceiling with only the small whirring of the A/C has background noise. 

She takes her phone and mindlessly scours the internet while waiting for Mr Sandman. She opens Instagram receives a follower request from Isabella. She accepts it and quickly her feed is full of Izzie's first pictures. She scrolls the feed, liking each of her pictures with her parents and her friends. She scrolls to some other pictures of Izzie with her friends in the bonfire. 

Suddenly, she stops at the picture displaying on her feed. A picture of her with Aimee and Liam side by side in the pool on her birthday. Aimee looks at Liam and her eyes water. She closes the application and puts her phone to the side, tears streaming down her face. Thoughts of her last moments in the Bay flood her mind and drown her heart. 

A light knock at the door jolts her. 

"Are you awake?" Scott says softly against the door.

Aimee gets up, wiping her tears away. "What happened?" she whispers against the door.

"Can we talk?" he insists.

"Can we talk tomorrow?" she retorts while wiping the remnants of her breakdown from her face. 

There's a moment of silence as if Scott is pondering her request. "Please" he begs in almost a whisper.

Aimee wipes the stubborn tears that fall from her face and opens the door. Scott takes a look at her and embraces her tenderly. Aimee sobs before regaining control of her emotions. 

"What did he do?" he says while placing a soft kiss on her head. 

Aimee walks to her bed and sits down. Scott closes the door and stands awkwardly until Aimee pats the spot next to her. 

"I don't want to talk about it. Not now..." 

Scott nods and sighs, "You were crying when we met back at the airport weren't you?"

Aimee looks at her feet that swing back and forth awkwardly. "I'm sorry if you had expectations... I can go my separate way. I mean it's not ok for me to be giving you hope and leading you on."

"And, where would you go in the middle of India?" he asks. 

She shrugs in response, "I can't be with you in that way. I know we did back in New Zealand..." she pauses. "but that was back then and it wouldn't be fair for me to pretend to like you in that way. Things have changed."

"Have they? As far as I can see, you were into the idiot back then, and you're into the idiot now. Nothing changed."

Aimee struggles to contain a sob. Scott looks at her and curses under his breath before embracing her tenderly. 

"I don't want us to go in our separate ways." he whispers, "I want company, and I got it. I just wish you would have been honest with me. I thought he was history but I see now it's not the case. We can still do this trip. As friends." his mouth betrays his true intentions.

"Are you sure?" she asks softly

Scott pats her hand. "Absolutely. Get some sleep. Tomorrow is another day." He takes her head in between his hands and lays a soft kiss in her temple. "Goodnight."

"Night." 

Scott gets up and leaves the room and Aimee lowers herself back in bed and cries herself to sleep. 

Author's Note:

Photo by Hitesh Choudhary on Unsplash