What's the worse that can happen
Shady Lady Julie
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Author's Note:
The festival of Holi is held annually in Northern India in March. It not only signifies the change from winter to spring but also the triumph of good over evil. The Hindi name Bhadra means Good.
*****
"What's the worst that can happen?" Lucy said in a dull flat tone.
"It's northern fucking India, it's a dangerous enough place most of the time especially as you are a woman travelling on her own... and all for some stupid holly festival," Harry shouted down the phone, the exasperation with his little sister clear in his voice.
"It's called Holi not holly and it's something that me and Gracie always promised that we would do before all this COVID madness started."
At the mention of Gracie, Lucy's partner who had died from COVID complications nearly 2 years ago, Harry fell silent and then in a calmer voice said, "Well at least take someone with you and for pity's sake… get laid."
"I am 30 years of age so I can look after myself thank you very much. I have booked my ticket and am going on Saturday… so it's settled. I will send you some pics on insta," Lucy said firmly before putting the phone down. Then she picked up the magazine with the pictures of swirls of paint in the air and the happy smiling faces before bursting into tears as she imagined the fun she and Gracie would have had celebrating the paint throwing festival of Northern India.
*****
Lucy settled into her business class seat accepting the glass of champagne from the beautiful smiling hostess whose name badge showed Bhadra.
"Are you going?" Bhadra said pointing at the magazine Lucy had in her hand with the picture of the Holi festival on the cover.
"Yes," Lucy said almost unenthusiastically, happy she was finally going to see the festival celebrating good triumphing over evil, but sad that Gracie wouldn't be with her to share in the fun.
"I am taking a few days holiday so I can enjoy it with my family as we live not far from Amritsar, perhaps I will see you and your husband there. I am sure you will have lots of fun." Then before Lucy could reply pointing out that she didn't have a husband, and never would, Bhadra had moved to the next passenger.
After dinner, Lucy reclined her seat, closing her eyes, as the journey to Delhi was just over 8 hours, which meant a long overnight flight, before the change for a local flight of an hour to Amritsar. For the first time in many months, Lucy thought of Gracie in a sexual way, rather than memories that made her sad at her passing. Under the cover of the blanket, she slipped her hand inside her loose jogging bottoms and panties as she started to touch herself as Gracie would often do when they sat together. Touching her clit with her fingertip Lucy remembered how Gracie would tease her that when they were next able to travel she would join the mile-high club. Often in their lovemaking, Gracie would introduce a fictional third participant to their passionate bouts, describing all sorts of permutations bringing Lucy to an orgasm. Slipping a finger inside her wetness Lucy pushed deep and couldn't stop the low moan as a small orgasm shuddered through her.
Suddenly she was jerked into reality as a soft voice beside her said, "Are you OK madam?" Lucy opened her eyes to see the deep brown eyes of the worried face of Bhadra crouching by her side.
"I'm fine," Lucy slurred half-awake and still on a sexual high.
"I need to check your seatbelt," Bhadra said pulling back the blanket, then stopped, staring in silence at where Lucy's hand was.
Lucy was speechless and could feel herself blush as she blurted, "I was thinking of my partner."
Bhadra smiled, "Everything is good, please sleep well," then as silently as she had appeared, she was gone.
*****
Lucy had changed planes to the local flight and as she settled into her seat she heard a soft voice from the next seat, "What a lovely surprise, we meet again."
It took Lucy a moment to realise that it was Bhadra. Gone was the traditional Air India uniform saree and in its place was a beautiful young woman dressed in western clothing of a blouse and tight jeans. Her hair had been let down and shone like a river of burnished coal, cascading around one shoulder until it rested on the upper curve of her right breast. Lucy found herself getting damp, then mentally chastised herself as she was in a country where lesbianism had only been legal a few years and was still frowned upon by the majority. The girl was probably married or at least promised to someone in an arranged marriage.
As they talked it became apparent that Bhadra, whilst not actually an outcast in the family, was considered a black sheep for her western ways. She normally lived in Delhi, and to date had resisted all attempts at an arranged marriage, almost driving her parents mad.
"Where is your husband?" Bhadra asked.
Deciding to see what response she would get Lucy smiled as she replied, "I don't have a husband... but I did have a girlfriend who I lived with for ten years until she died a couple of years ago."
Lucy watched Bhadra's face and was sure that mixed with her look of compassion there was something else, almost like relief.
"Then if you are on your own then I insist we spend Holi together, we can dance, throw paint, drink and what’s the worst that could happen?" Then she winked as she continued, “We might even spend the whole night together.” That final comment made Lucy’s heart flutter as she knew for certain the reason why Bhadra hadn’t married.
Bhadra promised to pick her up from her hotel at six o'clock and as they parted said, "Don't forget, wear something that you don't mind getting ruined as the paint stains everything."
Sitting in the taxi Lucy sent a text to her brother, "Got picked up on the plane so taking your advice about getting laid."
Lucy looked out of the window of the taxi as it slowly moved through the traffic towards her hotel and much to the annoyance of the driver lowered her window so she could take lungfuls of the exotic air outside. When a passing lorry emitted a cloud of black smoke causing her to cough the young driver giggled openly before asking in a sing-song accent.