1. An Unexpected Phone Call

“Hello?”

“Hello? May I know who is calling?”

A woman’s authoritative voice was heard from the other end.

“Your advertisement was seen on a website,” a hesitant reply was given.

“Okay. Is this your WhatsApp number?”

“Yes,” came the answer.

“Some profiles will be sent to you. One may be selected, and the choice can be communicated to me.”

“Okay.”

The call was disconnected, and the phone was stared at in disbelief.

Could it really be that easy?

News reports about people being caught by the police after responding to online advertisements had often been seen. Cases involving exposed identities and ruined reputations had also been reported.

What if a trap has been set? What if the advertisement has been posted by the police?

Fear was gradually accompanied by curiosity. Despite the doubts, the mobile internet was switched on, and WhatsApp was opened.

Several photographs had been received from an unknown number.

One photograph after another was examined until a particular face was noticed. Attention was captured by a woman whose eyes appeared unusually beautiful.

After a few minutes, another call was placed.

2. The Deal Is Sealed

“Hello!”

“Have the profiles been checked?”

“Yes.”

“Which one has been selected?”

“The third one from the top. The one with brown eyes.”

“Good choice. But a higher price will be charged for her.”

“How much?”

“Twenty thousand for two hours.”

“That’s fine.”

“The booking will be made. Grand-West Park Hotel should be reached by 10 p.m. A call can be made upon arrival.”

“Wait! Are you still there?”

“Yes. What is it?”

“Will everything be safe?”

“Of course. Eight years have been spent in this business. Everything is handled confidentially.”

Some reassurance was provided by the woman’s confident tone.

“Don’t worry. Customers aren’t cheated here. Everything will be taken care of.”

The call was ended after a brief expression of gratitude.

The speed at which everything was being arranged could hardly be comprehended. An unfamiliar experience was being approached, and the consequences were still unknown.

Sanjay had been raised in an upper-middle-class family where traditional values were respected. At twenty-nine, he was regarded as an ordinary software professional whose life had been shaped by family expectations.

Yet, on that night, a lie was told to his parents. An important meeting at work was given as the reason for going out, although it was the weekend.

Suspicion was noticed in their expressions, but further explanations were no longer considered necessary.

The deception was understood, but the decision had already been made.

After a bath had been taken, fresh clothes were worn, and deodorant was applied. Soon, the journey to the hotel was begun.

What lay ahead could not be predicted. Neither the heartbreak that had brought Sanjay there nor the beliefs about love that would be challenged could yet be understood.

3. A Suspicious Encounter at the Hotel

Almost an hour was lost in traffic.

Upon arrival, a call was made from the parking lot.

“What took you so long?” the woman asked.

“Traffic was terrible. An apology is offered.”

“She had to be kept waiting because of you. Another appointment was turned down.”

“Please don’t disappoint me now. The delay couldn’t be avoided.”

“Fine. But the entire night will have to be booked. Another eight thousand will be charged.”

The additional expense was hesitated over, but the demand was eventually accepted.

Directions were provided to enter the hotel, take the elevator to the second floor, and wait near the restaurant and bar.

Every instruction was followed carefully. Eye contact with the people in the lobby was avoided, and the restaurant was reached without any conversation being initiated.

The restaurant was almost empty.

A table was occupied, and a man seated several tables away was noticed staring in Sanjay’s direction.

His gaze was avoided. When another glance was taken, the man was seen making a phone call.

Fear was immediately felt.

Could he be a police officer? Could the entire arrangement be a trap?

Suddenly, the phone rang. Such a fright was caused by the vibration that the device nearly slipped from Sanjay’s hand.

The call had been made by the woman.

“Go to the seventh floor now,” she instructed.

While the elevator was being taken upwards, the man in the restaurant was mentioned.

“Oh, he was noticed? He works with us. Customers are checked as well, and everything was cleared by him.”

Some relief was experienced, although the anxiety had not entirely disappeared.

“Room 708 should be reached. Exactly one knock should be made. The door will be opened.”

The seventh floor was reached, and a single knock was made.

While the door was being awaited, another man was noticed knocking on a different room in precisely the same manner.

Before the coincidence could be understood, the sound of a door handle being turned was heard.

4. The Girl with the Enchanting Eyes

The door was opened.

There she stood—the woman whose photograph had captured Sanjay’s attention. Burgundy-coloured hair, a warm smile, and striking eyes were presented before him.

For a moment, the fears carried into the hotel seemed to have disappeared.

An invitation to enter was given.

The phone rang again.

“Has the door been opened?”

“Yes. The room has been entered.”

“The payment should be transferred now. The account details have been sent.”

The transaction was completed, and confirmation was provided.

“Thank you. Have a sweet night.”

The call was disconnected.

The phone was placed on the bedside table, and Sanjay lay down, exhausted by the long drive. A movie was being played on the television, and laughter was heard from the woman beside him as its funny scenes unfolded.

After a while, her attention was drawn towards him.

“What is your name?” was asked.

No answer was given.

“Where are you from?”

Silence was maintained.

“Are you not allowed to talk?”

“Has the transaction been completed?” she asked.

Confirmation was given, and the payment was immediately verified by calling the woman who had arranged the meeting.

An apology was offered afterwards.

“Until the transaction has been completed, conversation isn’t permitted.”

“Oh! This is my first time.”

A smile was exchanged.

“What is your name?” was asked again.

“Alia.”

“And your surname?”

“Bhatt.”

“Alia Bhatt? Then the night is being spent with Alia Bhatt!”

Laughter was shared, and the joke was received with an amused smile.

“And who are you?” she asked.

“If you’re Alia, then I must be Varun. A perfect pair has been created!”

For the first time that night, laughter was shared without the burden of fear.

5. Two Strangers, Two Broken Hearts

As the conversation continued, several details about Alia’s life were revealed.

Mumbai was described as her home, although her parents lived in Pune. An ordinary job in Mumbai was believed to be held by her, while the true nature of her work was kept hidden from them.

Whenever her personal life was mentioned, however, her smile seemed to fade.

Graduation had been completed, and an MBA was being pursued through distance education.

Surprise was expressed.

“Is this work being done part-time?”

“No. This is my full-time work.”

Her answer was met with silence, and further questions were avoided.

At one point, old and recent burn marks on her arm were noticed. Some customers had caused them, and mistreatment had sometimes been experienced when drugs were involved.

The sight was deeply disturbing.

How could such cruelty be inflicted upon another human being?

The beautiful face seen in the photograph was no longer all that could be perceived. A person with ambitions, fears, painful memories, and an unfamiliar life was being discovered.

Later, dinner was ordered. It was learned that non-vegetarian food was avoided by Alia on Saturdays.

Rotis and curry were shared while a comedy show was played on the television.

Her laughter was found to be unexpectedly innocent and infectious. For a few moments, the hotel room was transformed into a place where an ordinary evening seemed to be shared by two people rather than a customer and a stranger.

Then her phone rang.

Permission was requested to take the call and was granted.

An affectionate conversation was overheard. A meeting with the caller’s mother was mentioned, along with the possibility of living together.

When the call ended, a question was asked.

“Is he your boyfriend?”

Laughter was heard.

“No, yaar. He’s my agent.”

Surprise was expressed.

“Love has been confessed to you by your agent?”

“Yes. Marriage has been proposed, and everything I need has been promised.”

“And will the proposal be accepted?”

“No.”

“Why not? This work could be left behind.”

A thoughtful look was directed towards Sanjay.

“The kind of man I want to love has already been imagined. He isn’t the one.”

Her answer could not be understood by Sanjay.

It was then revealed that the agent’s affection was being considered as a possible means of securing a home before the relationship was ended.

Concern was expressed about the risks involved.

“The risks are understood. But a home of my own is wanted.”

Mixed feelings were left behind by her answer. Her determination could not be dismissed, yet sadness was felt for the circumstances in which such decisions were being made.

Perhaps, in different ways, something was being searched for by both of them—something that neither could clearly define.

6. When a Kiss Means More Than Pleasure

After dinner, Alia moved closer, and Sanjay’s hand was held by her.

“Shall we begin now?” she asked.

Hesitation was felt.

When a kiss was attempted, her face was turned away.

Confusion was experienced.

“What happened?”

“Sorry. Kissing isn’t allowed.”

“Why not?”

“Because it isn’t liked by me.”

“But why?”

A moment of silence was followed by an unexpected answer.

“A kiss is shared when someone is loved. Not with everyone.”

Silence followed her words.

An explanation was attempted. Physical intimacy, Sanjay said, could not easily be separated from the emotional connection that was desired.

His words were listened to quietly.

“But you came here for this,” she reminded him.

“No. It was thought that…”

The sentence was left unfinished.

“Love was expected?” she asked.

Then, gently, the truth was stated.

“The wrong place has been chosen, yaar. Love cannot simply be purchased from a shop.”

Her words struck a deeply buried wound.

For the first time that night, Sanjay’s heartbreak was revealed. A six-year relationship had ended after betrayal had been experienced and the woman he loved had chosen someone else.

Devastation had followed, and faith in love had been questioned.

Perhaps the hotel visit had been arranged in an attempt to prove a painful belief—that relationships were ultimately about pleasure and that emotional attachment only led to vulnerability.

But that belief was being challenged by the woman sitting beside him.

Sanjay moved away and sat quietly on the bed. Tears were held back, but the pain could no longer be concealed.

His distress was noticed by Alia.

Without a word, she moved closer, and an embrace was offered.

In that moment, Sanjay was no longer treated merely as a customer. A wounded person was being comforted by someone whose own pain seemed to be understood through the silence.

A closer look was then taken at her eyes. They were found to be of different colours, rather than entirely brown as they had first appeared. Beneath her lower lip, a small mole was noticed, and it was proudly described by her as her beauty spot.

Smiles were exchanged.

For a little while, the loneliness that had brought Sanjay to the hotel seemed to have been eased.

7. The Truth Behind Her Choices

Later, while the two sat together, a question that had been troubling Sanjay was finally asked.

“Why is this work being done?”

A half-smile appeared on Alia’s face, but no immediate answer was given.

An apology was offered for asking such a personal question.

“That’s okay,” she replied.

It was explained that money had initially been borrowed from a friend. When more money was needed, this line of work had been suggested.

Shopping, designer brands, and an expensive lifestyle were loved by Alia. The life that had been imagined for herself was something she wanted to experience.

According to her, the profession had been entered by choice.

Meanwhile, her parents were being kept under the impression that an ordinary job was being done in Mumbai. Money was sent home, and few questions were asked about its source.

The explanation was listened to quietly.

“But isn’t your safety feared for?” Sanjay asked.

“Of course. Fear is experienced sometimes.”

Instances of mistreatment and encounters with threatening customers were described. Familiar hotel rooms were preferred over customers’ homes because a greater sense of control was experienced in such surroundings, although complete safety could never be guaranteed.

As the conversation continued, the complexity of her circumstances became clearer.

Choices were available to her, but risks were attached to them. Ambitions were being pursued, yet vulnerability had been increased by some of the decisions that had been made. Independence was desired, but uncertainty had also been created by the agent’s affection, particularly because retaliation was feared if his proposal was rejected.

A better life was wished for her.

Yet, who was Sanjay to lecture her?

His own secrets, lies, and emotional wounds had been carried into that room. Decisions had been made by him, too, because the pain of heartbreak had become difficult to bear.

No judgement could fairly be passed on her life.

For the moment, listening was all that could be offered.

8. The Mountains We Dreamed Of

Eventually, the conversation was turned towards life itself.

“Isn’t life in these hotel rooms suffocating?” Sanjay asked. “Waiting for strangers to knock, never knowing what might happen next?”

Alia looked at him.

“This isn’t what life should be. And the luxurious lifestyle being chased isn’t everything, either.”

An eyebrow was raised.

“Really? Then what is life supposed to be?”

Silence followed.

No definite answer could be given.

After a while, something deeply personal was revealed.

Suffocation was also experienced at Sanjay’s workplace. Sometimes, an escape to the mountains was longed for—a place far above everything, where fresh air could be breathed, peace could be experienced, and no one would know where he was.

For a moment, Alia stared at him before laughter was burst into.

“Running away to the mountains? Disappearing from everyone? That sounds like the silliest idea ever!”

Her reaction was not appreciated by Sanjay.

His expression was noticed, and the laughter soon stopped.

“So, life is believed to exist out there, in the mountains?”

“Yes,” he replied. “That is what is believed.”

“Is that certain?”

“Yes. Now, it is.”

A smile appeared on her face.

“Then why isn’t an escape to the mountains being made with your girlfriend?”

Sanjay looked away.

A correction was offered.

“A girlfriend was once had. The relationship was ended after betrayal. Six years had been spent together.”

The reason for his sadness was immediately understood.

“And is that why this place was chosen tonight?”

No answer was given.

None was needed.

Everything that could not be spoken was conveyed through silence.

For a moment, the two strangers looked at each other. Different paths had been followed, yet both had arrived at the same place—a place marked by disappointment, loneliness, and a loss of faith in love.

Then a question was asked by Sanjay.

“Has anyone ever been loved by you?”

A nod was given.

“Yes. A man with beautiful eyes was loved. Feelings developed before it was discovered that he was already married. The truth was found out after three years.”

A pause followed.

Everything was ended after that discovery. Faith in love was lost, and pleasure was chosen instead. It was explained that happiness was now sought through people or purchased things, without much difference being made between them.

Her words felt like a lightning strike.

The very thoughts that had been carried into the hotel room by Sanjay were now being expressed by someone sitting directly in front of him.

For the first time, a reflection of his own wounded heart seemed to have been found in another person.

They were different people, from different backgrounds, and their lives had been shaped by entirely different circumstances. Yet their hearts appeared to have been marked by the same wound.

Perhaps faith in love had not been completely lost by either of them.

Perhaps both had simply become afraid of believing in it again.

9. The Decision to Leave

After a long silence, Sanjay’s hand was held by Alia, and a question was asked.

“So, is another round wanted, Mr. Varun?”

Through blurred vision, Sanjay looked at her and offered a faint smile.

“Sanjay. My name is Sanjay.”

Surprise was reflected in her eyes.

“And only departure is wanted now. I’m sorry.”

“Really? Is that certain?”

A nod was given.

For the first time that night, certainty was felt about what was wanted.

Sanjay stood up, his belongings were gathered, and preparations for departure were made.

His decision to leave was watched in silence by Alia.

As the door was approached, a sudden urge to turn back was felt. A pause was made, and he returned to her. A tight embrace was shared, followed by a gentle kiss on her forehead.

“Goodbye, Alia,” he whispered.

“Meenal,” she replied softly.

Her real name had finally been revealed.

The phone, which had been forgotten on the table, was handed back to him.

A smile was exchanged.

“Goodbye, Meenal.”

With those words, the room was left behind.

This time, no backward glance was taken.

10. The Eyes I Could Never Forget

When the journey to the hotel had first been begun, the entire experience had seemed like a dream. Everything had felt unfamiliar, exciting, and frightening.

It had been hoped that the night would remain nothing more than a dream—something that could eventually be forgotten.

But Meenal could not be forgotten.

Her smile, her laughter, the little beauty spot beneath her lip, and the unusual colours of her eyes remained etched in Sanjay’s memory.

Above all, her eyes at the moment of goodbye could never be erased.

They had been filled with tears, although every effort had been made to keep them hidden.

Sanjay’s own tears could no longer be contained.

He had entered the hotel room believing that faith in love had been destroyed by heartbreak.

But a different truth had been discovered that night.

Heartbreak had not been experienced by him alone. Pain was carried by others, too, although it was concealed in different ways. Some were hidden behind work, others behind wealth, some behind pleasure, and still others behind dreams of escaping to places where nobody could reach them.

Meenal had her own mountains to climb, even if they had never been described in those words.

Whether Sanjay’s words had caused her to reconsider her life would never be known. Whether peace was eventually found by her would also remain a mystery.

Yet, a better future was wished for her.

A home where safety could be felt, a life in which fear no longer dominated her decisions, and a happiness that did not require her tears to be hidden were all hoped for on her behalf.

Three months passed, and Sanjay was gradually returned to his ordinary routine. His days were occupied by work, and life continued as it always had.

Yet, from time to time, memories of Meenal were brought back to him.

Her unusual, tear-filled eyes would remind him of the night when two strangers had met, their deepest wounds had been shared, and their own reflections had briefly been recognised in each other.

He had gone there searching for pleasure, perhaps hoping that the love he had lost could somehow be replaced.

Instead, an unexpected truth had been discovered.

Love cannot be bought, heartbreak cannot be erased in a single night, and loneliness cannot always be silenced by pleasure.

Sometimes, understanding is all that is needed, without judgement being passed.

Sometimes, a reminder is needed that, despite everything that has happened, our humanity has not been lost.

Perhaps that was what had happened that night.

An escape had been sought.

A reflection of himself had been found.

And somewhere between the silence of a hotel room and the dream of distant mountains, the beginning of a journey towards peace had been discovered.

It had finally been understood that peace does not always begin with an escape.

Sometimes, it begins when the pain that has been hidden for so long is finally allowed to be felt.