'Shetty had booked them into a resort called River View (‘A Treat of a Retreat’). It had a swimming pool and a waterfall and offered a buffet of delicacies like pulao and mutton curry, golgappas and fountains of fresh, flavoured lassi.
Leela would have been happy to be a tourist, her camera slung around her neck. She had no need, she said, to dance to the loud Bollywood music a DJ in a bandana and shades was spinning, to stand under the waterfall in her new swimsuit and black lace leggings, to mirror the couples entwined in the pool—their love, their lust, a tangible thing it was only natural to want for oneself.
She could be haappy, in a quiet, regular way, just being with Shetty.
‘If he’d only sat beside me . . .’ Leela sighed. ‘But he was happy with his blue films and beer.’ ...'
Do read this exclusive excerpt from my new book, Beautiful Thing, available in print in Lounge, the wonderful Saturday newspaper from Mint/Wall Street Journal, India, this Saturday, October 23.
The photo above was taken by the very talented Bombay photographer Akshay Mahajan. It isn't a photo of Leela; but this and the other photos printed with the article were inspired by the text. For more photographs inspired by the text from another great talent (and Bombay boy), photographer Sanjiv Valsan, please visit the 'Extras' section of my new website.
And lastly, not to be pushy, but have you bought the book yet (At a discount with free shipping thrown in, oh my!)
And lastly, not to be pushy, but have you bought the book yet (At a discount with free shipping thrown in, oh my!)
2 comments:
very nice, will look for it.
Breathtaking. Congratulations. Will see you at your Bombay launch on October 27.
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