Finding Solace

Chapter 3 - Mumbai Mumbai

Okay, so as much as I can defend India there is one aspect within the country that without a doubt can not be defended.

The airports!

It's all hustle and bustle, with a foul stench in the air.

It's everyone rushing around with bags all over, on their heads, carried on their backs.

It was just crazy and sad all at the same time.

Fayaaz's voice snapped me out of my daydream. 'Attiya. This is crazy!'

I bit my lip and tried not to look at him, because he was right. What was I thinking?

Dragging someone I barely knew, who I had just gotten married to, to one of the busiest cities in the world that requires the most amount of patience!

I was definitely not thinking when I made this decision! I exhaled slowly and turned to look at him giving him a sad smile, apologising for what seemed like the hundredth time.

'I'm sorry Fayaaz. I know its crowded and that it smells and that there's all this chaos, but can we just get our bags, not get trampled over, and get to the hotel?' I said it all in an unwavering voice.

My confidence seemed to have shocked Fayaaz.

I had been very timid all this time and now I was just scared that maybe I over stepped a line. I thought he would be cold towards me after this, but he just shrugged his shoulders and made his way towards the baggage carousel.

After hauling our bags onto a trolley, we went in search of the hotel car that was meant to pick us up. The chauffeur was dressed in a tux and black hat, like he was from another decade.

Fayaaz had made the hotel bookings for our trip, so I was kept in suspense as we drove to wherever we were going. I really hoped it was a nice hotel.

The car stopped and when I looked out the car window, I was greeted with the sight of the ever so luxurious Taj Mahal Palace. I was absolutely over the moon!

In my opinion, this was by far the prettiest hotel in India.

I had never stayed here in the past, so hopefully the honeymoon would be all the more special.

It was stunning on the outside, stunning on the inside, but as soon as you stepped out of the hotel, you were in the heart of the area so you didn't lose the culture of India!

I was so happy that as soon as we got out the car I threw my arms around Fayaaz.

'I'm guessing you're happy with the choice of accommodation?' I was still hugging him, but I could feel him smiling into my shoulder.

'Happy? I am OVER THE MOON! This place is beyond beautiful Fayaaz. Thank you.'

We walked hand in hand into The Taj Mahal Palace lobby. I admired the interior and everything about the hotel while Fayaaz checked us in.

I glanced through a few leaflets the hotel had on display, advising guests where to go and what to do in Mumbai, but I didn't need the advice.

Though our honeymoon was two weeks long, I already had an itinerary planned in my mind.

Spend as much time as I could getting to know Fayaaz.

Shop. Sightsee a little bit, oh and EAT, hopefully without getting food poisoning.

But what Fayaaz didn't know was that I had something special planned for us that required a plane trip to a city that wasn't too far away. I was just hoping he wouldn't be mad about the surprise.