I thought I was taking a risk- but that proved "An accident for jolly good time and a genuine friendship and nothing but friendship"
This week's post topic prompts by 
This was during my posting as a probationary officer at the regional headquarters in Belgaum, a city in Karnataka state near Goa. I was friends with this lady on Facebook. On a Thursday, I received her message in my messenger where Ann asked me to meet her at Belgaum Railway Station the next Saturday morning. I had never seen her, but I believed she was 30 something, married and working in the corporate sector.
I messaged her back and asked for her phone number, which she gave promptly. I called her back and asked what the matter was. Bring your car to the station and a few clothes because we're going to spend the weekend in Goa. "You will be my guest." Ann said.
I was wondering if it would be okay to spend a weekend with a stranger in Goa. But I met her at the train station the next day. Meanwhile, she had asked me to receive her at the exit near the reservation center. I saw her and liked what I saw. She was a beautiful woman, about 28 years old, in a blue shirt and jeans.
She asked for my car keys and sat in the driver's seat. I thought I was accompanied by a young, bold woman who had brought me along for a three-day outing. Of course, we already knew each other on Facebook, but I had never even seen her picture before today.
We reached Panaji. I pulled out my phone to check hotels, but by the time I could even begin searching, we were in the lobby of Hotel Ashoka. She had done her planning well.
As soon as the room service staff left, she hugged me again and said, "The sitting room is mine, and the master bedroom is yours, so we stay in the same room but away from each other."
I asked, "Will you explain the meaning of this 'away' phrase?"
"Simple, if you become weak, then I will take care of you, and if I become weak, then you have to take care of me."
That’s when I held her by both shoulders and looked into her eyes and asked, "And if we both become weak?"
She pressed my shoulders in response, "You are a man, but why don’t you say, what if both of us remain strong?"
I had no idea why she had chosen on me for this two-day trip. I didn’t know what was on her mind. So I asked her, "Why did you pick me for this trip?"
She said, "I was in Bangalore for a meeting when I suddenly thought about you and made this program. I just wanted to see this place with you, nothing else."
She then 'took me by the hand and brought me to the sofa. She was looking into my eyes and said, "Ray, I have not come here to become weak." She further said, "You are the only one on my entire friends’ list who has never crossed the limit; otherwise, social media is full of cheap people."
We were soon on the beach. It had been two hours, and she didn’t feel like coming out of the water. We had a lot of fun in the water. It didn’t look like we had met for the first time only hours ago. Both of us were still in our swimming suits. She looked thrilled as she ordered beer for both of us.
At eight in the evening, we came back to our room. After taking a bath, I asked her to go to sleep in the bedroom. But she did not listen to me and took me by my hand and brought me to the bedroom and pushed me onto the bed.
We were too close at that moment, so close we could hear the sound of each other's breathing. I could smell the fragrance of her body. One good thing was that I kept myself in control. Any action of mine could put an end to this wonderful relationship.
I stopped that from happening at that very moment.
The next evening was beautiful. We walked barefooted on the sand. Then we sat on the beach. It was a very romantic atmosphere. My hand was in her hand. Music was playing in the background, it was like she and I were in a wonderland. She had moved her chair closer to mine so that she could whisper in my ears.
I was now feeling the influence of scotch and the romantic atmosphere on me. I held her hand. We talked little but just felt each other’s presence. We had finished eating, but then who cares about eating food in such an environment?
Ann patted my shoulder and said, "Let’s go."
But I don't know what happened. I was lying on the sand.
Next morning...
Suddenly, I woke up. My head was heavy. I looked out of the window. I tried to remember what happened or how I came back into the room. I only remember that she had brought me to the room.
I sat down and thought, "You are amazing. I love you. Ann, I need you. But no, I don’t want to be weak. " I drank a glass of water. I got up and went to Ann's room. The night lamp was on. She was sleeping in her bed. I didn’t know why. Was I drunk? Oh, I can’t live without you, Ann. What am I doing? But, Ann, you’re weaving one spell after another to weaken me. I sat on the ground beside Ann’s bed. I extended my hand and Ann woke up before I could even touch her. She guided me to my bedroom without saying a word and made me lie down.
I felt the soft touch of her hand on my forehead when I woke up the next morning. I looked at Ann. She said, "good morning" with a smile. She gave me a cup of tea and asked, "How was the night?" Her tone reminded me of my actions last night. I felt ashamed of what I did last night in a drunken state. 'Was that an accident', I thought, 'or had I become weak?' She later accepted that even she had a few weak moments but manage to control herself.
Thank God, that accident didn't happen, but that was close. All's well that ends well, she is still on the list of my best friends and we often talk with each other. Even my GF knows all about her.
Note: I have changed her real name.
Images from my phone