22 Two Wishes

We were standing in front of a villa called 'Ant Hill'. Why would someone name a building which wasn't commercial? Did the residents always screamed the house's building when the walked through the front door?

This building was like a fortress. It contrasted its dark exterior from brightly lit street of Kathmandu. It seemed like a demon's castle in between a busy downtown.

I guess it did seem fantastic, that's why I was using fantasy as a metric.

Madonna was talking to a shopkeeper. I saw her slipping some money to him, followed by both of them looking at me.

Was Madonna going to sell me off?

I chuckled myself on the thought. But it froze my feet on the spot.

What was that chilling tingle in my spine? Why this feeling again. I turned my head immediately towards Mad's direction.

I'm safe, right?

She came next to me and handed me a metallic object wrapped in newspaper. I tried to unwrap it but she held my hands.

"No, don't do it unless you have to. Put it in your handbag."

"What is it for?"

"Self defense." She said.

"Why do we need this?"

"Trust me. It's easy to enter this building. But once you're in, its her labyrinth. Why do you think she named the most flamboyant building in all of Nepal 'Ant Hill'? its because it makes her the queen ant. Anybody else who enters her premise is just a worker ant."

"But why not call it something like BeeHive then? Bees also have similar social structure, right?"

"Assaulting a beehive will reap one honey. Attacking an anthill will get you nothing but pain."

Madonna explained the logic that I was better off not knowing.

"Mad, how long are we going to stay outside then?" I asked.

"Not much now. Keep your handbag on you at all times, okay."

Saying that, she held my hand and we walked towards the front gate.

We were walking down the dimly lit corridor. It was uncomfortable to say the least. Mad was still holding my hand and that single contact with her gave me all the strength I needed.

We walked for almost forty meters before we encountered a door. Mad pushed it open and the bright lights on the other side blinded me momentarily. I flinched and opened my eyes to see a big room illuminated with various LED lights. There was a bar with almost endless amount of liquor in it, lit up by orange LEDs. The dinner table had blue lights around it. The couch was pretty well lit through the fire in fireplace. However, nobody was in the room.

"Kyo, take me to the bar. I want to have a drink."

"Are you sure?"

We started walking towards the bar when the middle section of the bar started rotating. The shelves and the liquor were replaced by the host with even more amount of liquor behind her. She was wearing her hijab, but her body was covered with a see-through night gown. Her all black lingerie was in complete exposure. She was sipping on her champagne while smiling at us. Her body showed more features as we walked towards the bar. Her bra was not able to accommodate her plump chest. Her panties were pulled up to her waist, which I could not help but gawk at.

What did she smell like? I wondered.

How soft is her skin? I imagined.

I didn't know if I was walking towards the bar to get Madonna a drink or towards Amaan to sip on her champagne.

We finally reached the bar stools and I helped Madonna to sit on it. I took a seat next to her, and maybe my eyes played tricks, but I thought Amaan winked at me.

I took a closer look at her face and noticed that her smile was very beautiful.

Her sharp eyes pierced through my standards of 'SEXY'.

Her plump cheeks were white as snow.

How is it possible that I was able to look at a person more clearly in dim lights?!

Amaan put her glass on the bar and rubbed her hands together.

"So, Ladies, what would you like to drink?" She looked at Mad and said," Madonna, regular for you?"

"No, I'll have Old Monk" Madonna answered.

She turned to me," And you, Miss?"

"I, uh- Blue Label, please?"

She narrowed her eyes, took another glance at my face and broadly smiled," Ooh, feisty." She turns to Mad and says," Madonna, your girlfriend has some exquisite tastes." She turns back to me and says," Sorry, honey. The professor's job doesn't pay well enough for me to afford that kind of luxuries."

It can afford a dungeon like this, but it can't afford an overpriced beverage?

"Well then, I'll have some- "

She cut me off and said, "No, have some ambition and stick with it. Never go for a substitute when you have your eyes set to the top. You need to fight and hold your stance until your wish is granted."

Where is this exposition coming from?

Did I hear trumpets going off behind her?

I was confused over the confusing piece of education Amaan had thrown my way, so I decided to pay in kind.

"Do you want me to stay thirsty, fight you over a drink, or whine until you buy me a glass of whiskey?"

Amaan and Mad look at my confused look and burst out laughing. They spray their hands over the bar and continue laughing hysterically. I didn't realize but I was laughing too.

After a hearty laugh, Amaan pressed a button on her side of the bar and her background spun once more. While rotating, something caught my eye.

"Ms. Habib, if you don't mind me asking, is that your bedroom behind this bar?"

"Yes, Ms. Kiyomi. I like to keep the better spirits for my personal use, as well as anyone who is a guest inside." After a pause she continued," Now that the secret is out, you may ask for any kind of liquor. I'm sure I'll have it." She stirred her glass of champagne and emptied the rest of it in one gulp.

"You see, Ms. Kiyomi, I'm a woman of taste myself."

My eyes were stuck to her.

What was I looking at? Her face? Her body?

I pulled my gaze away from her and peeked at the collection of liquor behind her.

I knew it was a superb collection, because I wasn't familiar with even half of the brands available. I stuck with Blue Label, and received my glass filled with whiskey.

As I was sipping my beverage away, Mad diverted our attention to the matter at hand.

"Amaan, I'm here to apologize. And for a request. I hope you can indulge in it with us."

"Yes."

"I'm sorry?"

Amaan pulled a whiskey glass from behind her and started pouring herself some Chivas Regal. She spoke as she was turned, "I say yes to everything you have to say. You want my forgiveness? Yes, I forgive you. You want a wish granted? Yes, I'll do that. You want me to be your sugar mama? Don't tell the neighbours, and we can work something out."

Mad slammed her fists on the marble.

"Goddamnit Amaan. I'm serious."

"So am I, darling." She said while she swung back towards us. "But you have to understand, everything has a price."

Mad and me were looking at her. my eyes were filled with curiosity, but Mad's eyes were filled with dread.

"What do you want?" Mad asked.

"How much does your wife knows?" Amaan answered with a question.

Madonna fell silent.

Amaan lifted her left hand and raised her first two fingers, "Two wishes. Grant two wishes of mine, and I'll grant any number of wishes of yours."

Madonna looked into her eyes. This time they were filled with hopelessness.

"What do you want?"

"Number One. We will tell the story together. in continuity. Isn't Miss Kiyomi curious why you came here in my mansion? To answer all her bubbling questions, you will go to Pokhara, fetch Mr. Brad Witman, and come to my place.

Number Two. Take all the time you need to heal yourself. Because you will be making this journey alone. I want Miss Kiyomi to accompany me for the time you are gone."

The last statement came as a shock to me. I looked at Mad's face.

She seemed defeated.

Amaan finished her drink and clapped her hands together. Squinting her eyes and broadening her already bright smile, she said," Now, I'm off for some dinner. It's Italian tonight. Feel free to join me, or else, you know where the exit is."

She came out of the side of the bar and went behind it. I could hear her going up the stairs.

Suddenly, it was all quite again.