I’ve arrived in Agra safely, and from what I’ve seen so far …
From inside the taxi.
It looks as crazy and chaotic as Delhi! The train was delayed so I only got here last night.
And nearly had a panic attack because my schedule got messed up.
But I’m here and it’s really nice. No more shitholes for me … Anyway, I hope you’reOKand let me know where you end up rolling next!
AKA please write back to me.
Olivia x
‘Hmm.’ She reread the message. ‘Kiss or no kiss, kiss or no kiss.’
Does it matter?
She hovered over the send button, the kiss staring back ather like a loaded gun, when suddenly her phone started to vibrate violently in her hand.
‘Jesus Christ!’ she yelped, as the sound of her alarm rang out harshly against the cool silence of the morning. How was it time to get up already? It felt like five minutes ago that she’d started writing her message to Jacob.
Fumbling to quiet the piercing sound, Olivia hurriedly hit the send button on the email and turned off the alarm, stuffing the phone down under the covers. Now it was done, she didn’t even want to look at it, let alone hold it in her hands. Thank God today was busy; at least she’d be distracted.
Yeah, by Tracey …
The thought sent a groan of regret rippling through her body. Could she stay in bed and pretend to oversleep? No. She was certain that someone from the group, probably Tracey herself, would come up and rouse her. Why did she agree to the stupid idea in the first place? Why couldn’t she have stuck to the original plan?
‘This had better be worth it.’ She yawned, dragging herself up out of bed and throwing on some clothes.
Slowly, and a little reluctantly, Olivia grabbed her pre-packed rucksack and headed down the stairs. The sky was lightening from jet black to a deep, inky blue, and the chill in the air sent shivers down her spine.
‘Good morning,’ came a croak from the dark hallway.
‘Oh my god!’ she yelped, jumping out of her skin and practically tumbling into Peter, who was hunched over against the front door.
‘Sorry, I didn’t mean to frighten you there.’ He came forward into the half-light. ‘But at least the adrenaline will wake you up a bit. It’s an ungodly hour to be up.’
‘Where is everyone?’ Olivia scanned the space for any other sign of life.
‘I left Tracey outside doing who knows what, and Betty is still upstairs deciding which scarf to wear. Apparently it’s important for the photographs.’
‘Will it be cold out? Do you think I should get another jumper?’ Olivia asked anxiously.
‘No, no, it will warm up soon enough. But if that woman doesn’t hurry up, I swear I’ll leave without her.’
‘Excuse me!’ a sharp voice interjected from the top of the stairs. ‘That womanis here and ready to accompany her perpetually miserable husband to the Taj Mahal.’
Betty descended into the hallway, immersed in a cloud of jasmine perfume and Elnett hairspray.
‘Good morning, Olivia dear. I hope you haven’t had to wait too long with this bundle of joy. He can kill a mood quicker than a turd through a letter box.’
Olivia choked on her laugh as the old lady linked her arm.
‘All right, enough childish talk; we’ve got Tracey for that. Now, let’s get a move on,’ Peter grunted, making his way unsteadily out of the front door and into the courtyard. ‘It takes me an age to walk anywhere these days.’
‘Hello, fellow explorers,’ Tracey bellowed as they all stepped outside, her outfit just as shockingly bright and mismatched as before. ‘Are we ready to rumble?’
‘We certainly are,’ Betty bleated brightly. ‘Isn’t this exciting! I have waited all my life to see this building, and today is the day.’
