"I hope you're a nightbird like me," Sushmita says. "Because it's going to be a long night." We are sitting in the lobby of Hotel Horizon and her strapless blood red gown is almost the shade of my cheeks. "lt's okay," I tell her. "I can't think of a better way to spend a Saturday night than with Sushmita Sen." She laughs one of those perfected laughs more than a giggle, less than a cackle that she's laughed so many thousands of times in the last two years a laughter which can convey pure joy, carefree innocence and 'please buy Coca Cola' all in one. I keep my look on her face because if I look any lower I'm afraid of what I may see. And we talk. The lighting is warm yellow and the night is young. And for a few moments l feel the Universe stop in her echoing laughter.
The yellow halogens swim overhead like nighttime trees. From the backseat I can barely see Sushmita's profile mouthing the words:| Member of the Internet Link Exchange | Free Home Pages at GeoCities |