08-06-2020, 11:45 PM
Kemala’s opinions of bathrooms evolved since departing Bali. Any modesty she may have had was obliterated by living beneath the volcano in the domain of the Nagaraja. Dripping streams became a shower and rocky puddles were baths. Bathing was a holy act, and Kemala treated the cleansing with reverence. As soon as her journey across Asia began, she was quickly oriented to strange customs.
Thus, when she exited the hostel’s female bathroom, towel wrapped tight around her shoulders, she quizzically noted the extra doorway leading to a steam room. While she looked forward to the hot springs with Thalia, sitting in humid-filled closet with strangers was a terrible idea.
She started to walk away from the door when a swat fell across her backside. With a gasp, she turned to find an older male with a big gut and loosely tied towel around his waist. “Move on or get out of the way,” he bumbled in a thick accent. Skin still throbbing from the smack, she struck like a snake, grabbed his wrist and twisted the flabby arm.
She tip-toed his bodyweight against him across the hall before releasing him. “Next time, say 'excuse me',” she said, sweeping an arm at the empty space behind her. He swore under his breath as he rubbed his wrist like she’d permanently hurt him. With a sniff, Kemala departed to get dressed. This was why she hated hostels.
Thus, when she exited the hostel’s female bathroom, towel wrapped tight around her shoulders, she quizzically noted the extra doorway leading to a steam room. While she looked forward to the hot springs with Thalia, sitting in humid-filled closet with strangers was a terrible idea.
She started to walk away from the door when a swat fell across her backside. With a gasp, she turned to find an older male with a big gut and loosely tied towel around his waist. “Move on or get out of the way,” he bumbled in a thick accent. Skin still throbbing from the smack, she struck like a snake, grabbed his wrist and twisted the flabby arm.
She tip-toed his bodyweight against him across the hall before releasing him. “Next time, say 'excuse me',” she said, sweeping an arm at the empty space behind her. He swore under his breath as he rubbed his wrist like she’d permanently hurt him. With a sniff, Kemala departed to get dressed. This was why she hated hostels.