Shooting A Calendar !

Lawrence had primed their Indian hosts to act the part of charity bosses in front of Debbi. They were picked up the following morning by Sunil and Majid, two thirty somethings who spoke impeccable English. The car had air conditioning. It was explained that if they thought Mumbai was hot, it was nothing compared to how it would be inland where they were headed for the shoot. From the cosmopolitan 21st century streets of the city, they found themselves on chaotic and crowded roads with daredevil lorry drivers mixing with cyclists and everyone occasionally stopping for a cow. Debbi found it all intensely interesting but was relieved when the traffic began to thin out after a couple of hours and the landscape became distinctly more rural. She could not say it was beautiful, a baking featureless plain. But Sunil explained that this was the kind of terrain where the water supply problem was most intense and hence where they needed to shoot.

Sunil and Majid were playing their roles to perfection, criticising multi-nationals, British colonial rule, the Indian caste system and everything that played into creating the huge disparity in wealth in modern India. Debbi was hugely sympathetic and on board with the cause. After three hours and at the height of the midday sun, they arrived at a scruffy village where Sunil had family connections. The car was immediately surrounded by urchins. The plan was to be here two or three days, depending on how Lawrence's shoot went. They would have a room in the only halfway presentable house in the village, that belonging to Sunil's relations.

As they stepped out of the air conditioned car, it was like stepping into an oven ! "It's too hot to begin for another couple of hours" said Majid. "We'll eat and get re-hydrated. We're in the only house with running water" he emphasised, staying on theme. After a quick meal and while Debbi rested, Lawrence took a stroll with Sunil to scout locations. "I'll try to get these supposed calendar shots out of the way quickly. There'll be out takes from those anyway that we'll both be able to use. Then at some point tomorrow we can get onto your stuff after I've softened her up. You and Majid have really helped already with all the political sob stories !" said Lawrence. "Well, there is some truth it in all too" Sunil replied. "Can you do something about the kids ?" Lawrence gestured at those scampering around them. "Majid and I will keep them and the locals at a bit of a distance but they will all be peering at her. She'll have to get used to it. Some of them know they'll be needed to be in shot with her tomorrow too."

Debbi was dismayed when told there would likely be a village audience while she posed but Lawrence joshed with her that there wasn't much entertainment for the villagers and that showbiz wasn't all glamour ! Debbi shrugged it off and regained her high spirits. "It's probably best to undress and leave our things here gorgeous and then wear a robe out that you can put back on between shots" said Lawrence. This made sense to Debbi. By now, Sunil had told most of the villagers what was going on. Debbi was quite respectable in a long silk robe. The main focus for today's shots was going to be the village trough and water pump.

There was a stir among the villagers as Debbi finally took off her robe but Sunil kept them at arms length and Debbi tried to shut it from her mind and concentrate on the task in hand. Lawrence barked orders, not quite as playful as at the boudoir session but then this was business. He contrived various shots where the pump handle obscured Debbi's nipples, an arm holding a bucket shielded her crotch, she crouched behind livestock drinking from the trough and so on. All the usual calendar tricks. Of course, along the way he got several surreptitious photos where it was all on show too ! "Do you mind if we show your bare bum in a couple of the months Deb ?" he asked her. "That's rude" she giggled but soon acquiesced. "Hold the empty bucket on your head and turn your back to me" Lawrence instructed. He also talked her into posing half turned, leading a goat to the trough, bum on display with her arm covering her nipple but showing side boob. This is all going to make a very saleable calendar, he thought, even if it is just a by product !