S-"So which ride u wanna go on?"
K-"That one!"
K points to this:-
A HUGEEEEE giant wheel. It didn't have 4 seats like this one, just 2 and they too were on the same side ?. So if one tilts just a little in the front, the entire trolley rocks dangerously.. Although it has a safety rod.. Ppl who aren't so comfortable with heights don't prefer this ride?? And Sujal Didn't Prefer It?.
S-"That one??!! Are u sure.. It seems too.. too"
k-"Yes!! Positive. Imagine what a view it must be having at the top.. It is soo tall.. I can't wait to get there, c'mon!"
S and K both sat in the trolley and S gripped the safety bar tight. His knuckles turning white. K looked around like a busy, little, pesky bird; unable to sit still in her place.
S-"Quit squirming wouldya!? It's dangerous!"
K looks at Sujal carefully, he seemed kind of pale and stiff? He couldn't be.. He is always so courageous.. No, no, it's not possible I am just imagining this?
K leaned a bit to get a better view of the circus lights (now their trolley was in the hour hand position of 9'o' clock).
S-"I said stop it!! Sit still!"
K stares at S again? No I am definitely not imagining this! He actually is scared!!! Mr. high and mighty lawyer is actually scarred out of his skin!!!! Wow! What an eye opener?
K-"Umm Sujal, if u r so afraid, then why did u come?"
S(barring his teeth at her)-"I am not afraid! I just don't trust this rickety old iron trolley to hold both our weights, so just sit still and stop rocking it!!"
K-"So u r afraid of heights?."
S(eyes closed now)-"Am not!"
K(amused, teasing tone)-"Well then why don't u open ur eyes and see the pretty city lights?"
Damm her... if this thing wasn't so rickety I really wouldn't b so afraid.. why do they have to make this darn thing so huge?? Damm them all!!
S-"I am fine stop bugging me!!"
He looks so adorably handsome and cute!!! How cud any1 look both at the same time? That's him, he can?? I must be careful not to drool over him.
K whispering softly-"Sujal?"
S(gripping the railing tighter)-"WHAT!!!??? Cant u just sit-"
Sujal felt something soft touching the edge of his lips suddenly.. He opened his eyes just a little to see what it was and realized that K's face was in front of her and she was staring at him.
Sujal slammed his eyes shut again. If this is a dream in which kashish is kissing me then I don't wanna wake up ever.
In wild unstoppable impulse just to get close to him, ease his anxiety, smoothen that line of tension from b/w his eyes Kashish leaned towards him a bit and placed her lips at the edge of his.
She kissed him with her eyes staring at the transforming expressions of his face. She had never been so close to him? Close enough to inhale his heady aftershave, which emptied her brain of all thoughts... Close enough to see a small scar just above his left eye, it was covered by his brow.. She hadn't known about it before.. She also hadn't know the sheer, pure, sensual pleasure of just being so close to him, of feeling his breath on her face and hearing two wild well matched heartbeats?
Kashish finally closed eyes to savor the moment and capture the image of his face in some deep recess of her mind forever. We will never be like this again. But one day when I am old, I'll remember his face like this and feel no regrets?
Sujal was defiantly sure this was dream. A wild, crazy, sweet dream. He was having this dream right now as a compensation for his nightmares. But it felt so real. Her soft lips felt so real. Her scent was real. The pressure of her hand on his shoulder was real.
I have to know if it's a reality. Sujal opened his eyes to see kashish face in front of his. Her eyes closed and serene happiness on her face.
It can't be true!!! Sujal let go of the safety rod with one hand and slowly moved it over to hold her waist.
That defiantly felt real. The presence of her warm, narrow waste was too strong to be rejected as a part of dream. Sujal closed his eyes and turned his head slightly so that he cud kiss her properly and not just feel her lips touching his.
Just then kashish retreated and sat back in her place. The first rotation was coming to an end, and they were barely 10 feet above the ground, every1 wud be watching and if she didn't break away now, she had no idea where this ride wud take the two of them to? It wud be better for both of us to get off now.
Sujal was so confused at her sudden movement that he again had serious doubts about him hallucinating.
They both got of thee wheel then and s looked at kashish closely. Only her expressions cud tell if anything had happened on the ride or not?
K(chattering to hide her blush and to pretend as if nothing unusual had happened)-"Wow the view at the top was a beauty(that's right nothing as beautiful and as mesmerizing as ur face up close)?? But u kept ur eyes closed and didn't see anything"
S-"Aah.. Yah.. The trolley was in a real bad condition. I feared that v both might fall from it."
K(Pinching Sujal's cheek)-"Oh Sujal u are such a cute scardy cat"(giggle)
S-"I am so not. Stop it!" dodging K's hand.
K-"Are too"
S-"Am not"
K-"Are too"
S-"Kashish, I said I am not. Stop it."
K(dolefully)-"Ok. Ok. Fine u don't wanna admit it, its fine.. Ur disagreeing doesn't change the truth"
S-"Kashish I am warning u to sto-"
K(changing topic instantly)-"So what shud we do next?"
S-"U pick."
She suddenly looks so happy and excited as if she has just won an Olympic medal. I don't know what happened up there. Which part was real, which was a part of my fantasy? But I sure am glad that I sat on that damnable thing?. Sujal thought and smiled at K
Kashish was astounded herself at what she had done. Where did I get that courage from? What if he says anything about it? What wud I say. Most importantly why d hell did I do it???? I guess, I was jus trying some distraction psychology. Yes that seems a valid logical reason.
Next S & K went to satisfy their hungered stomachs and Sujal not risking a repeat of the candy incident for the sake of his growling stomach, brought 2 pieces of everything.
K with her mouth half full of food suddenly started jumping and swallowed her food in a hurry-"Sujal look!!!! Look! Over there! A snake charmer!!!"
S(calmly)-"Yeh.. so?"
k-"He's got a real snake look! Lets go and check it out! I think he's got a python!!! C'mon hurry up!"
K dragged Sujal and made him discard his half eaten hot dog.
K-"Is ur snake a python?"
Snake Charmer-"Yes it is. U interested in snakes, beautiful miss?"
S?'Beautiful Miss'?? This is my date back off!
S(stepping close to her)-"Yes she has some vague interest."
K-"Actually I once did a short course on their types, poison and remedies for snake bite."
S?It's official now. Kashish has weird interests and I don't have the vaguest idea abt 'em and I am still intrigued by her.
Snake charmer got up from his place the huge python coiled around his body. He was a young man of abt 24-26. With rugged gypsy look, ears pierced a various points and a strong built, he had sort of an animal magnetism on him. Unlike other people of his gang, he was clean shaven and bathed.
Basically which an image which was bothering Sujal and made him feel threatened in his own territory.
Snake Charmer-"Wow! In this gruesome era of ignorance, it's such a virtuous fortune to meet a real Cleopatra.(Gracefully bows in front of K). Your humble servant- Leonid Danilovich, or if the lady prefers just Leo.(A dashing smile, with dimpled cheeks accompanied the last line)"
Kashish giggled at the blatant flirting. And couldn't stop from smiling back at him.
While sujal frowned. He didn't much liking for this Leo- lepricon, smooth talking guy. Why his nose even pinched from this snaki boy's revolting, rotten smell. Can't she smell it too?
K-"Nice to meet u Leo, I am no Cleopatra. So where did u catch this snake from."
Leo-"Ah! U r too modest.. Or u haven't as yet met men who have eyes.(glancing slyly at S)"
S-"Hey why don't u just ans her ques."
K looked at sujal?. what's with him? Why is he giving Leo a menacing look. He is weird. I know he just can't be jealous over me.. then why?
Leo smirked slightly at sujal-"Our band moved through Africa once when I was 15. We encountered a lot of wild animals and tribals in Zaire. There one day, our chief, my father(with pride) got bitten by a snake and I pledged to find it and kill it. I killed that black mamba(the most poisonous snake) with my bare hands and found this little thing fighting with it. I brought it back with me and have been studying abt snakes since."
K-"Oh that was awfully courageous of u. To kill a black mamba at just 15 yrs of age."
S-"It was wonderfully stupid to"
K nudges Sujal a bit with her elbow and whispers to him-"Why r behaving like a jerk?"
Leo-"It was for honor and then anyways I had to prove my manhood"
Sujal crossed his arms and continued frowning angrily at Leo.
K-"Can I touch it? Does it have a name?"
Leo-"Touch!? Oh no! That wud be an insult to u and my snake- D'ordinaire? u must hold him completely my lady. That wud be the only way to do full justice to both ur dignities."
S-"I think a touch wud be just fine"
Leo-"Utter nonsense"
K-"Sujal I wanna hold it. I know I'll never get such a chance ever again in my life"
Leo stepped forward and carefully started draping the python around k. He covered her shoulders and her arms with the coldblooded crawler.. While Sujal watched helplessly
K-"So how did u remove its fangs?"
Leo-"I didn't"
S-"WHAT!!?? Are u mad? What if it bites her? U fool!! U crazy fre-"
Leo coldly ?"Please remain calm or u will agitate D'ordinaire. It's difficult to explain this to a suburban man like u. But Miss u see, we gypsies never strip any living being of their dignity. Either we kill them or learn to adjust with them, but never do we try to turn them into our slaves."
K-"Its ok Leo I understand. Wow it's so big and beautiful. "
S?What a bucket full of crap. That thing stinks.
S-"And dangerous why don't u take it off her now, snake boy."
K-"Oh! Wait! I want a pic. Sujal please wud u? Leo here stand next to me please."
Sujal pursed his lips in unbelievable surprise. He quickly took their pic as he particularly didn't like the way that snake boy was standing near her. That young, loud, whipper-snapper is standing too close to kashish. Maybe I cud put him in jail for cruelty on animals?.
K-"Thanks Sujal. U wanna hold d'ordinaire?"
S-"I think I'll pas-"
Leo-"I don't think D'ordinaire wud be comfortable near a person who doesn't respect it. No offence miss."
K(a bit sad)-"Oh.. Ok. Well then I guess we shud move now(dropping some money in Leo's hat, half filled with coins). See u next year Leo. U wud be here right?"
Leo-"I believe that such chance meeting happen only once miss?. Me being a gypsy, cannot make any promises of my whereabouts?"
S-"That's perfectly ok.(satisfactory, contented smile) C'mon we shud hurry now.." holding K's hand and dragging her away.
K-"Wait Sujal.(jerking her hand away, turning to Leo)I understand. It was a pleasure meeting u and D'ordinaire. Thank you for letting me hold him"
Leo made a graceful bow and kissed Kashish's hand in a regal manner.
Leo-"The pleasure is all mine."
Sujal's lips thinned into a line and the sides of his mouth grew white, his teeth clenched automatically along with his fist. One more word and this snake boy wud truly wish he never came back from Africa.
K nodded at Leo and laughed-"Mr. Leonid u have a way with women. I wonder how ur wife handles it."
S?Married??? Now why didn't she tell me that b4? Here I was making plans to get convicted for a 1st degree murder.
Leo gave a distraught smile-"And from where did my Cleopatra get such an idea of my being married from?"
S?He is not??!! Pity, he wud die a bachelor(cracking his knuckles)
K-"Well u are the band leader and u r around 25. If my knowledge is correct u should have been married atleast 4 yrs. ago with 2 kids sleeping safely in ur caravan right now."
Leo-"I see that nothing is hidden from u. My wonderful wife understands that I have to be like this for business. She doesn't mind and acts as my pillar of strength."
s-"I wonder what ur wife does when some accompanying man punches ur nose for ur flirting.."
Leo-"U shud consider urself lucky sir; for being with such a woman and for being in my good books. Coz gypsy women know some terrible ancient magic, which they do not hesitate to practice from time to time in order to protect their family."
K (hurriedly)-"Well that's an interesting fact to know. C'mon lets go sujal. Bye Leo."
K dragged away s from Leo and his snake. She was not superstitious; neither did she believe in black magic. Yet Leo's warning had made her worried. She didn't wanna risk anything with sujal, no matter how stupid it sounded. So decided it was best to get away from there.
K-"Why were u so rude to Leo?"
S-"I wasn't. I think I gave him all the respect which he deserved" which was nothing.
K-"U are so impossible sometimes Sujal. I don't understand u at all."
S?Same here.
K-"Well did the cat get ur tongue now? Do u know how dangerous these gypsies are?"its not about who made who look bad, u idiot! I am worried about u! I am not superstitious and neither do I believe in black magic stuff, but when it comes to u, I don't wanna take any chances. How do I get this inside ur head?
Sujal stopped and turned towards Kashish. Holding her shoulders he gives her an exasperated look.
S-"I don't want to argue with u Kashish. Can't we just not discuss about u snake charmer right now"
K-"MINE snake charmer(here he goes again!!)?? What r u getting at? Sujal this is getting really-"
"Shhhhhh"-Sujal placing a finger on her lips, taking a step closer to her.
I won't let a silly snake boy ruin my hard earned date. I'll just apologize if it ends the fight here?
S-"U enjoyed being with the snake right? I took ur pic with it too. That's all that matters for now. Ok"
K silently nodded her head in a yes. HALT! What just happened right now? How come he suddenly shifted from insulting Leo to wooing me? What in blizzards is WRONG with him?
First of all he acted as if he was jealous, which he couldn't have been. Now he says he doesn't wanna fight? On top of everything he is acting mushy with me! Maybe tonight Is partly a Dream.. That's the only way to explain it all.
S-"If u really want, I'll go and apologize to him.", removing his finger from her lips, "Would u like me to do that?"
K-"Nn..No. No, he was rude to u too?"
APLOGIZE!!!!!! My ears are defiantly ringing! He really doesn't want to fight with me and now apologize to a stranger just coz I said so!!? Why?.
S-"Maybe, he acted that way coz I was rude in the beginning?", looking deep in her eyes.
Sujal really wanted to make something out of this magical evening. It wud be an utter waste it they spend bickering over some guy with a snake dangling from his neck?.
K shook her head in denial and looked down. Unable to look back in his clear, honest eyes with her own turmoil filled ones. A turmoil which caused a tremble in her voice when said, "N.. No.. It'ss Ok?".
'Jealous' ?? Why did I think that? He wants to go and Apologize for god's sake. Which man burning up with jealous wud do that?? He is doing it probably coz he understands Leo threat or coz he cares enough for the evening and does not want to ruin it?. He was just being protective. Had any of my brothers been here with me instead of him, their behaviour wud have been more uncivilized. Here like a nave fool? I wantingly believed that he was jealous.. He Is Not. He Never Wud Be. He was just acting like good step brother or some1 like that. Definitely not like a boyfriend or lover. His calling tonight a date doesn't actually just make it one? and h has dropped ample hints for me to understand that. First the location, then the silence, then the mute acceptance of everything and finally the sincere offer for apology? He is offering nothing more than friendship through tonight's date, and I mustn't fantasize it into something slightest bit romantic.
Kashish looking away from his searching eyes-"Let's go over there.. Forget about it. U were both equally bad mannered. U don't have to go and apologize.(smiling brightly at him now) That wud be against ur basic rude personality"
Sujal a bit confused by her sudden change of mood returned her smile, spoke in a teasing, naughty tone.
S-"For u my princess I can make a few alterations there too."
Kashish giving him a semi glare broke out in giggles?.. Friendship is all he is offering and I think I'll gladly accept it. His natural flirting will always pop up at times. I'll simply have to learn to ignore it and stop taking his words that seriously.
Sujal too was happy to see kashish giggling and smiling with him without any inhibitions. I have no idea which ride, which moment, which action or which word did it. But kashish is finally opening up to me. For the first time since she has come back home from college she is comfortable around me. Thank you god I couldn't have asked u for me?Now that I am over hurdle one. I should start making a mental note of her likes and dislikes for future references.
Sujal and kashish walked through various game stalls maintaining a casual, light banter between them.
As they walked kashish paused for a sec and then started walking as if nothing at all was wrong with the whole world. Sujal who was secretly noticing her every movement with an hawk's eye, stopped and asked-
"What's the matter?"
K very much surprised that he noticed her slight hesitation went for a quick cover up-"what? Which matter?"
S (wagging a finger in front of her)-"U want to go somewhere, but u are suddenly too shy to ask. So don't pretend and act otherwise."
What is the matter with him. Can't he just let go? Why does he have to b so observant?
K-"Nowhere?"
S-"Don't say that. (Teasing tone which gets on her nerves)U are actually feeling shy of me.."
K-"Ohhhh! Fine! I was thinking of going for crazy cars."
S-"What? That's so childish.."
K-"Well I automatically did reject the idea then. Didn't I? So no need for the bromide", looking away with a sulk.
Sujal (pursing his lips hard, so as not to laugh on her)-"Well it's not that bad an idea either.."
Kashish looking sharply at sujal with a pulse of excitement beating on her neck-"What do u mean. We can go?"
S(grinning at kashish)-"Well it really hasn't got an age limit to it. Right?"
Kashish nodded, her eyes glimmering with kiddish joy-"Let's hurry then!"
K pulls Sujal towards the ride. They both sit in the different cars, quickly becoming a topic of discussion for some kids who were waiting in queue for the same ride. K grips the wheel of her toy car tightly and rushes forth as the engines spring life.
WHAM!!! BUMP!!! Her first big jolt- to Sujal.
Kashish laughs at his furious face. Here she was banging her car against his and he wasn't having enough leg space to direct his car in any direction.
S(shouting at K)-"Just u wait little vixen. I'll get u!!!"
CRASH!! There! I got her now!
Sujal had finally managed to bump K's car from behind so forcefully that she almost fell out of it, her hair scattering on her face in a mess.
K-"You're so gonna regret this Mr. Ferrari."
K quickly turned her car and went far a head on collision with Sujal's car. The bumped so hard that even the game control guy got a bit worried. Actually this time, all the other cars had zeroed on S and K. every one had bumped them at almost the same time.
Now it was S & K against all the other kids present.
If Kashish got the front then Sujal would crash the rear of the same car. Both wud come and attack at the same time with great coordination of professionals. Soon it was a very bumpy-grumpy, crazy cars ultimate battle round, full of curses and swears. Freaking out the game control guy even more. All the cars wud defiantly need servicing after this round. CRASH!!!!
This time sujal got ambushed by 3 other teenagers. They drove his car too a corner and made it impossible to get out of there. Kashish in the middle of thrashing a 9 year olds car shouted angrily at Sujal to get out of the fix and come over to help her. But Sujal was unable to back his car and get out of there. B4 any more harm could be done to the cars, the round got over and the guy at controlled begged every1 especially Sujal and Kashish to never come again.
But the two were to busy splitting their sides from laughter to actually hear a word.
Sujal couldn't remember the last time he had so much freedom and fun of crashing and banging into things. Sometimes it just feels good to be wild and out of control.
Wiping the water from her eyes and straightening her hair out of tangles Kashish lightly hit sujal on his arm-"Why didn't u get out of the corner during the end?"
S-"I couldn't. That girl with pigtails had me grounded there."
Kashish in a very serious tone, the type a 11 year old team leader takes when her team losses in match-"Don't make excuses. That wimp of a kid couldn't jam u there. U are just a lame driver.. And had u listened to my instructions, u wud have out of that spot in a jiffy."(frowning and cringing her nose)
Sujal looked at her wide eyed?man she is so serious about such a little thing. It's not as if I lost grand prix.. I guess this is her competitive side. So she was like this from her childhood only?
Hmmmm she is frowning again, that means looking super cute again and that means me wanting to kiss her nose again, specially with her hair blowing her face like that?.<sigh> An action which wud nullify all the gains of 2nite.
Sujal stared at K while she delivered her spirited speech and then unable to control his heart any more cupped her face and kissed her nose.
Muah!
Now Kashish stared at Sujal in complete shock. Quickly then, Sujal hooking his elbow around her neck, pulled her and ruffled her just straightened hair, in a 'buddy-buddy' manner. A cover up for his impetuous kiss.
S-"Don't worry Miss Schumacher, u can train me well and next time those skinny, little, rascals wud regret even buying tickets for the game. Ok?"
K regaining a bit of her maturity -"No. That training won't be of any use. The ride owner won't let us inside the game again"<<<<<<Oops!!! did I say maturity. I meant her mature, logical appearance and voice. Not her thinking..>>>>>>
sujal laughed in his deep voice, which made slight crow feet near his eyes. He ruffled her hair again (I have got to keep my hands to my self, They are getting to much outa control) ?"U know what? I don't remember the last time I laughed so hard."
K (smiling widely)-"Yeh.. It was superb. I always like coming to carnivals and fates.. When we were young, mom wud bring all 4 of us here. Sam and Sid bhai wud always act reluctant in the beginning but wud disappear into stalls as soon as we arrived. Nick wud always grumble when mom insisted on making me sit with him in crazy cars?"
S glanced at k with a look of deep longing in his eyes-"That wud have been so much fun. All 4 of u together with ur mom.."
K(sighing)-"Yes it was. But since mom passed away, it all ended. Our family outings, picnics, having movies or drives together.. All of it"
They were standing near a railing now, watching some fire conjurers perform various acts. Sujal placed his hand on top of K's ?
"Atleast u had all those years with ur mom to cherish Kashish. And even though the outings stopped, all of u are still so much a close family. U live together, have meals together. U have still have ur dad and brothers.. now bhabhi's (sisters in law) too. They count too."
K-"I know. It's just.. Every1 grew up so suddenly when mom passed away and everything changed so suddenly.. we all became so serious, we stopped doing kiddish stuff after that.."
K felt comforted by S's words, she already knew what S was saying was right and this actually was the first time she had complained of not having a mother to any1.
K glanced at S and saw his grim, faraway sad eyes? here I am whining of having such considerate brothers and father to a guy who has none. And yet he is the one who is giving me solace. I am so pathetic.
K slipped her hand away from Sujal's and rubbed his back. He turned, masking his expressions with a smile, devoiding his eyes of all the expressions which K had already seen.
K-"U know? In all that, which happened when mom died, I was glad that u were around. U were a great support to Nick at first and to dad later. U brought back a little color to all our lives after mom's death."
Kashish looked away then, at the fire conjurers.. Stepping a little closer to him.
"I don't know how we wud have managed without u? You've become a part of this house, this family, as much as anyone else."
Her words were an elixir of life for Sujal. For so many years he had the yearning of having a family, calling the Sinha's his own ??. Of Belonging, living in a home not a house. He knew that in last couple of years he had achieved it all, but her sacred words 2nite had made his reality more real. Her acceptance had made the reality more complete. If some1 wud ever ask Sujal in future about the most precious words he had heard, the most magical night in his life. Then in his ans, her words wud be it and 2nite wud be it.
Thank you??. Kashishhh?. Sujal placed his arm around Kashish's shoulder and pulled her closer?.after all that u have told me 2nite princess? u have no idea what it means to me. Right now, I want to hold so very tight and close to me, I want to feel ur body perfectly molded to mine, I want to kiss ur angelic lips which had uttered such divine words. I wish right now I cud do all this instead of just putting an arm around u? But I know that I have to content my self with this only. U may still not feel what I feel for u?
Kashish slightly surprised, a whole lot delighted to feel his arm tugging her close to him, rested her head on his broad, reliable shoulders. She felt secure? protected maybe.. cared for too in his arms?..
S?Perhaps it is wise to take things slow like this. Perhaps she grew a bit vary of all the attraction b/w us the last time?. Sujal taking a deep sigh gently rubbed her shoulder and wished for the fire conjurer to show to never come to an end.
********
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