Arakshi Mini FF:~ The Only Way Out is through![Cmptd]~ 02/11/14 - Page 6

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The ^ Way out is through!

Part-8:

I like long walks, especially when they are taken by people who annoy me.

Fred Allen

Once finished eating, they went straight t the tree he mentioned and got more fruits.

The girls laughed at him as he started filling his pockets.

They suggested to fill the fruits in Sakshi's shawl (Dupatta), for Dharani was wearing a sari.

They filled them in the dupatta and knotted it into a cute bungle.

When he was about to take the package, then again they suggested to carry it in shifts, that way ever one could get their share and none will get tired.

He had to admit it too.

"Girls!"

He said and smiled.

This is not fake, right?' Sakshi thought.

They went through the woods.

Suddenly, he asked, "Do you get?"

"What?"

Dharani asked.

"The sound!" Sakshi hinted.

"The fall!" Dharani dilated her eyes.

"Yes, We've found it!"Sakshi said and the girls giggled at each other and turned to him.

They moved fast and saw the white devil, falling down from the skies and screaming aloud.

"This is where I stood and thought if I fell into it if could anyone fine the body..." she said numbly.

Sakshi took her hand and squeezed it.

It expressed her a I can understand!'

"You should be bold, Dharani! Once we found your boy friend, you should talk to your father badly, okay?"

Dharani nodded quietly.

"Right, if you guys finished promising, then we can get on with our mission!"

He reminded them.

"He is always like this! Oh, anytime, anywhere he would talk about missions and rides and bullets!"

Sakshi said, using the situation to reprimand him.

"Then what? Like you girls, can I talk about flowers and colors and lovers?"

He returned.

But both of them laughed at him.

"What?"

He asked sternly.

"See Dharani, he couldn't even think of what girls would talk about! But talking as though he knew eyerything!"

She said as though explaining Dharani the situation as though she was the one who didn't understand it correctly.

They smiled at each other.

"Can we start our journey?"

He snarled.

They obliged at once and they went before him in fact.

He could not tolerate it and moved fast and went before them.

"See, his male ego would not let him to walk behind two innocent girls!"

Shakshi teased him.

He turned to her suddenly that she had to stand back fast to avoid a bowl over.

"Oh!"

She squealed and stood.

"It s not my male ego that was pushing me from behind to go before you," he said threateningly, as Dharani thought,'What now?' oh, God! Again the situation is getting out of hand!', "But it's my duty, I think that I can't let you in danger!"

Wow! Even while fighting, he could not let her behind! What did he say?'Can't let you in danger!' This is what he said when, once she went into the water, without hearing his pleadings!

She had seen his nerves jumping once he saw that Sakshi had gone in to the river up to her hips. He suddenly stopped his mocking comments and jumped into the river, as she followed him.

She could clearly see his feelings for her.

But she did not know the reason?, but not you, right guys?

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The ^ Way out is through!

Part-9:

"Two roads diverged in a wood, and I -
I took the one less traveled by,
And that has made all the difference."
Robert Frost

She thought, Shankar and I should be like this!' she knew well that, he would have done the same to her, she realized.

She voiced her realization to Sakshi who was moving behind him, but was stealing glances once in a while.

"I got my lesson!"

She said suddenly.

Sakshi who was thinking about him could not understand which lesson.

She looked Dharani questioningly.

"I should have waited some more, at least. I know Shankar will never leave me! I should have believed in him. Now I can see the truth that it's all a drama, the girl, the marriage and everything are his plan to trap my father! Oh my God! I was foolish enough to write a letter like that and come to the forest to commit suicide! It's after all true that women do have after thought at everything!" She was bewailing without allowing Sakshi to enter in.

Now Sakshi said, "Shh... Don't say so Dharani! If he hears," she motioned towards Arjun, "He would shout at us and would think girls are mean!' and also you didn't just do that happily! Who will kill oneself happily?" she saw her in the eyes, "Of course you should have believed in him! And don't forget your boy friend did not tell his plan to you and did not think about you when he started staging his plan! He should have thought that what you would do when you heard the news that he was with someone else!"

"Perhaps, he could not get the chance to inform me!"

Sakshi smiled at Dharani's mentation of saving her boy friend even from her.

She thought she too could have done the same in Arjun's case.

"See, what happened now because of my haste! I disturbed my father, then him and now you! Now, wait a minute! You were going somewhere, right? And when I said my story, you people came to help me at once! I don't know why, but how can I thank you for this in the first place?"

Sakshi did not think of herself that one day she would be out of words, but was experiencing one now!

She could not say anything except, "Oh, Come on Dharani! Once we found everything is fine then you can start telling us thanks, okay, not now!" and she said it boldly.

Dharani took her hand as they saw Arjun who was standing and waiting for them to arrive.

Once they reached him, "What? Did you get the afterthought, finally?" he asked Dharani, who looked Sakshi in shock.

Sakshi could not warn her not to express her feelings in her face that he was just doing the guessing work.

"And if you guys finished your thanking- you note, can we keep going?" He said further.

"Will you guys, please walk fast?"

He was in the same mood, they noted.

They walked fast and were sure about one thing that was not to walk past him.

After some time, they reached some clearing which had three different paths.

He was going to ask Dharani in which way they had to proceed, but before he could, she smelt it and was thinking serious about that.

She blinked at him helplessly.

"Right, see, this one leads to a mountain. Can you see it?"

"Yes, it is!"

"Can you tell me this mountain is near to your village?"

She shook her head.

"Right, see this straight road goes into the woods. Do you remember crossing the wood before reaching the waterfall?"

"No, I don't think so!"

"Very well, see this road winds and goes somewhere, can you tell me-"

"No, I can't!"

She cut in and answered quickly.

"It's nice to hear!"

He commented, sarcastically.

"Arjun, see in a suicidal mood you can't see the route you are going, can you?"

Sakshi tried to convince him.

He glared at her.

"I'm sorry-"

Dharani started again.

"Oh, Dharani! I told you already, you were not disturbing us!" Sakshi's eyes pleaded Arjun.

He calmed at once.

"Right! We'll go in this third route and will see our luck!"

He said.

Dharani once again exclaimed at their understanding. They were rising higher and higher in her heart.

But Arjun tossed the fruits bundle to Sakshi, "Oww!"

"It's your turn!" he said and started walking fast.

"Give it to me! After all I did it all wrong, right?"

Dharani said and extended a said apologetically.

But Sakshi said, "Rules are rules!"

She hung the package like a bag on her shoulder as they followed him, two steps behind.

Suddenly Dharani stopped them and asked, "Hey, wait a minute! What's the idea?"

Sakshi thought they were exposed.

"What?" Arjun asked with confusion.

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The ^ Way out is through!

Part-10:

"Don't ever take a fence down until you know why it was put up."
Robert Frost

Recap:

Dharani stopped them and asked, "Hey, wait a minute! What's the idea?"

Sakshi thought they were exposed.

"What?" Arjun asked with confusion.

--****--

Now-

"What?" Arjun asked.

"What's our plan, I mean! What are we going to do once we got out of the forest?"

"We will see what's going on in the village and then we try to convince your father!"

He answered.

That answer was enough for her to smile at him innocently.

They were on a broad path now and the girls were on either side of him.

They were much tired of walking. But none confessed it to others. They tried to remind the point that after darkness they would not do anything, even walking.

Now, Dharani was carrying the bag and most of its contents were consumed then.

"Tell us something Dharani, it's boring to walk in silence!" he asked at last.

"What can I say now? Right!" She got something then, "One day we were to meet at the secret place, where there were many trees like wood. That day he came first and I could not since my father was home unexpectedly and didn't leave the house that afternoon. I had to wait for him to move away and when he went out finally after an hour, I rushed to the place where he was waiting. But I could not find anyone there. I thought he left in anger because of the waiting and stood there for some time.

"Then I heard a Shh...' sound like a snake!"

Hearing this Sakshi clutched Arjun's hand in fear and to her surprise he did not try to shake her hands off.

She thought perhaps he did not know her holding or he did not want to do so, in front of Dharani.

She resented both.

Dharani was saying, "Then I searched the surroundings, but got nothing! Suddenly I got an idea that the sound was coming from above the tree.

"I looked up and saw that he was sitting on the tree and was scratching his legs.

"I told him to come down and he did. One he got down, I asked him why he did go up there and he said, 'I was waiting for you nearly an hour and when I saw you coming I thought you should suffer like me, that was why I went up the tree to see what you would do!' as he was scratching his legs, still.

"When I asked about it, he said, he did not notice the ants' queue on the tree while climbing up! Then the whole day he was scratching!"

They laughed at that as Sakshi realized that now she was not holding his hand, but he was!

He was holding her hand till Dharani asked, "Now, tell me your story!" with a smile.

To his surprise Sakshi started to say something.

"We didn't have much chances like you, Dharani, but-" She said which was partially true.

"But?" Dharani raised her eyebrows as Arjun frowned.

"But he would be there if he promised to meet, after all he is a police man!"

"Phew!" Dharani frowned playfully then laughed.

"I expected something romantic!"

She said, as she was not convinced.

"Is there a rule for every love story should be romantic?"

Arjun asked and that confused Sakshi, What did he mean by saying that?'

She searched his eyes, but there was nothing she could read.

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The ^ Way out is through!

Part-11:

"Home is the place where, when you have to go there, They have to take you in."
Robert Frost

They had reached a similar clearing with three different paths parted from there.

He wondered whether the forest tricked them and brought them to the same place yet again. He was about to decide so, when he saw something moving in distance on one path.

The image turned into a group of people soon and they were moving towards them, he noted.

Suddenly Dharani shouted, "Papa!" and ran towards the approaching group.

One man in the group screamed, "Oh, Dharani!"

Then the duo hugged and the man started consoling her.

"It's ok! It's ok, Dharani! It's nothing dear! He too came with me. Just now he parted with his friends to search!"

He sent men to call back the other group.

Then he asked, "Who are they?"

Dharani turned her tearful eyes to see Arjun and Sakshi. She smiled and said, "They are my friends! They saved me and helped me to find you, Papa! He is a police man! "

She said emotionally.

"Thank you, beta!" the father came forward and shook hands with Arjun.

"Oh, it's nothing sir!" he replied lightly.

Dharani said something in his ear.

Her father turned to Arjun and said, "You've saved my daughter, after all! You should come to our place for the marriage!"

"Thank you, sir! But we can't-"

"I'm talking about your marriage!"

"But, we-"

Sakshi started, but Arjun cut her in and took Sakshi's hand in his.

"Sorry sir! We've to ask permission from the mother- in- law!"

Arjun said, but did not tell them whose?'

"This is my card! Let us know the marriage date of your daughter. We'll try to come. Now we've to go! See you soon sir! Congrats and bye Dharani! Remember us to your son -in-low, sir!" he replied them fast and bid a good bye.

"See the car is waiting for us!" he motioned towards their broken car standing at a distance, to both Sakshi and the group.

She raised her eyebrows. 'We've come back!'

He started moving with Sakshi.

"One minute!" Dharani moved forward and took Sakshi's free hand.

"I think, he is in his special mood now, take care Dhi!" she murmured. Then in a bold voice she said, "You two should definitely come to my marriage, ok?"

Sakshi nodded.

"Take this for the journey!"

She handed the bag to Sakshi with fruits.

"Bye!" Sakshi said weakly.

What got into him?' She thought.

She once again turned to wave her hand towards Dharani, thus he had to turn too and lifted a hand towards the group.

Did he forget that the car had broken down?'

"I didn't think you would behave like that?"

She muttered in a lower voice.

"Then what did you think, we would get married?"

He smiled derisively.

"I'm talking about the car!" she shut him up; at least she thought she did.

But he said," Sakshi!"

She turned towards Dharani and said, "Mm!"

"Follow me!"

"Coming!"

She replied and joined him.

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The ^ Way out is through!

Part-12:

"A good book has no ending"
Robert Frost

They reached the car. To her surprise he took his keys and opened the door.

Suddenly she got everything in a flash.

It was all nothing but a show! To ask help himself, for the fear that, his ego would get dented! Now they had to come forward and ask themselves! That was the plan!" , she thought.

He started the ignition and the damn car came to life at the very first attempt.

She could not believe the scene, she was witnessing. She did not know what to think.

He took a 180 degree turn and drove off to where standing.

He slowed the car a bit, to Sakshi to bid a final good-bye to the group and he nodded once.

The car came to a full stop at the foyer of the office building. He cleared his throat and said, "To the conference room!"

Oh, am I a slave for him? Why should I obey him?' she swore under her breath, but moved towards the destination.

Whatever happened out there, she got enough memories to fill her heart for years.

Can I forget it ever that he laughed out for the first time in her presence?'

She came out of the elevator.

Today she had witnessed his other faces too!

One smiled, one smirked at her and even one confessed that he too could get boring at times!'

She noticed that the conference room was empty and started waiting for him, for an expostulation.

Suddenly the lights went off and she saw some fire-flies started entering the room.

Then she saw the ETF team behind the candles as they placed her favorite chocolate cake with candles lit on it, on the table.

Everybody started singing, " Happy Birthday to you!... Happy Birthday to dear Sakshi! ..."

She was standing there, just dumb bounded to react. Oh, it's my birth day today!' she wondered.

Arjun came forward and said, "I'm sorry Sakshi, I thought to give you a surprise, but it ended as more like a picnic!"

"No, it was like a picnic!"

She corrected him and smiled softly.

He said more, "I thought to bring you to the forest for a new experience that I owe you one!"

She knew what he meant; he was mentioning the kidnapping episode.

[She was kidnapped once by an enemy of Arjun to defeat him.]

"You suffered a lot because of me, so-"

"If you would feel that you owed me one and would try to surprise me for that, I would be more than ready to be kidnapped again!" she was carried away by the day's events and said emotionally.

"Oh, Come on Sakshi! Don't be silly!"

He interrupted and commented.

I don't see anything silly in that!'

She thought, but checked herself.

She smiled at him as she asked him,

"Why did you choose a forest?"

"I didn't know my plan would go like this!" He smiled, "Mm...One more thing! I saw a rider with the elephant I showed you out there and I thought if I tried I could make you afraid and you would not see the rider standing behind the elephant and you didn't!" He continued,

"And I've to admit that I didn't doubt my pride that I could be tricked by the forest. I thought I could follow the route back to the car, but my thought failed when we went half the way, since every route looked alike."

He grinned cutely.

He is coming out!' she thought, Like a flower from its bud, like a bird from its egg!'

She smiled at him excitedly and it was more than just welcoming!

"I don't think you could choose a forest for our Special Picnic' just like that!"

"Actually, we did some research," he motioned towards Shree., "And got that there was no danger inside! Of course! Expect the river scene; it was really out of our hands, wasn't it?"

He said and explained everyone that day's events.

Sakshi sat beside him with a smile to retrace the moments once again, in his view this time.

"You can't get too much winter in the winter."

-Robert Frost.

-The End-

Thanks,

~K-..