Short Story: The Journey Part 2 Page 3 - Page 2

Thank you, i will be regular in updating.

Not exactly a suspense, just domething that came to my mind, glad you liked it.

Thank you, will update soon

Thanks so much

Thank you for your messages to get me back and thanks for liking the story too.

Thanks for your detailed feedback and for actually encouraging me to write this. Its your feedback which actually motivated me to write this and complete other FFs as well. So a big thank you and i will complete all the pending FFs and this story too.

Neha

Thanks so much

Thanks so much. Will add and PM you.

The Police got hold of the man and hand cuffed him. On further investigation they immediately recognized him as a wanted criminal who was notorious for looting victims on isolated highways.

PI: Thank you, you have helped us arrest a man we have been trying to nab for the last few months.

Ram: It was just plain luck officer. I saw him get in into her car back on the highway. Since then I have been trying to warn her about it.

Priya looked sheepishly at Ram. How she had misunderstood him to be the one who was purposefully following her.

PI: Madam, you will have to come to the police station and lodge a complaint. You can come in tomorrow as well, we need to take your statement. And you too, the officer said pointing towards Ram.

Ram nodded reluctantly. Saving the girl was ok but now getting involved with the police. God knows when he will reach his original destination.

As the police left, Priya, Milind, and Priti gathered around Ram.

Priya: I am so so sorry, I just thought that you were following me.

Ram: That's ok, no worries. He got into your car when you stopped on the highway. Since then I am trying to get you to pull over, but you simply refused to do it. So I had no choice but to follow you.

Milind thrust his hand forward: Hi, I am Milind and this is my wife Priti. She is Priya, our friend.

Ram looked at Priya properly for the first time. The front of the house was not adequately lit but he could still make out a lovely face.

Priya too thrust her hand forward which Ram shook earnestly.

Ram: My name is Ram. It was nice meeting all of you, now I would take your leave.

As Ram turned to go there was a loud thud and the front of his car shook from the impact.

Ram looked at the side to find a flat tyre. Damn! the uneven road must have caused this. Ram's was a simple hatchback vehicle atleast 4 years old and obviously the farm house road had been too much for his car.

Milind: Oh no, looks like a bad burst. Do you have a spare tyre?

Ram: Nope, is there a mechanic nearby.

Milind: Not really. My house is on the outskirts and the mechanic is atleast 30 kms away. He would have shut his shop by now.

Ram kicked the tyre in frustration.

Priti: Why don't you stay the night with us? In the morning we can fetch the mechanic and get it solved.

Milind: Yes, please.

Ram: No no. I mean its ok. I ll manage something.

Milind: We insist Ram. There is nothing on the either side of the road and you have literally saved Priya today. Please let us have the honor of hosting you.

Ram gave it a little thought and then agreed. He followed Priya, Milind and Priti into the house.

Milind requested Ram to be comfortable and went inside.

As Ram was looking around the house, Priya looked at him for the first time. Ram was tall and had a muscular built. Must be in his early 30s guessed Priya, he wore a faded blue jeans and a white T-Shirt which said "I was born intelligent, education ruined me".

Ram: Where are we exactly?

Priya was so lost in her analysis that she did not here the question.

Ram tried once again, Excuse me?

Priya looked at him suddenly. Sorry?

Ram: I asked, where are we?

Priya: We are near Lonavala.

Ram: Ohh...

Priya: I wanted to say sorry and thank you.

Ram: No need, it was my duty. Anybody in my place would have done that.

Priya: No seriously, inspite of everything you never gave up. I owe my life to you today.

Ram: You are embarrassing me now. I have not done anything out of the ordinary.

Ram looked at his cellphone which was vibrating.

Ram: Do you mind if I take this call?

Priya: Sure, go ahead.

Ram left Priya to take the call.

Priti arrived at that moment.

Priti: See, didn't I always tell you?

Priya: What?

Priti: That you will get your knight in shining armor, your prince?

Priya: Stop it Priti, you still read Mills and Boons?

Priti: Why don't you believe that there is a teeny tiny possibility that the Mills and Boons stories actually happen.

Priya: You know what you are crazy.

Priti: No, I am just trying to tell you that one incident does not mean the end of the world.

Priya: Are we talking about it again?

Priti: No, I never ever want to but you force me everytime.

Milind: What is going on girls?

Priya: Your wife is crazy as always. Why do you let her read that stupid Mills and Boons?

Milind: As if its in my control?

Ram: Did I hear Mills and Boons?

Priti: Yeah, both of them (pointing towards Milind and Priya) think I am mad to actually like that stories.

Ram: Well I am a fan of Mills and Boons.

Priya looked shocked at Ram : What!

Ram: Yeah, I have read lot of them.

Priti: Wow, see you too, its not such a vain thing.

Milind: Reading is different; do you actually think such things happen?

Ram: What things?

Milind: That you fall head over heels with a complete stranger in like a few hours?

Ram: Afcourse, why not?

Priti: See, I have always been telling you this. You both are just so unromantic.

Priya looked at Ram as he was speaking to Milind. This was the first time that a guy had confessed to reading Mills and Boon and believing in it too.

Milind: Well, I must admit it is really interesting to know that there are people other than my wife who love Mills and Boons.

Milind moved towards the bar, what will you have Ram? I have beer, whisky, skotch, gin, tonic.

Ram: Whisky will do thanks.

Milind: What about the ladies?

Priya: Beer please.

Priti: I am not drinking tonight.

Milind made a peg for Ram, handed Priya her beer and made a drink for himself too. All four of them were sitting on the porch outside the house.

Ram: So what you guys do?

Milind: I am into marketing, Priti runs her own catering business.

Ram looked over at Priya.

Priya: I am a financial analyst.

Ram's eyes stopped at Priya. She had lovely doe like eyes. She was casually sipping beer from the can, savouring the cold beer. His gaze lingered a little longer than necessary. Somehow her body language was guarded, just like she had been while driving. Untrusting, she must take a lot of time to trust people he thought.

Priti: What you do Ram?

Ram's thoughts were interrupted by Priti.

Ram: I study humans. Their behavior, body language...

Priti: Are you a psychiatrist?

Ram: No, I am a writer, well struggling you can add.

Milind: Wow, that must be a fascinating job?

Ram: It is, but right now I am ghost writing for a magazine, writing their agony aunt section along with the horoscope.

Priti: What ? Are you serious?

Ram: Absolutely, I won't name the magazine as I don't want to lose 3 readers.

Priti: You never know we may have never read it?

Ram: True but cannot rule out the possibility.

Priya: What do you aspire to write?

Ram: Everything that gives me joy.

Milind: That is interesting. I have never met a writer. I have till now only read books and never the Mills and Boons type.

Ram: Why are you so against Mills and Boons?

Milind: Pardon my language, but its crap.

Ram smiled a bit. : I just see it as someone's imagination of love.

Priya shifted uncomfortably in her chair. Love was a feeling she had abandoned long ago. For her love meant getting hurt, love meant you place your happiness in other people's hand.

Priya: I think it's a wretched imagination of love. Those things never happen. There is no happily ever after, there is no till death do us apart.

Ram: Maybe you have not met the right person till now

Priya looked directly at Ram. Though it was an innocent statement, Priya found her nerves tightening. Love for her was dead and buried an emotion that she had long ago banished from her life. Priya swirled her beer can and gulped down the remains in one motion.

Priti looked at Priya and motioned to Milind. This was getting out of hand and she did not want Priya's past to come up.

Milind: Lets all eat, I am sure you both must be starving.

All four of them got up to go inside. Ram watched as Milind and Priya were the first ones to leave. Priti hung back a little, seeing that Priya was out of earshot, she turned to Ram.

Priti: I have one request to make.

Ram: Go ahead.

Priti: Please don't broach the perfect love or meeting the right person topic in front of Priya?

Ram looked at her with one raised eyebrow

Ram: Troubled past?

Priti: Sort of

Ram: I will take care, no worries.

Priti: Thanks

Ram stood alone for some time thinking about Priya. There was something about her that attracted him, something that he had cancelled his plans for tonight and was staying with complete strangers. Something that leapt out to him, that told him that his decision of staying overnight was right.

To be continued