@jeni:you quad is pretty good at their job..see am here😛
Chapter 15
part 2
Mayank's POV
"What happened there Nupur?"I couldnt help but ask.It was a simple question but a shadow fell upon her face as I asked the question.
Her eyes met mine for a second then flew to the windshield.I chewed my lip,hopelessly confused.What had made her behave like this?
I shook my head trying to clear it.Was I acting like an insensitive jerk?
She was trembling,tears flowing down her cheeks but she appeared not to notice.
The sight of her so vulnerable made me want to punch myself-
Insensitive of me to question her.I moved my arm over her shoulder and she jolted up.
Her eyes fell upon my hand holding her shoulder.
"I am sorry Nupur."I said.A confused look appeared on her face but she didnt look up.
"Why are you sorry?"She said that so softly that for a moment I thought she hadnot spoken at all.
"I am saying-doing-all the wrong things.I dont know..I just shouldnt have..."
I trailed off.
"Let go of me."she said after a while.I removed my hand.
She took a deep breath and wiped her eyes.Then she looked at me with a queer expression on her face.
"Mayank..I -I have lied to you.There are many things that I have kept from you."
I stared at her,her words making no sense.Lies-she had lied to me!In all this world if there was something I hated-it was people who were coward enough to hide the truth.
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Nupur's pov
I saw his expression change.His eyes lost its tender look.
It was just the beginning.I knew that by the time I finished speaking,Mayank would probably be digusted by me or worse would pity me...yet I knew I must say this!Tell him what was the truth...for he deserved to know.
"What kind of lies?"he asked,his eyes intent on my face.
I dont know what he could see in my face.Was my face already showing my shame?
Dispensing any thought I toyed with my dupatta,gathering courage.
"I asked you a question Nupur"Mayank's voice was sharp.
I didnt look up.Seeing his face wasnt going to help.
"I am not what you think I am..."I said.
"What is that supposed to mean?"he asked.
Again I chose not to meet his eyes.
"Mayank...I think you have noticed...I..I am -am -I..often dont do things..I--i--"
My nerves were wrecking up.My mind was blurring.I knew what was happening and I had no recourse.My hands were trembling.I was breathing abnormally fast and I had a sudden urge to hold my head in my hands tightly.
I closed my tears trying to fight it.
"What is happening?"Mayank's voice seemed to be coming from a badly tuned radio.I could only hear it muffled.
"Nupur...are you okay?What are you doing?"Two strong hands held my wrist.
I swallowed hard truing to ease my breathing.
"Oh my god Nupur your heartbeat is abnormally fast.Nupur...would answer me?"
Abnormal...abnormal...
"Nupur...please..what is happening..."
Not fit for normal society...I had shamed him.
"What is going on?"
Stop it!Stop it!!
"Nupur..."
"I AM A FREAK!!!"The words were a shout.They broke free of my tightly tangled speechcords!I couldnt stop the next words...
"I am a freak mayank!I am not normal..I -I AM ATUISTIC!!I -I am mental...a freak!!!"
I was sobbing by now.There was ringing silence in the car then.
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I stared at her as she screamed!
Atuistic...Nupur...?!!?!?!
Impossible!!She couldnt be...
And then I couldnt complete the thought.Nupur was different!Way too different!
The way she chanted words,her almost obsessive perfectionist approach,her demeanor-too timid-too nervous...
The rational wheels were churning...yet I could take it in!Atuistic...
I was frozen and then I saw her sobbing in her hands.The sight somehow shut up other voices in my head.
It was clear then...my thinking!She looked so vulnerable..so hurt...so alone!
I had seen her like this once before...
The melody came back to haunt me.
The one melody her innocence had inspired!Now it made me act.
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Two hands held my arms and without any asking pulled me closer to him.Before I knew my face was pressed onto the front of his maroon shirt.
My sobs continued and he continued to hold me.
How long did we sit like that?I cant remember.
It seemed like a few seconds to me but it could be much longer.Finally my sobs subsided
I stared at his maroon shirt and sniffed.
"Mayank..."
"Yeah..":
"I think I ruined your shirt."There was my kajal spread as a blop on black on his shirt.
He smiled.
"Thats okay."
I looked up at him and he looked down at me.We smiled at eachother.
For a moment we didnt speak.Then he sighed.
"I better get you home."
I nodded.Ofcourse he didnt want to be with me for too long.
"Or else I dont think your mother would ever allow you to come out with me the next time."
I turned to stare at him.He winked at me.I smiled and nodded.
