The Damsel and her Gangster Part 5- Page 7 - Page 2

Awdesh smiles and starts walking in one of the natural directions laid by the forest. Arpitha follows him silently. She had no other option. But all the way, she was very upset on the comment he made on her eyes. They walked along the small river and arpitha would now and then stop to look herself in to the river and examine her eyes.

Arpitha (speaking slowly to herself) – "Everything is ok."

Awdesh observed her looking at herself and smiles at her. Finding herself caught, arpitha silently moves behind him and they continue their parade to find civilization.

Arpitha is quite tired. She wished she never had accepted his help and come with him. She never had started that stupid conversation and landed in such situation. She cursed herself for the trouble she was going through. These thoughts had made her ignore the stone in front of her and she hit her toe hard to it.

Arpitha cried in pain and Awdesh couldn't see it. He helped her sit back on the rock nearby and kneeled down by her side and started examining the wound. He gently cleaned the wound with his long kurtha and care was completely filled in his eyes. He hurried to the lake nearby and bought a handful of water and wetted the wound. Arpitha cried with her eyes closed in pain. Awdesh looked up and gently blew air on the burning wound to sooth it down. The air from his lungs created magic in her. She could feel the air travel through her spine and shivered to the chilling vibration it caused in her. Arpitha opened her eyes and saw him still caressing the toe and blowing air. Arpitha placed her hand under her chin and watched him in pleasure. A feeling of oneness and belongingness started towards him. She enjoyed the moment. Awdesh ignorant of arpitha's inner core feelings continued to calm down the burning wound and in a flick watched her stare at him.

Awdesh left her toe gently and stood at a distance near her.

Awdesh – "Are you alright now?"

Arpitha – "yes. Better"

Awdesh – "you better watch and move. This is a jungle, not any city road that you walk as you like."

Arpitha was startled at his sudden change in nature. The moment ago he was very caring and now he is being rude. Giving her advises on how to walk. Arpitha was not impressed this time.

Arpitha –"yeah. Yeah. Off course, I don't know how to walk in a jungle, but you have outdone me. You don't even know on how to ride a vehicle on road."

Awdesh was not prepared for the counter strike. He looked puzzled at her. He kept his silence. Arpitha considered it her victory but wasn't happy enough on what she just spoke.

Arpitha sensed some sort of guilt. It wasn't his fault completely. His silence made her feel much worse. She had to break the silence now.

Arpitha – "um… I am sorry. I didn't mean it. You are a very nice guy. And you are very good when you have offered to help us. Thank you very much for that. It was my fault that I asked you to look into my dull eyes and we landed here. I am sorry. The mistake was all mine."

Awdesh looked back at her smiling.

Awdesh – "You're lying this time. You're eyes are not dull."

Arpitha – "There you go, you said it again. I am lying. Come on I was very kind and took the complete blame on me and you say that I am lying and my eyes are not D…U…l…l"

Arpitha understood that she didn't hear him completely and hastened to answer him.

Arpitha – "so, how does my eyes look like?"

A hot blow of wind passed by the way. Both of them could feel it. Awdesh looked straight deep down into her eyes and was lost.

Arpitha – "if they aren't dull, how are they?"

Awdesh (in some trance)—"beautiful…beautiful like the shadow of a full moon in the ocean. No one can ever come out of the magic created by them. Gorgeous"

Arpitha was spellbound by his description. Did he really mean it? He may or may not; she just loved his praise for her eyes. Did her eyes have such good effect on everyone? She wondered if it was true. But she was sure now, that he was feeling something for her. While arpitha looked at him with her eyes wide open, Awdesh continued to stare into her eyes. His trance broke when he heard of someone coming by that way.

Awdesh held her hand and hid in the bushes nearby.

Arpitha –"What happened? They could be of some help"

Awdesh – "Shh…they could also be some thieves. You don't know the area here. It's very dangerous."

The man walked nearer and finally came into the site of the two. Awdesh got up and smiled. Arpitha followed him and stood watching them. Awdesh went near him and hugged him.

Awdesh – "Kaka (means uncle in Hindi). How are you? "

Kaka – "Bache…I am good. How did you land here? And who is this girl?"

Awdesh – "it all happened kaka. I'll explain you later"

Kaka – "ok. Come with me, we'll go to my village it's very near from here."

All three of them head towards the village while arpitha has many unanswered questions. Did he really mean it about her eyes?

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The country side view of the village had allured arpitha so much. She was quite happy at the sight of the village. They were still at a distance when she could have the bird's eye view of the village. It was a small community with not more than 50 houses surrounded by green fields on all sides and a river nearby. Arpitha always dreamt of holidaying in such places. Inwardly, she felt bad she had to leave such beautiful place and fly abroad after she find her way back home. Arpitha followed the two gentlemen silently. Reaching the village Awdesh led her to a cottage.

Awdesh – "we'll leave as early as possible to the town. Let us stay for tonight and leave tomorrow. And please let me know if you need anything."

Awdesh smiled after he completed his last word. Arpitha nodded her head in agreement. Awdesh left the room letting arpitha rest. Outside the cottage Awdesh explained his situation to kaka and requested him to arrange for some transport to the town. Kaka agreed and advised him to rest.

The night was still spreading its darkness. Everyone in the village was ready for their supper. Awdesh was ready with village attire. He said no to kaka but he was not in a mood to listen to him and had him wear his clothes.

Kaka – "now you look like a true man. See how good you look in these white dhoti and kurtha."

Awdesh had nothing to do but nod to his word. Awdesh knew Kaka from his childhood. After his parents died, kaka looked after him and in his final stage of life; he wanted to return to his village.

Kaka – "go and call her for dinner. She must be quite hungry."

Kaka left the cottage and Awdesh started looking at himself in the mirror. He was not sure on how he was looking. He examined himself closely and buttoned the collar.

Arpitha – "nah. Not nice. Remove the collar button."

Awdesh turned around and found no one there.

Awdesh (Thinking to himself) – "was I imagining or was she really there?"

Scratching his head, Awdesh removed the button and smiled at his manly attire.

Kaka – "you are still here. Bache you still didn't get over your habit of seeing yourself in the mirror for hours. Even girls are better than you. "

Awdesh hurried out blushing. Awdesh reached Arpitha's room and was at the door. He adjusted his dress and was about to knock, when the door opens with arpitha standing right in front of him in a cute village attire. Awdesh continues to look at her. Arpitha is not confident in the dress she was wearing. She uncomfortably adjusts her dupatta and pulls her skirt to ensure that she is looking ok. Awdesh lowers his eyes and understands her discomfort.

Leading the way, he starts walking with arpitha following him.

Awdesh – "People here are very friendly. Hope you didn't have any trouble. Did you?"

Arpitha – "No…I had no inconvenience. In fact I am happy to be here. Um…How is this dress on me. My dress got dirty so I was offered this dress by one of the villagers here."

Awdesh – "good…you are looking nice."

Awdesh gave his compliments without even turning back. Arpitha's lipped widened up and smiled at the compliments she got. She was very happy now. Reaching the common dinning Awdesh sat down with arpitha staring at the table. It was a wide wooden log with wooden chairs. Everything was laid ready on the table. Kaka was on one the other side of the table.

Awdesh –"Please sit."

Arpitha sat beside him and they started eating. A woman came with a bowel of sweets and put them on the table. Adjusting her sari from the head, she served them to our duo.

Arpitha tasted it and found it yummy. She eagerly took the bowel and served herself with some more. The woman watched in surprise and put her hand on her mouth.

Woman – "oh dear…Let your husband also eat some."

Both Awdesh and arpitha coughed to it and looked at each other.

Arpitha – "no…no…I am not his wife. We aren't married. "

While arpitha was opposing the relationship, Awdesh looked at her in disappointment. He actually was happy on that note.

Arpitha looks at him and seeks his support.

Awdesh – "yes, we aren't wife and Husband."

Woman – "oh. Pardon me beta… I mistook you both to be wife and husband. But trust me on one thing. You both will make very good pair."

Those final words of the woman left both arpitha and Awdesh in embarrassment. Completing his part of the meal, Awdesh left in a hurry. Arpitha managed to hide her smile and continued with her dinner.

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Awdesh started walking here and there slowly along with the wind. He heard the smiles of a small child from some distance. He moved in that direction and to his wonder, arpitha was playing with a small child.

Arpitha – "and then I kicked the idiots black and blue. They ran away with fright."

Child (in amazement) – "is it so didi (sister in Hindi)?"

Awdesh couldn't stop his laughter to the faking story that arpitha narrated to the child and alerted arpitha.

Arpitha – "go and sleep now…it's quite late now."

Child – "ok…bye didi."

Arpitha was caught. She couldn't accept that.

Arpitha –"why are you laughing?"

Awdesh – "no…actually…nothing"

Arpitha – "I know. And stop smiling"

Awdesh – "what if I don't."

Arpitha – "um…i…I will tell to my boyfriend. And you know who he is? Awdesh Singh Takhur."

Awdesh – "oh really."

Arpitha – "yes…He is the man. He is a god to people here. He helps the needy and punishes the bad. Above all he is a good human being. He lost his parents in an accident like I did. (Softens) but he remained strong."

Awdesh (sad and surprised) – "how do you know all this. You are not from here. Right? "

Arpitha – "Yes, but I know awd…"

Arpitha (Covering up) – "I know."

Awdesh was puzzled and confused. Did she just take his name? Arpitha left the place without any sign. Awdesh was left in the confusion, if she really knows him or not. If she had known him, why is she still pretending of not knowing him. He was in complete confusion. Or is it that, she didn't know him at all.

Arpitha ran towards her room and shut it tight. Ensuring that all the doors are shut, she smiled. She sat laid down on her bed and remembered the day when she left the girl at her home.

The girl's father had seen Awdesh and called out his name. Arpitha stood in surprise.

Arpitha – "whom are you addressing? Is he Awdesh Singh Takhur?"

Uncle – "Yes dear. I really need to thank him"

Arpitha couldn't take the fact. He is the Awdesh Singh Takhur. Then why didn't he oppose when she said that he was her boyfriend? Was he in favor of protecting the girl or he really was impressed by her? This very thought, made her feel good. She was really impressed. She remembered the way, she said, 'I am the girl friend of Awdesh Singh takhur'.

She made up her mind to find out what he is up to. Arpitha could still remember the belongingness in his eyes when he said that her eyes were beautiful. She was sure that he likes her. But she wanted him to tell that first. She now wished her uncle's wish of her being married to him come true. YES, arpitha is in LOVE with Awdesh Singh takhur. The very thought made her blush.

Knock knock…

There was someone at the door. Arpitha stopped smiling and swallowed a gulp to hide her feelings.

She opened the door and there stood the masculine figure with who she was in LOVE. Awdesh.

Awdesh –"Hi, um"

Arpitha – "Do you need something?"

Awdesh - "well…I think I am not getting sleep"

Arpitha (hiding her smile) –"so you want me to sing you a song"

Awdesh was embarrassed. What did he come for and what is he doing. He made up his mind to ask arpitha if she really knows who he is or just was faking. But what the rubbish is he speaking. He scratched his head and made a move from there with as stupid face.

But this made arpitha fall more for him. Now she was sure enough that he is being used to her and not able to manage without her.

Arpitha (thinking to herself)—"am in a similar situation Awdesh. I know, you are a gangster but a good one. Come on Awdesh; tell me that you LOVE me too."