FF *Lattie returns+D3 five years leap* - Page 4

Latika strongly breathed in the fresh smell of wet soil, and tried to catch some rain on her palm.

She had taken the first available flight back to India after she heard Sharon was in New York. 'If Sharon is in the States, then so must be Swammy,' she had thought. 'No…I cannot take a chance.'

She understood the futility of these run-offs, and she incredibly missed Swayam herself. But she just did not want to face him like this. 'What will I tell him,' she would worry. 'Why had I not kept in touch for all these years…? No…I cannot deal with this.'

It had not taken much to wrap up; she had practically been living off three suitcases and one easel since the last two years.

Her mother had been ecstatic. "Aaj main itni khush hoon Rinke…you are finally coming back!"

"Yes ma…I am now," Latika had smiled. "Look, ask someone to collect all my baggage from the Mumbai airport, okay. I'll take a short trip to Kasauli, and then return."

"Oh…you remember Kasauli? Your favorite," her mother had reminisced with a glow.

"Of course…absolute favorite."

Kasauli had somehow been special to Latika, with or without reasons. So much had happened here. Swayam and her first holiday spot with their families…when they had been only 3. Their first camping and bonfire experience at 7. Their first swimming lessons…when they had been thrown into a local lake by their laughing fathers, inspite of their protests! Their first bungee jump at 15. And…the place where Latika had painted her first landscape, and had recognized the connection she felt with art, besides dance.

'Gosh, kullad chai is so much better than cappuccino,' she closed her eyes and breathed in the familiar warm smell of the old, rickety tea shack, situated only half a mile away from the cottage hotels she was staying in. 'Had I missed India or what? I am never leaving again.'

The sunset added to the surrealism of the hour, and Latika had a sudden itch to paint what she saw. 'Aaargh, why did I have to send ALL my supplies back,' she remembered. She only had one sketch-pad and some charcoal pencils left for emergency. 'Chalo no problem, these will do.'

"Deediji deediji," the kitchen kid from the cottage hotels came running frantically just then. Latika and Swayam had known their family since a long time now, even before he was born. "Deediji, jaldi chalo!"

"Kya hua Toshia?" Latika held him by the shoulders, and stroked his wet cheeks. "Barish me bhaag raha hai? Sardi lag jayegi."

"Arey deediji…wo…wo…dead body…" he was almost whimpering in terror. "Wo… koi marr gaya deediji… dekhne chalo na…"

"Marr gaya…?!!" Latika was horrified. "Kaun…? Kahan…?"

She quickly followed him down the trenches. An even drizzle continued, a trademark of the Himachals. Also, it was getting dark, and the trenches were steep.

"Toshia…are you sure…?"

"Yes deediji…wo raha…wahan…" he pointed out under an anonymous pine tree.

There he was… lying motionlessly. But was he really dead?

"Aye Toshia," she called out, slightly nervous within. "Tujhe kaisa pata wo marr gaya hai?"

"Deediji…" the kid immediately looked baffled. "Uhh…marr hi gaya hoga na…hil bhi to nahi raha."

Latika looked around for help. "Tu bhi sample hai Toshia…sirf mujhe hi bulaya…? Apne papa aur bhaiya ko to bula…" she trembled slightly. It was getting darker now, and the buzzing insects added to the eeriness. "Jaldi ja!"

The kid quickly dashed off to call more people.

'Oh no, why did I let him go…' Latika thought in alarm. Mustering some courage, she apprehensively approached the body.

A dusty duffel bag lay near him… his luggage perhaps. So this had not been about robbery. His clothes were wet and muddy from the rain…his forehead bled…it was hard make out what he looked like behind that messy stubble. And that is when she noticed… he was still breathing…

***

"Just breathing Simi," Sharon spoke vacantly, seated in the large balcony of their Holiday Inn suit, staring at the darkness beyond the glittering New York lights. "I am only breathing now, you see…not living anymore."

"Come on Sharon," Simi reasoned. "Show ke itne roaring success ke baad bhi tum..."

"Sims…tumhe pata hai na, I had never wanted any of this," Sharon grinned wryly. "Mujhe toh humesha sirf Swa -"

Simi quickly held her palm. "Toh fir kya problem hai Sharon…? You know he still loves you. I am sure he does. Bas ek baar us se -"

"No!" she snapped. "Agar itna hi hai, toh why can't HE -"

"But…but Sharon," Simi stroked her palm. "See, us din tum dono me jo bhi kuch hua…jo bhi tumne kaha…wo toh sahi nahi tha na…"

Sharon squeezed her eyes shut at this. The scenes still haunted her as much.

"You don't love me anymore, and I just know it this time," Sharon had screamed. "You had never loved me Swayam Shikhawat!"

"You know that is not true," Swayam had insisted earnestly, in a calmer tone, not wanting to lose his cool. This had been the twenty-third time they were having this discussion…this time in Sharon's house. "Kya ho gaya hai hume Sharon? What went so wrong…?"

"Admit it, that…that main sirf ek passing phase thi tumhare liye," she had been especially adamant that evening. "Ek…ek attractive carrot-on-stick…jisey tumne humesha chase karna hi pasand kiya hai…and…and now that you have finally got her…you don't care! You realized you have liked someone else all this while…"

Swayam had closed his eyes tightly at this, forcing a braced tear to trickle down. "Stop…stop it Sharon…please…" he had muttered softly, his whispers drowned in hurtful disbelief. "Please usko fir se iske beech me mat laao… After…after all these years… tumhe aisa lagta hai Sharon…? Have I been so unfair all these years…?"

Sharon knew it wasn't true… and lately she had only been overreacting. She had known all along, that one…just one vulnerable, heartfelt conversation with him would disentangle everything…and bring everything back to how it used to be. But what of her ego…

She could clearly witness her pride coming in way of the easiest solution, and now she was blurting out things she never should have. "Swayam Shikawat…you know what…you should…you should just go back to your desperate stalking acts…tumhe wahi suit karta hai!"

Swayam, who had been sniffling softly looking the other way… turned around to face her now…in wounded silence. Something in him had promptly died at these words.

He staggered towards her, and cupped her face gently. "You…you didn't mean that no Sharon…? It was all a joke right…?" he desperately fought violent tears raring to defeat him. "I… I love you Sharon…I have always loved only you, you know that…please kaho ki ye sab ek…"

Sharon had wanted to instantly hold him close and remain in his arms for hours. But instead she had declared, "No way! Ye sab pyaar, chivalry and all na…ye sab tumhare bas ki nahi hai Swayam Shikhawat. The truth is… you can NEVER treat a girl like Rey!"

That had been the final blow.

"Sharon!" A stern voice was heard. "Ye kya keh rahi ho tum?"

"Rey!" Sharon noticed in start. "Tum…what are you doing here…Tum kyun - "

"Celebrate karne aye the hum," Rey stated firmly, as Kriya emerged from the entrance holding a large bouquet of lilies and orchids, confused at why the air seemed so severe. "Irony… Celebrate karne aye the yahan…lekin tum toh… When will you GROW up Sharon…?"

"Tum mujhe aisa keh rahe ho Rey?" Sharon gazed at him in hurt. "Ask him…ask him wo kisko zyada prefer karta hai…mujhe ya…ya Lattie ko…"

Swayam had resigned on the floor by now… staring blankly at a random wall, tears streaming down his cheek. Rey had walked up and sat next to him, holding him in a sideways hug. Swayam however had remained motionless.

"What…?" Kriya had exclaimed. "Sharon…tum…tum aisa kaise…?"

"Just ask him…" Sharon had cried hysterically. "Dekho uske mailbox me… thousand se zyada e-mail likhe hain usne Lattie ko…Kyun?"

"Tumne uska inbox check kiya…?" Kriya had asked in genuine puzzle. "But why…? I mean… Lattie Swayam ki best friend hai Sharon… you know that… Hum sab hi usko itna miss karte hain… toh fir Swayam toh…"

"Forget it Kriya," Rey had stopped her gently. "Itna kyun explain kar rahi ho… just ask HER once… agar ek din main uske life se suddenly disappear ho jaoon toh wo kya karegi..."

This had stumped Sharon. She had suddenly been at loss, and had stammered to find words. But Rey had not let her. "Forget it Sharon… humko yahan Swayam ne bulaya tha… because…aaj wo tumhe propose karne wala tha… with that solitaire ring you had always wanted… but tumne to…"

Swayam had not moved an inch since the last ten minutes. Rey had to help him stand, and lead him to the door. "Abhi hum isey ghar drop kar denge…iski car baad me bhijva dena. Take care Sharon." His voice had been scruff… a tone he had never used with Sharon.

"But…But Rey aap…ek baar…" Kriya had tried to console Sharon as well, who had been silenced over a gust of realization. But Rey stopped her. "Not now sweeti… it seems she cannot handle too much love sometimes. Tabhi to Swayam jaise boyfriend ko bhi…" and he had stormed out with Kriya and Swayam.

"And tab se…tab se kisi ne bhi mujhse…" Sharon could not finish her sentence, and broke into sobs. "I…I can't believe it has been one whole year since that incident already…"

Simi held her close, stroking her hair. "Sab theek ho jayega Sharon. You'll see… everything will be fine again… perfectly fine…"

***

"He's fine. No fractures, no internal injuries," the doctor reassured. "Only that large cut on his forehead…but no stitches required. This plaster will heal him in few weeks. But haan, let me warn you madam, he has high fever."

"Uhh…how high?" Latika asked, not sure if that was the right question.

The doctor gave her a strange look. "Well…very high. Agar aaj raat tak temperature nahi neeche aya, toh fatal bhi ho sakta hai."

"Fatal…?!" Latika asked, horrified. "What kind of a fever is that?"

The doctor gave her another incredulous look.

Latika noticed this, and quickly reorganized her words. "Ok…ok…theek hai, inhe hospital me admit kar sakte hain…or maybe we can get him a separate room here…in a separate cottage…and maybe, get him a nurse…"

"Nahi Ms. Rathod," the doctor stopped her midway. "There is a very small local hospital here, and they will not admit a meager case of high fever. Waise bhi unke paas beds kam hain… and what he needs right now is just some care…and an overnight water-band treatment."

'You've gotta be kidding me…' she sharply muttered within. But aloud she said, "Lekin doctor, I don't know him personally…you get it right? Ye mere kamre me kaise reh sakta hai…? Aur kab tak? At least, can we shift him in another -"

"Par deediji, aur kono cottage khaali hi naa hai," Toshia's father, the cottage-keeper, informed. "Par haan…manager sahib se baat karaake dawa ka bandobast kar dewenge."

'Royal crap…' Latika slowly plopped down on the floor. 'I don't need this right now…you can't do this to me Kasauli…'

"Theek hai…fine," she declared instead. "Inka samaan bhijva do, let's see kya -"

"And Ms. Rathod, one more thing," the doctor continued, as Latika glared at him angrily. "Kyunki ye poori tarah bheeg chuke hain… make sure he is given a full body warm sponge bath, before his clothes are changed."

Saying this, the doctor walked out, with the cottage-keeper following him… leaving Latika open-mouthed in rage.

***

The pain was getting sharper by the second.

Every limb in his body throbbed relentlessly.

He knew he was going to die.

"You, my son…are going to make the country proud one day," his boxing coach had once said. Yes he would…he would make the country proud…if only he could survive this brusque strike straight on his chest. He had natural boxing instincts as well as fantastic technique, and had fought invincibly for almost an hour now…until…until that massive hit on his forehead from behind.

His feet wobbled, as the pain shot up excruciatingly, eating up his instincts for a whole minute.

He knew he was going to die.

He continued to fight back…the only logical thing left to be done. But the increasing pain was taking over all logic. He knew the end was close… and however good he was, he could never win over eight men armed with sticks and chains.

He saw flashes of his family… his parents… their death… his friends… his brother…the only one who truly loved and cared for him…and her…

"How could you…" he almost cried out loud. "Why…why did you do this to me…?"

Physically, the agony could still be fought with…but this…this emotional agony… it was intolerable.

'So everything had been a lie,' he concluded, as he turned around in time to land a soccer-punch on a goon behind, cracking his jaws open. 'Everything …two years of complete lies. Wow. Do I feel like a fool or what!' His jaws tightened at these disturbing realizations, even as he went on defending himself with seasoned expertise.

But now he knew was going to die.

They were all looking for him with steeled eyes now.

'Fine, kill me girl. But just once…somehow… tell me that you loved me… at least once…genuinely...'

The wooden rod came at him once again…the pain was going to be furious this time… Nooo

"Charlie!!!" he got up in start, perspiring profusely.

Latika had managed to get only an hour of sleep, sitting on the floor with the water bands, resting her head on his side of the bed-side table. The scream heavily jolted her into consciousness.

"Oh hi, you're finally up," Latika smiled warmly at him. "Bad dream?"

The stranger looked confused. His head thumped with pain. "Huh…?"

"Yeah, surprised right… Hi, I am Latika…" she laughed nervously, trying to sound as normal as she could. "You are…?"

The stranger ignored her question, and squinted around rapidly, baffled by his surroundings.

"Ok… by the way…good morning…and then good evening…because…uh…well…" Latika tried again. "Well…because you slept for almost twenty-six hours straight," she finished in one breath.

"Wh…what…?" He didn't care how long he had slept. He could not believe he was still alive! But where was he. "Who…who the hell are you?"

"Nice…politeness…" she continued to smile, but this time her tone was sarcastic. "No problem…you're most welcome."

He ignored her yet again, too taken in by his throbbing head to notice her sarcasm, still trying very hard to figure out his exact location. That was when he realized he was dressed in a different T-shirt and boxer shorts… Something he was definitely not wearing before.

He quickly covered himself tight in the comforter and looked questioningly at Latika. "I…I…why am I wearing…" he looked scandalized. "Tum…tum…"

"Don't worry, rape nahi kiya tumhara," Latika snapped sharply, like the older days. "You can relax."

"But…but why am I not…" he was still appalled… and very very confused.

"It was the cottage innkeeper and his son," Latika assured, her tone still dense. "They gave you a warm sponge bath and changed your clothes. Unki galti nahi hai…Doctor's orders. Aur tumhare bag me sabse upar yahi clothes mile unhe."

The stranger was trying hard to concentrate on her words, while his head continued to spin and his eyes burned. He tried to get up, so he could just wash his eyes once.

"Hey…you…" Latika cried after him, not knowing how to address him. "Don't try to get up… you don't look very -"

And before Latika could finish the sentence, he limped vaguely, his legs temporarily unable to support him.

"Oh-oh…" Latika ran up just in time to break his fall, and instinctively he held her as well. Time seemed to have stopped, and wind blew from nowhere… as both of them stared deep into each other's eyes with so many unspoken questions. That is when she caught a closer look at this stranger. 'Is it just me…or does this idiot actually have those dreamy chocolate eyes,' Lattie could not help but feel.

Just then, someone knocked at the door and broke their moment, and both of them looked away at the same time.

"Deediji, soup!" It was Toshia.

"Come in Tosh," she announced warmly. "Darwaza khula hai."

Toshi walked in, holding a tray with a large bowl of steaming clear soup and chicken wantons. "Accha didiji, mera photo banaogi na," he asked innocently, deep dimples forming on his right cheek.

"Of course baccha," Latika cuddled him, as the stranger looked on with a serious air. "Lekin abhi nahi okay… abhi bhaiya ji ko dinner karwana hai na? But later, for sure…pukka!"

She laid out a quick high five at him, which he returned with an excited chuckle and ran away.

"Disgusting," the stranger scoffed. "You are never going to do that… you are just going to end up breaking the poor guy's heart."

"What are you, some kind of a fail mind reader," Latika retorted back, laying out the plates. "'coz I am going to sketch him…and I don't break promises."

The stranger rolled his eyes at this. "Sure," he muttered under his breath. "Girls…"

"Sexist pigs…" she repeated in the same hushed tone, to which the stranger shot her a glare. Just then his phone rang.

"Yes Mr. Mittal," he answered confidently, as he added salt in his soup. "Yes, the deal is through."

'Boring stuff,' Latika thought within, and started eating.

"Sure Mr. Mittal, I'll return soon…just another week, and I'll be back in Mumabi," he assured. "As far as this deal goes, iske details bhai ke paas bhi hain. So he can help you with it as well."

Latika waited for this business mumbo-jumbo to stop already, so she could turn on the television. Just then she heard something, which suddenly shook her freshly from within.

The stranger continued speaking solemnly, "That's what Mittal sahb… aap Manan Singhania se briefing le ya Reyansh Singhania se… ek hi baat hai."