CHAPTER 1
Nuptial night? honeymoon? words rang in her ears while she sat beside Mayank on their way to airport.
I should have known it. His family wasn't going to make this marriage a small affair. A Europe trip for 3 weeks. Which meant existence crisis with 'The Mayank sharma' in close vicinity for 3 long weeks.
She watched sideways as he flicked through a business magazine. She regretted for not putting her 'currently-reading' book in her handbag. She made a mental note to always do that before any another travelling session along him.
Was this how newlyweds acted around each other? Okay given it was a arranged one, for him at least. Still, she doubted that arranged marriages meant boring your partner to death. With a sigh she fidgeted trying to get herself in more comfortable position to travel still for hour and half or two.
He was finally relaxed. After a whole day of being centre of attention he felt at home even in this rental car. What could be better than to get your hands on favourite latest edition of 'Business week' to keep from making an failed attempt at starting a conversation with the one beside him. It wasn't that he hadn't ever talked to her. He remembered the time after he graduated when they used to talk. She was starting with her bachelors and him being the family approved 'know-it-all' was consulted quite a times in her case. Even in college, she was 2 year junior to him and he used to tease her a few times along with her brother Samrat...
A honking horn pulled him out of his reverie. He would have plenty of time on this long stretched honeymoon to have a good conversation with his bride. He smiled inwardly at 'his bride'. His own, forever. Only his.
"Nupur" he called softly, not recognizing his own voice. She didn't even stir in her slumber.
I don't need to be scared right?
"Nupur bhushan sharma" he called out a little louder. oh yes! I like the sound of it, He thought with a grin.
Her eyes flew open not registering her surroundings, confusion clouding her thoughts. She watched him smiling down at her. Maybe I heard it wrong.
"I woke you up because we have reached airport. Come on, let's go." He said while moving away to get out of car.
If he had waked me up a little earlier, I could have freshen up a bit.
Tugging at her stray hairs and rubbing sleep out of her eyes she came out of car. Once inside airport, checking in, security formalities hardly gave them time to think and soon they were sitting in plane, awaiting their take off.
The awkward silence. He watched her looking out of window, noticing closely the texture of her skin, the way her lashes swayed with the blink of her eyes, her perky nose that somehow looked a little big for her face. Maybe I should have brought that magazine from taxi. Then I wouldn't be staring at her so shamelessly.
"Ahem!" He cleared his throat. And mind. She turned instantly looking at him like she saw him for the first time. He smiled. This should break the ice. "So, ever been to London before?" Well, he already knew the answer, didn't he? He knew she had been the indoor girl whole her life, studious, introvert, never present at any gatherings and if present then withdrawn from the groups. He knew much about her family, her brother but not quite knew 'her' in person. A little chat here there, merely twice-thrice a year doesn't much makes up to be called a 'good friend'. Contact once lost can be difficult to resume back.
"No." She tried a small smile, she appreciated that he took the initiative, finally. "Actually as a matter of fact I haven't been out of India yet. In architecture field, we do have frequent trips every now and then but haven't yet got a chance to go out of country."
"Oh! right. So, which places have been explored by Miss Architect till now?" He remembered how she disliked being called so, in college days by Samrat, but still he just had to tease.
She had this immediate urge to correct him. It is Mrs. Architect now. Still, she pushed aside the thought. "We have mainly been to places that are either known for good architecture specimens or to places that are in need for some renovation. Places like Orissa, Udaipur, Mount Abu, Kovallam, Munnar, Jammu, Bhopal, are there to name some."
"Wow! that's a lot. You almost covered whole India." He was impressed. He didn't knew this, but then there was little he knew about her. "Honestly, I haven't been to so many places neither in my college life nor corporate one. Even the places I have been can only be counted for namesake, since I never really travelled because I wanted to, just cause I had to."Looking up he merely caught her staring at him with eyes that said volumes, but only he couldn't read.
Mayank paid the bell boy while she ventured into the depths of their honeymoon suite, looking around with weighing eyes. He has been noticing her all the way. How her eyes wandered towards every building, every details from where ever they passed, like she was trying to etch everything on the diaries of her memories. He liked that she was enjoying this trip as much he was enjoying though for slightly different reasons.
He went after her into lobby that was quite like a usual balcony but this one was covered with glass, enabling the person to enjoy the scenic beauty of London and yet shielding them from the cold winds.
She was so immersed in the skyline which presented before her eyes that she didn't notice when he came and stood beside her.
"So what is our plan of action after this?" She later realized how her words seem appropriate rather for a business meeting but not when she trying to strike up a conversation with her newly wedded husband for the first time. But then he should done it. She already had had her shares of being the first one to say 'hi' or 'what's up?' in past.
"Well I guess right now you must be tired because of the jet lag and long hours of travelling. So I'll advice you to take a nap for an hour or two. And for the plan of action... We have 2 days stay in London, we leave on 3rd day's morning. So I selected a few places that are on must-visit list as per few friends like London eye, Madame Tussauds, Tower bridge. Of course you must be knowing them, Miss. Architect" He paused to see her reaction "And that reminds me, I have already booked tickets at Natural History museum, Tate modern and science museum. I thought you might be more interested to go to museums than amusement parks" He concluded with a smile.
The specific Mayank sharma smile, disarming, mesmerizing and honest. Smile that could stop heartbeats. At least that was what I used to think. Since a long long time. Maybe still do.
She was really very much surprised that he took pains to plan all that out and keeping in mind about her likes dislike. Taking a deep breath she nodded. More to herself than him. "Okay. I'll just go and change then, maybe take a nap." She turned around to leave but stopped "Thanks.". She said and turned around almost fleeing away from there. She must not let the ghost of past haunt her now.
He watched her till she walked towards washroom and vanished inside. Closing his eyes he leaned over the railing. Flashes started appearing in jumbled order. He didn't remembered how old were the memories, maybe about 7 years ago. He was sitting in the party hall with his cousin Uday and her brother Samrat. Uday was around his age and Samrat being even younger than her was almost like a kid to him. They were discussing their college and school lives. For a change, he was being interrogated by Samrat regarding studies and not girls. And he saw her, not for the first time; hell he knew she was daughter of Bhushan's since he was a kid, but really saw her in person after a long time. Nupur was coming out from girls room along with Dia and Gunjan, Uday's sisters and few more girls from his known clan.
Her eyes downcast, hair half clutched at back of her head, still few rebel tendrils made their way out to frame her face. He wondered, how come someone can stand out uniquely even when surrounded by people? Other second he knew the answer himself. She wasn't really part of that crowd. While all other girls were busy talking to each other animatedly she stood beside Dia, holding her hand and thinking to herself. She did smile, a small one, every time someone called her. She seem depressed. And then it happened. She looked up running a gaze around the hall and at once stopped at him. He didn't remember what he was saying to Samrat at that moment. There must have been something wrong with his face, for her eyes widened with horror and she again went back to looking at floor. Next moment he felt huge urge to look into mirror because all of sudden she had flushed all over, shuffling on her feet. He was sure now, he must have been looking something really horrible.
Another flash back was from a movie hall. About 6 years ago, he guessed. They, Samrat, Dia, Gunjan, Uday, Nupur and himself, were out for an evening together. He only remembered the feel of a mere brush of her hand, while he passes her popcorn. He wasn't able to catch the look in those eyes because Gunjan was sitting between them. He somehow knew that arrangement was forced by her, maybe he still seemed scary to her.
The next image had him sitting beside her on dining table, the same evening. He still remembered how he had tricked Gunjan and forced her to sit with Samrat instead of Nupur, while he slipped beside Nupur, with him on one side and Dia on other side. He sensed she was getting uncomfortable, but he couldn't let go of this opportunity. Few 'accidental' brush of hands, bump of knees and overhearing her little conversations with Dia were satisfying enough for him. Maybe my actions weren't too convincing that Dia had asked me"Mayank, what is up with you? Why are you falling off your chair over Nupsie?"
"I am trying to overhear your girly talks sis. Since you both would rather talk to each other and not to all of us." He had pointed towards other four people on table except Nupur and Dia. His answer was honest, though lame. Her voice was soft on ears, much like a whisper in storm of other voices all around. He was just innocently trying to hear more of it.
"How shameless? how could you so simply admit that you were 'overhearing' us? Anyway, that's not the word for it!" Dia retorted back, her voice taking a teasing tone.
"Really? so what would the correct word be Miss Dia Bose?"
"Find it for yourself! Mr. I-sold-my-manners!" She threw it back at me with a wink.
I was trying to give her my standard 'you-will-see' stare when Nupur turned a bit towards me, not yet looking at me, and said "Eavesdropping."
I was surprised to see her talking to me. Surprised and dumbstruck. Did I mentioned Pleased? But I was confused for I had lost the track of argument."What?"I asked somewhat dazed. Then it happened for the second time. Her eyes..
She looked up and met his stare. "You were eavesdropping on us?"
Soft. Her voice was just like a feather brush. That tranquil expression and glossy eyes, they felt like they were exclusively for him. He smiled sheepishly at her. "You don't mind it? do you?" Maybe he had imagined but it seemed like her eyes changed colour with in a moment. Gone was that girl who just talked to him and back was the girl who seemed scared of him all over again. Her face yet again turned crimson much like the curtains of the restaurant.
He clearly remembered how they used to chat on phone or another means after that day. He had tried conversing asking about her studies, later on family. Even asked names in her list of boyfriends, by which she had at first been offended and then which had politely declined to have any. He had even went on about how he was thinking of having girlfriend now, in desperate attempts to seek her interest, which never really came.
Images that occurred after this were mostly with her at some distance sitting with Dia or Gunjan or Samrat or her mother or anyone else but him. He knew that their usual chatter had died short after it started, since he got into job, because those days he had been stressed for his future and hadn't talked to much of people for a long time. But till the time he decided to come back out in world she had gone back deeper into her shell. She actually had stopped coming on family gatherings and had avoided all kind of social activities, even with Gunjan and Dia. He never came to know the reason. He thought they had become friends, may not be good-friends, but friends none the less...
Now fate has turned tables on them. Or else why in world full of girls, his parents had chose her, daughter of a family friend. Not that he was complaining.
Now that she was his wife, he was all the more curious and determined to fell her walls for once and for all. He wanted to find reasons for her being locked inside a shell and was sure enough looking forward to eliminate them too.
She woke up to find him still lingering in balcony. With his eyes closed and sweet smile cradled on his lips, maybe remembering some long lost good days. Or maybe some long lost friend. Or love. That hurt. Went deep inside cutting like a knife, sliced open some bitter wounds, that never quite healed. She wondered why he married her when he could have married his love, Chavi, about whom Dia had told her. She had decided never to get married. Architecture was enough of a commitment for her.
But Mayank could have married Chavi, but he didn't. The knowledge made her uneasy..
Next chapter: Chapter 2
Edited by The-chosen-one - 12 years ago
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