thanks guys...let's see what happens now
PART 14:
The doctor and his team at the infirmary promptly got down to reviving Angad and Tehzeeb. Angad was suffering from exhaustion and mild hypothermia from being in the water that long. Tehzeeb had aspirated a lot of water into her lungs, and needed to be resuscitated aggressively.
Angad recovered soon and changed up into dry warm clothes. He waited patiently for the doctor's verdict on Tehzeeb.
He was beating himself for planning the last leg of their journey, "ship par jaldi pahunch ne ke chakkar mein maine Tehzeeb ki zindagi kyun daav par lagaa di?….I should have just helped her take a flight from Rome to Istanbul…..was I too selfish for wanting to bring her back to the ship with me? I will never forgive myself if something happens to her…..mera uski zindagi par koyi haq nahin hai….wo mujh par kitna bharosa karti hai….I should have never taken the sailboat…..," he buried his face in his hands and waited all night outside the infirmary.
"Yadi wo theek ho jaati hai, tho main usey Istanbul pahuncha kar wapas uski family ke paas hi bhej doonga…I have no right to expect her to spend her life with me….she belongs to her family….pataa nahin kyun in kuch dinon mein main usey apna samajh ne lagaa tha…..uski tho kisi se shaadi bhi pakki ho chuki hai….I have no right to play with her life..," he was still very guilty about the whole near-drowning incident.
Early in the morning, the doctor came out with good news, "Mr Khanna…she is conscious now….you can see her."
Angad looked up to thank god and went inside the clinic.
Tehzeeb looked pale and worn out from her near fatal experience. She tried to smile at Angad, but winced in pain, as she was still sore from the multiple bruises on her body.
"Nahin Tehzeeb…tum leti raho…how do you feel now?" Angad's voice cracked, as he was overwhelmed with emotion to see Tehzeeb awake.
"tum kaise ho? Mujhey tho kuch yaad nahin….bas itna yaad hai ki ek toofan aaya tha aur main phir samundar mein thi….yahan kaise aayi?"
"bas samjho tumharey khuda ne tumhey bacha liya…." Angad squeezed her hand, which was resting on the bed, "I am sorry tehzeeb…yeh sab meri wajah se hua….I took a big risk with your life…."
"Angad…apni life bhi tho risk ki hai tumney….wo bhi mere liye…"
"Tehzeeb, Navy mein ho kar meri life par mera haq nahin hai….par tum tho civilian ho…I had no right to put you through this ordeal…"
Tehzeeb was hurt by his words, she turned her face away and tried to suppress her tears, "Angad…kya main tumharey liye sirf ek civilian hi hoon? Aur kuch nahin?" her voice was shaky and somber.
Angad tried to hide his own tears and thought, "tum mere liye sab kuch ho Tehzeeb par abhi mujhey tumhari manzil tak pahunchaana hai…yahi mera pehla farz hai…"
Tehzeeb looked back at him, hoping for an answer, but was disappointed to see that Angad sat there quietly with his head lowered, "Angad? Tumney mere sawaal ka jawab nahin diya…."
Angad got up and said, "Tehzeeb, kuch sawaal…sawaal hi rahen…. ussi mein sabki bhalaayi hai…..chalo ab jaldi theek ho jao….2 din mein Istanbul aa jaayega…phir Aapi se bhi milna hai….," he smiled and turned to leave.
"Angad….mujhey apne sawaal ka jawaab kab doge?" Tehzeeb called from behind
Angad looked back, "Tehzeeb….tum abhi aaram karo…don't over exert…."
As he was leaving, the captain of the ship came to see Tehzeeb, "Ms Khan! Good to see you awake….you are a indeed a lucky woman…..not only did you survive the sea, thanks to this capable officer," he looked at Angad, "you were also the winner of the talent show the other night…here is a voucher for $500.00 to spend on the ship…..Good luck young lady!" he spoke in his heavy British accent and handed the voucher to Tehzeeb.
Angad smiled, "yeh tumhari pehli kamaayi hai Tehzeeb…zaroorat padhegi…tumhara bag main bachaa nahin paaya…."
Tehzeeb was still looking for her answer to her question, 'kyon Angad? Bag mein tho itna saara paisa tha…..kyon nahin bachaaya?"
Angad grinned with a twinkle in his eyes, "yahi sun na chahti ho na ki bag se kahin zyaada precious cheez ko bachaa liya?"
Tehzeeb smiled back and folded her hands behind her head, " you Navy officers are very stingy with your compliments….."
"We believe in action rather than words…" he said and turned around to leave.
Tehzeeb closed her eyes and dozed off thinking, "Angad….ab tum se door kaise jaaoongi main? Kaash yeh safar kabhie khatam na ho…."
Tehzeeb spent the day at the infirmary, but was back on her feet by the next day. She spent her $500.00 cautiously, as that is all she had now. She purchased a few clothes at the shopping mall on the cruise. It felt very different while shopping now….she was so used to spending freely thanks to her dad's never ending supply of cash! She had to really budget her purchases now!
She saw signs for the special "ball room night" on the last evening of the cruise.
She purchased a beautiful red knee length, sleeveless dress for the occasion with some matching accessories.
She found Angad at the deck, and went to him, "Hi Angad….bilkul gayab ho gaye….mujhey dekhne bhi nahin aaye aaj…," she complained
"Sorry Tehzeeb….bas wapas aa kar I had a lot of pending work to take care of….."
"Angad…tum hamesha bas duty hi karte rehte ho….kabhie meri duty ya phir kabhie ship ki…."
"Well…that's my job!" he grinned
"Aaj raat ball room night ke liye mujhey ek date chahiye…" she came to the point
Angad teased her, "haan…tho yahan tumhare bahut Spanish or Italian admirers hain….I am sure they would love to be your date…."
"But I want a 100% Made in India date!" Tehzeeb curled her lip and came closer.
"Made in India? Par wo tho duty par hai aaj shaam….," Angad looked at the horizon and said.
"Maine tumhare captain se baat kar li hai…..he has given you permission….now no excuses….and I promise main bahut badsoorat lagoongi aaj raat….just the way you like it!" she teased him and leaned against the railing.
Angad looked into her eyes, 'Tehzeeb….tum chah kar bhi badsoorat nahin lag sakti…..tum andar aur bahar dono se bahut khubsoorat ho….OK I will be there…."
Tehzeeb had a strong desire to hug him there and then, she came closer and touched his cheek and then gently lifted herself on her tip-toes and planted a soft kiss on his other cheek and whispered, "thanks for everything Angad….you are my hero….," and ran away still blushing at what she had just done.
Angad touched his cheek where her lips had just caressed him, "Tehzeeb….. tum se judaa hona bahut mushkil ho jaayega….mat karo aisa…."
BALL ROOM NIGHT:
All the couples were dressed very elegantly- long flowing gowns and beautiful dresses were complimented by tuxedos and 3 piece suits. The cruise photographer was busy clicking away, as couples posed against the beautiful banister of the curved stairway.
Angad and Tehzeeb also posed for some pictures, arm in arm. They looked like a perfect couple- he in his handsome Navy uniform, and she in her beautiful red dress.
They joined the other couples for a beautiful candle light dinner on the open deck. The sky was clear and the gentle moonlight and stars made the whole ambience really serene and tranquil.
Angad could not keep his eyes off Tehzeeb, as she gently nibbled at the food.
Tehzeeb was conscious about his piercing gaze, and kept her eyes lowered while eating.
She finally said, "Angad….kya dekh rahe ho?"
"Yeh dekh raha hoon ki in 12 dinon mein tum kitni badal gayi ho…"
"jab tak insaan ke pankh nahin hote, tab tak wo udhna nahin seekhta…" Tehzeeb said philosophically
"My..My…itni badhi badhi baatein bhi karne lagi ho…" Angad lauded
"kuch tho company ka asar hoga na?" she smiled as she sipped her drink.
Just then, the live band on the deck started playing some music. Angad and Tehzeeb watched the other couples for a little while, but soon Tehzeeb's feet were dancing under the table, 'Chalo Angad…let's dance…"
Angad obliged, as he had promised himself that he would make sure his last few hours with Tehzeeb were memorable for both of them. Even though, they would go back to their respective worlds in a few hours, he did not want to not enjoy those few hours with her…..may be it would be their last chance together…..
They danced to some fast numbers, and then the lead singer broke out into a beautiful romantic song, "Take my breath away"
"take my breath away" from Top Gun
http://www.last.fm/music/Berlin/_/Take+My+Breath+Away
Watching every motion
In my foolish lover's game
On this endless ocean
Finally lovers know no shame
Turning and returning
To some secret place inside
Watching in slow motion
As you turn around and say
Take my breath away
Take my breath away
Watching I keep waiting
Still anticipating love
Never hesitating
To become the fated ones
Turning and returning
To some secret place to hide
Watching in slow motion
As you turn to me and say
Take my breath away
Take my breath away
Through the hourglass I saw you
In time you slipped away
When the mirror crashed I called you
And turned to hear you say
If only for today
I am unafraid
Take my breath away
Take my breath away
Watching every motion
In this foolish lover's game
Haunted by the notion
Somewhere there's a love in flames
Turning and returning
To some secret place inside
Watching in slow motion
As you turn my way and say
Take my breath away
Take my breath away
All the couples started swaying to the beautiful song and were lost in each other.
Angad held Tehzeeb closer as the song played on. Before they realized, their bodies were pressing against each other, their cheeks caressing, their fingers intertwined in a inseparable grip.
Angad kissed her cheek gently, as Tehzeeb felt goose bumps all over her body. He finally brought his lips close to hers and they both could not resist kissing each other…..that first kiss….the first taste of a man for Tehzeeb….his lips and tongue guided her, as she felt her knees giving away and she thought she was drowning once again….but this time she did not want to come back to the surface….she did not want to be rescued…..
…to be continued….