SNOW HUNTER-FF Chapter 5 p3

Chapter 5 (part #3)

"Is this some kind of a joke, because I really don't get it." Khushi said, warily.

"Come on!" Arnav replied and grabbing her hand in his, walked up to the trunk-bridge. Khushi tried to concentrate on the problem at hand but couldn't. The slow walk, hand in hand with Arnav, was playing havoc with her heart beat as her nerve endings fired wildly. If only, he'd never let go, she thought looking at him.

THEM

"Wait here. I'll just test the trunk first." Arnav went to the trunk and placing a foot, brought down some weight on it, testing the strength of the worn down tree. It looked like it had seen several rain showers and smelled of rotting weed but was surprisingly resilient.

"I think it will be fine but just in case, let me cross first. I'll come back for your bag."

"Be careful!" she called out as he hopped up on the trunk.

Arnav started to cross, one step at a time, as Khushi anxiously watched, murmuring a prayer to help safeguard his passage. Arnav gently pulled away the thinner branches while stepping over the thick ones jutting out and after many minutes of careful treading, reached the other side. With a soft triumphant cry, he turned and waved to Khushi, who smiled and waved back with relief. Then, he put down the heavy bag on his back and without the added weight, he returned to her side in no time. After another journey to and fro, both the bags were deposited on the far side. Now, at last, it was Khushi's turn to cross.

"Hold up your dress." He said.

"WHAT?"

"I mean, bunch up your dress and hold it in one hand, so you can watch your step and cross."

"I don't think that's a good idea." she said, looking at Arnav uncertainly.

"Do you have a better idea?" he mocked.

"No" she whispered.

"Then do as I say. Trust me." He said, solemnly and she did. Arnav took her left hand while she held her dress up in her right. Then, he helped her step up on the trunk with him.

"Follow my step. And don't worry about falling. I've got you." he said, looking deep into her eyes. She nodded slowly, unable to speak as his words touched a chord inside her heart. They began to walk, carefully avoiding the branches with each step while Khushi also had the extra task of keeping her dress away from the branches lest it should get stuck and torn. They were only a couple of feet away from the other bank when she got her dress stuck in a thin, broken branch. Just then, Arnav stepped off the trunk and it swayed over the swift stream, making Khushi, who was right behind him, lose her footing. Arnav caught her by the waist just in time and fell back on the ground with her in his arms, accompanied by a ripping sound.

He held on to her tightly, afraid to let go, his heart racing in response to the closely averted accident. Slowly, as his heart steadied, he realized she was still in his arms. He turned and gently laid her down on the ground, then moved away to look at her. Her hands were around him, his shirt bunched up in her delicate fists and her eyes were still shut tight.

"Khushi?" he said, in his deep low voice. "We're okay."

She opened her eyes slowly and stared into his, dark brown ones, full of concern for her. Her eyes opened wide as she realized that the fall had ripped her dress from the back and his hand lay on her bare back. She looked at him, wondering what to say while her skin prickled with sensation at his touch. Arnav tried to look away but couldn't. It was as if all sane thought had deserted him and all that remained in the world was her face, innocent and fair and her eyes, uncertain and questioning.

He raised a hand, softly touching her cheek to dust off a speck of dirt and Khushi gasped at the slight touch, her insides in knots from the intimate embrace, wanting nothing more in the world except to touch him back. His eyes remained fixed on her and her heart raced in answer to his intense gaze. She swallowed nervously and suddenly remembered what she had promised herself, a while back. She wouldn't let him feel like she was desperate for his attention. He had made amply clear that he didn't want her to touch him. She broke the eye contact then and turned away her face from him.

Arnav took in her change of expression and immediately moved away, kicking himself mentally for his behavior. He sat up and ran his fingers through his hair frustrated at his lack of control. He didn't know what it was about her that made him so defenseless and loose his wits so quickly that it became impossible to stay away from her or not to touch her. He couldn't believe that his feelings were so strong for her. What's happening to me? She probably thinks I'm a characterless uncouth insolent man who is just desperate for some action. He closed his eyes, fisting up grass to curb the revulsion he felt for himself. He had promised to get her to safety, not get attached to her. Let it go, Arnav, he scolded himself. But something in his heart told him that he'd never be able to let her go.

HER

Khushi got up and gingerly moved her hand behind her back to ascertain the extent of the damage. She cursed under her breath as she found that her whole back up to the waist was bare naked and her dress hung by shreds onto her shoulders. Pursing her lips, she closed her eyes in disappointment. She opened them to look at Arnav, feeling embarrassed but he didn't look at her.

"Arnav, my…" she began hesitantly but stopped, not knowing how to explain or ask for help. Arnav didn't respond. Instead, she saw him walk past her and turned to see him lifting their bags, a few steps away. She slowly stood up and her loose hair covered her back, relieving her slightly. When she turned towards Arnav again, he had a jacket in his hands.

"Come here." He said in a low voice and she walked up to him. He took her arms one at a time and helped her put on the jacket, while she held her hair bunched in her hands. Once the jacket was on, she smiled at him gratefully, glad that he had spared her the embarrassment. But Arnav didn't react.

"I'll put up the tent and then fix some dinner. You should rest." He said, solemnly and she wondered if it was sorrow that she saw in his eyes.