Hemakeerti OSes - Compiled

"Aao sunao pyar ki ek kahani

Ek tha ladaka, ek thi ladki deewani.."

The seductive fragrance of roses, the mesmerizing charisma of moonlight and the mellifluous humming from the most beautiful pristine form are elevating the amorous spirit of that enthralling night.

"Is that our love story are you singing about Jodha begum?" a husky voice percussed in the serene chambers increasing the dhadkan of humming begum. "His voice and his touch, why do they never fail to rouse my senses?" she wondered and gracefully gaited towards him.

"Not exactly ours, but of someone alike us Shehanshah," she sniggered greeting with pranam. "Acha, may I know who they are? You seem to be pretty impressed with them," he smirked approaching her. "Not so easily Shehanshah," she teased not flinching from her place.

"Acha, waise ek baat batayiye." his head highed cautiously scrutinizing her. "Isn't it weird that you are more interested in Hrithik Roshan these days, particularly after his divorce?" he closed in with an intrigue frown. "Oh, so Shehanshah-E-hind Jalalluddin Mohammad Akbar, The Great is jealous of someone," she amused with a lopsided grin.

"Not really," he bluffed. "When you have no complaints about my liking of Aishwarya rai, why would I?" he retorted. "Aishwarya Bachachan Shehansha," she corrected concealing her smirks, "Waise aajkal Shehanshah ko mummies jyada yummy lag rahe hai? Koyi wajah?" she riposted.

"Nothing of that sort! I like Deepika Padukone too. Actually I was on my way to meet her, but was distracted by your singing," he scoffed and turned to leave majestically folding his arms back.. "Rukiye Shehansha," came a hasty rebuke forcing the elegant emperor halt on his tracks. A victorious smirk curved his lips, after all who better knows the feisty Ameri princess than the magnificent Mughal emperor. But alas, ridiculing his anticipations the vivacious queen didn't advance towards him as he expected. Instead she brisk walked to the dressing table and soon returned with a wooden step stool. "Please take this with you, aapka kaam aa sakta hain," suppressing her giggles, she faced him offering the stool.

"Waah, what happened to her?" he puzzled discerning the new striptease avatar of his favorite Begum. Undoubtedly he was enjoying the tease-a-thon, but being Jallaluddin Mohammad Akbar, he masked his amusement. "No thanks!" he curtly replied and proceeded to leave, but how can the Theda emperor let his feisty queen win.

"Oh, how could I forget that I promised this night to Rukaiyya begum?" he thought aloud, well aware of the consequence of taking Begum E Khas's name before Jodha begum.

"Oh no!" her smile vanished perceiving his devious plans for the night. "I have a lot to share with him, I can't let him go to Rukaiyya Begum," she averred. But not being a shy cozy Begum any more, the flamboyant queen contemplated over an exuberant way of dealing his displeasure. She smirked at the very idea and thereby swiftly gaited to stop him before he stepped out of the chambers.

"Yes!" he grinned victoriously at the tug of his arm. Anticipating a few usual earnest pleadings, he rocked at his position without looking back. One.. two.. three.. seconds passed by with nothing but sheer silence from her. Surprised by the lull, he decided to look back, that is when he perceived her hand budging down. Slowly, yet steadily her right hand fingers captured his palm and intertwined with his manicured smooth yet hard fingers. Bridging the distance between them, she moved closer, so close that her high curves slightly collided with his back arousing his senses. She encircled the intertwined right hands gently round his waist, meantime, her left arm entwined with his left hand and she en routed them to his right shoulder sensuously gliding across his chest. "Woah!" dazed by the tantalizing lock of his torso between their entwined arms, he stepped back, nearly zeroing the distance between them, all the while amazing at her next moves.

A shy smile erupted her lips as she closed her lids getting lost in his manly musk, the moment her petite form brushed against his virile torso. "Don't fall for his charm Jodha," her frenzied heart screamed aloud alarming the fragile queen. Swiftly composing her racing senses, she advanced a tiny step that completely zeroed the gap between two bodies. Her arms stiffened their grips at their respective positions tightening the lock, and once she confirmed he is fastened in her grip, she leisurely slithered the tip of her nose along his neckline.

Biting his lips at the tickling arousal, he thoroughly enjoyed the new form of his shy begum and deeply wondered what she is up to. "Uff," she sensuously blew the silky brown locks covering his right ear, and paused a moment to perceive his increased beats. Triumphantly smiling at her near success, she proceeded to final step of her tease-a-thon. Slightly rising on her toes, she moved her lips to back of his right ear and halted at an ion distance. "Mccch!" the loud seductive sound of lips very close to back of his ear, but with absolutely no physical touch of her lips on his skin, created dire wonders than any other sensual act of hers till date. As an aftermath, his spine profusely shuddered rousing his senses to their zenith; but before he turned to squeeze her in his mighty arms, her husky voice echoed behind his ears, "Ab jayiye aapke khaas begum ke paas," she counter attacked with mild giggles and gradually freed him from the lock.

"Mashallah!" gob-smacked by her luscious gesture, he immediately turned back to crush the bewitching form grinning triumphantly at her victory. "aapka ye hunar hume sabse jyada pasand aaya Jodha begum," he whispered passionately looking into her eyes, whilst his fingers playfully tapped around her waist. The red passion transferred from his eyes to her cheeks bringing in a change of shade. She blushed hard as his intensely impassionate gaze pierced straight into her heart teasing her bold approach. Smiling in extreme shyness, she snugged deep into his chest hiding her blushes from him. "Ha ha!" smiling loud at her embarrassment, he tightened his grip round her waist kissing on her head and tucked her deep into his heart - the place where she belonged to.

*************

"Ab batayiye, whose influence is behind this new form of yours Jodha begum?" he curiously asked playing with her thick tresses. An endearing smile erupted her lips at the very notion, and he crackled as the bare skin of his chest could feel the curves of her lips. "Why do you think I'm changed?" she intrigued looking up to him placing her chin on her right palm that was resting on his heart. "Because you are not you today Jodha begum," he adjusted her locks and added, "You didn't ask me aap yaha, iss samay?' when I stepped into your chamber. That means you are not you," he answered with a wicked grin. She cutely pouted at that sarcastic wit and her fingers involuntarily curled to pinch his bare chest.

"Aah," letting out a husky moan at that sweet bite, he pulled her an inch closer. "A strange glow, a playful smile, there is something different about you Jodha. What is that?" he lovingly asked. She smiled and blinked in agreement to his observation; slowly she got up from him and reposed against the bedstead. "You are right Shehanshah. I'm influenced, deeply and thoroughly. And this is the influence of.. ", she paused curiously watching out his reaction, "Jodha!"

"Jodha?" he is evidently surprised, "Whom are you talking about Jodha begum?"

"I'm talking about Jodha of an epic love story I came across this evening Shehansha," she gleamed in delight. "So is this the love story you were thinking of when I came here?" he wondered. Nodding her head in approval, she took his hand into hers. The content smile brightening her face, the longing in her glares as she ogled him, explained him all - No doubt his begum is touched by the story, very profoundly!!. Thereby, he rose from the plush pillow and shifted to a more comfortable place - her lap.

"Tell me that story Jodha begum, seems it impacted you a lot," he asked admiring her contented smile. "Ji shehanshah," she obliged lovingly caressing his auburn hair and started narrating the most enthralling, emotional life ride of an irresistible couple named Jalal and Jodha.

************

"If I were to be reborn, I'd like to be born as Jodha of this story Shehanshah," she confessed wiping her moist ears.

"And I'll be your Jalal, like the one of this story to love you all over again Jodha," he promised kissing her hand.

They stayed silent fervently gazing at each other, thanks to the effect of the compassionate love story they had been subjected to. A naughty thought crept his grey cells as he passionately glanced at his begum. "Waise Jodha begum, I think Rukaiyya begum better suits the character of your story Jodha than you. I mean, she is competent, beautiful, strong and bold just like THAT Jodha... aah," he screamed in pain as his waist turned red with the fiercely twist of his silk skin, but before he uttered something else, she brutally shut his aah-opened mouth, of course with her tender lips. The glimmering moon and shining stars lovingly blessed the endearing couple - "Tadhasthu!"

"I have to see her today!!" The pace of the majestic emperor's gait mirrored his determination. "It's been five days since I got a glimpse of her. If Moti is going to stop me again, I'll deport her immediately to Amer!!" he firmly decided. It's been five days since his Rajput begum recovered from deathbed; he still couldn't believe the extent of adamancy she can go on to prove her point. Had it been any other begum, they'd have ordered their maids to take the poison, if proving their candor is the only objective. But she, his stubborn fearless wife, gulped it all in a go and that triumphant smile before her lids closed - Mashallah, this woman never fails to amaze me!!

With grace of the Almighty his prayers were answered and he got her back, lest he should have led a guilt-ridden lifeless life till his last breath. He's peacefully breathing and living a normal life from last five days only because he was sure she's revived and breathing. Ammijan, Ruquaih, Salima, Bakshi gave him regular updates of her health, but every time he scheduled a visit, he was stopped at the entrance by Moti. Be it early in the morning or mid noon or late night, any time he arrived at her room he was forbidden entrance on pretext that his wife is resting and she didn't want any disturbance. While every single human in the harem was able to talk to her, why couldn't he get a glimpse of her?? Is it merely coincidental or...??

His thoughts scattered as he neared her chamber, to his luck, he found no signs of Moti around. The soldiers in duty obediently bowed him and were about to announce his arrival, when he hastily shushed them up. He didn't want to alert any one and welcome a failure again.

"Please stop there Shehanshah!!" Dazed by the sudden order, his foot that was about to step into Jodha's chamber automatically retreated. His gaze stiffened to rebuke Moti, but to his surprise, it wasn't Moti. It is SHE, the most sought out woman graciously walking towards him, but why the hell is she veiled under a dupatta too opaque to even reveal a glimpse of her??

"Pranam shehanshah!!" she folded hands with respect and he returned the greeting. "Her voice was never this musical before," he confirmed. "It's no less than a blithe to see her, hear from her after the deadly massacre!!"

"How are you Jodha begum?" his voice echoed care and affection. "Good... sound... alive!!" the underlying coldness in her reply didn't fail reaching him. Is she upset with me? Why is she behaving strange?? Did she misconceive that I haven't come to visit at all for five days?"

"Glad that you're fine!!" he softly smiled, "I've been here every day to visit you, but since you were taking rest, I had to leave without disturbing you!!" he patiently explained while she remained silent.

"Thank God you recovered completely Jodha begum, but you shouldn't have risked ...", wondering why she refrained him from walking in, he tried to walk forward when her voice reverberated again, in a low volume. "I'm sorry... but you can't come in Shehanshah!!"

"Why?" baffled by her assertion, he asked bewildered. Flatly staring at him through the veil, the queen instructed. "Ekanth!!" All the soldiers and dasis promptly left the place gifting them privacy and the couple stood fixed till the rest evacuated.

"Tell me why I can't step into this room," without any ado, his Excellency demanded.

"You are asking me why?" the unperturbed empress prodded with a tinge of sarcasm. "I don't think Shehanshah's memory is so short..." her arms crossed depicting defiance, "...but if you're urging to hear from me, let me remind. It is you who swore not step into this room or see my face even if I were to breathe last Shehanshah!!"

He got it!! His restricted entry for last five days, her masked face, he now got every bit of it and he smirked; he couldn't help wondering the valor and pride of his Rajvanshi queen.

"I'm Shehanshah-e-hind Jodha begum," he haughtily sniggered. "I can go anywhere in this kingdom and harem. No rules or swears can stop me, not even the ones I made!!"

"Of course...", she sardonically accepted, "...but what an example a king is setting to his people by defying his own rules!!"

"Well... if you are so concerned about rules," he sheepishly paused. "Lets keep it your way.. I'll not step into this chamber... but you'll not live here either. I'll get you shifted to the one adjacent to mine!!"

"Why do you want that?" the piqued queen retorted, "When you so hate to see me!!"

Hate?? Isn't it the opposite that HE has for HER?

"Hate??" he gravely roared. "Remember who hated whom Jodha begum. It is you who loathed my touch, my presence and me. It is you who nudged me out of this very chamber. With my statement, I only made it easier for you!!"

"I didn't push you out", the affected queen immediately responded. "You're too intoxicated that day to handle yourself and I wasn't prepared for what you intended to do. It was a meek impulsive reflex, but since you're heavily drunk the result was immense."

"You weren't prepared?" he seriously averred. "After sending me a message to visit you, you say this?"

"I never sent such message Shehanshah," she impatiently condemned. "I told you then and I repeat now... kanha ka kasam... my letter was only a gratitude note. It contained no invitation from me!!"

He looked on contemplative. "She has to be right. A woman with guts to end her life wouldn't lie over a petty matter," he assessed. "But it's Badiammijaan who read it out to me? Why would she lie? Or is there a conspiracy behind it??" He decided to revisit the matter latter. For now, he has to sort out what's going on with his feisty queen.

"Okay fine", he gracefully agreed. "I take it that you weren't prepared then..." he teasingly added, "Are you prepared now?"

"Huh?? How smart??" The enraged wife gritted under breath. "Any statement... he deduces to a conclusion of his favor!!"

"No!" she stubbornly refused. "A husband and wife's relation should be based on love and trust. You neither love me nor trust me, so no point in our discussion Shehanshah." Though she blurted it, she grew dubious of her own remark. "Doesn't he love me? He never admitted it, but how can my eyes deceive me? The spark, the tenderness with which he sees me every time, what should it be named? Ammijaan, Salima begum and Moti narrated the HAVOC he created since her eyes closed after consuming poison. They told how he solicited the awaam to pray for her revival and when she did, didn't she witness his happiness, grief and relief? What he feels for me is definitely something beyond a luscious desire for my body; else he wouldn't go to the extent of praying to Kanha to save me!! And trust?? He didn't trust me in the beginning, but overtime, didn't he build up faith in me, just like I did?? He helped me out when I was framed pregnant, believed to an extent when I accused Benazir, it was only his anger that overlapped faith," her intuition argued. "BUT... why did he say he wouldn't see my face even if I die? He needn't be that rude!!" her ego snapped back.

"Trust and love," he mockingly laughed. "Shouldn't it be mutual Jodha begum?" he cross-countered. "Did you forget how our relation started?" he pointed straight. "Let me help you recollect then. It was you who loathed me from first day of our marriage Jodha begum; in fact, you always hated me, even before we faced each other. After our wedding, my every reaction was only an outcome of your actions. You didn't want me to touch you, you've no interest in talking to me, forget talking, you abhorred my presence in your chamber... remember what you told Ruquaih on day of my return to Agra," his sharp gaze pierced her. How could she forget?? In her insane anger, she requested Ruquaih to keep HIM away from her!!

"All these days along... I never exerted my rights on you as a husband, I only tried to fulfill my duties!!" his arms royally folded back. "I stuck to my promises, I didn't force myself on you, attempted to befriend you in all possible ways, but you're the one to remain aloof Jodha begum. You despised me, my people and this palace so much that when your Maasa denied welcoming you back in Amer, you resorted to suicide than living here. True that I thought of sending you back to Amer, but not because I disliked your presence. If Amer is your happiness, I have no issues in obliging it. I don't care what others think, I only want you to be happy wherever you are," he halted breathing deep. "And you seem to have the most unpredictable mood swings Jodha begum. I don't understand why you cooked for me, what you meant when you said you don't hate me anymore and all of a sudden sent an invite to your chamber. As you say, it could have been a misconception, but didn't you find a poised way of explaining it? Do you think I'm so crooked to force myself on a disinterested woman? Your dhakka is indeed an insult and I have zero tolerance for insult of any kind," his voice thundered and her heart disarticulated in fright.

"To all my actions after that I don't owe an explanation to anyone," his ego roared, "I came here to know how you are doing. I see that you're sound enough to argue and fight, so I take your leave," with a serious aadab, he turned to leave.

"What do you do if someone touches or attacks your Ammijaan Shehanshah?" in a haste to stop him, she hurriedly blurted. To her relief, he turned back. His brows crudely knitted!!

"I see their end!!" he flatly stated and she smiled behind the veil.

"Right...", mustering the confidence to face him, she coldly remarked. "That was what, we the Rajvanshis, were taught too. This country, this land is our mother and from childhood we're taught to detest any intruder who fantasizes to touch it, seize it and I was no different Shehanshah," she sighed. "I was grown up hating Mughals and their devilish shadow over my country, over my culture. Rajputs love their freedom; hold their self-esteem high and we prefer dying than compromising. Being a girl of same nature, can you imagine what goes through me when I realized I was traded to the clan I hate the most in name of marriage?" pain filled her eyes, but the mask on her face shielded it from his vision.

"Its very true that I always hated you Shehanshah, the Shehanshah of Hindustan Jalal-uddin-Mohammad and the stories of his heartless and ruthless thirst for power. How could anyone dream I'd willingly marry the man whom I was taught to hate and only hate from childhood?? This alliance, our relation none of them had my consent; I was only forced into it. Everyone had their respective gains out of this marriage shehanshah; to my father, it's his state. A state safe and free from Mughal terror and to you, a POLITICAL WIN over Rajputs!! But what did I gain out of this marriage? A completely new culture, a heartless, tenacious husband in whose life I'm an unwelcomed guest and hundreds of women to compete with!! Moreover when you already profited out of this marriage, why should I allow you to gain more by submitting myself? I knew you'd never love a Hindu wife, as this wedding was a mere deal, once you claim my body, you wouldn't even look back at me. So I decided to benefit out of this marriage in my own way and the only benefit I could fathom is PRIDE!! A pride of preserving my chastity by not allowing a Mughal to lay his hands on me!!"

The emperor attentively listened to his queen's stance. They've been married for months, but for the first time she's talking her heart out. Though he was happy with the transformation, it was also painful to know how much she hated him.

"To keep up my pride, I was rude to you, infuriated you, defied you and to me everything I did was right then," she continued. "But seeing you strictly adhere to your promises amidst all adversaries, I had to revisit my attitude towards you. The few days I spent with you in Amer introduced me to the humanitarian side of you and when Ammijaan told me of your childhood, I discerned your predicament. I fathomed that your thirst for power is an outcome of the struggle for life, the battle for breath you endeavored as a child against your close relatives. With time, as I discovered more about you, I realized that you only pretend as an invulnerable mountain, but beneath it lays a river of emotions. Agree it or not, you have a heart as pure and precious as a pearl Shehanshah, but one should infiltrate through the shell to acquire it!!"

"How well did she discover me!!" the emperor's heart began to beat for her.

"As I already said, I don't hate you any more!!" her head lowered in shy and respect. "And I meant no insult either, that day it was only a reflex. Please excuse me for that!!"

"If not hate, what do you have for me Jodha begum!!" without letting the opportunity go, he impishly smirked. She's opening up to him for the first time, and how can he miss the chance without making her blurt completely.

"Doesn't he know what I have for him?" provoked by his smartness, she hissed. "As if he hasn't discerned the glow in my eyes, the willingness in my talk and the jealousy in my heart!!", she fumed behind the veil. "And if he never voiced his feelings for me, why should I?"

Scrupulously staring at him, she twisted her words. "What I have for you is the same what you have for me Shehanshah!!" By that statement, she meant love and respect, but HE being the master player tuned it again in his favor.

"If you feel the same what I feel for you," he impishly retarded. "..you wouldn't forbid my entrance like this Jodha begum!!" His teasing smirk disclosed his devilish intentions and she couldn't help blaming Kanha for bestowing such a theda man as her husband.

"It's your oath that forbade your entry to my chamber Shehanshah," she mockingly reminded. "Not me!!"

"Aah.. if that is all your objection, " he advanced a step, "..then let me inform, I breached that oath six days ago when I carried you in MY ARMS to this room," he didn't forget to stress on my arms.

"But I was unconscious then," she cleverly snapped back extending her arms to block his way. "How can I let my husband break his oath when I am fully conscious?? Don't I know how strict you are about your promises??" a teasing smile danced on her lips. "You took that pledge before my Kanha, so you have to take it back before him. Only after that you can normally walk into my chamber!!"

"Get his statue out then..", he coolly shrugged, but she denied. "Once established, a murti shouldn't be disarticulated."

Now it seemed like a challenge!! She's challenging his own words and he is not the one to back off!! Who knows?? Winning this challenge might lead HIM to winning HER!!

"Fine then.. as you say!!" resolved to take up the challenge, he retreated and disappeared in swift strides. She looked on tensed and disappointed!! Is he angry? Did I foolishly upset him? What if he never comes back? A hundred questions racked her mind as she stood still watching the doorway.

Two minutes later, to her daze, he returned with a pole. "What are you doing Shehanshah?" seeing him taking position and keenly estimating the distance, she asked baffled.

"The same what you challenged me to do!!" he graciously answered. Her eyes widened in amazement and a moment later she burst out laughing. Imagining the emperor of Hindustan jumping into her room with a pole was damn hilarious.

"You can't do this!!" speeding out of the entrance, she snatched the pole out of his hand and ran back before he caught her. Pulling the displaced veil down, she faced him again. "I know you're a skilled warrior, but please restrict these feats to war field. If you hit something in the process, all your begums will jointly tangle my neck!!"

"Give it back Jodha begum.. I can handle my safety", he commanded but she playfully refused throwing it aside. He gaped on thinking of an alternative while his eyes glued to his wife's dainty form. Clad in a green and yellow ghaghra, her skin is radiantly gleaming. The last time he saw her she was on bed - blanched, withered and exhausted waging a war between life and death. To his dismay, he didn't get a glimpse of her thereafter and a profound urge to immediately see her smiling doe eyes, blush red cheeks and quivering lips surged his body.

Taking a few steps back, he clapped loud for an attendant. In no time, a soldier came running for his service. The emperor whispered something to his ears and ordered to be quick, while his queen looked on curious. What is he up to now?? In no time, the servant returned with two step stools, placed one at his feet and stood skeptical of not knowing where to place the other.

"Leave it there and you go!!" he dismissed the soldier off. "Listen.. don't let any one in, I won't tolerate a disturbance!!" he strictly ordered and the attendant bowed in obedience.

"Jodha begum," once the soldier left, he gently called his wife. "Place that stool there," climbing on to the one at his feet, he instructed to position the second one at a feet distant. And she discerned his scheme - a safe and easy trick to win the challenge. Alas, how could she let him win so easily??

Biting back a lip, she positioned the second stool three feet apart from him and crossed her arms in challenge; he darted a dragon glare at her. "If he's not going to make her pay for this, he's not Jalal-uddin-mohammad, Shehanshah-e-hind", swearing under breath, he meticulously evaluated the distance and to the viewer's astonishment, took a long jump thus promptly landing on the destination.

Sealing her lips in conviction, she fetched the first stool and placed in his way, this time, four feet away. However, he wasn't surprised, he expected this to happen!! Smirking at her temper, his feet took off, only for a perfect landing again. He mischievously looked on, while the frenzied queen cursed his skills.

Needless to say, the distance Jalal had to cross increased by another feet as he braced for the third jump. By the time he smoothly finished the task, Jodha was so strikingly infuriated at his prowess that she crankily placed the stool ten feet away. In her rage, she failed to notice the place where she kept the stool, it was right before her bed.

"Argh.. I'm so sorry for not understanding your desperation Jodha begum!! Very bad of me wasting time with silly games", his conniving innocence made her look back and she cringed in embarrassment. Patting on forehead, the abashed wife quickly lifted the stool up.

Positioning it before Kanha's mandir, she pompously provoked. "You succeeded till now because the challenge was too lame for Shehanshah-e-hind. This last trial is going to decide the winner!!" She was confident of her victory as the distance between him and target is seven feet and it is impossible to jump so long from a still state.

The shrewd emperor discerned his egoistic wife isn't playing fair - the distance is too long to be covered in a single leap, but not for HIM, not for the ultimate emperor who's BORN TO WIN!! "If I win, what am I going to get in return Jodha begum?" he teasingly prodded.

"Anything you ask for!!" she confidently promised.

"Be prepared then!!" with a treacherous grin, he tossed into air. To her astonishment his body didn't travel towards the temple, instead it landed on a couch two feet away from him. Whilst she looked on puzzled, his feet jumped on to a side table and then on the bed. She fathomed his trick and perceived her awaiting defeat. With an eight feet pavilion to run and take a leap, his win became a cakewalk. She couldn't help admire her husband's smartness. As she stood defeated, he mockingly raised his brows preparing for the final exertion.

With a brisk run and a swift jump, he's a few seconds afar from victory when the conniving queen resorted to cheating. At the nick of moment, when he's about to step on to stool, her feet quickly pushed it aside depriving him of victory. But in her nescience, she forgot that GOD favors only the fair!! In a split of second the discreet man racked his body to step on to a plate full of flowers before the temple - he nearly succeeded when his left foot touched the flowers but the acceleration of his body made him lose balance. "Shehanshah," throwing up the veil, the worried wife hurriedly advanced to brace him, but her petite form was too small to support her husband's hefty masculine torso. Thereby her feet stuttered and they tripped together on to ground, but he ensured to clutch her tight and cover her head to save it from a hit.

"Aah..", strangely the man on the top screamed louder whilst the lady in his arms silently winced over his weight. "Aaah..", he screamed again startling her out of blue.

"Shh.. shehanshah..", she hastily closed his mouth literally shushing him up. "I'm down, you're up!! Why are you shouting when I should be the one to actually scream!! Stop screaming, we don't need an audience," she innocently angered blissfully ignorant of the slyness in her statement. But the wicked husband rightly deduced it and smiled in mischief. "Thorns Jodha begum," his lips moved behind her fingers. As the ticklish sensation created goose bumps, she quickly removed her palm from his mouth. "What did you say Shehanshah?" her parched throat murmured.

"Thorns jodha begum..", he repeated. "The bed of roses is very delightful but two thorns badly pricked me," he stated with all innocence while she looked on perplexed. Where are roses and thorns here?? What is he blabbering??

"You mean those flowers?" she naively directed to the plate of flowers he stepped on. "But those are marigolds, how come they have thorns?" The amused man fondly stared at his feisty, stubborn yet innocent wife. The five days of anxiety, disquietude and edginess he went through was finally paid of. His Rajvanshi begum is always named for her beauty, but that moment, he found her exceptional. It's not the open hair or the jewelry that beautified her, but it is the recouped spirit in her eyes that made her exceptional. He can see her angry, aloof or unbothered but not lifeless. It was a fact he fathomed the moment she drank poison and lifelessly sank in his arms.

"What Shehanshah?" she shyly smiled perceiving the pain and affection in his gaze. In response, his finger traced from her temple to cheek removing a lock of hair. "How are you Jodha!!" he softly whispered.

"Pretty well..", she smiled in assurance. "But if you lay on me like this for five more minutes, I'm sure I'm going to lose all the strength I gained in last five days," innocently, she again delivered a wrong message. It was his impacting weight crushing her bones that she meant, but it also carried another message under current. Chuckling at her naive wry wits, the smitten husband teased. "If only you realized what you just said Jodha..", he fondly pulled her nose.. "Let it be!! Declare me as winner, then I'll get up!!"

"Aise kaise shehanshah.. your feet touched the ground before you took back your oath, so you lost it!!" she adamantly denied. "Is it?" his brows raised in mock surprise, "I thought my feet were here!" his toes brushed against the anklet on her left foot sending shudders all over her body. Involuntarily her lids shut and her arm fastened round his waist.

"What happened Jodha?" huskily whispering near her ear, his nose drew patterns on her temple. "huh..", her breathe raced and eyes squeezed to the tightest level possible. Lifting his torso a bit up, he dotingly watched his effect on her. Few moments later, she slowly opened her eyes and her arm that snaked round his waist slightly loosened. With a triumphant smirk, the victorious husband playfully raised a brow as in will-you-accept-the-defeat-now?? And his defeated wife's cheeks turned the shade of red of a rising Sun.

"YOU WON SHEHANSHAH!!" bowing her head in submission, she accepted her defeat.

"I KNOW JODHA!!" embracing her with overwhelmed love, his lips lowered onto her head. After all the hurdles, he finally WON HER!!

Three hours later

"Uff..", she gently puffed a few daring locks of his hair that fell on his forehead disturbing his sleep. It is late midnight, the harem succumbed to pin drop silence, her husband is fast asleep, but she couldn't bat a lid - it seemed sleep disowned her. With her head barely apart from his, she had been staring at him for long and the task was never boring. Her thoughts rewound to their conversation three hours before.

After she admitted his win, neither he voiced what he wanted as winning trophy nor she questioned, as both of them very well knew the answer. And blissfully the answer was agreeable to both!! But somewhere deep in her heart, a pang of insecurity throbbed her. When his mouth reached to her lips after dampening her eyes and cheeks, she could no longer refrain.

"Shehanshah..", she softly called as pain overlapped the passion in her eyes, he looked on attentively. "Promise me to make this the most memorable night of my life," she humbly implored cupping his cheeks. "In case this is the only night you intended to award me, please make it so memorable that it imparts me a reason to breathe till last breath." At her request, his heart tugged!! That moment she appeared far different from his unyielding, confident, ferocious wife; she appeared a fragile insecure wife skeptical of her love, life and future. His fist sized heart seemed too small to bear the inundating affection and warmth, thence, his lips compassionately kissed her eyes.

Slowly getting up from her, he extended his hand. Baffled by sudden change in him, she stood up with his support. Wrapping an arm round her shoulders, he positioned her before Kanha. Assuredly smiling at her, he turned to the statue and bowed in reverence; folding her hands, she followed his gesture. As she continued praying Kanha with closed eyes, she felt a warm touch on her forehead.

Before HER opened lids was HE, smiling to her eyes with brimming love adorning the partition of her head with Sindhoor. He's promising before Kanha that she's his wife forever, with a single gesture he thrashed all her insecurities - her eyes filled with tears, tears of ecstasy and euphoria. "This is my promise Jodha!!" he pledged. Tossing an ethereal smile, she devotedly bent to touch his feet and his hand lovingly laid on her head. Lifting her up and locking her head to his heart he possessively commanded. "And you promise me not to think of ending your life again, not even in dreams!!" Gleefully nodding, her hand hovered over his heart. Today she is truly wedded to him. Muh dikhayi, saath phere, sindhoor, exchanging vows they repeated all rituals of wedding albeit in their own way.

---

He didn't say how much he loved her, neither did she!! But his gentleness and care while taking over her, her willingness and yearn while surrendering to him explained it all. Snapping out of thoughts, she looked at him again - the serenity and innocence on his sleeping face reminded her of his childhood and her heart winced. Fighting for life and sleeping in war camp at an age when one should be under cuddled warmth of his parents, "huh" she painfully sighed caressing his cheek. How she wished she could curb all those dreadful memories out of him!!

"Aah Jodha.. not again," the wicked husband murmured in sleep holding her fingers on his cheek.. "I'm deadly exhausted.. you took the life out of me..", he pretended horrified and her mouth opened agape. "How devilish," freeing her hand from his grasp, she pinched his arm hard. "Who compelled whom in name of compensation for all missed nights..", her fingers mightily twisted his skin. Grinning at her assault, the impish emperor opened his eyes pulling his wife close. "What are you thinking?" playing with her side locks he asked. "Nothing..", she snuggled into his chest and he laughed loud. "When a woman says nothing, it means definitely something dangerous is running in her mind Jodha!!" he witted and she sardonically sniggered. "Should she be happy or sad that her husband is an expert woman-body-and-mind-reader??"

"When you tripped and fell on me," she suddenly remembered, "you said roses and thorns, I didn't get that Shehanshah?" with innocence personified, she lifted her head up seeking answer. He bit back a lip!!

"By bed of roses..", his fingers teasingly tapped her bare waist. "I meant your soft body..", he naughtily grinned.. "and thorns are your..", he seductively whispered to her ears. "cheee...", deeply blushing at his wry wit, she hid herself in him. Giggling more, the love-smitten husband set out to cut down one more night in his impending count.

Though the astute emperor tricked her with the answer, he had a different meaning altogether behind his remark. When he said delightful bed of roses, he referred to his life journey with her and the two thorns that pricked him were her EGO and HATRED. Blithely, their life thereafter very much symbolized a bed of roses and thorns, but through thick and thin.. through roses and thorns.. they supported each other and stayed together.. FOREVER!!

***********

"Chikkamma (Mausi/Aunty/Chithi/Pinni)... I won't give.. this is my car!!"

The helpless ladies watched horrified at the three year old crying loud and running away from them. "I warned you a three year old is a horrible company to a shop. But why'll you listen to me," a charming girl, the most irritated of the two admonished.

"Uff.. I'm the Lecturer here but sadly I end up receiving lectures all the time..", rolling eyes, the most adorable of the two, snapped back. "Stop lamenting over spilled milk and catch him!!" With that, they ran behind the storm while other visitors stared aghast at the marathon of Sari-clad, jewelry decked girls. It's a family wedding that evening and the girls were sent to a nearby gift shop for last moment shortage of gifts. They had five thousand in hand, the budgeted amount, not a penny more, neither cards. They're almost done with paying the bill of Rs4825 when the cute lad's eyes fell on his favorite toy - a remote car. To their dismay, the toy valued beyond the change they're left with and any amount of bargaining with the storekeeper didn't mete their need. Thence they tried distracting, alluring the boy with other toys, yet.. the three old stayed as stubborn as he could be.

"Stupid of me to not get my bag," the pretty lady patted head. "Had I had cards, they'd have saved us from this situation," seeing the boy uncontrollably cry, she felt truly bad. "Chikkamma... car.. uuu", he wriggled in her arms as the other lady tried to snatch the toy from him. "175 rupees.. a shortage of just 175 rupees made my ladla cry this much..." melted and sad.. she hugged him tight.

"God... how tightly he's holding," failing to snatch from his solid grip, the other girl panted. "Dolly.. leave it..let me think of a solution", unable to be a silent viewer of the cutie's sobs, the lecturer set on to calm him down first. "I'll buy that car for you chotu.. stop crying my baby.. This is yours. Dolly akka will not take from you.. I'll beat her if she takes..". The other lady, Dolly, rolled eyes in exasperation. "How'll you buy meri Maa? We have only half the amount and no time to go to venue and come back.. the groom's family will be there any minute."

"Don't rush.. let me think..", cajoling the boy, she looked around to see for any known faces that'd help them, but she found none. Then her eyes fell on the donation box at cash counter; her eyes shone with an idea. "Hold him," she passed on the boy and rushed in. "What're you doing?" baffled, Dolly followed.

"Wait and watch..", she surfed through the shelves for needed material to implement her idea. Three minutes later, what shaped up in her hands is a kid's piggy bank that transformed into a donation box. "Tell me one good name that sounds like a charity organization!!" Pasting a label to the box, she asked. "Hmm.. CARE?" intrigued by her cousin's plan, Dolly suggested.

"No.. something more impacting.."

"Hmm.. HOPE.. or Aasha in Hindi?"

"Great..," the lady stole a marker. "How about Ashajyoti..", she added another word to make the name complete. "Ashajyoti.. full of hopes..", the girls giggled. "I'm now hopeful our trick would work," they winked at each other. "You be here, I'll try our luck!!" the beautiful one darted out to exit, while the salesgirl a silent witness of at their act laughed amused.

"Come on.. come on.. ", she anxiously waited for someone to turn up. "Wow.. BMW!! We're lucky," seeing the exquisite sedan stop before the shop she gleamed elated. A man in casuals, coolers, checking his phone ascended the stairs. Mustering courage for the inexperienced awkward act, she skeptically stopped him. "Excuse me sir!!" And his attention was disturbed.

"Hi sir.. ", she let out an abashed smile before proceeding and his eyes behind the coolers narrowed. "I'm a volunteer for Ashajyoti foundation, a kid's charity organization. We're seeking donations..", she continued explaining but his mind stopped perceiving.

"When did charity volunteers started asking donations in Silk Saree and kgs of jewelry?" he looked doubtful but the lady before him appeared rich, educated and well-bred - a girl too pretty to think of as a cheater. "How much?" The girl looked strange, the place she's standing looked strange, the box in her hand looked strange, yet he yielded to her request, for, he already developed an imperceptible soft corner for the gentility in her eyes.

"One hundred and seventy five..", she immediately said taking him again by surprise. "What sort of a number is that?" his suspicion grew. "Our target is 10k per day and we're short of only Rs175 sir.. so..", she instantaneously cooked up answering his unasked doubts.

"Ok..", without any ado, he offered two hundred notes. Biting back the laugh that threatened to give away her act, she accepted. "Your address please," unlocking her phone, she asked. "My partner left for the day with the receipt book. We'll send you a receipt to your address."

"That's ok", he moved ahead unbothered. "No.. not ok," she curtly stopped him. "I'm accountable to the trust. Without address ..we can't accept!!" Skeptically staring her, he dryly said. "#143, Langfor Gardens!!"

"Thank you..", she returned the balance of twenty five rupees and smiled.

~~~

"Oh my God!!" holding Chotu tight to not let her laughter loosen the grip, Dolly hopped on back seat of Scooty. The erstwhile sobbing kid is now happy and busy with his fascinated toy. "I knew you're smart.. but didn't know this smart Akka."

"Necessity is the mother of invention," the street-smart girl winked back. "We've to return his money tomorrow, let's go after the morning pooja."

"Uffoo.. He lives in the richest locality - Langford Gardens, has a BMW... this 175 is nothing for him Akka.. forget it," Dolly carelessly said. "He may live in Langford Gardens or on Moon.. it shouldn't matter. That 175 is not mine and I've no interest in stuff that is not mine. What we needed is a temporary adjustment, I can't live in guilt of cheating," the smart, yet sincere girl rebuked.

~~~

"Sir.. those girls tricked you," the salesgirl who witnessed the entire act, revealed. "They didn't have enough money to buy a toy.. so they cheated in name of donation," to have the attention of the handsome man, she said excited. "See.. they left the box here, in case you don't believe me."

"Damn!!" he swore under breath for getting tricked. Somehow, he couldn't digest the envisage of the pretty girl being a cheater. "Appearances are deceptive.. Rich dressing and cheap thinking", he fumed within. Still.. deep inside, his intuition asserted she isn't a cheater.. for.. she asked for exactly 175 and returned the change as if she's not interested in excess.

Four hours later

"Sir.. thank you so much for coming. Uncle he's our boss," the groom introduced HIM to his soon-to-be-father-in-law. After exchanging courtesies and gifts, the elderly man invited HIM for dinner. Though his initial plan was to leave soon after gifting the groom, he had to oblige to his employee's requests and headed to the dining.

"hich.. hich..", seeing his hiccups, one of the employees rushed for water but before he returned, the boss heard a sweet voice from left. "Please take.." a dainty form is smiling to him with a glass of water. "hich.." his hiccups promptly stopped as the lady before him shocked to the core. "Please take..", she repeated almost thrashing the glass into his hand and turned to leave.

"Same sari.. same ornaments.. same girl.." he looked on puzzled. "Didn't she recognize me?" his gaze squinted at the retracting lady. Who's he? Seems familiar?" stopping on track, she turned back.

"Geetu...", she was called before she could get a proper glimpse of him. Ignoring her hunch, she moved ahead. "I've to get hold of her and teach a lesson!!" he looked on determined.

~~~

"Someone is staring at me.. who?" though engrossed in talking to her relatives, the lady could feel the heat. She looked around and spotted the same gracious young man, whom she offered water, keenly glaring at her. "These men na..", she swore under breath , ignored him and tried concentrating on her talks.

One.. two.. three.. four.. five

With every minute her discomfort increased, she couldn't endure anymore. "I'll be right back," she excused and got up. She could feel his gaze following her.. in no time she disappeared looking for her brother or father. Finding them busy, she decided to take it upon her.

"Where're you so angrily going?" her mother stopped.

"To ask him why he's ogling at me. Papa and Bhaiyya are busy," she pointed to the man with his back facing them. "God," her mother gasped. This is what she prayed for not to happen - whenever a guy indecently gawked at her, she informed her father or brother and the trio made sure the guy ran off in shame and terror. "This is wedding hall Geetu.. For God's sake don't make a scene here, spare him."

"You want me to spare a man who ogles at your daughter, and God knows what all filthy imagination runs in his mind?" she looked disgusted. "If I don't see that's different, but here he's outright disturbing me. He's a guest here and let me teach him the etiquette of a guest, you move.." she mightily advanced pulling off her mother.

"Uffo.. you spoilt child.. you're not going anywhere.. I should blame your father for this", the mother blocked her way.

"I AM GOING and you're not stopping... Doddamma.. ", she called to her mother's elder sister. "Take mom with you, the groom's mother is asking for something. I didn't get it," without waiting she stormed ahead, her heart racing up for the encounter.

"Excuse me!!" the voice from behind made HIM turn back. The girl he's searching for is right before him intently glaring at him with arms folded. "Yes.." he moved aside from the group.

"Do you want to MARRY ME?" keeping her voice low, yet firm, she seriously asked.

"WHAT??" taken aback by the absurd question, his eyes narrowed.

"I thought you do," she snapped. "..as you have been staring at me without a blink since you stepped into this hall."

"How gutsy!!" he smirked. "First cheating and then confronting!!"

"I'm staring at you to discern the real YOU behind this cultivated dressing," he retarded composed. "A few hours ago, I was made to re-believe the fact that Appearances are deceptive."

"What?" at that unexpected response, her nose scrunched. "I don't get a word of yours!!"

"You don't?" his brow furrowed in mockery. "Or are you pretending that you don't? Didn't I see how fine an actress you are?"

"Who's he?" her grey cells focused. "Looks both known and unknown"

"Not until I was cheated for Rs175.." he disclosed and her eyes widened. "Is it he?" she looked wondered. "How the hell didn't I recognize him?" she did a quick scan. Shucks.. I saw him in coolers that obscured half his face, so no wonder I couldn't recognize!!

"Was it you at shop?" she asked in confirmation.

"YES!!" he asserted and she stayed silent. How awkward the entire situation turned into in a minute? She gasped.

"I'm sorry I didn't recognize you..", she started with an apology but he cut her short.

"May be 175 is too short an amount to remember me!!"

"Huh?" offended, she glimpsed at him with brimming self esteem. "Two minutes.. just two minutes.." she said and left while he watched on with a smile.

"Here.. take your money," As she said, she returned exactly in two minutes with two hundred notes. ".. and stop looking at me like a cheater!!"

"Wasn't that cheating?" accepting the notes, he kinked a brow. "Then what is it?"

"Temporary adjustment," she retarded. "No cheater would insist on address and return change. Believe it or not, tomorrow you'd have got your money, an apology and an explanation delivered in a cover to your home."

"Hard to believe..", he smirked. "But.. I will!!"

"Thank you.. ", she let out a heartfelt smile. "And extremely sorry for tricking you. I had to that for my three year old niece. Hope you understand!!"

"Its ok.." he coolly smiled.

"Thanks again. Are you here on groom's side?" she curiously asked.

"Yes!!"

"That's a strange coincidence to see you again, so soon. Glad you believed me. Ok.. bye!!" she smiled and turned to leave when his voice stopped her. "I'll be here for ten more minutes..", he announced out of blue and she looked like so what?

"Is it okay if I gawk at you...", his audacity jolted her to the core. ".. WITH THE INTENTION OF MARRIAGE?" he completed and her mouth wide opened. He advanced a step and whispered to her ear. "Think of it.. Ms.Geeta!!" with a mischievous grin, he joined his team leaving the incensed lady behind.

***********

The game of smiles!!

Parking her car beside HIS, she sadly glanced at the time before turning the engine off. "Too late to catch him," ruefully sighing, she stepped out and the Georgette Sari pleats smoothly glided down kissing her feet. "I shouldn't have volunteered to buy these," picking up the heavy bags from back seat, she cursed herself. "..else I wouldn't have missed HIM". She started towards the elevator trying to speculate what caused her more restless - she missing seeing him or He missing seeing her in Sari, for the first time ever. Crossing past his Sedan, she glimpsed at its rear - to the right, beside the fuel tank - a tiny winy scratch not visible unless keenly seen.

"Why doesn't he get it painted?" she wondered as she always did and also recollected the day she first met the black beauty - a shining black Jaguar, to be precise. One and half month ago, one fateful morning, when she happened to arrive at work a little late than usual, she carelessly ran her scooty into the backing up Jaguar. "Oh my God!!" her heart raced at jet speed seeing the scratch her handle carved on the spotless black beauty. "Men and cars!! OMG!! What a grave blunder I did!!" she gasped in fear. "Damn!! Bloody heck..." she heard the owner's rage pouring out from opened window. She gasped harder!!

She saw HIM furiously walking towards her with his slashing gaze pinned on her. "OMG!!" she gasped again as she noticed two immediate striking truths - He's breathtakingly handsome and breathtakingly outrageous - Ironically, the second breathtaking isn't positive. Looking at his ferocious gait, she anticipated him to do that literally - taking away her breath. "Do you see?" he snapped his fingers before her helmet. "Huh?" in utter bafflement, she nodded sideways not realizing she's nodding in wrong direction.

"I knew it!!" he scoffed and turned back to check his car. And she discerned what he knew. "I'm not blind," removing the helmet, she quickly got off the scooty. "I didn't expect your car to back up, I applied brakes.. but was a little late", her explanation halted when he sharply looked back. His gaze hovered over her face a little longer and she triumphantly smiled within. She knew this is bound to happen!! A single glance at her face and any man had to melt down.

"It'd have been better if you lied you're blind" with no change in his tone or gaze he gave a head turn and her face fell. "Her charm had no effect on him?!!" anger began stirring in her. Ignoring her presence, he splayed his fingers on the scratch, sighed and started moving ahead. "I'm so sorry!!" too adamant to give up, she apologized in sweetest of the voice that could melt a rock. He stopped in his tracks and turned back. She didn't know why she smiled, but she did. "I understand how it feels, I'm once again sorry.. I'm ready to pay for..",

"Clear your scooty off the way, I've to go!!" he curtly waved his forefinger as if her apology didn't reach his ears. Gritting under breath, she moved her vehicle aside rebuking herself for uttering an apology. "No smile, no gentleness, no manners.. how arrogant!!" her curses muffled in the sound of his car engine. As she stood aside bewildered, he reversed the vehicle and then he's gone. Little known that it was only the beginning of a luscious torture, she spent the day chiding the man and his arrogance.

In days that followed, she met him couple of times in the parking or in the elevator. The first time she saw him after the awful incident, she expected him to react in some way- if not smile, at least scoff or in the minimum give her a known glance. But, to her irk, he did nothing!!

The second time when she saw him in the elevator, she faintly smiled and greeted with a Hi. And the response she got was a curt nod. "Who's he? What's his problem? Why can't he smile?" she wondered. The other day she got answer for her first question when she showed his car to her colleague friend and asked about its owner. "I too see it only recently here!! Let me find out!!" the investigative pal took a day and came up with the answer. "He's the MD of JM Enterprises that opened up in 11^th floor recently. Name.. some Mohammed!! I didn't understand the first name in the security guard's slang!!"

"MD of a company!!" her nose wrinkled. "So what?!! Don't MDs smile?" she gritted under breath. In passing days, she saw him talking to his associates but not once she saw him smile; and it stirred her curiosity manifold. "I'll make him smile!!" she challenged to herself and almost immediately set into action - in the encounters that followed she treated him with sweetest of smiles, gentlest of greetings and when nothing worked, she played reverse. "May be if I'm serious, he'll begin to smile!!" she thought and put it to implementation. Alas!! He remained as serious as he had always been. The adamancy to win the challenge grew so stronger that she failed realizing when his thoughts evaded into her personal space. She didn't notice when she began adjusting her routine to his schedule. His car entered the parking every day sharply at nine and so did she!! If she got delayed for some reason and missed him, she felt her day incomplete.

Today again is one such day!! Allotted with buying flowers and decoration stuff task to celebrate Diwali at office, she got late to work. "Oops!!" seeing the elevator doors closing, she hurriedly ran to obstruct the doors with her feet. To her relief, the nearly closed doors opened and when she looked up to find a place in the crowded cabin she saw HIM gazing at her from the right corner, HIS hand retreating from the button panel. "O.. he's here!!" a bright smile unknowingly glistened her face.

"He too got late today?" scooting to a side, she puzzled unbeknown that HE was neither late nor he arrived just then. If only she knew how restlessly HE kept looking down to the entrance gate from his cabin window in 11th floor waiting for her car or scooty to show up. And once it did, he came down to parking only to have glimpse of her. The moment he saw her running towards elevator, he concluded the wait was worth it!! Decked in a beautiful sari, carrying loads in both hands, she appeared like a cute angel. He noticed the gleam in her eyes when they spotted him and he only knew how hard he struggled to pose a stoic face, like he always did!!

It was a secret!! HIS sweet, vengeful secret!! Day one, when she tried to sell her charm with her cute apologetic smile, he indeed fell for it. But then, he also noticed the triumphant, confident, mischievous tug at corner of her lips. "Oh!! She's too confident of her charms!! This is interesting!!" he naughtily thought and decided to pretend unaffected. All along, though he discerned her strenuous efforts to earn his smile, he strictly stuck to his part of game. My, my!! How much he enjoyed this game- The game of smiles!!

He's so involved in the game that he failed realizing when she began invading his thoughts. He altered his schedule to arrive sharply at nine and when he missed her for some reason, he felt his day incomplete.

"Is it her birthday?" gazing at her sensuous back, he speculated the reason behind Sari.

"Did he notice my Sari?" she wondered, trying hard not to turn back and glimpse him.

The elevator stopped at second floor, with a few stepping out, few more stepping in, thus resulting in swapping of positions of people inside the elevator. Few moments later, she felt something uncomfortable in her position. "Not the heavy bags or the noisy crowd", she tried reasoning. "Someone is staring at my back," she discerned and slightly tipped her head checking on the man behind her. It was HIM- staring at her without a blink. "God!!" she gasped at the heat in his eyes. Not in a position to cover the steep neck blouse with pallu, she swayed her head so that the free hair splayed wider on her back. Yet, she couldn't help feeling the heat of his gaze piercing through her hair into her skin. As a reflex, her shoulders coiled in unease. She stood like a statue not flinching an inch silently praying for the elevator to soon reach eighth floor - the floor where she worked.

"Munni badnaam huyi darling tere liye!!" The sensuous item song buzzed loud in the noisy elevator bringing the crowd's talks to immediate halt. "Oh my God!!" she quivered in terror and stopped breathing. "Munni badnaam huyi darling tere liye.." the line repeated. Dropping the bags down, she hurriedly fished into her handbag. "Ouch!!" In an attempt to dash her mobile out, her hand kicked on the butt of the man standing before her and she immediately flinched back stepping on the man behind her. Her back collided with HIM and her heart disarticulated two inches down.

"What a fateful day!!" he laughed within.

"What an awful day!!" she squirmed within.

All the heads that were interestingly watching her, turned in all possible directions to hide the mushy grins. "I'm sorry!!" standing straight, she embarrassingly apologized the man before her and turned to do the same to HIM just when the song continued with its next line. "Munni ke gaal gulabi, nain sharabi, chaal nawabi re.. Munni badnaam hui darling tere liye.." Mentally smacking her head for competing with her wicked colleague in setting up lewdest possible ringtone, she pressed the silent button with all her might!!

"Sorry!!" she looked back abashed. Irking her to the core, he gave his usual curt nod. As soon as the elevator stopped at eighth floor, she dashed out with her bags admonishing her fate and his piquing nods. "Next time he nods, I'll bang my bag on his face", while she was busy swearing under breath, she heard him from behind. "Ms Munni!!" he called loud and she froze.

"Ms Munni!!" he called again walking towards her and she ferociously turned back. "Your kerchief!! You dropped it when you dropped the bags down," his hand forwarded with a mischievous glint in his eyes.

"Thank you!!" she seriously accepted. "My name is not Munni," her brows formed a frown.

"Is it?" he feigned surprised. "I thought it had to be your name!!" he made a questioning face. "Then how come those words perfectly suited you?"

"Which words?" she looked utterly confused.

"This line..", he closed in lowly humming. "Munni ke gaal gulabi, nain sharabi, chaal nawabi re!!"

Flabbergasted, her mouth wide opened and at that awesome moment... HE SMILED!! A PENETRATING, INTOXICATING SMILE IT WAS!! And she felt doused!!

Two months later, fondly splaying her fingers on the scratch of HIS car, she asked. "Why don't you get it painted?"

"I WILL NOT!!" he answered scooping his arm round her waist. "It's your sweet signature. How will I erase it?" he smiled to her eyes. Dousing in his love, she rose on her toes to seal HIS SMILE as per the game rule.

A few days before, when HE proposed HER, he also changed the rules of Game Of Smiles - Earlier, she smiled and he sealed it behind HIS LIPS. Now he would smile and she has to seal it - of course, with HER LIPS.

***************

If God Wills!!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"Will he? Will he not?" Staring at the dark humungous water form through the cabin window, she thought again. Three months before, when the question popped up for first time, she confidently dismissed it, for, she knew HE WOULD!! Fatefully, when the question recurred almost every hour of her wake, she hated the suspense it brought along. Suspense gave rise to uncertainty, uncertainty to negativity and negativity to something she despised all her life - fear!!

"11:55pm!!" Breathing deep, she smothered the pleats and got up to check herself for one last time - perfectly draped Sandal and maroon Kashmiri silk Sari, unbound hair, a small red dot glowing like fire amidst the dark brows - she adorned exactly like how she did ninety days before. Even her state of mind wasn't very different - anxious she was, then and now, for two completely different reasons. She stepped out of the cabin to put an end to the tormenting suspense.

The hallways are as silent as they are supposed to be on an impassive weekday. The distant music confirmed that the few late sleepers should be enjoying themselves in ballroom. Before embarking on the last steps to her destination, she stopped and looked around - a few whites here and there, but no traces of the lush haired BRITISH INDIAN she half expected to see!!

Shunning the disappointment slowly seeping in her, she trekked up. Halting at the entrance of sundeck, she scanned the visible portion of it. Dull and deserted it is - just like it had been three months ago. Exhaling deep, she checked time - 11:59 pm.

"Its almost time!!" Rubbing her upper arms - an act to vent out her anxiety and also to warm up from chilled monsoon night - she began walking to East. Her senses were on high wake; ears keenly erected to trace his voice, eyes sharply scanning around to spot his presence and nose drawing long steady breaths to whiff his fragrance. She's almost there, to the East of Cruise and her gait speeded up. The scattered chairs, the British flag flying agile, the starless night, the slashing wind -everything appeared same like it had been three months ago. She unconsciously held her breath as she took the next crucial steps. One... Two... Three and there she is - at the very place, at the very time they were supposed to meet. And there - he ISN'T!!

A huge relief followed by a sharp pang of defeat dissipated the alacrity in her gait. Relieved, because the suspense ended; defeated, because the ending wasn't encouraging. All these three months, she was so confident of a positive end to this day that she detested thinking of an alternative question. "What if he didn't come?"

She once again checked time. "Thirty seconds past twelve and he isn't still here. It means he's not coming!!" She decided as she knew that for sure. She didn't know much about him but she is pretty confident of one thing - if she's here at twelve, so would he!! And if he isn't, it implies he wouldn't!! Finding no reason to run around the deck looking for him, she simply headed towards the spot, their spot - the one where it all started three months back. Spreading her arms on the railing, she looked up at sky and found a familiar companion. The lone star sympathetically gazed down at her conveying something.

"What did we come for and what we did?" A secretive smile danced on her lips while her mind drifted into past!!

~~~

"11:58pm. Damn!! I'm late!!" checking her watch, she ran upstairs. If not for the impassive night of a weekday, she would have been the cause of heart attack for a few weak hearted on board. Why not? With free flowing tresses, along with the free flowing Pallu of Sandal & maroon Kashmiri silk Sari and with feet that barely touched ground, she appeared none less than an apparition.

Once on the deck, she slowed down catching up on breath. She gasped filling her lungs to their maximum and then broke into a naughty grin. "What did I come for and what am I doing?" she laughed at the stark contrast in her thoughts and actions. She briskly walked to the designated spot, a spot she had to vacate ten minutes before, to re-fix a scattered red dot between her brows. She had to fix it because Sari and Bindi on her are HIS all-time favorites.

Her feet stopped ten feet away, for, the supposed to be vacant spot is no longer vacant - it was occupied by a man, tall and brawny; his chiselled torso perfectly carved in a white Kurta-Pajama. He stood at the very place where she stood earlier; doing the exact same thing she did - gazing at the lone star.

As she stood gauging the stranger, he checked his watch and for reasons best known to her, his gesture fetched an amusing grin on her. "A Kurta clad Indian man on a deserted British Cruise deck at an odd hour of a solitary night looking into his watch and waiting for the clock to tick twelve - could anything be more interesting?" She smiled folding her arms in uplifted curiosity and remained a silent observer.

He retreated a step while she watched, bent on his knees and raised hands in prayer. A quick prayer it was as he rose to feet in less than five seconds. His arms firmly spread on the railing, his left foot easily landed on the first bar of it and then she spoke. "It's not going to work out!!" At that unexpected voice, he stood stalled and turned back.

"... definitely not", she advanced with sheer solemnity. "You are going to fail because you're facing east and the wind is blowing towards West. Haven't you heard the phrase, GO WITH THE WIND?" she quipped. "Your attempt would get you nothing than a toppled landing on the lower deck, banging your head into one of the chairs and if you hated milk when you were small, you'll also end up fracturing a few joints, which definitely is not your goal, I suppose."

An amused smile escaped his lips, as he stood intrigued by the alien form walking towards him. A Sari clad Indian woman on a deserted British Cruise deck at an odd hour of a solitary night walking towards him and reading his mind - could anything be more interesting? He smiled folding his arms. "You've a plan?" he asked and she was, for once, a little awed by the tranquility in his eyes.

"I do!!" she nodded stopping before him. "But before that..." she gauged his inscrutable eyes, "Who's SHE?" she asked and he was, for once, a little awed by the alacrity in her eyes.

"How did you guess?" he probed with a smile.

"Its generally said two losses weaken a man..." she said locking the flying Pallu, "Love and power!! You look too powerful to be weakened by the latter; hence it should be the former. And it should be a SHE unless you tell me you fell in love with a HE!!" she chuckled and he chuckled harder.

"Hindu?" he asked noticing the dot between her brows. She nodded.

"She too was!!" he calmly said and asked. "Who is HE?"

"Why do you think it is a HE?" she laughed.

"It's generally said there are damn too many trivia to weaken a girl", he quipped mimicking her. "Ranging from gaining weight to losing love. You look fit and prim, so it should be the latter. And it should be HE as a woman wouldn't give up life for another woman."

"Muslim?" she laughed at his quip and asked remembering his way of prayers. He nodded. "He too was!!" she calmly said and added. "How did you guess I came here for that?"

"With the very instinct by which you guessed my act" he grinned, "Any normal human in your place would find me an amused passenger lost in admiring the beauty of sky. It's not easy to read my mind. I bet it!!"

"Right," she grinned in agreement. "Why this place and this time?"

"Why do I feel you know the answer?" he smirked, raising an inquisitive brow.

"I think I do," she nodded pensive. "So she was part of it?" she sympathetically glanced at him, recalling the cruise mishap that shattered tens of lives directly and hundreds of lives indirectly - same day, same time a year before.

"Yes!!" he nodded and rightly guessed. "I suppose he too was!!"

For a brief moment, their eyes brimmed with pain as they ardently empathized with each other, silently nursing their unhealed wounds.

"Why are you doing this?" she murmured. She knew she's asking the absurd-est of the questions at that moment, yet she did!!

"She's a Hindu..." He opened up, "... and she believed in rebirth. I'm sure she's reborn somewhere. I'm in quest of her. I believe in her beliefs and am here to manifest it", he stated and she stared startled as if the man before her is real or a photocopy of hers, of course, with a morphed gender

"I see you too have similar reasons..." he suspiciously glanced at her startled eyes and when she laughed, his eyes widened in pure disbelief, "Is she real!! Or my replica?" Utterly astonished, they continued glancing at each other, experiencing an unknown connection silently taking its shape.

"He's a Muslim and", she elucidated, "... he believed there's no rebirth. I'm in quest of his soul that found shelter in Allah. I believe in his beliefs and am here to manifest it."

"Why did you wait for one year then?" he asked intrigued.

"To clear few debts and to fulfill few promises", she grinned. "I didn't want either of us to be cursed for abruptly leaving. And you?" she naughtily winked. "Did you want to be a year younger than her in next birth?"

"No. I had to wait for the same reason you waited," he grinned back in serious amusement. "To settle few things!" he affirmed and added. "When I first saw you, I thought you're an apparition. Now it's confirmed. Two humans can never ever be so akin. Since I'm still a human, you have to be a ghost," he laughed at her flying tresses.

"I would've been one by this time..." she guffawed loud, "... hadn't our little unexpected dalliance postponed my plans by..." she checked time, "... by two minutes."

"And after our little unexpected dalliance..." he lazily smiled, "... ANY CHANGE in your plans?"

"How about you?" she teased before answering.

"Shall we give it a test?" he proposed in gleaming delight. "I mean if our thoughts are truly compatible?!! Let's count three and we both have to give the answer when we finished three. A simple test to prove we're not copying each other's answers."

"Great!!" her hands clasped in excitement. "Let's start!!"

ONE... TWO... THREE... ABSOLUTELY NOT!!

Their voices echoed in unison. Dazzled, he stared at her in complete fascination and she was no less. His forehead wrinkled into a bemused frown and he stepped ahead to pat on her shoulder. At the same time, she too stepped ahead to pinch on his upper arm. When they realized they're confirming each others physical existence, they erupted into a loud convulsive laughter. "This can't be true!!" shaking head in mirth, she bridged the remaining gap. "Who are you, my friend?" she tenderly asked placing her hand on his chest.

"Your friend as you called..." He softly brushed his knuckles on her temple. Silently speculating the destiny's game behind this last minute companionship, they spent a poignant minute in each others arms.

"Shall we?" he whispered and she nodded. "You said you had a plan?" he asked.

"I lied" she winked. "My plans were ditto as yours. The wind philosophy is bullshit as I couldn't tolerate someone copying my plan!!"

"I thought so as the wind wasn't blowing towards West" he winked back. "You think we'd succeed then?"

"In Sha Allah (IF GOD WILLS)" she seconded with a smile. Giving her one of his best smiles, he retreated his arms from her. Standing side by side, hand in hand on the wide steel railing, they faced the giant water body and closed their eyes.

"Hare Krishna!!" he sent his last prayers and opened eyes.

"Allah ho Akbar!!" she sent her last prayers and opened eyes.

The wind smiled watching the eccentric couple, who believed in beliefs of their beloved more than their own.

ONE...TWO...THREE... GO!! Their bodies dived into air in unison, the chill wind slashed them and they held hands tight not to tear the lock apart. The projectile of their bodies finished the upper curve and started on the lower curve. They descended down at drastic speed, straight towards the engulfing water body... down... down... and some more down. And then they landed with a thud!!

"Aah..." their loud screams got muffled in the rolling rudder and roaring propeller sounds. He knew nothing except that his legs hit the railing of lower deck, for reasons unknown, that he was thrown back on to deck and most importantly that he lost her hand. He immediately got on his knees; his movements too swift like a snake and ran towards the railing. Blood began dripping from his temple, down to his cheeks and then onto his shirt, but he least cared, for he was totally oblivious of it. With thumping beats, he looked down into water for some kind of hints of the drowning or drowned lady but he found none!!

"Allah..." a loud scream tore from his heart, "No..." he cried, preparing to finish what they began together. He was back in position on railing when he heard a faint sound, "... here!!" he heard and he strained his ears against the propeller sound, his heart speeding at its maximum. "Is that you?" he shouted.

"Down..." she cried but it reached him as another faint sound. Interjecting his feet between the horizontal rails, he bent two thirds of his body down. He saw her Pallu fly and he bent some more down only to confirm he's not seeing an estranged cloth. He had to see with his eyes that the cloth is still intact on the beautiful body. And there she was- hardly three feet above water level struggling between life and no life.

"I see you!!" he first mouthed an assurance and then strained his eyes to verify she had some support. Alas, the sight he got was discouraging. She just hanged, her limbs free in air but her back hooked to something. He discerned her life entirely depended on whatever she's hooked to - it could be as strong as an iron peg or as fragile as a wooden twig. Whatever be it - he had lesser time to think and even lesser time to act.

Firmly clutching the rails with entwined feet, he bent to the maximum possible level to get hold of her flying Sari. Shucks!! He failed!! No, the beholding pins of her Pallu made him fail. "Remove the pin and let it fly up," he shouted an instruction, simultaneously doubting her mental state. "Is she in a state to act?" He dreaded at what her mind might be going through - hooked upon a meek support on a swaying Cruise, not knowing how long the support would last, ostracizing life above her and inviting end below her. "In sha Allah!!" he prayed loud. "We will do it friend!!" seeing her stay passive, he cried. "Please..." he begged, "... please don't give up."

Very true he was!! Her plight was exactly like he envisaged - with tears that pooled up behind shut lids and with her mind fixed on counting moments before drawing the last breath, she stayed still... dreading!!

She didn't know what happened to her and what's going to happen. All she knew was her feet hitting the railing; her body glided down the contours of cruise till an iron peg pierced her skin and then it hooked her up. She discerned it was her blouse that saved her and she slowly opened eyes to estimate how long she can live with a half torn blouse hooked to an iron peg. And the sight she was welcomed with was beyond her wildest imaginations. Rushing waters right below her feet, roaring engines right next to her ears, total darkness above her head, quaking limbs swaying in open air - she looked for some additional support and she realized she's hopelessly hanging in a formidable spot. She closed eyes bracing for the worst and then she heard his cries.

With resurrected hopes, she desperately shouted "HERE!" but she doubted if it reached him amidst the engine sounds. And then she heard him again... his instructions to throw her Sari up, but she didn't flinch. For, she dreaded to move. What if her minute movement caused the hook that had been holding her blouse to yield its support?!! She remained passive vacillating of the consequences when his prayers reached her ears - "In Sha Allah!!" That moment she threw up her hesitation, as she truly believed in beliefs of her beloved.

She slowly moved her hands to carefully remove the pin minding not to exert any pressure on her blouse, let it should tear apart sending her straight into water. Seeing her move, his spirits boosted up. "Bravo!! We'll do it!!" he cheered from top. When she successfully unpinned, the unbound upper portion of the six yard cloth flew up... up and up until it landed in his protruded hand. "Caught it!!" he happily yelled from top and then she released the breath she had been withholding.

Quickly tying the cloth to rails, he passed on next set of instructions. "Ready!! Hold it firmly with right hand" he watched while she followed his instructions. "Now, pull some portion of cloth out of your waist and twirl it around your left hand." She did exactly what he said and once done, she shouted at top of her voice. "Ready!! Pull me up!!" The gale in her voice conveyed how boosted her morale was with the new found support.

"One... two... three!!" At end of three, he jerked her up with all his power and she screamed. "Are you ok?" he asked horrified and she shouted she's fine, clenching pain between teeth. The iron hook finally set her free, throwing her into open air, but not before deeply kissing her skin. Though it hurt, she loved the hook!! She gave one last thankful glance to it and then looked up - to her second savior!!

She saw him, stretching down the railing and trying his best to save her. She saw him and only him while he powerfully pulled her up battling against the even powerful gravitational force. "You're almost there!! Hold on tightly." He encouraged but it fell deaf on her ears. Her mind is totally fixed on contemplating about the man, and the reasons behind their last minute encounter.

"Hold the rail with right hand" He instructed and she realized she was pulled up - towards life and away from fear. She did as he said and slowly crossed past each bar of the railing. When she's sure enough, she placed her feet on the bottom rod, holding the top one with both her hands. Without waiting a moment, he forcefully scooped her up and they rolled back onto deck with their bodies cuddled in each others embrace.

"Thank God!!" he sighed clutching her tight, feeling assured of her existence. "Thank you!!" she cried coiling into his arms, feeling assured of his presence. Too drained to move, they stayed like that while the radium hands of his watch blinked the time: 12:06am.

"Three minutes!!" he thought, caressing the fragile form. "Three minutes and a complete U-turn of our lives!! Why? Who's she to me? Who am I to her?" Lost in thoughts, he brushed against her bruise and she winced. "What is that?" he asked and she got up sitting straight.

"A sweet memoir of the night!!" she smiled and noticed his blood stained Kurta. She traced the line of blood up and stopped above his temple. "Oh!! You too have a sweet memoir," she joked pressing an end of her Pallu against his wound. Grabbing the other end, he pressed it against her back.

"Shall we see a doctor?" she naughtily suggested, thoroughly aware of the consequences of it. "Not unless we are prepared to be kicked on our butts first" he seriously opined. "... and then treated to endless Psychiatric sessions while we rotted in jail under the charges of suicide." She laughed at the gravity in his timbre and he too laughed. "Don't you think jumping again into Channel is a better option?"

"Right!!" she gladly agreed standing up. "While we're on the topic.. let me ask why I felt like.." she pulled the down lying Pallu up and stood frozen watching the direction it flew. He stared baffled at what she stared and then they looked up confirming their surmise.

Their supposition is true - indeed, the wind is blowing towards West - the changed direction of British flag too testified!!

Bedazzled, they glanced at each other and broke into a rapturous grin. "It wasn't total bullshit you see", she flaunted. "It WAS when you stopped me", he retorted. "... but not when we jumped. I think the wind heard you and changed its direction!!"

"Do you think we succeeded or failed?" she wondered.

"Let's decide on it while we nursed each others wounds" he offered, draping the flying cloth around her uncovered torso.

"Now... it is proved" she smiled holding his hand and walking along, back to cabin, back to life.

"What?"

"If God Wills!!"

Occupied in their world, the couple missed noticing a second star that made its silent appearance beside the erstwhile lone star.

~~~

A beautiful smile brightened her face as she remembered the fateful night. Drifting out of thoughts she checked time - 12:03am. Three minutes past twelve and he isn't yet here. She looked up at the lone star and unconsciously her left foot lounged over the bar of railing.

"It's not going to work out!!" She heard from behind and at that compelling voice, she stood stalled and turned back.

"... Definitely not" he advanced with sheer solemnity. "You are going to fail because you're facing east and the wind is blowing towards West. Haven't you heard the phrase, GO WITH THE WIND?" he quipped. "Your attempt would get you nothing than a toppled landing on the lower deck, banging your head into one of the chairs and if you hated milk when you were small" He smirked as he steadily approached her. "Which I'm sure of as I too hated it, you'll also end up fracturing a few joints, and that definitely is not your goal, I suppose."

An ecstatic smile escaped her lips, as she stood enthralled by the expected man walking towards her.

"So do you've a plan?" she teased, folding her arms.

"I do!!" he nodded stopping right before her. "But before that..." He noticed the returned fervor in her eyes. "I've a question for you!!"

"Is it about the note I left before I disappeared the next morning?" she guessed, intently looking for the bruise above his temple.

"No!! About what we did after returning to Cabin and before you disappeared in the morning!!" he closed in, unfolding her arms and taking her fingers into his. Reveling in his proximity, she patiently waited for him to speak - half guessing what he intended to ask.

"Why?" he gazed straight into the depths of her brown orbs. "Why didn't you stop me? You were fully conscious, fully aware of what's going to happen, yet why didn't you stop me?" he pulled her close. "Why did you offer YOU to me when you didn't do that even to HIM?"

Smiling straight to his inscrutable eyes, she softly asked. "And when you realized the truth, which I'm sure you did, why didn't you stop then and there? What made you proceed?"

"The feeling of being loved!!" he revealed, firmly holding her elbows. "I so damned missed it that I couldn't refrain when it is offered. And also to lure ourselves back to life!!"

"My exact thoughts", her eyes gleamed in part disbelief and mischief. "Though we slightly differ in definition of missing being loved!!"

He laughed and circled his hands around her. "And then you leave me with a stupid note?" he read, recollecting the exact words in her note - Let's give our compatibility a test. Meet me after three months, same time, and same place!! Till then Good Bye friend!!"

"What did you do after seeing that note?" she curiously asked, scooping her arms round his waist.

"What do you think I did?" he teased, brushing his hand above her spine.

"Decided then and there to meet me after three months?!" she rightly speculated.

"I did that and much more" he winked, running his finger into her blouse, tracing the old wound. She twitched at the shudders he sent down her spine, and he laughed continuing with his act. "I grabbed your watch on side table, just beside the note and forwarded the time by three minutes."

"What?" she screamed astonished. "How did you do that when I already left before you woke up, with my watch on my wrist?"

"I did that...", his face descended down, his lips seductively whispering into her ears, "... after you abruptly woke up from sleep, sat pensive for a while and then scribbled the note. You're busy draping your Sari, with you back towards me, giving me ample time to sneak into your note and plan my actions. I was in wide wake when you kissed me good bye!!"

"Why didn't you stop me then?" she thought she screamed but it came out as a mere whisper, all hails to his sensuous lips on her earlobe.

"Because..." He kissed the soft skin that held the diamond stud. "I too wanted to test our compatibility. By the way, how did you plan to prove it?"

"I planned to..." resting her forehead against his and tightening her clasp around him, she wetted her parched throat, "...meet you after three months, and ask one question that would decide if we're compatible.

"What is that?" curving his fingers around crook of her neck, he asked.

"That is to ask you what did you do these three months" She whispered the question and before he answered she shushed him up. "Let's count three and say the answer together at end of three!!"

ONE... TWO... THREE... "Back to life, tried my best not to think of the night and eventually failed!!" The moment they discerned what they said, they zeroed the gap between their lips, their bodies and apparently their hearts!!

She had too many questions to ask him, like "Why he forwarded time by three minutes?" "Why he loved her three times that night?" "Why she felt she was pulled back when they jumped from railing?" "Why he wore a traditional Kurta-Pajama then and now?" and most importantly "Who are you, my love? What's your name?" She badly needed answer to last question, for, she has to give his last name to the lives taking shape with in her. It's a secret!! Her little precious secret she planned to share tonight and thank him for luring her back to life.

He had too many answers to give her, like "He forwarded time to stealthily watch her like she watched him last time and give back her own advice" "He loved her three times that night just because three is his lucky number", "She felt she was pulled back when they jumped off the railing, because he actually DID", "He wore a white Kurta-Pajama for the exact reasons she wore the same sari then and now - as their beloveds loved them that way" and most importantly "I'm your love as you called. And my name, you'll eventually know when you sign the wedding deed!!" He also had to say that he's aware of her secret - her little precious secret she hasn't yet shared, though he cracked it by himself when his hands glided over her slightly plump tummy. And he did thank her for luring him back to life.

Since their lips were too busy fighting for domination, their compatible grey cells executed with the talking session. Gone with the wind of love, they failed noticing the British flag flying in a changed direction, towards West and also a second star showing up its place beside the erstwhile lone star.

*********