'Footprints': Adi-Metz FF, Ch.7 up! 06/16

Hey guys, no questions or explanations... Lets just say I'm crazy! Lol, here goes another...

"Footprints"

"Some people come into our lives and quickly go. Some stay for awhile and leave footprints on our hearts. And we are never, ever the same."

Chapter 1: Fire and Water

Lifting veiled eyes, she braced herself for a look at the zealous skies, finding it very much like what was expected? dusky, grey? Blinking quickly, she retreated her gaze towards her rain-soaked clothes. There was a howling storm; one as such seemed to occur rarely? In sync with her mindless observation, she suddenly found an image in her mind come alive through a haze. Dark, passionate? overwhelming? Closing her eyes for a minute, she allowed the unseen eyes of her mind slowly etch out the details of the familiar eyes? and then abruptly opening her own. The air seemed to have thickened just as quickly, and she found herself unexpectedly short of breath. What was she thinking? And why? after so many years. The water stuck to her for life, and she decided this was all getting to her head? An unexpected breakdown of her car, no available taxis thanks to this unforeseen weather, it all had her in a hazy state. Shaking her head she pulled her dark, lavender chunri over her head? letting her fingers linger there for a few minutes before stepping back into the muck.

Taking a few hesitant strides, her mind fluently distanced again as her eyes stared deeply into the mud? A current of startling air brushed past her cheek, leaving a spiral of shivers run down her body. Again, she felt herself falling at the thought? the memory? Why now?

(Flashback)

Faraway the cawing of soaring birds clung to the soft air. Waves of fierce water raced against one another, rising... and falling... as they touched the delicate sands. As far as the eyes could see, a mass of tan-coloured dust lay as an open blanket, untouched by wanderers? but inescapable to an admiring gaze?

They walked along, taking long, uncalculated strides. The tender sound of their footsteps was muffled as their feet stepped into the moist sand. There was nothing awkward about the silence between them? it was soft, peaceful? compassionate. With passionate eyes, they scanned the plain before them. A yawning sun was readying to bid adieu in peaceful setting, while the sluggish clouds parted for a blend of colours to fill in the blankness. It was a scene of tranquility.

The sky seemed to descend to the grounds in these few minutes, as her aimless thoughts touched the zenith of content. Here, as she walked quietly with this man, her life before this moment slipped into the abyss of the forgotten. The missing piece of her jigsaw had finally been fit into place? A slender, timid smile formed discreetly on her crimson lips as the tender touch of his skin touched upon her own. His index finger had seemingly found a place in grasping hers, while the later responded with a curl? interlocking in consent. The demanding voice of water crashing more violently against the shores filtered into her thoughtless state. Her thoughts suddenly gained momentum, even in there blankness? Why was the water raging? her heart pounding? An unknown fear crept within her heart and she realized that her feet had stopped. Was it right to disturb this peace?? Why was the ocean so furious? It suddenly seemed so near to her? as though something had awakened within her, after long years of dormancy. Before the silent questions could be addressed, she felt the ground beneath her give way? Looking up, it dawned on her that her fears were nothing? Nothing in the arms of this soldier who now carried her so gracefully, to a place she did not know, nor perhaps cared? This solider, her soldier? if love be a war.

Presently, the nameless insecurities within her dimmed against the spark of soothing embers peering into her through the dark reservoirs of his soul-searching eyes. It was as though nothing beyond this moment had ever existed? she hadn?t existed. How could she have ever existed? without him? It seemed such an unfathomable idea? unnerving. Clasping her hands further together behind his neck, she continued staring at the dusky features intently? as though rendering them entirely her own, carving them in her memory. The gentle smile retreated upon her lips again, void of any fears?

She could hear the ocean more closely now, as he carried her towards the indefinite line between water and earth. In a hazy state, her eyes fleetingly wandered behind him? a single set of footprints engraved freshly in the moist dirt. But the singularity was deceptive? It marked not the journey of one, but two? which had somehow become one. The thought made her muscles unravel in their rigidity. Words were less in expressing what she felt? it was just something of experience.

?You see those footprints Maithali? Whenever you feel you?re alone, remember them? Remember them with thoughts of me, carrying you? in your solidarity? You?ll never be alone?? (Maithali... Ye nishaan dekh rahi ho... Jab bhi kabhi akelapan mehsoos ho na, toh inn reth mein dabbe nishaan apne zeham mein bhar lena... Tumhari tanahai mein bhi main shaamil rahoonga...)

Her distant eyes lingered at the imprints, freshly moist in the dirt... A few absent strands of hair danced lightly before her gaze, but they formed no barrier to her yonder view. Her features were calm, inflexed... Slowly, she turned her eyes back towards him. He was standing still, but there was no indication of tension... Her attention shifted from his calm features towards the direction of his sight... A dreamy complexion of sunset hues awaited her in warmth. But even this marvellous vision seemed to hide something of an intense passion.

Chalka hai?

Jahan se aankhon mein?

Woh rang sunehra dekha hai?

Sab pyaar ki baatein karte hai? maine pyaar ka chehra dekha hai?

Feeling icy warmth upon the ends of her toes, she realized she was now sitting on the shores... her arms still clinging to his neck, as though this were impossible... without him. She knew it was. Releasing him, she shifted to a position direct to the fallen sun... leaning against his chest while he sat behind her. His arms which had now sat loosely to her sides, now enclosed upon her... effectively sealing her from all else.

Time lapsed into the insignificant... as they sat there for minutes uncounted. Blinking indifferently, she thought she felt a light imprint of his lips upon her temple... it lingered, filling any remote place of emptiness within her.

(End Flashback)

Blinking, he ceased the memory in its course? sealing it back where it remained? irremovable.

A thin trail of silent curses fell through with the next few breaths he exhaled. They came in heavy sighs, as though having neared a fatal edge. Lifting a hand, he ran it through his dark mane? over his eyes? surprised by the moisture that had unknowingly formed on his face. He had ventured so close? so close. How? All of that was insignificant now, wasn?t it? It had been for years? had it not?

Looking to the side, he recalled the half-full glass, which he had at some point discarded on the small table. Slowly, the rest of the scene returned to him. Half-full? half-empty? what difference did it make to him anyways? He laughed inwardly? a sarcastic, low laugh.

So persuading himself, the rest of him returned? the same, bitter-sweet nature of? His eyes wonderingly poured over the name sticking out of the document set afore? Vikram-Aditya Mehra.

Seene se laga kar rakha jinhe?

Hum jin ki khaatir hi khaakh hue?

Ehsaas ye hota hai ek din?

Mutti se? woh rishtey? phisal gaye?

He could again hear the swift whistle of wind and rain pounding in a vicious challenge to each other outside. In some strange way, it seemed to satisfy him? Getting up with the glass in hand, he took slackened steps towards the window revealing a retiring city. Just a few hours, he thought. It had been but a few hours since he had stepped into this damn city, and that?s all it took. Bringing the acidic liquid to his mouth, he relished the burning sensation in his mouth. Mumbai City? a city of dreams? one that had shattered all his. Sweet irony, he thought with a wicked grin lazy-ing on his lips.

Water streamed down the window pane? as though trying to burn the unseen fire inside. Foolish downpour, he thought, this fire has been burning for years? it?s going to take more than one of your most brazen attempts to quench it.

*~*

Extending a nervous hand outwards, she braced an unexpected fall. Looking up startled, the rain soaked through her thoughts again. The wind churned violently through her clothes, threatening her dupatta, but she clung to it defensively? who knew what would unravel with its unveiling.

Ek pal ko? ye toofan aata hai?

Ek pal ko saare lehron mein?

Iss reth se lekin sadiyon taq? kadmon ke nishaan reh jaate hai?

Reh jaate hai?

With an unknown instinct, she suddenly had an urge to look up again. It was as though something were there, following her. Fighting off the urge as a stupid, insignificant feeling, she decided to move on towards her apartment, which was thankfully only a few more minutes away. But as she set a foot forth, she found it difficult to move. Instead, she looked upwards again? A blinding stream of moisture washed over her face? while she fleetingly caught the stormy sky, and the dimmed lighting of a large building. There were lots of windows, but it seemed none of them were lighted. Strange, she thought. Dismissing the mindless observation, she continued on hurriedly.

Comments/ Criticisms/Suggestions all welcome! - Song is from a t.v. serial that used to come on Zee TV called "Reth"...

Cheers,

** Hey all, sorry for the delay... Heres the next chapter, a little slow but its a part to progress the story. Please let me know what you all think and thanks for the patience, much appreciated!

Chapter 6: "Tanhai"

The sound of glass echoed against the silent walls of the room stirring her into consciousness. A moment of blankness followed as she stared from the mixture glass and deep red scattered across the floor, to his hand.

The flash of paralysis fell through as her feet reacted automatically to the unforeseen event. Panic filled her veins as she ran towards him in a hurry.

"Adi… ye… tum bhi na… Kitna khoon bheh raha hai… Oh God… Adi…" For a few precious moments, her incoherent phrases began to eat away at the awkward silence separating them…

Finding her next to him in such fright, for a bittersweet second, he felt the pain take on a soft tone… She was examining his wound, so lost in his hurt to notice the greater reality. Her eyebrows arched in growing anxiety, while creases of worry lined the rest of her features so radically, as though the pain belonged to her… A low, scornful chuckle bubbled in his chest at the thought. He watched with a disinterested wonder as her lips pursed together, blowing a feather of soothing air on his injury. Removing the visible particles with utmost care, she used the end of her dupatta, trying to calm unfelt waves of pain on the inner side of his hand. The physical pain trying to catch his attention felt little when he realized the ache in her expressions. It was a sick, disgusting pleasure… Yet, he savoured it… savoured it with a taste of bitterness in his mouth.

He watched her eyes dance wildly from his wound to her surroundings… looking… searching… And finally, she lifted herself still bustling in anxiety, running to his right side. Frantically, her fingers opened and closed drawers… settling shakily on the white box, imprinted with a red cross.

The feral look in her eyes quietened as the last of the cuts were covered with the stretchy white band. The mumbled words also dulled down, while she cast a suspicious glance over the finished work… As if looking for assurance, her gaze shifted towards his… freezing in their movement. There was a gentle tremble in her lower lip, and he felt a bizarre urge hold his finger to it… to allow it to dim under his spell. But then the moment was too precious. Somehow, the open wound seemed to bring an unexpected, almost forgotten, sense of vulnerability. His eyes shifted nervously at his hand for a second before he pulled it away, cocooning himself tightly, defensively… casting away the enchantment. Getting up, he turned his attention to the bundle of red roses immediately attacking his senses, while remaining stiff in their presence within the black vase. He could sense her stare at his form, adorned in a sleek midnight suit, hovering over the deep, seductive, red of the flowers. Her expression would be tender, but not surprised… hurt, but not demanding.

Red roses, they never appealed to him much on their own… not even in those days. Their fragrance was too pungent… demanding… a clash to his nature of things. He much preferred a mixture with white ones… their subtleness was layered with mischievous allure… Much like…

"Adi… Kaisi hai woh?"

Silence.

His back was turned to her, but he could sense the twitch in her cheek muscle… the absent-minded twirl of the end of her veil as it danced to the air… the changing tones in her face… the increasing depth of her big eyes… the whitening of her knuckles as his response took its time…

It was inevitable, the question… but now that it lay before him, he found a wrinkle of doubt crease inside.

"Sunnah hai, jahan who rehti hai… wahan sabh ache hote hain," (I've heard, where she lives… everyone lives well) he stated with a hint of pensiveness… The sensitivity of the moment was not immune to him, nor the subject.

Saya bhi saath jab chodh jaaye… aisi hai tanhai…

After years, she had escaped through his lips… Shalini. It wasn't that he had ever forgotten her, he never could… even if he wanted to. The thought of the person behind him had always kept his deceased wife alive…

Rona chahoon toh… Rona chahoon toh… aansoon na aaye…

Aisi hai tanhai…

A distant part of him wished to turn around, knowing her eyes to be turning into stone… the crumbling of her figure, as the Earth began to slip from beneath her uncertain feet… the tenderness of so many feelings flush her existence… Instead, he remained firm… refusing the past to flood the present, drowning him from himself…

The breath caught in her throat as she tried to unwind this information… trying to make it a figment of her imagination. But even her imagination was not so strong…

Joh aise chodh ke… mehboob jaaye… Toh jeene se kyun na dil… oobh jaaye…

It seemed like yesterday, but as his voice echoed in her head, she realized it was not. It was years ago, years ago… In the subconscious end of her mind, she again wished what had been her sole desire since the day she had left… She wished it were her. But no, it wasn't. In these years, the possibility of this loss had swept past her, but she had always guarded her hope with an iron fist. Now, everything seemed… lost. She felt an emptiness stare into her, an emptiness that was absolute. With leaded feet, she found her body function on automatic… outside the office… the building…

*~ Hours later~*

A long shadow of remorse fell across the soft floor in the form of her distorted shadow. Her body ached with the unmeasured amount of time she had sat there, in a crouching position behind the sofa… hiding. She allowed the physical pain drain her, hoping for it to overwhelm all other sources of soreness. But hoping was a dull affair now, only isolating her further. She was hiding, yes. Hiding from the truth, the memories, her, him… the accusing eyes. The loss was too much to bear… Life hadn't betrayed her wholly, but she had completed the unfinished task. It was her fault… this emptiness… this hole in her existence.

Woh bhi toh humse kho gaye hai… Aisi hai tanhai…

Underneath this veil of darkness, it seemed she stood in a centre with nameless fingers pointing towards her… She hadn't cried at all. But it was her only desire right now, just to let is escape through the tears… but they refused to oblige. And so she sat… hoping for the night to last… so she could hide under its darkness…

Ab toh dil rooteh, dard manaye… Aisi hai tanhai…

Saya bhi saath jab chodh jaaye… Aisi hai tanhai…

An even greater truth hid in her chest every night and she silently cradled it… rocking it into innocent slumber… hiding it from the unseen…

(Song lyrics from the movie the movie "Dillagi", sung by Ustad Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan)

Comments/ Criticism/ Suggestions all much welcome!
Cheers,
dc

"Lagta hai bheegne kii addat padh gayee hai tumhe," the comment reeked of exhaustion. Nothing out of the ordinary…

She wondered for a few seconds at the cold darkness contained within the white china in her hand, before taking a quiet sip. Instantly, her lips puckered as bitterness struck the inside of her mouth with an unexpected anger. She held it there, in her mouth for a few lingering moments, calming it, just like every time. Swallowing the liquid, she brought it again to her readied lips… bracing them for another round. It was after the third sip, when her taste buds finally reacquainted themselves with the flavour that she turned around, focusing on the doe-like eyes of Riyaza Mehmood Ali, the second balancing factor in her life.

Her lips parted for a brief second… but then the thought drifted… and so did her will to recapture it. But then again, it was too late as her friend had a particular expression on her face as she gingerly arrested her with her distant gaze. Within this pause, she studied Riya's features, outlining them with her eyes as though seeing her for the first time. Their life was so perfect… Maithali/Metz, Riyaza/Riya… Shalini/Shalu. Lacking words, she turned back towards the cup, a solitary figure on the large marble island. Curling the middle three fingers around the handle, she quickly jugged back a few sips. It was a feeble attempt in trying to avoid the familiar pang cut into the left side of her chest as she recalled the images of times spent together.

Riya had always been the practical one, the one who made the decision of where to go when the other two were indecisive, the one who told them that A was better than B because... She was always the "thinker" and they put the plan into action. Then Dil entered her life and Shalini left the picture, literally. That is when Maithali and Shalini recognized another side to their friend. Riya was always frank, sometimes, too much so. Her blunt manners did take a low seat, but only in the presence of close ones. She was never one to embrace new people smoothly, until Dilbar Khan stepped into her life. Maithali always felt that Riya was insecure of herself, a topic she had daringly touched in conversation with her friend once. It was that day, when she learned about the man in her friend's life… She was afraid to lose Dil. All this information sounded so distant, clichd, even ridiculous to her at moments, until her own dil wandered into untried waters… Riya and Dil were in love, something so pure, untouched by her own heart… she admired her friend's relationship, secretly wondering if such a path would lay before her one day. It had been five and a half years since Riya and Dil were brought together by a traditional nikaah, and the last two had passed as they tried fruitlessly for a child. Although her friend rarely spoke of it, she could feel the mist of pain edge her unsettling eyes.

It was Riya's frankness that allowed Maithali and herself to keep from falling completely apart after their irredeemable loss. Maithali had always admired her friend's composure, her ability to listen and assess and... Accept. But somewhere within, Maithali knew, even Riya had not been fully able to accept Shalini's physical absence. She was a tough shell, but the event had punctured her in a place she had not ever expected... and as much as she tried to cover it, the hole could never be entirely covered.

Riya sighed, tired, both physically and emotionally. Her hands had reached out pull in the large rectangular frame of the glass, but fell to her sides when a flicker of giggly air met her skin... For a few reminiscent seconds, she stood facing the outside. For the first time, she found herself looking for more than the obvious... finding it surprisingly easy. It was a warm autumn day, the vibrant sun making itself present between scattered spaces not occupied by the leaves on tall trees. The atmosphere was relatively quiet... while the light drizzle came down randomly, but sweetly. Laughter could be heard in some unseen corner, an escatic, bubbly laughter… and then her eyes fell towards the three colours dancing in the rain. Shalini, dressed in a vibrant orange, Maithali in a lemony yellow, and herself in a sea green…

"Kissi ne shayad kaha tah… Coffee should be black as hell… strong as death… and sweet as… love…" (Author unknown)

The reverie broke away as she turned now to face the back of her friend, still holding the cup in hand. Her arms crossed briefly, she walked casually towards the other side of the counter, pulling out a glass. "Tumhe toh coffee kabhi pasand hi nahin thi, ab chahe wohe kaali ho, tez, yaan meeti…" (You never even liked coffee, whether it was dark, strong, or sweet…) she responded nonchalantly, feeling oddly relaxed. Now opening the fridge, her eyes settled on the jug of water, before scanning other contents disinterestedly. Filling the glass, she replaced the jug and went to fill the empty seat across from her friend. Taking a long sip, she finally looked up to see Maithali still engrossed by the dark liquid…

Silence provided companion for an unknown period of time.

"Mujhe coffee aaj bhi nahin pasand… Ye toh sirf ek bahana hai," she began, oblivious of any ears witnessing her awakening past…

Flashback

Mumbai was in the midst of one of its strongest monsoon seasons. The vast sky was coloured grey, while Mother Earth lay drenched with the muddy imprints of her ignorant children… Through flashes of windshield wipers, he caught an old man yell a few angry words at a hurried cyclist, a cluster of bodies huddling under the mini roof of a bus stop, while heads popped out randomly through the line of cars ahead of him.

Leaning back into the leather, he loosened his grip on the wheel, while rolling his head back into the headrest… Closing his eyes, he felt the pungent smell of dark, strong, sweet coffee. Voluntarily, a tender, reminiscent smile touched lightly upon his lips… and slowly, he opened his eyes, appreciating the looseness of his muscles. In the same tune, he turned the dial in the music compartment, immediately caught off guard by the ease with which the air mingled him… He was never much for mushy-soft Hindi solos and duets, but he felt even in a disinterested way, the melody tugged beyond his crust…

Ishq tere ne hume khoob nachaya… mar gaye hum hai rabba…

Ishq tere ne sariyaam lutaya… mar gaye hum hai rabba…

Ishq tere ne har baar churaya… mar gaye hum hai rabba…

Ishq tere ne hume yoon sataya… mar gaye hum hai rabba…

The beginnings of thunder tried in vain to break the inexplicable tranquillity overwhelming him…

Sajni hooo… sajni… hooo…

Behind the cover of his lids, now rest a forest… a silky black forest… A forest that whipped in the presence icy breeze, sending another wave scatter across a face… Distantly, he could hear the thunder begin rage with a stronger force. Curiosity interrupted the softness of the flow as he tried to penetrate the forest…

Sajni hooo… sajni hooo…

Alas, he caught a distinctly outlined pair of eyes… sharp, incisive eyes… As another whisper of the breeze breathed against the layers of the forest, he couldn't help but wonder…

Teri yaad mein sajna… subhaa shuru ho jaati hai…

Teri yaad mein sajna… raatein mujhe tarpaati hai…

The eyes were dark… so dark, they seemed unusually light…

Saathi yaan tare bina… mora laage na jiya…

Tere bina meri raat hai… tarpan din raat hai…

The chords of his mind churned with one another… He knew them… those eyes… Again, he saw them smiling back at him… striking… Within the next beat he realized he could recognize those eyes anywhere… They reminded him of…

Sajni ho… Sajni… hooo…

Opening the curtains, he allowed his surroundings to melt him again with reality. As he lifted them, his eyes caught a familiar face… Or so he thought. Could it be? Na, turning his attention back to the front, he remembered the traffic line, which seemed to have loosened… with him… And then it came flashing through the abundance of sky… a demanding stroke of… lightening. He bore into the place where he had seen the deadly flicker moments before… and then allowed his gaze to wander back in the direction of the woman shedding what seemed like a stream of curses. Her strong features gave an air of irritancy.

Sajni hoo…

The tune had somewhere lost against the lightening bolt, and found a sophisticated smile tingle at the edge of his lips. Turning the volume dial low, he continued his distant observation.

"Beep… beep!" Jerking into movement, he realized the traffic had dimmed and it was his go… Smile still intact, he swerved cautiously, but coolly, to the right.

"Aaj toh Bijlee pe bhi bijlee gir padi…" (Looks like a lightening bolt struck Lightening herself…) he commented while putting his machine into park, and giving her an amused expression to judge. Her eyes were violent, like the thunder shaking the earth, and striking like the lightening. As they found him, he was surprised to notice the fire dim, giving way to a impish twinkle.

"Mr. Mehra…" The name rolled off easily from her mouth, a memorable tone to it. She was approaching his window… or so he had thought. Instead, she turned to the right door to her car, her hand on the handle… her face turned towards him.

"Aisa din kabhi nahin aayega… aur aap toh who aakhri insaan hoge na, jinneh ye baat mujhe samjhani padey…" (Such a day will never come… and you're the last person I should need to explain that to…) With that, she ran a few fingers through tangled bits of hair. The lemony-yellow chunri that had fallen off her head, now found its destination again with the help of her precise fingers. As she lifted her arm, he watched with unexplained interest at the clear drop cascading down the side of her cheek… the length of her neck… and lose itself somewhere…

"Chaho toh main tumhaari madat kar sakta hoon…" (If you want, I can help you…) he offered nonchalantly. Immediately, her attention shifted to him. He could feel the friction race each breath that passed between them…

"Shayad aapko yaad hoga, maine aapse kabhi kaha tah…" (Perhaps you will remember, I once told you…)

"Jiss din mujhe tumhaari zaroorat padehgi na Mehra…uss din waqt toh kya, saari kayanaat ek pal mein tham jaayegi…" (The day I need your help Mehra… that day, not only will time stand still, but so will the entire universe…) Her attention paused entirely on him for a moment. "Mujhe bhi koi shaunq nahin hai… but tum chaho toh iss madat ke badle… mujhe coffee pilaah sakti ho," (Not making a habbit of it… but if you want, you can make me a cup of coffee in exchange for this favour) he offered. If she was surprised, she knew well how to mask it… Instead, all he caught was the smile spreading to her lips before she walked to the passenger side of his car.

The drive was strangely comfortable… It amazed him how easily conversation threaded between them. They talked about their recent meeting, which was a breezy affair, still fresh in his mind… And then the unexpectedness of this one. "Lagta hai upar waale chahta ke hum phir milein… tabhi toh baar baar…" (It seems the one in the skies wants us to meet… that's why we keep…)

As they came to a stop in the parking lot of her apartment residence, he watched her turn herself completely to face him with a complicated smile… "For your information sweetheart, ye sirf doosri baar hai… aur waise bhi, coffee mujhe pasand nahin…" (… this is only the second time… and besides, I don't fancy coffee…), and with that she was outside, waiting for him, while adjusting the lemony veil… playing with her tendrils.

Stepping into the small, but spacious living area, he took in a well-recognized fragrance beckon his senses. He wasn't at all surprised at the deep, urbane tones of the interior… blacks, whites, greens and hints of yellow. As he came towards the white ottoman, his curious gaze fell upon a moment captured in the small frame. Three young, smiling faces, only the one which he recognized. Walking past the object sitting solitarily on the cherry side-table, he made himself comfortable on the sofa.

Closing his eyes momentarily, the recent events of his day flashed past his mind. A strange excitement bubbled in his chest… like when one finds something long lost. Along with it, came… confusion. Feeling a tingle on his cheek, he opened his eyes… only to see hers pour into him. The thunder outside could faintly be heard… but besides the fact, he could hear something near him pound… something close… his heart. It was as though he had been caught in the midst of a lie. Shedding himself of the awkward feeling, he gave himself to the beautiful scene afore. Her hair was no longer a matted mess, rather a stunning wave of curling ends… the bronzish tone of her skin highlighted now with loosened skin… the lemony attire retired for a pristine white salwar kameez. He always knew she was beautiful, but that was a fact over-shadowed by the friction dominating between them. It was perhaps one of the rare moments he actually had to appreciate her uniqueness…

"Le loh… main coffe le kar aati hoon," it took him a delayed moment to realize she was handing him something… a towel. Slightly embarrassed, but not showing it, he rubbed his face with his right hand as though judging a long slumber. Indeed, he had no idea how long it had been…

"Thanks," he murmured while taking the towel with one hand and removing his blazer with the other.

The kitchen was attached to the main area, and he could see her deftly, as she worked around to prepare him his part of the exchange. Undoing the first three buttons of his shirt, he loosened the tie snaking around his neck and then proceeded to fold the arms…

"Nice place" he commented to the air.

"Thanks" he heard the response. The smile in her voice was evident. "Tum apni coffee kaise lete ho?" (How do you like your coffee?) He got up and wandered to where she was readying the ingredients. Leaning across the marble surface, the only dividing factor between them, he matched her questioning eyes. "Coffee, should be black as hell… strong as death… and sweet as love…" Her attention did not buzz and it dawned on her after a few seconds how awkwardly close they were… He was leaning in, and she had already been doing so… She could feel the warmth of his breath touch upon her face. Feeling self-conscious, her eyes fell lower to his… His lips were a breath a way… It suddenly felt like he would lean in, and she had no knowing what to do. Her heart seemed to freeze like her body…

The sound of metal meeting marble caught them both off guard. A silent thanks whispered into the air, as she removed her stiff position and walked to the range. As she fumbled with the bubbling pot, he realized how her hands had begun to shake. Quietly berating herself, she dabbed the end of her chunri against her forehead, feeling light drops of perspiration on the side.

Tray in hand, she arrived in the living area and set it down on the centre table… all the while, effectively avoiding his gaze until handing him his coffee. "Umeed hai, aapko achi lage gi," (I hope you like it) she suggested while leaning back with her hot chocolate. She watched interestedly as he held the cup between his firm grasp, his nostrils catching hold of the powerful odour, unleashing a smile to his eyes…

Against the far wall, a round object clicked away at the dials of unmeasured time… as they sat catching up with such strange ease… it made them uneasy…

End Flashback

** Hey guys, I wrote this quickly... so loads of mistakes! And I'm not sure if it made any sense... sorry! The song is from "Teri Sajni" Album... Please leave comments, criticisms, and suggestions.

Cheers,

dc

Originally posted by: sidsk

AAAAAHHH!!! you started a new one!! *jumps around happily* If u think this is craziness then lemme join the club coz im starting a new one too......

Back to this: first of all LOVE the title. As usual every word of urs has a mystery behind it and im already eager to unravel this one. Im a sucker for details...love the way u detail everyhting....

Them walking n sitting quietly on the beach......the way u wrote it gives such a calm n peaceful feeling......

Continue soon!

Chapter 2: A Bitter-Sweet Cup of Chai"

The air in the dark room suddenly seemed to reach for his throat, clogging him. Removing his stiff eyes from the glass, he extended a hand subconsciously towards the satiny tie suffocating him, forcing the knot loose. The lifeless snake responded without a protest, ready to slither away at the slightest pull further. A deep breath of air reached his lungs, and he held it there for a pause… relishing it. After a few seconds, the air escaped his slowly parting lips and he realized an impulse to feel some real air. Without a thought further, he picked up the dark jacket long awaiting his call and walked towards the door. At the base of the building exit, he stopped momentarily watching the nodding head sitting loosely upon a tired owner. For a second he contemplated waking the fellow, but then shrugged off the idea, quickly stepping into the vacant parking area.

A thick flow of cool air felt like life against his numb skin. The rain had stopped a little while ago, leaving its tracks fresh in the streets of the crowded city. A refreshing smell reached his nostrils with intensity… it was not over, the rain. He moved to start the ignition, keys readying in place… but then removed them. Instead, he found himself indifferently adjusting the rear-view mirror. Sitting still for a long minute, his deceitful eyes travelled towards the glass once more. Reaching underneath him, he pulled out the dark leathered object… his wallet. His stiff fingers opened it, unfolding the layers as though it were a secret diary. An image of sweet innocence smiled deeply back at him… as always, sending a wave of calm over him. Closing it suddenly, he set the thing aside, before roaring the machine to life.

As the Mumbai night unfolded before his eyes, he found his sombre mood dull down to something more intense… if it were possible. Miniscule droplets of moisture began to fall over the front mirror again, indicating the coming of another round. Soon enough, the skies poured down, stirring the earth to life once more. Watching the drops cling desperately to the glass afore, an unmarked craving gnawed at him… Turning the dial of the radio compartment, he allowed the flow of melody ease the unexpected urge.

O…

Woh lamhe… woh baatein…

Koi na jaane…

Thi kaisi raatein…

Woh… barsaatein…

Woh bheegi bheegi yaadien…

Voluntarily, he found his foot force down upon the breaks… It was as though someone had thrown a rock at the gates of his glass house. In front, a long stream of traffic made itself present through a steady beeping of horns and curses… but his mind was detached from all of that right now… Unrolling the tinted window to his side, his eyes scanned the sparkling black bobs of umbrellas… a light of reminiscence tingled at his skin. Looking down, he watched a single drop of rainwater cascade from his hand, upwards the length of his arm… The longing he felt now, had transformed into a humble request… and as he gazed around… it were as though the world lay in front of him… like the empty palm he still extended…

Na main jaanu…

Na tu jaane…

Kaisa hai ye mausam…

Koi na jaane…

Kahin se ye fizaa ayeen…

Ghamon ki dhoop sang layeen….

Khaffa hogaye hum… judaa hogaye hum…

Her suddenly tired feet ceased mid-step, while a ceaseless stream of empty thoughts stopped for a needed rest. In between the exchange of air, a sweet melody began in a rhythmic flow through her…

O…

Sagar ki gehraii se… gehra ha… apna pyaar

Sehrao ki inn hawaon mein… kaisi aayegi bahar…

Kahan se ye hawa ayeen…

Ghatayein khaali kyun chaheen…

Khaffa hogaye hum… judaa hogaye hum…

For pause, she stared blankly into the puddle of water having formed by her feet. A lone leaf had somehow wandered into the liquid, now at the mercy of the undetermined flow… Letting out a breath, she realized a sudden loss of energy. Lifting her gaze, she saw her building… The walk was longer than she had expected, though truly not far. Seven minutes, she contemplated… seven minutes… she would be home. But the seven minutes now seemed aged to seventy, while her head began to feel light.

Woh lamhe… woh baatein…

Koi na jaane…

While the train-like syllables of melody penetrated her nothingness, she began feeling the aches of her tired feet… The feeling of exhaustion slowly ran over her entire body and she wished nothing more than a comforting cup of chai. Lifting the heavy lids of her eyes, it was as though someone had gone and whispered in God's ears and He had acknowledged her humble desire. A gentle, luring aroma ran towards her with the help of a confident breeze. After a few minutes of uncertainty, a faint smile leaped gratefully upon her lips and she momentarily looked to the skies. A thin current of rain streamed down and she held the dark chunri closer to her head while wondering at the energy that allowed her to run towards the loosely busy vendor.

The pungent smells of the spicy liquid filled her nostrils strongly now, like a breath of fresh air… Inhaling fully, she held the mouthful of air in for a few lingering seconds while her eyes cast a relaxed scan over her surroundings. As she noticed the stray shady figures linger underneath the tarp, her fingers unknowingly clung tighter to the base of the warm cup secured between her determined hands… edging close to her nose. An almost childish feeling ran through her at receiving such warmth in the overwhelming weather.

Her gaze had slipped into a sort of video mode, capturing the slightest movements of the tired figures in the shadowy corners of the large tarp hovering above the stand. The shameless observing suddenly found her conscious and she quickly averted her attention towards the humble earth. Holding the darkened cement floor between her eyes, she stood loosely there for a minute… as though the waves of life recently captured in her mind were unfolding in front of her open gaze now… a hundred flashes per minute. It seemed to happen so quickly, she doubted if the ground was still beneath her feet. The looseness she had known seconds before now dissipated… giving way to pulses of rigidity. Slowly lifting the hooded hazel pools of her eyes, she lifted her attention straight ahead… turned slowly to the right… freeze.

The warmth of the liquid in her hands now seemed to take on an icy texture. For a moment, her composure waned… but she quickly turned away… finding refuge in the watery scene afore. It was as though her own mind was playing games with her… but she was neither in any mood nor position for such play. In her hurried decision, she lifted the glass close to her mouth, while the burning liquid gushed through… Fighting the fire, she juggled the liquid in her mouth, squinting her eyes at the unexpected jolt. Clamping her lips tightly together, she held the glass just as firmly… while watching the thin drops of moisture fall lightly upon the earth.

Her mind had again taken her distantly… as she found the image of a young woman meander through the bobbing of umbrellas… Her arms were outstretched, unlike the other around her, which had hidden as tightly possible beneath their covers. It was almost as though they had transformed into a pair of feather-weight wings… allowing her to feel, which none other in her presence could… A smile of internal wealth shimmered on her crimson lips, while her graceful feet danced upon the pools of water. Through some unseen corner, another figure joined her… a young man… His face was dark, but radiant… an element of great happiness evident through the slender curve of his lips… They suddenly seemed to fall into their own world as the man lead the woman through lacy steps… jiving rhythmically to an unheard melody… It seemed highly clichd, but somehow dear… near… "Care for a dance…"

The picture immediately blurred… and she felt the colour race furiously in and out of her cheeks, while a silent stream of curses exhaled with her breath. The surreal vision was so stupidly childish she thought, and mentally slapped the back of her head… but somewhere, she realized it was more than a dream… The voice had uttered not another word, but she could hear it echo still in her mind… Care for a dance… It was a familiar voice, deeply familiar. But the tone of it was cold… acidic. Without turning her head to address the presence, whom she knew to be looking where her eyes searched vainly, she whispered into the air, "You've grown bitter…"

The air seemed to carry her words, hanging them before his face. Bitter… she says. The sweet chai also had acquired a bitterness to it… but bitter, he thought with a mixture of emotions, sarcasm at its highest. Suddenly, he felt like laughing… Bitter! He was bitter? Instead, a low, sardonic chuckle gave way through his lips… Interesting, he thought.

Silence hung above them like the clouds above… but they didn't complain, nor care much for it either. It seemed to provide a strange comfort, a sort of shroud from the unknown.

He quietly recalled the lone vehicle he had passed a while back… There was a garland of small white roses hanging from the rear view mirror. The image had immediately brought with it a thought, which he had long intended to discard. White roses… His foot had paused at the brake for a minute, before he quickly pushed hard on the race.

"It's getting late… let me drop you home, (Raat gehri hai… chalo main tumhe ghar chodh aata hoon)" he stated more defiantly than expected. And then paused, "Unless you don't interact with strangers… that too, of course, would take a small amount of risk… Something you never were much interested in (Unless, ajnabeeyon se tum katraati ho toh… waise bhi, aise situation main kuch khatra toh hota hai… Joh baat tumhe kabhi jammi nahin)," he noticed the immediate flinch of her fingers almost losing the glass between them. A flicker of satisfaction grew within him. It was disgusting, but he felt good… as though he had achieved something… out of nothing. Casting a scrutinizing glance at her slowly agitated figures, a sly grin formed on his mouth and he walked silently towards his black machine.

The gentle current of nervousness slid away as his statement broke through her crust. How dare he, she thought with distaste. There was that hard arrogance in his tone again, almost sarcastic… the chai indeed tasted bitter now. Setting the half filled cup on a forgotten corner of the table, she hurried after his tall figure. I am not a wimp, and you're the last person whom I need to prove that to Vikram-Aditya Mehra, she thought bitterly.

The drive was wordless… It was strange, there was so much that could and should have been said… but the words were absent, as was often the case when two acquaintances met in strange, unexpected circumstances. But then awkwardness was not exactly new here… It was there because the participants of the silent conversation allowed it.

She had flatly pointed out her destination and clung tightly the edge of her seatbelt, as though preparing for a jump. The road here was strangely empty, and she could feel it with the pace of the vehicle… He was always was always a maniac when driving. But there was control at work… more than just the car. She found a mild surprise tingle her nerves as the machine rolled to a slow and stopped. Getting out immediately, she noticed him do the same, but much more nonchalantly. Muttering a pathetic "thank you," she began towards the entrance when his rough voice stopped her path. "Won't you ask me to come in Mrs. Varma? (Mujhe andar aane ko nahin kahoge Mrs. Varma)" Pause. She turned slightly, noticing the damn half grin dancing lazily on those lips… her long fingers unknowingly clamping together in a fist. He came walking towards her now, with slow, cool strides… his hands hanging loosely in the pockets of the dark trousers. Her jawbones hurt. He was standing right in front of her now. "In any case, now that I am in town again, we will likely be running into one another anyways… Have a good night. (Khair, ab jab main yahin yoon… milna toh hota rahega… Have a good night)." She watched blankly at his retreating back… dread slowly etching into her tired features…

Sorry guys, last bit was kinda hurried... Erm...

Comments/Criticisms/Suggestions all welcome!

Cheers,

Originally posted by: k-ekta fan

Man 1 more ff on mine Madi..

wow. will read it.

*Edited*

Neetu' I m speechless after reading d 1^st part of ur Ff 'footprint'. I agree wid sidra everytym dat ju can play so well wid d wrds.. I admire ju 4 dat'

N thx yaar 4 gving all of us such a gud FF on Madi.. thanchu so much 4 makin all of us luv Madi jodi agian'.

Abt Ff. it's d best. D way ju express d atmostphere n feelin quite well.. I always luv d way ju always bring d attitude, feeelin n shivers thru mine spine after I read d name of Vikram Aditya Mehra'*blushing*

I luv d line whch states dis 'it marked not the journey of one, but two' which had somehow become one.' N other phrase I luv is 'Sab pyaar ki baatein karte hain' maine pyaar ka chehra dekha hai''

Ju r amziang darling'

Neetu wonderful Part.....

Originally posted by: k-ekta fan

Neetu wonderful Part..... Aww, thanks Mona!😊

Adi 1ce agian wid loads of attitude... luved it. dis image of his hve made me crazy abt him... I know the feeling... quite dearly actually😍

wht Mets is married n she is Mrs Varma nw... dis was hrtbreaking.... 4 me. den thnk abt mine adi... Fikar not meri jaan! I have the mighty keyboard😆 And iss Varma kii aisi ki tesi😆😉 No one comes btw AM😃

Cheers,
dc