OS-THE INVISIBLE Part 6- Page 13 - Page 7

Sun was up and the surrounding was already too warm, bright sunshine filtered through windowsill as Ashu turned his head for the fourth time to check whether Nidhi came in…… muffled sigh escaped his lips when she did not turned up….

"Did she change her mind? Isn't she coming? ….why she is not here still" all these questions buzzed around his head like irritating bee...shaking his head, he leaned back tapping his fingers on steering wheel

It was just a moment and then, he saw her coming towards his car ……she looked bit anxious but somewhat happy and he saw a small smile creeping on her face when she met his gaze …..

He got down waving at her ….." I am sorry , I am late " she admitted

" that's ok …even I came in just now …" he replied

" so .shall we .." he asked ….

He opened the door for her and after making sure , she is comfortable...he came to his side in haste ….

She looked somewhat nervous, he smiled " Are you scared …?"

" no" she replied suddenly shaking her head vigorously

" no need to be ..we are not eloping or something …huh ,we are just going for a long drive " he grinned …..Sudden redness crept on her cheeks …. His heart fluttered seeing her blushing face …..

" you told anyone ..that you are coming out with me ..? He questioned after a while

" she nodded her head …." You told your brother?" perplexed he stared back

" why should I ?" she smiled staring his lost face " Baba know that , I am with you ….and beside my brother gone out for this weekend"

" ohh….is he….was he fine with that?"

" who my baba ?"

" yes…"

" I think so ….otherwise he would not had let me come here ……I think , he likes you " she mumbled smilingly

Ashu beamed hearing that …..

"Where are we going?" she asked after awhile as Ashu started the engine

"Somewhere …..Special "he muttered excitedly

"Special!...shall I know what is so special about that place .."

"Everything " he grinned …" have you ever seen thousands of lights floating around you?….." she shook her head " Ever seen thousands of diyas swimming ahead you …..Like reflection of stars which is shining above you? "She shook her head

"My mom took me there when I was little ….she said it is the place which we never forget, which never gets erased from our mind "he smiled

"And you want to take me there?" she could not help asking him

"Yes ….I wants to take you there…." He replied and looked at her thoughtful face …her eyes, beautiful, dark and pools of depth, for a second he thought he could see right inside her, like he could see picture in them... reflection of himself…and sudden radiance of happiness which is rising from deep within and surrounding them both in warm embrace …..

"Let's go then …" she smiled as her eyes lit up like sunbeams coming straight from her inside…it reached her eyes and it spreaded till his heart ….. !

"Nidhi" she felt soft tug near her shoulder followed by ever soothing voice calling out for her..

"hmm" she mumbled cozily

"Nidhi ….we reached "slowly opening her drowsy eyes she looked around, it took her a while to adjust to her surrounding and to remember where she is and with whom …..

Bolting up straight, she gazed sideways to find a pair of smiling eyes staring at her fondly "oh…I dint even realized ...that I slept off "she replied giving a sheepish grin ….

"Not only sleeping ….you were snoring too" he chuckled looking at her flushed face …..

"what ??...You are lying, I don't snore "she replied back stubbornly.

"But you did just now …" he chuckled …..Making her sulk even more

Laughing hard he got down from his car and came to her side to open the door …..

Her annoying look disappeared as she looked around ….

"We are in Banaras "opening her eyes widely, she smiled at him ….

" you been here ?" he asked

She shook her head " no ..Never been here but heard a lot about this place…especially dhobhi ghat "She smiled

Taking out his SLR camera Ashuthosh clicked few pics of local shops where they are selling clay potteries…." Dhobi ghat is long gone now …they closed down as it was tainting the Ganges "

"Yes, I heard about that …."

"So what now …? What you want to do …are you hungry?" he asked her

"Yes ….very much" she admitted

"What you want to eat ….puchkas? samosas or kachoris ?" he asked her in turn she made a face " I don't like those ….can you take me to eat idli "

He chuckled "I dint knew that ...you like south Indian food …."

"Not everything …..But I like idli with butter on top "she grinned….

"Ok then let's go ..." He smiled and walked with her in search of south Indian shop.

After eating her favorite " Idli" from one of local shop which was located in middle of the city …they roamed aimlessly in crowded streets of Banaras, Nidhi liked everything there, liked those small shops where they were selling puchkas and kachoris ..She liked the colorful shops filled with glittering sarees and multicolored bangles…the cool breeze blowing from Ganges mingling with her breath …. those tanned skinned "Angrez" passing next to her, smiling at her… she did not felt uncomfortable nor nervous like she always do whenever someone look at her into her eyes…..In turn she smiled back …… He showed her pictures which he took so far...of barn and slithering sunshine. There was a picture of a small girl grinning widely showing her bugs bunny milk teeth….he asked her " can you see the innocence " yes she can see, everything so clearly and can feel everything …. Over the years, There were emotions inside which she never felt apart from her gnawing emptiness and her numbing ache…now she could feel the warmth of his presence as if soft blanket wrapped around her heart …holding her, protecting her….maybe this is what happens when one fall in love ! May be this is what her sister felt too all those years …. " are you fine " he asked her looking at her amused expression …

She just nodded her head inturn he tightened his grip on her hand , she liked the way His hands gripping her fingers tightly as they passed through crowded streets filled with sadhus who are sitting with beads and long tangled hair… she do not want to let go of his hand at least for now ….at the moment she can feel the warmth of his touch and thud of his heart, like a fluttering wings …it is rocking her back and forth …and making her feel , she is not alone …at least not anymore….

"So, tell me?" He asked as they sat in a boat which will take them through all the 80 ghats

"What?" she asked looking around; it was beautiful evening with sun all set to go down over the horizon …..

"Anything… which I don't know about you"

"It's beautiful out here …" she looked around at him smilingly

"Wait till you reach dasaashwamedha ghat …we are still in asi ghat "he replied gleefully.

"My sister took me to delhi once, to attend one of international rock concert …that is the far distant I ever been"she told him after a while,

"I believe you were very fond of your sister ……" he stated

"Yes ...Very much, when I was born, she was 11 year old …. I was her one and only baby sister "

"What about you mother ….you never spoke about her?"

"Our mother died when ...I was just 3 so I don't remember much of her……I remember only my sister, she used to be there for me always "she replied with a bit of dejected voice

"So you liked those rock concerts…where they bounce, jump and scream on top of their lungs huh..?" he asked trying to pull her out of sadness

"yes ..I liked it …very much and still" She grinned

"Seriously?" he looked shocked

" why are you giving such expression ? …." She narrowed her eyes

"Because it is so not like you ……it is totally contrast to what you are …." Nidhi chuckled looking at his confused face …..

"So which band you like the most …?" he asked after a brief pause

"I like linkin park ….there songs are bouncy and full of energy "she replied with a grin…..

"hum tho pakka desi hai … I like rafi saab , can never get over his voice " He grinned back

They both fell silent , Hearing the quiet slap of water, the running whisper of current and the taps, cracks and croaks with the mist which is slowing surrounding them….
"Now it's your turn …. Tell me something about you?" She asked him

" huh ….I like music ……that craze started when I was very young ..my mother used to sing …you know she was way too good " he grinned

" Don't you sing …." She asked

"me,….?" He guffawed " no never …I don't know to sing but ….I used to write small poems …..you know which in turn my mother used turn into …..Small songs by giving her musical touch ….we were like team …" he smiled remembering those lost days ….

" you write …?" she stared at him in wonder

" now you are giving me those looks …." He chuckled

She blushed " I want to listen….."

" what …? ohh …no …I don't think , its good idea " he refused and looked away

" why ? …." She stared at him

" huh…I don't know ..you might find it silly .." he admitted

" I will never do that …" she frowned ….

As he sat in silence looking at infinite water front ….. she groused " I am waiting…."

Narrowing his eyes, he stared at her and then chuckled as she grumbled ….it was just for a moment as their boat took a small turn and entered new surrounding ……her eyes caught vast light glowing over the bank of Ganges ….bolting up from where she was sitting, she pointed her finger towards the vast and bright light and squealed in joy ….."is that what you were talking about ….?"

He smiled …." Yes …evening aarti is already started "he mumbled as he slide down next to her …..

There boat entered new surrounding with thousand of little diyas floating around them ...amazed nidhi stared ahead ….

Just then, their Boatman stopped the boat few inches away from the shore where aarti is going on ….sitting there, they saw flood of people rushing towards river bank to get glimpse of it ….with big elevated wooden planks placing on the edge of steps, priests stood wearing identical dhotis and holding big bronze lamps to do the aarti ….." those lamps weigh up to 5 kg!" Ashu mumbled looking at nidhi...she stared back with a baffled look "seriously ... "

"That must be too heavy …" she replied after a while with concerned look..Which in turn made him chuckle ….

Soon the whole place started blowing with hymns and conch shells and whole place shimmered with light ….. the air was perfumed with incense filled smell and he saw people lighting small diyas and letting it float on river surface…..

Looking at it ashu took out small diya and extended it to her ….." what is this …?" she asked

" I bought this ..on the way here …shall we " he asked

She took those small diya's and lighting it, she let it float on river along with millions of others...Sitting back as faint moonlight shone over her , Ashuthosh saw that ….she is full of light ….He looked at her face for a very long time …her eyes gleaming with joy and kind of happiness spilling out of her …..She looked so different from the old nidhi , he had seen, whom he came to know…she looked so different all throughout the day … not even a glint of sadness nor fear lingering in those eyes….staring at her he thought maybe he has fallen in love with her, a little bit…..does it make him sound dumb ? He shook his head smiling to himself ….but then again the same deep feeling encircled him ….. Under the moon, she stopped. And looked at him. She really looked at him…... Maybe she was trying to tell him something; he does not know…then as if nibbling at each word, she mumbled " will you tell me ….now ?"

Perplexed, he looked at her …".what?"

"Your poem …." She frowned cutely …which made his heart flutter and huge grin spreaded over his face …..

The voices in water front disappeared as he closed his eyes shut until it sounded more like distant murmurs …when he turned his head and looked at her …he found her staring at him expectantly …. Her eyes shining like the little diya floating around them ….his heart flickered as words wobbled like slow rhythmic murmurs …

"I would like to watch you sleeping,

Sitting beside you, to enter

Your sleep as its smooth dark wave

Slide over my head.

And walk with you through the bright

Wavering forest of lush green leaves

With its watery sun and glowing moon

I would like to give you silvery

Wing, the small white flower

And the one word which will protect you

From the grief at the center

Of your heart

My dear I would like to follow you,

Up along the stairway

And become the boat

That would row you back

Back to your home…!

____________________________________________________

An hour later they are on highway , the great stretch which will drive them back to lucknow city ….curling in her seat , Nidhi unrolled the window as cool wind caressed her….She sat silently wishing the day never ends... "So , did you informed your baba that ..you will be home in another half an hour or so ?" he asked

" yes …." She tried to smile but Ashu did not missed the kind of dejected look in her eyes

" you know …..we can go somewhere else …very soon ..where you want to go next ….?" He asked to cheer her up

" I don't know …huh….I don't think..I can come " she replied bowing her head

" why not ….?" He asked

" you know the reason ….." she looked out towards vast darkness

Ashu kept silent for a while ….." you will not come …even if the offer is to attend one of rock concert?" he asked grinningly…

She smiled …..When she did not responded he continued " not even if it is your favorite band playing out there ..?" narrowing his eyes he stared at her

Huffing out her disappointment, she mumbled …." I don't kno …" her words cut short as their car came to sudden halt with a loud screech …." What happened" startled nidhi asked

"Not sure …., let me have a look…." Telling this Ashu got down from his seat …

"is everything fine …..?" she called out getting down from her seat …. After a while he came back to her making dejected face ….

" Baba always keep spare tyre ….i don't know how I missed to check all this beforehand .." he replied sluggishly …

" that's ok ..I think , we are not much away from lucknow …."

" yes …hope .We get some means of transport to reach back home …." He looked around….

As he walked away trying to find a way …Nidhi stared at the flatness that goes on and on the dizzying fields and never ending darkness stretching forever …. ….Night always make her go paranoid, make her shudder with fear and unkindly feeling crept inside her ….like something might get snatched away from her , out of her hand ….like it happened the night when her sister died …A shudder ran through her as memory of the night crept in her mind…..

Seeing the change in expression, Ashu came to her side and squeezed her hand ...she smiled back as warmth of his touch cooled down her fear.

It was just for a moment as she spotted familiar vehicle coming in their direction ….Her face lost color ….as if suddenly life drained out of her, seeing this , he turned his head towards that direction to find her brother aditya getting down from the jeep with his best friends ….there was so much rage and animal like violence in their eyes as they stared at nidhi and then at Ashu …..

Ashu felt Nidhi shudder next to him …..Ashu was quick to react as he squeezed Nidhi's hand …." Don't worry …..Let me talk to him...Ok "she tightened her grip around his finger as he tried to move away towards her brother ……" no …" her meek voice subdued with her brother angry shriek …. " Nidhi ……come back here"

" she will ……" Ashu replied curtly protecting her firmly behind his back….And he led her towards jeep and after making her sit comfortably ….he muttered " You sit here …I will go talk to him "

Tears streaked down from her face as she shook her head vigorously " no ..please …don't"

" nidhi ….let me talk ….and I promise that I won't let him hurt you in way …I promise you …." He tried to reassure …

In turn she clutched at his finger tightly, not letting him move even an inch ….She wondered , how can she let him understand that it is not about her that she is scared now ..nor what her brother going to do with her after this …..but truth is she is scared for him ….scared what her brother going to do to him…because she have seen , know what he is capable of ..And what he can do to people if they go against his will …..Huffing out a sigh, Ashu took both of her hands in his warm and protective grip and kissed them softly …." I promise..I won't let him hurt you ….." he mumbled ….closing her eyes , she tried to memories this moment ….because something in her told he might not come back to her …he might disappear just like her sister …..he will go away …..she wondered why she agreed to go out with him …..how reckless and how stupid …and how selfish of her to put his life in danger ….there were so many things she wanted to tell him , so many truths which she wanted to share ….she wished , she was good with words ... she got words in her, fighting to find a way out. Sometimes there are so many words and they get so crowded in her skull ….but she does not know how to start or from where ……

She know neither her brother will understand ……he does not understand the language of words..no one can convince him when things go against his will …. …how can she tell this to Ashuthosh and how can she make him stop going away from her ……

" I will come back to you …..I promise "he mumbled smilingly as she opened her eyes ….Ashu stepped away as her brother came to her side " Raghav will drop you back home ..Baba is waiting there " he stated curtly

Nidhi gave pleading look towards her brother …..her look spoke volumes of her hurt , her fear and her desperation at the moment , Ashu smiled reassuringly " I will come …" she could read his lips as he waved at her ……

Tire spinned and with a loud screech she turned away from him …she was forced to turn away from him ……as they drove away …. away from him ….leaving him behind with her brother …..with an uncertainty , with fear and lot more of pain….

He flinched as he caught hold of her teary gaze behind the window sill; her look spoke volume of her hurt, her fear and her uncertainty …..Huffing out his distress, he tried to smile but his lips limped in midway and his vision blurred …as she moved away …away from him …..

It was just for a moment until she disappeared, then his thoughts got interrupted by her brother's loud rage as he punched him hard making him tumble face down on wet muddy pathway ……" I asked you stay away from her …." His spittle of words wobbled in his mind ….

Listening to his words, Ashu tried to get up but he felt the sudden gush of pain as one of them pressed their weight on his knee making him gasp in pain ……

"Why can't you …just stay away ?" her brother screeched near his ear and kicked him once again making him roll over the side ….he felt the throb of ache and sudden gush of pain as he tried to get up once again……"I love her "his whisper subdued with their blows …..

They pulled him up by collar ….he felt wetness of his blood near his nose …he could taste his blood …..Their grip tightened as he struggled to get away from their grip …." Stay away from her …." Their warning did not even reached his brain as sudden blackness entered his head but glancing straight in to their eyes...he whispered "I love ...Her " as if he is daring them to stop him ….

It just for a second then he felt it, The first blow cutting right through his head ….his head spinned as his brain registered the immense pain immediately, rolling over the mud pathway ….he heard their talks like distant murmurs " No …let him go" Someone is stopping , someone is coming forward …..Someone is kicking him to see some more blood ……he could see their plight through his twisted vision and bloodied eyes ….he remembered his baba , who must be waiting for him …he remembered nidhi ..her thoughtful face , her ever so deep eyes …shining like moon which is glowing above him now…. He wished, he could tell her that he is fallen in love with her …. He should have told her...

Rolling over his stomach , steadying him ……he got up but collapsed just when he felt vast blankness swallowing him whole as for the last time when someone whipped him hard ….this pain overruled everything which he endured till now …….

The attack was sudden so the result …. As his body shuddered and became still ……both at the same moment!

" shit …shit …you killed him " someone raged over

"He deserved it …." Aditya spitted on wet ground without even glint of retreat …. one of his friend walked towards ashuthosh and checked…."I think He is not breathing ….you killed him "the boy mumbled with a mixture of fear and accusation …..

Aditya looked bit taken aback this time "don't blame me alone now …..Even you all were involved "they pushed him back

" don't you dare drag us in this mess …..our plan was only to teach him a lesson …..not to kill .." one of them snapped back

" nothing will happen …..stay low for few days ..you will be fine " Aditya tried to reassure

" are you crazy …..we ..you just committed a murder ….and you telling nothing will happen …..your sister ..she know that she left ashuthosh with you ….." they snapped back angrily

" she won't tell a word ..she never did " he smirked with a glint of confidence

" what do you mean ….? One of them asked

" forget about it ..its none of your business " he snapped back

After a brief pause one of them asked " now what…..?" No one spoke for few second as each of them racked their brain to figure out how to get out of this mess ……

With each passing second, they felt the tension and pressure building up separating them, colliding them with one another …..….it is then Aditya looked at them with cold, expressionless face and mumbled …." Lest move …..And Dump him away...somewhere safe"

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