SS~Dutta~a trilogy~ thread 1. Follow the Heart. continued on thread 2 - Page 66

Originally posted by: uwith

hi hamlet hi uvi,good to see you
awesome ud..dutta & naku knows truth about each other..he luvs her & she told her past...dilwar will meet his match in dutta & baji...continue...regards uvi
hey hammie smiling you enjoyed the ud.. and i love the flowery image.. love the soothing colours.. i will post ud tomm.. so do read it.. much love hammie

Originally posted by: afi7861

hey hammie imran ki shaadi ho gaye pata chal gaya tum ko bhi dekh kitne pyare tabdeeli aaye hai😃

pak aur india ke har news channel pe un ki he news aa rahe hai
hi balli, haan pata hai found out first thing in the morning.. malvi sahib ,nikah parne ja rehe the bani lalla.. iam surprised bbc ne abhi tak kuch nehe bol.. still it was uk that spread the news a few days ago when IK arrived in London on sat.. geo say they gave it first.. best wishes to the couple.. humm tabdeeli aah gaye hai😆 all the bibis are heartbroken..
love hammie

Originally posted by: afi7861

hi hammie thank you so much yaad karne ke liye .

ye bharti kahan hai aur twinkle bhi pata nahi kedher hote hai .aur forum pe bhi khamoshi rehte hai aj kal😕

khamoshi pe ek sher arz hai kiya pata ye dekh bharti yahan wapes aa jaye

es kadar khamoshi hai charon taraf ..

zehan soche toh shor hota hai ...

ab dekhna bharti jin ke tarha hazer ho ge woh bhi sher ki tarha dhaar te hui😆

Mishal Raheja

as Dutta

Out of my hands

part 18

He watches her slip out of his studio and hears the door close.. and then there is silence. Guilt is not far behind, what does he achieve by darting a snide remark her way? Funnily enough he chuckles, as he feels a negative power riddled masculinity leap within him. His mother's face comes before him. Her fingers comb through his wavy hair and maa's dying by the day eyes, directly look into her under- five face. Aye's words come at him now.. as a grown man..

" yaad rekhna Dutta ek din tera bhi lagan hoga.. hamesha apni baiko ko waise he pyaar kerna jaise tere babaa ne mujhse kiya.."

Humm, he muses pensively and responds to his mother's advice.. I will Aye, but for now I am not married, only submerging love. He strolls over to the window, sides and catches his reflection in the glass. With a smile that twists, he reason's with the man in the pane.. humm in love to hurl arrows of sweet aches at the beloved is an inexplicable delight without a doubt! Still his fingers wipe the side of his stubble cheek and he gives into the poor reasoning of love. It will not withstand, for to make her sore and derive some nasty joy as her would be husband. Dutta walks away from the window and descends into an arm chair , folds his arm and rests his chin on his creased palm. Marriage seems an eternal commitment.. is it too soon? and what of love? this that he feels ,a pining ,yearning ,a looking forward to her being beside him. Dutta shifts in his chair and blinks his eyes once, and stares vacantly ahead and gives a complacent smile and then sighs. Love for him at this moment in time is more of a passionate non-fulfilment with a kaleidoscope of more to come that completes them ultimately...Hence for now ,let him seek and delve into the joys of plummeting in love... he stands up tall on his feet decisively and moves his arms behind his back and proceeds forward weighed down by some insecurities.. he'd better check if she hasn't taken offence by his words.. he gulps it's called wooing the beloved.. and gets on with it, pushes open the studio door and steps out.

Naku feels snubbed as she literally takes it as being pushed out of his studio..in fact out of his life. His unpredictable temperament tenses her.. just when she concludes all is smooth sailing between them , he rocks the boat with his terse works. why does he say such things? can he not sense she is insecure when it comes to men.. Masatana only showed her the repulsive side of a man.. not really a man, he was but a beast..yes she was not with him long enough .. to find attraction, affection, love call it what one may.. But with DP she expects him to shower her with all she missed out as a young woman, to be admired, fussed over, and yes to be loved in abundance. But it seems he too injures her given half the chance.. why is it that his harmless harsh nonsense too wrings her heart and she thinks her world has come to a standstill? Surely this is a sweet insanity which makes her willingly give up her sanity.. she bites her lip as she straightens the stalks of the flowers in a nearby vase. She'd better look occupied as any moment he would emerge out of his studio.. perhaps to pursue her.. simply to come after her. Yes footsteps can be heard.. and Naku in silence ,dusts the side lounge table, and alongside opens the doors of her heart for his footsteps to walk into..

~~~~~~~~~~

Dutta walks through the narrow annex corridor. There she is , typically busy body doing tasks with her beautiful petite hands. How can she seem so much in routine, pottering about the house busily, after suffering from his griping words.. or does she put on an act? If so, then is she relaying to him she doesn't care for him? that is surely devastating! what will become of him? truly he needs her like life itself. With these thoughts he draws near her but then pauses at a respectable distance and screws his narrow eyes.. hurriedly looks around and then calls from a distance.. Naku.. yes she hears him, but thinks she doesn't have to jump up at his every beck and call.

Dutta waits and watches and second time thunders,

" Nakusha!

That does it! the growl makes her drop the rag and she startles and turns to face him, rather guiltily..

He proceeds further and gently raises his palm, in what seems an apology but soon Naku finds out more of his rumbling follows.

"you giving me more attitude Nakusha? I call you once you play deaf? kya hai ye??don't you forget it I am your tutor aaj bhi.."he warns in an aloof tone..

"yes master... and with a titter lowers her eyes. Dutta looks across to her and feebly shakes his head, more so for his own melt down. It's clear that she has the power to influence him, even dissipate his sulky turns, his angry overtures.. she takes away the wind out of his sails.. why does she sway him so effortlessly? He muses as he stares at her.. Naku now stiffens under his brought upon cold gape.. Dutta seizes his serious composure, and continues in a guttural voice this time, but ensures a certain soft touch to his words

" Naku , off recent, your green doe eyes dance with the merry mirth of cheekiness, every time I address you.. main koi joker hoon?

Before she can respond Baji gambols in sporting cackles! like a hyena! and rings out

" now that would be qayamat, doomsday ! if Bhau koi joke mare! sher jungle mein dosre janwar ke kartab dekh ke smile karta hai but khud sirf ek dharr marta hai! joke nehin! Baji doubles up with laughter as he teases Dutta, who looks at Baji's comic capers and retorts

" why the hell should I play the jester? Nautanki kerne ke liya thujhe ju paal rekha hai.. "

Naku of course giggles, and almost immediately Dutta's lion like glance .. the quiet and silent one ,stops her amusement in mid-air and she briskly muffles her laugh under the warm press of her palms.. Dutta ignores her coquettish turns and comments in sarcasm,

" don't let me stop you for enjoying life at my expense Naku.. khul ke hass.. aur tu Baji, please continue with your silliness, tum dono ek dosre ko support kerte ho, as for me I'll always up end up being the one to pass judgement upon which of you two out does the other in idiocy! Dutta opines, dryly

Since this is the lounge, a central point where the householders converge and crossover to roam around the house. Babi turns up to find her daughter happily interacting with the young master and his right hand man Baji. Babi who mops her brow with the pallu of her sari calls out unceremoniously

"ayeee Naku! tu edhur khare baatien ker rehe hai, main thujhe pure ghar mein dhoone rehe hoon, kam hai rasoi mein, chal kam pe lag ja! maadat chahiye mujhe!

Dutta as usual, doesn't like when Babi exerts her matriarchal tone upon his sweet, harmless, helpful Naku! and attempts to make it known

" Naku filhaal khaien nehi jaye ge.. yahan bhi woh kam he kar rehe thi.. Baji ne use batoon mein lagya hoya tha" Baji mouths,"hain? Dutta's freezing look makes him say,

"ho mausi! main Naku ko bol raha tha, bahut kam hai tu Kaley se karwa doon..

Babi shakes her head and puts Baji in his place,

"nahin Baji rao ap kya bolte ho.. ghar ka kam aap ke body guard kare ? ye kuch thek nehi lagta.. Naku hai. Naku hi kare ge.. apna ghar samhej ke".. she stops midway as she catches Dutta's posture ,arms crossed against his chest authoritatively ..

"thek hai mausi, apna ghar samjhe .. pun ye bhi ap, ko aur sabhi ko maan lena chaiya , ke Naku is ghar mein naukar nehin.. meri hone wali patni hai" he points out firmly. Babi nods and replies compliantly

" Bhau , main tu bas Naku ko bolne Aye thi.. kuch haat bata de.."

Amused, Dutta looks at Naku and orders her,

" Naku! suna nehin tune, teri Aye ko kitchen mein help chahiye.. and when you finish tu come back to me ,I have some pending kam with you".. he says with a slight twitch in his smiling eyes..

As Naku turns to leave unwillingly, held by her arm ,by Babi... Dutta's sided eyes lazily hold Naku's sided eyes captive as she is whisked away. Aye Sahib comes suddenly and smiles at the little gathering..

" kya baatien ho rehe hai yahan? aur tum dono ,Dutta aur Baji, koi kam nehi hai tumhare pas tu mujhe aur Babi ko mandir le chalo" on hearing the request, Babi and Naku stops in their tracks and Dutta slyly steals a glance at Naku. He knows what this implicates.. but under his very eyes Babi takes her daughter and his beloved away to the kitchen.

~~~~~~~~~

Amid the clatter of dishes being stacked and aroma of lentils and rice being cooked. Babi, turns to Naku, who dries glasses,

"ayeee Naku! tu kya kar rehe hai ? jab dekho Saab ke aas pas mandla rehe hoti hai! dekh meri baache, roka tak tera nehin hoya abhi tera Saab ke saath aur to pattar pattar, Saab se batien kar rehe hoti hai... koi lajaa hoti hai meri baachi ! thujhe tu ab samna bhi nehin ana chaiye.. unke samana... sirf lagan ke baat he hoi hai abhi" ,utters Babi firmly

Naku, hears her mother out, checks the sparkle of the crystal clear glass and shifts her green eyes to her mother and challenges her mother, sweet as she may be

"dekh Aye maine koi aise baat nehin ki jis se thujhe sharam aaye, Saab ke ghar mein rehte hoon,amna samna tu hoga, maine tu kabhi soocha bhi nehin tha, Saab mujhe se lagan kare ge, panhaan de hai..us Dilawar se. Zindigai bhar ke zamadari utha lein ge Saab , yeh Naku ne nehin soocha tha.. Aye, tu apne Naku se zayeeda, Saab bhi bahroosa rekh.. meri rakhsa kerien ge woh, izzat kerte hain aurat ke.. aur lajaa kis baat ke Aye? teri Naku ke phele nehin, dosere shaadi hai.. aur tu yeh bhi maat bhool ke Saab.. ek aam baat nehin kar rehe.. ek widwa ka phir se ghar basa rehien hai.." Naku looks across to her mother in the hope that Babi is sensitive to all that Naku says.. Yes as her daughter , she understands the stance her mother takes, but really Aye should for once turn deaf ears to what people say or she chooses to hear ..after all it's about trusting DP and his character.. for not everyman is a Dilawar. But then, Naku has faith that her mother grasps the crux of her reply to her.. Aye is really quite harmless, means well.. and no doubt about the fact that she remains her mother...

As the work top is wiped clean , in comes Aye Sahib and bids Naku to get the puja platter ready to take to the mandir. Naku acts upon the request and Babi goes to the annexe to get ready. Naku is pleased to realize that her mother gets to go out after a long time.. and that too accompanied by Aye Sahib and driven by DP and Baji. She wishes she was going too.. would have been nice to get a change of scenery.. she drifts out of the kitchen and her feet carry her towards the outdoor sculpted garden of Patil Nivas .. picks a few yellow marigolds and gathers them in her white sari.. her feet carry her to the narrow winding crazy pavement path where Bappa lives in a small niche right on top of a small rockery... Bappa smiles down at the flower beds with big soulful eyes. With reverence Naku kneels before him and then stretches her arm and decorates the small idol with freshly pickd marigolds. A strand of her hair falls before her face and she moves it back with her finger tips, covered in yellow pollen.. Naku's cheek unknowingly is brushed with a smear of yellow colour.. unaware she looks into Bappa's eyes and senses they now smile at her.. she knowns not why? but her whole being is filled with serenity...

~~~~~~~~~~

Dutta's eyes imagines what hasn't happened yet, but he is aware of what he can do to prompt what he wishes for. Baji knows half what to expect, from Dutta, and waits for further orders..

"look Baji, I need to get on with my work.. tu aisa kar take Aye Sahib and Naku ke Aye to the mandir humm? oh and wapis jaldi ayen I might need your help.." Baji in response gives Dutta a sympathetic smile with a thumbs up! which Dutta prefers to ignore as he disengages with any such innuendo's which indicates some carnal undercurrent to his sublime love.. even though it may emerge as innocuous jest from his best buddy Baji..

~~~~~~~~~

This dark figure draped from head to torso in a slate grey coarse shawl lurks around the mandir kiosk. He knew where to look out for the one he hunts. Exclusive places that are likely to be visited by people.. the market squares, medical centres and of course the places of worship. This time he stands rewarded as he spots a four by four wheeler, stop before the mandir steps and two women , disembark from the vehicle. But the sight of the young man urges him to pull himself behind the side of the garland kiosk.. the man was the one who had accosted him that evening in the art school.. once the man steps aside , Dilawar's eyes sparkle with an evil glint. Yes he had found Babi! which means that now he can locate Nakusha too.. but what of this other woman with her? she appears rich, by her attire and jewels.. he will need to wait and then find out more..

Baji as is the need of the hour waits at the bottom of the mandir steps, till the two mothers alight the steps down and sit in the car. Dilawar watches Babi, in frustration, he will have to restrain himself from approaching her, as she recognises him and is likely to raise alarm, the last thing he wants ,as he is a criminal on the run. So he has no other option than that to allow the car to drive off.. but nothing can prevent him from gathering information about this rich old lady. In great haste he leaps upwards on the steps of the mandir! not to worship but to quiz the pandit. As if god knows of his devious intent, Dilawar trips many a time on the steps.. did the deity reject his entry into this consecrated place? unholy mind and thoughts he has. Dilawar influences the pandit with some tall tale of woe.. that he is a stranger in the area, homeless and destitute and is willing to take up any employment, to earn an honest living just to pay for his food. The gullible priest is well touched by Dilawar's story and wishes to accommodate him at the mandir's dharamshala till he finds himself a permanent place to live... Dilawar accepts and is shown the humble dwellings. Once he is served some equally humble fare, he sneaks in the question he seeks.

"pandit ji ,woh aurat jo aap ke pas puja ke liye Aye thi.. bare se ghare mein.. kaun thein woh?

"woh , Aye Sahib hain Shakuntali shri Ram Patil .. yahan ke elaqa mein sab unhe manta hain, apne beta Dutta Patil ka lagan ke bare mein ayen thi.. kundali milwane.. Dutta Bhau .. bhaut he dilwala hai..dekho abhi , ek beechari widwa beechi se lagan kare ga.. bhagwan uska bhala kare.. aaj kal ke zamana mein kaun ek gareeb widwa ko sahara deta hai.. Dutta jaise ,jawan , umeer larkda chahe, tu ek se ek umeer lardki use mil sakte hai.. pun usne aapni Aye ka maan rekha.." Dilawar nearly chokes over his morsel! what sheer luck! he has located his target!... plus found a place to stay as well...

~~~~~~~~~

Dutta looks at his draft that he will use as a rudimentary base to paint the great battle of virtue and vice. A change of clothes.. white pyjama and black voile kurta, preps him for his task, he gathers his tins of oil based paints, white spirit ,rags, to cleanse his fingertips with..and his paint palettes.. in angst he wonders where Naku is? so much so for her bid to aid him.. bewakoof lardki! ghussi ho ke rasoi mein, her head buried in some dish on the hob! In a strop he lugs what he can from the studio to the cordoned off section of the lounge. He lowers his baggage and unfolds his wooden work bench. With his hands on his waist he views the space Aye Sahib had selected for the painting.. it has to be covered with a broad canvas first ,for him to attempt anything.. he looks around himself..behind him, as he seeks her, where the hell is she..? His wait creeps under his skin and he decides to go looking for her.. why not straight to her room?

The door is locked which winds him up even more. a loud slap on the door, sure enough makes it open! And there she stands in the door way ,her big bold green doe eyes stare up into his vexed hooded eyes.. yes he would do the talking.. she'll stand mute like a bimbo!

" baat sun.. kamre mein darwaza bund kar ke kya ker rehe thi tu ? humm..

"woh ,main.. woh.. kuch bhi tu nehi, bas aise hai .. she mumbles Dutta nearly wants to shake her but instead grits his jaw , takes a deep breath and sides his face.. then turns it back to focus on her face intensely

" Naku are you frightened.. ummh, because you are alone in the house with me.. humm? he moves his face the other way again.. and then asks,

" mujhe bhi bahroosa nehin hai thujhe.. ? I love you Nakusha .. not lust for you.. koi bura aadmi nehin hoon main.. thein behanien hai meri.. aur ek nehin.. is Dutta ne du du maaien dekhi hain.. tu daar mar mujhse.. waise tune batya nehin.. kamre mein what were you doing? I want to know.. chaal bata , main sun raha hoon.." he stares at her, but hopes she doesn't dissipate into tears.. shakal tu rona wali buniye hoi hai is ne... but thank Bappa! her lips quiver , eyes lower, fingers fidget and she speaks!

"DP...meri Aye bole I chat too much with you , I need to maintain some distance.. woh bole ke mera ,errh, lagan hone wala hai ap ke saath.. tu doore buniye rekhoon main"..

" kya!!! teri Aye ne bola ye?? Naku.. na thujhe koi aakal hai aur tere Aye! ..ummh ab main kya boloon.. burhe aurat hai.. tu izzat dene parte hai.. pun saach tu yeh hai , ke teri Aye soochte hai main bhi tere phele pati ke theran characterless hoon! and with a snort he turns and storms off . naku's world begins to come tumbling down! he is her life line and no sane person gives up life so easily.

DP! DP! she runs behind him and grabs him from behind, pushes her arms under his warm armpits and crosses her delicate arms across his hard felt chest.. ensures she imprisons him by flattening her palms across his heart that knocks like nobody's business.. Dutta stops and slowly doubles his chin to look down at her beautiful hands inches away from his hairy chest.. he moves his hands upwards and covers her palms with his soft wide palms.. Naku sobs against his solid back and asks with a voice that tremors and muffles

"DP aap mujhe chor tu nehin do ge?

Dutta grabs her hands that plaster his chest and gently brings her before him, and gathers her possessively in the circle of his safe strong arms .. Naku throws back her head slightly and looks up into his eyes that contract , and absorb her intensely... he parts his lips and replies..

"tera haat pakra hai.. chorne ke liye nehin, bulke khud ko pa lene ke liye, Naku".. and although her rose bud mouth is before him there to take.. Dutta maintains decorum and instead brushes his lips on her peachy complexion smooth forehead.. the touch.. the sensation entices him to linger the brush of his lips on her skin by pressing.. but the artist stops.. as too much passion for colour makes the work of art vulgar and common!... Dutta raises his head and regains his grip of dignity .. their mothers left them in the house on the basis that they trusted their children.. they cannot break that trust before god and family..

Dutta tilts up her chin and chides her with a slight bow of his head..

"I thought you were keen to help me in my work Naku.. but seems to me you have withdrawn your keen interest ..humm? in fact that's why I came to your room.. to call for your assistance ,so let's get to work! now that we are finished with miscellaneous business.. Naku moves away from the snuggle of his warm secure embrace.. and Dutta lets her go regretfully.

~~~~~~~

When it comes to his work.. Dutta mucks in himself. every bit of it.. acts upon self- reliance .Within a second he clambers up the rungs of the scaffold right up to the flat work bench. Before he knows it his lovely skivvy Naku, bears his pre-requisites of brushes and follows him up to the top. he turns to her and rests his hands on his shoulder..

" jahan main jata hoon, tu wahan chale ati hai..how devoted you are my.. subject..

"woh tu hai ,DP, I do this to please my master...she replies with a twinkle in her green eyes..

" to please me then.. call me by my name .. Naku" he insists, yet again..

"ummm nehin.. she shakes her head from side to side like a little girl..

His fingers dig into her shoulders and he argues with a slight furrow upon the bridge of his nose

"baat sun, tu sare ummar muhje, eeeji, ooo ji, sunte ho,ji kar ke bulaye ge Nakusha? I have an identity, a separate identity, a persona! chal fatafat bol.. DUTTA

"muhjse nehin hoga ye sab.. I can't,, maat force karo mujhe DP...

" why not? have you a speech impairment? like you can't pronounce your D's, T's and A's? or are you trying to be plain obstinate? not doing as you are told!.. thujhe pata hai.. hoone wala pati bhi parmeshwar hota hai...!

"haan pata hai DP ..that's why main aap ka nam nehi le gi.."

" tu ye bata , how come you take Bappa 's name he is parmeshwar too.. tu why not my name..

" because Bappa belongs to everyone who so ever has faith in him.. and aap sirf mere ho.. isliye ju mera maan chaiye ga main buliye ge aap ko.." she says firmly with an impish smile.. that renders Dutta speechless, koi fayeeda nehin is lardki se argue ker ne ka.. but he still maintains the upper hand and bids her to leave..

" tu ja ab Naku.. I need to start work.. " and with that he points to the scaffold ladder and watches her go down the rungs! Once her feet touches the marble floor of the lounge ,he turns to prepare his oil based paints on his palettes.. his legs dangle off the wooden plank work station situated at the top of the scaffold..his draft is ready , he unfurls the scroll on the wooden surface and smoothens it with his fingers.. but irritation grips him, as he twists his arm and runs his palm and feels the nape of neck. The strain of this particular painting wears him down.. he seems out of joint..he needs to put up the canvas on which his work will come alive. he looks down and finds his muse still stands below ,her eyes turn up and fasten on him.. She takes away his agitation from within him. For when it comes to Naku, every moment with her is a ravenous snatch from the jaws of time!. Naku continues to watch from ground zero.. she watches him spread both his legs and stretch his arms to tack the canvas across the wooden wall that overlooks the long entrance corridor. Naku's forehead sweats as she notes his moves, he may appear in full charge of his movements, but for her the recent fall he suffered from these very heights ,strike panic in her. She clearly is anxious more about his precarious positioning rather than his proportionately built finely contoured body.. clothed in black voile kurta and white pyjama. The sound of the tacking gun, tacks as more and more of the white canvas is secured on the wall .. his arms and legs extend and decrease as required ..till finally the preliminary stage is over with...and the canvas is put up by his hands!

With broad brush strokes, Dutta applies the prima and back drop colour.. Dilawar is after the one that Dutta loves! Dutta whips himself into a mad frenzy and paints the back ground of mustard yellow skies that signify the pitch of a day that swelters with heat .. with tones of burning orange that speaks of blood thirsty emotions of might ,power and supremacy are rife from both the warring rivals Kauraves! and Pandaves.. the skies look down upon the brown dry arid land .. where naught grew other than the fumes of war cries between the two rivals that confront each other with bows, arrows and spears..to win the tournament.. Naku notes from a distance the aggression that DP's body language emotes.. Dutta sweeps his broad brush that drips with brown paint .. brush glides on curves across the canvas, the muddy dry hills and mountains that witness the tournament of the proud Pandaves.. the strong hold of five brothers who outshone all others with their exceptional skills of hunting ,archery, swordsmanship. Dutta looks at his draft and with fine brushes equips the brothers with their weaponry.. his draft shows the hundred sons of the blind Dhritarashtra .. he recalls his maa told him they were called Kauravas ..who harboured jealousy against the Pandaves.. Dutta paints the brightly coloured tents of the participating rivals behind their competitors.. the tents clearly mark each's territory.. Dutta pulls up his knees and pours over his charcoal draft and strains his memory.. maa ne kya bola tha... Arjun ke bare mein?.. his memory fails him and he closes his eyes and slowly reclines his back on the wooden work station.. and folds his elbow over his forehead.. Naku watches from below wonders why has he stopped?? she takes a step to find out what the issue is? but decides he may be straightening his back... best leave him to it..

" areee Dutta.. rok kyon gaya?. us maidan mein main hi tu le ke gaya tha Arjun ko... aur kha tha Arjun ko yudh kar!..

" jai shri Krishna! chants Dutta as with a startle he sits up.. haan that's what maa had said.. "shri Krishna was Arjun's charioteer .. Arjun saw the rivals Kauravas in the tournament and had cried to shri Krishna.. how can I strike an offence against them.. I see my blood in them..fathers ,grandfathers, brothers.. they were his kinsmen.. maagar Dutta, "shri Krishna ne Arjun se kaha .. ye aachai aur buriye ke lariye hai.. jis main rishtay nehi dekhe jata!.. maa had said, "yaad rekh Dutta.. buriye mein koi rishta nehin hota.. saach ki hamesha jeet hone chaiya...!! Dutta bent his thumb and swipes a tear from the corner of his eye..

He starts to paint the brown wooden chariot driven by shri Krishna.. behind his image , Dutta paints the muscular figure of Arjun with his sling of arrows hung on his shoulder and his ornate bow in hand.. Dutta paints the magnificent five white horses that pull the chariot! With the finest brush Dutta paints the reins of the chariot in shri Krishna's hands... he rests his brush and gazes at his creation.. the message of this work.. shri Krishna has given him.. in the fight between good and evil.. relationships play no part.. only one thing matters, virtue must triumph and vice defeated! so be it shri Krishna .. but how what does this message signify in my life?? ponders Dutta..

~~~~~~

Naku stands as one who over sees work carried out. Although the scaffolds are still up but in no way do they curtail the splendour of his hands. In fact Naku can see in 2-d the form of worship that DP has yet again brought about, out of his hands.. surely he has some divinity that manoeuvres his imagination and medium of expression.. she watches as he descends the scaffold gingerly till he finally reaches the ground.. funnily enough he hadn't noticed earlier when she stood before him on the top of the scaffolding..

" Naku, what's this yellow colour on your cheek?

She startles and brings her fingers to her face.. but Dutta gently holds her wrist.. and says quietly..

" leave it.. reminds me of the haldi ceremony.. do you reckon this is a good omen Naku? that our gods are happy with our intent to marry.. looks like somehow they have given the go ahead..." says Dutta prophetically.. Naku still can't figure out how the yellow colour got to her face.. she runs to the nearest mirror and looks at the powdery dust.. the marigolds! she put before Bappa! so Bappa approves.. she looks up and smiles shyly.. she turns to look at Dutta.. who spreads his greasy ,paint tarnished hands and arms .. he looks like he could do with a wash.. a good scrub..

" DP you go and change and I'll make you some fresh mint tea to relax you.. " Dutta gives her the naughty eye and she scoots off before he suggests anything over and above!

Dutta yells for his BG's to clear off the scaffolds so that his mother can see his work while it dries.. he twitches his nose as the strong odour of oil based paints hang around the atmosphere within the house..

~~~~~~~~

A sense of achievement puts a spring in Naku's gait as she makes way to the herb garden close to the parameters to the lounge where French doors give access to the garden. DP not only initiates work after he discovers her past, but also after his physical fall.. all by the grace of Bappa and a fraction by her love, she muses.. She looks around, a few bird twitters, breaks the otherwise serene herbal path.. the dull grey skies, and muggy air forecast a storm perhaps, which will be a respite from the current heat. The distinct smell of mint pulls Naku to the area where she carries out the picking.. she collects a hand full just what she requires for his tea. She bends over ,picks the herb, and straightens up her mint in the cup of her right palm.

A thud and a drop! behind her !and then a pair of arms one roughly tugs her neck backwards and the other slams over her mouth! then the unmistakeable sound of the voice that won't let her be for the rest of her life..

" tune kya soocha tha , main thujhe dhoont nehin paye ga?? tera waqat ah gaye hai Nakusha ! aaj thujhe meri girift se bhagwan bhi nehin bacha sakta!

" aisa tu manta hai Dilawarrr! main nehi! comes the lion 's roar that jerks the old man into releasing Naku a bit but soon after follows the hard butt of a gun against the side of her head... to be continued. Hamlet53, 9.1.15

A happy new year to all past and present readers,especially many thanks to my current beloved readers, who stand by me till date...much love hammie.

Originally posted by: Hamlet53