The effect of the force made her fall headlong into the shallow sea water. Taken aback, Sharon had no time to protect herself and felt the salty sea water enter her mouth and nostrils, instilling a familiar sense of dread in her heart.
She kicked her legs hard, trying to keep herself afloat, as the trainer instructed. Her face was half sunken in water, and the chlorinated water entered her mouth, making her cough, loosing her will to kick hard. She could hear the mangled voice of her swimming instructor shouting at her to regain control, but she couldn't find a grip. When she felt a hold on her hand. Relieved, she grabbed the hand forcefully and pulled herself up enough to be above the water surface.
"Aye, Sharon. Don't pull me down for god's sake. I am trying to help you."
Sharon kicked her legs inside the water to reduce the pressure on him and coughed to get the water out of her system. Breathing heavily, she looked sidewards to see Swayam's concerned face looking at her, his hair sticking to his forehead.
"Calm down, buddy. Just kick and hold my hand, softly but. Don't crush it." he chuckled.
Not in the mood to laugh at a joke, Sharon simply nodded and kicked hard, she and Swayam swimming slowly towards the stairs in the pool.
"Thanks Swayam." Sharon said through chattering teeth as they climbed up the stairs onto the safe ground.
"You are 16 years old and still you swim like a 5 year old beginner. Such a shame Sharon. You can't even kick properly."
"Well, not everyone is a trained swimmer like you Shekawat. And maybe I should practise kicking with your help" She ran behind her newly found best friend as he laughed heartily at her inability to swim.
Sharon's hand dug into the sand in an attempt to regain balance when she felt an arm pull her out of the water. Splattering, she squinted through the strands of hair to find Swayam's familiar face in front of her. Without bothering to think of anything, she flung her arms around him, relieved to be out of the water. Swayam placed his hands on her back, but didn't hug her.
"Sorry." she gasped.
"It's okay, bud. Calm down." Swayam rubbed her back in a comforting manner, as he felt her despondency in her pincer-like grip. He shouldn't have pushed her into the water. He had unknowingly crossed a line there. A few seconds passed in a peaceful silence and all of a sudden Swayam felt himself pushed away. He looked at Sharon in shock to see her face red with anger.
"How dare you push me into the water? You know how I hate being unaware in water."
Uh, oh.
Swayam shot her a guilty smile and walked back, his hands raised. She looked murderous and it freaked him out, bad. "I just wanted you to cool yourself, you know, get some sense restored."
"Cool myself?" She growled, taking one step towards him. "It was you who was angry Swayam, not me. What if, I had inhaled a lot of water, or what if sand had entered my mouth and clogged my windpipe or-" she couldn't continue further as Swayam clamped her mouth shut with his hand over it. Sharon struggled to get his hand off, but she couldn't.
"Relax woman. I obviously have enough brains to think of that and why fear when Swayam's here." He winked playfully, letting his hand fall down. Sharon crossed her arms and glared at him in response. Swayam sighed.
"We have fought enough for the day. I honestly don't feel like fighting anymore, do you?"
Swayam saw Sharon's gaze softening as he stated his opinion and smiled, a bit. It was intriguing how the softness of her eyes calmed him and, how rare the softness was; even more so. But then it was this softness which had started of their friendship and Swayam didn't mind not knowing the answer. How did it help anyway?
They both smiled at each other and embraced each other tightly. The calmness they felt at that instant was satiating.
"Remind me not to call you a moron next time, Swayam." Sharon whispered against his turquoise shirt.
"You called me a moron Sharon, seriously?" He exclaimed.
"You were acting like one." Sharon stated in her defense. Swayam shot her an exasperated look and squinted at Sharon as the sunlight targetted his eyes. He motioned her to walk and she gave in.
"So you call me a moron everytime we fight?" Swayam enquired, the sand grains crunching under his feet.
"Most of the times, yes." came a nonchalant reply. Swayam look at her with disbelief. "Fine, won't call you one from now." Sharon said. He looked convinced enough and looked straight, failing to hear a 'Not to your face atleast' which Sharon mumbled under her breath. Ah, such good times these were.
"I am hungry."
"We just had breakfast."
"I know, but I am hungry."
"Sorry can't help it Sharon, I have a limited budget, you see."
Sharon frowned at Swayam as they reached the crowded part of the beach. Swayam shrugged, though the frown on Sharon's face didn't please him. He was very calculative when it came to money matters and that is how he was from the very beginning of time; calculative. He was an analyst minus the serious aura people associated with it. While she, she was everything he wasn't, he mused as Sharon went ahead of him. Loud and obfuscating. With hardly a teaspoon of humour and tolerance. Yet, somehow she had managed to tolerate him. And he, he had grown on her, his thoughts linked to her strongly. Swayam's eyes moved on to a tendril falling over Sharon's face. The first time his dad had broached the subject of his marriage with Sharon, he had found himself partake in a scrimmage. He had doubted the stability of their marriage if it happens, probably still did. But, as he looked at Sharon eat her food with panache, he ran the events of the past few days in his mind. Things did seem smooth, he wondered if it had been just his brain in overdrive. And, he thought how fascinating the working of the Universe was. Setting him up with his best friend in a relationship which was as fatal as it was beautiful. And with such a beautiful start to their 'honeymoon' all Swayam could conclude was,
To fight or not to fight, that will be the question.
Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi 2
Cricket
CID
