FF: Pale Blue Dot Thread 11 (Chapter37 - 28/05) page1 updated

Banner credit to my dearest darling Kalgi. Darling.. it takes me 10k words to convey my mind but it takes you just one picture to say it all! Love you for matching my craziness, for fitting my imagination into one frame!!

Hemakeerti OSes - Compiled

PBD INDEX

Prologue

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Chapter 6

Chapter 7

Chapter 8

Chapter 9

"You say a hundred things to get your work done, don't you?" he trapped her in her own words. "And it is MY PROBLEM to trust you. So..." He triumphantly gauged her changing expressions.

"So..." She repeated, finding it hard to believe that he's indeed leaving.

"So..." He darted a mysterious smile and turned back.

~~~~~

"Its almost Ten!!" Growing clueless with every minute, Jodha looked up from the magazine she pretended to be busy with. It's been forty five minutes after their altercation upstairs and she yet had no clue if he's leaving or staying back. She hasn't seeing him calling his friends home, nor did he leave after supper. Instead he coolly settled in the settee taking TV remote to hands. She doubted if he cancelled the meeting in total and the thought made her guilty. Hindering his work with her fears was definitely not her motto and if he did so, she wouldn't be able to excuse herself. She asked thrice about the same... before, during and after the supper... but all she got was a conniving smile.

"Why am I tensed when he is so cool?!!" The troubled tossed angrily in couch while the troublemaker leisurely surfed through channels - lazily stretched across the opposite settee. "Should he really stretch like that...?" She found another reason to grouch. And ooze masculinity from that black shirt? Her head dropped to the magazine. Milk white biceps, haired muscular arms, chiselled planes... She stole glances at the slightly pulled up pants... "How can a man's feet be so virile!! So kissab..."

"Very glad to know..." His voice suddenly echoed and her pupils widened. "To know what?!!" She clinched the book dreading if he read her thoughts... like he normally did!!

"...your interest in automobile magazines" he stylishly tilted head to face her, "by the way which article is it that hooked you to ONE PAGE for twenty minutes?!"

"Huh?" Flabbergasted, she checked on the opened pages. "Was she?" She tried to recollect if she hadn't truly flipped the page for so long. "May be!!" She haughtily looked up. "Whose fault is it?!!" Hurling a stoic glare at him, she flipped the page and then another dreadful realization hit her hard. "He kept tab of my fingers means he'd also have kept tab of my eyes!!" She gulped. Did he catch me drooling?

"I'm not just reading... I'm trying to understand!!" she pompously covered up. "New subject takes time na!!"

"Mm... very true!!" his sarcasm was barely hidden. "But when the subject is new, better learn it from an EXPERIENCED instead of struggling on your own," he slyly advised throwing her into nastier confusion. "Which SUBJECT is he really referring to?!!" Having been accustomed to his wickedness, Jodha couldn't think straight.

"What?" He snapped seeing her skeptical eyes. "Automobile subject is new to you? Isn't it?!!" he elucidated feigning sincerity.

"Before this man I cannot even think!! He sneak reads my thoughts!!" giving up the pretense, she closed the magazine. "Did you cancel the meeting?" she asked again. "It's almost Ten. Neither you called them nor you're leaving. What's going on?"

"I'm going..." He stated shifting his gaze again onto screen. "Abdul asked me to come after 10!!"

"Oh!!" She sighed in undefined discomfort. "Jalal.." A moment later she lowly called. "Will you take drinks there?" She asked and he gauged her worried eyes.

"We're meeting to work, not to party!!"

"Mm!! At least no drink and drive!!" Jodha persuaded her frenzied senses. "Tonight is going to be JAGRAN till he returns!!"

"Stay there if it gets too late. And call me after you reach Abdul's home."

"And?" the amused man grinned at her wifely instructions.

"And if you plan to drive back late night, let me know."

"Why? Will you wait for me?" propping against elbow, he darted a teasing smirk but she least cared.

"Mm... " She nodded unabashed. "I'll not get sleep till yo..."

Dab!! Dab!! Chik!! The door close sounds followed by remote lock sounds made her halt. Suspicion showed up in her eyes and the mischievous tint in the opposite man's eyes confirmed her doubts.

"YOU...!!" In fits of uncontrollable pique for portraying herself a besotted idiot, and also in unbearable happiness that he relented to her demands, Jodha hurled the magazine at him. Grinning, Jalal neatly caught it and got up to invite his friends.

"Number one LIAR!!" Gritting, she got up to join him in welcoming the guests.

"I know it is my problem to trust you..." The liar whispered with his gaze fixed on main door. "...but what to do, I'm so obsessed with..." he gave her a cheesy glance, "with PROBLEMS." He winked and looked back at the door. The besotted idiot blushed knowing what his exact OBSESSION is.

"I didn't forget the deal!!" he quickly mumbled before moving away from her. "Better you too don't!!" he warned and walked ahead seeing Abdul at entrance.

"BASHA bhai..." Abdul entered with a brassy grin and pounced onto his friend. Reminiscing the fun ride, Jodha couldn't contain her giggles. "Hey Jodha..." he winked, "How was the ride?" he twitted making her giggle some more.

"Bhai... how was the collection?" Chetan stepped in. "Did you earn enough for this month pay checks?"

"Yeah... for employees and me!!" Jalal retorted. "And I'm planning to cut down unnecessary expenses. How about zero on your pay slips?"

"Anything for you BHAI," Chetan pumped fists with Abdul. "After all we can't toil like you with autos and all... so, any sacrifice for you." His eyes fell on the lady standing a little apart. "Jodha?!!" He asked and proceeded without waiting for Jalal to do the honors.

"Hi Jodha..." smiling, he extended hand for a friendly shake, "finally I got to see the pretty face behind the name. You know, your name is quite popular... ", turning back he gave a quick evil wink to his friend and faced her again, "All thanks to the designs, I'm Chetan!!"

Brightly smiling, of course discerning the reasons for her popularity, Jodha shook hands with him. "Hi Chetan... Nice meeting you!!" she gave him another good glance and her brows kinked. "Didn't I see him before?!!"

"You seem familiar," she spoke her mind. "Have you been to Regal?"

"Yeah... once or twice!!" Chetan nodded. "We might have crossed paths then!!

"Right..." She smiled and turned to the other man. "Hello Abdul... how are you? I have one of your belongings pending with me - A BIG THANK YOU!!" She jested reminding him of the check he gave for the IAS aspirant. "You made a man's day!!"

"No big deal Jodha..." Abdul waved hand, "that's nothing compared to what Sara loots from me," he approached her. "By the way how is boss treating you?" he slyly enquired and Jodha raised a delighted brow, curving her fingers into SUPER.

"Must say, it's a very rare opportunity to boss the boss," he whispered like sharing a secret, "utilize it to its maximum!! Equate all old scores!!" he winked hinting at Jalal's outrage on the conference day.

Chuckling, Jodha too whispered mimicking him. "How much ever I love to do so..." she quipped, "...end of the day he's the boss and I'm subordinate. My professional ethics compel me to be submissive."

"Pch!! I know!! It's the same with us, we too are bossism victims," shaking head, Chetan wryly sympathized and the trio broke into a gaily laughter. Carrying the broadest grin, Jalal gladly watched the beautiful amalgamation of two significant elements of his life - friendship and love!!

"And that is why I'm here!" The domineering voice from behind made Jalal turn back. "Oye Saala..." He glanced evidently surprised at the advancing man. "When did you come? Who invited you here?"

"Police doesn't come on invitation SUPERSTAR!" Prithvi smirked, "we invite ourselves when there is a problem, right Jodha?" he smirked and Jodha seconded it with a pleasant welcome smile.

"And what is the problem here?" Jalal raised an amused brow.

"Auto collections..." The ACP seriously announced. "Jodha complained you didn't give her share. Not fair Superstar, after all, isn't it a joint drive?" Jodha guffawed, seeing the live HOUNDING Jalal mentioned.

"Abdul sir... Dinner?" Mani emerged as a saver for the couple. "If I knew you were coming I'd have made roasted chicken!!"

"Next time Mani..." Abdul simpered. "We're done with dinner!!"

"Tea or coffee?" Mani wavered.

"Not now..." Chetan waved off with a smile. "May be after an hour when the heads get heated. Leave the tea bags out; we'll make our drink if needed." The dutiful attendant skeptically glanced at Jalal for his permission. "I'll be awake for another hour Mani," Jodha took the charges. "I'll manage. You rest!!"

~~~

"What am I missing ji?" The question came from nowhere slashing the silence of darkness. It has been fifteen minutes since the lonely couple spoke of the upcoming visit to their son and the exhausted husband was almost snoozing when he heard his wife's voice out of blue.

"Did you say something Meena?" rolling to other side, Usman asked.

"However progressive Saradhi ji is," Ameena faced him, "...it is hard to believe he chose Jalal's home over his other family friends' for Jodha's stay. And considering Prameela ji's conservative standards," she looked pensive, "...this is definitely a huge step. I'm wondering what are Saradhi ji's reasons," she sat up propping against pillows. The astute husband who is aware of the reasons smartly feigned ignorance. "Whatever be his reasons..." casting a chirpy glance at his wife, he deviated the discussion, "... are you not comfortable with Jodha's stay? Do you doubt your son?"

"Doubting Jalal?" Ameena chuckled. "You are asking this the mother of a man in whom a girl's custodians had blind faith?" she shook head, "I'm only intrigued if Saradhi ji too sensed Jalal's liking for Jodha," she announced immensely surprising Usman. "And probably that is why he comfortably left her with Jalal?!!"

"Jalal likes Jodha?" Usman's brows furrowed. "Why do you think so?"

"Motherly instincts..." Ameena twined hands around folded knees, "I could sense the excitement when he spoke of Jodha's stay yesterday. And today when he took her name, there is a subtle gentleness, certain fondness" she smiled to her husband. "That could be just a hunch, but that's what it is. Also when I think of it, I remember his gazes at Jodha during dinner at Prameela ji's home. That time, there was certain tension between them."

"How true is this?!!" Usman remained pensive. "Could this be the reason for Jalal's interest in helping Saradhi ji?"

"Suppose your instincts are right..." he asked thereafter, "... will you be happy with Jalal's choice of a non-Muslim girl?" Rocking back and forth, Ameena spent few moments in thought before responding. "If religion of my daughter-in-law is what keeps me happy..." she sighed, "shouldn't I be the happiest mother-in-law a year before?!"

Having got his answers, of course the expected one, Usman softly smiled. He opened mouth to clarify the reasons behind Saradhi's decision when he was cut by his wife. "I accept any girl who brings peace to Jalal's life..." Ameena continued in her wishful state. "No more ripples, no more troubles he should go through. I'll gladly say yes to any girl who keeps him happy and contented!!"

The word PEACE in Ameena's wishful remarks made Usman tongue tied. "With the danger lurking around Jodha," He drowned in contemplation, "can Jalal ever be peaceful? And.." He glimpsed at his smiling wife. "what will Meena do after knowing the truth? Will she accept her?"

~~~

"Darling... you know what..!!" The messenger window showed that and then said Samyuktha typing for a little longer than Jodha could endure. Finding it dangerous to scream her happiness to her best pie in phone - in Jalal's home and in Jalal's presence - Jodha chose a safer way of doing it - a private chat in Facebook. With an obvious disliking to type longer texts on phone, she settled with a laptop in the lounge on first floor while the men worked in the study downstairs.

"I always had this inkling that Jalal is your man, beginning from day one of your encounter. And I also had this weird hunch that there is some sort of divine intervention in your story. Today's incident only manifests it to be true. If not for that, I don't know what to call the return of Aunty's Sari. Whatever, I am SO HAPPY for you darling. Tightest hugs to you!! Congratulations on finding YOUR MAN... finally!! No... Actually you found your man long back... So congratulations on admitting it now FINALLY!! "

Heat rushed to Jodha's face on reading the message. She quickly looked around to confirm she's absolutely alone and once confirmed, she blushed and grinned to her heart's content.

"Your man," she typed, "sounds sooo right that I'm madly..." she sent ten blushing icons and got ten heart icons in return.

"And looks like you're right on divine intervention thing. Divya's information on interview, gas leak at home, Bangalore shifting all happened so sudden. Like mom used to say... burayi mein achhayi (Good in Bad). All thanks to gas leakage."

Eventually, the joy of the recipient faded. "I wish I could say the gas leakage was no accident Jodhu. I wish I could scream you've life threat. I wish I could warn you to be cautious every time you stepped out. She knew could do nothing of that, hence she did what she always did sending a silent prayer to God to be with her friend, to safeguard her all the times. Samyuktha once again glimpsed at the Sari pic Jodha sent her. "Beautiful!! She imagined her friend decked in it.

"I'm imagining you in this Sari + the necklace set you bought for aunty!!" Samyu typed. "When are you planning to wear it? Jalal's birthday?"

"I too can't wait to try it..." Jodha replied, "...but blouse?!! Dussehra time, boutiques would be so busy. I don't want amateur tailors' hands on it."

"Hmm... true!! Same here!! Boutiques are always busy, given any time of year. Hey, Mom asked me for a pic of the necklace. My neighbor aunty, you know na, she's planning to buy one, looking for nice designs."

"Ok!! Will send it tomorrow. It's in my laptop. Right now, chatting from Jalal's laptop. Forgot the charger at home, will get it tomor..."

"Hope I'm not disturbing you?" The typing fingers ceased hearing ACP's voice. "No not at all..." She smiled minimizing the chat window. "You need something!!"

"Nothing Jodha, may I?" he showed the chaise and she nodded. "The last time we spoke, it wasn't a friendly one. So thought of doing some damage control," he jested leisurely settling down. Chuckling, she typed a quick TTYL (TALK TO YOU LATER) message to her friend.

"Though not friendly," she placed the laptop aside, "it wasn't bad either!!" The renewed relations helped her to be more comfortable, more open. "First meeting with one of the smartest cops", she pursed lips. "It was special in its own way."

Prithvi chuckled at her impish retort. "Sorry my lady..." He teasingly bowed, "My bad to offend this pretty face on very first meeting."

"No offense taken ACP sir," Jodha glanced impish. "Truth to be told I enjoyed the interrogation - in my home, amidst my people," she chortled. "And while you enquired, I imagined myself stalking Jalal in a burkha, and also pairing up with Mohan to plot against Jalal."

"You enjoyed it?" Prithvi asked partly amused, partly surprised. "Then Jalal owes me an apology for needlessly getting upset with me!!"

"Mad at his friend for interrogating me?!!" The revelation etched a lovely smile on Jodha. "Mm!! Impressive!!"

"And a thank you from my side for proving me innocent," she jived, "Jalal told me you found in your investigation that the granite accidentally slipped while two workers tried to steal the bundles." Prithvi smirked hearing his own created story from Jodha's mouth. "Thanks to you, it was big relief to know its not murder attempt." Though she said it light, her gratitude filled eyes conveyed she indeed meant it.

"See... that is the pro of having a police friend", he joked.

"Absolutely..." Jodha gladly agreed. "I always wondered why you chose this profession," she asked inquisitive and the discussion shifted to Pritvi's passion for the profession, his training, postings and then to current trends in crime. "White collared scams are the trending crimes these days," Prithvi sighed. "Public were so habituated to hearing these daily that they hardly react to them anymore, which is very unfortunate."

"My father always opined money laundering scams are worse than murders. In the latter only a man or family is affected, in the former the economy of an entire Nation is sabotaged and the impact has to be borne by every tax payer."

"Sadly, the impact is imperceptible and not immediate," Prithvi added. "Hence people tend to overlook and less react to scams than direct crime. By the way, what was your father?" he pretended naivety.

"He was zonal manager of State Bank of India," she answered. "Would have been promoted to regional manager soon but..." she ceased leaving the rest to Prithvi's perception. Nodding in empathy, the ACP decided to utilize the opportunity to its best. "Hope he had a good career without any hiccups," he cordially smiled. "Generally banks are the starting places to many scams."

"In that regard he is very lucky." Pride and happiness were evident in Jodha's eyes as she spoke of her father. "His career was almost smooth except for one or two incidents here and there. You know how this world works..." she expectantly glanced at him. "Sincerity is not often welcomed and encouraged, but he somehow managed to stand by his ethics. Of course, that fetched him some haters too, but yeah majorly he earned love and respect wherever he worked. His colleagues stood for him, supported him in adversities..." she continued in a trance, "...like when my brother died or when he was charged with a fraud allegation" looking down to her fingers Jodha missed noticing the knot on Prithvi's forehead. "But end of day, truth prevailed!!"

"Fraud allegation?" Prithvi sounded composed, obscuring his curiosity. "Do you mind sharing it?"

"Of course, it wasn't a big deal..." she smiled, "It happened almost" she paused, thinking, "Like six years ago. Dad was then head of loans for Secunderabad zone. A clerk of his office forged his signature on some company's loan forms. Dad wasn't regular to office that time as my grandfather was hospitalized. The clerk forged Dad's signature so perfectly that none of his subordinates realized it was a forged sign before processing the documents. So the loan was sanctioned and that company immediately filed bankruptcy. A case was filed against Dad for sanctioning loan without appropriate inquiry and surety. He was sure he didn't sanction it and requested for a thorough investigation. Finally, they tracked down to the clerk as the culprit."

"What happened to that clerk?" The innate police instincts encouraged him to probe further. "Was he arrested?"

"Yes and was sentenced to jail for three years or so!!" Jodha said. "None of us knew this incident for few months. Most of the times, he didn't bring office troubles home. Also, my grandfather died during that time and he didn't like to add to the grief. Later when the case was filed in the court we all came to know. His friends Rao uncle, Srini uncle were always his pillar support."

A soft music reverberated in the lull confines of the living thus interrupting the duo's chat. "How did Saradhi ji miss this incident?" Prithvi succumbed to his thoughts. "May be it slipped out of his memory!! I should ask more details about this!!" He was making a mental note when the music echoed again. "Whose phone is it?" Jodha got up and walked to railing looking down to the living but she couldn't spot one. The music continued to play.

"Abdul's!!" Prithvi too got up. "Its unique ringtone for Jalal's calls... you know the song Azeem o shan shehanshah?" he winked and Jodha grinned at Abdul's pick of song. "There is someone else than me who sets special ringtones for my Don!!"

"Where is it?" Jalal, Abdul and Chetan treaded out of study. "The sound is coming from there..." Prithvi pointed towards the dining and the three looked up. "Abe... what are you doing there? You were sent to get the pen drive!!" Jalal yelled.

"Breathing non-business air and enjoying some non-business talks, am I right Jodha?!!" Prithvi witted and Jodha gleefully agreed. "Absolutely!!" They trekked down to join the friends.

"Here it is..." Abdul picked the phone from top of refrigerator. "Would have left it when I came for water!! And since you're absolutely free..." he nudged Prithvi into kitchen. "Let me put you to use. Make ginger tea for me!!"

"Elaichi tea for me!!" Chetan ordered.

"Coffee for me!!" Jalal ordered.

"Eleven o' clock!!" standing sturdy and cool, Prithvi checked the time. "The tea stall in junction should still be open," he tossed his wallet at Abdul. "Help yourselves; after all you people are in neck-deep debts!!"

"Tch... tch..." Chetan wryly sympathized taking the wallet from Abdul. "Your department pays you peanuts and you're sacrificing it for us. How generous!!" he closed the purse in Prithvi's palm. "Last days of month... rakh lo beta... ration, petrol you've your own expenses. Don't know when your next salary would be credited. It all depends on government's mercy unlike our private firms who pays our employees first though we're in neck-deep debts.

"Devils with noble faces!!" Jalal and Jodha watched the drama with known grins and broke the eye lock before they're caught off guard. "Looks like I'm the only affluent one here..." Jodha volunteered. "Let me help all the poor you. 3 Tea and 1 coffee, right?" moving to the kitchen, she asked for confirmation.

"4 tea..." Jalal corrected and she turned back. "Tea would do for me too!!"

Jodha threw him a skeptical glance; nevertheless, she nodded and proceeded to kitchen. Fifteen minutes later, when she brought the last mug to Jalal after serving ginger+elaichi tea to the other three, the aroma of the beverage etched a surprised smile on him. Passing on the mug, she signalled to his phone and darted out of study. A minute later the phone in his hands silently vibrated with the message from the expected sender.

"Anything I do for you is not a burden!!" His lips parted into a delighted smile.

"And definitely not something as trivial as COFFEE!!" He obscured mushy grins behind the mug.

"Point taken SWEETHEART!!" he texted back and ecstatically sipped his coffee. The sweetness of endearment stirred an yearning in Jodha to brace the sender and to be cuddled back by him. Devoid of anything of that sort, she did the best she could do - hug his belongings. Tugging Jalal's laptop to chest, she blushed and evanesced into her room.

~~~

"12:32am!!" The deeply engrossed boss's eyes shifted to the system time and he sat straight alerted. "Shucks!! How did I forget it?!

"Be right back..." not wasting another moment, Jalal hurled upstairs but didn't find his girl in the lounge. Casting a dubious glance at the closed bedroom door he dashed to balcony but the absolutely silent premises confirmed her absence. Encouraged by the dim ray of light emanating from her bedroom's window, he peeked into the room and found her sleeping. "Damn!!" Regretting his forgetfulness, he returned to the study.

"She wouldn't say it tomorrow!! Edginess made his concentration deter. "She's just looking for excuses to defer the topic and I gave a perfect one now. How to know what she murmured?!!" He racked his brain. "The way she said..." He tried recalling, "...sounded like some Sanskrit hymn. What were the words?" He closed eyes to divert his attention from on-going debate.

"Sarvam... deva?!!"

"Hey Prithvi..." He called without second thought, "Do you know any Sanskrit verse with words like Sarvam, dev?" The discussion abruptly stopped resulting in an awkward pin drop silence in the room.

"Chetan that's a question for you too," he looked at his other Hindu friend making the trio exchange baffled glances. "Jalal... what are we talking and what are you talking?" Abdul scowled. "In between production statistics, where did this Sanskrit come from?" Jalal looked at the other men who carried similar expressions and then discerned his mistake. "Darn!!

"Wo... actually" he plunged into remedy steps, "I heard it in the evening and it has been haunting since then. I wonder what it meant!!"

"I'm not good at any verses..." Prithvi shrugged, "That too Sanskrit!! Pch!!"

"Neither me..." Chetan added. "Anyways, Google it if you're so interested to know."

Chetan's advice didn't finish when Jalal's fingers put the suggestion to implementation. He could feel his anticipation growing manifolds as he searched for the words Sarvam+Deva. Thanks to the adept search engine, his search ended by first hit.

"Tvameva Mata cha Pita Tvameva, Tvameva Bandhu cha Sakha Tvameva, Tvameva Vidya Dravinam Tvameva, Tvameva Sarvam Mama Deva Deva!!" The page read, followed by a word-to-word translation of the Sloka.

"Got it?" seeing Jalal's knitted brows, the friends peeked in.

"Oh... this one?" Prithvi exclaimed. "This is quite popular. I've heard it in my home..." He casually remarked, "It means you are the mother, you are the father, you are the friend, and you are everything!!"

"Yeah... sounds familiar to me too..." Chetan was saying but Jalal's ears stopped perceiving anything of it. His eyes were affixed to the screen while his mind took its time to absorb the words and their meaning.

"Is this what she said?" he gaped numbed. "How divinely she said what HE is to HER!!" His heart swelled with love and his eyes shut to contain the bliss.

"Done with your verse... shall we continue?"

"Should we include last year statistics or not... what do you say?"

"Jalal... it's a question to you. Where're you lost?"

Like a deafened man, Jalal didn't respond to any of the questions. Only Jodha's devoted eyes while she whispered the special message flashed behind his lids. HE HAS TO SEE HER... IMMEDIATELY!! The urge grew wilder and to utter astonishment of his friends, he threw the laptop aside and gushed out like a whirlwind.

"Arre yaar... what happened? Where are you running?" Abdul's screams lingered behind.

Mounting two steps at a time the desperate boss prayed for the door to be unlocked. If not, he decided to bang the door and wake her up from slumber - so strong was his urge. His fingers twisted the knob and to his pure relief the door to his love opened. Spread across the bed was his girl, profoundly breathing and peacefully sleeping. One hand on laptop keys, the other folded beneath her head and dupatta intact around her neck explained she dozed off waiting for him. Slowly slumping on the bed, he leaned across her to have a view of her astral face. The disrupted hair covered half the side of her face making only a crescent arc of it visible. Smiling, he descended his mouth down and gently blew the intruding locks. "Chaudhvi ka chand ho!!" Her resplendence that subjugated the night's darkness impetuously reminded him of the poetic lines. "Ya aftaab ho... Khuda ki kasam..." He lovingly fanned her tresses, "laa jawab ho..." Her strayed locks swayed in rhythm to his blows.

"So I'm everything to you!!" He traced her hairline with fingertip. "Why didn't you say it loud, haan?" he demanded the sleeping beauty. "Had you said it loud..." his lips curved into a lopsided grin, "You'd have lost count of the places I painted you in pink!!" His body loaded with passion at the imagination. Dreaming on, he glided the fingertip along her cheekbone till it reached the corner of her mouth. "You know what..." he brought his face more down... just a centimeter away from her lips, "You are the only woman who aroused a physical urge in me in the very first meeting..." he confessed his sweet little secret. "Remember our first encounter?" He smiled reliving the memory. "While you're angrily muttering FOURTEEN DAYS and TWO HOURS I was mentally kissing these pouting curves..." he blew a kiss onto her lips, albeit maintaining the centimeter distance. "And the struggle I had to make to bring back the diplomat in me... Uff!!" He grinned thinking of the umpteen times he battled thereafter to hide his passion behind decency. "Do you know how badly I was pulled towards you even in the days when we meant nothing to each other? I remember each dress of yours, each accessory on you," he spoke to her closed eyes. "The Jhumkis you wore on resignation day, I still remember the way they swayed when you nodded to every question of mine. That tops my favorites on you darling. And then the jasmines," he smiled recalling how she fell on him and held his collar, "...they caused an altogether different intoxication. May be it's your fragrance that brought the difference," he breathed in the fragrance of her hair.

"After all those baby steps, today we are here where I'm everything to you. This journey from nothing to everything..." He gave a feather kiss to her nail tips and slowly distanced the laptop. "I enjoyed every snip of it, Sweety! It was so blissful," he moved up to her ears, "and I promise to retain the bliss as we continue our journey... TOGETHER AS ONE!!" He sealed the promise with a peck on her temple. After spending another wholesome minute fondling with her locks, Jalal wished her goodnight, covered her with duvet, and silently retreated.

**********

"Morning Mani, Morning Vasantha... what's special today?" checking for Jalal in and around Jodha stepped into the attendants' favorite dwelling - kitchen. "The usually silent home is unusually banging with music," crossing arms she slyly asked. "Isn't your SIR at home?"

"Sir is at home..." Mani grinned. "And we are also as clueless as you are about music madam."

"Aha!!" pursing lips in thought, she grabbed the water bottle. "Mani... I've office today. So don't cook lunch for me," she informed and turned back to look for her mister.

"Won't you take lunch box Amma?" Vasantha stopped her. "Sir said that you carry lunch to office. Also what do you like for breakfast?"

"Jalal..." Muttering under breath she walked to the concerned lady and held her hand. "First thing... It's a matter of two or three days, so I'll eat in office. Second thing... I'm not a guest here..." she amended the slip of tongue with an alluring smile. "I mean I AM A GUEST but not those hi-fi types whom you should ask and cook a star hotel menu for every single meal. So guys... relax and cook what you usually do for Jalal." She charmed with a wink and the enamored guys returned her sweetness with an equally sweet smile.

"Mani... I've seen the rich, the nice ..." Vasantha looked down to her hands and then at the sprinting lady. "The rich and the nice but very few rich & nice are nicer to the weaker classes. May God bless her!!" A genuine prayer leaped out of her heart.

"Azeem o shan shehanshah..." Humming, Jodha sprinted to the only other spot Jalal could positively be present at that hour of the morning. "Good morning late bird!!" Her first step into Gym was welcomed with a conniving smirk. "Yesterday you're up by Six, today Seven, tomorrow Eight?"

"That depends on how long you keep me waiting tonight sir," retorting, she steadily strode towards him. "My wake up time differs with previous night's sleeping time, not unlike someone who wakes up at six no matter what time they hit bed!!"

"You should have sent a reminder instead of waiting," he halted the cross-trainer.

"Why would I?" propping elbow on cross-trainer's panel, she tipped her chin up. "Its up to you to accomplish your part of deal."

"I did!!" pinning his gaze on her, he too leaned onto panel, "I came to wish you good night. Not my fault that you dozed off."

"Really?" she doubted, her eyes busy in tracing the sweat bead that dribbled down his temple. "When did you come?"

"After eleven as you said..." he asserted, "but since we didn't decide on BEFORE time I was a little late!!"

"Tch tch... late lateef..." she playfully stroke the sweat bead that briefly paused at the edge of his jaw before dripping down the neck. And he liked it!! He liked it to such extent that he rebuked his body for not breeding sufficient beads for her to play. "I wished you goodnight PERSONALLY as per deal... so," his eyes crinkled with mischief. "Tell me now!!

"What now?" she rested chin on entwined fingers. "That's a limited period offer. Date changed, deal gone... Are re re tu bhool gaya re... deal bhi gaya re," chirpily singing, she messed his front locks. Can my morning get any better?!! Chuckling, Jalal stepped down from the machine. "Let it be. I don't need a deal any longer," churning suspense in her, he walked towards the stereo, "I think I know what you said!!" He decreased the volume of music and turned back.

"What?!!" Jodha stared suspicious and unconvinced. "What did I say? And how do you know?"

"I've my ways!!" he coolly shrugged but she couldn't believe. "Tell me what you know then," she dubiously demanded.

"Why? We both know what you said, why do you need a repetition?" he approached her.

"Proof" she reasoned, "You can't just claim it, you've to prove it too!!"

"Proof or..." he folded arms and stood before her, "...yearning to hear it in my voice?"

"If you think so," she too folded arms. "So be it!!"

"Aha..." Raising a teasing brow, he touched his folded arms to hers and leaned on to her just like she did the previous night. "You said... " he cleared throat against her ear and it sent titillations down her spine. "Leveling scores, huh?" She bit back a grin.

"You said sarvam, deva..." he whispered the known part; hair on her skin erected in anticipation of the impending part, "and the rest..." he glimpsed down to the refurbished skin on her neck, "...the rest you'll know if you finish your exercise," he smartly deferred following her rules of game.

"Jalal..." She smacked his arm, having got a taste of her own medicine. "Keep it to yourself!!" She feigned disinterest. "I know you knew nothing, you're just tricking. And what exercise are you talking about?"

"YOUR EXERCISE!!" He showed the audio system. "Isn't it what we agreed upon yesterday?" his eyes squinted. "That you'll do yours and I'll do mine!!"

"You mean dance?" Her eyes rolled. "Is that why you're rocking home with music from morning?" She couldn't believe Jalal had put her words to immediate implementation and woke her up to her abandoned routine.

"Of course!!" He winked.

"You're impossible Jalal," she laughed at his attentiveness. "I didn't expect you to be so quick in action."

"When the matter pertains to YOU," he held her hand and drew closer. "I usually don't delay!!" He murmured making her feel what she always felt when he said such things - PHENOMENALLY SPECIAL.

"Don't I know?" Jodha pursed lips at the memory of their first encounter. "In our very first meeting itself I came to know how quickly you react," her left hand rested on his shoulder as she happily spoke. "While I was standing still at my desk reeling on my impertinence, you left to your cabin and altered the meeting schedule too. What I didn't know then was," she anchored right elbow on his chest and naughtily gauged his black depths, "you acted so quickly because the matter pertained to ME!! WHY mister?" Her wishful orbs showed the yearning she felt deep down her heart - yearning to hear him say he had a THING for her from the very first encounter!!

"I was quick then because..." Jalal angled his head bringing his nose close to her temple so that it inhaled her fragrance while his lips whispered to her ears. "I was amused by my new architect's audacity," he chuckled against her ear lobe, "and decided that she needed a little reality check."

"Oh!!" Jodha sighed disappointed. "No love at first sight or smitten in first meeting kind of stuff!!" Obviously, his answer didn't sound sugary to her ears. "Aren't you too good at giving them?" she griped jerking her face slightly back. "Reality checks!! One after the conference, one after dropping me at bus stop, one at the site..". she read the list, "and one now!!"

"Jo!!" he chuckled at her grouching tone. "I gave you different kind of reality checks too!!" His thumb caressed the crinkled edge of her right eye. "May I remind?"

"OKAY!! Now this is interesting!!" She reminisced the umpteen times Jalal held her in his arms and asserted his love for her, albeit in his own way. Yet, hearing from him one more time is always welcoming. "Mm," bolstering cheek on the hand anchored on his chest, she evilly prodded. "Remind me!!" And the smart boss read the mischief in her eyes.

"Wait a minute..." he stared dubious, "are you engaging me in talks so that you can get away without exercise?"

"What?" her nose scrunched. "When did I say I've such intentions?

"Don't I know you?" Jalal left her and moved to the stereo. "You're very good at deviating disinterested discussion. Now, what tracks you usually play for your practice?"

"I don't have them now," Jodha replied, driving her mind into mood of dance. "Let me try with what's played now." She draped the dupatta around her body. "And you continue with your work out. Don't look at me," moving to a vacant area, she instructed.

"Why?"

"Because my feet doesn't move under scrutiny!!" thinking of the dance moves, she casually said.

"Scrutiny?" Jalal hurled an offended glance at her. "I thought I'm a VICTIM of it, not the culprit!!"

"Victim?!" The inattentive girl returned to senses fathoming what he's referring to. "Shxt!!" She grimaced knowing that he caught her drooling over his feet the previous night. "Tell me!!" he menacingly walked towards her. "Did I ever stare at your feet this way?" He increased the seductive quotient and fixed his gaze on her feet.

"God!!" Feeling the heat, Jodha curled her toes and quickly moved ahead to block his blaze. "Wrong choice of words..." She pressed her palm against his eyes. "The point is, your presence makes me conscious, I'll forget steps and end up laughing like I did yesterday."

"Will it help if..." he took her hand off, "...I keep my eyes shut?"

"Blind folding and then dancing before you," she laughed, "that's even nuttier!!"

"You mean the entire world can see you dance but not me, is that it?" He finalized.

"Emotional blackmail... huh?!" Jodha laughed. "Doesn't suit you boss!! What I mean is, don't look at me for initial few minutes. Once I get engrossed, your presence will not distract me, okay?"

"So..." the unyielding boss teased, "I'm your distraction?"

"Jalal..." rolling eyes, Jodha forcibly turned him back, "You please go. Your machines are waiting!!" Grinning, Jalal moved to bench press and got hooked to his workout. Understanding her inhibitions, he genuinely avoided eye contact to give her the needed space. Posing her back to Jalal, Jodha began her practice with regular obeisances to Lord Nataraj. As she got up, she felt an intangible unease constricting her limbs from moving. Shunning it off as the discomfort of resuming practice after a long gap, she maneuvered her feet to the rhythm - her hands slowly followed.

"Something is not right!!" Two more moves and her feet ceased as if she forgot dance. "What's wrong?" She stared down to her feet for a long moment and the unadorned feet told her what went missing. "Oh!! Anklets!!" Jodha slowly dropped down caressing her feet and recollecting the anklets that were an integral part of her since the day Gautam gifted them with his saved pocket money till the day she resentfully dismissed them, one day a month after her parents' death. Her eyes shut in the ache of memories.

"Gone were the days.." She painfully sighed. "...when Gautam's mouth made weird noises like symphony to my dance. Gone were the days when Papa massaged my tired little feet. Gone were the days when Maa tied Ghungroos before every performance. Gone were the days when all the distinctive three unanimously appreciated the tinkling of anklets whenever I walked or waltzed."

"Are you laughing again?" Jalal's voice brought her from past to present. As he rose up from the bench press, Jalal saw her sitting with bowed head. Obviously it made him assume her to be uncontrollably laughing like she did the day before. "I didn't look at you this time, then what made you laugh?"

Plastering a smile, Jodha stood up facing him. "I wasn't laughing. I'm thinking..." she slowly strode towards him, "...if I were to resume practice, why not do it appropriately?"

"Appropriately?" he glanced skeptical. "Like seeing a muhurat?"

"Kind of..." she smiled, making a note to pick up anklets when she visited home to pick up gifts for Saradhi's assistants, "since the fight is against silence, let me get my weapons," she stopped by the treadmill, "ANKLETS!!"

In response, Jalal simply stared at her. He didn't know if anklets are truly crucial or she's just making excuses to skip dance, for, he saw her dancing before clients without them. He didn't understand her trouble in resuming dance neither did he like a discussion on it. "FINE!! Your wish!!" he calmly returned to his workout and to the sensible lady FINE didn't sound as fine as it should be.

"Don't you trust me? You think I'm making excuses?" gripping the treadmill handle, she probed but didn't get anything in response, not even a glance at her.

"Hello... I'm asking you something!!" she pressed stop, thus forcing his attention to her.

"What should I say Jodha?" he frowned. "I asked something and you said your reasons. That's it. The topic ends there!!" He shrugged nonchalant and resumed running. "Ends there?" Instigated by his indifference Jodha angrily stepped onto the pacing Treadmill.

"Jo!!" An auto-piloted scream stormed out of his mouth seeing her stutter. "Stupid!!" he yelled clamping her waist and lifting her off the track. Clasping the handle bar with free hand, he kept jogging to avoid sudden collapse.

"Why do you think I'm faking?" bunching his shirt, she demanded.

"Press stop!!" he raged.

"First tell me why?" She twisted his shirt more. "Press stop idiot!!" he muttered under breath and this time she gave up her adamancy. No sooner the machine halted, Jalal unwound his hand dropping her down like a sack. "Are you mad?" panting, he pulled her down the machine but the unbothered girl darted him a stoic glance and ran for a water bottle.

"Now do you understand I'm serious with my reasons?" passing the bottle, she frowned.

"Funny, eh?" he admonished. "You know how dangerous it is to step on a running Treadmill? You can badly hurt, stupid!!"

"I know," she confidently avouched, "and I also know I wouldn't hurt as long as you are there!!" Jalal opened mouth to chide more but he didn't know how to rebuke the indisputable confidence that glinted in her eyes. He glared at her for one another moment and feebly cussed. "You've gone nuts, TOTALLY!!"

"Yes," she seriously agreed, "and remember it before getting unnecessarily angry with me. Also remember I'm not going to fib to you anymore. Whatever I say, I mean it!!" Smirking at her flaring nose, Jalal thrust the bottle back to her hands. "Drink it and cool down missy!!" he jested but Jodha didn't smile.

"Without anklets," she spoke low, yet firm, "...its like mute dance Jalal. Imperfect and incomplete!!" The profundity in her timbre allayed the smile on Jalal. One gaze at her and he read her sentiment around the anklets. "Jo..." He cupped the side of her face. "Is it one of the few things you abandoned lately?"

"It is one of the few things," her eyes didn't move from his. "Gautam, Maa, and papa unanimously liked on me. And it is one of the few things I began to hate in my newfound loneliness. That chiming vibrations," resentment sharpened her eyes, "...they constantly reminded me I'm left with no one to appreciate them, so I," her lids fell. "I abandoned anklets, practice and performances. That day before clients, I was put into a fix and couldn't deny because it's a question of Regal's honor," her flow momentarily paused. "Anyways, bygones are bygones. Let me get the anklets and start it all over again. I'm sure you're going to love their lilt." The lids that rose to HIS shone with unblemished faith that he'd appreciate its sound and Jalal felt overwhelmed. Why not? Too many revelations, of course the encouraging types, in too short time obviously laded his heart.

Revelation number one - Jodha is no more inhibitive because she shared her innermost feelings with absolutely zero hesitation. Number two - She truly gave him the status of family. Bringing back something she abdicated after the loss of her family, for his sake, indicated she genuinely believes he is her family. Three - She surely had a THING for him since the days he had no idea of it. If not, Regal's honor wouldn't matter her, definitely not more than her own constraints. Four - Effortlessly, he was provided with clues on what to gift her next!!

Sheathing her in his warmth, Jalal refrained from commenting. He couldn't, as he felt words would dampen the beauty of the moment. Tying arms around his neck, Jodha pressed her ear into his chest. The rhythmic ups and downs shipped her into entranced state. "I've to go home today," a minute later, she murmured.

"For anklets?" his fingers tangled on the small of her back.

"And also for Dussehra gifts of Badepapa's office staff," she looked up. "I'll go in the afternoon," his lips parted to say something but she overrode him, thoroughly knowing what he's going to say. "You don't have to come all way from Fourwheels, I'll call Ranga."

"Sure?"

"Sure baba!!" she jovially hit his forehead with hers. "Evening, I'll come home directly. And now you'll drop me minimum 200 feet away from Estate Building!!"

"Why?" he twisted her stranded lock with his finger.

"Because I don't want to go through the pain of explaining why I stepped out of MD's car!!" she groused. "Your female fans keep eyeing me like this," she imitated Asst. marketing manager's suspicious stares.

"Female fans?" unwinding the strand, Jalal posed an innocent face.

"As if you don't know!! Jodha poked his cheek with index finger.

"I really don't..." he continued feigning innocence, "educate me on this missy. Who're these female fans?"

"Wait a second..." stopping midway, Jodha rubbed her chin in thought, "I see a machine here for each part of body," she made an exhausted face. "Isn't there one exercise for all parts?"

"There is... " laughing at the way she asked, he replied "Swimming!!"

"Oh, yeah," her face scrunched in distaste. "But its so suffocating. I went for two classes and gave up. I couldn't keep my head under water for more than five seconds."

"Its easy Meenu," he gripped her wrist and smiled injecting confidence, "you only have to give up fear!!"

"May be!!" she nodded. "But isn't there any other swimming-like exercise? Something not under water and a complete body exercise!! One shot for all parts!!" Jalal thought of the swimming-alike substitute for a second and the answer that hinted his grey cells apparently fetched a devilish grin. Pausing on the staircase, he gave her a curious glance. "Why do you want to know?"

"Because..." naughtiness danced at corner of her lips, "I just realized the power of exercise when you lifted me with one hand," she cheekily squished his biceps, "like seriously, one hand?!" she grinned girlish. "No wonder you've a HUGE FEMALE FAN following!!"

"For my biceps?" Jalal laughed. "If that is the case with layers of blazer and shirt," his voice turned husky. "How about going shirtless like Salman khan?"

"If you do that," Jodha didn't think much before retorting. "Bangalore's autumn will turn into Chennai's summer!!"

"Oy, don't divert the topic!!" she nudged him. "I asked a question, you've answer or not?" she naively brought the topic back with absolutely no clue of the slyness in it.

"Yes!!" he evilly nodded, thinking of her face if he revealed the answer. "There is one!!"

"Oh, good!!" her hands clasped in naive joy. "TEACH ME!!"

"What?!!" Jalal choked and broke into a toothy grin. The naivety in her eyes confirmed she had no clue of what she's asking and he couldn't help guffawing. "He teaching her THAT exercise?!!" The imagination went wild and the grins aggrandized to laughter.

"Why're you laughing?" the confused lady frowned.

"First tell me..." Getting a grip, Jalal managed to ask. "Why do you want to learn?"

"I'm lazy to try different workouts na," she suspiciously glanced his mischievous eyes, "So if I learn one good exercise... that, along with dance practice will help maintain the fitness, right?"

The BEST exercise to maintain fitness!! His laughter turned mushy. "But I doubt if you," taking her ignorance to his fullest advantage, Jalal feigned seriousness. "if you'd show enough of interest and seriousness!!"

"Of course, why not?" Jodha replied in her own flow. "If it is DOABLE at HOME, I'll definitely learn!!" Jalal's sides began to hurt as he tried his best to suppress the bubbling laughter. "But if you say Gyms and all, then forget it!!"

Quickly stepping down to hide his face from her, Jalal quipped. "Its doable at home!!

"Very good... teach me tomorrow," following him, Jodha casually said. "And don't think that I'll just learn and give up. I'm seriously considering to do something for fitness. So, I swear to practice regularly.." unable to contain the mirth anymore, Jalal's hand clenched the railing. "You yourself will praise how good a student and how fast a learner I am!!" she flaunted her abilities at a very wrong time making Jalal collapse on the steps.

"Hey, what happened?" she hurriedly slumped by his side. "Jalal..." She shook him but didn't get any response. "Hey..." she shoved his forearm that covered half of his face and Jalal's head shot back in fits of irresistible laughter. The tensed girl's worry transformed into fury. "You're laughing?" she smacked him but it had no effect on him. "Tell me the reason, I too will laugh," she helplessly stared at him, futilely guessing the reason for this abrupt change in him.

"Laugh?" Jalal blinked eyes to clear the mist. "You'll slash me straight if I say it!!"

"Say it na, please!!" shaking him, she cutely implored.

"My sweet idiot!!" surprising her, Jalal pulled her cheeks, gave a quick peck on the right one and briskly strode down - his shoulders still convulsively shaking.

"What?" trying to come to terms with the situation, Jodha sat stupefied. "What made him laugh so much? What did I say so funny?" scratching her head, she began recalling the conversation.

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

6:10pm

"The number you've dialed is currently switched off!!" The message repeated in two more languages before the call ended. "May be out of charging," smoothly merging his vehicle into city's traffic, Jalal tried another number. One... two... three... the rings kept reverberating from car's Bluetooth audio. "So, she is not in office!!"The unanswered call on Jodha's desk number confirmed her absence, thence Jalal dialed his home number.

"Mani... he asked, "Is Jodha at home?"

"No sir!!"

"Mm!!"

"I should have called her once in afternoon!!" He tapped the steering. "Did she go to uncle's office to give gifts or not?!!" A feeling of unease made him toss in seat. Thirty minutes later, when he stepped into home Jalal's eyes automatically searched for the girl who could put an end to his speculation and unease. "Did Jodha come?" handing over blazer and keys to Mani, he enquired and like the silent home conveyed, he got a negative nod as answer. "May be on the way!!" Answering his not-so-calm senses Jalal settled in the living looking for her, on contrary to his routine of leaving for his room to fresh up.

"The number you've dialed..." Five minutes later, he tried on Jodha's number again and was answered with the same automated message. "Careless idiot!!" Rebuking, he took the newspaper to divert his frenzied mind. At the end of every article his eyes impulsively shifted to the wall clock and then to the entrance.

"7:10!!" Finishing the coffee Mani had served Jalal threw the paper aside and took phone to hands. Saradhi uncle might know if she went to his office!!

"Hi Jalal!! What's up man?"

"Hi uncle, Jodha said she'd go to your office today and come home directly. Her phone is switched off and she's not back yet. Do you know where she is?"

"Is it?" Saradhi said surprised. "I didn't talk to her today. What exactly did she say?"

"She said she has to pick some gifts from home for your staff!!"

"Right!! Prameela should've told her. Did she say she'd go alone?"

"No, she said she'd take Ranga along."

"Oh, then let me call him and find out!!"

Unwitting to idly wait for Saradhi's call, Jalal dialed Jodha's desk number again, only to get no response from the other end. He spent few moments in vacillation whether to call Raj or not to ask for Jodha, but then he altered the idea and called the office reception. "Is Ms. Jodha in office?"

"I'll check sir!!" The receptionist kept his call on hold and Jalal's anxiety boomed with each second. "Sir, she isn't in office. Mr. Shashank said she left early."

"When did she leave?"

The receptionist took another minute to check the swipe records before answering. "Around 3'o clock sir!!"

"Thanks!!" surmising she'd have left early to go home, Jalal felt relieved.

7:20pm

"Jalal... Ranga is at his home. He's down with fever!!" Saradhi's voice came a little tensed. "He said Jodha called him in afternoon but didn't tell him anything about gifts or home. When he asked the reason for call, she said it's a casual one. I doubted she'd have gone alone unwilling to bother Ranga. So called my junior to confirm if she visited office in the evening, but he said NO!!" The relief Jalal felt a few minutes before immediately vanished into thin air.

"And I called the watchman of our home..." Saradhi spoke pensive, "He too confirmed Jodha didn't come. May be she's still in office or started late. Can you find out?"

"I did uncle..." Jalal mumbled. "She left at 3'o clock. If she hadn't been to your office, then where did she go?"

"May be to some shopping with colleagues?!"

"I'll find out!!" The next five minutes passed in edginess with Jalal acquiring Shashank's number from Raj and then with three back-to-back calls to the young architect. "Pick up man!!" Restlessly pacing to and fro, Jalal thought of other associates who could possibly have Jodha's information. Just then his mobile rang with two calls - first from Shashank and then from an unknown number- and Jalal picked the known call.

"Sorry sir..." Shashank shouted to be audible against the traffic noises. "I was on the way to home. I missed your calls."

"Its okay. Do you know where Jodha is?" He straightly shot his question.

"She left early saying she had some work sir. I don't know exactly where she went!!"

"Did she go with anyone?"

"As far as I know, she went alone sir!!"

Fuxk!! Shxt!! He slumped into the settee and informed Saradhi of the same.

"May be she's out on some other work Jalal!!" The advocate hoped. "Lets wait for another hour!!"

Sighing, Jalal was about to flick the phone aside when he saw missed call from unknown number. He first discarded thinking it to be some junk call, but then intuition made him call back. "The number you've dialed..." To his surprise, he got a switched off message on it either.

"Who was that?" his brows knitted, but didn't give it further thought.

"Where are you Jo?" resting back, he closed eyes sending silent prayers for her safety. Anxiety and nervousness slowly got injected into his nerves making several images, albeit unpleasant ones, play behind the shut lids.

To Be Continued...

"Where are you Jo?" resting back, he closed eyes sending silent prayers for her safety. Anxiety and nervousness slowly got injected into his nerves making several images, albeit unpleasant ones play behind the shut lids. Too tensed to idly sit for more than two minutes, he went out and began pacing in the porch; his eyes turning to the main gate every now and then. Mani stepped out twice to ask about Jodha but not daring to disturb the agitated man he silently backtracked.

7:50pm

"Calm down Jalal!!" The ACP coaxed. "Think sensible. Its not even Eight O' clock and you know the city traffic. She might have been stuck in traffic!!"

"Five hours Prithvi!!" Jalal grimaced. "Long enough to travel from this end to that end of the city!!" His frustration diluted sensibility. "Long enough for anyone to make her disappear from this city or this world." Grief overtook frustration. "I want to do something than impotently sitting at home and staring at gate Prithvi!!"

"I understand Jalal..." Prithvi sympathized. "But try and think!! Abducting her mid-day on busy road with tens of people around..." he reasoned, "do you think the murderer would do that when his motive is to keep it natural? I believe she went on some work and got stuck."

"Yeah, but how do we know that for sure?" Jalal argued. "Is there a way to track her mobile?"

"That's a tedious process!!" Prithvi sounded skeptical. "And it only tracks to the last location the phone was on. You say it's switched off, and if it's switched off in office, tracking would be of no use!!"

"Lets not sit at homes and speculate Prithvi," Jalal ruffled his hair. "We have to do something. There should be some way, some clue of her whereabouts!!"

"Let me talk to control room and see if they can track her mobile!!"

"Call me as and when you have some information!!"

8:20pm

"I haven't seen sir this tensed before!!" making as little noise as possible in the kitchen, Mani whispered to Vasantha. "He looks like a volcano ready to burst!!"

"Mm..." Vasantha sighed. "It's getting late and no clues of Jodhamma. Hope she's fine."

"She'll be!!" Mani wishfully asserted.

"Yes Prithvi!!" They heard Jalal's strained voice from living. "Chickpet?" his startled cry silenced their murmurs. "At what time?"

...

"Okay, I'm starting now!!"

...

"I have no idea why she went there!!" There was evident despair in his tone.

...

"Chickpet..." Vasantha's hand reached chest. "That area is like a sea of people Mani. Where do they start their search from?"

"Maniii..."

Leaving the work in hands, Mani surged to the living. "Yes sir!!"

"I'm going out" his fingers dialed Saradhi's number while he spoke. "If Jodha comes home, call me immediately!!"

"Sure sir!!"

At the end of the street, his car turned right and in parallel an auto entered from the left.

"No Chickpet again during Dusshera time!!" Staunchly resolving, Jodha fished the fare out of purse. "Here, take this!!" She passed on the bills over driver's shoulder. "And stop at those big gates on left!!"

The auto driver, who has been witnessing her edginess for a while, took the notes and grinned at her readiness to jump out of auto as soon as it stopped. And when it actually did, she literally jumped and pulled the carry bags out. "Madam, wait I'll help!!" the driver offered but Jodha couldn't wait. "Its ok!!" she glided the carry bags to elbow and tucked the large rectangular pack to chest.

"Change madam!!" the driver yelled seeing her bustling into home. "Keep it!!" she shouted without stopping. "Give it to me madam!!" the security came in her way, yet she didn't stop. "Its fine!!" she cordially refused and darted in throwing quick glances at garage. Phew!! Jalal hasn't come yet!!

"Oh!! Jodha madam..." Mani's cry made Vasantha too to gush out of kitchen.

"Where were you amma?"

"Where did you go madam? Sir was..."

"Two minutes..." She rushed towards her room as if devils chased her. The baffled servant too followed to help her with bags, but Jodha impeded him. "Mani, I'll handle this. You please get me something to drink. Rats are doing marathon in my stomach," she said and disappeared into her room. Not affording to delay a second, Mani gushed to phone and Vasantha to fridge.

"Hope he hasn't gone too far," Gripping the handle he eagerly waited for the call to be answered.

"Prithvi wait, call from home," Steering with one hand, Jalal transferred the calls. "Hello!!"

"Hello sir Jodha madam just came," Mani didn't realize he actually screamed in excitement - the excitement of passing that news which relieves his master from tension.

"Really?!" Jalal's feet pressed brakes and to his Jaguar's sheer luck the traffic signal just then turned red saving it from being kissed from behind. "When?"

"Just now sir!"

"Give the phone to her."

He has to hear her... for his own confirmation and respite!! His ears erected in anticipation.

"She is in her room sir...wait I'll call," Mani answered and turned to his aunt, "Doddamma, see what madam is doing. Sir wants to talk to her!!" Much before Mani completed, Vasantha sprinted up.

"Where did she go?" Impatiently waiting for the signal to turn green, Jalal thrust brakes. "Did you ask her?"

"Yes sir... but madam didn't say. She hurriedly went to her room!!"

"Did something happen?" Another tension sprouted in the over agitated mind. "Why didn't she call me as soon as she's back?" The signal turned green and he took a U-turn to his home.

"She's in bathroom Mani," Vasantha shouted from upstairs and Jalal heard it.

"Okay, let it be I'm coming." He thought of disconnecting but impulsively shot another question. "Mani, did she look fine? I mean no injuries or anything right?"

"Madam is fine sir..." Mani empathetically assured. "I think she went for shopping. There are packets in her hands."

"Shopping?" Rage replaced anxiety. "Insolent IDIOT!!" Pressing the accelerator and swiftly jiggling between vehicles, he scowled. Perceiving no more questions coming from other end, Mani ended the call.

"Any news Jalal?" The other call got activated.

"She's back Prithvi."

"Phew!!" The officer sighed relieved. "Where did she go?"

"Who knows?" Jalal gritted. "I didn't talk to her. It was Mani's call."

~~~

"10K emergency run..." wiping face with towel, Jodha grinned at the marathon she had to do to reach the bathroom. "And this smell.." she sniffed her clothes. "...stinks like soaked in whole Bangalore's carbon emissions!!" Loathing the awful traffic pollution, she checked her withered reflection. It confirmed she badly needs a shower, not a splash of handful. "Not now." Postponing the itch to douse under tepid currents, she got out of bathroom. A call to Jalal and some food to starving stomach... rest later!! Not wasting time she plugged dead mobile to charger and carefully hid the large packet in cupboard. Five minutes was all it took for her to finish those tasks and step out of room and it was the same five minutes Jalal too took to return home, to leave the car at porch and to step in.

"Perfect timing!!" Scurrying down, Jodha jested and his questing eyes turned to her. "I was about to call you and you are..." her happy sprint slowed down seeing him perilously walking towards her.

"What happened?"

"Where did you go?"

Both questions echoed in parallel in the silent home. Vasantha who was about to rush out with a glass of juice, hesitantly halted at kitchen door and skeptically glanced at Mani. The sensible attendant signed to cease.

"Jalal..." reading the rage written all over his face, Jodha worriedly stopped at mid of staircase, "What's wrong?"

He mounted two steps a time and stopped right before her, his eyes precariously glowering at her.

"WHERE.WERE.YOU.JODHA?!" He didn't scream but his base voice sounded menacingly intimidating. "Why?" The color of her face faded - partly in fright, partly in bafflement. "I went out on a small work and just cam..." She didn't even finish when his hand shot up in air.

"SMALL WORK, My foot!!"

"Jalal..." Jodha gasped and reflexively shielded her face. The silent spectators held their breaths witnessing the never seen dimension of their master.

"Fxck... Damn it!!"

Her eyes that shut in expectation of a ghastly blow swiftly opened hearing the blasphemy followed by strange vibrations. Stupefied, she gaped at him first, then at his hand that curled into fist and then aside. "Huh..." she drew a shaky breath. Her fingers clamped the opened mouth and eyes widened in astonishment seeing the steel railing rigorously vibrating from end-to-end. The bewildered helpers, having known their limits, mutely scooted away.

"Jalal..." Jodha quickly held his marred hand but the incensed man jerked it back. "Five hours..." his index finger warningly rose, "you vanish for five hours," his scowl turned deadly terrifying. "...with no hints of where you went, why you went, with whom you went" he stalked her step for step as she instinctively trekked back. "Now you come and say SMALL work. Shut up. Just shut up!!"

"I went to boutique and..." she was cut short by the ringing of his phone.

"Your Badepapa..." He flicked the phone to her and strode up. "Give your explanations to him." His statement had an indirect message that her explanations doesn't matter him and Jodha was no kid to not fathom it.

"Jalal please..." she hastily followed him and Jalal glimpsed back - one lowering gaze from his bloodshot eyes and Jodha HAD TO withdraw. With flummoxed eyes she froze at her place till Jalal shut himself behind his suite doors, only after fiercely slamming the door. The repercussions of slamming traveled to the stilled lady and she eventually shuddered. "What got him so angry?" She glanced down to the phone in hands and pressed answer hoping to have her answers.

"Hello Jalal, any news?" Saradhi's antsy enquiry made her brows furrow.

"Papa... Its me!!"

"Jodhaa..." his ecstatic cum surprised cum angry cry perforated her ear. "Where did you go? What happened to your phone? Do you know how tensed we were?" His questions gushed like a flash flood. "How could you just disappear without informing anyone? What the hell did I tell you? Didn't I warn you not to go out alone? Then why did you go? How could you be so irresponsible Jodha?"

"Papa, please..." She implored exhausted. "Calm down first. I'm late to home by two hours and here you're angry as if I went missing for days. I've been to boutiques and few other shops. Dussehra time, you know how busy shops are and then roads are full with processions. I got stuck in traffic and phone battery is dead..."

"Why did you go alone?" Saradhi bluntly cut her short. "In which language should I tell you NOT to go alone Jodha?"

"I know Papa and that is why I called Ranga..." she patiently explained, "but he's sick and how can I take Jalal to boutiques and all? He has better work to do than to accomp..."

"I didn't say to take Jalal" she was cut short again. "Is boutique an emergency? Can't you wait for Ranga? Even if it was important, don't you think its minimum commonsense to inform someone of your whereabouts? Are you a kid to be reminded of your safety every time? I didn't expect this from you Jodha. How many times I asked you to be back home before it gets dark? And what all places do you go? Chickpet? What work do you have in that mobbed area? Bass, I've had enough of you. I'm repenting for leaving you with Jalal and causing him unnecessary trouble. I'm canceling my trip and returning right now. Hereon you'll be at home, no job, no Trust, nothing doing. Its my mistake to support you when Peddamma was against sending you to job, I regret my mistake and let me correct it."

"Irresponsible... Trouble... Repent... Mistake..." Pangs of humiliation inundated her washing out the last reins of vigor. Feeling completely drained, Jodha crouched on the step she stood. "Papa..." kneading temple, she weakly called, "Why do you say that? Haven't I been following your instructions all these days? Today I went out for Jalal's birthday gift and obviously I can't tell him why and where I went," she wetted the dried lips.

"You should have fibbed", Saradhi scorned not knowing that his daughter promised her man to not fib that very morning. "Had he known where you are, at least he'd be tension-free, right?!"

"But then he would've insisted to come along!!" She reasoned. "And I didn't expect to be so late. In fact I left early from office so that I can be back before it gets dark. How'd I dream the roads to be so jammed? And when I was stuck in traffic, I called from auto driver's mobile but Jalal didn't pick my call. It too had low battery and got switched off..." her explanation ceased as another realization dawned. "How did you know I've been to Chickpet?"

"We got Prithvi to track your mobile" He said vexed and heard her gasp startled. "What to do? Your colleagues said you left at three and there is no news of you. We have no clue if you're safe or not."

"Track mobile?!" The words kept lingering.

"You approached police?" her eyes shut in shame. "Why?!!" she murmured. "How many parents approach police if their daughter delayed returning home by two hours? Is this the situation of every girl in this country or only with ME?"

"I asked you before..." needing a moment to gulp the lumps, she paused "...and am asking you again Papa. What made you tensed to the extent of tracking mobiles if I'm late by few hours? Are you hiding something from me?"

"Going by the crime rate on women..." Saradhi seethed. "...any parent in this country is ought to be tensed if the daughter doesn't return home on time Jodha. And with you, I've to be more cautious as you've been a victim once. Ain't I?"

"Is that all Papa?" Jodha asked skeptical, her conscience not being convinced.

"Isn't that enough?" Saradhi cross-countered.

"Mm..." she nodded and stayed silent. "Is that truly all?" Her thumb pressed forehead in contemplation.

"I've work here till Thursday, but looks like I've to change the plans Jodha!!" Saradhi deliberately accused knowing how his daughter retaliates to humiliation.

"I'm sorry about what is done Papa," she honestly apologized. "I may not be able to undo it but will make sure it doesn't repeat. I wouldn't be of any trouble hereon - either to you or to Jalal. Please don't put me to more shame by canceling your trip," her nostrils flared in shame as she vowed. "I promise not to step out of the home unescorted. You've enough of tensions with your profession, I don't want to be another addition." The parent in Saradhi winced at the indignity his niece is going through. Cursing the circumstances that made him portray an insensitive custodian, he opened mouth to share his reasons with her but then he held on to reins of cognizance at nick of moment. A temporary humiliation is much better than a perennial regret!!

"I may look over cautious..." feeling confident that Jodha would live to her promise, Saradhi softened "...but I'd stick to it Jodha. I've never refrained you from working because imprisoning you is not a solution to any problem. That said, I wouldn't compromise on your safety either, although it makes you feel I'm more restrictive than Raghu. Time and fate slips from our hands in a flick Jodha. Everyday need not be as fateful as THAT day!!"

"You don't have to give reasons papa. You've every right to decide what's good for me." Pain constricted her voice. "One year with you helped me realize you're no different from Dad. If he were alive, he would have done the same!!"

"Glad you understand Jodhu..." Saradhi eased the tension. "All these restrictions will be there till you get married. I'm just counting days for a poor someone to come and take over my tension." He jived but Jodha didn't smile. That poor someone is extensively tensed, more than you Papa!!

"Is Jalal around? Give the phone to him."

Jodha glanced up at the slammed door. "He's in his room."

"Okay, I'll talk to him later. Take care!!"

"Sure, bye Papa!!"

Staring at ended call Jodha sat thoughtful experiencing the same hunch that disturbed her every time Saradhi imposed restrictions... SOMEWHERE SOMETHING IS NOT RIGHT!!

"Jodhamma... Juice!!" Vasantha timely disrupted. "Drink this, you'll feel better!!"

"Thank you!!"

"Didn't you have lunch? You look exhausted!" The experienced elder tried her tactics to alleviate the younger's turbulence.

"I had lot of work," sipping, Jodha smiled in gratitude - for juice and for her sensibility. "By the time I went to canteen, food was over. Vacation time, not too many people around, so..." The revived hunger made her quickly sip the rest. "I thought of eating out but didn't get chance."

"I'll give you lunch box from tomorrow. Shall I serve you dinner?"

"I'll wait for Jalal," returning the emptied glass, Jodha treaded up. You survived one teeny tornado, now comes the most vigorous one!! She sighed and breathed deep before knocking Jalal's door. "How to cool him? How to bring him out of Narsimha avtar!!" Gathering courage, she waited another minute for the door to open and when it didn't she went to balcony to check on the back door. "Is he in?" Pressing ear to the locked door, she waited. Perceiving no traces of activity, she returned to lounge and slumped into couch waiting for the storm, to storm out.

~~~

"More than Jodha, I'm bothered about you Jalal. Do you realize the havoc you spawned in a matter of few hours? I'm not talking about the mayhem of calls or tracking mobiles. I'm talking about the inner maelstrom that chewed you from the moment she went missing to the moment she was found. I'm scared Jalal, scared of even dreaming of your state if something happens to Jodha. Its high time we tell her man. SHE HAS TO KNOW!! You can't be her watchdog every minute; neither can you live in tension praying for her safe return every time she went out. I don't think it is possible to safeguard her without her knowledge. Let's explain the situation to her. I know you're against this but Jodha is matured and strong-minded Jalal. She had endured bitter circumstances than this and I believe she'll be able to combat this too. Think about it, talk to Saradhi ji. I'll take this incident as a wakeup call to me. The only way to see you sane is to bring the criminal before you Jalal. I'll do my part, you do yours."

Having failed in their effort to soothe his heated mind, the torrents of shower futilely dribbled down his body. "Tell her truth!!" His fist clenched. The bulged knuckles crepitated but the consumed mind had no time to react to physical pain. "And take away that carefree smile of hers?! Forget smile, she'll shun herself from this world if she comes to know of the danger associated with her. And this idiot..." his teeth gritted, "...with no clue of the happenings, she runs into trouble and forges tension all the time." He frothed and almost immediately withdrew his anger. "What's her mistake? Little she knew she has to live like a caged bird not a free bird." He remembered her flabbergasted eyes when his hand rose. The over loaded heart spurted its ache in form of a lone tear and much before the anguished man noticed it, it silently interweaved with hundreds of other droplets and drizzled down.

"Why my Jo?" He angered with the unseen power controlling their lives. "Doesn't she deserve every bit of happy life? Why are you doing this to her? Why're you compelling me to be ruthless to her? How am I supposed to say - You'll be killed if you are alone Jo. What devious games are you playing with our lives?" Riveting head under shower, Jalal waited for the hot currents to wash out the anguish. "Fine... if this is a test to my endurance..." many moments later, he skimmed fingers through wet hair, "I'm ready for it. Give me all the tension you can but I'll not let Jodha bear a tinge of it." Arriving at a resolution, he turned off the shower.

"She'll definitely question this abnormal anxiety," the thought kept running all the while he dressed up. "...and I don't have a convincing answer. How am to I face her?"

Outside the shut door, Jodha stopped rocking. The extended wait of thirty minutes and the unanswered knocks made her decide Jalal is not going to see her tonight. "If not for me, he has to come out at least for his phone na!!" She sighed and stood thinking - hunger and shower long forgotten as mental unrest took over the physical unrest. "How to coax Jalal?! But before that, how to bring him out? Shall I call on landline? May be he'd pick up the extension?" She thought. "Nah!! He checks the caller id and wouldn't pick up. I'll knock. No! Bang the door till he opens!! Even the death sentenced gets a last chance to voice their stand, how could he not give me one?" She was thus resolving when the door opened on its own accord. "Phew!!" Never before she felt so glad on seeing someone. "I haven't felt this ecstatic even at the 'Darshan' of Tirupati Balaji!!"

"You just saved your door from my assault..." measuring the intensity of rage in his eyes, Jodha steadily advanced. "Calmer than before!!" She assessed and very next moment corrected her assessment. "Not calmer, colder!!" She stopped treading as he started to stride towards her.

"Phone!!" His hand protruded; his voice cold and nonchalant. The red swollen fingers instigated a fresh pang of guilt. Her hand rose to caress and Jalal instantly withdrew it... before she touched!!

"Urgh!! Not a good sign!!" She silently whined, nevertheless clung to her courage. "Jalal... I need to talk to you!!" she pleaded but it had no effect on him. "Let me tell you why and where I went..." unwitting to wait for his permission, Jodha blocked his way and hurried with her clarification. "I've been first to a boutique... no I'll say from the beginning." She fidgeted like a nervous kid. "Actually I called Ranga this afternoon to take me home but he's down with fever. If I say about my work, he'll definitely ignore his sickness and come. So I postponed the plan of going home to tomorrow..." trying her best not to be discouraged by the apathy in his eyes, Jodha continued. "And thought of finishing other tasks... so, I left at..." Her flow ceased seeing Jalal gesturing her to stop.

"Did you talk to your Badepapa?" He coldly asked.

"Yes!!"

"Then you're good!!" He waved off the discussion. "You don't have to explain me!!" Seizing his phone, he moved ahead and she blocked his way again.

"But I owe you an explanation."

"Why?" His detached baritone stung her spirit. "What am I to you?" Jodha was so taken aback by his ridicule that she couldn't get back with a retort in her usual agility. Leaving her to her stupor, Jalal resumed on his tracks. He was half way down the stairs when she recouped and ran behind. Alighting two steps at a time, she descended faster than him and barred his way.

"Don't you know what you're to me?" Her eyes brimmed with anger and hurt.

"I DON'T!" Words surged out as if they're ready at tip of his tongue. "And please..." indicating at the people down, he growled under breath. "..spare me from embarrassment before servants. May I have some space?!"

"SPACE?!" Daze and stun so captivated her senses that disgrace found no place to seep through. In a trance, she swiveled aside and he moved on. Her impassive eyes, nevertheless, trailed him. The tension in air enforced the helpers to succumb to absolute silence and carry on their duties. Seeing Jalal coming towards dining, Mani attentively scooted to the table. After serving Jalal, he opened another plate and glimpsed up in dilemma. Jodha was seen returning to her room and he skeptically closed the plate.

"Jodhamma dinner?" Vasantha enquired for her nephew.

"I'll fresh up and come!!" Without turning back, Jodha replied.

"Ok, come fast amma, you didn't have lunch too!!" She sympathized at wrong time, imposing the actions of the couple to suspend. Jalal's fingers that held the food halted midway and Jodha's feet pegged to ground. She glanced down and he glimpsed up - The stoic orbs met the petrified ones and no wonder Jodha felt sinking. Tearing her gaze away she quickly escaped into her room and he resumed dining.

"Unknowingly, you added fuel to fire Vasantha..." sighing, the tired lady crouched on the edge of bed and brought her face to palms. "WHAT AM I TO YOU?!" Jalal's cold voice kept reverberating. "I can pacify angry Jalal... but how to handle this cold Jalal?" She brushed the fatigued eyes. "He appears invincible... TOO TOUGH TO PENETRATE THROUGH!!" She brainstormed of several ways to persuade him -sweet, naughty, sulky, sober - but nothing seemed appropriate. "Cool body, cool mind!!" Accrediting her malfunctioning brain to the snappy body, she vamoosed to bathroom.

Down the stairs, the silent supper didn't last longer. Having tasted the contentment of dining together, Jalal couldn't continue with his lone meal for long. Limiting the course to the first serving, he got up to leave but not before making his instructions clear. "Make sure Jodha eats!!"

"Yes sir!!" The compliant attendants not only nodded but also lived up to his instructions. Twenty minutes later when Jodha stepped out of washroom, no wonder she was welcomed with a filled platter in hands of Vasantha. Little surprised, Jodha quirked her brows.

"Make sure Jodha eats!!" Vasantha solemnly repeated and Jodha discerned where it came from. Exchanging impish smiles, the duo walked towards each other - one to pass on the plate and the other to take over.

~~~

"Am I doing it right?" Jalal's focus deterred once again. "May be Prithvi is right? He could've suggested it out of his experience with crimes, but Jodha..." he leaned back against headrest, "...how'd she take it? What if she disassociates with everyone thinking her presence in our lives is danger to us? What if she cuts me from her life? But then how long can we keep her in oblivion? It is practically impossible to ensure her safety without her cooperation. What should I do?" His head weighed so heavy with thoughts that he felt it would explode any soon. Vexed, he got up to first pacify the heated brain with a drink and then revisit the problem.

"May be there is a way to caution her without revealing details?" He pressed the cold goblet to forehead. "There should be!! Think Jalal... Think!!!"

Tuck!! Tuck!! He glanced miffed at the closed door. "JODHA!!" He knew it should be she as no one else knocks his door at this hour.

"Sir..." Surprisingly he heard Vasantha's voice and quickly got up. "Why did Vasantha come now? Did Jodha refuse to eat? Or did she leave home in anger?" Within the ten seconds he took to open the door, ten fears popped up in his frenzied mind.

"Yes?" He caught the awkwardness on Vasantha's face and eventually his eyes trailed to opposite room. The opened doors and silent confines didn't indicate a good sign. "What happened?"

"Just checking if you need something sir..." Vasantha waffled. "If not, I'll clean up dining."

"What?" He frowned. "Since when dining was cleaned with his permission?"

"I don't need anything..." he said and urged to ask for Jodha, but since he couldn't show his desperation, he tactically put it forth. "Clean up if Jodha is done with dinner."

"Yes sir..." Vasantha hastily left throwing Jalal into confusion. "What should I infer from that yes? That Jo ate? Or she'll clean after Jo eats?" Deciding to have his own answers, he scooted to balustrade and glimpsed down.

"Looking for me?" He heard from behind and turned back. It was the magenta night suit that first captivated his attention, then the mischievous smile and then the bowl of ice cubes Jodha held.

"No!!" He obviously lied and tried to get back in, but Jodha invaded the entrance.

"Thirty eight minutes and..." she rolled eyes in calculation. "...twenty five seconds. Was THAT SPACE enough Sir?" Drum-rolling on the bowl, she beautifully smiled.

"Move..." he ordered but she didn't budge.

"I've an important meeting tomorrow Jodha..." he coldly said, "I've wasted enough of time and can't afford to waste anymore!!"

"I know," Jodha continued with her alluring smile, "...and I also know standing before clients with bulged knuckles is no pleasing," she wrapped kerchief around two cubes and seized his right hand. His face turned graver!!

"You find it funny, right?" He stopped her by gripping her wrist. His touch and the rage that returned to his eyes fetched immense relief on Jodha. "Angry and approaching... means he's tamable!! Thank God!!"

"Yes..." She agreed provoking him further. "Enquiring colleagues, contacting Police, tracking mobiles..." She teased. "I happened to see only in movies. Seeing it live was of course fun!" She couldn't suppress the smirk and his gaze turned dangerously dark. "After the nerve-racking ruckus she created, here she is... coolly joking about it."

"Every single day..." browbeating her, Jalal firmly clutched her shoulders, "...nearly seven hundred women in this country are either killed, or raped or trafficked!" his clipped voice dried her lips and apparently the smile they contained. "Dreading in fear every minute, every second, praying God to NOT let you be one of those ill-fated victims, begging for little mercies..." The intensity of his anguish came as an excruciating revelation. WHAT HAVE YOU DONE JODHA?! She squashed eyes in ache and regret.

"Spending one minute in speculation of what'd have happened and next minute in anticipation of nothing wrong should happen... INDEED VERY FUNNY, isn't it?" He towered her. "Can you even imagine how it feels like?" squeezing the life out of her arms, he roared and Jodha's face fell. With bowed head, she remained impassive and incomprehensible. Noticing the transformation in her, Jalal slowly retreated his hands. The barricades of wrath began to unfurl letting the stream of love to flow. He was nearly regretting his tyrannical demeanor when he heard her.

"I don't how it feels Jalal" She murmured, her eyes fixed on the bowl in hands. " Spending one minute in speculation, next minute in anticipation... I don't know how it feels because I haven't been in such situation before." He glanced flummoxed and she flatly continued. "Twice in the past...when destiny decided to send devastating news to me," she paused to paraphrase her words. "... it plummeted them at once. There was no scope for speculation or anticipation; I knew what exactly had happened and I also knew what was awaiting me. So..." she briefly glimpsed at him and lowered lids to ground. "I truly don't know how it feels. That said, I don't mean I don't understand your anguish. I do, I really do. And am terribly sorry for letting you go through it, forgive me if possible." She finished and fled, leaving him totally flustered. Her words gradually sank and he rubbed forehead in ache and regret. "WHAT HAVE YOU DONE JALAL?!"

~~~

"What is she doing for so long?" His fingers were typing replies to business emails but his eyes didn't leave vigilance on the wide opened door. After Jodha vanished downstairs, he waited in the lounge for her to return but she didn't. He heard her giving company to Vasantha while the latter ate and cleaned the kitchen. Few minutes later, he was forced back to his suite by a call that reminded him of the urgent emails. Though working, he didn't forget to check for Jodha. Little he knew that he blink missed catching her returning to room.

"Is this window always open?" Tired with fruitlessly fidgeting on bed, Jodha sprinted out for fresh air and noticed the half opened window. She was a little surprised as the air-conditioned rooms seldom had their windows open. Thinking it to be the deed of cleaning maid, she closed it and proceeded to a corner. Breathing in the fragrance of nature, she crossed arms and stood by the balustrade. "Dreading in fear every minute, and begging for little mercies..." The recollection led to reassertion of the profundity of his love and the enchanted girl ended up smiling. "My Jalal!!" She fondly touched the upper arms he angrily squished. After the apology she rendered, she felt very much better and lighter. A whit of guilt and hurt still persisted but she knew she'd gradually overcome them by sticking to her promise of not repeating the mistake.

"Idiot... how long will you hide in kitchen?!" Closing the laptop, Jalal surged out and was taken aback by the lack lustered home. "All slept?" He dubiously scanned around and the closed doors of Jodha's suite confirmed she had returned to her room, and probably slept. "How did I miss?" He gingerly walked ahead.

"To de-stress, close your eyes and listen to the sounds around you. Absorb every minute sound for five minutes and see the result!!" Its a valuable advice her father gave during the initial stressful days of job and an advice she loved to practice not just in stress, but each time she climbed the terrace for fresh breeze. Following the custom, Jodha closed eyes to take in the sounds of universe.

"Whoosh of wind... ruffles of leaves..." She began naming each sound her ears sequentially perceived.

"She shouldn't be crying!!" Wishfully hoping, Jalal unlocked the door only to be welcomed by a vacant bed. His intrigued eyes studied every nook and corner, including the partly opened washroom entrance. "Not in room, not downstairs?!" He thought for a moment and got his answer.

"Auto? No bike horn... Dog bark... Durga Maa Bhajan... Train Siren... Footsteps... Car honk... Croaking Frogs... Footsteps..." The alerted girl stopped naming, shunned other noises and concentrated on only one sound - FOOTSTEPS. Fathoming whom they belonged to, her lips curved into a delighted smile. One... Two... Three... Four... Five... Six... His gait ceased, so did her counting!!

"I was totally right..." his rich base voice resonated right behind her, "...when I said I've to chain you to my side. At least that way I'd be spared from running everywhere in quest of you." Her smile only got brighter.

"I absolutely second it..." she turned back, her arms still crossed, "at least that way I'd be included in YOUR SPACE than being snubbed away." She gave him his due rightly assessing her retort wouldn't backfire.

"Impressive!!" Obscuring the amusement behind grimness, Jalal took a forward step. "How could someone be so stupid? So idiotic, undisciplined, disorganized?" He took another step and she pursed lips at the long list. "No food, no car, no charging and you set out on roads for shopping?" He stopped at two feet distance and glared - at least that is what he thought though his grey cells nagged that his gaze lacked the minimal heat quotient to be called a glare.

"Very gross of me!!" Feigning self-disdain, Jodha bridged the gap by a step. "But I'm open to reformation sir."

"You badly need one..", his hand shot up but she stood confidently smiling. Idiot! What a confidence!! He cussed his debility that made him fall for her, once again. The raised hand gripped her cheek and Jodha's folded arms dislodged. Isn't this what she had been waiting for?! While her mind was busy dispelling the last bouts of tumult, the dislodged arms, with a mind of their own, traversed to him.

"Once glimpse of you!! One word from you!!" His fingers slithered from cheek to ear in a slow caress; her lids turned heavy. "I realized their true value when I waited for you with bated breath my love!!" His palm lulled her tresses and her lips began to quiver. Revisiting the anxiety he went through, Jalal zeroed the gap and smoothly gripped her hair. Her breath turned feverish!!

If seeing her in flesh and blood was the first tranquilizer, now feeling her under his skin was his total undoing. God Damn!! SHE'S ALIVE and BREATHING!!

"DARE YOU LEAVE ME AGAIN JO!!" he groaned, scooped her up without warning and simultaneously descended his mouth down. "Ja.." her call, her gasp, her quiver - In one swift move Jalal claimed everything her lips conceived, including the parched ones.

...

...

...

Ruffles? Whooshes? Barks? Honks? Sirens? Did the universe come to a still? Or I? Jodha numbly held on to the support her trembling limbs found - his nape for the shivering hands and his feet for the shivering toes. The parched lips were wetted, life returned and the benumbed senses too resumed functioning - her skin perceived his fondling, her nose breathed his hot breath, her ears heard his heart beats, her eyes saw him behind the impenetrable lids, and her mouth - IT TASTED HIM!!

OH MAN!! YOU DESCENDED HEAVEN TO EARTH!! She clung to him and gladly accepted what he offered!!

The parched lips were wetted, life returned and the benumbed senses too resumed functioning - His skin scorched under her touch, his nose breathed her aroma, his ears heard her moans, his eyes saw her behind the squashed lids, and his mouth - IT TASTED HER!!

OH GIRL!! YOU'RE MY HEAVEN ON EARTH!! He clung her to him and gladly offered what she had been gladly accepting!!

Pouring hearts... TOGETHER!!

Breathing life.. TOGETHER!!

Healing wounds.. TOGETHER!!

"Darn you girl! What're you doing to me?" scurrying his fingers through her tresses, Jalal deepened the kiss. "Why is this never heart-quenching? MIND, SOUL and BODY... if you DEVOTE to a girl and kiss her... is this how it feels? IS THE EXPLOSION OF HEARTS SO DEVASTATING THAT YOU LOSE YOURSELF AND YET HAVE NO QUALMS ABOUT IT?!

"Umm!!" A tiny wince from her and Jalal stopped. Discerning what he did, he smiled boyish and slowly, very slowly retreated. Positioning his face two inches away from hers, he reveled in the resplendence of her errant breaths, convulsive gulps and heaving chest. His boyish smiles turned impish. My sweet!! Empathizing with the dried throat, he kissed there too but it only aggravated the dryness. The gasp the kiss resulted in, muffled with the ones she'd been taking to feed oxygen to lungs. Setting the entwined hands loose, she dropped on toes but didn't dare to open eyes. "How am I supposed to open eyes and let the heaven go?" She didn't know. "Moreover, how am I supposed to open eyes to him...TO HIS BLAZING ORBS THAT WEAKENS HER ALL OVER AGAIN?" She didn't know it either.

Thoroughly pleasuring her trauma, Jalal smiled and captured her face between palms. Creamy and Satiny!! He couldn't help comparing its richness with the soft satin silk on her. Apparently, his eyes lingered on the imprints of his sweet assault and a brazen thought swept across. How'll she cover it this time? It's no neck to hide behind dupatta. Grinning, he inched down to nurse the bruise but then reluctantly gave up. Nah.. that'd only lead to more bruises!! He dropped the plan and trailed his lips up... to help her open the closed depths.

"Jo.." he whispered and kissed her eyes. "Look at me!!" Jalal softly ordered and she did the opposite - squishing them some more. He chuckled and teasingly drawled his thumb to corner of her mouth. Gosh!! She shuddered and opened eyes in a jiff. The intense black orbs she met with carried variant emotions in them - Love, longing and mischief. Shyly pressing lips, Jodha lowered lids but they protested to go down beyond his mouth. Her tongue inadvertently dabbed the souvenir of their first kiss- the tiny gash on her lower lip. At the memory, her toes curled rooting them harder to ground.. but...

Tut!! Tut!! How could she forget she stood not on ground, but on his toes? Shoot!!

On the other hand, Jalal had to exert supreme effort to conceal his body's reaction to the toes collision. Tut!! Tut!! How could a simple fondling of toes evoke such a surge of passion? Shoot!!

Guardedly diverting his mind from desire to mischief, Jalal smirked. "Ouch!!" he deliberately groaned making Jodha hastily stutter back. She was drowning in embarrassment when she heard his mischievous chuckle. Ayyooo!! She felt like burying her head somewhere and Jalal's laugh got louder.

"Looking for seclusion?" he cheekily tipped her chin up but Jodha couldn't meet his eyes. However, her flushed cheeks spoke for the bashfulness she's been going through and Jalal couldn't resist longer. Magnetically smiling, he made her root on his toes again and opened arms. The entranced girl briefly met his eyes and then quickly cocooned herself in the seclusion Jalal offered.

"Oh, my love!!" Their souls sighed in unison - moments rolled in blissful silence. "Hey sweetheart!!" Tugging her face deeper, Jodha spoke to Jalal's heart. "You beat too much for me, don't you?" She bunched his shirt. "Sorry for all the tension I gave you darling. But hereon, I'll take very good care of you. You're my prized responsibility!!" She gave it a stealthy kiss and silently chuckled.

As if he heard her inner voice, Jalal swaddled her firmer!!

As if he comprehended her kiss, his toes beneath hers slightly twitched!!

*********

Originally posted by: hemakeerti

36 - part 2

Originally posted by: hemakeerti

Wait editing in progress don't read😡