When the very first rays of sun kissed his eyes, he woke up. He couldn't sleep unless it was completely dark, and since on most days he fell asleep just before the dawn, all the blinders in his room had to be pulled down and the curtains strictly closed. He didn't have that luxury in his car and frankly he didn't mind. Even with a 3 hour sleep, he felt fresh like the morning dew.
He couldn't recall the last time he had woken up this content.
She had moved much closer to him during sleep, infact a little too close for comfort perhaps. Her head was now resting on his chest, her lips touching his shirt. She was neatly snuggled up against him and he didn't know when he had pulled his arm out of her grip and placed it over her shoulder. She was holding him with one hand and their legs were huddled together. His jacket had fallen off her and now lay near their feet. He felt something tug at his heart. The way they were right now, anyone who saw them would take them to be lovers.
Her hair was all over him. Perhaps whatever she had tied her hair with had come off. He ran his fingers through her long strands. They smelled heavenly... Like lavender. Honestly, he wanted to stay there like this till eternity, or atleast till she woke up on her own. He wanted to bottle up that fragrance and tuck it away safely somewhere so that everytime he felt restless, he could inhale it a little like a glass of golden wine. He wanted to run his fingers over her slender arms and nuzzle his nose over her baby cheeks. He wanted to keep staring at her but he wouldn't do any of it. He wouldn't do what he didn't want to be done to him. She had trusted him and he wouldn't break her trust, come what may.
He shifted her away and gathered all her hair together. He put the jacket back on her and slowly pulled himself away from her hold.
"Miss Tipsy" He tapped on her shoulder
"Nandini Murthy" He shook her gently.
"Nandu!!!" He shook her harder.
She woke up with a start, staring blankly at him, trying to register where exactly was she. She looked around animatedly and rolled her eyes and in the most innocent tone, that only she could pull off, she asked "Main kahan hun?"
"Alice in wonderland..."
"Haan?" She raised her eyebrows in disbelief.
"Tum meri car mein ho miss Tipsy..wake up, subah ho gayi"
Once again she looked around, trying to figure out the probable time. "Abhi to bohot subah hai.. Thori der aur so lun kya?" she yawned.
"Tum to mujhe sunrise dikhane wali thi Nandini, aur abhi sone ki baat kar rahi ho.. Ok ok tum so jao, sunrise to hota rahega, fir kabhi dekh lenge fursat se." His reply was oozing sarcasm and that did the trick. 'Sunrise' is to Nandini what system boot is to a laptop.
She straightened herself out. "Kya matlab fir kabhi dekh lenge and you, abhi kyun uthaya, thora pehle nahi utha sakte the. Abhi to 15 mins walk karna parega."
"Miss Murthy tumhare demands kuch zyada nahi hain. U were supposed to show me the sunrise and here I am waking you up. U should be ashamed of yourself."
"Suno I don't have time to waste arguing with you. Lets go."
Nandini dashed out of the car while Manik stayed put. He knew she would come back, she had to and Manik Mallhotra was seldom wrong.
"But ek problem hai" She turned around "Wooh mere shoes..."
Manik smirked. 'I-told-u-so-miss-Murthy'
"Now what?" her face fell. He would have preferred to tease her a little more, but if they delayed any further, they would miss the sunrise.
"I can carry u..." He went silent for a while " if you are ok with it." He completed.
"Will u? Oh thank god Aiyappa, thank u, pehli baar MnM u have spoken sense, chalo chalo..der ho jayegi"
Nandini Murthy was not just a piece, she was a limited edition custom made piece. Even God must have been confused with her specifications. Nevermind Manik..these are perks of being 6'1" and befriending a minor.
"Acha ek condition hai."
"What!!!!!" Now he was running out of patience and if she didn't finish this business quickly, he might have a change of heart and drive away deserting her in a shoeless state.
"U won't see the sunrise unless I tell u to."
"You are not making any sense Nandini. How do you suppose I will carry you through the jungle with closed eyes? Listen I am not doing this, lets go back."
"Listen Manik, I know I have been dumb beyond your tolerance but this one time listen to me please and I promise I would never trouble u again. U don't have to carry me blindfolded. Just stop when I ask u to."
He wasn't liking this at all. I mean he adored this girl but she had an unmatched quality of walking right into trouble and then dancing couplets with it. He wasn't sure he was ready for a massacre first thing in the morning but on second thoughts she had given him a wonderful day the previous night and perhaps he owed this to her.
"Ok, but this is the last time I am listening to any of your mad ideas."
He lifted her in his arms and started walking through the jungle, on the same trail they had taken the previous evening.
At one point Nandini asked him to stop and put her back on the ground. She instructed him to close his eyes and started fiddling with her phone. She then held his arm and dragged him along till they reached the Lover's point. The trail was bumpy and strewn with thorns and pebbles, it pierced her feet and even that little stretch of walk left her bruised and almost on the verge of crying. But she wouldn't cry, not now, not today. She plugged in her earbuds in Manik's ears and asked him to open his eyes.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eJsc0BTPWZs
Manik opened his eyes to the most beautiful sight he had ever seen and perhaps he would ever see... and in perfect rhythm, melody started pouring through his ears. The words.. Were like answers to his unspoken questions., like someone had written them just for him. Someone was stirring his soul and he was transported to another universe. He couldn't move, he couldn't speak, he couldn't react, he could only witness, feel and let go of his accumulated pain. Such was the impact of the rising sun, the thumping beats and the beautiful words that tears started rolling down his cheeks and he couldn't control them... Tears of utter joy like someone had wiped away all his pain and given him new wings... he could fly wherever he wished to.
Kehta yeh pal
Khud se nikal
Jeete hain chal
Jeete hain chal
Jeete hain chal
Gham musafir tha jaane de
Dhoop aangan mein aane de
Talvon ke neeche hai thandi si ek dharti
Kehti hai aaja daudenge
Yaadon ke bakson mein zinda si khushboo hai
Kehti hai sab pichhe chhodenge
Ungliyon se kal ki ret behne de
Aaj aur abhi mein khud ko rehne de
Kehta yeh pal
Khud se nikal
Jeete hain chal
Jeete hain chal
Jeete hain chal
Ek tukda haseen chakh le
Ik dali zindagi rakh le
Hichki ruk jaane de
Siski tham jaane de
Iss pal ki ye guzaarish hai
Marna kyun, jee lena
Boondon ko pee lena
Tere hi sapno ki baarish hai
Paaniyon ko raste tu banaane de
Roshni ke pichhe khud ko jaane de
Kehta yeh pal
Khud se nikal
Jeete hain chal
Jeete hain chal
Jeete hain chal
Long after the song had ended, he stood there absolutely still. Nandini was eagerly waiting for him to speak. She was closely watching his expressions, she had seen his tears...'it was working' she guessed.
The only words Manik could utter were "Thank u for Music!!"
They walked back in utter silence. Manik was still in a trance and Nandini didn't remind him to carry her. She continued walking over thorns and stones. She didn't care anymore that her feet were bleeding, she didn't even care that this was the guy who had left her heart broken. She was happy beyond words because she had returned him his biggest gift to her..his music, his soul.
Cricket
