Chapter-38
PART 3
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“I think we have lost the track!”
“What!. I am so sorry.I could not pace my speed. This uphill was so bad.
He kept his hand on his head and pressed badly. “I told you, we will move back “
“Achha!. Don’t blame on me. Even I told you, will return back soon!”
There was mild argument again and they stopped after a while.Suddenly Arnav started walking in opposite direction, which bewilded khsuhi.
“Arey why are you taking reverse turn!/”
He ignored her call and kept walking.
“Mr raijyada, Wait!.Why are you walking fast suddenly. Akeli ladki ko aise koi chod kar jaata hai?”
She spoke loudly with heavy breath when she came towards him
He stopped and replied in irk way- “Iam going for a Loo.!”
“Oh you should have told right!. Make it fast”
“Oh as if. ..” he made a face , ignored to reply and walked away in darkness.
Khsuhi looked up at the sky and literally cursed.”Why men are so lucky in all ways!.”
“pass me that bottle!”He spoke coming back
“Careful. I have only one!”
“Ab kya kare. Lets continue walking. ?” Khushi questioned him back again
“Offcourse, unless you don’t have any plans of spending night here in middle of this forest!”
They carefully walked in that rudged pathways.
“I heard there would be watchtowers glowing in night, but none of them are visible right!. This is so scary walking in dark” Khsuhi continued when they stopped for a while.
“this wall length is 6000 kms.!. God knows where w e are struck!. Keep walking, till we could see any source of light “Arnav managed to say, equally tired walking ahead of Khsuhi, when he heard her loud call
“Oucch aaaa”
Khsuhi just slipped when she was taking an uneven step which was bit ruined. That was clearly an uneven terrain.
“What happened? You alright?“ he rushed near to her and sat near one of the step
“Look like a sprain”
“Is it paining?”
She noded and then insisted him to continue walking and told him she would join slowly when Arnav indirectly avoided going ahead of her and remained to walk slowly beside her,. It was almost dark, he was leading the way and was guiding her carefully through that muddy road. He holds her hand under his firm grip n she took the support of his broad shoulders to balance herself against the uneven roads of wall.
At that haunt of total darkness, their legs were aching,..when it looked impossible to walk any further ,they stopped again.
“I can’t Mr raijyada. Let’stake a break and continue”
He breathes heavily too as he stopped. “Yeah. Let’s rest bit in that small watch tower. It will be safe..! “
“Can you climb that?It’s on height. But it look safe over there to rest. “ As he asked khushi,he guessed her to be tired . She hardly spoke anything and was just shaking her head.
“Hold on to either side and try to climb that . It would be easy for you to next jump” He added.
Khsuhi struggled with sprain in her leg, and was trying hard to jump. Before she could realize, she felt his touch near her chest. His hold was tight. He takes her left hand n keeps around his shoulder. With a gentle push, he helped her to take step n climb, n next push he successfully made her to climb and then she got down comfortably inside that watch tower on wall. With one jump he climbs it easily. Khushi stretched her legs, and sat with back support of wall at some 5 feet distance from Arnav.
The tiredness was at peak and then stillness grew. No one talked. Arnav stretched his legs too and sat in a comfortable position over looking at the sky.
“Mr Raijyada,?” Khsuhi asked gazing towards sky equally. It looked as if stars were momentarily shining at them
“Yes Miss Gupta?”He asked with exhausted voice.
“How are you feeling?”
“Top of the World you see” He replied without looking at her
“Never imagined. This would come” She spoke turning her face towards him…,”Like , I would be siting here at an alien country, on this 50 ft wall, sounded by forest and no mobile..and lost here…no roof….and with “ she paused, looked at him again and next sentence she spoke in her mind” Arnav singh raijyada.”
“I am sorry. I even forced you” She continued but was abruptly stopped by him suddenly
“You know when I was a kid, counting stars with my mother was my favorite activity. I remember she would engage me in learning astronomy. She would bring the binoculars and we both would gaze at them. He paused suddenly and then spoke after a minute--… After she went, I never dared to look at these stars..”
Khushi for one more could sense some pain inside him again- “Iam so sorry. You must be feeling so bad. I mean I can’t imagine my life without my mother!.“
“No!. I hate her! I don’t miss her absence”
“Whaat? How can someone hate their own mother!”
“She was someone who…..”Arnav stopped suddenly making any further remarks.”I just hate her”
“If you want to share with me something..i mean like a friend. Wo kehta hai na..if you share, mann halka ho jata hai..”
Arnav did not respond anything back.
“You ok? “ She asked after a brief silence
“Iam sorry to say , but just want to tell you that the one who has given birth to you, can never be wrong. No one can measure her sacrifices. No one comes above her children. “
There was a pin drop silence from him. And khushi remained quiet for few minutes for storm to pass. He had closed his eyes. After few minutes,he opened his eyes slowly hearing the cranky chirpy voice.
What are you doing?”he asked looking surprisingly at her
“Eating chips”
“Great!”
“I am sooper hungry.You want some? I have parle G biscuits also. “
Arnav did not nod anything, but after few mintues he hesistated and asked her to pass the biscuits. Khushi controlled her laugh,came to him and passed him few eateries. Distance reduced to 3 feet
“What!”
“No just imagined something. Armav singh Raijyada eating Parle G biscuit” she giggled and then stopped with his starry look
“See , my eateries came so handy. We women plan so wisely!”
“lets play something..!”she asked after few minutes
“what?”
“You won’t talk anything, If I ask, you won’t reply anything…now we don’t have any options right other than facing each other..So lets play”
“So you wanna play hide and seek?”
Khushi giggled..“I mean..antakshari…?..puzzle game? Truth and dare? “
“You look tired, why don’t you take rest, we need to start tomorrow early . Its long day head”.He spoke bit annoyed
“I am hearing strange voices..I mean you know the echoes of wind, insects…wo kitna sannata hai na .iam frightened”
Few minutes passed,He looked at her, her face was glowing in that amidst moonlight., but yes she looked scared too..she was sitting tightening her hands and legs.Cold breeze was taking slow turn.. she was feeling cold..and he could sense that. This time he wanted to initiate the conversion.
“How about solving some mental analytical problems? He asked her
“huh..?. Like 2 trains passing in opposite direction. What is the speed etc?” she chuckled.
“Not interested? How about yesterday’s share market analysis. NSE exchange! Sensex..What your take on that? ”
She widened her eyes in disbelief. “Mr Raijyada, Few minutes before you said, I am boring person. Infact koi aise chandini raat par beth kar Sensex discuss karta hai. You are Most boring person”
“To kya discuss Kare Miss Gupta..?” he asked in his husky tone. He could see , she was relaxed now in in mid of that dark cloud and gloomy night.
“Like speak about your college life, How did you develop interest in acting,, why don’t you like to join your company”
“Next” Arnav simply ignored to anser her anything personal.
“Ok, So let’s play this alphabet game. SO this game will be like- I give you alphabet and you needto tell me the name of any person, place and dish name starting with that letter.Should be quick without any pause, A moment of break and you lose the point.
If anyone could imagine ARnav Singh Raijyada, would anytime sit like in this open air leaving all his drink, his lifestyle and this faraway, it just so much of destiny game..The stars were smiling above..
Khushi explains the game with an example and ask to start first. Having no option left, he agrees for this mental exercise.
“I will Give.. K-“ Arnav started
“Karan, Kenya, khara pongal” Khushi bluttered fast
“That was quick. But wait. What is this khara pongal?”
“Arey you don’t know pongal. Its south Indian common recipe. Khara means-its spicy..You should try!”
“Whatever.”
“Ok..I give you “O” Khsuhi spoke excitedly
“Olindrila, Oman,OatCake”
“Good. Too quick. But.Wait, What is this Olindrila…See you should simply cannot fake any name”
“Olindrila is a name”
“Cindrella suna tha, Olindrila kaha sai aa gayi…I am sure what a stupid name..Oli oli..olindrilla..huh”
“It’s a name. Infact name of my ex. My GF way back in college”
“ex? GF? Oh oh…By the way, how many GF’s did you had Mr Raijyada…100, 200?”
“I don’t remember the count. Many were just casual sleep overs, gf back in college.”
“Who was the first and longest to stay in relationship with you?” She asked in bit composed carefull tone
“I don’t know who was my first. I never take it seriously you see, Longest , yeah an American-”
“Why did you brokeup?” Khushi asked in soft tone, carefully throwing a question at him.
“I get bored easily you see.”
“Ye kya baat hui. Then everytime your GF should do pole dance to keep you entertained! Huh?”
“ah..they should !.Not easy to be Arnav Singh Raijyada’s GF you see. Btw what you know about pole dance. You act so innocent!” He asked in husky teasing way..
“Itni bi innocent nahi hu ok. .Kya samjh rakha hai? I know the terms”
“oh is it. Great infact for someone like you!. You did pole dancing infront of your BF?”
“BF?. NO!!!. I never had”
“ Mean? You never did pole dance infront of your BF or You never had a BF?”
“I never had any BF!”
“Are you serious? I mean you never had any relation with any guy? Love? Affairs? Sleep overs?
“No” she made a small pity face and continued. “Kabhi time hi nahi mila. There was so much of family responsibility and hopes on me. I never wanted to get distracted of my way...and koi mere type ka mila bhi nahi ,like I could feel for him. I had crush on few boys, who were like dashing, some handsome..But never went ahead ,you know like BF n all”
“Unbelievable man!. What…you may be 25, 26? And you never had a coitus?”
“ coitous?”
Arnav made a face and replied ”Nothing!”
“No No tell me. What is that coitus!”
“Sexually with someone!” He blurted out
“No No!!..hey devii mayya!”
Khushi looked away suddenly feeling uncomfortable, but it was so common for Arnav to talk all these. Seeing a strange facial expression of Arnav, she asked hesitantly back.
“What? What is so shocking in that!. Its not any fashion statement. Conservative Indian families aise hi hoti hai”
“You know –you are in such deep hole, the world has moved so far and your thinking, ideologies..imean. You have wasted your precious years”
“Shutup!”
“I mean seriously.Common. .Its so common..”..he paused.”So how about your soon to be husband? You never had any…?”
“NO!. Its Arranged marriage!. I mean I have met just twice.We are slowly understanding each other”
“You have just met him twice and you want to spend rest of your life with him?”
“hmm..This is how arrange marriage will be. Not like your LIVING IN types”
“Great piece of shit!..How can you survive without knowing anyone?”
“That’s beauty of marriage you see!”
“And what if you don’t like him after spending few days, months, years..what you gonna do? What if you find he is having an affair ?”
“no chance…I will love him so much, he won’t even have chance to think about anyone!”
“Oh I see, But what if, what if he turns out to be cheat..you know..some one like Akash, as you said..”
“hmm..it’s all luck then....right..May be I will also have an affair then!..Tit for tat types”she giggled
“Look, now who is in favor of Extra marital affair” He replied
She stifled a laugh, and he gave her a sidelong glance. He stared down at her for a moment n then started to laugh
“Baatein kuch ankahisi, ansuni si hone lagi..kabu dil mai raha na, hasti hamari khone lagi…..
“Life is certainly uncertain..Who has seen the future right? You might just leave at this moment!”
She spoke and continued. “But I have someone to spend my life with, how about you? “
“Remember money has the solution for everything!” he blurted out
“The day you will fall in love, you will understand its meaning and its implication. Now its waste to explain you!”
“But you seem to love and trust your parasite right. What makes you to lie him!. Your definition of love which is-trust n promises fails you see. So how can you say -u love him!? ”
“It will happen ,slowly after marriage!” Khsuhi spoke bit low.She does not look up, but she can feel his gaze on her.
She sipped few drops of water from her bottle and passed him and was soon to change the subject.
After few minutes, she stretched her leg trying to wake up ,when she screamed of leg pain..”ouch”
“what happened?”
“Look like, I have got the heavy leg cramps. It is getting to so difficult to get up..”
“This is what happens if you walk once a year. Workout is very important you see..”
“This was marathon walk!. Btw even You are looking equally tired..” She teased him back
Khushi pushed her hand behind to take the support of wall,and slowly gotup..’aaa..” holding a hand on the wall..
“careful. Whats up? You want to start the journey now itself..or wat?
“No. It is just that..” she made a face and started looking at her sides..
“All ok?” Arnav gotup
“WO..I have to go to loo…its urgent. I will just check out there somewhere..There was some slow hill down few meters away…I will just check out.” she spoke in hesitative tone.
“Khushi, be carefully with your steps.”
She noded and slowly proceded, the sudden heaviness in he rlegs after such a long walk was painfull. Legs cramping were at worst. She preceded holding wall, in the darkness and slowly retraced her foot with few steps, when in that gloominess she was about to slip but Arnav suddenly caught held her.But to his surprise she screemed .
“Relax its me.”
“Arey apne muje dara diya”
“Which creature are you seeing apart from me!” he held her hands and made her slowly to stand.She smiled. That dimness of natural sky light and both could hear each other’s breath just few inches away.
“Nahi..its so much dark. Strange sound from those bushes. Just freaking me out again and again”
“Don’t go far. I am here.take it easy’ his deep voice continued with a touch of concern
As she stepped down on that parchment , Arnav turned his body opposite side . Khsuhi turned to look at him, a small smile curved her lips and she disappeared in darkness.
A moment later, they came back to their original chosen place, This time the distance automatically reduced to 2 feet between them. “Take rest. We need to start with first ray of sun..”
She nodded. , gave half smile.
“Khushi,” he called her out name in slow voice.
“hmm?”
“Khushi, my dad and my sister are my world to me.…You know I am really thank full from bottom of my heart to save his life that day.I don’t know I don’t express, but I really mean it..”
” Hey its fine.” She replied in soft tone. That comfortableness, that closeness with him bothered her so much.It was getting difficult for Khushi, to just hide it anymore from him. There is magic in his touch. There is a peace in his eyes n truth in his every breadth.
“Mr Raijyada. I need to tell you something” she finally made her mind and spoke few moments later.
“hmm.” He thought what next stupid question she will come up with…
“Promise me, you won’t get angry on me, after I finish”
“Angry? No guarantee,you see !. Few hours before I literally thought of pushing you from wall for ruing my day”
“Kya?”
“Jus kidding. Go head”
“Believe me, I never had any other intention ,It just casually .. I don’t know how should I start..Please don’t think otherwise..”
“Come to the point khushi. Don’t be sober”
She cleared her thoughts, looked towards sky. “Actually many years before, I was just sitting in some parlour when I saw someone.You know there was an instant attraction, it just so happened for me first time. He was someone far from my reach. But I was totally out of this world. I still don’t know.. why it was something different.And then I happened to search more about him. I literally became crazy about him. A single day did not go without seeing him, virtually though. Slowly he took the place in my Diary, in my room, I mean his pics on my walls.. I can’t describe if I was literary fanatical on him.”Madness would be right word.. And suddenly one day, I happen to see him, It was like dream come true.It was impossible to believe. . Was luck playing with me, I kept guessing as we met again and again. I don’t know..And from then on, there were so many coincident meetings..I could not believe my stars or was it destiny game…But I feel myself lucky…n iam feeling still… She clutched her fingers..her lips nervous….I don’t Know how to say this..That person is YOU MR Raijyada. I am just so huge fan of you, from the day I saw you, . I haven’t skipped any of your interviews, your shows,.nothing. I know it might seem insane..i know I lied to you, but believe me I did not had any bad intention of lying.just plain white lie..i mean..you know you don’t like fans , you don’t like someone who act nusty.. Iam sorry .I don’t know will we meet again or not…Iam not sure.. But Mr arnav singh raijyada, will you please accept my apology and give me your autograph…I would like cherish this moment with me… … I know our frequency won’t match, I know Iam middle class, I know we can’t be even friends, I mean I know..I am just not taking advantage of any situation. Its from bottom of my heart..Its my honest confession..I knew you before we met..…But., Still, I…I…She could not complete her sentence and has to stop abruptly
“To be continued”……
PART 3 ends
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