SY FF: The Ride of a Lifetime - Chapter 29, page 143

First Previous

Page

115

Next Last

Frequent Posters

jyothi

@jyothi_cool

Rocker

+ 2

Posted: 12 years ago

#121

Originally posted by: VerboseG

Am maidless and healthless today😊

But you will get it soon😳

awww gina take care and get well soon

Quote

VerboseG

@VerboseG

Stunner

+ 3

Posted: 12 years ago

#122

Chapter 17

As Sid drove to their next destination, he kept glancing over at the unusually silent Prats. Dressed in a black and white salwar kameez, dupatta draped over her head, she stared out at the passing scenery blindly. As Sultan laid his head on Sid's shoulder, Sid contemplated various topics he could discuss, discarding all of them. He had a feeling he'd get his head snapped off if he invaded her mindspace now.

Finishing with a meeting that was, surprising to Sid, extremely normal, with Prats acting exactly the way that she always did, enthusiastic about new ideas, respectful to elders, laughing vivaciously with the children, enjoying all the activities and the lunch that followed. As Sid observed her thoughtfully, for the first time, he noted a false ring of merriment in her laughter. Was it just today or he hadn't noticed earlier? But, one thing was for sure, she was a good actress, able to hide her true feelings from the world. He was finally understanding her.

Post lunch, a bunch of kids came running up to Prats, who was sitting with some ladies, teaching them some basic English words. "Didi, did you know that the mela <fair> has come to Pipli? Please take us there, please" Grinning at the eager beavers, she stood up, calling out to where Sid lay on a charpoy <rough bed>, "Sid, I am taking the kids to the mela. Will be back in a while..." Almost leaping out of bed, he loped across, "I'm coming too! It's been years since I went to a mela."

With Sultan in the camper, about 16 screaming kids in the back of the jeep, Sid and Prats drew up in front of a paper-flag-lined kaccha road, with a huge ferris wheel at the end of it. As Sid watched, Prats transformed, losing her artificial smile, whooping with joy as she ran down the lane, holding two of the smallest kids by hand. This was the real Prats, the one who forgot her sorrows and enjoyed life as the young girl she was.

Following closely on her heels, he saw her line up the kids at the ferris wheel. Beating her to the ticket counter, he bought 18 tickets, "Prats, are you sure this contraption is safe? I've never sat in one earlier..." Giggling, she tugged at his arm in excitement, "Promise it is! C'mon, the next ride is about to begin." Settling the kids into seats, one big and one small in each, Prats was assigned the biggest kid and he the smallest. As the wheel started, the children started squealing, Prats loudest of all! As the wheel picked up speed, he craned to see where she was sitting. As their eyes locked, neither could look away from each other. The ever-faster, circular motion of the ferris wheel, the wind rushing in their ears, tousling their hair, the screams of delight of the others, all seemed to fade into the background. All he saw was her, and all she saw was him.

As the wheel slowed to a stop, Prats was the first off. Shaking herself free from the spell, she helped take the kids off, one at a time. Putting her hand out for the last kid, she was startled to find it engulfed by a firm, slightly calloused hand. Sid got out slowly, moving ever closer to her, "Piyu, you are truly beautiful... I don't think I have ever seen a more beautiful girl, ever." Lifting his other hand, he tucked her windblown hair behind her ears. Startled by the peal of laughter, they jumped apart to see the kids nudging each other and giggling.

Prats shifted slightly, adjusting her dupatta, "C'mon, let's get some more rides." Following slowly behind as the kids ran from the merry-go-round to the toy train, to the swings, and the bouncy. Prats participated in everything with equal fervor, avoiding looking at Sid directly. He was content just to join in now and again, holding a sick child's head after a particularly violent ride made her nauseous, picking up a couple who were tired and couldn't walk any more. As the kids reached the games, he peeled off some cash to buy coupons for all the kids to participate.

At a shop with many balloons strung on the facing wall, surrounding a tiny bull's eye, he picked up the pellet gun and started shooting off the balloons one by one. Each winning streak got him a small gift, which he promptly handed to a child. After all 16 got a gift each, he aimed at the bull's eye, which had the bumper price, "This one's for you, Prats." As he hit the bull's eye smack in the middle, he whooped with joy, doing a small victory jig around the kids. Smiling at the stall owner, he picked up the first prize and walked up to Prats, "For you, from your Bugs Bunny... I have heard you calling me that when you are pissed off." Dropping a tiny pink rabbit into her hand, he grinned fondly and turned to the kids, "Let's eat! I'm famished."

As the suddenly teary Prats stared at the tiny Bugs Bunny grinning back at her, she followed in the steps of the raucous children slowly. It had been years since someone gave her such a silly, but lovely, gift. Smiling widely suddenly, she ran up to Sid, "I want to eat some chaat <street food>, Sid! Let's order everything there is!" Behaving like two kids themselves, they gorged on aloo tikki, bhel puri, sev puri, dahi bhalla, everything they could get their hands on! Rubbing his hand on his tummy, Sid groaned, "Pet bhar gaya, par neeyat nahin bhari... <the stomach is full, but the mind is not>; let's wind up with something sweet." Smiling fondly at him, she demurred,
"No, I can't manage a bite more, Sid! I'm stuffed." "You? And stuffed?? You are the biggest bhukkad <hog> I know! Where you pack it all, I don't know! Anyway, I'm going to get a kulfi <home-made ice-cream> and you can share a bite or two."

Slurping on a big, fat malai <cream> kulfi, he offered her a bite. Grinning at the sight he made, with a malai moustache ringing his mouth, she daintily took a bite. Mming in sheer pleasure, she grabbed the stick from his unsuspecting hand and danced out of reach! Life was good...

Edited by VerboseG - 12 years ago