Hi Friends đ
Forum is very thanda Since I am not getting any ideas to write new OS so posted one of my old one...đ
Hope you guys enjoy reading it đ
Ashu:-
Through the car's windscreen, I can see road that snakes up with humps and bends leading us to dimly lit farmhouse. I can smell rich aroma of coffee and pepper in cold winter air, I can hear cold ruffling of leaves, grasshoppers chirping from meadows, it is sounding like lullaby to us , to me and to my dear wife, She stir and slowly opens her eyes to the screeching sound of tires on the gravel drive of farm house . She smiles, a smile which always brightens up my mood 'even during darker days! There is excitement and a strange kind of happiness in her eyes...I can see it, feel it pulsing through her and reaching till my heart, She is everything I have' my true treasure...My Nidhi! ...What I would have been, if she is not at my side during my difficult times, she is my true strength! When I lost all hopes on baba, she is the one who strengthened me from inside 'I wondered from where she drives such strength! How distraught, worn out we were, when we came to know about BB's illness...But she was quick to buckle up and push me to think beyond my fear ...yes , I was angry with her for pushing me to operate on baba , Yes I fought, shouted and hurt her whenever my grief got too much on me .. But in between all this she loved me , not even judging me , criticizing me for the behavior I showed towards her ..She just loved and stood with me.
Thinking all this, getting down and walking up to her, slowly taking her cold frigid hand, I looked at her
Her groggy eyes, heavy with sleep staring out, towards vast grey hills situated to the east, all the while holding on to my hand, she snuggle into me, like a small kitten she rub her cheeks on my chest 'I smile, I like these small things she to do which make me feel so warm and loved, I don't know how but she just know to make me feel good.
"Sir, I kept your luggage inside "I turn around and nod my head 'Strange kind of silence surround as our driver leave us alone in this farmhouse 'As he leave, I crush her in my arms, inhaling her deep familiar scent, I feel so warm and more at home as I whisper "happy valentine's day '.my dear" she tilt her head smilingly rubbing her cold tipped nose over my cheeks ..
We stand holding each other in moonless night as thick fog covers us like thick blanket, slowly and eventually'
Nidhi:-
Even before I could open my eyes, I can feel him near ...I can feel his hands clutching my fingers, his leg carelessly thrown over my hips 'his head buried near my neck , I can feel his warm breath , his constant slow rhythmic heart beat pounding near my back ..Slowly, letting go of his hand and coming out of his grip...I sit, he stir but then again he go back to sleep ...Like a small kid running into park, I leap out of door excitedly
Mud crunches below my feet as I walk along plantation, an elderly man comes to me holding a cup of hot coffee, my skin tingles with cold, wind glide past me sending chill to the core of bone '.I stutter, a shaky "thank you" to that elderly man, I wonder, how can he manage to stand so upright in this cold winter morning, wearing only his thin layered shirt'.
Just as he pass away and leave me alone, I remember the day When Anjie told excitedly about her V-day plan, and how I cribbed silently. I remember the day when jyothika told about gifts which she is expecting from her husband, and how I sulked each minute wishing for single sign, single hint from Ashuthosh, each time, I broached the topic of V-day...He shrugged his shoulder all the while ignoring my question yes, to be honest, he irritated me, and somehow I hated him for ignoring me so much 'I did not expect gifts or grand dinner ...All I expected to spend some time with him, only him, 'Is it too much to ask?
Then, How I should know that my dear husband was planning something seriously to surprise his wife 'now thinking back, it all looking like a dream, He must have been enjoyed looking at my surprised expression...how I stared at him as if he is the eighth wonder of world, with my mouth half open and my eyes wide to the size of 10 rupee coin..His amused expression slightly changing to huge grin as he extended his hand asking me to hurry up so that we don't miss out on our flight which was due in few hrs '
Startled, I look down to find a black puppy licking my toe finger, it is so cute that I could not resist taking it in my arms ...As I keep on looking at small puppy, Suddenly I get an idea, and I take him to our room where Ashuthosh is sleeping and then I leave him on our bed, watching both of them silently, I sit back ...
it's been while I played pranks on Ashuthosh, I just love it 'when I give him hard time, I love the way his face tighten to show that he is annoyed but in truth he is not 'suddenly, I see puppy sniffing cold sheets and moving forward, towards Ashuthosh who is fast asleep ...it stare at ashu for some time and then at me ..I just smile'. as if it is waiting for my command, it start licking his face 'startled Ashuthosh get up from his sleep abruptly and jump out of bed with shocked expression '..I suppress my giggle but somehow, it escape my lips as I burst out laughing staring at Ashuthosh and then at small puppy, who is by now staring at both of us all the while wagging his tail'
I saw his expression change to upright anger as he slowly but curtly mutter 'what the hell is this Nidhi ...?" I lower my head because I feel may be ...I gone too far ... I mutter sudden meek sorry to find his lips stretching until he burst out laughing '.I pout, he laugh..I sulk 'he chuckle some more and then I don't find any option so I take my puppy in my arms and go out muttering " I hate you '"
As I go out, I hear him calling back "No, you love me '." I hear happiness in his voice, peace and content which is missing from so many day '.even though I am angry with him, strangely I get this urge to go back to him, cuddle him once for all '...As I stand there watching little puppy run along cold mud route, I feel his arm tighten around my waist, he mutter "say it, that you love me"
My lips involuntary stretch until my facial muscles pains and then I close my eyes as I feel his sweet kiss near my nape whispering "say it, that you love me Nidhi.."
And then I do '.. I do tell him how much I love him.
Ashu:-
I stand staring at this vast river, Mist is lifting and sun is beginning to shine brightly above our head. Off the shore, water flow skim laying white frothy trails on small steps ;nervously, I run my trembling fingers over my thick dark hair as if that will give some solace but I feel even more anxious looking at the vast river and then at nidhi..Who is busy by now selecting matching color life jacket for both of us...Silently I curse our driver who took us here, this spot for river rafting .All this adventure suddenly look so dangerous to me as I hear the laughter, joy and squeals of youngsters from distant, I hear them jumping deep inside water contracting their lungs until it is shrinked to the size of coin'
I close my eyes tight shut to cool my overstressed my brain 'Startled I open my eyes to find her staring at me strangely" are you nervous? "She asks
How I want to tell her, yes "I am nervous, let's get out here but No I don't say instead I end up blabbering something like "nervous and me No ...Never '"
"Well good then 'it's going to be one hell of a ride Dr Ashuthosh, it's going to be so much fun "she squeal in joy
"Is it?" I give her shaky nervous laugh. I wonder why can't she see fear on my face or Am I that good in hiding my expression 'I am still lost in my thoughts when she continue
"You know what? Sometime elephants come to drink water from forest...I hope we get to see them '"she grins ear to ear
My mouth drops open in shock as I blabber "elephants ...Seriously? I...'I mean 'is it safe, forest elephants...They are wild 'what if they try to harm us"
She shrug her shoulder, moving forward towards boat, she ignore my worries as if it's nothing and to be honest 'it irritates me to the core ...she can be so reckless sometime and that time, I get this sudden urge to protect her, to take her away from all danger which might hurt her '.but no, she don't understand and she reply
" ohh common Dr Ashuthosh , they are not going to jump into river to attack us ..Can they?"
Well I don't have an answer to that question, do I? Because I don't know whether elephants are good swimmer or not and moreover that is not the point here '.but even before I continue with my psycho babbling she drags me inside boat which is already filled with young college kids ...
"You are nervous ...Why don't you accept it?" Nidhi giggle looking at my anxious face
I straighten my sullen face and manage to mutter "I am not nervous"
"Good then '" she replies and gives me thumbs up and to be honest, it irritates me even more '!
And the our boat start moving , It starts well in the beginning, not as bad I imagined it to be , slow tide push our boat slowly as we row in parallel. Nidhi smile and splash water on my face and she stop when I splash until she is totally drenched '.she frown and glare at me...I chuckle to annoy her even more 'this continue for few minutes and then our boat pick up speed and there start rock and roll ride '.everyone squeal in joy as our boat rotate, swirl, spin and I feel as if I am stuck in our whirlpool washing machine 'it glide past hard rocks, sometime throwing us deep below frothy water and then when I feel I am inside water '.suddenly our boat erupt out of it drenching all of us from head to toe.
After passing all rocky, curvy surfaces we reach spot where there very less tides and I see river flowing silently as if there is no end '.in confusion, I look around with expression" what's next?". our instructor who is sitting in corner guiding us all along suddenly get up and pull small rope which is attached to one side of boat '*I stare at him and then at nidhi , everyone grin waiting for him to move fast ..I am still lost in thoughts when I hear him jumping into water holding that rope and pulling our boat in opposite direction, everyone move towards one corner to make other corner weightless as he keeps tugging rope underwater '."Nidhi, what?...is he planning to throw us underwater ?" I blabber" you are not going to drown with your life jacket on ..." she replies ' but still Nidhi'." I hold on to her finger like a kid , she giggle looking at my funny expression and everything happen so suddenly '.I feel our boat losing balance and throwing us into water 'I feel the weight of boat on my head pushing me underwater , suddenly my vision blur and I close my eyes as I feel sudden gush of water in my chest '.my chest pains and I try to come out but something push me so deep inside water , not sure how long but then after sometime I stop struggling as I give into it 'there were nightmare which haunted me after the accident , like I am sitting in one boat and the water color is so green that by one look I can make out how deep it is ' suddenly I jump into the water , I feel the sudden gush of water inside my chest and my wind pipes clog with suffocation , I try to talk but my voice block and something push me deep down 'away from nidhi ! I try so hard to reach out to her but all I can do is wriggle my arms. I don't know where my nightmare ended and where reality started as I feel hand pulling me out of water 'did I imagine it or really I came outside, it happen so suddenly that I choke and gasp for air opening my mouth. After few second nidhi cup my face and stare at me worriedly" I am sorry'I dint know that you are so scared of water " I see her face contract as she choke her words
I smile and this is all she needed as she lung towards me making me lose balance all over again.
" I almost drowned " I mutter still gasping
" no, you dint "
" that is because you pulled me out "I shout
" I dint pulled you out , you came out on your own '.you are wearing life jacket ! And beside don't you know people don't drown with life jacket on ?" she also shout
" No"
" then how come you are floating above 60ft water ?"
" 60 ft ,?" I choke at her words grabbing her hand once again
She giggles in between her anger and she let go of my hand slowly muttering "relax"
For few seconds, I don't do anything as I try to balance my weight; I stare at her as she push her leg forward and lie on water surface .I hear joyous squeal and happy whooping from those young college kids somewhere nearby '"I hear there are crocodiles in this river " she mutter suppressing her giggles
I ignore her comment because by now I am so used to her pranks so I move forward and try to balance myself just like she did '.I push my both legs forward and bend my head back ..I wait for moment to be drowned but it does not happen instead I float on surface '.I stare at light blue sky and I see equal depth as much as this river '.I let myself drown in those depth, in that beauty as I feel her cold fingers intertwined with mine 'I turn my head and see whole sky reflecting in her beautiful eyes '.And to be honest, I fall in love with her all over again. '.again and again.
Nidhi:
Sliding his hand around my waist, he pull me into his arms, I try to resist but he don't let me go away 'He smell something like cinnamon, brown and dry ...Sweet and warm' I feel like drowning in him as he turn me around in swift motion until our faces so close that I shut my eyes, I could feel my cheeks turning total red with this sudden intimacy.
Water droplets from his wet hair soak my cheeks, slowly he buries his face near my neck and he start placing softest kisses all over there 'I groan and moan in pleasure. He cup my face and take my lips..I open my mouth, as I do so'I lose balance and he tightly, protectively grip me in his arms 'not sure how long and then slowly, I struggle and break free from his clutch 'he give disappointed groan as I do so but I stand firm on my position and push him away from me 'he sulk "Ashuthosh, you were supposed to call baba and Dr Ranganath ..Why don't you go out and finish with your calls"
He glares at me like angry kid and I chuckle
As he moves out, I go for hot bath '..
Not long after our little adventurous river rafting , we had gone to town for lunch and after that we mooched in and out of shops looking at lot of things but buying very little 'He gave me surprised look when I dint shop much . ..In one window, I pointed out one toy koala bear and called it "cute" but he insisted it is horrible and ugly '.
Later we went to big monastery, with even big Buddha sitting inside 'I liked that place as I it with him in total silence,
Just as day turn grey, we drive back and once we are in our room again its dark outside. He comes inside after sometime to find me sitting on our bed. He lie next to me throwing his leg over my thighs "I dint know that you are water phobic" I ask him
He don't talk for few second and slowly he mutter "I am not water phobic"
"Then why you behaved like that '"
He sighs, deep and disappointed groan as if he is remembering something unpleasant '.he sit on his elbow, taking my hand slowly mutter " you know ..I used to get this nightmare..After that accident 'that I really dint make it , I truly drowned , crushed inside water 'every night I used to get that dreams for days '.I used to feel so hopeless , so bad 'that I could not see you again , that I can't hear you , I cannot ever come near you '"
I feel sharp stabbing pain in my heart as I hear him say, sliding next to him on my elbow, I kiss on his cheeks " you are having nightmares and why dint you tell me about it ?"
He smile "all my nightmare, always revolved around losing you nidhi ...and whenever I got up drenched in sweat and fear, I found you next to me '.you are there for me , that is enough for me "
I kiss his cheek as he slowly takes me in his arms and sought for my lips, I don't resist instead I give in to the whirlpool of emotions as he slowly make love to me '.
Next morning when I wake up , I don't find him next to me '.my blurred vision adjust to the surrounding and involuntary my lips stretch from ear to ear as I see toy koala bear on bed next to me 'I get up straight away and lung in his arms , he catch me in mid air and hug me till I choke '.
Holding on to him 'I whisper, " I love you '"
He grin, smile and then murmur "love you too '.." making me happy all over again '.
Anupamaa
