Sometime during her junior college she had heard her friends discuss it and felt disgusted. Then when she grew a little older she had wondered how it would be. When she was just about to get married, the older women in her family had teased her about it in very colorful terms, which made her embarrassed to her roots.
But all of those descriptions had been failed to be even blot on what she had actually felt when she had had it. She was fairly modern, yet she was blissfully ignorant. Would it be earth shattering for him too, like it was for her? She had trusted him to be her partner, her equal, her teacher last night. The tiny hairs on her nape stood on their end when she thought what a divine experience love making was. Now, would that change anything? She remembered that day long ago, before marriage when she had seen her mom with her father and wondered how it would be to a married woman? Was it how, she was feeling now? Udayveer was slumped on the other side of the bed with his bear back towards her. She could see nail marks on his back; her own doing. She smiled. Would he accuse her about them? She wondered and felt silly.
She stood and wrapped the sheets around herself. It must be really early in the morning, sun hadn't come up yet. The view outside the window looked inviting and she went to it. The mountain in the distance was covered in mist, she could see in the faint light of dawn. Just like how Udayveer's body covered her last night.
A cock crowed noisily somehwhere nearby and Manyata had a new thought. Was it a mistake what happened? She lifted her hand to check the time on her watch and it struck her that it was the same watch Kabir had gifted her on her last birthday. It was an expensive watch he had gifted her with so much care. Kabir!! He was surely home now, but before that he wasn't..And the person responsible was Udayveer. How in the world could she ignore this fact! Her Udayveer..
She loved him..she LOVED HIM!! ofcourse..she could not recall when her despise for the traitor had turned to care..she wasn't the type of girl who would fall for anyone easily. For her, love had to occur slowly and steadily and it had. Maybe that's why his magnetic eyes and forceful personality had compelled her to give him her everything. Her womanhood..the pink of her innocence.
But, it was highly unlikely that he loved her, or even cared. So what if he had proved to be so much caring..he was a cheat, who probably loved playing with emotions. That explained how instead of defending himself at her accusations, he had wickedly charmed her and got what he wanted. But that doesn't mean she cared any less. Oh lord..what would she do now? Surely she couldn't stand up and shout that she loved him..no..that would be stupid. She remembered his challenge on the wedding night.. he had said he would make sure she would fall hopelessly in love with him. he won! But she wouldn't let him win. He didn't deserve her. she would behave as coldly as possible from now on. That would be his punishment. And if everything went well, according to his own promise, he had to release her from being his wife. She owed this much to her best friend kabir. She would not let her own emotions come in the way of revenge. Udayveer would wake up to find a woman who was sort of a wax doll. She would never convey him how damnedly she cared. Probably she was just another number for him in the long list of women he had bedded.. for one moment she was soaring in the skies but now she was back on terra firma..He had won her body with his allure but he would never win her soul..
Unaware to her, Udayveer too had been awake for some time and had been sensing her movements. He did not regret what took place, no sir, he was no inexperienced teen; he was 'The Udayveer' on whom women drooled. But thinking on a different path, he did regret it. Probably Manyata must not have dreamt that he'll pounce on her this way. He could feel the tension emanating from her body. Poor girl.. he felt pity on her. She was so naive that, she'd be expecting him to automatically fall in love with her after their rendezvous. The faster he cleared her misconception, the better. He could never fall in love with anybody, could he? He ought to behave less friendly with her now on, so that she learns that this was not more than a one night stand'.. His own word hit him like hammer. He had learnt to care for her in past few days, yes he did..But it was nothing more than that, he was sure.. well almost.
As She stood watching the scene outside, he said with no hint of feelings in his voice "we are going home, pack your bags, we'll be leaving in an hour.."
She did as she was told and they were ready to leave. Their return journey was to be by road and a stony silence covered the car as Udayveer halted at the first check post.
"sir, there has been a land slide just 1km ahead from here and im afraid you'll have to go back to Matheran till the roads are cleared" the police man told him.
"Actually we are in a hurry to reach home, is there no alternative?" Udayveer asked.
"There is a short cut from the mountains sir..but its very risky and the path runs through forest in some places.." he answered pointing to their left where a small road cut through.
Udayveer barely heard the second part of his answer. Before she could blink he had turned and they were zooming down the unmarked road. Before she could stop herself, the words escaped out of Manyata's mouth "now, do you care to explain why you are in such tearing hurry? Is there any.." she was about to say is there any girl waiting for you at home?' but bit her tongue before it could get out.
"do you have dementia Manyata?" Udayveer asked.
This completely threw her off gear. She was about to retort when he said "tomorrow is your 'Final exam'..are you planning to be absent from it?" stressing on the word 'final'.
Oh yes..he was right! Why didn't she think of it? She mouthed 'thanks' to him, unable to say it aloud; unaware that he had noticed her doing that.
No one spoke anything until they were in middle of a thick forest as the guard had said. Then all of a sudden Udayveer had a coughing fit and he stopped their rental car. He was coughing so hard that Manyata searched for a water bottle in the car. Apparently she had forgotten to carry it.
"You stay here.. i shall see if I could find any water nearby" she said and got out of the car. After walking for some yards, in the tree covered expanse ahead she could spot some white structure..she rubbed her eyes in disbelief, a house?
Yes it was a house, as she had guessed. She opened its gates and pressed the door bell. She could hear loud noises inside, may be a party was going on. But here??
A man dressed in jeans and a gawdy colored shirt opened the door. "can you get me some water please..the thing is, my-my friend needs it urgently..he is in the car over there" she pointed out. He looked over her shoulder to spot their white sedan.
"sure young lady..wait a moment" he said nodding his head. What transpired was, it was a drug lords den and two new 'recruits' were supposed to report at the house that was in the forest. Unknowingly Manyata had uttered the code word 'Water' used for identifying the new 'trainees'. The man had been told that they would arrive in a white colored vehicle and this led to the misunderstanding.
"why don't you come inside lady? and please call your partner too..as you are aware, there's a party going on..we welcome you to the party..Make yourselves at home.." he went inside without waiting for her answer.
She was about to say no and go back with the water bottle he handed her, she remembered they hadn't eaten breakfast in morning. This was her chance..she laughed at herself.
Thankfully Uday's coughing bout had been stopped when she went to the car. She told him about the offer of a party and he agreed. Maybe he was hungry too. Unaware of the danger that was lurking, Manveer walked into the dungeon of drugs.
Kabir was fast asleep on the sofa that was in the drawing room of his house. Taani walked in to find him zonked out with the television running on full volume. She couldn't contain herself anymore. Kabir had to know how she felt about him.
"Kabir..i know that since last few days, you have been through hell..you lost the girl you loved..now you are at risk of being debarred from college for somebody else's fault..it must have been so hard..every moment..but do not be afraid my dearest..because..because im with you and I'll be with you...I'll stand in the way of every problem that comes to you..hold my hand and I'll lead you through..i love you Kabir..i do..love you so much..and it doesn't matter if you don't feel the same about me.." she finished her monologue and ran out wiping tears.
Precap: Manveer dancing to 'ruk jaa oh dil deewane' in the dance party.
hey readers...tell me how you found the update...please like and comment...😳
Thanks for reading🤗
(this will be my last update in upcoming 2 months, as i'll be very busy...😳 do not be disappointed as i'll return to haunt the forum again😈 very soon..🤣)