Chapter Nine
The silence between them was deafening. The sound of their breaths, the beat of their heart and even the sound of the wind blowing was apparent. They walked side to side on the train platform surrounded by many different people. Despite being in a crowd, Pratigya felt only Krishna's presence, saw only his face and heard only his voice. Though her dreams were trampled down by Krishna's words of reality, she cursed her heart for still fluttering hopelessly in his presence.
Pratigya was more frightened of his silence than his anger. His rage revealed his feelings and inner thoughts however his silence only left her perplexed and confused, fear for what's going to happen next.
Her thoughts came to a sudden halt when a person passing by accidently bumped into her causing her to lean more closely towards Krishna. Immediately she felt Krishna's arms surrounding her waist, pulling her closer to his side. Pratigya started to protest but Krishna stopped her by placing a finger upon her lips. "Shhh" he whispered. He continued to hold onto her protectively, not allowing anyone else to have a chance in pushing her even if it was accidental.
Once they reached outside the station, Pratigya looked questioningly at Krishna. After all that they had been through, did Krishna still expect her to ride with him in his motorbike? Was he really that inconsiderate towards her and her families respect? Before her thoughts could reach to a valid conclusion, Krishna hailed a taxi to her amazement.
"You sit in the taxi and I will follow behind in my motorbike" he said, "that way your precious izaat will still remain intact."
Pratigya tried to suppress her smile but her relief was so great that without her realizing, she smiled shyly at him. Her eyes widened as she realized what she had done as she quickly put her head down in embarrassment.
Krishna's eyes gentled and his heart warmed up to her beautiful shy smile. He tenderly caressed her thinly scarred cheek and without hesitation pinched her cheeks in tenderness. Her blush intensified in reaction to his gentle caresses, murmuring something unintelligent, she quickly sat in the taxi.
Pratigya slowly touched her cheek, smiling to herself whilst Krishna rode behind the car.
A few moments later the taxi stopped in front of a store. "Bhai saab, yahaan par gaari kyon rokha?" she asked, confused.
"Voh, memsaab, Krishna had told me stop here first," the driver replied.
Pratigya watched Krishna walking into the store and coming out a few moments later, something in his hand. Amazed, Pratigya watched him opening the door to the passenger seat and kneeling down in front of her. In his hand was some ointment, Pratigya looked at him questioningly. Without bothering to explain himself, Krishna dipped his finger into the ointment and smeared it on her cheek.
Pratigya was shocked to the core, no one other than her family had ever cared for her in such a way that he had. Despite being a stranger, he fussed over her and in many ways tried to prevent or protect her from being hurt.
She felt tears of gratitude welling up inside her, but then she remembered his harsh words and thus quickly restrained herself. He stood up and indicated to the driver to drive on as he climbed onto his motorbike and proceeded behind them.
Pratigya scolded herself to not look back, for he will then know her true feelings and reactions towards him. So lost was she lecturing herself that she barely noticed that the driver had purposely missed a street which led to her home.
After a few minutes went by, Pratigya then came to a realization that they had driven far beyond her actual destination. "Bhai saab, I think you went the wrong way" she said, "My Street has already passed."
The taxi driver paid no heed to her words and continued driving as if she had not spoken at all. Feeling the first sign of panic within her, Pratigya held her shaking hands tightly. A familiar feeling was creeping up to her, the feeling of being incarcerated.
"Excuse me, stop the car please." Pratigya said urgently, "I want to stop here so can you please stop."
The driver increased his speed in reply to her words. Sweat started pouring down her face and her heartbeat increased dramatically. All she could hear was the beat of her heart frantically pumping in her chest. She raised her hands to her pounding temple, and closed her eyes in terror. It's happening again, their going to take me. They won't stop, never; they will always find me….always.
Krishna! She quickly thought to herself as she felt bits of relief pouring out of her. He will save her like he always did.
Pratigya tried to wind down the windows but to her horror they were jammed. She started knocking on the window trying to gain his attention as he calmly rode beside the car. The fool! She thought to herself, did he not realize that the taxi had gone passed her house and that it was going insanely fast!
With all her strength she started pounding onto the window, her bangles breaking in the process.
"Krishna!" she screamed, "Krishna!"
To her relief, Krishna turned his head and looked her in the eye. A sense of unease crept within her as she realized his expression had not at all altered upon looking at her situation.
"Krishna" she whispered to herself, pain obvious in her eyes. His words had broken her heart but nothing had prepared her for this. If he had previously trampled onto her heart, than at this moment he had stabbed it millions of times and left it to bleed.
He continued to look at her, and the final blow came when his mouth started curving into a knowing smile. The gentle Krishna was no longer there, in front of her was the same man whom had so ruthlessly killed a person with a smile playing upon his cruel lips.
The tender Krishna was only a fragment of her imagination; reality was right in front of her smiling at her face. Reality was that this man whom Pratigya had started dreaming about was not her prince charming.
Cricket
Anupamaa
