Chapter 2 - His eyes
Icy grey eyes captivated her so much that she couldn't take off her eyes from them. There was something in them. Something too deep and far from her grasp. But so soothing and peaceful that she wanted to live with it.
Her peaceful moment was disturbed as he very carefully put her down. Her mind whirled and she felt a little sick. She closed her eyes, gaining her senses. When she looked at him again, he was going deep in forest.
"Excuse me" She called out, feeling empty without him.
Neither he turned nor he stopped. It was as if, he didn't hear her. She called out once again, this time louder. But there was no response.
It was the tattoo that she noticed at the last glance before fog enveloped him diluting his presence from her eyesight. The crescent, so unique and so familiar that she was sure at that very moment that he was the guy who caught her attention earlier that day.
The guy who first pushed her and now saved her but during both times pulled some unknown strings in her heart that she yearned to know about him. So captivating was his presence that she failed to see his face even when in his arms. Foolish her, she should've at least looked away once from his deep eyes towards his face but well maybe it was of no use because the shadow covered his face or else a glimpse of his face she would've.
Her chain of thoughts was broken by a familiar voice calling her. Misha was rushing towards her with Kabir by her side.
"Piya... " Misha breathed in relief
Piya forced a smile but her eyes lingered at the place she last saw him, fruitlessly hoping for him to come back.
"You are alive?" Misha sounded shocked that soon turned into delightful surprise. "Oh God you are alive." Misha said touching her shoulder, feeling her and finally hugged her.
After an emotional moment, Misha pulled apart with a bit of embarrassment.
"Oh, I just got carried away. A little senti. Fine a lot. But she didn't die. She is alive." Misha hifived Kabir in happiness.
Piya smiled and again looked towards her saviour's path.
"Piya where are you lost?" Misha asked.
"Misha, that guy. He saved my life." Piya blurted.
"Who?" Misha asked looking around dubiously.
"The one who pushed me earlier today, he was here. He saved me." Piya turned to her explaining.
"I think she is in shock," Misha mumbled to Kabir, Piya could hear her but said nothing.
"I think she's scared. Come let's go." Kabir said.
Piya kept on looking at the place as if it was calling her, she couldn't look away.
"Let me help you" Kabir was ready to took her in his arms but Piya stepped back coming into her senses.
"N..no am.. am fine" Piya said feeling disturbed, she wasn't really comfortable in boy's company. Well, except for the stranger who was effecting her.
"Fine, come." Misha gave out a exhausted sigh.
As they walked away Piya looked over her shoulder feeling as if the stranger was still there.
Misha dropped Piya at hostel. Piya walked in her room tired by the day events.
After taking a long bath, Piya felt better. She was making her bed when her eyes fell on the curtained window. She walked towards the window and pulled the curtains aside. The window opened towards forest and gave beautiful view of its depth with sky as roof.
The forest reminded her the moments she shared today in its depth and the fall that brought the peace to her restless heart. She shook her head and looked towards the sky so to relax her troubled mind. The sky was twinkling with stars but there was no moon. She smiled lightly.
"I don't know who he is... But I feel some connection... Some deep connection....." Piya whispered "and a feeling of peace...."
"Well, let's just hope Dehradun become the best thing happened to me" Piya smiled encouraging herself
Taking a deep breath she made her way to the bed calling it a day.
Next day in college, Piya sat in canteen with Misha. She busied herself in playing with fork avoiding Misha gaze.
"Feeling better?" Misha asked her softly, not unmindful of the way Piya was too lost after her almost death.
Piya looked at her like noticing her first time and looked at the empty glass of juice she finished a moment before. She exhaled and sat straight.
"Yeah" she replied.
"There you go." Kabir said placing coffee for the two on table. Misha took the coffee and Kabir sat with them
"We are sorry we should have checked the ropes" Kabir said to Piya, pointing towards him and Misha
"But you know what? it's your fault... your these eyes..." As Kabir added and talked about Piya's eyes while Piya was again reminded of the icy grey eyes.
"Are you sure you're alright?" Misha asked Piya bringing her out of the icy grey eyes.
"Yeah, Misha, I'm fine now." Piya replied softly.
"She is really lucky. I mean look at her she doesn't even have scratch after falling from so high." Kabir said
Misha laughed - "you are right.... Piya should thank her stars.... She got pretty nice luck"
Piya smiled. She didn't trust her luck but she was herself amazed that she didn't have any injury when clearly her arms scratched on rough edges during the fall.
"Anyway, I got a happy news." Misha placed the coffee cup on table and looked at Piya
"Today is Papa's birthday and mumma is throwing a surprise party for him. It'll be great party and you are coming." Misha explained. "Anyway yesterday has been full on drama for you so let's chill today"
"Ah but Misha," Piya tried to find excuses, she didn't want to go anywhere. Not party at least.
"No ifs and buts.... you are coming with me. Let's go now" Misha stood up.
"Cool." Kabir grinned.
"Ok." Piya sighed.
"I'll see you in evening okay?" Misha said to Kabir as they descended the stairs.
Misha sat on her bike and saw T coming with her friend's help.
"Your drama queen girlfriend," Misha said to Kabir gesturing towards T.
"Misha, friend just friend huh," he said "anyways Misha I'll not be able to make for evening, have some plans." he added after a moment of sudden thinking.
"With this handicap tyagi?" Misha pointed towards T.
Piya suppressed her smile while Kabir chuckled.
"C'mon, K, why are you not hanging with us K" Misha mimicked T.
"Whatever huh," Kabir said waving off the topic.
"But seriously, will be not able to come in the evening." Kabir shrugged.
"Misha, please me too," Piya tried her luck.
"What rubbish huh? Are you missing your warden or that empty dull room? C'mon yar you are coming with me," Misha said angrily.
"Ok ok am coming," Piya said giving up finally, not wanting to see her upset.
"Ah Misha I was thinking if you are insisting so much then I'll be there," Kabir said suddenly.
Piya looked at him while sitting on bike behind Misha. Misha too looked at him surprised. She shook her head with smile.
"Don't, Kabir, just don't" Misha said pointedly.
Kabir smirked at her remark - "I'll see you in the evening."
"You know today is going to be full on masti. Mumma become a little bit psycho on parties. She wants everything perfect and her yummy food, if guests doesn't faint after eating and eating then mom is not mom," Misha smiled as she drove her bike
Piya laughed with Misha, suppressing the nagging pain in her heart. She felt nostalgic remembering her own mother who met an untimely death, ten years back. She couldn't even spend more time with her due to her so called father.
"Misha what were you saying to Kabir at that time?" Piya asked out of curiosity and in order to divert her mind from her painful past.
"What?" Misha was confused at the sudden change of topic and couldn't understand what Piya was talking about.
"That, don't, don't what?" Piya asked
"Don't. Don't fall in love with you. I was saying him don't become crazy for you," Misha told casually.
Piya was taken aback by sudden opinion. Why would a person so rich and cool like Kabir would fall for her? But she smiled it off.
"He can't fall for someone like me," Piya said shaking her head
"Yeah right idiot." Misha shook her head. " You know from the time you came in this city almost ten boys have asked me about you. You know what's good about you? You don't know how much pretty you are. Even when boys were going gaga over you when you entered the college you didn't even notice. You are not like those brainless bimbos who decorate themselves and boys really like that. But Kabir, nope not for you."
"Why so?" Piya asked without reasons. She herself didn't want to get involved with Kabir.
Too high for her standard. Besides, she wasn't comfortable around him. Not yet.
"Because he change his girlfriend every week and I don't want that you become Kabir's flavour of the month. You know none of his girlfriend stayed more than week." Misha explained.
Piya chuckled understanding Kabir's playboy nature.
"Anyway we are going to reach home in five minute" Misha said getting excited.
Misha stopped the bike in front of a classy mansion. Piya looked at the mansion, amazed by its grandeur.
"Your home?" Piya asked, she wasn't expecting her to be so rich and still ground to earth.
"Yup," Misha said parking the bike.
"Lovely." Piya smiled.
"Its a zoo inside," Misha said with a grin.
"Zoo?" Piya was confused.
"My sister, being a bird, is the head of animals so she keeps stray animals wherever she finds them... I guess the number have exceeded fifty..." Misha said with a chuckle.
Piya was confused but put up a polite smile.
They entered the mansion. It was a huge place with classy furnishings. It had everything only rich people could afford. Servants ran around decorating the interior with expensive decorations.
Piya realized Misha belonged to a rich family as opposed to her behaviour and exterior materials. She felt a little out of place.
As they walked in hall, a pretty girl, Misha's sister, stood holding a puppy with an elderly woman, her mother.
"I told you na, my sister had made huge place for stray animals. Look wherever my sister goes, bring her lost twins," Misha laughed.
Panchi glared her for a moment and then played with puppy "haha so funny right, Mistiv?"
"Where did you find this new one? From Circus?" Misha asked.
Misha looked at the puppy and made funny faces as if he would understand her.
"He looks like you," Misha teased Panchi.
Piya giggled looking at them while Madhu shook her head.
"Just shut up okay?" Panchi glared her "Don't trouble him," Panchi patted the puppy
"Did you see Piya, she love her twins so much," Misha laughed.
"But he's cute Misha," Piya said looking at the puppy.
"See," Panchi stood proudly.
Piya patted the puppy lovingly and admired him.
"By the way who's she Misha?" Madhu asked looking up from the work she was doing.
"She is my new friend," Misha grinned "Piya."
Piya passed a polite smile. "Hi aunty."
"Nice to meet you," Madhu smiled acknowledging her greet "don't go before party, okay?"
"Don't worry mom, I won't let her go..." Misha smiled sweetly "I can take care of my friends, you focus on your birdie"
Madhu warned her with eyes. Misha chuckled.
Feeling a little uncomfortable, Piya busied herself with the little puppy which Panchi gladly allowed.
"Piya, if you like you can take any of my dress." Panchi offered.
"Don't worry about her, okay loser?" Misha rolled her eyes
"You won't find any nice dress in Misha wardrobe," Panchi gritted still talking to Piya but looking towards Misha
"Well I have lot of dresses better than your Barbie dresses.... She'll wear my dress" Misha said "besides, she isn't fatty like you, so she can't wear your size."
Panchi huffed at her while Piya suppressed her smile adoring their bickering.
"Let's go Piya... I'll show you really nice dresses," Misha held Piya hand glaring at Panchi
Piya shook her head with a smile as Misha dragged her towards her room.
"You'll faint if you'll see her dresses... They all are same... Okay almost same.... And they all are pink... Like seriously? She loves to be a Barbie." Misha said entering in her room.
Piya chuckled and entered in the room. Her eyes widened looking at the room. Till now she saw everything clean and tidy, despite the preparation going for function but Misha's room seemed so out of place, like it belonged to another dimension.
The clothes spread everywhere. Socks, towel and dresses everything was out of place and everywhere.
"Misha did you ever place the things on right place?" Piya asked.
"Don't start like mom now" Misha frowned.
"And its fun to throw things around... Messy room gives home-y feeling... C'mon even college is clean na." Misha grinned at her own philosophy.
"C'mon now let's find a dress for you," Misha said opening her almirah.
Misha pulled out lot of dresses and threw them on bed, spreading them them so they could be seen clearly.
"Did you ever wear them?" Piya was surprised to see them sparkling like right out of the shop.
"Nope. Actually dad gift me dresses on my birthdays in a hope that I'll wear them one day, but its not my cup of tea so you can choose whichever you like and become the nice daughter of my father." Misha grinned
Misha had her own way with things.
"I guess this one is better for you... Other seems just too much..." Misha said picking up a simple navy blue dress.
"What do you say?" Misha asked, showing the dress.
It was knee length party dress. She liked the dress. It seemed decent as compared to other dresses which were too showy and heavy for her taste.
Piya smiled giving her approval.
"Done then." Misha grinned "here get ready."
Misha threw the dress towards Piya. It fell on her face. She pulled it from her face and looked at Misha who smiled cheekily.
Piya shook her head ending up with a smile herself.
Piya got ready in the dress. The dress fitted her perfectly. She put on a lip gloss on her lips and combed her hair. She left them open just as she liked them. She looked at herself in mirror to check herself for one last time.
Satisfied by her preparation, she decided to check over Misha when wind entered the room from the open window and played with her silky hair. She looked at the window feeling an attraction towards the darkness of night, awaiting on the other side of window.
Following the pull, she walked towards window. Standing by the window gave her the feeling of someone's presence like someone was watching her.
She leaned over and observed the surroundings. A strange feeling enveloped her.
"Is there someone?" She asked but was met with silence.
"What's the thing in this city? Why the wind keep on changing? Why do I feel like.. Like there's something in it... Some pain... Some tragedy... Which the wind carry" Piya said softly
It was the wind of his emotions, his pain as he watched her from the distance, keeping tabs on her wellbeing.
Piya closed the window feeling something deep in her heart stirring. She looked through the window one last time and walked outside the room.
She leaned on the railing looking downstairs. Party had started and guests were arriving. She observed every guest trying to find someone who wasn't even present. She heard Misha and looked towards her.
Piya couldn't understand what Misha was saying in the sign language so Misha walked upstairs.
"What are you doing here?" Misha asked. "come downstairs... Party is going there not here"
"Ah... Yes I were coming only..." Piya trailed off looking downstairs
"Were you finding someone?" Misha asked drinking water.
"Actually Ruhi was saying that everyone is here so I thought if he..." Piya shrugged.
"He?" Misha was confused but soon realised. " Oh your Krish. Go and see in forest, he must be hanging on some tree." Misha laughed.
"C'mon Misha he saved my life so I'm obliged to express some gratitude" Piya said, annoyed by her words.
She had seen him, felt his touch. He was very much real not some illusion.
"So? Express it in your dreams... he meet you there na," Misha giggled.
"Misha he is real not my imagination" Piya said, looking away angrily.
"Okay fine," Misha said carelessly.
Piya sighed and followed her downstairs.
Misha walked towards Panchi who was standing with her boyfriend.
"Hey star jodi. If you want to romance then go somewhere else, it's party time not romance time," Misha taunted pointing at their entwined hands.
"What's wrong with you?" Panchi glared.
"Danish, she's Piya," Misha introduced
Danish smiled at Piya. "Hi"
"Piya he's loser," Misha said pointing towards Danish.
Danish smile vanished.
"He likes my sister so obviously his taste is bad and he is loser," Misha laughed.
"Sshhh Misha. Silence. Zip." Danish said animating zipping the lips.
"See he don't want his so well known secret to be told." Misha continued laughing.
"Misha," Panchi shook her head
"I know I'm great thank you birdie" Misha said proudly.
Piya giggled watching Misha antics. She couldn't get enough of her banters.
"Oh yucky T," Misha made face on seeing T entering the party
"OMG. Breath Panchi breath." Panchi murmured fanning herself much to Piya confusion.
"She was once behind Danish" Misha whispered to Piya explaining Panchi's reaction.
"Hello darling congratulations on your Daddy's birthday etc etc" T said in her bimbo style.
Panchi made face at her over attitude. Misha took a glass filled with juice from the counter and spilled it on T dress.
"What the freak?" T shouted, looking at her ruined dress.
"Oops etc etc" Misha mimicked her and ended up with laughter followed by Danish and Panchi.
T watched them with anger. Ignoring her, they all made their way away from her.
Piya was trailing behind watching around, feeling out of place, when T stopped her much to her confusion.
"Listen you orphan what do you think you can laugh at me or do anything with Misha? Don't give yourself so much importance. You may have reached here but you doesn't belong here. It's just Dobriyal's habit to keep stray things. Once Misha will be bored of you, she won't even look at you. So don't try to fly high or play with me." T insulted her.
"How could you?" Piya gritted feeling angry.
"Just stay in your limits and get lost, no one wants you here because you are so unwanted that even your parents left you" T said.
Piya felt every word as a sharp knife piercing her heart. The last words were too harsh for her, reminding her the part of her past that was her turning point. She felt insulted and hurt to hear such words against her.
Tears filled her eyes. Overwhelmed by her feelings, she couldn't speak a word. She turned around not wanting to make a scene.
Burdened by her feelings, she rushed outside the place so no one would know her pain.
Aimlessly, drowned in her pain with a yearning for parents, she walked in the forest. The fog hugged her and the wind caressed her as if comforting her.
After the tears dried out of her eyes, she noticed her surrounding only to realise she was in an unknown side of forest.
Wiping her tears, she looked for the way out. It seemed like a maze. Every path was unknown and seemed to go deeper.
"Where should I go?" She whispered feeling lost.
Last time, it was a straight path but now she had no idea where to go. A strange voice filled the air.
Hoping for someone to be around, she followed the voices to find the source and saw a man doing something.
It was too dark to understand who he was and what was he doing. But she did see the blurry tattoo that she was now too familiar with. Without knowing the reason, she felt relief to see him when lost in the wilderness.
She thought to ask for his help but before she even took a step towards him, he jerked around. His swiftness took her by surprise. As icy grey eyes stared her, she felt accusations in them, like they were talking to her and accusing her for something she herself wasn't aware of.
"Excuse me," She called meekly.
"Leave." He said with intensity in her deep voice that scared her.
She was rooted to the ground unable to fathom what to do. Wasn't he the man who helped her and she felt so close to?
"I said leave," he spoke again, sternly and arrogantly.
Scared by his rudeness, she didn't speak a word and ran from there. When on a considerable distance, she stopped leaning on the tree feeling out of breath.
Piya closed her eyes, leaning her head on the tree bark to catch her breath. She felt something strange and opened her eyes only to meet with the icy grey ones. She gasped hitting the bark of tree, shocked to find him so close to her and so soon.
"Go away from here." He gritted "What were you seeing huh? Next time don't even try to come in my way and... here"
The deep darkness in his eyes scared her. There was something different in them tonight, different than the last time.
As much they gave her peace last time, they were filling her with terror now. She tried to look at his face but it was covered in the darkness. The wind intensified, forcing her to look away as her hair stung her eyes.
The wind calmed sooner than it intensified and when she looked back for him, he was gone with the wind. There was no trace of his presence like he vanished in thin air.
"What's the mystery of this place? Why does it feel so dark and deep? Sometimes peaceful and sometimes scary..." Piya whispered looking around the forest
She sighed and focused her mind to find the way out of the forest. The voice of racing cars made it easier for her to locate the way out of forest.
Coming out of the forest, she was surprised to see the hostel just beyond the road.
"A shortcut?" She questioned no one eyeing the thick forest without knowing she was just helped by the person who was rude to her but had helped her last time too.
She brushed the question, grateful of her fate to help her in most unique way. She checked the time and realized, she was just on time from being locked out to pass the curfew.
It wasn't fate though. He leaned on tree, eyes shut while he felt her every movement and direct her to safety.
She changed into her night dress and lay on the bed. As she turned her head, her eyes fell on the window from where the forest beyond was visible. She was reminded of his eyes. She couldn't understand where he disappeared and what were his eyes saying to her when he was being so rude.
"Who is he?" She whispered "Why do I always meet him? Just like the changing wind of this place, he keep on coming from no where and disappearing as quickly as he come... His eyes always tells a different story... Whenever I see him, he is different than before...
What's his reality?"
Lost in her thoughts, she didn't realize when sleep took over her.
.
As soon Piya entered the college, she met Misha waiting eagerly for her.
"You are late" Misha said "I was coming to your hostel now."
"Sorry... " Piya apologised with sheepish smile
"I should've been late for partying till late but look who is late? Who left the party even before it started " Misha was annoyed
Piya realized Misha was upset of her early departure.
"Misha actually...." Piya was hesitant not really sure how to tell Misha about T's hurtful words and her emotions which just overpowered her
"No need" Misha stopped her "I know everything... Ruhi told me about T... But I don't understand why did you leave? I mean it was my party, my home, who was T in it? Why did you even listen to her? You should've told me, at least, I would've seen that bimbo myself"
Piya smiled feeling the warmth of her friendship.
"Its okay, Mish" Piya said, she was over the bimbo.
"What okay?" Misha asked. "you don't even know roads here. What if you have got lost? And how did you reach hostel? You didn't even had ride."
Piya was reminded of last night event. Something she thought she shouldn't tell Misha. It was so bizarre that Misha would just laugh it off.
His mystery was just hers to know.
"I'm fine, see" Piya said putting up a huge smile. "you said it yourself na, I have really lucky stars, so what can happen to me?"
"Oh yeah right. Your lucky stars." Misha shook her head.
"Next time I'll beat you instead of T, if you did such stupid emotional act." Misha said, acting to punch her.
Piya laughed to lighten the atmosphere.
"Okies" Piya said "shall we go in now?"
"Where are students today? College seems almost empty" Piya asked noticing fewer students walking around.
"Oh yes, auditions for different clubs has started for fresher's. Everyone is busy taking part in their favourite department." Misha explained.
"There are two kinds of club. One is cool like singing, dancing, acting and so on. The other one is boring with some study involved like writing and all...." Misha said ending with a dry tone.
"So which one you'll select?" Misha asked with playful smile.
"Of course the cool one," Piya said knowing what she wanted to hear, she might've chose the nerdy stuff but not today.
Misha grinned.
"That's like my friend."
They hi-fived.
"So where first?" Misha asked.
"Singing." Piya grinned, singing was her favorite but she didn't practice it much.
"Nice." Misha said impressed
They walked in the audition room and saw a guy singing, no actually, shouting in the name of singing. They looked at each other and shook their head.
Misha pointed towards Kabir noting down something. Misha walked towards Kabir and asked him about the procedure.
"Go to T," Kabir said shortly, showing signs of weariness.
"T?" Misha scrunched her nose "okay where's she?"
"She's not here?" Kabir looked around surprised.
"Then go to Sam Pam... Its their job enrolling names and explaining procedure." Kabir told
Misha nodded and turned to Piya.
"Well its good T isn't here... She is too jealous of you to let you audition so easily... But be careful of her minions" Misha said.
"I'll be fine" Piya smiled, she didn't think it would go wrong.
She walked towards Sam and Pam. They explained her procedure after making lot of faces but let Piya enrolled her name without fuss.
She waited for her turn excited to sing after so long. Her turn came sooner than she expected.
"Best of luck." Misha grinned
Piya went on stage. She closed her eyes and took deep breath. She sang an english song from Titanic named My Heart will go on. The lyrics, she didn't know why, painted a picture of His eyes in her mind.
"Stop it." The shout pulled her out of the spell of music playing with her thoughts.
T was red in anger, throwing daggers in her way.
Piya looked around to understand what went wrong. Misha too stood clueless.
"Are you dumb? How can you break the rules just like that huh?" T shouted. "Didn't Sam Pam explain to you that only hindi songs are allowed that too the selected one?"
Piya shook her head. "They didn't...." She tried to speak
"Shut up now," T continued shouting. "Don't lie. You middle class orphans have the habit of imposing your own will..."
Piya wanted to shout back at her for her words but felt too upset to say anything.
T turned to her minions. "Sam Pam show her the songs that are left. Or else show her the way out."
Sam and Pam came running with the list. They showed Piya the song which was the only one left.
"You have to dance with song too... Who knows you start to cry once again that you didn't know." T insulted her further.
"I cannot sing this song," Piya said trying to calm herself as she felt anger in her every vein due to T.
"Sorry babes you don't have choice." Sam and Pam shrugged.
Piya looked at T and seeing the smirk on her face, she couldn't control her anger. T was doing this on purpose to insult her, she understood that much.
"I'm sorry I cannot sing this type of disgusted songs, if you want you can do it yourself, since it suit you well, but I have some morals so spare me. I'll go for something else." Piya said, anger keeping her voice strong.
"For everyone else..." Piya looked at the people present. "The song is 'Kanta Laga'... Perhaps, T's favourite that's why suddenly she wants to hear just this song and no alternative that too with actions... I guess she can do it better than anyone else."
T turned pale as all eyes turned to her in the silence of hall.
"How dare you..." T gritted, she wanted to say something but stopped seeing Misha standing proudly with Piya.
"I can dare, just like you can say whatever shit you like... And listen, I don't lie but people like you, the spoilt brat from rich family knows how to lie and play with someone's feelings" Piya said showing T her place, she wanted to do this so much after last night.
"You don't have any place here so leave." T gritted.
"I'm not dying to be here either." Piya retorted.
Piya barged out from audition room with Misha following her.
"Hey you did awesome." Misha patted her on shoulder. "Both in song and insults."
Piya smiled weakly. She didn't want to do it but that girl forced her.
"She deserved it." Misha encouraged her.
"I know" Piya said looking down, the opportunity for singing gone.
Just then police came to them stopping them in their tracks. They were confused to see police in college.
"Miss Piyashree Jaiswal, right?" Inspector looked at Piya directly.
Piya looked towards Misha who was as confused as her. Turning back to inspector, she nodded slowly.
"You are under arrest," Inspector said showing the handcuffs.
"What? But why?" Piya was shocked to say the least.
A fear clutched her heart unable to understand the new mess in her life.
Current Affairs
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