(Original & Copyrighted)
Chapter 32
The soft blue glow of the bed light, the cozy, warm sheets and the additional cushions she had taken to bed with her - none of them could coax sleep into Anu's wide-open eyes. She had too many questions and too few answers. Anu's fingers played restlessly with the tassels of the lampshade at her bed-side. What would he have thought of her? Why had she behaved foolishly-like an immature, gauche teenager! Scared to go down the steps- not knowing the drink wasn't even alcoholic!
And, the way she'd behaved on the terrace! What had come over her? What must Rajat have thought?
Anu sat up in bed and hugged a cushion to her. She remembered his face-his cheeks and his lips-the way her fingers had travelled over his face . Anu's face burned with the memory! What kind of girls behaved like that! What must he be thinking of her! Let alone him, she had shocked herself. So, swamped was her mind with the feelings of shock and embarrassment that it didn't occur to her to analyse Rajat's conduct. It didn't cross her mind that Rajat had come close to her too.
As she thought over them again and again, the events of the evening muddled themselves in Anu's head. Soon, no single event was clear enough to stand out distinctly. All that remained was Rajat's face, his eyes, his lips on her fingers and her forehead. A small voice, coming straight from her heart told her that he hadn't minded her behaviour, he was not thinking ill of her. He could not.
Besides, he was not a silly person like her. He was sensible and mature. By now, he had probably got onto doing other things. This evening's date and her silly behaviour would be relegated to the back of his mind.
"Go to bed..." Anu could hear Rajat's voice-its warm tones dissolving into her mind , wiping away all thoughts and doubts. Slowly, Anu lay back and closed her eyes. By the time she fell asleep she was convinced that by tomorrow morning, Rajat would have totally forgotten all about the date this evening.
Sareen's eyes opened wide and his jaw dropped with astonishment,
"Now? You're going to the gym now? So late in the night ?"
In all these years , Sareen had never known his nephew to work out at any time other than the early mornings. Of course, Rajat was a member of a gym and spa that was open late into the night, but he hardly used it.
Rajat looked dazed for a moment, "Umm, actually, I've been missing my training for a few days, so got to catch up, Uncle!" With that, he was gone. Sareen stood in the living room and heard Rajat's bike roar and speed away.
A couple of hours later, Rajat came back. His Uncle and Aunt had gone to bed. Sareen House was quiet. Both floors of it. For a moment, he stood at the gate and stared at the windows of the top floor. A game of squash and a long swim had failed to prepare his mind for sleep.
As he lay on his bed, Rajat told himself that he should be happy, very happy- that things were going exactly as he would want them too. Whether she said it or not, whether she knew it or not-Anu was in love with him. As much as he was in love with her.
He ought to be over the moon. But he wasn't. In fact, he was miserable. He just couldn't stop feeling her swan-like neck under his finger tips. The soft hollow above her collar bones- the tremble and the gasp in her throat when he touched her! Her astonished eyes as he picked up her soft, doll-like frame and the innocence with which she continued to stand in his arms- as he set her down-their bodies so close .
Rajat was totally proud of himself that he'd managed to let her go. He'd actually pushed her into her house. What else could he do? She was certainly not helping-standing as she was-her eyes fixed on his face, her dupatta entwined with his arm, her hands still on his shoulders-though he had set her on the floor. For a moment Rajat felt as though the air-conditioner in his room had breathed out some of her intoxicating aroma . It was pure misery to let her go and yet he'd had to. Rajat had a sudden urge to throw open all the doors- to call out to his Uncle ,her Dad and the whole world and tell them that Anushka Shastri was his!
It was Minty's weekly day for special pooja. She had woken up early and bathed. As she performed the Pooja, Sareen sat in the living room, looking through the newspaper, "Good morning son" Sareen said as Rajat stepped out, "What's this? Going jogging, again? Aren't you tired after last night?" Sareen looked at Rajat with incredulity.
"Jogging is good both for the body & mind Uncle!" said Rajat.
Minty called out to Rajat, asking him to come in, bow his head and make a prayer.
"God, save the world from innocent beauties" Rajat muttered quietly as he bowed his head before heading out of the pooja room and on to his jog.
After much deliberation, Anushka had chosen to wear the burgundy and black sleeveless churidaar set. The stark black chiffon dupatta and the small maroon studs she wore-really suited her. She made her make up a little more pronounced than usual. She'd wanted to look different. A semi-conscious anxiety had crawled into her mind this morning-what if Rajat was disappointed with her, her immaturity and lack of experience? From now on, she wanted to look attractive and mature. Now, looking in the mirror , she knew she looked good.
His hair was still damp from the shower, slicking it back smoothly, Rajat pulled on his white shirt and jeans. He had hurried with his breakfast as well and so he was unpleasantly surprised to hear his Uncle and Anu's Dad talking -their conversation included an allusion to Anu leaving for college a few minutes ago. Making his excuses quickly, Rajat came out and made his way briskly towards the route Anu took every day.
Chapter 33
The shady garden path in the church yard felt exceptionally still and quiet this morning. The fragrances of jasmine and magnolia dominated the garden-air . The grass looked a bit dry from yesterday's heat . The gentle tinkle from the sprinkler set up by the gardener combined with the low hum of a distant bee making the silence and the solitude even more pronounced.
Hearing something, Anu turned around abruptly . Catching her foot in a sprawling bougainvillea bush , she tripped but didn't fall. As suddenly as she had tripped, she was back on her feet and found herself looking into the crisp whiteness of Rajat's shirt. He had caught her just in time.
Anu looked up at Rajat .The question -as to how he suddenly appeared here and why -was written over her lovely ,shocked face.
He saw the question but didn't answer her. Instead, he relieved her of her books and said a quiet "Good morning"
If he hadn't been wearing sunglasses, Anu would have seen the naughty look in his eyes. In front of him at last was the object of his night-long thoughts and longing . All night he'd longed for a glimpse of her and she was wearing a surprised look- as though she didn't expect to see him today!
"Give me back my books, you don't have to carry them!" Surprise at his sudden appearance mixed with embarrassment about her behaviour yesterday. She uttered the words without looking at him.
"Alright! You can have your books" Rajat returned her books to her, "But then , I'm going to carry you!"
In the flash of a second, he had scooped her up into his arms and was striding down the path to the college.
Gripping her books and purse with one hand, Anu held on to his shoulder with another.
"What are you doing?! Put me down!" Anu's voice was a tiny yelp, she was still not looking at him.
He continued walking .
"Please Rajat, put me down! What if someone sees us ?"
Anu was looking up into his face , with an expression of panic and dismay.
He slowed down and set her neatly on the garden bench .
"Why did you do that?" Anu said crossly. Rajat sat down beside her and taking off his sunglasses, folded them into his pocket,
" I thought it would be better to carry you-in case the effects of last night's drinks hadn't worn off!"
Colour rushed into Anu's face . She stood up at once and was about to say that she was getting late when Rajat's hand shot out and he pulled her down beside himself.
Anu faced him with a tiny frown, "Why didn't you tell me it was non-alcoholic champagne?"
"I didn't say that it was alcoholic" Rajat's eyes took in the sight of her lovely thoughtful face as she struggled to remember if he had said anything at all about the champagne.
"Did I?" Rajat raised an eyebrow.
"I don't know-" Anu murmured half to herself, and half to him, "I mean , I may not have heard.. ..when you're around my heart beats so violently, I can't hear what I'm saying -let alone what you..." The words were out before she could stop her lips from verbalising her thoughts.
Anu's hands fluttered like butterflies in her lap , she looked at Rajat and quickly looked away.
Rajat took both her hands into his clasp and said quietly, "So does mine Anushka . Only, I can hear , see and remember every little thing that happens between us "
Anu was looking at him, her eyes large in her face, "I just...just want you to know that I'm not like this...I haven't behaved like this or been so foolish ever before or with anyone, I..." She had wanted to explain something to him but now when she tried to do so, she herself did not know what it was.
Softly, he kissed one of her hands first and then another, "I know".
A sudden thought flickered in her eyes, "Is this how girls are supposed to behave on their first dates? Have other girls behaved like this with you? I am not your first date, am I?"
Rajat looked up at that . After a pause, he said quietly, "No. No, I have gone out on dates before. But you are like no other. So, this is my first time too-in a lot of very important ways."
They walked together, hand in hand till they reached the very edge of the church yard. Across the narrow bendy road, the rear-side of the college campus was visible. They lingered for a moment saying goodbyes.
Some distance along the road, a taxi came to a smooth stop. Today, the driver had taken her car for valeting and Mrs Akhtar had to book a taxi to get to work. The taxi driver had driven in a round- about route and approached the college from its rear side . So, an irritated Mrs Akhtar had to get off at the rear entrance of the college which was hardly used-except by occasional pedestrians.
Mrs Akhtar paid the taxi driver and turning round , caught sight of something which made her eyebrows shoot above her sunglasses. A few yards away, standing hand in hand with a tall young man was Anushka Shastri.
Smiling ,talking in hushed tones and laughing a little-it was clear that Anu was not aware of anything or anyone other than him. The young man's back was facing Mrs Akhtar. She couldn't see his face clearly but of one thing she was sure, he was not Shaurya Rai!
Edited by LoneSoldier - 10 years ago
Geet - Hui Sabse Parayee
Advocate Anjali Awasthi
