FF: Lootera ~ Last Chapter on page- 85~ - Page 5

3rd Part:

Thapki couldn't express the relief or happiness she was feeling right now. She followed Bihaan's lead through the dark forest, walking as fast as she could in her high heels, though the rotten leaves which formed the forest floor was making it difficult to walk with dignity. The forest was so dense in this part, one couldn't see the light of the day, but Bihaan didn't seem to find any problem in that. He kept walking changing directions every now and then as if he knew this forest like back of his hand.

"Bihaan you remembered everything, d-didn't you? You remembered me, our love" Thapki exclaimed excitedly. Bihaan didn't answer and kept walking; he was still holding Thapki's hand...her wrist to be exact, in a very impersonal hold which was making Thapki a bit skeptical, also his cold demeanour since walking out of the den.

"Bihaan, where are we g-going?" "Bihaan what is this yellow tree?" "Bihaan, look at these b-beautiful hedgehogs, so cute" "Bihaan, a b-b-butterfly just came and sat on my head...look look l-l-look" Bihaan kept quiet all through her questions and babblings. However, Thapki kept her one sided conversation going.

"B-Bihaan, can you walk a little slowly p-please? I can't walk so fast in these s-s-sandals" Bihaan gave her a contemptuous look and kept walking...but albeit a little slower.

"We have to leave this place before it gets darker. Jungle is not a good place to be at twilight which will be soon" Bihaan said.

"Why what h-happens at twilight? It is not like y-you need a light or something it's already d-dark and you are walking through it as if you are walking in b-b-broad daylight----" before Thapki could finish the jungle reverberated in a chilling, deep, prolonged roar of an animal. Thapki jumped into Bihaan and wrapped her hands around his arm.

"Woh-woh-woh kya tha?" Thapki said clutching him harder.

Bihaan hid a smile and tried to release himself from her clinging arms.

"Daaro maat Madam, he is our friendly neighbourhood tiger probably waking up from his sleep."

"I am not sc-sc-sc-scared at all" Thapki said gripping Bihaan's hand hard.

Bihaan gave her a oh really look.

"Y-y-yes" Thapki said as she hurried behind Bihaan now trying to leave this place as fast as she could. "Yes, I know you will never let anything h-happen to me so I am not scared of those a-animals"

"You are right it's not the animals you should be scared of."

Thapki came to an abrupt halt.

"What can be scarier than tigers?" Please god don't let it be ghosts, don't let it be ghosts. Thapki crossed her fingers mentally.

"ME"

"Oh" Thapki heaved a heavy sigh of relief and started to walk again. Bihaan was aghast seeing her complete disregard of taking the threat seriously.

"Do you know where am I taking you? Or what I am going to do with you?"

Thapki waved her hand in a gesture oh please as if it was not important. Bihaan was astounded, he was THE RAJA DAKU...the villagers piss themselves hearing his name...but this girl...she was pretending as if he was a big fluffy teddy bear or something always trying to cuddle. Maybe he should show her his real face...soon.

About 30 minutes or so of walking they came to a stream, which had quite a bit of current. Bihaan went to the mossy bank and took out a huge round basket from under some shrubs and plants. No one could have known there was anything under those plants. Is it supposed to be a boat? Thapki's throat became dry.

"Get in" Bihaan asked Thapki and she did without question. Before Thapki could compose herself Bihaan pushed the basket into the water and hopped into it himself and began to row it with an oar. Thapki closed her eyes in fright.

Bihaan looked at the girl huddled in the basket scared stiff in fright but still not a complaint came out of her. She had been walking in the forest since past 1 hour in that ridiculous high heels of hers in gruesome speed, through insects, snakes and rotting vegetation; but still not a single complaint except for once when she asked to slow down a bit. Wow Impressive. He would like to see how long a city slicker like her could remain that way...not complaining.

After journeying through the stream for quite a bit of time, they alighted; and walked some more and came across a village. Thapki remembered this village; she had come to this village before, showing people Bihaan's picture asking them whether they have seen this man before in any form. All of them had vehemently denied. All of them lied to her but now knowing the situation she really didn't blame them. They must be scared of Bihaan's supposedly "Daku" status.

Now they were all averting their faces looking anywhere but at them. Few people scurried here and there in fright. Some brave ones came in front and greeted Bihaan. Bihaan didn't even deign them with any acknowledgement. He kept walking still holding Thapki's wrist.

They passed the village eventually and Bihaan kept walking again into the direction of dense forest. And that was when it happened; Thapki fell down into the ground sprawled in an awkward position.

"I am okay" Thapki reassured Bihaan as she stood taking his support. The moment she tried to step she fell again and Bihaan hold her before she could hit the ground.

"Don't worry, I can w-walk...just let me -"

"Shut up" Bihaan said as he crouched down and inspected Thapki's ankle. He was feeling guilty which he didn't want to admit. He had purposefully taken the longest route making the girl walk so much in those ridiculous sandals.

"I don't think it is b-broken" Thapki said feeling embarrassed because Bihaan was holding her ankle and running his fingers through it.

"Shut up, let me inspect."

Thapki kept quiet.

"Hmm it's not broken; it will be fine by tomorrow. Can you walk?"

Thapki tried taking an experimental step and pain shot through her but she remained standing. Thapki nodded her head and gave a small smile instead.

"Yes , yes I can walk don't w-worry." Bihaan looked at the girl's pretty face; she was lying through her teeth. Her eyes were teary in pain but she was still smiling. Bihaan stood and picked her up in his strong arms before she could take the next step on her own.

"It is not far from here. Let me carry you" Bihaan said not meeting her eyes.

Thapki nodded, wound her arms around his neck and rested her head on his shoulders. She sighed in pleasure of being so close to Bihaan again. She brought her nose close to his neck and took a whiff. He smelt of the clean forest, wood smoke and of a scent which was essentially HIM. Thapki nuzzled her nose to his neck to which he stiffened but kept walking. Thapki would recognise his smell anywhere in this world she closed her eyes in contentment hugging him closer.

Dusk has already fallen and Thapki could see the dark purplish sky in between the trees directly above. At last Bihaan stopped in front of a small ramshackle hut in the middle of the forest. A small area was cleared around the hut but no one could find this place unless one knew about it.

"Is this where you live?" Thapki asked.

"Yes--home sweet home" Bihaan said with a sardonic smile ready for her to break down into tears seeing where he brought her.

"It is beautiful" Thapki said as she looked around.

Bihaan rolled his eyes at her lack of complaint and took her inside the room and deposited her in a cot which served as the bed. He moved to light a lamp.

"Are you hungry? Do you want me to cook something for you?"Thapki said looking around the room; a small wooden almirah, clothes and stuffs thrown in disarray around the room, a broken mirror hanging in one of the walls, a table in the corner and this bed.

"No I am not...but if you are, there are some fluffed rice in one the pots in the kitchen" Bihaan said as he hung the lamp.

"Where is it---the kitchen?"

"It's the small shade outside"

"okay"

Bihaan turned to leave.

"Where are you going?" Thapki said and stood up in panic. He couldn't be planning to dump her here alone?

"I am going to take a shower. Do you have any problem with that?"Bihaan said exasperatedly.

"No---go on."

While Bihaan was away, Thapki examined each and every crook of the room limping through it, and quickly picked up his clothes. She collected the unwashed plates and glasses and took them outside to wash them later. Only God knew since when those were lying in the room. She went through his almirah, running her hand through his few clothes all in dark colours. She opened the drawers in the table and went through its meagre contents. She went in front of the mirror and almost screamed seeing her own reflection.

She looked a mess like a scarecrow. Kajal smudged, her nose red, her hair a bird's nest, leaves and what not stuck into it, something sticky was staining her cheek, must be some kind of sap from the trees. No wonder Bihaan was acting so distant with her; she looked awful. She quickly began to tidy herself up. She needed to look pretty for her Bihaan. She was sure it was only matter of days before he would remember and fall in love with her again. She brushed her long hair with his comb trying to bring some order in her appearance.

Bihaan came back after few minutes freshly showered wearing a black vest. The thread he usually wore around his chest was missing. If he saw she cleaned the room up he didn't utter anything. He crossed the room and plopped into the bed.

"WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU DOING?"Bihaan shot to sit up in his bed.

"You said you had an h-headache, I was just trying to make you f-feel better. You l-love my massages"

"Noo---I don't have one anymore. Get away from me...stay away from me"

"Okay--what do you want me to do n-now?"

"Do whatever you want... just stay away from me, and let me sleep so that I can think again."

"Yes, you haven't s-s-slept in three days...you look tired...s-sleep now" Thapki wanted to run her fingers through his hair, the way he loved so much but controlled herself.

After 30 minutes...

"WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU DOING?"Bihaan shouted...again.

"I am sleeping t-too."

"What are you doing in my bed?"

"Where else would I s-s-sleep? There is only one bed in h-here"

"I don't know, anywhere...in the floor or in the forest...get out of this bed."

Thapki slipped from the bed pouting. She wanted to argue with him but he looked so tired and haggard. She thought he had fallen asleep, but apparently he had not.

Next morning:

Bihaan woke up feeling so contented he almost purred. He hadn't had such a good deep sleep since he didn't know when. He felt he was wrapped in a cocoon of bliss lying amidst a cloud. He nuzzled his head deeper into his warm pillow. It was so soft and warm and smelt divine.

SOFT? WARM? His lumpy bed??

Bihaan shot his eyes open and almost had a heart attack. It was not a pillow he was nuzzling and hugging but the girl's bosom; she was still in a deep slumber and their bodies were literally wrapped around each other. Bihaan carefully extracted himself away from the bed, not waking her up and hopped outside.

He couldn't believe it. The best sleep he ever had and that too in her arms? He rubbed his hands over his face trying to clear the cobwebs in his mind. Yesterday he was too tired to think about the turn his life suddenly took. Today he had to make a decision and fast. He looked at the beautiful girl still sleeping her innocent's sleep. How could he forget such a beautiful face? What happened that almost lead to his death? Who wanted to kill him so brutally? Should he even want to know his past life? Why he felt he was not worthy of this girl even in his past life??

He looked at her again. What should he do now?? What she wanted to do now?? He had come a long way since his almost death and he was not sure he wanted to go back.

4th Part