"Ahh!Uhh...'' Naina sucked her finger; writhing in suppressed agony. Though Sameer's attention was undivided since the time the whole thing had transpired;still those short, occasional wails from her was enough to disturb him and throw a quick glance at the finger,at her...again.
Sameer and Naina had been sent by a firm associated with VJN to conduct a survey on fooding and nutrition of children of disadvantaged group in a rural area.Little did they know that soon they were going face disadvantages of not preparing enough for the 3 days trip.
"Bhaiya!Ek balloon dena.'' A slim boy, yet well built asked confidently to the chemist at the counter.Few people threw glares which rendered Naina confused while Sameer seemed more interested in studying the composition of antiseptic cream they were going to buy.
"Bhaiya!Achi wali dena.Phat na jaaye beech mein.Gadbad ho jaayega.'' The boy specified and Naina was more curious to know as other than party balloons which balloon was available in a medicine shop.By the glares and shock of fellow customers she had gauged that it was not simply a medicine or drug.And the exchange of words showed apparently the customer boy and the middle-aged chemist were unknown to each other.It was perhaps the boy's first visit to the shop just like them.
"Latex chahiye ya non-latex?'' The chemist asked as he pulled out several boxes from a very low cabinet.
"Latex de dijiye.Waise oil content jyada nahin hona chahiye.Sasti wali mat dijiye.Foreign ka kuch maal hai to dijiye.'' The boy seemed more confident with growing time and the glares from the few customers still present in the shop was increasing too.Naina noticed how the assistant boy,seemingly a teenager was suppresing his smiles while catering to other customers.She threw a quick glance at Sameer,only to find him fidgeting with the band aid strips and reading the composition of cough syrup bottles.
"Yeh lo..Naya maal hai.Thodi mehengi hai lekin acha hai.''The chemist said handing him over two three samples.The boy keenly studied the wrapper ;before agreeing upon two varieties.The chemist asked him to wait a bit as he sent the assistant boy to fetch the other variety from stock room.
"Hi!Aap log kahan se hein?'' The boy asked Sameer as Sameer and him waited for their prescribed items to arrive.
"Hum Ahmedabad se hein.Field trip pe.''Sameer clarified and the boy nodded understandingly.
"Aap kahan se hein?'' Sameer asked trying to prolong the conversation and he was absolutely hating the embarrassing environment that was slowly creeping.
"Main Delhi se hoon.Company ke kaam se .''The boy parted with a brief information about him.Naina saw the chemist hand over a silver packet and the boy quickly grabbed it.There were few nods and paper notes;exchanged and the boy left.
Naina had so many questions yet no language came to her rescue.How could she ask what it was and especially why the environment had suddenly given her a feel of a harlot visiting it. She knew;she was certain Sameer had answers.
"Naina!Hum kuch kha lete hein bus 4 baje aayegi.''Sameer spoke a single line to break the silence since the time they had returned back from the chemist's shop.He could gauge Naina had so many questions but he chose to keep shut till she feels like sharing it with him. It was not about sharing,it was more about being completely at ease with each other ,completely belonging to each other.
They had a frugal lunch at a thatched dhaba.The owner was generous in serving them more when he got to know of the village they had to travel back.He had his own tales to share about the dhaba and the villages nearby.Naina had completely forgotten the chemist shop events and was engrossed in tales of the dhaba owner.Sameer took up the opportunity to force down a rolled piece of roti ;bathed in paneer makhani into her half opened mouth.The gravy trickled down her lips;causing a tickling sensation and he wiped away making her blush. He sipped the gravy from his thumb.Naina gasped and the owner remained astounded.Sameer flashed a smile before nudging her out of reverie and bringing back the owner to his own back self.
Later,Naina went down the steps of the dhaba ,slightly miffed with his public display of affection.However ,Sameer kept a close watch on her and clung to her till they reached the bus stand in crowded market place.
Sameer looked triumphant with Naina secure at his side in the bus and prepared himself to be engaged in a small talk.The bus passed through another market and climbed the other bank of river,splashing water.The driver displayed immense self-assurance and drove with a reckless gusto.Passengers were tossed sideways and jolted up and down,but no one minded except Naina.''Kaise bus chala rahen hein?''
"Behenji!Gareebon ka desh hai.Aise hi bus chalta hai yahan.'' The conductor said in a rehearsed way and successfully earned a glare from Naina.''Gareebon ka desh hai isliye kya kya chiz paise deke kharid lete hein.Foreign maal chahiye phir.'' Naina muttered enough loud earning successfully confused and knowing stares from fellow passengers and Sameer respectively.
"Bus aura age nahin jaa sakti..aage hand pump ke liye khudai ho rahi hai.Aage ki gaon ko jaane wale iss khet se hokar chale jaiye.''Declared the conductor at a stop.Naina and Sameer struggled out of the bus.The village seemed to be clearly visible across the fields but it was difficult to judge the distance.A track formed by the tread of human feet and animal hooves meandered through the fields.Sameer almost felt trapped by slush and vegetation on both sides of this narrow path.
An hour's walk brought them to a hamlet in the middle of fields.Perhaps it belonged to the farmer who owned the fields.Naina sat exhausted on a rickety wooden bench.She looked at her finger,now swollen and bleeding a little.All thanks to the struggling rush in the bus.Sameer had noticed the little trickle of blood while clearing the way of nettle leaves. He too was exhausted and the heat was making it unbearable. He strained his eyes to gauge the remaining distance.Still they had to walk over an hour to reach the village.He sighed.
"Saala zindagi condom banke reh gaya hai''.He muttered an audible curse.''Jo aya use karke phenk diya..Paisa pura le liya lekin aadhe rashte pe hi chod diya.Kamina.'' He added; frustrated, removing the sweaty shirt that was clinging to him like a second skin.
"Naina!Haath dikhao''. He asked as he sat at her foot pulling out the tube from his pant pocket.She extended her finger and he started blowing on it,trying to sooth the swelling.
"Chi!Chi!'' He heard her mutter .Confusion clouded his mind looking at her.He was applying the ointment in the most gentleman way and why was she mouthing curses with chagrin.
"Naina!Mujhe pata tha ki log ointment lagate waqt Ahh!Uhh! karte hein..par pehli baar dekh raha hun log Chi Chi bhi karte hein.. ''Sameer uttered with a smirk playing at his lips and did not fail to see the anger in his Naina's eyes.
"Chi Chi bolte hein jab khulam khula aisi waisi baat log karte hein.Tumhe dhyan bhi hai abhi abhi kaisi gandi baat tumne kahi.''She asked pulling her ointment laced hand and crossed it.The white ointment smeared a little at corners of the fringes of her sleeves.
"Aisa kya keh diya maine?''He asked back and suddenly realization dawned upon him.
"Ohh!Condom hi to bola hai.Isme gandi kya hai,galat kya hai?'' He asked closing the tub and securing it in pant pocket again.Her eyes widened at the audacity of his uttering THE WORD again.
"Pata hai na kitna gandi chiz hai wo.Uski advertisement tak hum TV pe nahin dekhte aur tum yahan naam le rahe ho jaise Munna Pandit ka naam ho.''Naina was literally spitting fire with each word she spoke.Her boyfriend,her Sameer could stoop so low to utter the word.Not Expected.
Sameer giggled at first and laughed hard as she finished her admonitions.She was angry before,now furious.
"Hasi aa rahi hai tumhe? Mujhe pata hai yeh sab uss English film ki wajah se hai.Chi Chi.''She asked and he again went for another round of giggling.
"Hasun nahin to kya karun?Pata hai Naina tum topper to ho lekin bholi bhi bahut jyada ho.Har chiz theory mein padhai nahin jaati.Sahi aur galat ki pehchan chizon ki istemaal se pata chalta hai.Padhai ke terms pe bolun to Practical se. ''He said and winked making her remember her own dialogue about practical demonstrations.
"Haan haan tumhe to iske theory aur practical ke bare mein zyada pata hai na.Class dedo mujhe.Mujhe bhi to pata chale ki padhai ke alawa kis kis cheezon mein topper ho tum''.She said and he smiled acknowledging her command.
"Condom nahin hota to pata nahin humein bus mein seat milta bhi nahin.Tumhe pata nahin ki kitne kamino ke Xerox copy ban ne se condom ne roka hai.Bahut achi chiz hai...Tumhare padhaku language mein saanp bhi mare aur lakdi na tute' ki tarah hai.''He tried making her see the positive side of condom and she immediately had questions ready.
"Saanp bhi mare matlab? Sidhe batao na. ''She asked wrecking her head and his eyes dilated.
"Naina! Bahut garmi hai,aise sawal puchke garmi aur mat badhao. ''He uttered tearing his gaze from her.A second look at her and a little bit pondering over her question would drive him out of control.
"Acha thik hai abhi mat batao.Par yeh batao wo dukan mein wo ladka kis balloon ki baat kar raha tha?Party ke liye to bahut saara balloons chahiye lekin wo to sirf do leke gaya.Aisa kounsa balloon tha wo? ''She asked perching her chin on wrists,her lips slightly pouting.He turned around and smiled .Came the reply "Condom hi tha wo balloon.Sidhe bolte nahin yahan.Log judge karenge na.''
"Matlab wo humare samne itni der do condom dhund raha tha? Aur tumhe yeh baat pata tha?Aur iske baad bhi tumne uske saath baat ki?'' She asked surprised.
"Haan pata tha.Kyun baat nahin karta?Padha likha samajhdar aur zimmedar insaan tha.Logon ko maaze chahiye par safety nahin.Samajhdar hai isliye condom kharid liya.Akhir apne partner ki to socha.''Sameer was in all praises for the boy and Naina felt may be Sameer was right somewhere but she didn't feel completely convinced.
"Safety hi chahiye to bistar pe kyun kudna hai? ''She asked faintly introspecting where a condom would be put to use.
"Bistar pe kudna hi saanp marna hai.Aur safety sirf kamino ko paida hone se bachana nahin hai..kaafi saare diseases bhi hote hein yeh sab bistar pe kudne ke wajah se.Isliye raincoat pehen lo to baarish ki dar nahin hota''. Sameer drew another analogy trying to make her understand the facts vividly.
"Kya iss sab ke wajah se diseases bhi hoti hai?Film mein to nahin baatay kabhi.Hey bhagwan! Ab Pooja Didi kya karegi? ''Naina folded her hands praying vehemently to protect her Pooja Didi from every diseases.
"Naina!Tum fikr mat karo.Pooja didi ko kuch nahin hoga.Infact humare ghar mein kisiko diseases nahin honge. ''He tried calming her down ,rubbing her shoulders.She opened her eyes at the sensations of his fingers rubbing against the satin of her frock.She jerked a bit,and tried focussing on the important discussion at hand.
"To phir aisa kyun bola diseases hoti hai? Mujhe pareshan kar rahe the na?'' She sat miffed for his joke.
"Naina!Yeh pareshan karne ke liye nahin bola tha.Sach hai yeh.Jo log vaisya ki kaam karte hein na..un logon se yeh saari diseases hone ka dar hota hai.Isliye condom ka istemaal bahut zaroori hai.'' He said and she smiled finally relieved.
"Ek minute!tumhein yeh sab kaise malum?Aur wo jo bol raha tha foreign ka maal wo kyat ha?Ek se safety nahin milta kya? ''She asked ,all the more intrigued.
"Maine ek magazine pe padha tha.Har chiz ko bina jaane judge karna humari bahut badi galti hai..ya kaho to bewakoofi hoti hai.Isliye maine padha aur samjha ki iske fayde kya hein.Aur rahi baat uss ladke ki. Ek hi kaafi hai aur wo foreign maal flavoured condom thi.'' He said and earned a disgusted look from her.The only thing she knew came with flavour was Ice cream.But this thing was also flavoured.Do they use it in mouth or what?
"Flavoured? Ice cream hai kya jo khana hai.Eww!'' She scrounged her face and he tried stifling his giggles failing badly.He wondered if Naina someday sees a flavoured condom,perhaps she would faint.She seemed to have lots of disgust for condoms than Kamya even,for hitting on him since school days.
"Haan aisa hi kuch hai.Yeh mujhe bhi nahin pata karte kya hein use.Bas itna pata hai ki uske vanilla,strawberry,pina colada jaise flavours milte hein.America,England log ise istemaal karte hein..isliye videshi maal hai.''He informed and she felt like a fool suddenly.There was a world outside books too which she didn't know.She had remembered the demographic structure of all American continents and even European countries.She even knew all the capitals of each country at finger tips.But this fact? Sameer was right.Not everything was taught and she still has so much to know.
"Naina!Ab job hi baat humne ki agar tumhe uncomfortable feel hua to I am sorry.Mujhe laga ki jaise tum mujhse padhai ki baatein share karte ho waise jo mujhe pata hai maine wo share kiya.Mujhe yeh bhi pata hai yeh sab baatein aise khulke nahin karte..sab judge karte hein.Par hum to ek dusre se pyaar karte hein na.Dost bhi hein.Isliye mujhe yakeen hai tum mujhe judge nahin karoge.Main ab bhi tumhara wohi masoom Sameer hun jise tumne pyar kiya tha''. He said and put his head on her lap.
She stroked his hair and was elated at his submission.He has given entirely himself to her confessing,sharing the forbidden and permitted.
"Sameer!'' She called and he looked up at her.She had an alluring glaze in those doe shaped eyes.He had no idea why she called her in such appealing tone.All he was able to comprehend that he was driving to a haze with the way her dainty fingers travelled down the vest covered chest.She wiped the sweat beads glistening on his forehead.
She leaned in impossibly closer, the slender muscles in his forearm flexing as he bent his elbow to bring himself nearer to her , almost touching. She was heady with the proximity of him and grew legitimately concerned that her heart might explode. She closed her eyes and felt his slight stubble graze her jaw.His lips retraced back to the warm lips and it was a blissful oblivion, better than firewhiskey; she was the only real thing in the world, the feel of her, one hand on her back, the other in her long sweet-smelling hair...Then he heard the faintest whisper of her lips at his ear.
"Mujhe Vanilla flavour bahut pasand hai.''
She had pulled away from him and was gone,speeding across the fields.While he stood staring at her before running behind to catch his Faerie Queene.
-------------------------------------------------THE END------------------------------------------------
P.S.:Thank you for reading.Would love to read all your feedback.😳
Ande ,tamatar mat phenkna plz.Mehngai badh gayi hai.😉😆
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