"So! I hope all are seated properly. Since we are total 42 in the bus, I hope we'll have fun and enjoy in the course of our journey. Our bus number is 7 and you all have to take care of this. We'll be experiencing many good things on the way and on the destination! Hope you all enjoy! HAPPY JOURNEY!" And he took a seat in the front. Chakor was at the corner-most seat at the back of the bus. All were enjoying and having fun. But Chakor due to her introvert behavior only enjoyed seeing them from far.
However, Suraj participated with full enthusiasm. After almost two hours of fun, he came to Chakor...and Chakor did count each second, he was enjoying there and completely forgetting his so called wife. She frowned at him.
Suraj fueling her anger, "I hope you are enjoying!!"
Chakor, "yeah! Was enjoying alot without you!"
Suraj, "Mrs. Despo Rajvanshi! Just wait for some time, then I'll be all with you! After all it becomes difficult for me to stay in my limits, when I am with you!"
So basically, he was flirting with her and this left her in embarrassment. After all no one on this Earth ever dared to flirt with her, except him.
Even her fellow male students in the training, never got the chance to talk to her unless it was dead important. When Suraj ever questioned her about her excess passivity, she used to say that she doesn't like to talk to men, pointing sarcastically at him too.
However the real reason was that she was so delighted on having Suraj, that barely she considered other men worth talking, or sharing a bond with. She had THE BEST and she felt complete with him. This worried Suraj! He always thought how will she work afterwards when she is so stern on her less-spoken attitude. She will come across many, he can't be with her always.
They covered almost 180 km and entered the outskirts of the Himalayas. The temperature was dipping each second and it was getting very cold. The busses stopped in front of a Dhaba and all went to relax and breathe in some air. Chakor was in deep sleep, so Suraj thought to bring some coffee and then wake her up.
Meanwhile, the Warden came back to her seat which was beside sukor's. The disturbance near her, woke up Chakor. She found herself wrapped in his jacket and smiled feeling him. The warden greeted her, "Wake up Chakor! And go have some food..."
Chakor called Suraj and he said he's bringing the food on the bus and they can have together.
The bus was almost filled and the driver was moving back the bus.
Just then, Suraj turned up! He had a packet of food, and as he reached near his seat beside Chakor, the bus haulted with a jerk. And he almost fell over Chakor. In preventing the food from falling over Chakor, he accidentally kept his hand on Chakor's chest.
Embarrassment followed, less from Chakor's side and more from his. He composed himself and started apologizing to Chakor back to back!
"I am Sorry..yaar, I didn't intend to do that. My hand...am sorry am really sorry!!"
Chakor, "It's okay Suraj, no problem!"
But he said sorry almost ten times.
We know what relationship they share but other do not. The warden was confused on why Suraj is apologizing so much...after all they are married!
Chakor felt a bit uneasy as she felt being constantly eyed by few ladies around her, specially the Warden. So to end this, she held Suraj's hand quietly and squeezed it, signalling him to stop and saying, "I am hungry Suraj!"
The situation became easy after sometime but the warden being a mother figure to Chakor, thought she would ask her if anything is wrong. When Suraj was away with the other mentor, discussing about their night stay, the Warden came near Chakor.
Chakor, "Mother it's too cold here..."
Warden, "Yes child, take care otherwise you'll catch cold!"
Chakor, "What about you mother!?", smiling.
Warden, " I come every year, with my children (hostlers) here, so I am habitual to this."
Chakor, "Oh yes!"
Warden, "Chakor! I wanted to ask you something...(on getting a 'why not' signal from Chakor)...is everything fine in your married life..!"
Chakor understood her thoughts in seconds but thought to ignore. "I didn't get you!"
Warden, "Chakor, I am talking about Suraj and you..."and explained her everything.
Chakor realized that she was concerned about them but she didn't had a proper answer.
But after thinking alot, she answered, "Mother! Since I have married Suraj, there has been no moment in my life that he didn't respected me. However, there were many instances he didn't love me. He has always kept my dignity above his love...and that's what makes him different. How much I have known him, I realized that he is not among those men, who once become husband, claim their wives as their personal property. And these small gestures from him, make me love him more..!"
Warden smiled and said, "I see my daughter in you..and solely desire your good. And it's great if you have got someone like Suraj!"
Both smiled seeing Suraj at a far place.
After 9 hours of journey, they stopped near a village, where interaction sessions were held. The trainees were made to ask the villagers their daily life problems and present a solution to it. After the completion of the assignment, all went to their respective tents.
Tents were arranged for a pair in each. But because of odd numbers, Chakor was left alone. Now, the protective husband came up with the solution that he will stay with his wife... because according to villagers, presence of a lion has been reported in the jungle.
That lion thing was a romour among villagers and Suraj was the first one to laugh at it, when some trainees were talking about it. It was a cold place and there was almost no probability of a lion being here. But as soon as he realized, that the imaginary lion can help him to share the tent with his wife, he was most afraid of it. Lion is a carnivore after all ;) .
Now, everyone being ordinary human being, was taken away by Suraj's concern. But a Rajvanshi can well understand another Rajvanshi. So was Chakor, who understood what was going on in his mind.
In the tent,
Chakor, "You are so manipulative! Why Haan!?"
Suraj, "Everything is fair when you are mad in love!"
Chakor, "oh! What will you get here??I am going to sleep..."
Suraj, "If it's about getting, then I won't let you sleep...(realising what he just said)...I mean I will keep on talking with you, then how you'll sleep...!"
Chakor, "Don't worry! You keep talking, I'll sleep..."
She took a place near him and he began talking. He was endlessly speaking and she was facing the other side and very well pretending like ignoring him, although she loved each and every word from him. After almost one hour, his voice faded. And when she turned to check, she found him asleep.
He was adorable... everything about him was praiseworthy. It was nine months that they are legally with each other, but unlike all other husbands of this world, he has never claimed rights on her. Each day, she was falling for him more and somewhere in her heart, there was a desire to make herself his, in all ways. But she was afraid, that she may lose this beautiful phase of her life forever.
There was a serenity on his face with those eyes closed. He had almost all the tensions of the world. From looking after that she properly had her food to suggesting his father, the business references. From looking after all his students to selecting a saree for his mother. From making things simpler for his loved ones to making easy for the unknowns, who he finds in problem. He was an ideal human and she was proud to have him.
Out of complete love, she bent over him and kissed on his forehead. She was lost in the moment, when a voice said, "Taking advantage of the sleeping me!!". And leaving her smiling.
He didn't open his eyes, because he knew that his wife finds it very difficult to look into his eyes, specially when hers are filled with love. But this was not Suraj Rajvanshi!
To return the favour(as said by him), he held her by waist and cuddled her in him, and she comfortably gave in.
There was a contentment in his heart, that he could finally make her feel comfortable in not just his friendship, but his love too...
