PART-8
Munna and Pandit were around Karthik to observe him.. Sameer was sitting on the seat opposite Naina away from her. Naina was sitting beside the window.. staring the nothingness.. She had always wanted to rejoice a train journey and then when she had the opportunity to do so.. She was lost.. She was unable to soak in the serenity of the passing sceneries.. Lush green fields.. Birds flying back to their homes with their enchanting chirping and the setting sun imparting a golden shimmer to the setting could not uplift vivacious Naina. Sameer knew whatever happened sometimes ago cannot turn Naina so taciturn, there must be something more to it that is unnerving her.. But Sameer did not want to say anything to her now.. He knew, she herself would tell him if he deserved to know.. if he deserved to be her confidante. He tried keeping himself away until he saw her eyes glisten by the reddened sun's rays.. His heart shrunk by the pain in Naina's eyes. The girl who only spreads positivity and warmth couldn't be so gloomy. He did not know what made his heart reflect Naina's grief neither did he care to probe on it then. His reflexes wanted to caress Naina and alleviate the anguish in her heart. But before he could utter anything ,The surrounding that was muted for Sameer suddenly came to life but the sweetness that had filled his aura sounded melancholic:
Naina- I and Karthik were in the same school same class but my knowledge about him was limited to his name. We never talked to each other when we were in school. It was when we joined Tata Steel we introduced ourselves to each other.. He joined the training 2(two) months late. There was some issue with him I don't know what.. He was not in the final list of selected candidates but he managed to join the company. Because he was late there was a lot to catch up for him. He needed help and hence the fellow feeling germinated in me..I myself initiated the talks and did everything I could to help him. But his narcissist brain could not comprehend that all I intended was to help him.. Now I think he never needed it. I still don't know what made him think that I was available for him.. He was taking extra liberty since the time I talked to him. He used to touch me as and whenever he felt like. Although I hate anyone touching me, still I thought they were just friendly gestures but then on the fifth day he exposed himself to me.
FLASHBACK
Karthik- Hey! Sweetie, what are you up to today in the evening?
Naina- Sweetie!! Are you in your senses. Don't use such names for me.
Karthik- Oho Naina. I guess you did not like it..Let that alone.. we will think of some other name for you later. I wanted to ask you out dinner date.
Naina- What?? Are you in your senses Kartik?
Karthik- (He held her hand) I know you have a corner for me in your heart. I know you like me.
Naina- What the hell are you talking. Do you have any idea you are going beyond your limits. What made you conjure up all this. Leave my hand right now
Kartik- (tried to pull her closer) Naina listen to me I know you love me. See there is nothing wrong in it. Every girl feels the same way for me..accept it baby. But I wonder why are you behaving so curtly to me. Listen sweetheart, give me a chance.. You won't regret your decision.. I don't understand what is making you so reluctant? Don't you trust me? Give me a chance and I promise you won't regret. Now go and get ready for our first dinner date. Make sure to wear something sexy. I promise you baby, I will fulfill all your fantasies tonight.
Naina-(pulled her hand back with all her self-esteem, pushing him away) Listen to me Kartik make a knot of my words and save it in your rotten brain.. I talked to you becoz I felt you needed my help. I am not a girl who can be flattered by your looks or your shamelessly overtly nature. You have built a shroud of illusions about yourself but I have to prick your bubble. You are a pathetic self-obsessed guy who has no manners to talk to a girl. I am a fool to have tried to help you. I am very bad at judging people. Thank you for exposing yourself to me. I am thankful to you for this.I pity you for the man you are. I pity you coz you will never have the trust of people. You will never have the pious affection of people around you. Karthik this is the last time we are talking. Dare not talk to me again and if you ever happen to touch me.. mark my words you shall be ever remembered as a foolish stooge.
Kartik- O Miss Naina khud ko itni importance nahi do. What do you think of yourself. You think you are the sexiest here. It was you who wanted my attention that is why you came to me and now you are showing my attitude. Let me make it clear to you, I have to pass this one year of training here and with the scarce population of girls here I thought you could be the right one for me. You know it very well that you are an average looking girl whom no guy would to look at. Look at you Naina what made you to have so much pride on yourself and display ego to me. You think I will stalk you. Consider yourself lucky that I proposed you.. ( He kept on blabbering and Naina went away. There was no point arguing with him.)
End of Flashback
Sameer- Are you allright Naina? ( He was asking Naina if she was alright. Yes Naina was alright but Sameer wasn't. He had not composed himself yet. His blood was hot enough with rage to evaporate even an ice cube But he relaxed his clenched fist. He calmed his racing nerves..normalized the temperature of his boiling blood. And tried his best to pale away his red face. Because now more than Karthik Naina was important. Karthik will get his share of lesson but Sameer has his ways)
Naina- Hmm.. I am OK. There is one thing about me. I am very rotlu, I cry at every trifle but after crying I can be one of the strongest women you can think of. ( and she smiled. Sameer's heart reciprocated her smile. His shrunken heart enlarged in proportion to the Naina's stretching lips.) So yay Now I am myself. The Naina Agarwal you know.
Sameer- Naina I don't know If I am correct or not but I have an intuition that there is more to your tears than Karthik.
Naina- Sameer.. You are actually able to read me. I wish we had known each other earlier. But no worries. I am glad now we are friends. And you are right I was not sobbing for that idiot Karthik but he is the reason that triggered my thought process and brought to my mind the memories I had intended never to think about but I won't tell you or anyone else be it now or anytime in future.
Sameer- Don't worry Naina. I won't ask you anything that would make uncomfortable. ( He wanted her to be happy. He wanted her to be ever smiling. It's not that he did not want to know what was drying Naina's heart.. It's just that He would never dig into the matters that would fade the smile on her lips. Because unknowingly her smile was becoming respite for Sameer. ) But you will have to tell me about Karthik now because it has to do with your safety and dignity. Did Karthik stop from that day?
Naina- chalo yaha se
Sameer- Kaha jana hai abhi? Karthik ke paas?
Naina- Bahot baatein karte ho tum.. chupchap chal nahi sakte.. main jab tak jawab dungi tab tak hm dono pahuch jayege.
Naina leaned her back on the metal wall of the train bogey. (they were at the entry/exit door)
Sameer- Naina tum is taraf aao ( Naina was close to the edge of the door) and he shifted himself to her position
She stood on the other face of the rain wall getting face to face with Sameer.
Sameer- Naina kya kar rahi ho tum waha aise nahi khadi ho. It's not safe.
Naina- haan tumhare upar to jaise Ishwar ki special kripa hai na.. agar main unsafe hun to tum bhi aur aise kon baat karta hai.. agal bagal khade ho ke.. face to face baat krte hain na..
Sameer- Mujhe tumhari tarah nritya karte hue baat karne ki aadat nahi hai.. Tum jo bhi bolti ho pure actions k sath bolti ho.. Kya pata kahin jump karne ki baat ho aur tum excitement me yaha se kud jao..
Naina- Chup! Lagta hai aaj kuch jada hi bolne ka bukhar chadha hai.. Waise hi us Kartik ke chakkar me maine sunset miss kar diya.. kitna sundar hoga sab kuch.. aur waha wo window khulne se raha.. to fresh hawa aur khuli duniya ka maza yahi se milega na. And don't worry mujhe kuch nhi hoga.
Sameer- Tumne pehle kabhi train se safar kiya hai?
Naina- Nahin, ye pehli baar hai.. I know you might not believe me but it's true. Actually mere sare rishtedar paas k hi city towns me rehte hai college k liye bhi mujhe jada dur nahi jana pada.. to kabhi mauka hi nahi mila.. You know when I came to know about the Uttarkashi trip..train journey was one the most exciting part of it for me..(Sameer laughed)
Sameer- Hey! Tum kahin mujhe distract to nahi kar rahi.. Listen agar tum aage nahi btana chahti Karthik ke bare me to it's ok.. I won't pester you. Waise bhi jitna tumne kaha hai utna kaafi hai use uske destiny tak pahuchane k liye.
(The gravity of her tone changed..The samajhdar philosopher Naina replaced little childish Naina)
Naina- Aisa kuch nahin hai.. Tumhe batane me mujhe koi problem nahi hai agar waisa hota to main tumhe kuch bhi nahi batati. I trust you Sameer..
Two months after that incident, one day when I was standing in the queue to buy coupon for lunch, Karthik came from nowhere and pushed me. His hand was almost on my breast. Actually he had a bet with his friends that he could touch me anywhere that too in public and I won't retaliate. He wanted to show that he had that effect on girls. But his lethargic brain failed to function at that moment and did not tell him that that act of his would embarrass him for life. Without delaying a moment I blazed a slap on his stupid shameless face and before he could realize what had transpired I rewarded him with one more. The crowd in the canteen was ready to take him in their custody but I decided to tutor him myself. I told everyone standing there what he had dared to.. They suggested me to submit a written complain. But I decided against it thinking he had got his lesson, but now I guess I was wrong.
Thank you for reading.. I love reading your comments.😊
Edited by suma_yudkbh - 6 years ago