A conscious effort this time for the longest chapter I've ever written haha! A bit filler but the next one will be lovely ;)
Siddhant sulkingly got into the bus. The frown was evident on his face. He sat heavily on the window seat, letting himself loose. He loved travelling but not amidst a crowd of people. For him, travelling was always a soothing, rejuvenating experience, best enjoyed in seclusion.
He didn't even want to come on this sudden trip with the family of his father's colleagues and of course, Reddy family.
His result had just been declared and more people, meant more gossip. He was sure that his future would be the hottest topic of discussion in this group of parents. He started falling asleep forcefully, to avoid any greetings with others. The bus was hardly occupied, he was the first one to hop on. Apart from him, only the driver and conductor were present.
His eyes were shut tightly. Everything was under his control until... the back of the bus started rattling!
He suddenly jerked up and looked through the window. He tried seeing what was happening but couldn't.
He left his bag and got down. He rolled his eyes as soon as he figured the reason for all the noise.
The smartest of all, Ms. Anushka Reddy was heroically trying to open the luggage chamber of the bus.
"Kya kar rahi ho!", He said loudly.
"Siddhant dekho naa yeh khul nahi raha! Latch jam ho gaya hai", she pulled it again.
"Hatho ek minute", he took over.
He tucked hard at it but no luck.
"Are you sure it's not locked?", He asked her.
"Yep, conductor ne bola khula hai"
"Usi ko bolo naa phir, yeh khole aur samaan load kare", he said.
"Okay", she told and got into the bus.
She got into the deserted bus and he could hear her talking to him.
He started strolling outside. They were near a park, which was the meeting point for all families. Prabhakar's family was the first to arrive. Since it was hot and suffocating inside the bus, Gayatri and Purva were seated outside, on a bench.
Prabhakar had left for the Reddys early in the morning, for a quick meeting. He was to join them with KK.
He started searching for the other of Reddys and his father. He could see no one, looked like Anushka was the only one to arrive.
Oh, Anushka!
He went back into the bus hurriedly. It was five minutes since she had gotten inside. He looked around. Neither the conductor, nor Anushka could be seen. His heart raced and panicked, when he heard chuckles from the last seat.
He ran back through the aisle, and saw that she was curled up behind a seat, kneeling down, stroking a small kitten. He sighed in relief.
"Tum yahan kya kar rahi ho?", He asked her.
"Kitna cute hai naa!", She said.
His face was all reddish and the whiskers were so delicate. He purred revealing his crimson mouth.
"Billi naakhun maregi... marega. Chodo use", Siddhant told, getting a bit irritated.
She put the kitten down and it scuttled off.
He settled back into his seat and fell asleep, covering his face with a stroll. Anushka could only roll her eyes at his boredom and irritability today but she thought it was best to leave him alone.
Gayatri got inside to see him dozed off and Anushka standing nearby.
"So gaya yeh? Accha hai. Waise bhi bohot chidchida tha subah se", she told her. They both got down together, waiting for the journey to begin.
...
"Ude jab jab zulfein teri, oo ude jab jab zulfein teri kuwariyon ka dil machle...", Siddhant woke up to a lot of commotion.
He slowly opened his eyes to feel the breeze on his face. The window was ajar. His hair were playing in the wind. He turned around to see everyone enjoying a game of Antakshari.
The claps and hoots broke his slumber.
He saw Prabhakar seated beside him, his back was facing him. He stretched his head up to see his surroundings. Gayatri, Anushka, Purva were seated behind them in a group with KK and Karthik adjacent to them. Neeta Reddy was seated further behind, with Mr. Nanda's wife.
He kneeled on his seat and turned around.
His eyes could directly see Purva sleeping and Anushka facing Gayatri, chatting away. The rest of them were playing Antakshari, including KK & Prabhakar.
His tummy grumbled with hunger.
"Maa", he called out, waving his hand, to grab attention.
"Uth gaya?", She replied.
Before he could say, she handed him his parcel of food. He smiled, mothers know everything, isn't it?
Without looking at him, she again became busy with talks.
He settled back, munching on the sandwiches. Food seemed extra tasty when hunger was at its peak!
He looked outside, vast patches of open spaces. There were a few trees in between but on the whole, it was all a breezy expanse of green coated land.
The sky was clear with white clouds flying behind them.
"Mehnat toh bohot ki thi usne", Gayatri was narrating to Anushka.
"Classes, college aur kya nahi. Chalo, koi nahi. Ab lagta hai Delhi mein toh admission milega nahi"
"Mumbai aur Bangalore - in dono cities ka education bhi bohot accha hai. Plus students ke liye safe bhi hai. Idhar try kijiyega, aunty", she told her.
Soon enough, they reached the Mystic Aura resort, on the Uttar Pradesh - Delhi border.
It was lunch time. The air was hot now and everyone was tired.
"Rooms ki keys le lo sab. Lunch ke liye banquet hall mein milte hai", KK announced.
"Anna aur Bhabhi ko miss karenge hum", Karthik told Anushka as they moved with Neeta. Srikanth and Riddhi were off on their honeymoon. Hence, t
KK had planned this trip for his family and others' as well. Why should only newlyweds have all the fun?
Siddhant held Purva's hand and proceeded towards him room, which was on the same floor as the Reddys.
His eyes were fixed on Anushka, as she walked ahead of him, chatting with Karthik. Something about her was so attractive. The way she simply spoke or sometimes her flowing hair that pulled him.
She felt a pair of eyes on her and turned to see what it was. No one. She brushed off the thought and entered her room.
Meanwhile, Siddhant immediately fell onto his bed after unlocking the room.
But he quickly got up too, before Prabhakar could see him in that lazy manner.
He freshened up quickly.
"Maa, hum banquet hall jaa rahein hain", and he ran off.
A big table was arranged for the group.
He occupied a corner seat. Center of table meant center of attention. Corners provided a good cover for emotions and helped to stay aloof.
"Hey! I'm Maddy", a boy of roughly his age approached him.
"Hey. I'm Siddhant, Siddhant Sinha", he said, a bit unsure of the sudden interaction.
He sat beside him, much to his dislike. But surprisingly, they instantly got involved in babbles of cars and football. "Maddy, Sid, hey!", Karthik joined the duo shortly.
Anushka walked in too, in a peach frock.
Siddhant looked at her and smiled.
She sat opposite him. Lunch was yet to be served. She was feeling bored. There were no girls in this whole wide group. He tried listening to the talks of the boys ranting in front of her.
"Even I love Messi! He's my favourite!", Siddhant spoke jubilantly. His eyes sparkled and she was happy he was out of the sulking zone.
The lunch was fun. Anushka found company in Purva. She was a kid but was smart and entertaining. They were almost inseparable during the meal, hooked into girly gossip.
The evening was to be spent in the resort itself and the kids planned for a cooling dip in the pool.
...
It were a whole 2 hours since all the splashing and swimming began. Anushka was seated nearby, on the recliner couch. The elders had already retired to their rooms, leaving the children behind.
Siddhant was showing off his underwater butterfly strokes while Karthik and Maddy were cheering on.
Anushka was smilingly watching on.
The sun was setting.
The boys decided to call it a day but Purva insisted to stay on.
"Please Bhai, just five more minutes", she pleaded.
"No, chalo!", He tried to pull her out of the pool.
"Rehne do naa", Anushka walked upto him.
"Sab jaa rahein hain aur andhera bhi ho raha hai. I can't leave her alone. Besides we've already planned to play snooker."
"Main hoon idhar, I can look after"
"Tumhein swimming aati hai?"
"Of course aati hai! Woh toh aaj thoda bodyache lag raha hai, isiliye I didn't swim"
"Pakka naa?"
"Haan,now common!"
"Okay, Purva,dekho...", He trailed off.
He turned around bewildered.
Where was Purva?
"Purva!", He shouted. It was significantly dark by now.
Anushka too freaked out.
Siddhant thought she might be out already, hence ran towards the shower room.
He searched into all the chambers, screaming and calling out to her. They were all empty.
He heard a sudden splash and ran towards the poolside.
Anushka had dived in the pool to look for her. She took a deep breath and dipped underwater. But even after multiple attempts, she couldn't find her. The darkness wasn't helping either.
Karthik and Maddy too had returned, hearing the shouts. Everyone was frantically searching for her, when Siddhant heard someone say -
"Kya hua bhai?". She was already a bit scared, realising her folly. She wanted to play with a ball, so she'd gone to fetch one from the pool equipment room. The screams of her name had brought her back.
"Ss... Sorry Bhai", she was already into tears, realising the commotion.
"Idiot!", He cried a bit and hugged her. Tears weren't evident cause his face was wet already, but the redness in his eyes said it all.
Purva went to take a shower, after permission, this time.
Anushka came out, all drenched.
Siddhant quickly fetched a towel and wrapped it around her. As much as his heart was still frozen in fear, he couldn't see her like that.
She pulled the towel closer.
"Thankyou... and sorry", was all he could say. He saw her shivering and felt very sorry.
"Are you okay?", He asked, full of concern. She nodded.
They shared a brief eyelock.
Shyness crept all over her body for no apparent reason. Her face was already flushed and her eyes were grounded.
Purva came out and the gang retired to their rooms, after ample adventure.
...
Edited by ..AjabdeBaisa.. - 7 years ago
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