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REAL OR RUMOUR? BEAUTY AND BRAIN SELDOM GO TOGETHER..NO. IN ONE CASE I PROVED WRONG.BRAIN N BEAYTY GO TOGETHER.

 

              CHAPTER 2.  FOOLS  RUSH IN.

 

She was  Beauty Queen of the College.

At  first sight, other girls felt, that they had no chance. They had to give a walkover. Her shapely legs dazzled at every step with the flip of her skirts. She was tall, radiant, self-assured. She had a princess like air. She was endowed with a lovely

oval face. She looked, acted, with grace and taste. Her movement looked composed of, sexual allure, in girlish grace. It radiated hundred mega-watt of electricity with every of her movement.  The magnetic field comprised of a radius of hundred miles wherein male objects got attracted towards her as never before.

 

She would greet even the highest dignitary, with just enough deference, to acknowledge with enough sparkle of sensuality, to convey to him that he was not an old fuddy-duddy dad type chap, for all that, but an attractive personality. The dignitary would never forget her, for the compliment. He would feel ten years younger that moment. That is her charm.  World runs by showering kind words, on each other, bordering almost on the lines of flattery. You praise me and I praise you. That is how, day-to-day affairs are run.

 

To the pure, all things are pure. The best incident is which startle you; which contradict your belief, and opinion.  Today she was confronted with an incident something like it.  There was very much of love's language that she had to learn to know.  She learnt a lot in a day.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

It was Saturday. Saturday is lover’s day. It was noon time. It was a hot day. She had morning class. It was last day of the term; thereafter the vacation. No study for two months. Eat drink and be merry.  All were eager to go home. All were tired of routine college class. All awaited time to go. All had made plans for the vacation. At last the bell was heard. It was the end of anxiety of all.

 

All ran to the door falling, pushing, tumbling, making way through. They had to pass the door to the lobby and off through the main gate to the main road.

 

She was not lucky to be in the row of first lot to reach the gate for crossover to the main road. Her known friends were ahead of her at some distance. Some were still near the class door just coming. It is  chaos when the day ended at the College. It is a sight to see. It is so noisy!

 

She was eager to reach home. She had plans of visiting a friend. She had made necessary arrangement for staying at her place for a couple of days. She came out of the gate. She furled down her flying skirts as if smoothing it with her hand in an attempt to hold it from flying. She kept on moving in the crowd. Skirts have the most obnoxious way of flying up with slightest of wind blow. It balloons up all the way up to the waist, like an umbrella,  putting the wearer in awkward spot revealing that part meant to be concealed from roving eyes.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Man proposes. Man dream a lot of dreams. Man make plan for his convenience. But God disposes.  Circumstances force him to change his plan.  All her wisdom did not help her. Wisdom does not come to our help in the nick of time. It evaporates in an emergency, when it is needed the most.

 

All resolutions melted in the next few minutes. Presence of mind was necessary. All promises were broken. Promises are meant to be broken at the hands of destiny. 

 

All dreams shattered to pieces. Everybody has dream. Everybody’s dreams can not come true. Only a few are lucky to have the dream come true. They are really lucky.

 

Situation took an unexpected turn within the next few minutes. Her life changed forever.  A police-car was parked at the junction that joined the main road.  He came out of the car to wait for her. It was the time to lift her. He was Jimmy Anderson, the handsome Lieutenant Detective First Grade, Traffic squad, of the county.

 

He saw her coming walking absentmindedly in her own thought. She was alone. He caught up to her by the time she crossed over the school gate. She should not have been alone. He had decided to intercept her at the end of the school and taker her off with him.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Sensing someone following, she stepped quickly aside to wait for company. He came to her.  He dashed against her. He pushed her. He manhandled her virtually.  He slugged her shoulder, caught her arm, rather, caught her by the shoulder, to push her towards the waiting car, as if she were a parcel !

 

It was an incident of highway, daylight, abducting a college girl by a traffic cop. What would have been the consequences? Had  he thought of it? Oh God! To what an extent man can behave in such a way! The unexpected attack frightened and perturbed her.

She:  “What would all think of her?”

She pretended as if his slug did not hurt her, she pushed him quite hard, threw him off balance, with all force at her command. She had books in her hand that she should have dropped on the floor and should have slapped him.

 

Any way she freed herself. She continued to march ahead the main road. She should have run to her friends or cried for help, and attracted a crowd.   He came back quite fast. He grabbed her from the waist, to carry her back,  and dragged her.

 

Her reaction was instantaneous. She hit him on his knees with her leg.  Her elbow crashed into his ribs. She bit him on his side. She did not know how she got strength to hit. He winced, he let go off his grip, twisted around, about to go down, landing on his knees close to the edge of the car door. She should have run to her friends or shouted for help.

For a moment he felt the momentum was going to work against him. He had lost grip.

 

 

 

 

She freed herself.  She continued her journey ahead as if nothing had happened. She saw shadowy brink of the ledge looming close behind. He was right behind her. He was in no mood to let her off so easily. She should have cried for help. You learn more from your enemy than friend.

 

He had a big plan about her. If she had a little presence of mind the entire incident could have been averted. He paced his steps with hers, continued walking along, pleading, endearing, apologizing, and asking to go with him for a brief time. He had some important news to give. He was very earnest and convincing in his words. His voice was appealing.

 

She did not look. She behaved as if she heard nothing. She paid deaf ears to what he was telling. She walked ahead. She continued her journey to her home. She was hungry. She wanted to reach home. He talked a lot. He was smooth talking, persuasive in his own way to make his point, gist of it was that he would expose her in front of her friends, make a scene and defame her.  Inside she flinched at what he would do. She was really worried. She continued to proceed ahead. She was unmindful of his visit at an odd hour. She continued the journey with a straight face. She thought she would reach the main road.

 

He repeated he would sure do so if she did not go with him. She did not listen to anything. He would loudly shout, collect, a mob and would reveal to them about the past relation.  She continued going ahead. Inside she flinched. She perspired. She was nervous as hell. She went limp and nervous. She got nervous confused and afraid. She did not know how to get rid of him. She did not know what to do.

 

 

 

His voice sounded high, shaky but rose.  He continued arguing, requesting entreating to go with him in the car. He wanted her to go with him to the hill. There was the cave,  and that she was safe and sound with him.  He would get her back home in no time. She was adamant.

 

All of a sudden his stopping surprised her. She flinched inside but kept a straight face. She was not sure what he was doing. She wanted to look back. She deliberately did not do so. He had his hands high raised and was shouting at the top of his voice, as if addressing a gathering.

 

He made loud voice,

He: "Listen, all of you listen!”

He: “Hear me! All of you hear me.” 

He “This Girl is my girl.... She and I are long time lovers...”

He: “Now she has changed mind...” 

He: “She now says she does not know me!”

 

Before he could complete the stunt, she raced back to him. It was an instantaneous impulse. She took him by the hand towards the car. She rather rushed to him to drag him in the car. She made him climb therein fast in a second. He was shocked he did not know what she wanted. She scrambled past him to the window seat with lightening speed as if  a thunderbolt had hit.  In a few moment, the car sputtered, bounced and moved in motion.  The car turned the bumps smoothly as she happened to glance through the broad windshield and the odd glaze ahead. Now the car was running and it crossed over to the main road, and they were off to an unknown destination.

 

 

 

They rode in the police car from school to the main road on a June early afternoon in a gusty grey atmosphere,  the sun playing game of hide and seek.

This unexpected incident, to her appraisal, had probably blown up, and shattered her well- planned career to rags. She had nobody who would come to her rescue in  an emergency. All this  happened in a few moments before anyone could realize what it was all about.  His dramatic entry  upset her, upset all her plans and her schedule.  She was on her way to doom once again. Act in haste and repent in waste leisure.

 

She got upset, confused, did not know what to do in such a situation.   Her concern was to save her from blasphemy, in front of her friends. She was worried.

She was afraid to be exposed in front of them. It is destiny. She now believed in it. She had no wish to be maligned, defamed, humiliated and shamed before her friends.

That was her circle of friends.  She had her place of pride among them.

 

She: (to herself) “What would they think of me?”

She preferred on an impulse to go with him, confront him, with what he had to say. She decided to refuse him, return back and avoid a scandal.

She planted the feet firmly on the footboard to stop her nervousness. She tried hard to look casual.

She pressed her books tightly around her bosom.  She was aghast with horror not knowing what was happening. 

She preferred to allow nature to take its own course.

She had allowed destiny to decide her fate.

She had turned quite desperate by the turn of the events. She kept a straight angry face.

 

 

 

 

 

She bore hurt expression on her face. She was dazed.  She wanted to be out of the city limit lest somebody might see them together.

 

She looked terrific in full bloom of early twenties. She was scared of a scandal. She was a reputed student of a reputed institution.  She was afraid that her name would get linked with him. All would talk of her. What her friends would say if they knew that she had lay in his arms on an earlier occasion, her heart against his chest,  head on his shoulder and with his head against hers. She would be a topic of gossip and discussion in the town. It would be a scandal.  She expected the day ahead quite scaring, trying. She was afraid of a scandal.  She did not care. She was surrounded by unexpected circumstance suddenly.

She firmly decided to confront him once and for all, cut all relation and connection. She wanted to sever all ties with him by being bold and blunt about everything.  She wanted to put an end to everything. She resolved not to budge an inch.

 

He sat besides engrossed in his thought, not making any gesture to start any conversation. He was content she had agreed to go with him. He had won half the battle. The car was proceeding a head in full speed. Soon the main road would end. The car turned towards way to the hill. The road was crowded with other vehicles passing by.  Except that the area was lonely. It seemed as if all her senses had been paralyzed by this hijacking incident. She was speechless. The car was not quite new but it seemed it was well kept and sturdy. It ran smoothly without noise. She was nervous.

 

 

 

 

 

There was now no other traffic on the road. She was debating with herself, whether she had acted right. She was engrossed in her own misery worry, how to get out of it.  She had her gaze fixed on the passing trees on the road, which proved more of a diversion to her disturbed mind. She tried to concentrate,  what to do but her mind refused to work.

 

He sat besides; his gaze fixed on other side of the window. He was engrossed in his own view and plan. He was the accuser of her chastity, virtue and character.

He continued to glance down at her once in a while. He preferred to be silent.  He did not make any attempt to make any conversation. He was worried lest his words might spoil the game, which was advancing up till now in his favor. He thought better to keep quiet. Sometimes actions speak louder than words. He therefore chose to keep quiet.

It seemed he was happy the way things were moving. He was not at a loss so far. It seemed he was content that she agreed to go with him. He had almost half the game won. What he did not know was the fact that things were not going to be easy for him.   Both made stolen glances at each other, surveying each other. Both gained time.  Hostility was apparent on both faces. There was no scope of a reunion for the present. Tension was mounting in the atmosphere. It was difficult who would do what next. There was no chance of any truce.

 

The atmosphere was clouded with suspense.

Never could one remember potential for violence, bigger than it did today.  Each one was taking guard, waiting, ready to explode, any moment. It was a question of time.

 

 

 

 

He was wrong to think that tension would ease in the moving car as the journey prolonged, as the day wore on. She was wrong if she thought he would let her go easily.  It sure did not help any of them to quarrel in front of the driver in a moving car.  Tempers were held in restraint, ever since both took seat in the car.    The sun shined in the middle of the sky in the middle of the afternoon.   She sucked in her breath and glanced around her in a disturbed state of mind.

His frame looked thick and burly difficult to be tackled by physical violence. Animosity between the two was hotter than fire. It was difficult to make any forecast.  Both  sat together, but apart by a few inch. Their mind were miles apart.  Hatred was apparent in the atmosphere. There was no question of a truce between the two. Both openly glared at each other. Fire was raging in their eyes. Their gaze, movement, expression were becoming increasingly bold, alarmingly dangerous.

 

Anything may happen any moment. It was difficult to say which way the situation might turn. She had blundered in agreeing to go with him to an unknown destination. His posture was surprisingly confident and steady, and calm. He was sure of himself. This aspect of him demoralized her self-confidence to some extent. She braced herself to meet with any eventuality with a firm hand.   It was sure; the confrontation was not going to be smooth, friendly. She had second thought. Fortunately or unfortunately, common sense dawned upon her. She thought, it was no use making a physical fight with the adversary. All sorts of ideas visited her mind. It was a battle of wits. She should change the tactics. 

 

 

 

 

She should exhaust all her charm, use smiles. She should lure him, captivate him by her charm.  She must appeal to his sentiment to disarm this stubborn brute.  She was engaged in finding out ways and means how to tackle the situation.  She made up her mind. She knew what had to be done. She sat ready about it.  It was a question of a few minutes. She expected the car to stop in a while as the hill, rather mouth of the hill was fast approaching. She set tight clamping her hands in vain. She felt like a trapped animal. She had never placed herself in such a helpless situation.

Eyeing her with tenderness, he cleared his throat. He did not speak anything. He just looked at her. He sized her up surreptitiously. He wanted to ask her if she was all right. He thought better to keep quiet. They were nearing the mouth of the hill. He thought that everything would be fine. She just behaved as if she did not know him. He did not exist. His posture was erect, confident, shoulders squared, spine rigid. The car came to a halt.  The engine noise died. There was silence. He waited. He stepped out.. His heart was beating fast at the risk he had undertaken. One mistake and the consequences would be disastrous.

 

He eased up on to the sidewalk.   She moved out behind him, slamming the door shut.  She straightened herself to her full height. He took books from her and put them in his overnight bag.   He thanked the driver and gestured him to be off.   Both were at the feet of the hill. He had a sack, which he thrust it in her hand to carry. She took it.

 

 

 

 

It was as a reflex action. They marched towards the steps to the hill. He carried the overnight bag. On way he stopped to buy eatables, carried packets with him. He stuffed them in his bag.

 

He shoved all his things in his overnight bag. They were together, taking walk towards the hill. Both were silent. Both were engrossed in their thought. Both were intent upon scoring over each other finding a suitable opportunity. They were soon in the woods. The steps were over, in the first phase of the journey. They now entered a flat ground of the woods surrounded by green trees with ground full of dry leaves. She carried the sack, followed him almost trotting, almost exhausted and tired. She was walking at slow pace. It was a grey day. It was a sultry day.

The air proceeded to take upon itself momentary snap of autumn, though it was June. The weather was too close, to breathe.  It was a day of clouds. It might rain any time. It was rather a grey afternoon. Dark storm clouds rolled over their head, at times blocked the sun. She had heard the guy on the radio announcing that there was chance of ninety- percent rains. She remembered the warning. She did not care. She was desperate. She was doomed. She was caught in his trap.   She was the sacrificial lamb. She had committed a grave mistake by acting on an impulse. She had placed herself in his grip. She was destined to be his slave for life. Her ruin was imminent hundred percent.

He walked ahead of her a few yards in distance. His posture was calm and confident, and assured. He looked a handsome brute with devil-may-care attitude, policeman like expression on his face.

 

 

 

 

 

 

He was tall elegant and imposing. His shoulders were imposing. His complexion was not white. It was tanned. His strides were long but slow and relaxed. He had long legs. Beneath the color warp, gray weft denim shirt, and trousers of faded jeans, his body was superbly muscled.

 

He looked more like an athlete. His shoulders were wide. His height was about six feet.  His chest was thick. His voice was thick husky and commanding. His head towered half a foot above hers, making her look tiny, fragile and small before him. His face was tight and gaunt, hawk like pleasing to the eyes. His brow was wide. His eyes were expressive expressing anger at her at present. His face was intriguing, harshness apparent in his eyes which were piercing and turned narrow when he looked at her. He had expected her to yield to his command. His eyes changed expression, every now and then, sometimes mocking, sometimes loving and caring. He was a difficult obstinate type of a fellow difficult to tackle. A hint of smile used to appear at the corner of the lips when he was on to achieving his goal. Up till now things were going in his favor. This is what he thought to himself. Whether he was right or not time would decide.

He glanced back over his shoulder.  She was not far off.  He tried to give her a smile in an attempt to reassure her. She wanted to return that smile with almost a growl accompanied by a curse and an insult, or more likely both. It was a matter of time now. Boiling point had reached.  Both were engaged in sizing up each other, measuring strong and weak points. Both were ready.  It was apparent that both were well matched. Both were well prepared. Both were sure. 

 

 

 

 

Both were difficult. Both were adamant. Both were firm in their resolve.  Both were prepared to confront each other. Both were engrossed in their own view. 

 

She inhaled fresh air in quick gasps.  She was about to surrender herself to sit for some time. She was tired.  She desired to stop to sit somewhere. She wished to take rest. Instinct told her not to do so.   The adversary may view it as her surrender. She thought better to continue to walk further.  All her strength was used up and she was quite tired. He too appeared tired. He stopped, waiting for her to join.  The cave was on the up hill. To his front were the twelve platform stages of pedestrian path to be climbed to reach the cave. She after a few minutes was walking stumbling besides him tired and exhausted.  She missed her step and might stumble down. He lurched towards her. His arm reached out in front of her.  She saw him coming.   He tried to support her, ready to take her in his arms. On the other hand, she was ready for a dual. She wanted a chance.

 

She sort of pushed him back.  His nostrils were flaring, eyes almost closed, and otherwise speechless. She measured him.  She was on a do-or-die mood to save her.  She re-acted fast, much faster, beyond his imagination. She jumped upon him fiercely. She wished to die and done with.  She kicked him in his front. She hit him between the legs.  It was an unexpected attack on him.  The head-on collision toppled them both.  He knew not what was happening.

 

 

 

 

 

 

He could not anticipate what she was about. She was straddling his waist.  She was kicking, clawing, and punching. She was hitting and she bit her teeth into the raw flesh of his hand, red teeth marks marred the back of his hand. He felt defeated. He flinched. He winced.  On an impulse he slapped her on the face. He had to do so. She flew in the air and hit the ground with a bang. She was a wild cat difficult to handle.  He glared. She glared. Both glared.  Both were thirsty of each other’s blood.  He was taken aback.

 

He was confused. He reconsidered his approach.  This was no ordinary lass he was with. Physical force would not yield to anything.   Brutal force had failed. He wanted to think some safe way to tackle her without force.   His body also pained. He suffered a set back. Yes! the emotional approach.   He changed plan. He, the master was required to perform role of a humble servant.

He:  (said to himself) This is the only way to win her. He changed his attitude. He was a humble servant ready to carry out her orders now and he was at her command.

She on her part was angry, real angry. She got shattered and exhausted not knowing what to do. She was breathing hard, rattled, close to tears. She realized herself.

 

When she was young, she had once happened to come to the cave. She was about fifteen at that time.  There were not as many people and houses on that side.  The geography of the side, and the singularity of the hill, the cave were far more noticeable then.  It was not so today.  She felt the road to there was very long and tiring.   She had to get up herself from the ground with a start. Pain was too much.

 

 

 

 

She kept a straight face. Both had recovered after the dual. Both had subsided.  Both walked side by side.  Both were engrossed in their mood. Both behaved.  Both were oblivious of each other’s existence. Both were helpless. Both wanted a way out.  They walked like this for quite a while. The heat had drawn fine beads of sweat across her face. Drops of the sweat shined in the light of the day. Moisture had gathered in the cleft of her blouse between the two breasts. Damp shadows of dark patches were visible under her armpits. Seeing her any one would have devil’s thought in his mind.

 

Nobody knew who would speak first. Color had drained from her cheeks.  She felt herself empty and useless. Her feet hurt. She needed a rest very badly.  She was pale and ghastly. Her feet buckled.  She was at her wit’s end.   She wanted to end the game. She could not go on like this.

She was exhausted. She thought to address him. She decided. She would break the silence. She thought it better. 

She was at her wits’ end. She kept a stern face. 

She glared at him in an outrage, her hands on her hips, her face red with anger.   When aroused she was a splendid combination of her royal parentage and docile mother’s angry self. She shook her head vigorously as if in disapproval of the whole episode. She burst out. The goon expected her to be reasonable and co-operate him in his outrageous scandal! What a fool he was! He had taken her for granted! She had never to cope up with such a silly fellow with such an outrageous way of chasing her.  She thundered. She exploded.

 

 

 

 

 

She:      “Why did you come?”

She:      “Why did you malign me in front of my friends?”

She:      “What business you have got to carry me like this without my consent?”

She:      “What is all this?”

She:      “Is this a gentleman’s way to behave? Are you not ashamed?”

 

The words rained down on him like severe blows. However he did not lose  calm. He continued absentmindedly without looking at her.

He:       “I missed you. I love you.”

She:     “Love!”  “You, and love!” “You, beast!”

She:     “Drop me back to my place.” “You have no right to take me with you by brutal force. I am nothing to you.” She stopped.

He:       “Bear with me.” “We are going a safe place.” 

             “We’ll iron out the differences.”

 

She:     “No!” “So far, so further.”

She”     “Now no far, no further.”

She:     “I go back.” “Take me back.”  “I should not have come with you at all.” 

He:      “You did come with me. Is not it dear?”

She:     “Do not address me with any intimacy”. “I ‘m nothing to you.”

She:    “Take me back”.  “Do you hear me?”

He:      “You liked to come.” “You‘ve liked me.”

She:     “Yes.” ”Only to get you out of my friends’ vision.”

She:     “If my friends heard what you spoke, what would they think of me?”

He:       “What would they think?”

She:     “They’d think you are crazy!”

He:       “That I am.”  “But I do not think they would think so.”

 

 

He:       ”They would say it was lovers’ quarrel.”

(She takes a deep breath. She stopped to think to make a speech, how to get rid of him.)

 

She:     “Let me say, it was alright.”

She:     “I am willing to call bygones, bygones.”

She:     “I am willing to forget this incident.”

She:     ”Take me back”.

She:     “I’ll forgive you”

She:    “Give me a break!”

He:       “I agree. I’ll do as you say. I’ll give you a break.  “I‘ll take you back.”

She:     “I do not believe you any more.”

He:       “I swear. I take you back this moment. Really I wanted to be with you. It is done. I am thankful. This is enough for me. You are what I had dreamt nights after nights.”

She:     “No more bluffs. Take me back.”

He:       “I am sorry. I acted on an impulse. I should not have done this. I am sure you’ll pardon me. I promise. I swear. I’ll never do so again. I know I am not a refined guy.” 

He:      “You know I am a primitive. You have to change me. You have to make me a civilized guy of your type. You are my only hope. You are my life.  You are my everything. I’ll die. I’ll jump. I’ll do as you say. I am your humble   servant. I know you can make a real man of me. You are my Lord! You are my master. Take me or leave me.”

She:     “Why me? There are so many others who may accept you. I do not want to be with you. Leave me alone. Take me back. I am ready to forget everything.”

He:      “You are my girl. God gave you to me. How can I leave you?”

 

 

 

 

 

She:    “What has got into your thick head? Why don’t you understand? We are not meant for each other. We both go different ways. I am east. You are west. The Twain shall never meet.” “East wind shall prevail over West wind.”

He:     “Women are meant to be loved. Never to be understood.”

She:    “Idiot! How I hate you! I detest you. Take me back. I tell you last time.”

( She takes a few steps away from him. She stops on the side of the way.)

He:    “Hey! What has got unto you? Why are you not walking? We have to go long.”

(She starts walking. Numb. Statue but she resumes walking carrying the sack.

She speaks as if to herself.)

She:    “How did he expect me to react? to fall in his arms?”

He:      “How’d I know? May be.”

She:    “I am sorry to disappoint you. I hate you for everything.”

He:      “I am not disappointed. This is fine with me. Just walk.”

(She stops.)

She:    “You know? What happens next?”

He:      “How’d I know?”

 

She:     “We shake hands. We part as friends. That is what happens next.”

He:    (He nodded.) “Yes. I agree. Remember I loved you. You can not leave me in the woods like this. I will die. I will jump over the hill and kill myself.”

He:     “I can not live without you. I love you. I have not looked at any one except you. You are everything for me. If you will reject me where will I go?”

 

 

 

 

He:    “It is better to die than to live without your love.” “I have no where else to go.”

He:     “Why don’t you understand?”

He:     “I have no one except you.”

He:     “You are my everything.”

He:     “What is life without you?”

He:     “I will sure die without you.”

 

(She bursts into tears involuntarily. She turns away her face to hide the tears. She hates herself for putting herself in such vulnerable condition. She stares into the woods blankly. She hopes someone might rush to her rescue and save her. Nothing  happens.)

 

He:    “What all this dramatics means? Why are you so unkind to me?”

(She is full of rage. She is red with anger.)

She:   “You fool! You can’t take things for granted. I don’t love you. You can’t...”

(Incomplete)

He:     “I had to find out.”

She:   “What!”

He:     “That you do love me.”

She:   “If I loved you I would have let you know since we were last together. Much has happened since but there is no love. Now do you understand? If I loved you,” “You would have known. I would have cared for you.”

He:     “Would you?”

She:   “Yes.”

(She faces him. Looks him up. Her face is red and flushed.) You we’d have known.

He:     “How? How w’d I know?”

She:   “Idiot! You could have known, seen. We are not clever to hide it. You had to look.”

 

 

 

(She felt she should have kept quiet. She should not have spoken.) Any way done is done. Now it could not be undone. The damage was done.

(He looks now. He looks closely.)

(To her utter surprise, she finds that, what  she uttered was quite true. A woman can not hide her feelings.)

(He was seeing love now. He did what he was required to do. He kissed her.)  She did as the girls do. Say "No" and take it.   She gave him an upward look, her eyes dilated, she caught her breath.   She turned about. She was transparent with love. He could see.   He caught hold of her hand. He turned her towards him. He was fast and efficient. She shrank back a little.  He took her hand,  raised  to his lips and kissed.    Her shrinking ceased.  She seemed to tremble towards him. .  Sweet warmth overtook them both from head to toe.   It seemed she was pleased at the touch of his lips.   Yielding to an impulse, he drew her close to him. He was a veteran.    

 

 

He put his arms around her, pressed her to him hard, real hard and kissed. She went pale. She closed her eyes; her eyelashes lay on her cheeks.   Her hands lay inert at her sides.

Should she stop at once? Or let this go on?  She was aware that if she took no action now, later it might be not so easy. She thought she could come to like him. She felt stirring of desire within her. They were kissing and she returned the pressure of his lips.  The tip of his tongue came lightly into her mouth. She met it with her tongue tip and it had a really tingling effect.  He tightened his arms around her. She felt his thighs pressing tighter. His hands were moving, caressing her back. 

 

 

 

The right one dropped lower, the hand passed lightly over the back of her skirt. Then more heavily, each caress pulling her more closer. She felt the bulkiness. It stirred.  She knew that this was the moment to break away otherwise, anything could be a certainty. The touch of her breasts with his chest was sensational    It sent wild quivers in her body. He sighed. He released her. She was relieved.

Again he took her fiercely in his arms.  He embraced her fiercely. He thrust his lips over  hers wildly. He kissed savagely. He opened the lips. He was doing an excellent job. This time her hands were not inert; they went around his shoulders by reflex action.  The tongues met. Both drank each other’s saliva in full. They liked each other.

Both were aroused. Both were unaware of what was happening to them. Both were excited.  Both are kissing hard, harder and harder. Time is standing still. Wind is standing still.

World is standing still. Atmosphere is standing still. Sun was standing still.

After an eternal embrace and prolonged kiss he let her free to breathe. They were happy.

(She moves back , turns her face towards the trees wipes her mouth and utters )

She:“ You are hell of a man I have ever seen. You should not have done that.”

He:   “Did n’t you like it?”

She: “What did you expect? I w’d fall at your feet? No! Never!”

He.   “How w’d I know?  I don’t know what happens next.”

She: “I know what happens next. We bid good bye.”

He:   (frowns). “Alright! As you say.”

She: “I allowed you to kiss. Now let me go.”

He:   “You can go. Let us walk a further.”

 

 

 

 

 

She:  “This is nice of you. I don’t mind we kissed. I don’t mind you or blame you for anything. Every man is susceptible to temptation. Now let me go. I want to be back. I promise I’ll always remember you.”

He:  “You can go. Thanks for everything. I ‘ll. go alone to the hill and jump overboard.”

He:   “That is the punishment I deserve. I want to die. What is life without you?”

She: “I’m sorry. I do not love you. Why don’t you understand? You will not get a  medal if you jumped and killed. So why be mad and kill you? Why not live!”

He:   He rushes to her. “Really? Do you want me to live?”

 

He takes her in his arms, presses her tightly against him as if to break her into pieces. He crushes her violently to his chest. He kisses her like a hungry beast. His embrace is so fierce that she melts into his hands. This time she does not protest. She is one with him.

It appears she wanted him to love so fiercely. After a long, long kiss and a long embrace he sets her free to breathe. They are now onto a large garden of trees. 

She:    “I can not believe myself. How I came this far with you.”

He:    “On your tiny feet. One foot after another on the dry leaves, over the bridge.”

He:    “Now we are passing the garden. All have added up. The steps.”

She   “I have got to go back, man!”

He:    Al right! “Say good-bye. And here you go!”

She:  “Every time I say good bye, I get kissed.”

(He goes to a nearby stone bench. He sits.)

He:    “Come. Princess! Sit.”

 

 

 

She:  “No.”

He:   “I won’t touch. I swear.”

(She sits down on the bench but on the far corner end away from him. Quite away.)

She put, placed the sack in between. She closes her eyes, relaxing, daydreaming. Both were sitting on the same bench oblivious of each other’s presence. She remembered her classmate telling her that she had lost all serious contenders due to her vanity; she was a pampered spoilt little girl. She advised her to take a stupid boy and train him her way. According to her friend she had already missed the bus. All boys were selected. She had smiled to herself and dismissed such a thought with a jerk of her head.  She was not ready to believe she had missed the bus. She was so sure of herself.

She inhaled fresh air. She continued to inhale deeply.  She took off her sandals reclining back rather stretching her back; she wriggled her toes in joyous freedom. She rubbed her feet. She wished she had some water. She avoided asking him.

She leaned back and closed her eyes. A little shuteye would help. She is engrossed in her world of happiness.  She is glowing. Her face shines. She is silent. Sex lies in the eyes. Beauty lies in the face and grace lies in the frame. Everything is there for the earthquake to happen.  The dynamite is all ready to ignite. Only a flicker of flame would do it.

He:   Relax. “You need rest.”

She behaves as if she did not hear.

(She closed her eyes. She relaxed. Both relaxed. Both tried to sleep. He yawns and sleep. She too takes a nap. After quite a while she opens up her eyes.

 

 

 

 

 

 

She found him sleeping soundly. She moved close to him. She eyed him with new respect. She watched him, did not do anything to disturb him. After a while, he moves a little. She nudges.) 

She could not believe herself that she had missed the bus in her life to find a school-boy as a life partner.  It was very alarming. The thought of finding a stupid one and train him as per her way was haunting her. To her Jimmy seemed a perfect stupid one. He needed to be trained as per her way. The very thought of bringing this egoistic roughrider to her heels began to delight her. What a brilliant idea to torment him! How lovely to end the evening with him enough to entreat and plead; then slam the door in his face!  She was engrossed in her calculations. She was in her reverie and muttering to herself. She came out of her thoughts with a jerk.

 

She:  “Get up, get up, it is almost evening. I want to go. I am due to be at home.”

(He rubs his eyes. He stares at her wide-eyed.)

She: “What are you staring at me? Have you not seen me? as if you seeing me first time.” She scolded him mildly.

(He stands up. He does not reply. He carries the over-night bag and moves on the road on his way to the hill without a word.) He was in control of the situation.

She stands up. She advances further. She is thinking debating with herself.  She is in two minds debating what to do, to follow or not to follow.   She wanted to decide to retreat or to follow. She carries the sack and follows.

 

 

 

 

 

 

They reach half way to the hill. He takes a turn on a secluded small path, side way of a narrow strip. She does not protest. She does not bicker. She seemed reconciled.  She does not grumble. She follows. The weather was mild.

 

Sun  played hide and seek continually from behind a patch of grey white cloud. There was no hint of rain.  Sky looked yellow.  Light wind was blowing. The atmosphere was pleasant romantic.

 

Atmosphere invited love, reunion. No difference, no quarrel.  Difference melted into each other, one forgiving the other. Both sacrificed their grievance. Both longed to be in the embrace of each other.  So was the force of nature. Both fell victims to it. Birds were in the nest making love.  Our two birds also wanted to reach the nest in haste. They now came to the temple on way to the cave. They bye-passed it, wanting to reach the cave as soon as they could. They crossed the woods.  They breathed deeply. They were tired; exhausted.

The journey was an uphill task. It was necessary to be careful; cautious.  He takes a turn sideways still to a narrow strip of path, of steps. She saw him.    She wonders where he is going. She follows.

 

She advanced further behind him. Weather is mild. Light wind is blowing. She felt. All this blended together created an atmosphere of bliss and happiness.  It was a sight to see crunch of her joints as moved on the dry leaves making a creaking noise. The wind blew all of a sudden; her white frock curled up her waist like an umbrella. Her upper part was moist with perspiration, with darkened patches under her armpits, revealing a silhouette of her body. 

 

 

 

The Sun was playing hide and seek.  It looked as if it might rain any moment.  They hoped it might not rain till they safely reached the abode. They thought. Light wind rustled branches of the trees.  Atmosphere was pleasant. He attempted to see through corners of the eyes. He could not spot her. He turned his neck in a startled manner worried. 

 

He found her trotting behind little far off at slow pace.  He reduced his strides almost trotting to be in pace with her. He slowed his march. He was in gay mood whistling lightly merrily as he headed along the ridge towards the cave. He was in high spirits. He felt like stopping to take a gulp of wine. He thought better not to do so. She may not like it.  She might not come further. At this rate he expected to reach the cave within the next half-hour. His feelings were aroused.  He was floating in the air. He was on top of the world.  Events had taken place as he had planned and as per schedule. 

 

He looked forward to take her in his arms once again all the way all the while removing all barriers and boundary created by the society.  He longed to be one with her, melt into her once and for all time to come.  He longed to caress her tiny body with his hungry fingers.  He longed to see her frame without any clothes. He dreamt. He wanted to see her whole body by his naked eyes. He dreamt.

 

He wanted to eat her, devour her like a hungry beast he was in the real sense of the term.  Last time his hands had felt a touch of her body but the eyes had not set its sight on her vital parts. The unfinished task was to be completed.

 

 

 

 

 

 

He wanted to be careful and see that things did not get spoilt in the last leg of the journey. If things went all right he dreamt of spending the whole night in her company- a rare opportunity no human being could hope to aspire in his lifetime.

 

She followed him at slow pace. The heath and bracken brushed beneath her tiny feet, again the wind caught the skirts of the frock, bellowed like an umbrella revealing her thighs clad in white panties.

 

He had a glimpse of blotches of perspiration and the darkened black patches under the armpits. He was moved to see her so tired and fatigued. He wanted to lift her in hands. Her hair was dark brown frame of ribbon curls flying behind as she moved. Sky was blue. She was seeing him going ahead. She was following him.  At last they reached vicinity of the cave. They were relieved. They were happy.

 

She too was out of breath fatigued and tired to proceed further.  He continued climbing uphill towards the mouth of the cave. 

 

She:  “Wait.”

She:  “Wait for me.” 

She shouted. She signaled with one hand raised.

She called out aloud.  Her face perspired. Her voice got blown away in the wind.

 

He did not hear. When they reached gate of the cave, rather the entrance, she was utterly exhausted. She had worn out. She stumbled in her steps and would have fallen down had he not anticipated the same and rushed to her, lifted her up in his arms before she could fall on the ground.

 

 

 

 

He had seen her coming. He was alert and ready.  He had seen her steps buckling and faltering, she would have a fall had he not run to her rescue. He dropped his bag and grabbed her in his arms for eternity for all lives to come in perpetuity and for all times to come. Both remained in each other’s arms for quite a while. Her breasts gasped heaved and tightened in touch with his chest.

 

He sighed. He let her go. A bird chirped on the nearby tree. She felt it as a sign of good omen.

She took his hand. She took it to her cheeks. She kissed it in appreciation of his coming to her rescue.

 

As if suddenly ashamed, her face was red hot with love and lust, she fled to the other side on pretext of fresh air. He moved to explore the cave.  She wished he would follow and take her.

He adjusted the sack and the overnight bag in a corner, went out, collected some branches of the trees and made a sort of a broom out of the stems and leaves. She saw him leave.

 

He cleaned the floor removing the dust and the leaves and made it inhabitable. She dropped herself in one corner on a piece of stone served as a place of sitting. She sat on it in the semi darkness of the front portion of the cave. She was dog-tired almost with no strength left in her.  He proceeded to examine the mouth of the inner part of the cave.  A big stone was hurled up on its mouth. He saw. She saw. He surveyed the things for a while. He debated with himself. He moved out on the outside and returned with a log of a wood, serving purpose of a pole. She saw him.

 

 

 

 

He wedged the pole in the hole and used all his strength to remove the piece of stone that blocked the mouth.  He tried. The piece of heavy stone did not budge. She continued looking.

He pressed log to the side of the hole using it as a lever to force out the stone. She saw it.  The stone did not move. Instead the log of wood made a creaking noise; a creak like noise, gave away the grip and it broke away into two pieces over-throwing him with one piece of log in his hand. She could not help, burst out of laughter, at the sight seeing him succumbed to the floor with a mighty thud. He fell full length flat on the floor.  He was sweating and was wet with perspiration. His body ached with pain.

 

His elbows got scratched. He was not disheartened. He was determined.  He rose and moved out to find a sturdy piece of a log.  There was an untold type of stamina and strength in him. 

He inserted a new log in the hole and applied his full force to open it up. She saw it.  She clasped her hands as if to encourage him. She stood up to cheer him up.

Her breath was held up seeing him; his whole frame was hanging on the pole.

 

He was wrong. It was a waste.  She argued that the front portion of the cave was enough for their brief stop over. There was no need to strain to open the mouth of the cave by removing a huge stone, which had firmly embedded in the hole.  She called it a waste and asked him to stop. She made a last effort to stop him.  He was undeterred. He put the log in the hole with fresh measurement and hanged on to it in full length. She rose from her seat ran to him, she joined.

 

 

 

She:  “Go on, I think I saw the stone move a bit.” She encouraged him.

He:       “I know. I felt it too.” He replied back.

With encouragement from her it seemed his strength had doubled.

She went to help him. Both hanged on to the pole. Both joined in the mission.

Result. The big stone moved and toppled down. Both also toppled down upon each other.

The hole led to an inner place. Both could not conceal excitement.

He:     “Look! There is an inner room”

He wanted to enter the inner part.  He waited and surveyed the things.  He shouted and asked her to come with broom. She entered the cave with the made-up broom. He cleaned, collected all leaves and dust making it inhabitable for the night.

Both came out exhausted, faces full of dust like chimneysweepers.

 

Their knees had gone stiff for want of proper leg movement. They were on their way to reach the top to move out. She shivered. She wavered. He was behind her. He noticed.

He:   “Hey!” “You are out of air!”

He cried, sympathy oozing from him.

He put his hands around her. She clung to him fiercely, not attempting to shrink.  Their knees were stiff. While slipping out of the hole, he staggered.

The girl behind gave a deep gasp and held out her hand.  He took it. He wanted to kiss it but he refrained himself.  Both came close to each other. She offered her shoulder as a support.  He  leaned on her. Both came out, short of air.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

He: “Let us go out. The sun is still in the sky.”

She did not wait. There is a brook nearby. They moved out in the open. They heaved a sigh of relief. She said to herself that she would never go back in the inner part. She would like to spend her time in the open lobby. She was afraid to go in the inner cave.  Her sixth sense refused her to go in.