Great expectations

Discussion between Arun and Deepika.

Deepika: Have you started reading the book, " Men are from mars and Women from Venus" Arun?

Arun : Pause.

Scratching his head, " No."

("Phool aur kaante"- Picture courtesy - Ydntn photography)

"I knew you wouldn't have; but just asked," Deepika frowned.

Deepika turned her face towards the balcony and said scornfully, " Okay! Don't read. Do what you want to. "

A minute silence....... this silence prevailed a bit longer than usual. Deepika could never remain silent for more than 5 minutes but it was a miracle and Arun certainly had to question this miracle.

Normal Deepika would ask within 1 minute of making the above statement, "When will you read Arun?"

It was not the same case today. He snatched the book from her hand and looked at it. Flipped through the pages and made certain amusing sounds just to grab her look. She didn't bother.

He took the book. Went to some random page and started reading out aloud.

Arun: Opening with the quote by Dr. John Gray-----

"All men and women have an equal need for love. When these needs are not fulfilled it is easy to have our feelings hurt, for which we blame our partner. "

"So true right!"he said out aloud near Deepika's ears.

"Do you feel so dear?"

Deepika looked at him scornfully again but this time there was a lesser extent of disgust.

She said, " How does it matter what I think?Anyway you will get bored of my talks."

She moved away from him and sat on a cane chair facing him.

He smiled again and continued reading.

She stopped him in the middle and asked, " What's the point in reading this when you don't understand what he is saying in this book? Do you realize what is being told?"

Arun looked very innocently at her. He put the book away for a moment and then kneeled on the floor in order to meet her eyes.

He looked straight into her eyes that were shying away and said, " Look, my dear princess, I understand each and every word that has been written here. I want to tell you something today. Just listen to me. I will drive away your misconceptions."

She blinked her eyes which gave him a signal to proceed. he took the book and went on the opposite cane chair and relaxed himself.

There have been so many instances where you might feel that I have not been up to your expectations. It is quite possible. Not just with you, but with anyone. Nobody is perfect but we just compliment each other.

These are certain things, I want you to understand.

Deepika had never heard Arun talk this way. he was always playful and never actually showed this advising side of his. He looked so mature than her and today she felt that he was certain elder to him in age as well as experience.

Our love has got its beautiful as well as ugly side. It has to be there otherwise we aren't normal. What I want you to do is that you live those instances happily. Try making yourself feel lively despite those horrible feelings.

I might be unknowingly hurting you at times when I don't realize about my acts. It a guy mentality. We are just careless and we don't bother about what others think with small things. Until things are very harshly said we don't realize it is meant to do any harm to someone. Our hearts are not as delicate as you think but we aren't heartless too. Emotions, pain, fear, anger, despair, resentment , ego, everything resides but all I need you to do is just realize the simple fact that I might be from a different planet but I am also like you.

It was long lecture so Arun decided to stop for a while and wait for to speak but Deepika was still as dumb as 30 minutes back. She had a frown on her face and there were lot of things running in her tiny brain( considering that the female brain is a little smaller in size than the mail brain).

Arun wanted some positive reply but he chose to continue further without that too.

There's something which I have found out from your previous complaints that you seem to have a problem with my communicating less with you. Is it still troubling you?

He asked a question expecting an answer but there wasn't.

He said to her, " Do you want to say something?"

" No", she replied sternly.

" You are angry?" Arun asked.

" No", she replied.

" You can continue, " she added.

Arun heaved a sigh of relief and said, " Okay, so you are understanding my point of view?"

" Yes".

That was something affirmative enough for him to proceed.

"Why do you have such high expectations from me when you know I am not that type to come up to those specific expectations? Do you feel that they realistic?"

She gave a horrible look.

He looked pissed off and asked, " What do you want to say? Just say it."

" Look here, I have certain expectations which I can't bring down as they are the basic expectations which any girl has. I will try to at least look for those in you, " Deepika finally spoke up after 45 minutes of silence.

"What if you don't find them in me ever?" Arun asked her seriously.

Deepika kept blinking and then said, " I don't know. I will be upset. I will tell you that I am not happy about it and ask you to help me out ."

Arun, " Uh!! again the same thing."

" Will you ever accept me Deepika?" Arun asked desperately.

" What's wrong with you Arun? I have accept you as my life partner 3 years back. What sort of a question is that?" Deepika said.

" I have always loved you and accepted you."

" That's not what I am talking about. I want you to accept that there are certain things in me which you can't expect to change overnight. I need to be accepted to feel the change coming easily, " Arun said in a soft tone.

" I don't know what you mean Arun but it is upsetting to know this from you. Why do you feel I shouldn't have any expectations from you? We all have it in us. These are not something which cannot happen. Everyone is like this, " Deepika said still sticking to her point of view.

Actually Deepika was blinded by her own ideas and fact. She never thought through Arun's point of view. She had this feeling withing her that hurt her ego which said, " Why can't he do this little thing for me ? It's not something great to be asked for."

She actually didn't realize that these changes were bound to happen only with time and freedom. Only if she gave him the freedom to change, will he change feeling happy to do something for her.

Things don't come by force or by complaining. They have to be left free.

Men need lot of acceptance and women need love.

It's difficult to strike a balance here because men know how to give acceptance easily. This includes, freedom as well and trust but for them giving out love in the form of expressions is a little slow. Women, on the other hand are very comfortable giving love but the ability to accept their man takes time.

All women are in a fantasy land.

It's those romantic movies, books, gossips or those numerous stories that inspires them to dream this way. This is somehow driving them away from reality and to take a woman out of the dream land, is a man's toughest job. This takes time and this time is not fixed. It's the man who has to take the initiative to explain to his woman that it is high time they start looking at reality.

This process is just like removing knots from a long string. We don't want the string to break but we want to remove those knots.

Arun told Deepika, " Just because I am not reading stuff on relationships doesn't mean that I don't know about them. We guys don't talk about all this but its an understanding that develops automatically. In fact, I have learnt a lot about effective communication from you. "

Someone has said, "Because someone doesn't love you the way you want them to doesn't mean they don't love you with all they have."

" In the same way, I love you a Deepika but my way of showing love is different than you expect. Of course I realize what you like and dislike but I need that freedom and happiness to show you my love the way i can, " Arun said holding her hands tightly.

Deepika had a feeble expression on her face. She looked sad after listening to all that and she was lost in thoughts already. Arun had spoken so much and it did affect her . She managed to hold back her tears as she was realizing that she had also done a mistake. She was also very immature to understand about her relationship.

Arun felt that she was upset because what he had told and he was regretting for telling her all that. He didn't know that she was not upset with what he had told. She was upset with her own self. Complicated as women are. It's difficult to understand this until men are told about it.

Deepika was quite lost but Arun made it a point to bring her back to the normal self. He took few small beautiful flowers from a flower pot, collected them together and gave it to her and said, " Will you accept me?"

It was a surprise gesture from Arun. Deepika smiled with her heart full of mirth and alacrity. She felt so happy and surprised to see that sweet action.

It was enough for Arun. He felt relieved.

She held his hand tightly and said, " Don't worry. I am not upset with what you told me. I understand your point of view."

A drop of tear trickled from the corner of her eyes.

Love is sometimes denied, sometimes lost, sometimes unrecognized, but in the end, always found with no regrets, forever valued and kept treasured.

With you....

Courtesy- Ydntn( Vaidyanathan.S)

I look at your quizzical eyes,

I wonder what is in your mind my little one.

Is it fear, question, anxiousness, surprise or innocence?

Why do you look at me and wonder?

This is not the time for you to ponder;

I stand there thinking.... Life is going to be so wonderful with you.

The Road Trip

Courtesy - Ydntn( for the above picture)

They say that in this journey of love, one has to travel through those deserted, mist covered roads, those paths that have never been taken by anyone, the paths that pave the way for a brighter future and an endearing life ahead. Sometimes, one has to travel those paths which inspire others to follow. Those mist covered roads look beautiful but they have an emotion to convey. One has to tread on such roads and make life worth living in the name of love.

“Pass me the helmet please,” Aditya said.

She didn’t listen to him of course and was busy admiring something in his bike.

Aditya called out again but she didn’t listen. He got down from his bike to see his girl bent down and admiring the rim of the wheel behind. He questioned in his mind, “What is she finding so interested about the wheel suddenly when it’s time to leave?”

He held the handle of his bike, bent close to her and tickled at the back of her neck and ruffling her hair with his leather glove covered hand.

She got up with start as she felt tickled. There was a gleam in her eyes as she turned towards Aditya. She looked as if something important had happened.

“What sweets?” Aditya asked her.

“Do you know how to change a bike’s tyre?” she asked innocently.

“I think I know but I haven’t done it practically. I never got a chance though.”

He paused and thought for a while whether he actually knew it or not but it was of course obvious that an adventure and bike freak like him would know.

“Why are you asking me this now? We are getting late. We need to travel a lot, you know that,” he said looking at her.

Aishwarya still seemed to be in her happy world. She didn’t react to what he said.

“It’s interesting,” she said.

“What’s interesting? Getting late?” he asked in a confused tone.

He was certainly not getting what she wanted to say.

She was back to her senses then. She hit on his arm and said, “ Stupid, I am telling about the changing- the tyre- thing.”

“I know it,” she said triumphantly.

“Oh, really!!”Aditya said.

“You must be kidding.”

“No my dear, I learnt this through a website and a demonstration to change a punctured bike’s tyre. It’s interesting but I haven’t tried it personally. Look I have this instruction panel also. I just took down some points,” she said handing over few sheets of paper where she had scribbled.

“Impressive,” Aditya said.

He thought, “I never knew my girl will read about all this too, apart from those fashion and gossip magazines.”

He smiled at her while she still seemed so excited about it.

He handed over the papers to her and said, “Keep this, at least when my bike gets punctured I won’t need a mechanic.”

Aishwarya felt a great responsibility on her shoulder. She was a little cautious and she said, “You have to help me. I can’t do it alone.”

Aditya came forward, cupped his hands around her cheeks and then nudged her head with his head.

“No, I am not going to help you; I’ll just watch you Miss Mechanic.”

She was smiling innocently but she had no clue what was going on in Aditya’s mind.

“Take the helmet. We have to reach there on time before others can,” she said.

Aditya thought, “Thank God she realized it soon.”

Off they went on narrow lanes, crowded roads, busy squares, honking the horn each time stopping at signals and ready to leave the city to unravel a photo adventure story which was the topic of this competition.

“Just note down the kilometer reading in your phone, we’ll need this for documentation,” Aditya said removing the front cover of his helmet.

“Okay”, Aishwarya shouted back.

She was busy behind, holding the camera which hung around her neck, adjusting the focus so as to capture all those important landmarks which they could document. Her mind was in full action. She let Aditya do his driving comfortably without talking to him much. She had to handle his tripod behind which kept moving from one side to the other at the same time manage the heavy bag on her shoulder, take care of her hair which was already flying in the air and had entangled badly. She managed to take out a pen from her pocket and jotted down the important details on her travel guide book. They certainly had to stick to the plan they had made or else they would lose track of their route. Their aim was to write about a travel experience they had while visiting a place not known to many and had to document it with pictures.

“Adi I am not able to take good pictures, my hands are not being steady. How to change to speed mode? I don’t know anything dear. I think I’ll spoil all the important pictures. Can you slow down a bit? Can you please tell me?” Aishwarya went on and on.

Adi was smiling to himself which was certainly not visible because of the front cover. He was enjoying the confusion she was going through. He did slow down and explained things to her and she did as told. She was feeling triumphant at those small instances where she could capture what she wanted to. She kept thinking and imagining about the story as she was going to write the story with Adi’s help of course. She had her job to do. Aditya kept talking to her and asked her about which route to take which not to. They got confused and she kept blinking thinking what to do. Nevertheless, there’s always an option to ask people. When one can communicate well, there’s no problem in finding out routes.

They had chosen to go to a place which was 20 km out of the city and they had chosen a small village which was near Kananbera. It was supposed to be famous for its paddy and miller crops as well as the scenic beauty.

Aishwarya had always wanted to look at a day in the life of a villager and had wanted to experience the joy of being so close to the essence of being an India. Aditya of course had his reason which was to go on a drive as well as take his girl along.

People kept staring at them as they entered into the rural areas where the roads were proper but narrow. The municipality had taken good care of the connectivity.

“What’s the plan of action now?” Aditya asked her.

“Let’s have breakfast somewhere here. I am very hungry.”

They got down from the bike and went to a small roadside tea shop that had only one wooden bench enough for 3 people to sit. They had no other option but stick to homemade ‘tava dosa’ with a white blob of butter on top. It was served with coconut chutney and to add on there was chilly bajji with it. Aditya was so lost in his food that he had no count of the number of dosas he had consumed. Aishwarya was enjoying her coffee sipping it from a small earthen cup and looking at the paddy fields that extended quite far.

They were near their destination but there was so much to do before that. Aditya got recharged after that amazing breakfast and took a few snapshots of the scenic beauty around.

The golden sunlight and the blue sky seemed to be a description that had come alive out of those travel guide books. This was worth their visit.

The smell of the soil which was drying slowly in the sun was something which one could experience just once in such trips. The dried soil had already covered their shoes by then.

Aishwarya tried to climb on some trees which were easy to reach and half the time was spent posing for pictures that Adi took.

They didn’t talk much but they seemed to enjoy each other’s company. They had learnt to enjoy with each other’s happiness.

Aishwarya was really interested in what Aditya liked. The path ahead was not as smooth as expected. Taking note of all the places they crossed and the lanes they were entering into, Aishwarya could figure out they were just nearing that village. Aditya kept driving and they went inside. The rural part of India was unleashed. The same description that was there in books was still alive. That was the exciting part. They kept moving ahead slowly and finally found out a place where they could keep the bike, lock it and then explore the village. There happened to be a helpful fellow in whose shop that massive bike stood.

Aishwarya had already worn her cap as it was getting hotter and hotter. Aditya kept wiping the perspiration on his head and adjusted his camera to do his job. Aishwarya was relieved that finally she didn’t have to adjust the setting so much. She was happily roaming around looking at everyone. There were kids playing near a hand pump. Splashes of water were flying in the air. She could see that innocence and sense of freedom in the eyes of those kids.

She looked at Aditya clicking some candid pictures and said putting her hand on his shoulders, “I wish I could just forget the world and enter into that pool of water. Girls have to be so conscious about things. Huh!”

Aditya took his eyes from the camera and look at her. He said with a big grin rolling his eyes and copying Aishwarya’s gesture, “Here comes your next dialogue: You lucky guys.”

He said this and started laughing. She glared at him and put her hands around her waist.

“We lucky guys- The losers,” he continued.

She heard this and frowned as he was still laughing. She made a face and turned around and walked off throwing the bag on the ground.

Aditya was still smiling at her. He dusted the bag and called her out in a very sweet tone. In his hearts of hearts he knew she’ll smile.

His camera was ready and as she turned there was that same smile that he always got flattered with.

There went the camera. Aishwarya could just see the wide smile as his face was covered by the camera.

She said, “Enough of photography. Let’s go to some of the houses here and ask them where we can get a nice staple diet of the villagers.

The shady place, the hot sun, the itchy grass didn’t seem to irritate her then. She took out her diary and started jotting down some points which she could mention in that coverage story.

Aishwarya thought, “I don’t feel poetic but I feel like a writer today.”

“I am enjoying this, “she said with a contented look on her face.

“So am I,” Aditya said.

They found some helpful villagers who showed the way to the paddy fields and they managed to go half way but Aishwarya was scared of insects biting her so she walked back.

Some of the helpful women were kind enough to let her into their houses and let her have a look at the lifestyle. She explained to them in the local language that she was taking all the information for a cover story. She boasted a lot just to get enough matter to write an amazing story.

Aditya said, “This is not done. Cheating!”

Sticking out her tongue at him she said, “Everything is fair.”

They continued this session for a while and had a typical lunch what the villagers had.

Boiled rice, dal, vegetables, cool water from a mud pot, few chapati’s and to end with, there was butter milk. Nothing could beat the homely food and the cool place. The best thing to do was to sit on the floor and eat in those huge round steel thalis. It seemed so much like a travel and living episode.

When Aishwarya’s mind worked more she spoke less and Aditya was spared this time with her non- stop talks.

They went back to the place where the bike was kept. The seat wasn’t hot, thanks to that shopkeeper, it received enough shade.

They moved a bit ahead. Aditya was a little slow this time while driving as the roads were not laid down properly. There were huge stones jutting out so every now and then he was losing balance. They managed to move ahead. It was time for rest. They found a huge banyan tree where they could sit under the shade.

It was certainly the time to relax and talk. Aishwarya was fully equipped with a small blanket to sit on and a packet of jiggery coated groundnut. They spoke for some time, closed their eyes and dosed off resting their head on each other’s shoulders and the back on the tree trunk.

Aishwarya was woken up because an ant bit her on her hand.

“Ouch!” she screeched.

They woke up with a start and there was a red eruption on her hand.

They had no idea that it was half an hour that they were still sitting there.

It was time to head back because their idea was to reach home before it was dark.

There was nothing much to explore while going back and they had no energy left to stop and look around. Aishwarya was doing her job well and while returning she held Aditya tightly as he rode and fell asleep while he was driving.

It happened so that Aditya spoke about his bike and the mileage for 5 minutes and this girl was already taking her nap resting on his back and holding him tight.

He realized that and said, “Girl, you are sleeping? Open your eyes and look around.”

“Dude, I am bored. Let’s just go back home,” she said in a desperate tone.

“I can’t sit on this bike anymore.”

She giggled and giggled saying this and in another 1 hour they were back home. Aditya could feel the tiredness once he got fresh and fell flat on the bed.

Aishwarya was full charged up after a hot water shower.

She sat down with her hair tied in a neat knot. Wore her glasses, took out the notepad, opened a new page on Microsoft Word and wrote: The Road Trip.

One call away

That day I sat forlorn and wretched,

That day I felt there was nothing to do.

That day I felt my mind was a monster house,

I couldn't just stop thinking.

I wanted to do something but think nothing,

My passion, my freedom, my desires, my ideas were lost in thin air;

Staring at the walls seemed interesting.

There was a fear in my mind, reasons which were unknown.

Dreams were to be dreaded,

laughter was miles away from me;

The only motto I had was to think of something and get worried,

The leech like creature called 'something' was sucking the energy out of my mind.

My brain was as maim and crippled as ever.

The only solution left was to stop thinking and follow my heart.

My solution was just one call away.............

Morning Walk

Jogger’s track seemed full that morning. Generally the population in the morning seemed scarce there unlike that morning. Ananya didn’t feel like taking that path today. Those married couples who seemed to give her an inspiration made her feel very insecure. There was a gang of boys of some sports group who had come with their coach. The sound of that whistle, the sound of the bikes that were screeching past in the silence of the morning, irritated her. She walked a little distance away from the hustle-bustle and managed to get some peace. Those dry leaves that looked beautiful reminded her of the Maple leaf effect in the movie Mohabbatein , seemed lifeless as they were. Something was pricking her and Ananya wanted to run away from the noise. She wanted a peaceful morning.

She walked nearly half a kilometer on that grey cemented track that certainly looked grey to her that morning. She spotted a couple holding hands and walking by and trying to argue on a silly topic like tying as shoelace. The girl bent down to tie her shoelace when her guy pushed her aside naughtily. She lost balance and fell aside. She got up brushing that mud off from her hands and her track pants and looked at him with fiery eyes but those eyes were sparkling with love. Ananya felt like smiling but she controlled her giggles and walked away. Finally she was at peace. She walked and walked and kept walking not realizing where she was going. There were just trees around her and she reached a different lane where she had never been before. She continued walking and came to a halt suddenly. That path seemed familiar yet strange to her. Where was her mind? She couldn’t recollect any past memory with that place but she certainly felt spooky thinking about her own behavior. Ananya closed her eyes and tried to calm down. Thousands of questions pooped up.

She asked herself, “How do I go back? Why was I so absentminded? What was I thinking about? What made come this far? Am I going to ask for a way back to my own house where I have been staying for the past 15 years? That place which has always been my home seems strange to me now. How did I manage to run away from the crowd and come here? Am I worried about something? Is something pricking me? I hope I have not become psychotic.”

Drops of perspiration accumulated on her forehead. Ananya was worried without knowing the actual reason. She took out her cell phone and looked at the time. It was 7:30AM. It was one hour since she had left home. She thought, “What if dad calls up and asks me where I am. I don’t know where I have come but I certainly have to find a way out to reach home.”

She wandered in that lane for some time. There was an abandoned house behind which there was a lane that could possibly lead her to a connecting lane. There was no way out but to jump over that fence. She climbed the wall and got to that lane somehow. A rough path led to the main street. “Phew, I have never done like this before,” Ananya said heaving a sigh of relief. She could now get an idea to go back home taking the right way.

She was back on track and finally gave forethought to her weird behavior. “I think I know the reason for this stupid behavior,” Ananya said to herself.

She took out her phone, scrolled down to N and dialed Nishant’s number.

“Hi, what’s up? Good morning sweets. How are you doing? I have been waiting for your call from past 5 days. Where have you been? Are you okay?” Nishant uttered in a single breath.

“I was not able to move out of the house these days so couldn’t call you. I have been feeling irritated and weird. I acted crazy this morning too but I think I know the reason now. I miss you,” Ananya said very enthusiastically. Finally, she knew the reason of that irritation.

Nishant smiled to himself and replied, “I know. I………”

Ananya’s cell phone battery gave away at the right moment. She cursed her fate and her cell phone and rushed inside her house.

It’s something called love…………..

They say that there’s always some madness hidden behind being in love. They say we fall in love but there’s also something, where one rises in love. There are wings attached and we fly high using those wings of imagination. It’s a journey to a world full of desires to be fulfilled, dreams to accomplish and those fantasies. Those sheepish smiles, bright sparkling eyes, wandering thoughts, dispersed attention, funny ideas, wondering at everything normal as if it were new and finding new things. Talks about romance become more interesting. Romantic movies that seemed a bit dull have an added spark as in all those the characters have been replaced by one and only one.

There’s always someone with whom the day ends and begins with. There’s always someone who is wanted and thought about. There’s this only one who knows everything and listens to every word one says. When in love, people become poetic, thoughts seem pouring in, there’s always something to laugh or to cry about. There’s a longing, there’s a motive in love, just to be with that loves one. Creativity soars high. The brain races fast but so preoccupied with other things the brain and the heart have a tiff. They struggle to manage the same person at the same time.

That’s what leads to absentmindedness. Thoughts seem scattered. Sometimes, hours pass sitting and staring into thin air or just those bare walls seem to bright that one can smile looking at them. There’s always something great about a good weather, a cool breeze, the pitter-patter rain drops that can seem irritating at times, the smell of that strong cologne, the sound of those bikes whizzing past, the very sight of messiness looks adorable. There’s always a reason to argue, to get angry and then wait for the time to sort it out so that there’s always more love. There’s a time when waking up in the morning one feels like just hearing one voice and sleeping at night becomes so easy on those terrible days when nightmares can replace beautiful dreams because of just one person. When even little things matter and every word is coded in the brain.

You look at your cell phone and smile, go back to those messages and read and re-read. Sometimes, one’s own pictures on the desktop replace someone else’s. Looking at that person and admiring him gives such a relief. That bright smile and those naughty eyes demand for more attention. There’s that one who just want all the love and appreciation. There’s someone who makes someone’s life meaningful and there’s this someone who makes one feel wanted and loved.

There’s always someone somewhere who feels something like this sometime in life. Everyone wants to be loved. It sounds a little complicated just as in reality it is. It’s COMPLICATED.

Longing.......

"Hey...... wait!! You forgot your helmet,"Aisha screamed.

"Oh, thanks so much dear. I just love this about you," Vivek said with a wink in his eyes.

"It's too cold today morning and I forgot my jacket," Aisha said with a disappointment in her eyes.

"Ah, don't you worry baby, I have a spare jacket in my bag. Take that out,"Vivek said in a caring manner.

Aisha took that cream coloured soft jacket out and held it up to him with bright sparkling eyes that said," Please help me wear it, I would love if you do it for me."

Vivek put his bike on stand and then helped her wear the jacket. She was struggling with the zip when he held her fingers tightly and tugged them and pulled the zip up.

"There you go..... ," he said putting the collar properly.

Aisha smiled and looked straight into his eyes with love in her eyes. This small act made her so comfortable and she thought in her mind," This guy cares so much for me."

He turned her around and said," Look in this rear view mirror, how smart you look wearing my jacket."

Aisha looked at her reflection and smiled. That very smile which he could die for.

"Chalo, enough of admiring . We got to hurry," Vivek said sitting on his bike and indicated her to sit behind.

Kick start beginning of the day, for Aisha as well as for the bike. The noise of the engine echoed in the dead silence of the morning. Chilling breeze hit their face.

Aisha had put a clip on her hair but to feel that breeze through her hair she let it open and enjoyed the ride. She put her hands on his shoulder for a firm grip.

Vivek tilted his head a bit and said, " I like it."

She smiled and he put the rear view mirror properly to look at her face as she was going through various emotions while he drove with a great speed but with caution. She didn't realize that he was noticing her intermittently.

There were just some street dogs barking , the yellow street lights which were still switched on seemed to fade with the light of the dawn. The crows seemed restless at dawn.

The roads were wet with dew drops and mist that had condensed. The bike moved smoothly making a slightly splashy sound due to the water that had condensed on the road.

" Another half an hour honey and we'll be there," Vivek removed his helmet cap and told Aisha.

Aisha giggled and said," I don't mind roaming around like this without going anywhere. You drive really well."

What could have been more appreciative as this for Vivek from his girl. His chest was proud with joy. He felt triumphant again. The first time was the occasion when she had proposed to him and later he had accepted her love. She was that girl who had brought love in his life.

Half an hour post the amazing bike ride, there they were standing on top of a hill and looking at the hills covered with clouds. There was a mixture of black, green, blue and white. Somewhere between the white sky there was a tint of crimson which indicated that it was close to day break.

" I never knew this place existed. How did you manage to find something so mysterious and romantic," Aisha exclaimed.

"Ahem, mysterious?? Yes, I guess so but romantic, I guess it is but I am not able to understand that," Vivek said in a guy like innocence.

" Ah!! You will never understand what's romantic." Aisha said punching Vivek on his biceps.

"Man, your fists are strong," Vivek said, rubbing his arms.

He held her fist strongly cupping them into his right hand and pulled her close, tugged her by holding her lower back and then looked straight into her eyes. Her hands and her body wriggled to be set free but she didn't want to be left. She felt his possessiveness. Seeing a strong independent , cat -woman- like girl struggle and loose all strength made Vivek smile within. He loved to take control of that silly girl at times who always acted as his Wonder girl. He knew very well that she loved it when he did that. He held her for few more seconds and she stopped wriggling. His lips broke into a smile first and then changed into a wide grin, his teeth showing bright and with his left hand he removed a strand of hair that came on her face. She blinked her eyes continuously and then he just rubbed his fingers over brows and let her go.

She stood there still for seconds looking at him with an expression, " Why did you leave me and then also felt a sudden surge of embarrassment which made her face flush. "

Aisha's hands were still warm with his strong grip and she turned away from him to look at nature, just to hide her blushing pink face.

Her heart beat which had certainly crossed 80 by then made her stand on a rock. Vivek looked at his girl in amazement and followed her. She held her hands wide open and felt the breeze hitting her face and she was in a place where she could just hug the clouds. She turned around with a child like enthusiasm on her face and held out her hand towards Vivek, " Come on dude, come here. You must see the view."

Vivek followed what she said and they both looked at the beauty of nature. "Let's explore inside this cave like rock, " Vivek said.

They explored here and there for a while when Aisha looked at her watch suddenly. "Oh my god!!! I need to go back in an hour. It'll take one hour for us."

Vivek was busy looking around when she tugged his jacked and insisted on getting back. "We can come here again Vivek. It's an amazing place but please drop me back."

"Okay madam, as you instruct," Vivek said obeying her and understanding her plight.

"Don't you worry baby, your super hero will zoom his bike and you'll be there right in time."

They rode back through the same route but Aisha wasn't relaxed. She was perspiring. Her face showed tension and he saw that and raced his bike a little faster but he kept assuring her that nothing would go wrong. There was light already and people were there on the roads , sweepers with their bamboo sweeping sticks, auto drivers, health conscious people and daily working classes.

They were about to reach Aisha's apartment when she instructed him to drop her on the next lane in the corner. He didn't have any clue as to why she wanted that but at that moment he just chose to stay quiet and let her do whatever she wanted.

She asked him to put his bike on stand and said, " Move a bit."

He agreed without saying a word.

She took out her shoes from the bag , removed her slippers and replaced them inside. She rolled up her white socks, dusted her shoes and wore them. She took out her hair band and tied her hair in a knot and took a final look in the rear view mirror.

She removed his jacket and gave it back to him.

" That was a lovely ride honey. I love you. Bbye."

Aisha was about to turn back when he grabbed her hand and pulled it towards him and then his lips were on hers.

That was a strong and a passionate kiss and he left her immediately, she looked at him and turned around and jogged towards her house longing for more...........................