Part6 

Arnav searched here and there for the man. He stood disappointedly, brushing his hair by his fingers. He was sure that he saw the man near the tree and he uttered ARJUN. Arnav doesn't know how the man disappeared all of a sudden.

Khushi reached Arnav who followed him. She was perplexed seeing his forehead bleeding. He should have banged on the tree but he didn't sense it in the tension of searching the man.

"Stop," she said.

She wiped the blood with a cloth that she used to wipe her hand which smelled ghee. That's when he felt the pain. Arnav was gazing at her face which was being filled with worry. He forgot about the man and lost himself in her eyes. He doesn't feel anything... he doesn't want anything... it feels good to look at her eyes. He kept, looking at her letting her treat him.

At the same time, Aman and NK came there. Aman coughed to get, Arnav back to the world. Khushi stepped back from him. She became embarrassed by their gaze. Aman's gaze was teasing one whereas NK's was confused one. Thank God, they were a little aloof from people and also behind the tree. So, villagers would not have seen them together.

"You go Khushi," NK said sternly.

Khushi nodded yes and left the place.

"What happened ASR? How you bleed?"

"I saw a man here...." He sat on the rock.

"Who is he?" Aman frowned.

"Don't know"

"How did he look?" NK asked.

"He was wearing saffron dhoti and had a chest-length beard"

NK thought, shrinking his eyes.

"He had blue eyes"

"He is YOUNG MAN" NK murmured.

"Whaaat?" Both of the friends screamed.

"Yes, he is the one who has these identities in this village"

"But, Shushant told us, we can't see him easily," Arnav asked.

"He was not wrong. Even I have not seen him yet" -NK

"Then how do you sure that he is the young man?" - Arnav

"My father told me about him."- NK.

"Is he your father's friend?" Aman asked.

"He is my grandfather's friend. My father had seen him many years ago"

"Doesn't your father see him recently?"

"No"

"Then how could you guess that the man is a young man?"

"He is the only man with saffron dhoti, chest-length beard, and blue eyes."

"You also agreed to Shushant that we can't see him easily. If it is so, how I saw him?" Arnav asked with curiosity.

"We can't see him but he would see us if he wants"

"What do you mean?"

"I mean, he wants to meet you"

"But why?"

"Only he knows the reason. If he himself made you see him then there is something"

Arnav gulped hard.

"Will you take us to the temple?" Arnav requested.

"Sure... if you tell me about the dream"

Arnav nodded yes and told him everything about the dream which is haunting him for six months.

"What do you think of this dream?" NK asked.

"I don't know. I can't understand anything. Is there any ARJUN in this village?"

NK nodded clear-cut NO.

"NO... there is no Arjun here but I'm sure about one thing"

"The young man will meet you soon"

"Are you sure?"

"Yeah... the much I know, no one from THIS generation saw him. My father also saw him many years ago. If he came in front of you then he won't back off meeting you or he will convey you the message at any cost... in any way. But...I can't understand one thing."

"What?"

"Why he wants to meet you? What's the connection between you two? What does he want to tell you? What he wants you to know?"

"We will get the answers only if we meet him," Said Aman.

"Ok... I will come winding up my work. After that, I will take you to the temple"

"Ok. We will be waiting"

NK left them and got vanished in the market crowd.

Aman sat beside Arnav.

"Everything seems mysterious" Aman sighed.

"I hope the young man will clear it" Arnav said nodding yes.

"I think this Rajasthan work will become a turning point to us"

"Maybe..."

"I think you will get your partner also"

Arnav looked at him. He knew what Aman is talking about.

"I didn't get you," he said looking at the opposite side.

"I saw you being lost in someone's eyes" Aman smiled.

"I didn't expect that concern from her. I was just surprised"

"That's all?" Aman questioned.

"Yeah..."

"Then why did you get angry when Shyam talked with Khushi?"

"It's because he is not talking right"

"Oh... really?"

Arnav nodded yes.

"Are you afraid of the villagers?"

Arnav stunned at his direct question.

"Why are you silent, ASR? I'm not that dumb not to understand you. We are not just working together but we share everything together. I'm your friend ASR..."

"I agree my thoughts are wandering around Khushi since the time I saw her. I really don't know why."

"Then what's the problem to propose to her?"

"This is an orthodox and controlled village. I don't think she will accept my proposal. And we have no idea how many days we are going to stay here."

"But you can try..."

"Don't you think it's so earlier? It's just two days we came here."

Aman nodded yes pressing his lips.

"Are you in love with her?"

"I'm already confused by the things happening in my life. I don't know what's coming next. I feel I'm losing myself whenever I saw her. I was never been like this."

"Won't you let her know about your feelings?"

"I don't think I could hide it from her. I will definitely propose to her if we stay here for a long."

"If Khushi accepts you, Aman will be there for you... at any situation"

"Are you sure?" Arnav asked excitedly.

"I'm your friend ASR..."

Arnav nodded yes smilingly.

They saw NK coming. The trio started towards the temple. It started getting dark. They saw a well-maintained, small old rock temple. There was a gazebo in front of the temple. A few lamps were spreading light inside the temple.

A forest started from behind the temple. But the forest is not so thick at the beginning. They looked here and there for the YOUNG MAN but he was not there.

"NK, shall we search him in the nearby forest?"

"Ok... but we can't go deep inside. It's getting dark. We will miss the path because we don't know about the forest"

"Ok."

"Arnav, you stay here," NK said.

"But why?"

"What if the young man comes here after we go?"

"Yeah..."

Aman and NK went towards the backside of the temple. Arnav looked at the SHIV LINGA. Neither Arnav was a theist or a skeptic. He was neutral on that subject. He had been gone to many temples for the archeological survey but this small temple gave him a vibration. He sat on the gazebo, leaning on a pillar. He closed his eyes, thinking about Khushi. What will she say if he proposes to her? Will she accept his love or will deny it?

Suddenly, a blurred scene started flashing in his mind which he never had seen in his dreams before. He saw someone chasing the Rajasthani girl. She is running, in between flower plants. At first, Arnav thought, she is in danger and she was running to save herself. But she shouted,

"Arjuuuuun, catch me if you can" saying she giggled while running.

So, the guy who is chasing her is none other than Arjun. And he was damn sure, Arjun is her boyfriend. Her happy tone proved it. Suddenly, the blurred scene slowly started getting clear, especially the girl's figure.

Arnav's body sweated badly. He felt a shiver running up his spine. He opened his eyes, in taking a long breath, and panted hard because the girl in the dream is none other than KHUSHI.

To be continued...