Words Count - 3236
Attached Song - Mere Bina
___________
[Neha Mehra]

'A bed of roses' is what my life has been for ages. A protective and over friendly dad, a loving mother and an irritating monkey as a brother are my dearest and nearest ones, whom I call my 'home sweet home'. Whereas, I am the 'Pampered princess' of my Dad.

From my high school days, the only dream, my eyes glittered with was to become a doctor and earn my crush.

Life can be a trouble packet, sometimes. Makes you work hard, harder and even, the hardest. Later, leaves you in the midst of the journey, completely clueless of your next track.Same was the road of my life. I travelled and toiled as much as I could to become doctor. A renowned and reputed one.

My parents had always wanted me to be the daughter-in-law of the Mehtas'.Reading Viraj's business articles, giving him visits once in a while to socialising with him on social media platforms, I didn't leave any stone unturned to impress him.

Finally, I won. Only to be tagged as a loser on the very day of the wedding. Then, the man whom I never hoped to see again came upfront to marry me. Still, I've been trying to get Viraj because I feel Viraj and Kiara are not on a good term with each other. But, I achieved nothing.

I had no idea that the hotel incident was just a mere confusion until one day. The day Naina saw me at a conference, she literally barked at me, reprimanding me for my foolish folly.

Ultimately, everything was falling in its place. I wanted Viraj. Surfraaz confessed that he was just infatuated with me. But last night left me, quite puzzling. I don't even know why I felt anger gushing over me seeing the Caller Id.

I was frustrated.

I love Viraj, then, why was I bothered with Raaz's matters?

But, what if I've started to feel something for Raaz?

No!

I can't fall for him. He doesn't love me. He loves someone else.

Why is this 'love' so confusing?

Clutching my hair tightly with all these thoughts acquiring my head, I opened my eyes groggily, snuggling to the warm bed.

Wait a minute!

How did the blue bed sheet turn white overnight?

Something coiled around me and jumped off the warm bed, afraid out of my wits.

"What were you doing under me?" I screamed as soon as I saw Raaz.

"I was practicing 'balance a body' the whole night." He said with a sickly sweet smile.

Last night, I slept on his lap. But, he left sneakily to call that bloody princess. Then, I caught him red-handed and brought a rope to tie his hand.

"Can her highness be a little considerate enough to move to her side of bed?" He whispered, grinding his teeth.

"Only on one condition?" I put forward my request, confidently.

"Please, go ahead. Take some pain to convey it." He expressed in his overly sweet tone, which made me cringe.

"We will go out on sight-seeing." I asked him with my most appealing puppy eyes and a cute pout. A trail of coughs erupted from him as he looked at me and mumbled sternly, "Alright".

I turned over to leave. But, he grabbed me by my waist like a sac of feathers and plopped me down on the bed again. I felt my cheeks on fire as my stupid heart was busy pumping loads of blood promptly. He was dangerously close to my face.

My heart was thumping up in an increased pace and was absolutely ready to jump off my ribs. Shit, I don't want to die early of tachycardia!

"Raaz..." A hiss gushed out of my lips as his hand slid down from my waist to my thigh in a painfully slow pace. My fingers clutched his arm tightly.

"Don't ever try to pull that last night stunt again. Got it?" I nodded vigorously at his demanding voice.

"Raaz" I shrieked as his palm entered into my trouser pocket. He swiftly took out his phone and went away, winking at me.

"Need to wish my Princess a good morning." He teased and walked away, waving at me with a cherry-berry smile.

"Go to hell with your Princess!" I stomped my foot and I set out to complete my morning chores.

**

I was busy attending the patients when my phone rang.

"Hey Neha, It's Kiara." I heard.

"Yes, Kiara. Why did you call me?" I asked in a hurry as the queue of patients were increasing.

"Send me Raaz's other phone number. It's urgent." She spoke after a brief pause.

"Okay. Sent. Check it."

"Yeah, thank you. Got it."

I quickly hung up the call as I was pretty late. As I was done prescribing medications, running some tests and giving some tips, I set out in search of Raaz.

"Done with all the patients?" He questioned me and I hummed.

"Did Kiara call you?" I asked. Holding onto my curiosity was too difficult for me.

"She wants me to pick up her cousin, Megha. She is coming here for some work tomorrow morning. So, she would stay with us." He answered, patiently.

"What does she do?" I asked again, swirling my cup of coffee.

"I don't know. But, I am looking forward to meet her. I'm a big fan of foods made by her. She must be a sweet girl." He expressed with a saccharine smile.

"You think, I will let you eat anything made by her." I smirked at my thoughts.

"I am also waiting to meet her soon." I mumbled coherently.

**

In reality, sleepless nights make people restless due to high humidity. For the first time, I wasn't feeling at peace at this hour, for some unknown reason.

I turned my side to see Surfraaz soundly sleeping with a cute pout and small hairs sprawling over his forehead.

Closing the tiny distance parting us, I caressed his left cheek softly. A smile suddenly picked up on his lips. His arm coiled around my waist and he pulled me more closer if that was even possible.

We stayed still, letting the seconds slide away in the same position, though sleep was still away from my eyes as they were piercing through his, as if hypnotised.

"Not getting any sleep?" He hushed from above my head.

"I guess, you can clearly hear my snoring." I remarked, sarcastically and his chest rumbled with his free flow of laughter. I wanted to freeze the time now and here.

I ducked my head up and looked into his twinkling eyes with a smile. Unnoticed my eyes travelled to his lips, I had a sudden urge to kiss them and never let them go.

I was forced to come back to earth as he coughed awkwardly.

"Get ready." He mumbled and hopped off the bed.

"Raaz, its 3:00 am. Where would we go at these wee hours?" I asked him but, he just gestured me to get ready soon.

He came back again and was fumbling with his ring nervously. He looked at me and whispered, "Wear a saree."

In just a blink of an eye, he disappeared. I laughed out as I remembered his flushed face. I felt serene as the cold water rained over my skin and refreshed every inch of me. I felt energetic and more rejuvenated.

I chose a peach coloured flower sculptured saree, which I loved the most. I matched it with a pair of gold earrings, gold jingling bangles and a simple gold neckpiece. A glint of dark kohl stroke completed my look for our dawn venture.

I turned the knob of the door and set out to find my Raaz as my free hair swayed on my back.

My breath hitched as I saw him standing, leaning on the car, dressed in his white shirt and faded blue jeans. The ambiance of the darkness was screaming at me to go and snuggle into his arms. I saw him turn towards my direction and he stumbled as his eyes landed on me. His eyes were scanning me from head to toe. He eyes were sparkling with something intense that made me squirm in my position.

He forwarded his hand to me and I put my mind on his hand. A smile crept up my face, seeing our entwined hands . He started walking into the dense forest more and more.

"Why didn't we come in our car?" I asked, puzzled.

"The road is too narrow for a car to travel." He stated and I nodded as I stared at the long way ahead.

This idiot should have told me that we are going to cover this distance by feet. How am I supposed to walk in this freaking saree?

His hand pulled my hand and we walked ahead, hand in hand. I was reminded of the days where we were roaming in the college the same way, laughing and punching and arguing.

"Look over there." He murmured beside my ear huskily. I couldn't even notice when he went behind me. I followed his line of sight as he rested his chin on my shoulder from backside, hugging my waist. My stomach twisted as I again recalled the day when he confessed.

I took a deep breath and glanced at the breath-taking view of the landscape before me.

The twin waterfalls or the Manjhar kund and Dhua Kund were infront of me. The silvery water was cascading down vigorously with a gushing sound from the headlong cliff. The flora around it, made it look way more appealing. Though it was in the Rohtas district, it can be viewed partially from here. A small canal that had branched from it was slithering down the small hill, on which we were standing.

I plopped down on a side and splashed water on Raaz, but he gracefully dodged it and returned it to me with full interest, that wet my face. I dipped my feet on the crystal clear water, removing my sandals. I was engrossed in my own world.

"Raaz, this place is serene." I was really grateful to him. But, my smile soon turned into a frown as I got no reply.

I glimpsed past me to see no one else other than me till my eyes could cover. My heart was racing so badly and my stomach churned in fear. All my joy seeped out in thin air as fear and loneliness clutched and pumped out all the smiles out of me.

"Raaz. I know, it's a freaking joke. But, I am really hating it. Please, come out fast." I screamed.

I rushed and looked into the sideways, only to find no evidence of humanity there. I ran farther like a mad woman as I was really terrified. The more I ran, the more I lost the way. All I could trace out were only trees and the sound of the hustling and bustling, voluminous waterfall.

"Please Raaz, stop this joke right now. I am getting scared. " I screamed all over again, but still there was no response except the echo of my own voice.

I ran a little farther till my knees supported. I leaned on a tree, tired and drained out. It's been freaking twenty minutes, I have been searching for him. The watch on my wrist just showed me the time because I left my phone at the car.

"Is he safe? Why is he not responding?" All the negetive thoughts had started to crawl up my brain. I kept a hand on my heart, calming my shaking nerves.

I heard a faint whimper from below. As I stared down, I saw a beautiful white rabbit curled up above my feet making me ticklish with its woollen, smooth furnish. I held the little, mesmerising and innocent creature on both of my palms. I noticed a red piece of paper tied around its neck.

Unwrapping the paper, I saw something scribbled on the paper:

"Will you complete my incomplete dream from last night, that broke because of you disturbing my beauty sleep?"

As I completed reading it, a soft laugh released itself from the gap of my lips. I wiped my wet cheeks as I had been crying out of fear. The environment felt surreal as it laughed with my laugh in full vigour. I entered more into the cleared patch of land and was surprised to see a small rope bridge on it. I climbed on it cautiously and bridged the gap.

I spotted another rabbit with a red paper tied on its neck.

"I wanna see, what would Mrs. Mehta do if she can't find me?"

I smiled and travelled more crossing the thorny shrubs carefully. I spotted another rabbit. Untying the paper, I peeped into its content.

"Sun rises in the _____"

I turned east the next second to find a huge red bark of a tall tree standing with all its glory. I ran to the tree and saw to and fro, only to find nothing at all.

As I sat under its shade in a slightly clean place, I heard the bells ringing nearby.

"Temple"

I mumbled under my breath and stood up. I followed the sound of the bells all the way and I felt good as a gust of winds passed, crossing over my visage.

It was an old abode of Lord Krishna, a form of Lord Vishnu during the dwapar yug. I sneaked in, as the number of people here were merely just few. The heart of the temple was guarded by a colossal banyan tree, bounded by high boundaries of limestone. The holy red cloth of the temple with a swastika symbol atop the dome shape of the main temple, was soaring high.

I closed my eyes with folded hands infront of the dieties after covering my head with the freely falling part of the saree. I prayed for the well-being of my family.

Coming out of my prayers, I saw Surfraaz standing beside me, muttering some verses of slokas. I admired him with a tugged up smile.

His slightly grown beard, his perfectly formed jaw, his sharp nose, sealed eyes, his bulged out voice box and up above those inviting, velvety lips.

"Neha, control your wayward thoughts. Mark it, it's a temple. Only pure thoughts, only pure ones." I chided myself.

His eye lashes fluttered open. The priest approached us with the aarti thali ( worship platter) along with him. We touched his feet out of courtesy and respect for being years older than us. But, his blessing left us dumbfounded.

"May god bless you with a healthy child."

We stared at him weirdly for a moment. Out of all the blessings in the world, he could only come up with this weird one. I saw Raaz was red, even redder than me. My handsome blushing hubby!

The priest offered us prasadam (worshipped offerings especially food) and we ate. He then sprinkled some holy water on us and then gestured Raaz to take some sindoor (vermillion). He applied some on his head and then, the priest insisted him to fill my partition.

He looked into my eyes too deep this time. I nodded my head and his fingers inched forward to mark me as his wife once again.

My eyes closed on its own accord as his thumb touched my forehead. I sealed them tight as his thumb swiped through my hair partition. An ounce of sindoor adorned on my red nose like it happened on our wedding day.

I unrolled my eyes to see him still glancing me with utmost admiration and his eyes misted a bit. He rushed near me, captivating me in his arm loop he kissed my forehead and I was sure his lips would be red with the sindoor.

But, unfortunately they were as untouched as it was before.

"May god bless you both and take away all your pain." He blessed us and went away.

I was still in his arm cage, half paralysed. My eyes were flickering between his black eyes to his velvety lips. And, our proximity wasn't helping me either.

He closed the mere inches of distance between our lips. I was dying with anticipation but it never came. He turned his head away and placed a kiss on my forehead as he pulled out his arms from me. I internally screamed with frustration with the loss of heat and my incomplete desires. But, it soon turned wild as he said the thing which was the last thing, I wanted to hear at the moment.

"Let's go back. Megha must have arrived at the station. I will drop you at the camp and then, set out to pick her up."

I groaned and told him, "I want to come to pick her up too."

He nodded and we walked back to the car. Then, we again set out to pick Megha up.

We were standing there for almost fifteen minutes, still she was not there. I was internally dancing and praying God to cancel her train.

Suddenly a sweet voice disturbed my prayers.

"Raaz" Someone gushed in sheer excitement.

I turned to see a young and beautiful girl, staring at us. I was still trying to grasp everything, when the two people infront of me pulled each other into a bone crushing hug, as if they were some long-lost lovers.

I thought this was going to be the best day of my life, but see the way this day goes into the gutter.

"Megha" "Raaz" They both squealed at the same time while, I cringed. My palm had curled up into a ball long back with their oozing out friendship.

"I still can't believe it. My childhood best friend is my sister-in-law's cousin. Wow!" Raaz squealed and hugged her even harder. I was shaking in anger. If she was his best friend, who was I, then?

How many best friends does he have?

"I was dying to eat food made by you. Can't wait now, let's go." With this said, he kissed her palms and giggled.

"It's my pleasure to cook for you, Dr. Surfraaz Mehta." She said and winked at him. I was grinding and crushing my teeth at their public display of affection.

"You just wait and watch, I will make sure that you won't even get a crumb of food made by her." I thought and smirked at my thoughts.

Raaz asked her to sit in the seat aside the driver and I was pulled back to the passenger seat. I took out my phone and the way, I was typing to vent out my anger on that petty object, I suspected how it wasn't broken till now!

All the way, they were laughing and talking as if I didn't even exist. Soon,the car pulled up near the camp. But, they didn't bother to come out as they were too engaged in their conversation. I stood up enraged, came out and slammed the car door louder than required, out of anger.

"I will make sure he pays the price!"

•••

Hey guys,
I hope all of you are doing good. 🌹🌹

Hope to get your full support for this Nehraaz journey... Thank you for reading. Till then, see you.(◍•ᴗ•◍)❤

Stay safe and inspired :)

Love,
Biswa❤