Freshening up, Teja lied down on the bed in a simple silky magenta patiala.

She took a relaxed breath playing with the white silky curtains of her cot, slowly dipping into a tired sleep.

When she woke up, it was 10, her father must leave soon so quickly braiding her hair & washing the face, she appeared before him.

She told her cousins to plan the birthday cake cutting early as her father would also be present.

With her dear family around & their heartfelt wishes, she spent the late morning with feeding the first piece of cake to her father followed by a delectable lunch.

When he was leaving, Vijay affectionately soothed her cheek & kissed her forehead, "Take care"

As much as he convinced himself life is not a bed of roses, the prophecy surely disturbed him.

She smiles eagerly, "I will take care of mumma too"

Vijay chuckled with a thought,

Let you be safe, that's enough for us.

Bidding bye, he leaves.

The family is in the living hall chatting & eating when Mahindra pointed a news on the local channel.

It was about the establishment of a nodal Health Care Centre in their town by the Government in collaboration with Dhar, a health care unit of  Dehwaars. The inauguration will be held day after tomorrow by the Lady herself.

Both the families are surprised at the news because Lalitha didn't tell them.

"Tho isiliye thum aaye ho?", they collectively ask her to which she sheepishly nods but defends herself.

"No. Clearance hame abhi abhi mili hein. Tho hamne socha tha ki kyun na ham Navratri pe announce kare? Acha lagega.It's a surprise"

"Ofcourse no better day to announce other than my birthday. Well thank you Lalli", Teja tightly hugs her from aside.

"Then you have to thank Adhvik because it's him who did the job & also suggested to release the bulletin today"

Anyways, they were happy at the news as even though Kishtwar has PHC but a proper hospital is a need of the hour.

Teja nods but her eyes widen in realization.

She had to bandage Adhvik...Shit!

He didn't attend the lunch while hisgrandparents, mother & sister are here.

"Mein abhi aati hu", she excused herself, sprinted towards her room, took the first aid box & ran towards Raiza's.

Jumbling on the stairs, she reaches his door to see it wide open so she steps in only to find it empty.

She wander her eyes when he enters the room through her back, he didn't even have to turn to see who it is as he's accustomed to her jasmine scent.

Without acknowledging her, he directly paced to the window she opened & continued his conversation in the phone.

She stood there sighing. Well looks like it will take time, so she settled herself on the couch & took a book to read.

One thing...Adhvik likes reading. Wherever he goes, a book or two goes with him.

While he's talking, he felt too quiet so turned back a little to see she's perusing the book.

After 10 mins, he finished, "Kya?"

He directly came to the point looking at her though he knew why she's here.

She closed the book & showed him the kit, "First Aid"

"Bahot jaldi yaad aya", he commented while moving to her.

She replied opening  the kit & taking out the required, "Yaad tho aya"

He settled beside her as she dips the cotton in antiseptic lotion.

Veering to him, she says, "Turn your face."

He didn't move a bit but he bent his head at her level & turned his face to right where the cut is present.

She gently put the cotton on it & he hissed, too low to even hear.

The gash is still fresh & red. It might be sore.

Lightly holding his chin, she gently blew the air on the gash & again put the cotton on it.

"Shu. Hojayega", she whispered but as his ear is close he heard it rightly.

Adhvik closed his eyes as she treats the cut with care. He didn't get to know when she completed bandaging as he didn't feel the pain again.

"It's over", she said with a light happy face that's when he turned his face to her.

Now, there's no nose pin or mang tika, just a magneta bindi matching with her pink dress, on her face but it is glowing. As always.

She's keeping back the cotton when a hand came before her.

"Waha bhi", he said & when she observed there are small scratches, abrasion s on the fingers & wrist other than that there's nothing deep but they should be treated.

"Even you got it ", she exclaimed cleaning them.

"You were hurt?", he frowned a little because he made sure that she touched nothing. That's the result he had scratches.

"Not anything deep but I treated it."

Adhvik closed his eyes as she instinctively blew the air on his wrist and fingers applying the antiseptic lotion so that he doesn't feel sore.

The cool air & the gentle care soothed his red, itchy skin.

She's applying the ointment when she got another question, "Wait, you didn't have your lunch? Did you?"

Adhvik slightly nodded.

"I should have come earlier", she mumbles to herself as she understood why he didn't attend the feast at her home.

"One second", she quickly finished the aid & went down to see various dishes made as Prasad for Puja. She returned to his room with a platter & put it before on the tea poy.

He looked at her & his ointment filled hands, signing her that he can't eat on his own.

"Mein Nandu ko bulaungi", before she even looks for her phone he says giving the platter to her, "I am hungry"

He really is because he didn't had anything since morning & he doesn't want to disturb his sister or mother.

Teja looked at the plate in her hands & him, who's waiting to devour.

Sighing, she brings the first spoon with Pherni near him as he takes the sweet in.

"Why didn't you ask anyone to bandage immediately? It would have been in the healing stage by now", Teja questions filling the spoon again.

Adhvik didn't know what to say. Yes, Nandana & Lalitha checked on him but he said he's fine. In reality, it's bit paining. She guessed it right he couldn't attend the lunch because his fingers are bad.

Maybe because she told she would come to treat him so he thought why worry others?

"Why did you lie that you lost your bracelet?", he deflected to another topic which halted the spoon in the air.

He slowly took the sweet as he observed her.

She should have known that he would find it out because Adhvik is one observant man.

Maybe it's time she return that to him.

She takes something from the kit, quietly puts something on his palm & feeds him another morsel.

It's his turn to get surprised.

He stared at the gold band lying on his palm, chewing on the food when their last night conversation clicked in,

"I am not your responsibility" which he understood now.

She gave her bracelet to Irfan, that store keeper boy, in return of his band & lied to her family.

Suddenly, he didn't feel hungry anymore. His famish is vanished.

She saw him simply placing the band on tea poy while she brought another morsel to him which he took in but didn't speak anything.

He didn't even thank her, she frowned.

She gave away her precious bracelet because of his band & he took it just like that.

There's not even a surprise or relief or happiness in his eyes forget about face, he behaved like it just fell on the floor beside him & he picked it.

Well, he did give away for her clothes & food so that's ok. Today also, he safeguarded her throughout and instead of her, he got all the wounds & scratches.

"Thank you",she paused, "for today"

He didn't respond & she remained quiet till she's finished.

Before leaving, she turns to him, "Shyam ko carnival hein. If you are free, do come"

And she's gone.

VILLAGE GALA

A gala, better word, may be a fun fair is organised by all the local mates in celebration of the festival. It includes stage shows, drama, music, games , food stalls every fun thing.

They conduct it for every festival where all the town mates would gather & enjoy.

In a white Tee shirt paired with blue Jeans, a red jacket knotted across his shoulders, Adhvik began in his Jeep.

Arshad & Vittal were already there since evening taking care of the necessities.

Nandana has a solo performance, which her dear friend enlisted her name without asking & for which she has been pestering since a week. Teja just wanted her to clear off her mind so she decided to do it.

Adhvik lazily wandered around the fun fair finding his way out to the stage shows.

He found every toddler to elder enjoying themselves.

Finally, he spotted Arshad on a wooden bench at a food stall opposite to the drama going on & went there.

"Yaar mujhse nai hoga. Wo ladkiyan meri dimaag kha rahe hein", Vittal falls down  beside Arshad.

"Ek performance keliye itna hangama kon kartha hein?"

"Nandu se zyada Mami, Lalitha aunty excited hein. Undono hamse itna kaam karwaya ki ham gala enjoy karne keliye nahi kaam karne keliye aaye hein", he whines out as they both support each other fully tired.

"It's her first performance here. So they might be nervous", Adhvik convinces.

"Adhvik you take care please. We can't even move an inch now. We need some energy", Vittal goes somewhere with Arshad. One more minute, they were afraid they will be called for another chore.

Adhvik went to the front where his mother is seated & settled beside her. 15 minutes later, Nandana is on the stage with her precious Tanjore flute, taking the audience into a blissful era.

As soon as she began playing, like Lord Krishna attracted the nature towards the music, she mesmerized the people there with her high notes.

A girl playing the flute with such finety enthralled them.

It is for 20 minutes & when she opened her eyes, the 50 member audience were now 150 members. Half of the village was there at the stage hearing her tune through speakers. Everyone are quiet making it uneasy for her when she heard the first clap. She looked up to see it from Adhvik who's proudly standing & clapping loudly bringing out the audience from the trance.

Lalitha smiled on as she heard the huge applause from her own people praising Nandana. Her daughter strived hard for it, choosing a musical tool which only males mastered much against to her Dadi ma was not easy at all. Now look where she is.

Even Adhvik is astounded, he heard her every performance through phone but watching it live & how she pulled the crowd to her music is enchanting.

When she got down the stage, they proudly took her in their embrace. For minutes, she was congratulated by many people.

Nandana finally went to Teja, who is with her cousins at the back & they both hugged eachother, screaming.

Sharing the happiness with best friends is another thing.

"Madam ab agla concert kab rakhenge hum?", Teja mimicks Arshad who always thinks ahead.

"We shouldn't delay. Schedule it tomorrow", Nandana replies as Adhvik.

Arshad chuckles. They surely observed their personalities.

"Congratulations. That was a good show", Arshad shakes his hand with Nandana.

Teja is quick to admonish, "A good show? That's it Haarsh? I expected something better. Use your Cambridge vocabulary please"

"Wish I can use it on you", he thought.

What can he do other than that?

Time went as they immersed in dramas, games & food.

It's almost 11: 15, the weather was cold & foggy. Village elders, children  dispersed leaving the night to the youth.

All of them gathered aside. The place is dark, illuminated only with moon light. Some are arranging the logs to have a huge camp fire, some are blasting the songs in the DJ while others are giving chorus & dancing to the core.

Vittal calls Adhvik & Arshad near a shack where boys were having some drink in earthen vases. He offers them long vases of a warm sparkling white wine,

"Hame bhi", from nowhere Teja asks excitedly standing behind where Adhvik sat. He didn't saw her through out the evening.

"Bachon keliye nahi hein. Chal dono", Vittal scowls at them. This is their relaxation why would they want to intrude?

Scolding him, they jog & settle on the thready cot while cheering for the dancers of their town performing on a song.

Adhvik want to check on them but no one is visible as the youngsters had put off the lights & the air is misty.

His eyes wander, except for the silhouettes & voices, nothing can be made but everyone are having a superb time.

Staring at the vase in his hand for a minute, he swallows the wine when he noticed his empty finger. The warm wine did better to their freezing selves.

Adhvik rewinded the day, their escapade from yesterday night, their encounter in the early hours, their conversation in afternoon, & now they are here.

He's happy for Nandana. Actually he planned to ditch the fair but because of certain someone's invitation like taunt, he came. Good that, he did.

"She makes him do things"

Steadily, he felt something creeping in his nerves.

To easen it, he empties the first & takes another vase as he peers ahead.

Afore, there was a man who was trying to ignite the bonfire with a match stick which is troubling him. It isn't igniting at all & if a spark forms, the mid night wind is blowing it off.

Adhvik closely observed him rapping the matchstick on the matchbox trying to ignite the fire.

It's a metaphor of what was happening with him. A faint stimulus is stirring in an unknown corner of his heart, struggling to explode through it's confines. A spark is all it needed.

Adhvik quaffs on when suddenly the spark stayed & touched the log setting ablaze the bon fire, swallowing the pitch darkness & unveiling her to him across the flames.

Aye.. ji re..
Ude ude mann ude
Par lage tere sang jude
Mann ude, pag badhe
Teri oar badhe..
Jag chhod badhe..

It is the first time he saw her in the evening.Just like in the morning, she's viciously gleaming. The Magenta dress contrasting to her fair color as she warm her palms, cuddling herself before the fire.

Aye.... lahu munh lag gaya
Lahu munh lag gaya

Maybe of his feral sight, a flame bursted fiercely in the bonfire that made everyone stagger. It was like the fire itself is protecting her, threatening to burn anyone who would come near.He didn't like that. He took it as a challenge as his pupils reflected her face & the flames.

Soya tha nas nas mein ab yeh jag gaya
Aye.... lahu munh lag gaya

Veering aside, he slowly took the now clear air & swilled on the sparkling white wine.

Labon ke chhoone se
Khwaabon ke khone se..

When he turned again, she has an earthen glass enclosed in her both palms, ready to take in the liquid.

Labon ke chhoone se
Khwaabon ke khone se..

She raised the cup a little & he saw the  white drink eloquently flowing down into her mouth & then her throat with a lump.

Bach ke sab se lab se lab
Yeh lab se lag gaya

While she's having it, he is the one who gulped. Finishing the glass, she gently wiped near her lips with the back of her palm.The simple act was such a hooded sight for him.

Aye... lahoo munh lag gaya
Aye... lahu munh lag gaya

Swiftly, she was pulled by the dancers & Dandiya sticks were given to her. By God, she is swaying with such a grace, her legs moving with the rhythm coordinated with dandiya in her hands, don't even talk about her face.

Aye... lahu munh lag gaya.. [lag gaya..]

As the music rolled on, the folks formed a circle where the girls are striking their dandiya sticks, moving from one guy to another. Teja is smiling widely while dancing beautifully. She knew everyone of them & no one would even dare to lay a hand on her with another intention...well except one!

Bhatak rahi hai aaj yeh
Malang ang ang ang

She was stunned when she came across Adhvik. And shocked when he striked his stick with her.

Bhatak gayi hai saans uske

Sang, sang, sang, sang

He did it again, she retorted while the music is such that they had to strike their dance sticks one after the other. Her surprise turned into amusement as the song goes on & she freely danced.

Kal-kal behta tha
Chhal-chhal rehta tha

Teja giggled as he turned around simply while she turned with enthusiasm. They played with the dhandiya sticks when she whirled to move ahead. But Adhvik striked his stick on the end of her's & swiftly rolled it which made her swivel before him.

Kal-kal behta tha
Chhal-chhal rehta tha
Taan leke jaan kab gaya..
Lab se lab yeh lab lab se
Lahu munh lag gaya

One look at him & she stayed. He didn't have to say, she understands. With a gentle smile, she sways with him enjoying Dandiya.

Aye.... lahu munh lag gaya
Lahu munh lag gaya
Soya tha nas nas mein ab yeh jag gaya
Aye.... lahu munh lag gaya

While she's enlivening the act, Adhvik stares at her toothy smile, energetic swirls, the loud strikes of her sticks against his.Her plaited hair waves with her, sometimes at her side & other times at back.

Labon ke chhoone se...
Khwaabon ke khone se...
Labon ke chhoone se
Khwaabon ke khone se..
Lab se lab yeh lab lab se
Lahu munh lag gaya

Despite of his efforts to remember the annoyance & anger he felt at afternoon when she returned his precious band, he felt nothing at this moment. He could only see them & no one else. An ardent feeling rushed into his veins, consuming him inch by inch which resulted in hard strikes that she had to use double of her force to retort. But she didn't notice because she's enjoying.

Hey... lahoo munh lag gaya
Aye... lahu munh lag gaya
Aye... lahu munh lag gaya..

Thankfully, the song ended, she returned her sticks & made her way to the restrooms informing Nandana & ignoring Adhvik.

The restrooms are quite afar & lightened but the path is foggy & just visible, it is quiet except for the songs played & hoots of the people.

Strolling on, she covered herself with the silk duppatta, humming to the song now being played when someone crossed her.

Adhvik didn't call her but directly stood before blocking her way.

She isn't frightened at his sudden appearance but a little surprised.

Looking up, she met his eyes. She slightly raised her eyebrows asking the reason.

When he isn't answering even after seconds, she thought to go right as there was a hay stack at her left.

Instead he takes a step & she immediately moves back when his hand raises at her right side, she involuntarily turns left when again he comes to her, she steps back to touch stacks of hay.

She realizes he doesn't mean to touch her but corner her across the stacked hay.

"Kya kar rahe ho?", she maximum tries to indulge into the hay as he puts both his palms beside her.

"Zyada ghuso math.Usme snakes hothe hein."

It was his first sentence in the evening which startled her & at once she bounced like a ball to him with a low shriek.

Crumpling his shirt in her hold, she hides her forehead just below his shoulder, tightly closing her eyes.

She is scared at his revelation.

They stand there alone at the middle of the night, moon light gracing them, while she's hiding in him, he is breathing slowly with both his palms fisted, closed eyes & straight face.

When he heard a loud slurry voice, "Oy hoy! Kya scene chal raha hein yaha?"

Teja raised her head a bit to look afront, only her eyes are visible as Adhvik stood like a ice wall covering her. Totally there were 5 people, not from their town, having alcohol bottles in their hands. Their rugged apperance & droopy faces depicts who they are.

As it was a gala, they must have come from nearby villages.

Teja lowered a bit & looked up at him, he was staring down on her as their faces were close.

She realized she didn't retrieved so immediately stepped back.

"Arey bas karo. Ham hein yaha aur thoda hamko bhi dekhne do"

They commented with a laugh. Teja just didn't like this whole scenario.

"We should go", she said again with slight irritation.

"Yeh tho nai rokne wala. Chalo hame kuch karna padega", one of them started walking to them having a sip from his bottle.

Teja scrunched but urged Adhvik, "Let's go. What are you waiting for?"

He didn't move.

"Chalo"

"Turn around & don't look back until I say", Adhvik said. She looked at him in confusion & slight fear, "Wh..?"

"Turn around", he stressed with stern eyes.

Teja did what he said only to hear a sound, probably a hard punch.

There wasn't even a yell from that guy, he just laid unconscious with his mouth bleeding.

Adhvik hawkly stared at the remaining four who stood dumbfounded.

One of them hardly threw his bottle & ran to him only to be thrown himself by a strong kick.

The other three still hadn't learned their lesson & Adhvik is more than ready to teach them.

They are bulky but Adhvik has this intense urge to be wild.

He was a trained martial artist especially in Kalarayipattu.

Teja easily deciphered what was happening behind her back & she wanted to see it. A live action sequence is thrilling.

Contrary to what Adhvik asked, she subtly peeked to see him tackling one after another with poise.

She's enjoying it until she saw one of them approaching him with a broken glass bottle in rage.

This brawl is intended to calm him, divert his mind but the nerves are still scorching, the uneasiness still disturbing until he heard her call him...after so long.

"Adi"

Picture tho baki hein mera dosth..

A slow burn!