"Maya, are you okay? Your backside.." He said while she said," I know. I fell on my back due to that push by MJ. I guess that stitch came out. Just show me.." Maya turned showed her back on the mirror and saw the blood flowing out of the wounds. She had forgot to stitch it when she had come after a bath.

"It's still bleeding Maya. You didn't stitch it?" He asked with a mixture of anger and concern while she looked into his eyes. His eyes were something that attracted her, maybe now more than ever. She hasn't seen these kind of  emotions in others' eyes unlike the man who stood in front of him. 

"Since you have decided not to talk, let me do something!" He spoke, breaking the trance with a smile before  pecking her cheek. The peck was surprising after what had happened but she was sure that he was determined to make it work. As her eyes traced him, she saw him taking a box from the bag. Assuming it to be a first aid kit, she saw bandages, stitches, cotton balls and antiseptic solution in her hands. Making her sit on the chair, she looked at the mirror in front of him.

Soon enough, she felt his fingers on her skin and her fingers curled into a fist. She felt something similar before a few years which she tried to Shrug. As he observed her curled fingers, he knew she was uncomfortable. Sighing, he pulled a chair next to her and sat down. She looked at him confusingly to which he asked," Still not over from it?"

She sighed before shaking her head in negative and bowing her head down. With his hands creeping on either side of her face, he made her look at him. With a stiffened smile, he wrapped his arm around her and they looked at the mirror together. If his hand could hold a phone, he would have taken a selfie though.

On the other hand, her gaze remained unshifted on their together self and after a few minutes, she heard him remarking with glee," That's done!"

She looked at him confusingly while he showed the cotton ball which was damp with blood and antiseptic. Pulling her cheeks, she looked at him with naughtiness and love before she pecked his cheeks, muttering a small 'thank you'.

"I am sorry if I made -- you uncomfortable. I understand--" Rudra was cut off in between as Maya said in a low voice rubbing his small stubble," It takes time." 

He could totally agree on that. After a few minutes, she asked breaking the silence," So, what's the next plan?"

He replied with a smile and excitement like a child," A Getaway in the Forest! As we all know Nature is..."

"A Natural Healer." She completed and he pulled her cheeks with the smile of an innocent child.

"So, don't you have work?" She asked sceptically while he said with a smile," Since I came after a tiring Chennai expedition, I got two days off and I am free for that!"

"So.." Maya asked while he said in the same voice," So.."

Maya whined while Rudra chuckled before informing her," Since all this was a surprise, I had picked a few dresses for you and it's there.." He pointed towards the black bag on the table before he spoke enclosing her hand in his,

"We have really messed up this week. So to avoid any further problems, we need to know our small egos and insecurities and anything that matters in us. After this, we are going to be so busy and immersed in our work. Before that, let's spend some time to create some memories."

"By the way, you have become very silent!" Rudra remarked in a serious tone while she asked," When we get a blow, we tend to remain silent right?"

He said reaffirming his hold on her," But I will not let that happen to you, again in my senses at least! So.. Um.. change your dress. It can get quite chilly as we go denser. I will make a cup of your favourite decotion to start this.."

She just gave him a stiffened smile and before he thought she waa going to get up, she kissed their entwined hands before leaving from there. Picking some clothes, she looked at Rudra while he said reading what she meant through her eyelashes," There is a bedroom there..."

Before he could complete, she asked," Do you own this? I mean..."

"Took it for rent for an evening. Our original destination is a bit far." He completed it while he poured some water from the bottle he had brought into the kettle. As he waited it to boil, he saw Maya moving out to the small bedroom. As he looked for any messages, he silenced his phone before messaging Ritwik and Rishi where they were. As the kettle went ofd, he poured water into the glass added emptied the contents of the three in one coffee sachets into two glasses..

Stirring it, he heard footsteps and saw Maya in her usual tees and kaki shorts  with a black jacket, which looked like a hoodie.. She looked beautiful not only due to the dress, but also due to the smile she carried. Giving her the cup of coffee, she walked to the open space while he too followed her to the open space. The open space which they needed to be in and which they were in, was actually adorned with mangroves and hanging branches. Spotting monkeys and squirrels, she squealed and made Rudra too notice them. It had a wonderful view of the forest and it looked heavenly...

She asked sipping the cup of coffee," So where do we start?"

"Straight to the forests." He said raising her eyebrows while she started looking at him with an impressed look. With breeze flowing through their faces and the soil get activated, the heavenly smell reached their nose trills making Maya love the weather. She had loved these kind of tours before three years. That loved which had been snapped just came out Rudra who had been her bestie from the time he tried to win her. 

....

As they started walking, Maya really admired the view but there was silence in between them except for the chirping of birds. Taking slow steps, Rudra initiated to hold her hand. They didn't look at each other but kept on walking.

"Nice weather! Looks like it can rain anytime!" She remarked and her eyes fell on the scooter which a few steps away. She looked at him and he circled the keys within his fingers. Smiling, he walked towards her and said," There is a small spot a few meters from here.. From there, we will travel by foot!"

He said standing face to face," I know I have used such words and due to that there is still awkwardness between us. Why should we not talk when we want to know each other more? It will make things more awkward right?"

"There is no awkwardness but a small starting trouble! At times, I get a bit lost.. Sorry about that.." She opened up with a smile and he too returned the gesture.

"So, how can I start your engine of being chirpy and lively?" He asked and thought for a moment before she poked him on his bicep. He looked at her and she asked," A hug?"

He smiled before taking her into a hug. The hug was soothing, comforting and it assured her. She felt peaceful in his arms before she was crushed by his hold. Asking him to leave her, he retreated from the hug and chuckled making Maya push him. 

After a few moments of childish antics, he took her hand and placed a kiss to which she looked at him endearingly. Entwining their hands, they allowed the comfortable silence to take over them before they sat on the scooter. Keeping her legs on either side, she held the support behind her. 

As they reached a spot, it was intense forested area if they had decided to walk forward. The forest looked a bit dark and spooky. Sensing the expression, he held her hand which was curled into a fist. As they walked forward, she saw a river and the campfire setting with just the fire to be lit!

She loved the settings. It was a bit dark. As they went forward, Rudra showed the house on the river banks.

...

Sitting beside the lake, she tried to pick her phone to which he sat next to her and said," Neither is your phone nor mine is here. A day just for ourselves!"

She nodded and she looked forward as he handed her the camera. But soon enough, she felt a weight on her shoulder. As she raised her hand to keep it on his exposed cheek as a reflex, she was apprehensive but he made her touch on his cheeks, with her hands reaching backward and her eyes darting forward to the beautiful scene.

As she extended the camera, she tried to take a picture of theirs using the lens keeping the screen towards the nature.  She took a few pictures before Rudra's face moved from his shoulder before he sat next to her. 

" We are from two different families who have 2 different ideologies. You remember Rudra? When we used to hang out before our confession, we were so sweet and so romantic and we refused to see each other's faults.

"But now, we are living together and as you said, we should know everything about each other for a life we wished to have!" She spoke and he nodded. He just hummed and thought how true it was. There waa no use to keep it for later because they were into a relationship both of them wanted mutually.

As Rudra saw a twig with a cloth tied on it, he took it and lit the twigs of wood which created a sound before it shined and went into flames. They sat on the benches which were on either side of the flames..

He spoke starting on a topic," Maya, my journalism is important for me. I need my independence and I have my own identity. I hope you know that by now!

She nodded and he continued," I need my free space and I know that I cannot change the perceptions of the people who will say I am dependent on you. But I need to feel that I am not dependent on anyone for anything. Otherwise..."

"I don't blame you!  I have an identity right now and I totally agree to what you said. We all have our independence but I need a change in that! When we live together, we should compromise on a few things. It won't make anyone dependent but it makes your Base stronger so that the future problems or doubts can be avoided!"

He nodded because he knew that her words had made sense somewhere around.

"Will you compromise on anything? " She asked while he said," A few minute things like my working hours cant be compromised but I would try to find extra 'we' time when we are together. Being busy in our professions, the only thing I can assure you is my sincerity towards you."

She just hummed as she walked forward with her arms crossed against her chest.. She heard him ask," What is a quality that you would want in your partner?"

"Love in all forms. He might not be there with me but he should have a mind to understand me on why I did that. Verbal abuse to an extend is accepted due to the anger and other tensions because tongue cannot be bridled at that situation. I do understand that. But if it goes beyond an extent where he makes me feel guilty and suicidal,   I would stay on like a single woman."

He smiled at that as he remember their fight. He was also asked the same question to which he replied,

" A person who is loyal, loving, caring, kind and understands me. Mistakes in the Initial years are fine but if it goes beyond, I may need to withdraw. She should know what I want and expect as a best friend rather than a wife!"

As he stood opposite to her, he shot another question," A person whom you like other than me?"

"My Parents.." Her answer surprised him.

"Even when they do not contact you, you love them?" Rudra asked surprisingly to which she smiled and said,

" They may hide their feelings for me and hate me. But how long will they hide it? I am sure that they are stalking me. At last, we are one family! Their only daughter.. If they were there, I wouldn't have gone into drugs or depression. I don't blame them because that's what respect, pride and perspectives does to a person.  For some people, respect is something that is their life like yours. They may deny our bond now but in the end, the bond made by God doesn't break. That's true in your case too."

He knew that Jahnvi enquired about him through Rishi. It is a true bond made by God. How much brittle it gets, in the end, you can only hide the love externally.

" And even Rishi! I have heard that a brother who grows with a sister is beneficial because they can know more about his sister for his future wife. For me it is the opposite! Rishi is cool but at the same time, he is a type of brother a sister would always love to have! Fighting with him, talking emotionally and doing all the madness is my luck what I had got through you. He is indeed a blessing which you shared with me!"

He was proud of his brother being her support when he wasn't there.  As she kept her palms above the fire, she rubbed her arms. As Rudra went next to her, he asked,

"If he is a blessing, what am I to you?"

"I don't know to answer that question." Maya said and asked,

"Rudra, what will we do if we think we can't live together?"

-To Be Continued -

*I am sorry if this update was bad. *