187

Her heartbeats were hypnotizing him...! He felt enchanted... the fragrance... her breath... her fingers playing with his hair... everything turned against his self control... He ....

“No!” he held her hand tightly.  The intoxicating heady rush had turned him on.  He must control his overflowing emotions... He moved his head away, leaning forward.... She looked on saddened..! 

“You must be tired, Dhaa! Go and have some rest..!” he said huffing under his ragged breath.... He must control his arousal..! She looked at him disappointed and turned to the bed with dropped shoulders.  He had clutched his head closing his eyes trying to steady his ragged, shallow breath...! She drew the blanket over her head...! 

********   ********   ********

“Bhanu... I am sorry...! I didn’t mean to hurt you...!” Disha came in with a cup of tea in the morning...! They both had spent sleepless night in different rooms...! He just looked up with swollen red eyes... She too was no different...! 

“Bhanu...!” she sat beside and rested her head on his shoulder...! He turned his face away.  Disha looked up at him with teary eyes...

“Bhanu....” she snuggled up... he absentmindedly stroked her head.  Encouraged by this, she went ahead...

“I just wanted you to share your plans with me, Bhanu... I didn’t mean to hurt you...” Bhanu refrained from reacting... For a long time there was total silence... Bhanu had not even sipped the hot tea...! 

“I am a very timid person, Bhanu... very insecure...” Blurted Disha staring into a distance...

“I am always scared of failure... of losing...I don’t know how to handle failure....I am scared...” Disha was blurting out her inner fears... Bhanu had a bitter taste spoiling his mood...! “Does she think I am a failure?” he thought bitterly.  

“I am sorry...!” she looked up at once and he forced a smile on his face.

“Thats ok, Disha... !” he stood up.  But then again coming back to her said...

“Come on.. get ready... You have a job...” she pulled her hand.  She smiled faintly...

****  ****  **** 

She opened her eyes to see him fast asleep by her side.  Sighing, she turned to face him... he turned in his sleep... she kept gazing at his face for a long time....not knowing what she should do ....!  

His cell chimed and he got up.  She ensued.  “I,,,I will make tea...!” she blurted going out of the room.  He kept packing his things...! When she came in with the tray the room was neatly arranged and filled with fragrance...! She inhaled and smiled.  He was styling his hair.  “Tea!” she said from behind and he just waved telling her to keep it on the table.  She kept the cup and turned remembering the last night episode and the way he had pushed her away. 

“Take care...!” he hugged her lightly hurling his backpack...

“Humm... She nodded.  

“Dad...!” he hugged his father too.  Sanyogita watched contemptuously leaning on the table...!

“So he is going again... Good!” she smiled wickedly and suddenly straightened her face to innocence seeing Dhatri was staring at her..! 

“Chalo beti.. let us have tea...!” Sayajirao prepared himself to make tea.  She sat at the table...!

“We have a good library, Beti... “ Sayajirao, trying to give her some respite, said.  She nodded... She disliked books... but didn’t say a word.  After all that was the only pass time for her for the day.  She detested that loud music and alien tongue Television programs and movies... Books were better option...! 

“Haan... and by the way... I will subscribe for Indian Channels today...” her face brightened up. 

“Ok...” Watching senseless serials and cartoon channels would be a good time pass.... ! She smiled.... 

*********  *********

“Rini?” Nilima overjoyed hearing Rini’s voice.

“Mamma... Open the door...!” Rini as usual had given her a surprise.  Nilima kept the receiver and hurriedly went to open the door.  Rini and Vinit gave her a long awaited hug.

“Humm....” She sighed ushering them inside...!

“Salil...!” she called out and Salil leaned backwards with shaving foam on his cheeks and chin...!

“Aray... Rini?” he hurriedly wiped off the foam leaving his shaving incomplete...! Rini gave him a tight hug.

“Dadhi toh khatam karo papa...” she pushed him away.  He grinned turning to his shaving exercise again...! 

“Rini... Coffee?” Vinit looked at her expectantly.  Nilima grinned sheepishly.

“Yeah... Wait..!” She hurriedly went inside.

“Laxumbai....!” Rini sat on the floor to hug her.   Laxumbai blinked rapidly and gave her a toothless grin....! She had grown old but still was with the Dixit family, as a family member...with her husband Dayal Chacha...! Vinit gaped at Rini’s lifted spirits...! He smiled winking at her.  She blushed for the first time...! 

“You know...?”  But Nilima was cut off...!

“No... No, I know... not a word... not now... let me have good look around..!” Rini said brightly and Nilima gaped at Vinit questioningly.  He shrugged smiling...! Rini behaved different, sounded different....! She seemed to be a new Rini after the flood relief operation...! 

Vinit....?”  Salil shook hands with Vinit and took the cup of coffee...!

“Yeah... She finished her job... so thought of meeting you all before joining her duty again after a month...!” he said and Nilima almost screamed...

“A month...?  Great...!” A months vacation was a rarety in Rini’s case but this time Rini seemed to be determined to enjoy her vacation with her Mamma papa... But Vinit had other plans....