[43]
After a few hours of walking, Arav and Ritika continued their journey, their steps becoming heavier with each passing moment. Arav, noticing the exhaustion on Ritika’s face, pointed towards a dhaba up ahead.
“See, there’s a dhaba. We can rest for a bit,” Arav suggested, his concern evident.
“No, I’m not tired. We need to find our way soon,” Ritika insisted, her voice firm but her eyes betraying her fatigue.
“I’m tired. Please?” Arav pleaded, his tone softer. Ritika sighed, realizing they both needed a break, and walked towards the dhaba with Arav following closely behind.
“What should I order?” Arav asked, attempting to lighten the mood.
“Mera sar!” Ritika snapped, her irritation clear.
["My head"]
“Wow, that sounds delicious,” Arav quipped, earning a glare from her.
Ignoring the banter, Arav ordered two pav bhajis. As they waited, he checked his phone and noticed the signal bars lighting up.
“Network aa gaya,” Arav announced, relief washing over him.
“Call someone quickly,” Ritika urged, her anxiety evident.
Arav dialled a teacher’s number, and after a few rings, the call connected. “Hello, beta, where are you both? We realised you were missing when we arrived. Everyone’s so worried!” the teacher exclaimed.
“Ma’am, we missed the bus,” Arav explained, recounting the events that led to their current situation.
“What will you do now? Should we send someone to pick you up?” the teacher asked, her concern palpable.
“No, ma’am, the bus station is not too far from here. We’ll make our way there,” Arav assured her.
“Alright, beta. Be careful, both of you,” the teacher said before disconnecting the call.
“They’ve reached the hotel,” Arav informed Ritika, who nodded.
“I need to call mummy” she said, taking his phone and moving to a quieter corner. Arav watched her as she called her mother’s number, her face a mixture of worry and relief.
Arav returned to the bench, glancing at Ritika as she came back from her call. Their pav bhaji lay scattered on the ground, with two men now occupying their bench.
"What the hell is this? Ritika snapped, her eyes flashing with anger.
"What?" one of the men asked, his tone dismissive.
"This was our bench, and that was our food. How dare you throw it away?" she demanded, her voice rising.
"Hey, girl, lower your voice," the man said, standing up to face her.
"Ritika, it's okay. We'll just order more," Arav said, trying to defuse the situation.
"It's not okay, Arav. They can't just throw our food like that. Tum logon ke baap ke paise ka nahi order Kiya tha jo aise karoge. Return our money, Ritika insisted, glaring at the men.
"How dare you talk to me like that?" the man growled, taking a step closer to her.
"Haan ladki..tu janti bhi hai ham kon hain?" another man added, smirking.
["Yes, girl... do you even know who we are?"]
"Excuse me everyone! Bechare ye dono nahi jante hi ye kon hain..so they are asking me. Aap me se koi bhi inke bare me janta ho toh please help them." Ritika said, glancing around.
["Excuse me everyone! These two don't even know who they are, so they are asking me. If anyone among you knows about them, please help them out."]
"Tujhe toh-" the man raised his hand to slap her, but Arav quickly intercepted, grabbing his wrist and pushing him back.
"Don't you dare!" Arav warned, his voice low and threatening.
"Arav, move aside. I can handle this myself," Ritika said, pushing the man again. "Kya bey? Hath lagayega mujhe?”
["You will hit me?"]
The tension escalated as five or six muscular men stood up and started walking towards them.
"Oyee teri himmat kaise hui bhai ko hath lagane ki?" one of the men shouted.
["Hey, how dare you touch my brother?"]
"Aise," Ritika said, giving the first man another shove.
"Ritika, please," Arav muttered, trying to pull her back.
"Leave me, Arav. mai darti nahi hun," Ritika retorted.
["I am not scared of them."]
"Pakado re iss ladki ko aur iss ladke ko” one of the men ordered, and they began to close in on them.
["Hold them."]
"Haan haan aao na..nani na yaad dila di sabko toh mera naam bhi Ritika nahi!” Ritika taunted, readying herself for a fight.
["Yeah, yeah, come on then... if I don't make everyone remember their grandma, my name isn't Ritika!"]
Arav frantically looked around and spotted a plate of red chilli powder. He grabbed a plate full of chilli powder and threw it into the men's eyes. They screamed in pain, clutching their faces.
"Run!" Arav shouted, grabbing Ritika's hand and bolting from the dhaba.
"Arav, leave me. Mai dekh lungi ek ek ko!" Ritika yelled, trying to pull away.
["I can handle them."]
"Shut up, Ritika, and run, " Arav commanded, pulling her along as fast as he could.
They quickly entered a forest area, running until they found a large rock to sit on, satisfied that the goons weren't behind them anymore.
"You are such a coward! You should have broken their faces. If you couldn't, I would have done it myself," Ritika fumed.
"Ritika, this isn't a movie. Be practical! I'm not some movie hero or a superhero, and neither are you. Against six big guys, we wouldn't have stood a chance," Arav replied, trying to calm her down.
"Par mujhe peetna tha kisi ko," she pouted.
["But I wanted to beat someone."]
"Mujhe peet lo,” he suggested with a grin.
["You can beat me."]
"I’m hungry, paav bhaji bhi nahi mili." Ritika complained.
"Is that a guava tree over there?" Arav asked, scanning the area.
"Haan haan, chalo" Ritika said, grinning as she walked towards the tree.
She jumped to reach a guava, but it was too high. Suddenly, the guava was within her reach. She turned to see Arav standing close, bending the branch down for her. She smiled and plucked the guava.
Arav then shook the tree, causing a shower of guavas to fall to the ground. Ritika eagerly collected them, but one of them hit Arav on the head. She giggled, unable to contain her amusement.
He smiled too, happy to see her genuinely laughing for the first time in a while.
Ritika realised her smile and quickly masked it with a glare, walking away towards the rock. Arav watched her, an amused grin playing on his lips.
Shashwat, Reyansh, Richa, Siya, and Arushi gathered in a cozy corner of a nearby café. The soft glow of the evening sun filtered through the windows, casting a warm light on their faces as they settled into their seats.
"Jaldi sochiye kya karna hai, 6 baje tak ghar jana hai," Siya reminded everyone, tapping her fingers impatiently on the table.
["Think quickly about what to do, we need to be home by 6 PM."]
"Pehle ye toh pata lagao ki Akash ko kya problem hai. Aisa kya hua jo ek din mein aise react kar raha?" Shashwat said, leaning forward with concern.
["First, let's find out what's bothering Akash. What happened that he's reacting like this all of a sudden?"]
"React nahi, acting bol," Reyansh corrected.
["He is acting."]
"Haan wahi... But what can we do? I'm not used to seeing him like this. It feels really strange." Shashwat replied, shaking his head.
"I know, his dad has said something wrong" Richa chimed in, her voice tinged with frustration.
"Haan, mujhe bhi lagta hai ki kuch jyada hi effect kar gayi jo bhi baat hai," Arushi added, nodding in agreement.
["Yes, I also feel that whatever was said has had an excessive effect."]
"But how do we fix everything? We need to first understand what happened. Only then can we explain things to him. For that, Akash will have to come back to us. First, come up with a plan for that," Shashwat suggested, looking around at his friends.
"To bhai, ham yahan yahi karne aaye hain," Reyansh said, rolling his eyes .
["We are here for that only."]
They all fell silent, deep in thought. The hum of the café and the clinking of cups provided a soothing background as they brainstormed. Suddenly, Siya's eyes lit up with excitement.
"I got an excellent idea!" Siya exclaimed, her voice breaking the silence.
"Bolo?" Everyone said in unison, leaning in eagerly.
Siya grinned and leaned forward, ready to share her idea with the group. “We will make Aakash bhaiya jealous."
“Matlab kaise?” Reyansh asked, eyebrows raised in curiosity.
“Arre ,if Richa talks to any guy, bhaiya will definitely get jealous." Siya explained with a mischievous glint in her eyes.
“Ohh what a great idea!” Shashwat said, clapping.
“Haan na.” Siya nodded enthusiastically.
“Kya han na!! Ekdum bakwas idea hai…ek to hame pata nahi hai uske man me kya chal raha hai upar se ye bakwas plan execute karenge pata nahi wo kaise react karega,” Shashwat countered, shaking his head.
[“Yeah right! What a nonsense idea. First, we don’t know what’s going on in his mind, and on top of that, we’ll execute this foolish plan. We don’t know how he’ll react.”]
“Aap hamare plan ko bakwas keh rahe?” Siya shot back, crossing her arms.
["You are calling my plan nonsense?"]
“Haan kyunki hai hi wo bakwas,” Shashwat replied firmly.
["Because it is."]
“Acha khud ke paas to bas dimaag me math aur padhai ghusi hui hai isliye koi idea ayega nahi to hamara hi idea use kar lijiye aur itna acha plan hai,” Siya retorted, her tone challenging.
[“Okay, since you only have math and studies stuck in your head, you won’t come up with any ideas. So, use our idea—it’s a pretty good plan.”]
“Haan aur tumhara dimag itna khali hai ki usme bakwas plans hi ayenge… at least thoda use kar ke aur acha plan batao,” Shashwat said, rolling his eyes.
[“Yes, and your mind is so empty that only useless plans will come to it. At least use it it a bit more and come up with a better plan.”]
“Ohh haan aapko to bakwas hi lagega na Shri Shri 108 Shashwat Maharaj Dadaji,” Siya taunted.
["Oh, yes, you would find it useless, wouldn't you, Shri Shri 108 Shashwat Maharaj Dadaji?"]
“What? I’m talking logically… and what will jealousy achieve? It’s all nonsense.”Shashwat argued.
“Dadaji please aap apne pracheen soch ko side me rakh kar meri baat samjhenge?” Siya said, her sarcasm evident.
[“Dadaji, please set aside your ancient thinking and understand my point?”]
“Acha bolo apni logical urf Illogical baat,” Shashwat replied, raising an eyebrow.
“Guys, can you please stop fighting? We’re here to resolve Akash's issue, so don't get caught up in your own matters,” Richa intervened, exasperation clear in her voice.
“Sorry chhoro ham bujurgo ke muh nahi lagte,” Siya said, and Shashwat's mouth went O.
["I don't talk with oldies."]
“But Siya, Shashwat bhaiya is right. Without knowing what's on Akash bhaiya's mind, how will we make him jealous?”Arushi said, trying to mediate.
“Haan ho gaya mai bhi yahi keh raha,” Shashwat agreed.
["Yes, see! I was telling that only."]
“Before anything else, we need to bring Akash back with both of you.”Richa said thoughtfully.
“Haan but how?” Reyansh asked, puzzled.
“I got one more idea ,” Siya said, her eyes twinkling.
“Phir se koi apne jaisa idea hoga,” Shashwat said, unimpressed.
["Again she will tell idea like her own."]
“Aapki anumati ho to mai bolun Dadu,” Siya said, taunting him.
["If I have your permission so shall I proceed grandpa?"]
“Hmm carry on,” Shashwat gave a fake smile and Siya rolled her eyes.
“Ham sab Akash bhaiya ko jante hain unhe kalesh kitna pasand hai... Jaise gud ke aage peeche makkhi ghoomti hai vaise hi Akash bhaiya Kalesh ke aage peeche ghumte hain,” Siya explained.
[“We all know Akash bhaiya loves fights. Just as flies hover around jaggery, Akash bhaiya revolves around fights.”]
“Haan par iska kya connection ab?” Richa asked, confused.
["But what is the connection?"]
“Shashwat aur Reyansh bhaiya agar ladenge to Akash bhaiya jaroor bhinbhinate hue aa jayenge aur iss se ek aur fayda hoga unhe lagega ki unke bina aapka trio toot gaya aur aap dono bhi ladne Lage unke jate hi,” Siya suggested.
[“If Shashwat and Reyansh bhaiya fight, Akash bhaiya will definitely come back agitated. And another benefit will be that he’ll think that without him, your trio has broken and you two have started fighting as soon as he left.”]
“Hmm this one was good,” Shashwat admitted.
“Ooo thank you so much sir, aap na approve karte to hamari mehnat bekar ho jati. Ham dhanya hue,” Siya said, sarcastically bowing.
[“Oh, thank you so much, sir. If you hadn’t approved, my efforts would have gone to waste… I am grateful.”
“Ho gaya! Ab aage bataogi ye kab se kare.. because aise achanak se ladenge to usse shaq hoga,” Shashwat said, rolling his eyes.
[“It’s done! Now you’ll need to tell us when to start, because if we fight suddenly, he’ll get suspicious.”]
“Arre aise achanak se nahi ladna. Fight properly after the annual function. We have a week, so you guys should keep doing little fights here and there so that later, when the big fight happens, Bhaiya will think that things started going wrong as soon as he left.” Siya suggested.
“Alright, let’s go now. Let’s have a cup of tea first. We’ve been sitting here for 2 hours, cafe wala bhi ajeeb nazaron se dekh raha hoga and it’s already 5:55, and Shashwat, you have coaching too, right?” Reyansh said, streching his arms.
“Haan let's go,” Shashwat agreed, and everyone stood from their places.
“Wo Aru tu inse puch ye acting kar lenge ladne ki I mean ab iss umar me kaha ye sab ho pata hoga,” Siya said, her tone mocking.
[“Hey Aru, ask them if he can do this acting of fighting. I mean, at this age, who knows if he can handle all this.”]
“Nahi tum ho na drama company khol kar rakhi ho tum sikha Dena,” Shashwat shot back.
[“No, you’re the one who has opened a drama company. You can teach me."]
"Ye jo baith ke taana maar rahe hain, ye hamse hi seekhe hain. To jada khud ko smart samajhne ki galti mat kariyega," Siya said, her eyes narrowing in a mix of frustration.
["Here, you are sitting and taunting, you have learned it from me. So, don’t make the mistake of thinking you’re smarter than me.”]
“Haan, iske alawa aur kuch seekh to sakta nahi tumse. To yahi sikhna padega,” Shashwat shot back, his voice tinged with sarcasm .
["Yeah, apart from this, I can’t learn anything else from you. So, I’ll have to learn this."]
“Chlo kutte Reyansh bhaiya,” Siya said, rolling her eyes and left from there with Reyansh
“Badi aayi mujhe taane marne wali.” Shashwat muttered, following her out with Aarushi and Richa.
"Kitna pyara mausam hai na?" Arav said as they finished the guava and resumed walking.
["The weather is too good."]
"Barish hone wali hai. Isme pyara kya hai?" She replied, looking at him skeptically.
["It's about to rain. What is pretty in this?"]
"Tum," he said, bending down slightly towards her with a playful smile. She just huffed and continued walking.
["You"]
An idea sparked in his mind. He pulled out his phone and started playing a song. The familiar tune of "Gazab Ka Hai Din" began to play. Arav started singing along with the lyrics, his voice filled with mischief.
"Gazab ka hai din, socho zara
He moved closer to her, gesturing grandly with his arms to emphasise the day. He spun around dramatically, pointing at her,
He took a few playful steps towards her, swaying his hips and tapping his feet to the rhythm. He twirled around her, his arms outstretched, making grand gestures as if they were in a dance routine.
"Tum ho akele, hum bhi akele"
He pointed at her with both hands, then at himself, indicating .He winked, his playful nature shining through.
"Maza aa raha hai
He placed a hand over his heart, then extended it towards her, expressing the fun and enjoyment they were sharing. He took her hand and twirled her around, causing her to momentarily lose her composure and smile but she stopped smiling and jerked his hand away.
Arav, catching Ritika’s exasperation, decided to continue his antics. He moved closer, his eyes locked on hers, and began to mime the next lines of the song.
He stood in front of her and bent down slightly, his face inches from hers, mimicking an intense, close examination of her features.
He didn’t sing the lines but his expression conveyed the meaning, making it clear he was savouring the rare chance to be this close.
Ritika's breath hitched for a moment before she composed herself.
He then moved beside her, nudging her shoulder lightly with his. His touch was playful but tender, causing her to glance at him with a mix of annoyance and amusement.
"Ye pal fir kahaan
He pointed to the ground, then to the sky, emphasising the fleeting nature of this moment and the uncertainty of their destination. His gestures were fluid, almost as if he was dancing through the words.
He stopped in front of her again, mimicking a sigh and then gesturing a distance between them with his hands. He took four exaggerated steps away, maintaining the playful pretence of following some invisible rule that kept them apart.
As the first drops of rain began to fall, the sky darkened, and a gentle patter turned into a steady downpour. Ritika looked up, her eyes catching the raindrops dancing in the air.
"Ho gaya gajab ka din?" she asked with a hint of a smile.
"At least clap hi kar deti," Arav replied with a playful pout, his eyes still shining with amusement from his earlier performance.
Ritika shook her head but her smile remained. "Chalo jaldi," she said, grabbing his hand and pulling him towards a nearby tracker. They quickly reached it, finding shelter under its cover.
The rain continued to fall around them, creating a soothing symphony of droplets hitting the metal surface.
Arav and Ritika huddled together under the makeshift roof, their clothes damp but their spirits high.
As they stood there, the rain began to run down Ritika's face, creating a glistening effect on her skin.
Arav, noticing her delicate features illuminated by the soft, rainy light, moved closer.
He stood directly in front of her, his hands resting on either side of the tracker, effectively caging her in between him and the metal structure.
Ritika's gaze softened as she looked at him, her eyes reflecting the admiration she felt after days of distance and frustration.
For a moment, she forgot the worries of their journey and simply took in his presence.
Her heart fluttered as she noticed how he seemed to be the only constant in the whirlwind of their adventure.
Arav, noticing her softened expression, could not take his eyes off her. The rain made her skin glow, and the droplets accentuated her features in a way that made her look ethereal. He marveled at how the rain brought out a genuine, peaceful beauty in her that he hadn’t seen in a while.
He raised his hand gently, his fingers brushing away the wet strands of hair that clung to her face. His touch was tender, almost reverent, as he tucked them behind her ear. His hand then softly caressed her cheek, his thumb brushing across her skin in a loving motion.
Ritika closed her eyes at the touch, savoring the warmth and gentleness of his caress. When she opened them again, she found herself staring directly into his eyes. They were filled with a deep, affectionate gaze that seemed to speak volumes of unspoken feelings.
Arav leaned in closer, his face inches from hers.
The rain continued to fall around them, but inside their little haven, it felt like time had stopped.
He gently cupped her face, his fingers tenderly exploring her features.
His gaze never left hers, and the intensity of his look was filled with a mix of longing and tenderness.
Ritika felt her breath catch as the space between them seemed to close. She could feel the warmth of his breath mingling with the coolness of the rain, and her heart raced as he moved even closer.
Arav’s hand gently traced the line of her jaw before he leaned in and placed a soft, lingering kiss on her forehead.
His lips were warm and gentle against her skin, and the kiss was filled with all the emotions he had been holding back.
As he pulled away slightly, his eyes searched hers for any sign of what she felt.
Ritika's eyes were full of emotion, reflecting the vulnerability and affection she felt. She reached up, placing her hand on his, holding it against her cheek.
Arav’s gentle touch on Ritika’s cheek and the affectionate kiss on her forehead had initially seemed like a gesture of deep affection.
However, as she stared into his eyes, her expression shifted from admiration to one of painful clarity.
The tenderness that had been so evident now seemed to be stirring up deeper feelings of frustration and hurt within her.
Ritika's eyes, which had once reflected a flicker of admiration, were now clouded with hurt and frustration. She pulled away from Arav, breaking the closeness that had seemed so intimate moments earlier.
“What the hell Arav!! Do you really think you can win my heart with all of this?” Ritika’s voice was sharp, filled with an edge that cut through the soft patter of rain. “You think that by coming close and touching me like this, you’ll make everything okay?”
Arav’s face fell, the hurt evident as she continued. He looked down, his own guilt surfacing as he realised she was voicing the same feelings he had been avoiding.
She stepped back, her eyes blazing with frustration. The rain, which had been falling lightly around them, now felt like a cold curtain between them, amplifying the distance she was trying to create.
“Stay away from me,” she said, her voice steady but filled with finality. “I need you to keep your distance. Maintain the four steps between us. I don’t even want to see your face. I don't like your presence around me.”
Arav stood motionless, the weight of her words sinking in. The distance she demanded was both physical and emotional. He nodded slowly, his own heart heavy with the understanding that he had indeed played a part in the growing rift.
At night, Shashwat sat at his study table, engrossed in solving reasoning questions. As he finally did the questions, he closed the books and removed his glasses. He paused, glancing at his phone.
"Siya ki call karun kya," he mused to himself as he settled into his bed. Without another thought, he dialled her number. After a few rings, the call was cut off.
["Should I call Siya?"]
Siya, sitting on her bed with a book, looked at her phone and sighed. "Arre yaar, bechare call kar rahe the aur hum pagal jaise kat diye," she muttered to herself. She immediately dialled his number back.
[“Oh man, he was calling and I cut the call like an idiot.”]
This time, Shashwat saw the call and deliberately cut it. He chuckled, but moments later, his phone rang again. Mishti name flashed on the screen.
“Hello,” Siya said, picking up the call.
“Hello,” Shashwat replied.
“Aapne call kyu cut ki?” Siya asked, curiosity laced with a hint of annoyance.
["Why did you cut the call?"]
“Kyunki pehle tumne ki thi,” Shashwat retorted playfully.
["First you did it."]
“Call back bhi kiya na phir,” Siya countered.
["I called back after that."]
“Haan to maine bhi call back hi kiya hai,” Shashwat said.
["I also did that."]
“Kyun kiya?” Siya asked.
["Why though?"]
“Kya?” Shashwat responded, slightly confused.
["What?"]
“I mean aapne call kyun ki thi,” Siya clarified.
["Why did you called back?"]
“Tumse lad ke acha nahi lagta yaar,” Shashwat admitted softly. Siya couldn’t help but smile.
["I don't feel good afternoon fighting with you."]
“Hame bhi, par you know? Sab kehte hain ki ladai jhagde se pyar badhta hai.” Siya said, her voice warm.
["These fights increases love."]
"Accha ji?" Shashwat asked leaning against the headboard of bed smiling.
"Haan ji." She replied and then inquired, “Acha kya kar rahe hain?”
“Reasoning solve kar ke sone jaa raha tha, tabhi tumhari yaad aa gayi to tumhe call kar liya,” Shashwat explained.
["I was going to sleep after solving reasoning, then I remembered you and thought to call you."]
“Ohoo… par reasoning se kyun?” Siya asked, a smile playing on her lips.
["But why?"]
“Soch raha tha Siya ko dedo to ek question nhi solve kar payegi,” Shashwat said, trying to control his laughter.
[“I was thinking if I give it to Siya, she won’t be able to solve a single question.”]
“Hawww!! Aapne hamari beizzati karne ke liye call kiya,” Siya exclaimed. “Byy,” she said, pretending to be hurt.
“Nahi nahi nahi, sorry, I was joking,” Shashwat said, giggling.
“Haha, very funny, hans-hans ke pet dard hone laga mera,” Siya said, rolling her eyes.
["My stomach is aching by laughing."]
“Vaise gusse me badi pyari lagti ho,” Shashwat said, his tone affectionate.
["You look cute in anger."]
“Jada maska mat lagaiye,” Siya said, blushing.
“Par koi iss maske se fisal raha hai,” Shashwat teased.
“Aur aap ko pehli baar taana marte dekha hai hamne… itne ulta jawab dena kaha se seekha aapne,” Siya said, chuckling.
[“And this is the first time we’ve seen you making taunts… where did you learn to give such sarcastic replies?”]
“Wo tumhari sangat ka thoda…nhi nhi kuch jada hi asar ho gaya hai…abhi se ye haal hai aage jaa ke mera Bhagwan hi maalik hai,” Shashwat said, making Siya giggle.
[“It's a bit of your company’s influence… no, no, it’s actually had quite an effect. If this is how things are now, only God knows what will happen in the future.”]
They continued talking, the conversation flowing effortlessly. As they lay in their respective beds, they slowly drifted off to sleep after disconnecting the call.
For six days, Reyansh and Shashwat had been staging a fake fight to get Akash's attention, but it wasn't working.
It was a crisp morning, and the school grounds were just starting to buzz with activity. Reyansh and Shashwat stood impatiently outside their classroom, glancing down the corridor every few seconds.