PART 10:
Angad and Tehzeeb stayed in each other's arms for a little while, absorbing each other's warmth in the deluge.
Tehzeeb finally stopped trembling and looked up at Angad, "thanks…..I..I…am so..sorr…ry…" she was still sobbing.
"You ought to be sorry….bilkul pagal ho tum Tehzeeb.." Angad said affectionately, stroking her hair gently.
"mujhey laga…mujhey laga…"
"Jaanta hoon…tumhey laga ki main paise ke liye tumharey Abbu ko inform kar doonga?"
Tehzeeb nodded and lowered her eyes, "haan maine yahi socha tha.."
"Haan, ek baar mann tho kiya tha…par paise ke liye nahin…tumhari hifazat ke liye….paise chahiye hote tho main pehle din hi tumhare Abbu ko phone kar deta…."
"phir kyun nahin kiya?" Tehzeeb asked
"Pataa nahin…shayad main pehle jaan na chahta tha ki tum ghar se bhaag kar kyun aayi ho….ek shareef ladki ghar se tabhi bhaag thi hai jab bahut majboor ho ya jab…ya jab.."
"ya jab kya?" Tehzeeb asked quizzically
"ya jab bilkul pagal ho tumhari tarah…," he teased her but hugged her again.
Tehzeeb did not hesitate and smiled back, enjoying the feel of his warm chest through his wet shirt, "tum theek kehte ho…main kuch pagal si hi hoon…"
Angad thought, "par mujhey yeh pagalpan bahut pyaara lagta hai…."
"kuch kaha tumney?" Tehzeeb asked.
"Nahin…" Angad picked her bag and said, "lagta hai aaj raat Genoa mein hi bitaani padhegi….is mausam mein hamari rescue boat ultaa hamein dooba degi…chalo let's find some shelter… kal subah train ya bus se Naples chale jaayenge…I think that would be the easiest way to get back on our ship."
Tehzeeb did not question or argue with him. She had somehow resigned her fate to Angad at this point. She trusted that he would take her to her 'manzil' and she need not worry anymore.
They walked in the rain towards the city, in search of a hotel to spend the night.
Genoa was a popular destination for tourists and the hotels were overbooked.
At last they found a hotel with one room available. It was fortunately a suite with a room and attached living room.
"Tehzeeb…ek room hai is hotel mein…tum yahan reh jaao…main aage koyi aur hotel dhoondta hoon…"
Tehzeeb did not want Angad to leave, "nahin….koyi baat nahin ek raat ki hi tho baat hai….tum bhi yahan reh lo….mujhey akele darr lagta hai.." she admitted.
Angad smiled at her innocence, "theek hai…main living room mein so jaaoonga…"
Tehzeeb was lucky that she had her bag with her. She promptly went into the bathroom to change into a dry outfit after they checked into the suite. Angad settled in the living room and left the luxurious king sized bed for Tehzeeb. There was a sliding glass door separating the two rooms. He shut the door, to give Tehzeeb some privacy.
Angad took his wet shoes and socks off. He had nothing else to change into. The shops at the hotel and the neighborhood were all closed at this late hour.
Angad took his shirt off and set it to dry on a chair. He stood near the window with his bare back facing the room.
Tehzeeb came out of the shower, wearing pink pajamas and matching top. Her hair was open and still wet from the rain and shower.
She peeked through the glass door and saw Angad leaning against the window. She could see his strong muscular back facing her. She could not take her eyes off his bare skin…..she felt something inside her which she had only experienced while reading her numerous collection of romantic fiction….a sensation she had only felt in her dreams…in her imaginary world…..whenever she thought of her prince charming sweeping her off her feet…..she could feel goose bumps on her skin and a sweet throbbing sensation inside her femineity. She swallowed hard to moisten her parched throat; she turned around with her back resting on the glass door and shut her eyes, "ya allah! Yeh kya ho raha hai mujhey….maine aaj tak kabhi kisi ke liye aisa nahin socha…..mujhey maaf kar do mere khuda….yeh paap hai….," she raised her hands and looked up as if praying to her 'khuda'
After a few moments, she opened her eyes and turned around to see Angad staring at her from the window. His hair was still wet, but he had a towel resting on his shoulders. He was mesmerized by her fresh-out-of-the-shower look. He was tempted to grab her and hold her in his arms.
She could see his muscular chest with a gold chain hanging on it. She looked carefully and saw an "OM" dangling from the chain.
That "OM" sign hit Tehzeeb like a rock! That was reality….for the first time Tehzeeb realized that Angad and her had very different backgrounds- somehow their economic and cultural differences (he was Indian and she was practically an American)- were insignificant in comparison to their religious differences. She had heard numerous times from her Abbu and his friends, "hamare bacche chahe American ban jaaye, par kabhie kisi Hindu ke naa baney…."
Her Abbu was particularly strict about her mingling with Hindus- she had no idea why-they seemed the closest to her in terms of culture, language and looks. She had never questioned her dad while growing up, but today she wanted to know…. "aakhir kyon? aakhir kyon main ek Hindu ko pasand nahin kar sakti? Angad kehta hai ki meri manzil hi uski manzil hai, tho phir aaj pehli baar mujhey kyon ehsaas ho raha hai ki Angad aur meri duniya kitni alag hai…."
She was trying to take deep breaths to calm herself, when she heard the glass door slide open.
"Tehzeeb…kuch room service se order karoon?" it was Angad's deep voice in the background.
Tehzeeb did not turn around, "nahin mujhey bhookh nahin hai…tumhey kuch chahiye tho kar lo…"
Angad thought, "Tehzeeb….meri bhookh aur pyaas tho ab tumsey hi judi hai…..kya jawab doon main tumhey?"
When Angad did not answer, she turned around, but could not meet his gaze, "Angad….tumhey thand lag rahi hogi….bathroom mein ek robe hai…chaho tho main le aati hoon…"
"Aadat hai mujhey Tehzeeb…aakhir ek Navy officer apna saara samay paani mein hi nikaalta hai…chalo main kuch order kar deta hoon….."
Tehzeeb nodded, her eyes still staring at the floor, unable to meet his gaze or his handsome physique.
After finishing their meal, Tehzeeb felt a little more comfortable around Angad. She avoided looking at him, as every time she set her eyes on him, she felt little giddy; Angad had already caught her staring at him a few times.
Angad thought, "Tehzeeb…lagta hai kabhie kisi mard ko bina shirt ke nahin dekha….chalo zindagi ke kayi lessons mil rahe hain tumhey is trip par….apni feelings ko hide mat karo….main jaanta hoon tum meri taraf attract ho rahi ho…but I will wait…I will wait till you are ready to listen to your heart…."
"Angad….tumharey ghar par kaun kaun hain?"
Angad decided to tease her, "ek biwi hai, ek rakhail hai aur dono ke do-do bacche hain…."
Tehzeeb was aghast; her mouth stayed open as she stared at him in disbelief, '
"WHAT? Are you crazy?"
Angad started laughing, "tumhey koyi bhi bewkoof banaa sakta hai…you are so vulnerable..," he got up and put the dishes away on the tray, "nahin ek bimaar maa hai aur ek bahen….bas yahi dono hain….main bas unhi ke liye jeeta hoon….cruise par bhi issi liye aaya hoon…meri maa ko cancer hai…."
Tehzeeb noticed that Angad's eyes were glistening with tears as he spoke about his mother.
"bahut pyaar karte ho apni mom se?"
"haan….unhoney poori zindagi ek single mother ho kar mujhey aur meri bahen ko sab kuch diya hai…khair rehney do…..," he shuffled his feet as he was not comfortable talking about his personal life with anyone, but somehow Tehzeeb was different….itna apna pan hai tehzeeb mein….main kyon apni problems usey bataa raha hoon….he thought as he paused.
Tehzeeb felt bad for Angad, "I hope tumhari mom theek ho jaaye….main samajh sakthi hoon ki maa ke bina kitni adhoori zindagi ho sakti hai…meri maa bhi bachpan mein hi guzar gayi thi, " she felt her eyes moistening as she said that.
They both tried to smile and change the subject.
"OK Goodnight Tehzeeb! See you bright and early….and by the way…here is your passport and envelope….thode bheeg gaye hain…but should dry by the morning…"
They both tossed and turned around all night, aware of each other's presence just a few feet away, but separated by their self-created obstacles…..
Song in the background as they both pine for each other all night:
"aisa lagta hai" from "refugee"
http://www.dishant.com/lyrics/song-1746.html
O, Aisa Lagta Hai, Jo Na Hua Hone Ko Hai
Aisa Lagta Hai, Abh Dil Mera Khone Ko Hai
Varna Dil Kyoon Dhadakta, Saansein Kyoon Rukti
Neendein Meri Kyoon Ud Jaateen
O, Aisa Lagta Hai , Jo Na Hua Hone Ko Hai
Aisa Lagta Hai, Abh Dil Mera Khone Ko Hai
Varna Dil Kyoon Dhadakta, Saansein Kyoon Rukti
Neendein Meri Kyoon Ud Jaateen
O, Aisa Lagta Hai, Jo Na Hua Hone Ko Hai...
Koi Chehraa Nigahoon Pe Chaa Ne Lagaa
Koi Abh Roz Khaabon Mein Aane Lagaa
Aayi Rut Jo Nayee, Jaagey Armaan Kayee
Mausam Koi Ghazal Jaise Gaaney Lagaa
Oooooo, Aisa Lagta Hai, Jaise Nasha Hone Ko Hai
Hooo, Aisa Lagta Hai, Hosh Mera Khone Ko Hai
Varna Dil Kyoon Dhadakta, Saansein Kyoon Rukti
Neendein Meri Kyoon Ud Jaateen
Oooo, Aisa Lagta Hai, Hosh Mera Khone Ko Hai...
Mehki Mehki Fizaa Ne Li Angdaiyaan
Neeli Neeli Hain Baadal Ki Parchaiyaan
Thandi Thandi Hawaa, Layee Raag Naya
Goonji Goonji Si Hain Jaise Shehnaiyaan
Ooooooo, Aisa Lagta Hai, Koi Mera Hone Ko Hai
Aisa Lagta Hai, Har Fasala Khone Ko Hai
Varna Dil Kyoon Dhadakta, Saansein Kyoon Rukti
Neendein Meri Kyoon Ud Jaateen
Hoooo, Aisa Lagta Hai, Jo Na Hua Hone Ko Hai
Aisa Lagta Hai, Abh Dil Mera Khone Ko Hai
Varna Dil Kyoon Dhadakta, Saansein Kyoon Rukti
Neendein Meri Kyoon Ud Jaateen...
….to be continued…
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