I need you Pia...Hold me close..
He murmured
to himself, closing his eyes tight, but they opened up the next moment, wide
enough to see the world in a single look. Her palm was on his, finding a way to
be in, to be closer. We looked at each other and I could see in her eyes the
emotion which had clouded my heart. They needed no words. Mannu picked up the
bag from between and pulled her near. On a lonely night Mannu always dreamt of
this moment. Her thigh was touching his, her arm was on his arm. Both didn’t
know when they had locked hands.
Being so
close to Pia, Mannu could fancy a perfect future. Two children, a girl and a
boy. A cute little Pia and a naughty little Mannu. Still they both were looking
not at each other. Her hair smelt of honey. The wind blew them onto his face,
into his mouth. She piled it up to the other shoulder, locking them between her
forefinger and thumb. Mannu was in love with her grace and her hair was more in
love with Mannu. They flew back again for his kiss. Mannu had never enjoyed
life so much.
In around
thirty-five minutes they were at their dream destination, the Juhu Beach. The cool wind had a flavour of
salt. Pia pressed Mannu’s hand to show how happy she was.
“This is
what Jaipur can’t ever give...” She
spoke as they both gazed at nothing but the blue waters, the clear skies. On
Pia’s words, Mannu removed his shoes to feel Juhu better.
“We come
here at least once in a month...can’t live without....and in Jaipur you can go
to temples...that’s a different feeling too...”She even splashed some water on
him. The mud mountain of silence between them was getting dissolved.
“We play
snooker...have noodle rolls and soft drinks....That’s our favourite outing...Sai baba mandir is only where we go
every Thursday...”Spoke Mannu looking at her happy face. Quietness on their
faces gradually washed away.
“Here...you
see...here there are live performances in late evenings...But till that time
you will be gone...” On these words of Pia, Mannu preferred to be silent. She
pulled him by wrist and dragged him to a certain point on the beach. The mud at
that point had a darker colour. Maybe the cracks in the log of wood that rested
there for a decade had imparted it.
“Come sit
naaa...don’t worry about your jeans...It’s that one naa which you bought after
a fight with mummy...hmmm???”
“Ya...no..not
after a fight but after failing to tell her how decent it is...”
“And
yours is the same purse that you brought on your birthday..right?”
She
nodded in acceptance, putting it Mannu’s lap to have a closer look. He didn’t
open it up. Just touched it and let it rest there. They made themselves
comfortable on a thick piece of log. Pia dug her feet in the mud and held
Mannu’s hand.
“What’re
you doing Pia?” Mannu questioned her.
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