Part 3:

Nupur comfortably closed her eyes tightly, as she rested her head against the window of the bus, feeling the cool breeze kiss her cheeks. She was finally going to be reaching the city of her dreams, Mumbai. Somewhere inside her, she felt guilty about trying to accomplish her dream in such a way, but she wasn't left with any other option. Mamma and Papa would never agree. They would definitely force her and blackmail her into marrying that stupid Mayank Sharma. She had always dreamt of fulfilling her dream, and marrying the person she loved, who respected her and her career, her aspirations, who didn't object to any of it. Who would love her unconditionally, and whom she would love back, unconditionally. What were they thinking? Marriage is a game? No way! For her, arrange marriage was as bad as a contract marriage. It was as if you were signing a contract of a lifetime. What good that life was? Spending your entire life with a stranger? So what if Mayank was a thorogh gentleman? She didn't know him, she had never seen his stupid face. She couldn't comment on his face though, but she didn't bother either, since she was running away, away from everything, away from her family, away from that stupid arrange marriage, away from Mayank Sharma. A lone tear escaped her eyes, as she thought of her family. Would they have found out by now? Would Gunjan have told him everything? Gunjan? How was she? She hoped she was alright. But she had to be alright, since she had Samrat for her. Nupur trusted Samrat a lot. She shared her every little thing with Samrat, since she had known him since childhood. Gunjan and Samrat had fallen in love with each other, and it had been 3 years since their love confession. Nupur smiled. She was happy for her sister, since mamma and papa had openly accept Samrat and Gunjan's relationship. But what about her happiness? Didn' anyone care about her happiness? She had never felt so helpless before. Tears started flowing down her eyes. She was alone. She had no one with her.

 

Mayank shifted restlessly in his seat.  The thought of his ma kept disturbing him. How would she manage without him? He loved her a lot. His ma was the only one he had for him. And now, he was running away from her, his only family. He had told his ma long back that he never planned to get married. Even if he would fall in love, he would consider a live-in relationship, but marriage? No way. He wasn't game for marriage. And the idea of he falling in love with someone was next to impossible. But certainly not impossible. He covered his face in his hands. He didn't ever even want to look at that Nupur Bhushan's face. How did his ma even think that he would get married to a girl who he had never even met? Forget marriage, he even wouldn't consider going on a date with a stranger. He did feel relieved to have run away, or else he would have been stuck up with that girl, Nupur Bhushan.

 

The bus suddenly jerked to a stop, breaking both Mayank and Nupurs thoughts. Nupur looked up to see what was going on. People were protesting, some were yelling, asking the driver the reason for stopping.

 

A random voice- Arey bhaiyaa ji, bus kyon rok diya?

The bus driver came out of his seat, and stood in front of the agitated passengers.

Driver- Humaarein bus mein koi kharaabi aa gayi hai. Aur kyonki yeh jungle ka ilaaka hai, yahaa par humein mechanic nahi milega. Yahaa se 3-4 km door ek mechanic hai, to hum jaakar unhe lekar aate hai, tab tak yeh bus yahi rukhi rahegi. Tab tak agar aap log chaho to utar sakte ho, aur thodi der jungle mein ghoom sakte ho. Lekin zyaada door mat jaana, kyonki yeh jungle bohot hi khatarnaak hai.

People moaned, some yawned sleepily. Nupur didn't know what to do. She decided to get down, and roam around in the fresh air for sometime. Mayank also started feeling suffocated sitting inside the bus, so he too got down. Many other people were roaming down. Nupur wanted to go as far away from the crowd as possible, wanted to be alone. Without realizing where she was heading, she walked slowly into the jungle. Mayank who was wandering around the other crowd, noticed Nupur walking into the jungle, heading for its interior. He first tried to ignore her, thinking that she would just be going to a certain extent, and then come back. But he was shocked, when he saw her disappear. She was nowhere to be seen. He looked around here and there, searched the crowd of people, climbed back into the bus to check, but she was nowhere to be seen.

M- Where did she go? Damn! What if she gets lost! She's a girl, all by herself. I should look for her.

Mayank quickly started walking in the direction in which Nupur headed, but was stuck up when he saw two directions ahead of him. He didn't know which one to take. There was one straight path, and one left turn.

M- Seeing the way she was walking, I don't think she must have noticed the turn. She surely must have gone straight. Mayank didn't know why he was looking for her, but his conscience told him that he should. It told him to look for her, protect her from any danger. He didn't know why, but he just followed his conscience, and walked straight.

He was constantly praying that she was safe. He almost broke into a run. Suddenly he heard someone scream for help. He stopped instantly, and tried to find out from where the sound was coming.

 

Nupur found herself lost. She was completely lost. She didn't know where she was. She didn't know where she was supposed to be. She remembered that she was in the bus, and now, she finds herself in the middle of a jungle, all by herself.

N- Oh god, please save me.

Nupur started panicking. She looked around here and there, but didn't see anything. There were just trees around her. She was scared to death. She was all alone in a jungle. What the hell was she thinking? Why the heck was she here? What had gotten into her? There wasn't anyone around who could help her. She suddenly broke down, and sat down on the ground, hugging her knees to her chest. She felt really helpless. She missed Gunjan badly. She wanted to hug her little sister. She felt so lonely. She started crying loudly. She suddenly got an idea. She decided to scream for help. She knew it was a pointless effort, but if her luck was good, someone would hear her, and she would be safe. Atleast she hoped for the best.

N- Help! Please someone help me! I'm stuck here! Please help!

She began screaming, but she knew this effort was all in vain. She began crying hysterically.

 

Mayank had managed to find out from where the voice was coming from. It was coming from straight ahead. He quickly ran in the direction of the voice, and stopped immediately, as he saw a figure, curled into a ball, crying hysterically. He quickly approached the crying figure. He placed his hand on her shoulder.

M- Tum theek to ho?

Nupur stopped crying, and looked up. A faint smiled flashed on her face. Someone had come to rescue her! Her efforts were not put in vain. She thanked her luck. She felt really lucky. She was scared to death.

M- Are you okay?

Nupur looked up at him, and nodded.

N- Thank you so much.

M- No problem. But how did you land up here?

N- I-I, I have no idea. I wasn't in my senses. I just walked, and unknowingly, landed up in the middle of the forest.

M- I guess we met before, right?

N- Yeah, you purchased my ticket for me.

M- Oh, your name is, uhm, what was it?

N- Neha.

M- oh, Neha.

N- Aur tumhaara naam Arjun hai na?

Mayank nodded. He had lied to her about his name. He didn't want anyone to know his real identity. Especially not when he was trying to run away. He slowly helped Nupur back to her feet.

N- Tumhe waapas jaane ka rasta to pata hai na?

Mayank looked shocked. He was too tensed to note the way. He was scared. This girl here was depending on him. What would he tell her? He didn't know the way back? She would panic all the more. What was he to do now?

M- ha.

He lied. There wasn't any other option. He had to calm her down. If he would tell her the truth, she would not be able to control herself. He slowly guided the way, not sure if he was going right or wrong.

Nupur walked right beside him, afraid to lose sight of him. He was her only hope at that minute. She felt comfortable to be around him. He made her feel safe. They suddenly heard some strange noise, which scared Nupur. She clutched his hand tightly, and closed her eyes. Mayank stopped and looked at his hand. Nupur held it tightly. He comfortingly placed his arm around her shoulder. Nupur was shocked by this gesture.

M- Its ok. Kuch nahi hoga tumhe.

Nupur smiled at his sweet gesture. He was indeed very helpful. They walked like that for a while, until Mayank was sure that they were lost. He stopped, removing his arm from around Nupur's shoulder.

N- Kya hua?

M- Neha, mujhe lagta hai ki hum ghum gaye hai.

N- Kya! You can't be serious. You said you knew the way na! Then how!

M- Look, It's ok. Please don't panic. Just relax.

N- How can I relax! We're lost, that too in a jungle. How can someone not panic!

Mayank couldn't console her. He himself was panicking. What were they going to do now? The sun was slowly setting. In a few hours, it would be dark. Then what would they do! Suddenly, Mayank caught sight of something, a km or two ahead of them. He quickly walked towards it, Nupur following right behind him. They both stopped at what they saw. It was a cottage. A cottage in middle of the jungle. It was broken from outside, looked as if it were abandoned for centuries. It looked like it would collapse any minute. Mayank glanced at Nupur. She looked a little taken aback at his expression, but she knew there was no other way.

N- Fine, we'll stay back here for the night.

Mayank tried to open the fragile door, and he slowly pushed it. He let Nupur walk in first. She went in, and sat down on one corner, hugging herself. Mayank entered in, and closed the door behind him. Nupur looked around nervously. She would be spending a night in the cottage, with a guy. Nupur looked at Mayank, who was busy searching around for something. The cottage also had a first floor. Although some of the steps were broken. Nupur looked at Mayank. He seemed like he was a guy in his mid twenties. He had these beautiful deep eyes, in which anyone could just drown. He had soft, silky hair. Nupur suddenly felt the urge to ruffle his hair. She looked at his body. He had the perfect built. The perfect body any girl would desire. She saw his face, his nose, his eyes, his lips. Everything about him was just perfect. Nupur looked at him dreamily. She had always wanted her dream man to be someone like him. Not that stupid Mayank Sharma. If her mom would have chosen Arjun (it's mayank only, but Arjun for her) for her arrange marriage, she might have considered. Nupur was shocked and surprised at herself, for thinking that way. She was getting attracted to a guy with whom she was just with for 2-3 hours. That was all. They didn't even know anything about each other. Nupur tried hard to break out of her thoughts, but all went in vain. This guy in front of her, was simply too hot to handle. And she was getting attracted to him. Mayank saw Nupur staring at him, and had a confused look on his face. Nupur suddenly realized what she was doing and quickly got out of her reverie. She came back to reality.

M- Tumhe mujhse kuch kehna hai?

Nupur looked confused at his question. Why did he feel that she wanted to say something to him?

N- Nahi, kyon?

M- Kyonki jis tarah se tum mujhe ghoor rahi thi, I thought kit um shaayad mujhse kuch kehna chahti ho.

Nupur suddenly blushed, on knowing that Mayank had caught her staring at him. Not exactly staring, but rather, checking him out.

N- Actually wo, ab kyonki hum ek saath yahaa phas gaye hai, aur is jungle ke aawaazon ke wajah se mujhe neend bhi nahi aa rahi, kyon na hum ek dusre ke baare mein kuch jaan le?

M- Waise, idea to bura nahi hai.

N- To , tum bhi Mumbai jaa rahe the? Koi khaas wajah se, ya phir, holiday?

M- Actually, wo main, bhaag raha tha.

N- Kya matlab?

M- Mein ghar se bhaag kar aaya hoo.

N- Kya?

M- Haa.

N- Lekin kyon?

M- Kyonki meri maa mujhse zabardasti shaadi karvaana chahti thi. Aur kyonki maine aaj tak unki ek baat nahi taali hai, mujhe majboori mein wahaase bhaagna pada. Mein shaadi karna hi nahi chahta.

N- Wow!

M- Ismein wow jaisi koi baat nahi hai!

N- No, I mean, what a co incidence. Mein bhi ghar se bhaag kar aayi hoo. Meri ma bhi meri shaadi kisi useless insaan se karaana chahti thi. Actually, mera hamesha se sapna tha ki main ek successful actress banoo, lekin Mamma aur papa maan hi nahi rahe the. Isiliye mere paas aur koi option hi nahi bacha tha.

M- Shaayad isiliye hum dono ke naseeb mein milna likha tha.

N- Shaayad.

Nupur and Mayank started talking, and enjoying each others company.

N- Waise, tumhaari kitni girlfriends reh chuki hai?

M- Kitni nahi, sirf ek.

N- Achcha, aur uska naam kya hai?

M- Aashna. Lekin usne mujhe dhoka diya tha.

N- Oh, I'm so sorry.

M- Don't be. Ismein tumhaari koi galti nahi hai. Aur tum bataao, apne boyfriends ke baare mein.

N- Mera aaj tak koi boyfriend nahi raha. Mein believe karti hoo ki saccha pyaar sirf ek hi insaan se kar sakte hai. Baar baar nahi hota. Isiliye, I'm waiting for my mister right.

M- Interesting.

Mayank looked at Nupur, as she continued to talk to him. Actually, it was only her who was speaking. Mayank simply listened to her. He looked at her deep brown eyes, filled with emotions. He looked at features. She was really beautiful. She was sleek, slender, very delicate, a girl every guy would die to be with. She was really attractive. He felt like just looking at her the whole day. And when she smiled, Mayank felt a strong urge to go closer to her. He suddenly snapped out of his thoughts. Nupur was standing up, walking towards the staircase.

M- Kaha jaa rahi ho?

N- Uppar. Tum neeche sona, aur mein upper so jaaongi.

Mayank got up and stood right behind her. Nupur climbed up one step, and it creaked, and broke, leaving Nupur to fall, fall straight into Mayank's arms. Mayank felt a sudden happiness to have Nupur in his arms. She was really gorgeous. He got a clear look of her angelic face. A Few of her hair strands were falling on her face. Mayank without even thinking once, pushed them behind her ears. Nupur was gazing into his eyes. She was lost into them. Both were lost into each other. There was a spark between them. They had just met, but there seemed to be some attraction they had towards each other. Suddenly, Mayank lost his balance, as he was balancing on a broken step, and he fell down on the ground, with Nupur on top of him. She slowly got up, trying to break the gaze. She knew if she wouldn't break the stare, she would end up doing something which would then be out of her control. The truth was that his touch sent shivers through her spine. She was getting attracted to him. She didn't know what exactly to call the feeling. She called it the feeling of lust, since she felt some kind of a physical attraction towards him. She tried to control herself, and sat down on the other end, looking at the floor, feeling too embarrassed to look him the eye. Mayank was looking equally embarrassed too.

He cursed himself. Why did he have to move her hair behind her ear? What had gotten into him? Why did he feel attracted towards her? What would she be thinking of him? That he was an indecent guy, who took advantage of girls? He literally cursed his action. He regretted every bit of it. But in the end, he liked the feeling. He liked the feeling of having her in his arms. He knew somewhere, that he longed for it. What was wrong with him? He was getting attracted to a girl who he just met a few hours back. There was something in her. There was an unknown thing that was pulling him towards her, but what?

Both were having a sudden gush of emotions running through them. Both were astonished at the sudden attraction they felt. Would they be able to control their feelings, before it took control of them?

hope u liked it, and hope it was long enuf! Please do comment