Chapter 8
DOWN BY THE SEA/ MY BABY AND ME/ FOUND HAPPINESS LOST IN A SEASHELL
Kripa gathered up her artwork and supplies and waited for Angad's return by the wall, deeply lost in thought. As she heard Angad approach her, she turned to look at him…….he had showered and changed into an open-necked white shirt again with khaki pants, looking like the sea-pirate that he always resembled. His hair was still wet from the shower and gleamed slickly against his leonine head.
Kripa silently took up her art stuff; Angad picked up her easel and they walked back to her room. She asked Angad to wait for her in the living-room while she bathed and changed for lunch. She wore a dark pink top with cut-off denim pants…..she wasn't making the mistake of wearing a skirt again in Goa, it was too windy for skirts! She tied her hair in a ponytail and put on simple shell earrings which dangled near her neck.
When she emerged after changing, Angad admired her fresh look, his eyes glinting, he said: Lets go to the Barbecue place.
At the poolside BBQ, they sat under thatched umbrellas at first but then Angad realized a lot of the people there were staring at him and Kripa……they knew Angad from his band performances and must have be wondering who the pretty girl with him was! Angad got and up and said " lets sit inside, Kripa"
Kripa looked around and understood, they went inside the restaurant and got a corner table with more privacy.
Angad: Kripa kaun si drinks logi?
Kripa ordered a Shirley Temple, Angad had a screwdriver (vodka and orange juice)
The Shirley Temple came with a pair of cherries on top, Kripa took out a cherry and rolled it around in her mouth…..Angad stared at her, fascinated by her unconsciously seductive action……his throat became dry, he took a gulp of his drink and looked away, his face flushed!
He opened the two top buttons of his shirt, saying: Yahan bahut garmi hai……then.he looked intently at her, his heart thudding as she took the cherry-pit out of her mouth and threw it in a napkin! She has the lips of a siren, he thought with a pang!
Kripa saw a small gold cross hanging from his neck as he loosened his shirt... she stared at his tanned chest! She felt a little hot herself!
They ordered their food…..Kripa had a grilled cheese sandwich and garden salad. Angad ordered a HUGE meal of lobsters, shrimps and grilled chicken kebabs for himself!
When the food arrived, Kripa gasped: You will eat all that?
Angad: YEAAAAH! I have a healthy appettite" he winked at her.
Kripa didn't get his full meaning but she still blushed.
Angad started eating with great gusto while Kripa nibbled on her salad.
Angad: Yeh kya ghaas-phoos kha rahi ho? Taste some of mine"
He picked up a piece of his lobster, dipped it in melted butter and offered it to her.
Kripa: NO No I don't want it, mujhey seafood achha nahin lagta"
Angad: Just taste it……You'll like it….I swear!
Kripa shook her head in refusal…..but Angad wasn't one to give up…..he coaxed and begged her to taste it till at last she took the piece of lobster in her mouth……melted butter trickled down her mouth as she bit into the succulent piece…….before she could get her napkin, Angad reached out and caught the drop of butter dripping down her chin…..he licked the drop from his finger with a devilish grin. Kripa blushed again, her heart pounding.
Angad: Toh kaisa laga Goa ka lobster?
Kripa: Achha laga (shyly) ……in her mind she said apney haath se khilaya isliey achha laga]
Angad: You know Kripa, zindagi mein har cheez at least ek baar try kar lena chahiye" ….he grinned wickedly as he said that.
Kripa looked down, feeling suddenly hot at the hidden, inner meaning in his words.
Throughout their meal, Angad forced Kripa to have little pieces of chicken, shrimp and lobster…..she protested a little at first, but then she opened her mouth and ate every little morsel he fed her with his fingers or his fork. There was something very intimate in being fed by him…..which heated her cheeks a delicious pink.
When lunch ended, Angad became aware that people there were staring too, he said "Chalo Kripa, kahin aur chaltey hain"
Kripa : Where are we going? Angad: Beach per chaltey hain
Kripa (eagerly) : Haan wo theek rahega, mainey abhi tak beach nahin dekhi"
Angad (shocked): WHAT? Tumney abhi tak beach nahin dekhi? Kripa shook her head. Chalo lets go…
They bought two ice-cream cones from the poolside stand and went down the steps to the beach.
They threw off their shoes at the bottom of the steps and walked barefoot on the white virgin sands of Calangute Beach. Kripa licked her mango ice-cream and looked eagerly for sea-shells in the sand, like a little kid!
Angad laughed tenderly at her search for shells, he ate his pista cone and helped her hunt for nice, big ones buried in the sand. They found ones with beautiful designs and colors…….they found shells in which you could hear the sound of the sea if you held it near your ears……
Kripa found a conch-shell with a reverse whorl, one in which the whorls go in opposite direction…..south instead of north….such shells are supposed to be very lucky for the one who has them. Kripa solemnly gave it to Angad, explaining its significance as a lucky charm ….she asked him to always keep it with him as it brings good luck! Angad was deeply touched!
He gazed tenderly into her eyes and said : Thanks Kripa, isey main hamesha apney saath rakhunga"
Angad and Kripa sat on the white sands, eating their ice-creams and talking.
Angad: kripa, tumhey swimming aati hai?
Kripa: Haan
Angad: To phir main ek din tumhey Keri beach le jaaoonga swimming ke liye, yahan thoda rocky hai , u will enjoy swimming there.
Kripa : That's very nice of u!
Angad: Main kitna achha hoon, yeh to waqt hi batayega" He laughed devilishly.
Kripa giggled at his flirting.
Angad (suddenly serious)……Kripa, mujhey tumsey do requests karney hain…
Kripa : Haan kahiye
A: Tum mujhey yeh Aap aap kehna chhod do……tum aap kehti ho to lagta hai jaisey main tumhara dost nahin, Uncle hoon!
Kripa giggled at his complaining tone but she agreed :Theek hai, aaj se main tumko tum kahungi!
Angad sighed :Thank GOD! Uncle honey se bach gaye (he rolled his eyes dramatically looking heavenwards)
Kripa laughed and asked : Aur doosri request?
Angad: Tum meri ek portrait bana dogi? Bahut dinon se meri yeh khwahish thi ke koi mera portrait banaye..
Kripa: To tumney apney dost Stalin se kyun nahin kaha tumhara portrait bananey ke liye
Angad: Wo Stalin? Huhh….who kambakht mera kya portrait banayega? Main ek khubsoorat, curvy (he traced an hourglass figure with his hands) model hota to wo mera portrait zaroor banata…..usey to sirf ladkiyon ke nude portraits bananey mein interest hai!
Kripa blushed a little at his frankness: Okay main aapki portrait banaoongi……lekin aapko ghanton tak sitting dena padega. Kar sakengey aap?
Angad : KRIPAAA phir se aap???
Kripa bit her tongue: Sorry, Tum tum…
Angad: Sitting dena padega? Koi baat nahin…..I'm game…..to kabsey shuru karein? (he thought: I would love to sit for u and pose for u while u paint me ….the very thought excited him)
Kripa: Kal to hum jaa rahey hain wahan village mein sooo …..parson se shuru karen…lekin ek problem hai….portrait to bahar mushkil hogi is tez hawa mein, uskey liye studio jaisi jageh chahiye, kya yahan koi aisi jagah hai jahan hum chain se baithkar portrait bana sakey?
Angad thought for a while then said " Haan ek aisi jagah hai….purani Fort ke wall ke paas ek chhota sa building hai…..khali pada rehta hai…..wahin per hum jayengey portrait ke liye,
Kripa (slightly nervous)….wo jagah bahut door hai kya?
Angad: No no, wo dekh rahi ho na……he pointed up at some old structures a few yards away near the parapet ……..wahin per hai…clubhouse aur Gym ke bahut paas hai.
Kripa (pleased at the arrangement) …..Achha to theek hai, wahin mera studio hoga
Their ice-creams were finished…..Angad got up and said : Cmon lets walk near the water"
He pullled her up by her hand, holding it in his as they walked by the water. The receding waves at the shoreline touched their bare feet, washing the dry sand away.
Kripa felt the warm grip of his hand, strongly enclosing, enveloping her hand! She felt strangely at peace, as if her hand belonged there in his strong, firm one! Angad gently squeezed her soft palm, enjoying the feel of her delicate fingers inside his palm.
They walked silently side by side, waves flirting with their feet, touching, withdrawing, playing naughtily!
Suddenly a big wave appeared from nowhere and knocked Kripa off her feet! She almost fell with the force of the giant wave crashing against her legs, but Angad caught her and lifted her straight from the offending wave, his arms around her waist!
When the wave receded, Kripa was still in Angad's arms, his arms were tightly holding her against him, her feet were dangling near his shins! Their faces were on level and extremely close….startled she looked straight into his eyes which were a few inches away! They were so close, she could see the light brown flecks in his eyes, he could see her dilated pupils…..his nostrils flared, breathing in her perfume!
Their bodies were touching each other from chest to toes, her soft curves crushed against his muscular frame…… her arms clung to his shoulders ….their heartbeats pounded together, breathless as they stared into each other's eyes.
Angad looked down at her lips, parted a little in surprise…..desire pounded through him like a freight train, ……he wanted to crush those lips under his ……Kripa stared at his firm lips…..she wanted him to , she needed him to kiss her…..she closed her eyes as his face moved so close his breath was on her lips. She felt his mouth gently touch her closed eyelids…..he kissed her closed eyes one by one, then his lips moved down to her sharp, little nose and he kissed her there, his breath mingled with hers as his lips touched hers lightly at first, and pressed harder, probing, teasing……she was shivering and trembling in response…..he kissed her cheeks one by one, then finally he went behind her ears, kissed her neck and the dangling earrings…..then he softly whispered in her ears: My little mermaid, will you swim with me?
Kripa remained mute, quivering, clinging to his neck as she hid her heated face in his shoulder, breathing him in! He kissed her neck again, then holding on to her tightly, he walked into the waves till the water was waist-high! Kripa was so drugged with his kisses, at first she didn't feel where he was taking her……. when she felt the water on her thighs, she squealed, thrashing her dangling legs!
Angad laughed and carried her further into the water till both were totally wet from the incoming waves!
Kripa yelled : ANGADD! Yeh kya kar rahey ho? Hum bheeg jayengey!!
Angad chuckled: Achha hai na, dono ek saath bheeg rahey hain…
He spread his legs wide, keeping balance in the waves, as he held Kripa snugly and both got soaked in the salty waves!
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Pallavi
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