Posted:
It was the month of June and scalding hot wind, called loo in the northern parts of India blew in vehement gusts, causing scarlet flowers to drift down from a tall, dusty tree, while eliciting no response at all from the thirsty birds who sat stoically on branches and electric cables in huddled groups.
A red scooty ran down a narrow, bustling Lucknow lane, a slender, delicate girl driving it with much more speed than warranted in a lane like this.
"Sorry, bhaisahab", she said, glancing over her shoulder at a person, who had been peacefully carrying a basket full of chickens on his head, but was now fervently trying to catch hold of the fast escaping, squawking birds, "I'll apologize properly when I return".
While lingering glancing over your shoulder while riding a scooty is never a good idea, it's even worse when you try to hold a mini conversation thus occupied.
The man forgot about about his disappearing chickens and yelled in a high pitched alarmed voice , "Forget about me, just look where you're going".
With loud screech of brakes, a person sitting behind the wheels of a white SUV, urgently rotated the steering wheel with both hands and somehow managed to swerve his car wheels away from the expected line of impact. Even then, he wasn't able to completely miss hitting the red scooty. He had merely touched the side of the red vehicle, yet it fell on one side taking the girl with it.
A large crowd appeared miraculously and surrounded the 'accident site', a few concerned, a few curious, a few just whiling away the time. A few were heard muttering about the rich brats who drove fancy cars in narrow streets and risked the safety of pedestrians and drivers of two wheelers.
After hesitating for a second because he was afraid he might be recognized, Arnav S. Raizada, son of Aarav Raizada, the current Chief minister of UP, opened the car door and stepped down, taking his aviators off with one hand. Dressed in jeans and a casual white shirt, he had returned to India just yesterday, with a degree in political science from Oxford, UK.
With his eyes flickering with concern, he rushed to the girl, who was now sitting up on the road, nursing a bleeding, scraped knee.
"Tum theek ho?, he asked, kneeling down front of her.
"Haan", said the girl with a groan, "Hum bilkul theek hain. I just like
sitting in the middle of the road like this".
With a sigh, he got up and extended his hand for her.
Adjusting her dupatta over her shoulders, she glanced up at the handsome stranger and said, "It's alright, I can get up by myself".
As she tried to get up however, her knee gave way and wincing loudly, she stumbled, only to be caught by Arnav.
The pain was overpowering and as her legs felt suddenly lifeless, she clutched at his shirtfront to steady herself.
"I think, I might have broken something" , she said weakly.
"Take her to the hospital", several men in the surrounding crowd demanded.
Without a word, Arnav swooped her in his arms, responding her shy protests with an impassive, vacant gaze.
Settled in the passenger seat, she was being taken to the nearest hospital, when a series of terrifying, spine chilling thoughts occurred to her. "How could she have been so stupid? What if this stranger is a psycho or a serial killer or a perverted predator or..." As horrifying images flooded her mind and quickened the pace if her heart, she darted a scared glance at his profile and in a desperate bid to ensure her safety and deter people who might be nursing evil designs on her, blurted out the first thing that came to her mind.
"Oh...That's where I take my karate lessons !, she said, casually, pointing out the window.
Something in her tone, something akin to false bravado in those soft hazel eyes...(what lovely color, btw, his brain noted in passing),and the way she was nervously twisting the ends of her dupatta made him first glance sideways at her face, then downward at her injured knee, and say,"With that knee, I doubt you'll be able to do any karate at all for the next week or so".
As her eyes met his amused ones, he suddenly gave her a gentle, reassuring smile and said, 'Relax, I'm not planning on kidnapping you or doing whatever your fertile mind is imagining right now".
Khushi gave a small sheepish smile and quickly changed the topic,"Which hospital are you taking me to?
As he told her the name of the hospital, one closest from where they were at the moment, she said in an excited voice, "Can you believe it!! What a coincidence! I was going there too, that's why I was in such a rush and completely forgot to be vigilant on the road. I'm going to see my father,
