Part 16: dew and the Mist
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Till now you have read – Kusumita a young girl from a poor family is forced to marry Nihaar Singh who is heir of a rich family of Delhi. Soon she comes to know the reason behind their marriage as Nihaar has a dark past, his first wife Radhika’s mysterious death.
In last part 15, you read Nihar and Kusum goto Farm house, where Dadi-ma, Mohit and Sneha comes to meet them.
Part 16: dew and the Mist
‘Mist Fades, Mist Plays’
The spread of the pink lotuses charmed the emerald-coloured water, and scintillated it, as the fog rose from the surface of the water and dense the mist over it. Mesmerised by the view, everything around was so pure, so divine – Kusum closed her eyes tightly.
‘Kusumita, get up! Let us go.’
She woke up and realised it was a dream. She saw Nihar in front of her.
‘Where…?’ She smiled at him, as she was reminded of the warmth of his body around her and felt shy.
He smiled, ‘Hurry up lazy child!’ and he left.
Unwillingly she got down from the bed, quickly changed her dress and followed him, almost running. She was surprised to see that outside it was very dark. He started the Jeep and impatiently called her again. She got inside the Jeep, she was very curious and asked him a few times but he remained silent.
Soon they reached a nearby place on the hilltop.
He got down from the Jeep and she followed him. They sat on a rock. He covered her with a shawl as it was very cold and then he too snuggled inside. His playful mood puzzled her, she nervously looked at him not sure of what he was up to. His eyes twinkled asking her to take it easy.
Soon the sky brightened up. Red, orange, pink all kinds of colours were randomly splashed on the horizon, with the Sun-rays making their way in and she heard the soft chirping of birds. Stunned, mesmerised, she was awestruck; so beautiful….! A new beginning just like her life! With glazed eyes, she looked at him; he was also mesmerised by the uninhibited beauty splashed by the nature.
He then spoke, ‘Kusumita, you know, I and Radhika used to come here very often. Then we were kids but we were always so eager to see the Sunrise.’
He became deep quiet, she understood and looked at him assuringly. ‘Nihar, you can talk to me about Radhika.’
He looked at her, the colours of his eyes changed as if a storm just crossed for a moment but then he became calm.
He said in a very low tone, ‘Kusumita, let us leave now.’
She did not want him to feel low, ‘Where next…? Let us go to the waterfall. You and me…?’
‘Sounds interesting…!’ He smiled and lifted her in his arms and carried her to the Jeep.
Soon they reached the waterfalls. She could hear the roar of the water from a distance only, and as he stopped the Jeep, she quickly got down and ran towards it. Very quickly she entered the water, and the cold water sent shivers down her spine. She looked behind to steal a glance at him but he was not to be seen. For a moment she was terrified.
Suddenly she heard a loud splash of water behind her. Frightened, she looked back and he tightened his arms around her. She struggled to come out of his embrace but he didn’t let her go.
‘Kusumita, do you trust me?’
She nodded and let go of her resistance.
He tightened his arms around her and took her deep inside the water. She was very scared and hugged him tightly. He kissed her and then she forgot all her fears. The few seconds under the water with the profound silence surrounding them overwhelmed her. After some time, slowly they came out. Breathless, they looked at each other and again they went inside. This time she claimed his lips as soon they went under water and he smiled at her boldness; soon they came out breathless.
‘Kusumita, want to try once more?’
She laughed heartily; her lips dazzled in the Sunlight. He smiled at her eagerness and they went inside for a longer time.
After few days
‘God, all of a sudden you have given me so much happiness. I can understand him very well now. He is a kid inside, he wants to be loved, he wants to be always pampered, and he is so transparent. He has no pretence; he demands from me whatever he wants.’
She smiled at herself as she completed her evening prayers. Yes! Nihar is trying. He has restricted himself not to mention Radhika’s name in front of her. No lonely nights and no alcohol bottles. She was convinced, that he wants to start his life with her.
She then arranged the dinner, lit a few candles on the table and went to call him.
‘Nihar…., dinner is ready.’
‘Kusumita, just a moment please…’ He answered.
Suddenly her cell phone rang. She saw it was from Mohit.
‘Mohit, what a surprise….?’
‘How is big brother?’ Mohit asked.
‘He is fine, don’t worry about him.’
‘Kusumita, take care. You know, I am worried for you.’
‘Mohit, there is nothing to worry about.’ She assured him and hung up the phone.
As she turned, she saw Nihar staring at her.
He sternly asked, ‘Kusumita, was it Mohit?’
‘Yes….’ the tone of his voice scared her.
‘I told you to stay away from him.’
‘Nihar, he called me.’
Nihar came near to her, and kept his hands on her shoulders very roughly, ‘What did he say?’
She was now terrified, ‘Nihar, you are hurting me. Let me go.’
‘Kusumita, you must answer me, WHAT was he saying………?’
‘Nihar, nothing…’
She was scared seeing anger in his eyes.
‘Kusumita, will you please speak up?’
‘He was telling me to take care.’ And she cried in pain as his grip became firm.
‘Kusumita, take care….? From whom…and why….?’ He was now angrier, and asked, ‘He came here that day for the same reason, didn’t he?’
His eyes terrified her. She meekly stared at him.
But he did not stop, with a harsher tone he asked, ‘Kusumita, tell me what he wants? What was he saying?’
She stood there silent; his hands were still tightened around her.
She cried out loudly, ‘He….He asked me to stay safe from you…’
‘Me…?’ he was shaken. ‘What me….?’
‘Like what happened to Radhika, if you…’
‘Like Radhika…. WHAT?’
He was astounded for a moment and then shot back at her, ‘So you also believe that I killed Radhika?’
She was shaken, ‘No…., Mohit told me but I never believed him.’
‘What else has he told you? How close are you to him?’
‘Nihar, what kind of question is this?’
‘You and Mohit, are you both together?’
She was terrified to see the pain in his eyes, the disgust and the anger in his body. She wanted to console him badly.
‘Nihar, there is nothing like that. Please.’
‘No Kusumita. I know it, you and Mohit are together. I am a complete fool; I thought I can trust you.’
He smashed his hands on the table and everything came on the floor. He then took the keys and came out, and started the Jeep.
She ran behind him and shouted, ‘Nihar, where are you going?’
He didn’t answer and accelerated the Jeep. Soon it was out of the Farmhouse.
Suddenly she realised she was alone in the Farmhouse. She looked up, the black shadows of the mountains scared her and the roaring sound of the waterfall got onto her nerves. She ran inside the bungalow but then the lights went off, terrified she tried to look in the darkness.
Rakhi Sunil Kumar