Lakeerein - Ties That Bind Us

14| Chapter 11: Aag Aur Jwala

The wind played with the loose strands of her hair even as she swayed along with the other ladies to the beat of the music. A smile played on her lips, so infectious that it spread on his face as well. Her chocolate brown eyes held a certain depth which had the capacity to pull anybody in.

Aditya was lost!

Without even being aware of it, he was lost in admiring her. She was so different! Just so different!

Looking at all the proceedings with longing, Meethi was standing, her eyes filled with tears.
Watching her such gave a lot of satisfaction to Dulari.

Thud!

One of the items placed fell on the ground breaking into pieces.

"What the hell? Where is your attention?" Dulari said clenching her teeth. She walked towards her and grabbing Meethi's arm pulled her within the tent.

"I'm really sorry Amma! Please forgive me. I-I dint do it deliberately!" Meethi pleaded but Dulari dint heed to it one bit also, all the while cursing her.
As soon as they entered the tent, she raised her hand to slap her only to have it held by Satyakam who was glaring hard at a now frightened Dulari.

"How would you like your hand Mausi - the way it is or wrapped in a bandage due to fracture?"

"O-of course t-the w-way it is hehe!" she nervously said and moved away.

"Tum theek toh ho?"
(Are you fine?)

Meethi nodded her head and wiped her tears.

"A smile won't hurt you know" he said making her look at him instantly. He was smiling but not looking at her. A smile immediately formed on her face.

"How could she have not seen it earlier?"

"That's better!" he said and they moved out of the tent.

That's when Satyakam's eyes fell on Aditya who was busy clicking photos of everything around. Just as he took a step forward to move towards him, his phone rang. He picked up the call and moved towards the side.

"Amma!" he heard her voice call out and saw her rushing towards her mother. A smile formed on his face again, inadvertently.

Imlie hugged her mother and requested her to dance with her. Aditya meanwhile captured this moment in his camera all the while the smile refusing to drop from his face.

Just then, his phone rang and he moved to the side to speak. But before he could speak, he was knocked unconscious due to a blow on his head.
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After getting to know that the police have dispatched spies to track him down, Satyakam's immediate doubt was on the guy whom he saw take photos around. He hastily returned to the place and found him moving to the side due to a call.

Satyakam believed in prevention than cure. Since his doubt was on Aditya, he decided to kidnap him and get him to tell out the details. True his suspicion on Aditya was also because of him being from the city but Satyakam was rational and not blinded by hate. If this "shehri"(city guy) turned out to be innocent, he would let go of him immediately. Of course, his words would be verified and only then believed for after what happened 20 years back, Satyakam dint trust any city dweller even a wee bit!
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Aditya opened his eyes slowly even as he felt sharp pain in his head where he had been hit. It took him sometime to make sense of the surroundings and also register that he had been tied up. As he finally managed to come completely to his senses, he found an ever serious Satyakam looking at him with a frown. His brows furrowed in confusion as he did not understand why the person he had to interview had kidnapped him!

"Satyakam, why have you kidnapped me?" Aditya asked. Aditya was a straightforward man. He dint believe in beating around the bush so he directly came to the point.
Satyakam was surely amused by his behaviour. The fact that he was so casually asking why he had been kidnapped without any fear surprised him. But none of what he actually felt portrayed on his face. He still had the frown.
Satyakam's face was always a mask. One would never know what he actually feels for all they show are anger, hate and only when with Meethi and Imlie, a small smile.

"Who are you?" he just asked in response to Aditya's questions.

"I'm Aditya Kumar Tripathi, chief executive reporter at Bhaskar times"

"How do I believe that? You might be a police spy for all I know"

"Check for my id in my pocket. You'll know I'm not lying"

"What are you doing here?" Satyakam asked even as he pulled out Aditya's id from his pocket and inspected it. It did have his photo but he couldn't read what was written.

"I'll have to call Imlie" Satyakam thought.

He place the Id on the table nearby and looked at Aditya for an answer.

Aditya looked directly into his eyes and said
"I have come here to take your interview"

Satyakam couldn't help but let out a sarcastic laugh.

"My interview? Why? I'm no celebrity or some famous person. Just an ordinary rebel"

Aditya smiled slightly and said

"Interviews needn't be taken of only famous people or celebrities. When a common man rises above his potential to bring about a change, that effort too deserves appreciation. But mainly I have come here to know why the hands that grow grains to feed everyone have taken revolvers and knives in their hands? Why are our farmers turning to rebels? There must have been something major enough to bring about such a change."

Before Satyakam could reply back, he heard his phone ring. Picking it up, he moved towards the side and instructed the person over the phone to bring Imlie with him.

After ending the call, Satyakam pondered over Aditya's words. He truly seemed genuine. His honesty reflected in his eyes that shone with confidence. But Satyakam wasn't a person to trust someone easily. After what happened 20 years back, he had lost trust in city people. And this guy was also a city guy. So until and unless he knows with 100% surety he's genuine, he wouldn't be left free.

Love,
Pratyusha