Dreamy Red

Episode 25 - Over the Ghats

I passed through the tunnel of despair, the ghat ki guni tunnel. Actually, it was not generally called the tunnel of despair, only I called it that because of all my dark memories. I and Viku rode through it happily on the day we decided to marry, which was also the day I lost him. All the old thoughts that I despised came back to my mind. I was crying so much that I would have spilt down at least a litre of tears. I pulled over to the side after the tunnel ended and parked my Vespa there. I didn't want to leave it there alone. But if it was with me, my family would easily track me down. So I called Karan up. "Hello Bibbi, are you back from the quest? How did it go? Anything interesting?", he asked excitedly. I told him that I had returned the beads back into the oyster which was a completely useless thing to do. "I found a lot of bitter truths after this trip, Karan. I need you to do me a favour", I told him.

"What bitter truth? What help?", he asked in astonishment. "The first question I don't want to answer. As for the second one, you have to come to collect my Vespa from the end of the ghat ki guni tunnel and take it back to Sawanth Villa safely. Will you be able to do it?", I asked him gingerly.

"Of course yes. But why are you there? Did it break down?", he questioned. "No time for questions. Come quick. Please, as quickly as you can", I urged him.

*****

Karan came to the spot within fifteen minutes on a bike with a friend whom I didn't know. "What happened, Bibbi? You look worried", asked Karan as he was getting down from the bike. "Do not worry about me. I'm a worthless person", I said with tears rolling down my eyes. He was shocked to see me crying. "Why are you crying? You are the boldest girl I ever know", he stated. "Blah. The boldest girl who no one wants. Useless piece of junk", I commented on myself.

I rubbed my tears and told him, "Promise me that you won't tell anyone that you met me here" while showing my palms for him to promise. He patted my palms and said, "Promise! But tell me what happened!" "You will get to know anyways", I answered. Karan was the only person I could trust. I told him that I was going to be camping for a few more days until I found a way out of my misery. I said, "Until then I need you to find a better job and shut down Ajooba..."

"What?!", Karan interrupted. "Are you nuts? What is wrong with you?", he questioned. I hated to hear those words, 'what's wrong with you!' It was piercing my ears and my heart. "Just go away!", I shouted at him in sudden anger. "Take my Vespa safely home and tell mamu that his son is a jerk and we are shutting down Ajooba!", I stressed but with little lesser intensity. And I hiked through the hills beside the road without another word and not even looking back at Karan or his friend.

*****

It was almost six in the evening. I had set up my tent under a large pine tree at the top of a mountain peak. It was getting darker. So I built a cozy campfire using some dry grasses and twigs and sat down beside it and ate up the last pack of cup noodles and biscuits that were left from the expedition. The fire kept me warm and I believed it would shoo away wild animals. But I felt a bit lonely. If Twinkle hadn't been asleep when I left, she would have followed me to the woods. And I would have felt more secure and safe.

I had my diary and pen in my hand. There were still lots of happenings left to write down. It was the best way to divert my mind. However, I used to cry every now and then thinking of how foolish I was to love such a man. I called it eternal love, love like no other. Love, my foot. Even Sid and Christy's love story seemed far better than mine.

*****

After a good night's sleep, I woke up hungry in the morning. There was no food or water left. There was no other go, I had to go down to the road and find a shop for goodies. I packed all my stuff and the tent inside my backpack. I scattered the logs of the campfire so that they didn't leave an ugly mark on the beautiful landscape. Then I went downhill towards the highway.

When I reached the highway, there was no shop in sight. I walked on the paved sidewalk with no shoes or socks on my feet for about a mile. It hadn't bothered me much until then. But the scorching sun made the soles of my feet burn. My heels were also starting to crack because of walking on the dirt and rocks for almost a day. I needed shoes as much as I needed food.

After a long tough stroll through the highway, to my relief, I found a Dhaba (a small Punjabi food stall). I had a stomach full and packed some for later. While I was paying the bill, I noticed a familiar guy sitting alone at a corner table. He looked up at me and waved. I smiled and waved back. It was Rahul, Karan's elder brother. He looked quite smart wearing a black t-shirt with a red jacket and blue jeans. He also wore a pair of black biking gloves and brown woodland shoes. His physique was slim and fit with black straight hair combed well. He picked up his black helmet from the table and walked toward me charmingly.

He was almost my height when he stood opposite me. "Hi", he said in a soft pleasant voice with a warm smile. "Hey", I replied warmly. It felt good to see someone I knew even though I wanted to be alone. I don't know why but something about him made him seem divine, like a god coming to rescue me from my misery. "Your family is looking for you, you know", he said sarcastically. I smirked. He laughed and spoke cheerfully, "Don't worry. I'm not going to tell anyone I met you here. You are invisible." He shrugged and shook his head like he couldn't see me. A smile turned up on my face. He came closer and whispered softly in my ears, "You have a very beautiful smile." He said it so lightly that his cold lips brushed my ears and a shiver of chill passed through me and reflexively, I blushed.

"Come on, let's go on a ride", he said pointing to his black sports bike parked in the open space at the corner of the Dhaba. One part of me wanted to go with him so that I could feel relaxed. I really wanted to be with real people rather than just trees and my diary. Some real friends. But another part of me didn't want to go with him. Not another man in my life. Actually, I had forgotten that he was already engaged to Samantha. Their wedding was close by. I felt horrible when I thought of how I blushed in front of him though he was just being friendly.

"No", I said and took two steps back. He laughed at me and said, "I'm not going to take you home. Believe me, we will just stroll through the highway and I'll drop you back here." He was too sweet to reject the offer, but I ended up saying, "No!" as hard as I could. "Ok. Suit you", he said with a smile and left to his bike without another word. He waved bye to me when he sat on his bike and put on his helmet. I pouted. I was alone again. I waved back and watched him ride on his bike until he disappeared on the road. I went back to the hills with my backpack and some packet of food in a plastic carry bag.