Hidden Hues Of Henna

Apna-paraya (I)

Part-1

"Don't you have anything to tell me saree ka dukaan?"

She looked at him for a long moment,her eyes roaming all over her face as if in wonder and her lips parted to say something but nothing came out.As he stared right back questioningly,she quickly looked away.

"No!"She finally croaked out impassively before pulling the duvet right back up, covering her face again.

Raghav blinked.

What the hell?!

Straightening up he scowled.

"Saree ka dukaan!" He called her name out as a warning.

No response.

"Saree ka dukaan! You cannot ignore me!"

He heard her sigh from underneath the cover.

"Why do you always end up getting into trouble?"

That did the job.

In a minute,she flung the cover down and glared at him with all her might. Her face was red and tired,her golden-grey eyes pooled with tears.

Shit! Raghav's anger melted away in a second as her face came into view.

She tried to get up but Raghav immediately pushed her down gently.

"No,no,no! It's fine.Keep lying.You will hurt yourself more."He quickly covered her up.

But the stubborn woman,threw away the duvet one more time and tried to slide up in a sitting position.Begrudgingly,Raghav helped her sit up cursing himself for forgetting her weak state in his anger.

"Yes! Now tell me what were you saying?" She glared at him leaning comfortably against the pile of pillows behind her back.

"I-I.." He looked away trying to make up an excuse.

"No,come on ghamandi Rao! This is the perfect time to play twenty questions. When my body is aching as if a bus ran over me."She snarled at Raghav,her tears pouring down her face,her voice coming out strained."Bappa! Even speaking a little louder hurts."She groaned.

"Shit!Don't cry saree ka dukaan." Raghav panicked.He couldn't see her cry,not earlier and not even now."Shit,shit...saree ka duka-Pallavi,don't cry please!

In his haste to clarify things,get his answers Raghav had completely forgotten that Pallavi or any regular person for that matter, was not used to such events or the trauma that followed them. His own panic towards her safety made him want to make her assure him that she is fine,safe and sound,but he failed to realise that she was in a fragile state of mind herself and needed more assurance than he did.In his defence,he had not taken care of anyone,let alone a woman,ever.But still he felt immense guilt. Both for being a reason for her condition and now being inconsiderate of her health.

How can I be so dumb!

"You should sleep!" He tried to inch forward but a pillow was flung his way which hit him square on his face causing him to let out an 'oomph'. Lowering the pillow he looked at her fuming form wide-eyed.This was a first for him.

"No! You wanted answers right! Let me tell you how I got into trouble with your psycho of a friend!"She breathed heavily glaring at him with all her might,her tears flying out of her eyes.She glared at him for a long moment as he stood there hugging the pillow with an apologetic expression.Suddenly her eyes lowered and then turned wide ans she looked away quickly."God! Why do you have to be naked always.Tie that robe properly!You seem to have e-every intention to bully me right now!Why-"She tried to continue but ended up breaking into a coughing fit.