Night of 25TH

CHAP 49: Banaras Serenade

Past :

Shubman

"Stop staring; I know I look good. Now come inside quickly, take a shower, and get ready. It's already 12," she said, narrowing her eyes as she moved into the room.

I chuckled, observing her with a serious expression. Friends like this don't even care if you've ignored them for weeks, and when they finally meet you, they act like nothing ever happened. After a quick shower, I emerged from the bathroom with a towel resting on my waist. I scanned my clothes in the bag, and to my surprise, all I could find was traditional wear. I raised an eyebrow, muttering, "Huh, is this what Shahu had packed?"

"Can you please get your clothes on quickly?" Chucky said, her eyes closed as she impatiently waited for me to get ready.

"Oh, shut up, as if you've never seen me without a shirt. Come on, you work in the dressing room; this should be a common sight for you," I replied, putting on a pink kurta to match her saree.

As I dressed, Chucky couldn't help but open one eye, teasingly peeking at my progress. "Well, it's not every day I see you in traditional attire. I must admit, the pink kurta suits you," she remarked with a mischievous grin.

"Ki kara mein kudiye heartthrob hu ji kudiyee de vich," I said, setting my hair in front of the mirror.

"Haha, chal chal, heartthrob," she teased, making faces in response to my narcissism.

"Now come on, we're getting late," she said, dragging me towards the door.

"Wait, Chucky, let me grab my cap and mask," I interjected, quickly backtracking to retrieve the essentials.

Chucky tapped her foot impatiently as I fumbled to locate my cap and slipped on a mask.

Upon entering the lobby, everyone turned to look at us, smiling as if we were the newlyweds—though we weren't. Chucky led the way with confidence, gently pulling me along. I followed her like a lost puppy, and the moment felt special, even if the reality didn't quite match the perception.

Guiding me through the lobby, we eventually found ourselves nestled in the backseat of a taxi, bound for the Golden Temple (Old Vishwanath Temple) in Banaras. The city's spiritual aura enveloped us, creating an almost otherworldly atmosphere. My gaze shifted to the enchanting beauty seated beside me, her face gently kissed by the wind. The playfulness of the breeze would send strands of her curls dancing across her face.

Driven by a subconscious impulse, my hands gravitated toward those wayward curls, delicately tucking them behind her ears. In response, a radiant smile adorned her face, her dimples sinking deeper into her cheeks.

Leaning towards me, she made my breath hitch with the proximity of her presence. "Gill sahab, yeh na bhulo, tuhadi girlfriend hai," she whispered, her words carrying a teasing yet affectionate tone. A frown crept onto my face as I took in her statement. She shifted her gaze, looking out of the taxi window at the passing scenery of Banaras.

"Why can't you be?" I sighed, inhaling a deep breath tinged with sadness. The weight of unfulfilled desires cast a shadow on my emotions, and in that moment, I couldn't help but curse the intricate complexities of my love life.

The taxi rolled to a stop as we reached the Old Vishwanath temple. Stepping into the heavenly surroundings of the Old Vishwanath Temple in Banaras, the sacred ambience momentarily diverted my thoughts from the tangled web of emotions.

I took a deep breath, attempting to leave the weight of my love life behind, if only for a moment, and embrace the spiritual serenity that surrounded us.