Hers To Love

Chapter-13

There was a very good possibility that I had died during the fall. Because what I was seeing could be described as nothing but paradise. It was that or I was inside a cliche rom-com movie. Because in real life, when two people were lost in the jungle, they didn't end up in a place like this.

"Wow," I whistled through my teeth.

"Yes, wow, "Arun said. "I told you there would be water here."

"When you said water, I didn't expect this," I said, sweeping at the scenery in front of us. In front of us was thick green foliage on the ground. But this was not the tough forest we experienced until now. The grass here was smooth and shiny. Green and healthy. There were even colourful flowers peeking at us through short shrubs, their beauty rivalling any carefully grown gardens. A few yards away there was a river flowing over rocks and pebbles, its freshness evident even from this distance. Over the river stood a little waterfall, it was not too big as to be scary. It fell from maybe fifty feet high, looking so refreshing and inviting.

"I too didn't expect this," Arun said and I could hear awe even in his usual nonchalant voice.

I saw waterfalls before, of course, and they always filled me with a sense of peace and belonging with nature. But there was something unique about this place. Maybe because it was our sanctuary after the last couple of difficult hours. Maybe because it was devoid of tourists who gathered in throngs and littered in the water. I didn't know if anyone had ever been here before. It had the aura of those undisturbed places. Those places that were hidden safe from human eyes.

Without even communicating with each other, Arun and I took off our shoes at the same time. It felt sacrilegous to trample that fresh grass with our dirty shoes. We set our backpacks down and stepped into the meadow. The grass was soothingly soft on my tired feet. I groaned out from relief. Arun and I walked towards the river and kneeled at the bank. The water was so clear I could see the pebbles and the little fish running in the current.

"It looks clean enough to drink," I said, my eyes widening in amazement. I didn't even want to put my hand in the water for fear of corrupting it although it was a free-flowing river.

"That doesn't mean it is," Arun said. "We have our own water. I don't think it will come to drinking this."

Then he stood up and surveyed the place with his hands on his hips.

"This place looks perfect. We should release the flare."

"Wait," I said, climbing up to my feet. "What's the rush?"

"What's the rush?" Arun said, raising his eyebrows. "You couldn't wait to get out of this forest. You were panicking back there. Now, I am the one rushing?"

"I know," I said, trying to explain myself. "But, we still have to clean ourselves. Take rest. I don't want to be in wet clothes when people arrive to save us."

"Your wish," Arun shrugged but he didn't look convinced. I didn't blame him. Choosing to stay longer in this dangerous situation is beyond dumb. But there was no way I was remaining muddy any longer. With glee, I took of my t-shirt which stuck to my body like a second skin. My white bra turned a perfect brown and my mouth curved down in disgust as I grappled with the hook at the back.

"Let me help," Arun said, coming to stand behind me. By now, he was an expert at unhooking my bra. As I felt his hand on my back, I realized that I had to get naked in front of him to take a bath. It would not be the first time I was getting naked in front of him. It wouldn't even be the first time I was naked in a water body with him.

But that was all before that awful break. That pause that turned everything new and unpredictable. We just reconciled yesterday. I just felt him against me last night after a long time. I didn't want to overdo it. Didn't want to break this fragile thing.