Heartbeats And Halos

Chapter 15

• a u t h o r •

Palak talked non-stop about the temple's history as Roshan just nodded his head in an understanding manner. They were currently strolling around the garden of the temple. They had already worshipped the deity, lord Shiva and Palak had shown Roshan the temple in such a way no guide would.

"So how do you like our city, sir?" She joked about the last part by calling him sir and he shook his head in amusement.

"I like it" he simply stated and she broke out in a big grin even though he wasn't looking at her she still felt pleased that he liked the city because it was her home and she was very close to it.

She knew every corner of Bhubaneswar by heart, especially the temples. She had spent most of her childhood going around the temples with her grandmother who told her stories about them. Ragini never tagged along since she was never interested in those. She had her own set of hobbies which she loved to practice.

Roshan was looking ahead of him with his hands pushed into his pockets, his tall and lean body making him look irresistibly handsome and Palak was peeking at him from time to time. Until she just stared at him.

She took her time to admire his features, he was handsome no doubt but looked more relaxed today maybe because of the peaceful aura of the temple which just seemed to emphasize his outlines. They were walking side by side though there was no hand-holding or any kind of physical interaction Palak was still feeling good in an odd way.

She was even imagining what it would be like to walk her entire life with him by her side. She blushed and looked in the opposite direction shaking those thoughts away.

It's too soon.

She said to herself but then again looked at him.

"Is there something on my face?" He suddenly asked meeting her and eyes startling her. She immediately looked down in embarrassment her cute round face had already turned red like a tomato. She had been caught red-handed.

How did he know?

She questioned herself.

Roshan wasn't completely unaware of her staring at him for the last ten minutes. You get an unusual feeling if someone is staring at you. But when it got too much he finally confronted her. He didn't really think Palak was attracted to him or that he had an effect on her but the yesterday's incident of him feeding her and her eating without any questions said otherwise.

Today he was feeling very light-hearted. Maybe the joyous ambiance of the temple had warmed him up letting him forget about all his sorrows for some time. He felt at peace after a long time. It's been ages since he had visited a temple, he had stopped going to any kind of religious place after Anika's demise.

Today he was solely affected by Palak's faith in God. She knew so much and her belief was so deep. He also discovered she was very close to her hometown which made him doubt if it would upset her to leave it, to go away from Bhubaneswar.

After he had confronted her she had kept her head down and walked aimlessly playing with her fingers. She even bumped into a lady knocking her puja thal (worship basket or rather a brass plate with worship items) and apologized like a hundred times until the lady folded her hands in front of her (the namaste pose) and told her; "Yes mam I have forgiven you now if you will please excuse me my husband and kids are waiting for me!" She especially emphasized the word please stretching it.

Roshan could not stop laughing. Palak was no less than a joker. She bumped into the lady but didn't let her go and kept on apologizing for ten minutes straight. To say the lady was irritated would be an understatement.