Little Love

Chapter 20: Warning

Dear Lovelies,

I don't know how good this chapter will be, but for me, this chapter was the best that I ever wrote. I lived the characters and the situation. I hope you all will have a similar experience with this chapter. Enjoy!!

Love

W

"....she will do it next time, Beenu. You are being too harsh on her." Jeet could hear Dipu complain as both Dipu and Beena were preparing lunch. Jeet was cleaning his camera in the dining area. His ears were perked up to listen to the conversation between the ladies. Little Mishti was sitting beside him on the floor, plucking out peas from pods and dumping them in a small bowl.

"You do not understand Dipu." Beena sighed. "I am her mother, and no mother would ever want to stay apart from her child..." Her voice lowered a bit. "...she was never the brightest of the lot, but she never failed any exam. Right now, she is failing all her exams."

"I know...." Dipu tried to convince Beena.

"No, Dipu. She cannot stay here. Tima is still a kid, but Pihu...she understands everything." Beena insisted. "She is being slandered everywhere." Jeet could hear a painful crack in her voice. His hands stopped on the lens of his camera as he tried to control the rising panic in his chest. "One mistake of Tima has shattered everything. They don't say anything on our faces because the Mukherjees and the Aggarwals are standing beside us, but how long? Behind our back,....." Beena could not continue anymore. A sob escaped her lips. Jeet closed his eyes in pain. He was so engrossed in his own life that he did not take a moment to think about the aftermath of the disaster that happened last year. He was a selfish prick. "Dipu, I have heard her muffled sobs night after night. I want my babies to be happy again. Why can't the world just leave them alone if they cannot forgive them?" Beena's every word was like a sharp shrapnel piercing Jeet's heart.

Jeet was pacing around on the terrace. The door of the terrace flew open as Pihu walked in. Her head was bowed and shoulders hunched as if she had the burden of the whole world on her young shoulder. She walked aimlessly towards the small cane chair and parched on it, looking at the night sky. She did not notice Jeet yet. She had successfully avoided him for two days, but now Jeet had had enough. Pihu closed her eyes. Her lips trembled a bit, but the next moment, her body stiffened, sensing someone's presence near her. She sprang out of the chair to back off, but in the process, she knocked off the chair and landed on her knees. A sharp hiss escaped her lips as she sat upright.

"Pihu...are you alright." Jeet knelt beside her in a hurry and pulled her knees towards himself. "Shaa...you are hurt." He got up on his feet and pulled Pihu by her elbow. "Wait here, I will get the first aid box." He turned to rush downstairs but halted on his steps and turned back. He held Pihu's elbow and pulled her towards himself. Her face was scrunched in pain. "Dare you to run away this time, Pihu. I swear I will tie you up and lock you in your room." He warned. Pihu's lips wobbled as she tried to stay calm. "We will talk. Right now. Right here." He declared with finality and sprinted downstairs. He sprinted back as fast as he could to an empty terrace. The first aid box fell from his hand as he stared at where Pihu was standing just a while ago. He closed his eyes in frustration. A concoction of rage and frustration ran through his veins as he stomped downstairs.

"Masi, where is Pihu?" He asked in a calm tone.

"She went back home. She had an urgent work." Beena said as she served pulao to Dipu. The elders were having their lunch. Jeet dramatically slapped his forehead.

"Oh...but she left the...." He just made a frustrated face, waving a paper. "This girl is the epitome of carelessness....I will go give her this." He murmured casually. He was going to give her a hard time, and he did not want any interruptions, hence the show.

Pihu was curled up on her bed. She yet again ran away from the man she loved and hated. She had to hold up for two more days. She will be off to Banaras in two days. She was living through hell in this place. Once, she was walking down the streets when she was asked her "rates". The sneers of the boys still haunt her. Shubh's father has offered to take her to Banaras. She will be staying at his sister's place there. She will join a new school and leave this demonic hell behind. She will leave everything behind....

"Pihu..." She heard a blood-curdling voice as she turned to look at the door of her bedroom. She froze at the sight of a raging Jeet stomping towards her. In one swift motion, she was snatched away from the bed and pushed against the wall. Jeet was towering over her, caging her between his body and the wall. "I warned you, Pihu." His voice was harsh. Pihu's throat went dry with fear. She has never seen this side of Jeet. "I told you we needed to talk. I told you to stay put. But..." Jeet brought his face closer. Pihu wanted to break down and cry but refused to do so in front of him.

"Jeet, what are you doing?" She whispered. "Leave..." She tried to push him away but in vain. He was still breathing down her neck.

"Not before we decide what to do with this..." He flickered a finger between them. "Us" He whispered.

"There is no us.." Pihu said, turning her face to the side. She didn't want him to see her moistened eyes. This enraged Jeet even more.

"Really?" The angry whisper turned Pihu's blood cold. "Then what is this?" He held her chin and turned her face. Before she could understand anything, she felt his lips pressed against hers. Jeet curled his arms around her back and waist and pulled her closer. Engulfing her in a tight hug as he kissed her passionately. She neither pushed him away nor protested. Their lips moved like a set jigsaw puzzle. Jeet tilted his head and pressed his lips to coax her to open her mouth.

"Je..." Pihu tried to stop him, but it was a half-hearted, weak attempt.

"Shhh...baby..." Jeet whispered on her lips as he deepened the kiss and the hug. Pihu could not hold anymore and gave in to her love. She submitted herself to the kiss. Her love for him outweighed her hate, just for that moment. They would break the kiss occasionally for air, but Jeet would dive back right away. He would murmur sweet things on her lips as he pecked, kissed and devoured her. Moments later, they found themselves on Pihu's bed. Pihu was saddling Jeet as they kissed. Her hips instinctively moved as she was lost in the kiss. This broke Jeet's trance as he broke the kiss and held her hips in place. Pihu had a shocked look on her face. Hurt was painted all over her face. Jeet closed his eyes and took deep breaths to calm down his raging hormones and racing heart. Pihu tried to shift, but Jeet kept a strong hold on her hips. He opened his eyes and smiled at her.

"Not now, my baby...." He whispered. "We will one day make love to one another, but not today. I love you, Shona" He repeated. This somehow enraged Pihu. She knew what he did and said was right, but it enraged her.

"No, we will never cross paths again." She said sternly. Her vulnerable eyes were hardened. "This.." she flickered her finger between them. "...was a mistake." She said. Jeet let out a sigh and cupped her face.

"Huh...I will make it right." He said with love dripping in his words. This irritated Pihu. Did he forget everything that he did last summer? Did he forget how she had pleaded with him, and he rejected her?

"So, you think now that I am tainted and a disgrace, you can take advantage of me?" She asked, staring deep into his eyes. Jeet visibly flinched as if someone had slapped him right across his face.

"So, this is how it felt?" Jeet wondered aloud. He asked her the same question last summer. "You can think whatever you want, Shona. You are free to do so, but I would not let stupid revenge, doubts and hurt come between us." He got up from her bed and stood in front of her. "You and I are going to be together forever." He bent to her eye level. " You have four years, baby, four years of time and space to sort out the mess in your head. You will not see my face for four years, but after that, you will be tied up tight with me." He declared his warning. He straightened himself and turned to walk out but halted on his steps. "Tainted or not, we belong together, Shona." He said without turning back. "And if you ever think of another man in these four years, I will kiss away those thoughts in front of everyone." It was a serious warning. Pihu kept staring at his back as he walked out of her room.