Nawal - Missing Moments

15. Jungle Camp

15. Jungle Camp 

It was early morning and all the final year students were gathered outside the college to go for the year end trip to a nearby forest. Two nights of jungle camping were planned with fun and activities. Dhawal and Natasha both were going despite the chaos going on in their lives because both wanted the other to think that they were over each other. Their friends could see that they both still were head over heels but refusing to acknowledge it. They literally had a bet going on as to who would cave first and confess to the other that they didn't want a divorce but the odds didn't appear to be in anyone's favour because of a major reason.

That reason was Dhawal's impending marriage to Suhani. The day after their marriage counselling was over, Natasha got the news that Dhawal and Suhani were to be married next week. If she had been distraught before, it was nothing to how she had felt when she heard the news. To get separated was one thing but to announce a second marriage even before his first was even over was an extreme that she just hadn't thought he was capable of. But he had proved her wrong. They still had their last hearing pending for their annulment and coincidentally it was the day after they returned from this trip.

Itni jaldi machi hui thi mujhse chutkara paane ki ke do din bhi wait nahi kiya gaya isse? Mujhe kesa lagega...mere bare me kya sochenge log...kuch farak nahi padta isse!

She had vowed to never cry over him again and it seemed like every other day he outdid himself in the level of unfeeling behaviour he was showing and she was even more dumbfounded than before. She couldn't even think about another guy yet and he had already decided on a new wife for himself. How was she to heal her pain when he was so hell bent on salting her wounds every day. But she would not let him see how he was affecting her. It had become a game of one-upping each other that they were playing now.

Dhawal was hanging out with his friends outside the bus and chatting about what they were going to do in camp.

"Mene saara arrangement kar kiya hai. Tum log tension mat lo. Jo chahiye milega" Kattu said, patting his backpack with a glint in his eye.

Dhawal slapped his back in a bro-gesture. "Kya baat hai Kattu! Lekin we need to be careful. Jail main nahi jana mujhe" They were going just outside the state borders but still you never knew with the cops.

"Han...phir to teri saari timeline kharab ho jaegi. Pehli shadi khatam karke dusri karne ki. Bohot tight schedule hai tera I must say! Humse to ek girlfriend nahi ban pa rahi and isko dekho 2-2 biwiyan sambhal raha hai" another guy taunted, referring to the chaos in his personal life.

"Yar tu na apna muh band rakh. Warna dekhna main-" Kattu raised his fist to threaten him when Dhawal stopped him.

"Rehne de yar. We can't stop them. Ladai jhagda karke koi fayda nahi hai." He said, pulling Kattu back but fuming inside. He needed to calm down. He knew this was to be expected. Kattu brushed off his hands and turned to him.

"Log to bolenge hi na. Tu kar hi aise kaam raha hai. Tere bare mein ye sab bolne me kuch nahi soch rahe ye log...to tu khud hi soch Natasha ke bare me kya kya bol rahe honge. Tune uske baare me zara sa bhi nahi socha shaadi ke liye han karne se pehle??" Kattu admonished him.

Before Dhawal could reply, a car pulled up near the bus and Natasha and Neetu stepped out. A guy came out and took out their bags from the boot of the car and handed it to them, giving a one-armed hug to both. Natasha accidently tripped over a stray rock and he caught her, steadying her with his arms.

Dhawal could barely hear Kattu's words for blood rushed through his ears seeing that guy touch her. He clenched his fists and turned to Kattu.

"Kaun hai ye jo itna chipak raha hai Natasha se?"