Nawal - Missing Moments

21. Life Lessons - Part III

These three chapters could have been a short story in themselves, so long they turned out. This is the last of them.

21. Life Lessons – Part III

Dhawal and Natasha were strolling in the main market with bags full of stuff in their hands. Natasha had insisted that they buy some basic utensils and cutlery to cook and eat. She hadn't let him spend a penny on anything, maintaining that she was paying him back for his help with the beauty contest.

"Arey par wohi to kaam hai mera! Ussi ke to paise milte hai mujhe as part of organizing team. I can't let you pay for all this." he was adamant that he would not take her money.

"Ye dinner mere success ko celebrate karne ke liye kar rahe hai na hum? You wanted me to thank you properly? So this is part of it. Accept my thanks" she said, stopping to browse for some vegetables.

"Aisa thank you nahi chahiye tha mujhe" he said, behaving like a child.

"To phir kaisa chahiye tha?" she asked.

She turned to look at him when he didn't respond. He was smiling that disarming smile of his, his gaze stuck on her.

"Tumhe pata to hai..." he nudged her shoulder, making butterflies swoop in her stomach.

She blinked rapidly and looked away. She couldn't think clearly when he charmed her like this.

"Dhawal, mujhe na already Amrish Bhai ko lakhon ka karza wapis karna hai...wo Pandya store ke renovation ke contract ka. So this is nothing." She bent down to pick out some fruits and vegeatables.

His smile instantly turned into a frown. "Mera ab Amrish Bhai se koi rishta nahi hai, Natasha. Mujhe unke saath mat jodo tum. Aur ye karze ka we will think of something."

Thander cracked violently, startling both of them. It was going to rain soon.

She pursed her lips. "We'll talk about this later. Yaha nahi. Abhi sabji khareedne me help karo tum meri. We need to go isse pehle ke baarish ho." she pointed to the spread of colourful vegetables in front of them and started picking out some and putting then in a basket. Dhawal had never in his life bought vegetables. His Bhabhis had always done the grocery shopping. So he had no idea what the going rate was. He was kind of glad that Natasha was handling this because he wouldn't have known what to bargain. He too started to pick out his favourite ones.

Once Natasha was satisfied with everything she had purchased, they finally headed back to his room, exhausted and their arms loaded with bags. Once they got down from the auto, it had started drizzling lightly. Dhawal handed Natasha the key to go on ahead and picked up all the bags, feeling like superman and dropped them inside, heaving a sigh of relief. He had just closed the door when there was a knock. Ab kaun aagaya?, he frowned and opened the door to reveal his landlord standing there with a suspicious look on his face.

"Arey uncle aap? Iss waqt? Sab theek to hai?" he asked

"Yaha to sab theek hai lekin ye andar kya chal raha hai? Mujhe kuch logon ne aa ke bataya hai ke koi ladki aai hai tumse milne iss time pe? Maine room dene se pehle hi clear kar diya tha ke yaha pe ye sab nahi chalega! Raat ko ladkiyon ka aana jana is not allowed" he declared.

Dhawal flushed. This thought hadn't even occurred to him that people might have seen Natasha entering his room at this time! Some utensils clanged inside meaning Natasha had started unpacking things and well, indicating to his landlord that someone was inside, who, on hearing, tried to peer over his shoulder to look inside. Well, he couldn't lie now and say that he was mistaken. Hmm...he could say that it was Kattu but if he asked to come inside then it would create a problem...