Mera Rangsaaz

Chapter 12

Veer B.

I look at her scared face. Her doe eyes are so big right now. She looks so pretty painted in my colours.

"Aap haste bhi hai?" She asks innocently.

"Agar hasane wali tum ho toh haan" I say pecking her nose.

"Par yeh hasne wali baat nahi hai" She says tensed. Her face is slightly scrunched and she looks so adorable. "Aap samajh kyu nahi rahe"

"Tara"

"Kisine ne hume aise dekh lia toh?" She blabbers not listening to me.

"Tara" I say firmly and she looks at me quietly. "Koi kuch nahi kahega hum Pati Patni hai. Samjhi?"

"Par mere kapde-"

"Peeche ki taraf ek bathroom hai waha naha lo aur-" I say setting her down on the floor and going to the one cupboard at the end. "Yeh lo. Tumhari saree"

I give her the saree. She takes it after rubbing her hands on the clean part of her saree but looks at it suspiciously.

"Yaha koi aur bhi aayi thi?" She says standing up, just looking at the saree as if to find a trace of other girl. I move closer, towering above her.

"Yaha par tumhare siwa aur koi bhi nahi aaya" I say caressing her cheek.

"Phir yeh saree?"

"Tumhare liye li thi. Mujhe pata tha kabhi na kabhi tumhe yaha lauga. Aur jab lauga tab tumhe bina range jane toh nahi dunga"

She blushes and smiles. I take her hand and lead her to the bathroom.

"Aap nahi nahaege?" She asks entering the bathroom.

"Pehle waha ki safai karuga" I say pointing towards the area where we made a mess.

"Ji" she nods her head and closes the door.

While she takes the bath, I clean the area. When I am done, she finally comes out in just her blouse, petticoat and her wet hairs.

"Wo mene socha ki itne mei saree pehnugi, aap naha lege" she says looking away. She starts tying it while I go to the bathroom while staring at her, not able to take my eyes off her.

After bathing I wear a fresh pair of clothes. I always keep spare here just in case. While painting my clothes are expected to be ruined and well today I got painted with my muse.

We both get ready and decide to leave. It's still pitch black outside.

"Iske baare mei kitne logo ko pata hai? She asks sitting behind my bike.

"Kisiko nahi" I say looking forward.

"Par kyu? Aap toh itna accha-"

"Tumhe Bata dia mere liye wo kaafi hai. Kissi aur ko batane ki koi zaroorat nahi hai."

"Par aap-"

"Nahi Tara"

"Theek hai"

"Yeh sirf humare liye hai"

She wraps her hand around my waist and keeps her head on my back. I don't want this ride to end. I take a longer route to her house just to prolong our time together. But all best journeys come to an end and we reach her house.

I park my bike in front of her house and she gets down. She stands in front of me while I remain seated on the bike.

"Jao andar. Shaam ko lene aata hoon tumhe" I say.

She remains standing and looks at me. She brings her hand to my moustache and wipes something.

"Thoda sa rang laga hua tha" she says still rubbing the corner of my moustache. I continue to stare at her.

"Waise aapki dhadhi thodi chubti hai"

"Accha?" I ask still mesmerized by her face.

"Ji" she says taking her hand back and going inside. I continue to look at her until Amit opens the door and she goes inside.

Then I go to my house and hear a noise from the kitchen at this time. I silently go to the kitchen and hold the person's neck between my forearm and bicep. I give him a tight squeeze almost choking him.

"Bhaiya mein hoon mein hoon" Sanjay shouts. I immediately release him.

"Light on karleta. Apne ghar mein choro ki tarah kyu ghoom raha?"

"Wo bhook lagi thi aur raat ko mene bola tha ki bhookh nhi hai. Agar papa ko pata chalta toh bohot maar padti" he says.

"Accha beta. Iss time par?" I say smacking the back of his head.

"Sacchi bhaiya"

"Theek hai. Dimaag kharab mat Kar ja apne kamre mein." I say getting out of the kitchen and climbing stairs to go to my room. Sanjay follows me behind.

"Waise bhaiya aap itni raat ko kaha se aa rahe the?"

I ignore his question.

"Oooo Tara bhabhi se milke aarahe ho" he says in a knowing teasing tone. "Toh papa ne aapko yeh kaha tha"

"Tu aram se apne kamre mei jayega ya maar khake" I say and he scurries away. And yes papa said that to me. He told me that I have to follow the rasam but that doesn’t mean I cannot meet her. I just have to make sure no one knows.

I reach my room and lay down on my bed, tossing and turning. I can't stop thinking about her, her expressions, her eyes. I close my eyes and all I see is her. I continue to lay in the bed until the birds start chirping. When the sun is fully out I get out from the bed and go to bathroom.

I see my face in the small mirror that is kept there. I look at my face carefully and then pick up the razor.