Whispers of Destiny.

CHAPTER 4

Nina's POV

It was almost like a forty-minute drive through woods. And from there, the Ganpati studio was more than an hour's distance. It was this cool evening air as we piled into Harsh's car where tires crunch into the village roads and crickets chirp at every step.

"Hope you are not afraid of the dark," Harsh teased as we stepped out of the house. I rolled my eyes, unable to suppress a grin. "I've been down these roads before, I think I'll be okay.".

We set off on the road, and the car slid easily ahead on that narrow path. Trees were surrounding us from all sides, and it seemed like a tunnel in the dense forest. There was something super peaceful, you know, like that cool environment you get only in a village.

With this, the fading light came through the tress to fall on this orange glow on the entire dashboard. We cruised along peacefully for a while; in cosy silence punctuated only by the engine humming and some far-off bird chirping with us.

So were you excited for the festival? he asked, breaking the silence. He nodded. "Yeah, ages since I've been back home for that. The last few years have been pretty chaotic you know? It's nice to finally have some normal stuff happening again.".

He looked at me as if thinking deep in his head. "I get it, really, a lot has changed for everyone, but being with family here. it kinda feels like things are slowly getting back to normal.".

I smiled at him for his words to be thankful about the silent understanding that existed between us. As we approached the market, forest opened out and the lights of the village could be seen a way off. We pulled into a small square where stalls were still open; the vendors sold fresh vegetables, spices, and sweets.

"Alright," Harsh said, pulling in to the spot. "Let's get those ingredients.".We walked through the market, inhaling the fragrance of fresh coriander and ripe tomatoes every step. Harsh stuck close to me as we grabbed rice flour, jaggery, coconut, and cardamom-our 'stuff' for making Modak. Vendors were super friendly; some remembered me from way back, and others, well, were checking out Harsh with a bit of curiosity.

She was no stranger to these neighborhoods, but Harsh did as he was instructed and chatted with the vendors like a born-and-bred local.

So we finally got our shopping. Then the entire sky was already dark. The market stalls' lanterns were gently lit, and it led us along our way back to the car. It had that cozy, intimate feel to it and I realized I was just chilling out much more around Harsh.

"Hey, that wasn't so bad," I said as we tossed ingredients into the trunk of the car. 

"See? I'm not just a city boy. I can totally handle village life too," said Harsh with a smirk of his face. I started laughing as we set off again, heading to the studio where they were going to make the Ganpati idol. 

We finally got further into the woods; the road was getting smaller and peeling away from the village. The headlights slashed through the night, making long shadows on the trees because we turned our way up the hills. 

"Hey, ever been in the studio before?" I asked, almost feeling a chill of the forest vibe that surrounded us. Yeah, it was last year," Harsh said, keeping his eyes on the road. "It's a bit hidden, but the idols they create are amazing. The detail, the craftsmanship. you're going to love it.

The drive was long, but I didn't mind. There was something calming about the isolation of the forest, the way the night seemed to wrap around us like a blanket. Harsh glanced over at me occasionally, a playful smile tugging at his lips.

"Enjoying the silence, or just my company?" he asked, breaking the quiet.

I smirked, glancing out the window. "Oh, definitely the silence," I teased. "Your company's still up for debate."

He laughed, his eyes twinkling in the dim light of the car. "I'll win you over by the time we get to the studio, don't worry."

We didn't talk much after that, but the silence between us felt comfortable, almost... electric.

When we finally arrived, the studio was a small building, warmly lit from the inside. Harsh opened the car door for me, his hand lingering for a moment as I stepped out, sending a little jolt through me. The artist, a kind older man with weathered hands, greeted us. As he led us inside, Harsh leaned in close and whispered, "You see, I promised the ride would be worth it."

I chuckled softly, nudging him lightly with my elbow. "You're getting there."

As the artist pulled back the cloth covering the nearly finished Ganpati idol, Harsh gave me a sideways glance, his eyes lingering just a bit longer than necessary. There was a warmth between us now, like a spark we both felt but weren't quite ready to acknowledge.

"It'll be ready by tomorrow evening," the artist assured us.

"Thank you," Harsh said, shaking the man's hand.

We admired the idol for a few more minutes before heading back to the car. The drive back was quieter, the night settling in around us. As the road opened up again and the village lights came into view, I realized how much I enjoyed this simple evening.

As we pulled into the driveway, Harsh turned to me with a smile. "Not a bad evening, right?"

I grinned back. "Not bad at all."

waiting for some twist and turns?