Bade Acche Lagte Hain | MaNan

Kashmir Diaries- IV

Snow and Two Hearts!

Covered in three layers, Manik and Nandini jogged to the jeep and caught it in the nick of time, exhaling small puffs of clouds into the cold air as they stood catching their breaths. Had they been a minute late, they would have missed their shared ride to Gulmarg.

The driver ushered them into the rear seats as these were the only two seats left.

Nandini sat on the inside while Manik occupied the outer seat and the driver cautioned him of the bendy roads, advising him to hold the leather handle properly before shutting and locking the half- door.

"I forgot to pack my gloves", Nandini announced in a troubled whisper while searching into her shoulder bag meticulously.

Alarmed, Manik glanced at her panicked state and whispered, "You said they were in the bag!"

"I thought the same", she mumbled and looked up at him nervously after a thorough recheck.

"You should have been careful", he couldn't stop himself from upbraiding her carelessness. A day in this chilling weather without gloves was very bad news.

"It's all your fault", she defended herself quickly and held the seat as the jeep roared to life.

"How is that my fault?" He was dumbfounded by the accusation. It was her gloves which she was supposed to pack in her bag. From where did he come into the picture?

"Yes because you didn't wake me up on time and I had to pack in haste", she muttered, glaring at him from under her lashes. Her hands were freezing for heaven's sake.

"I had reminded you to wear them when we were leaving the room if you remember but you said you have kept it inside your bag and would wear it after breakfast", he explained earnestly in a low voice. The buzzing sound of the radio in the background helped greatly in masking their voices.

"I have kept everything else - my muffler, our caps, camera, candies - everything, but gloves are not in here. They must have been left behind when you were fretting and disturbing me saying that we'll be late", she retaliated firmly. He was the one who disturbed her focus and she forgot to pack her mittens.

"And we were late Nandini", he reasserted in a matter-of-fact tone. They had a very hurried breakfast.

"And whose fault was that?" she clenched her jaw not to stutter as her hands felt numb. She had hidden them under her flowy kaftaan black sweater that she had paired with grey jeans but it wasn't alleviating her problem.

"Admit it brother, there's no winning here."

They went quiet when a piece of advice was directed to Manik from a middle-aged man sitting across from them with his wife. The couple had a knowing smile on their faces.

Red-faced with embarrassment Nandini glanced at Manik who himself had a discomfited look on his face.

Shortly thereafter Manik passed his right hand glove to Nandini. She refused to take it, shaking her head. "Wear it in your right hand and put your left hand in my pocket", he enjoined in a hushed tone.

His leather glove was too big for her but it also provided a warm and cushiony feel to her hand. Whilst her other hand was in a familiarly pleasant hold. He had also put his right hand into the same pocket of his black coat, the one they had bought yesterday, and interlinked their fingers.

'Chura liya hai tumne jo dil ko' was playing on Radio Kashmir. The corners of his lips lifted up in a small smile, mindful of her shy glances at his way and a delicate smile had lit up on her pink face.