Durga | ✓

14. Where She Faints

" Ramaiah don't you think we should wake her up?" asked Rudra with his voice full of concern.

" Oh! Is it? But I think she is in her twenties. She can take care of herself." said Ramaiah.

" She didn't eat anything from five hours." said Rudra.

" I must say she is a good sleeper." said Ramaiah, turning away his face, other side.

" Whatever." muttered Rudra.

Durga slowly opened her eyes. Sometimes I wonder why I go through so much of pain.

She clutched her lower abdomen. Rudra noticed her face as it twitched. She tried to divert her attention by looking out.

" Durga, is everything all right." asked Rudra.

Durga gave a weak smile. " Don't worry Sir. I am absolutely fine."

Rudra nodded. But you don't look fine.

Durga looked at her watch. Exactly 12 noon. In an hour we should reach Kudremukh. This eight hour long journey is very tiring.

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A man knocked the door of Durga Nilaya. Nobody answered. He knocked the door repeatedly. A woman was passing by Durga Nilaya.

She called him, " Excuse me mister, no body is there in the house."

He turned swiftly and walked towards the woman. " Where are they?"

" They? No. You must be mistaken. Only a woman is living there."

" Ah! I remember it now. Where is she now?"

" We don't know." said the woman and walked away.

He banged his fist on the wall. She escaped this time too. But I promise you Durga Rao, I will find you. I will give you the proper treatment for cheating me.

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Durga, Rudra and Ramaiah got down from the bus. Durga was the last one to get down. She struggled to get down from the bus with her bag. A gust of wind blew as they were 1,894 metres above the sea level. They were walking towards the other end of the flat land. They wanted to savour the ecological beauty of this famous hill.

" We will have to wait for the Sumo to come. They will take us to some government quarters for the stay. He will be meeting us tomorrow. It seems he is in other city." said Rudra.

"Hmmm... seems like you have hurt his ego badly." Ramaiah said, patting Rudra's back.

" No Ramaiah, it is all because of Durga."

They heard a sound. Both the men turned to see Durga was lying on the ground.

" Durga! Durga! What happened to you?" asked Rudra.

Ramaiah looked absolutely cool. "Rudra she is unconscious" handing over a bottle of water, he said , "Make her drink this water."

Rudra followed the instruction diligently. After few minutes, Durga slowly opened her eyes.

" Durga! Are you okay?" asked Rudra, his voice filled with concern.