Where Have We Come Up To?

Chapter 44:- Twists and Turns

I'm updating after a month...and this is the first time I've done something like this...I wasn't having enough time to sit and write, so I got up super early this morning to complete Chapter 44! 

Hope you like it! :D

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Based on Maria Gold's instructions, here we were, dressed in ethnic traditional outfits, roaming through the streets of Chittorgarh.

"Do you even think this'll work?" The usual doubting began.

"Can you stop your suspicion and trust someone for the sake of God!" I hissed, annoyed at his pessimistic behavior.

"You seem, very optimistic yourself!" He taunted, pointing at my sweaty hands. Why did he have to know me inside out? Why couldn't we act like strangers, like robots on a mission, nothing more than that?

"Because that's not what we're meant to be, Rosh." He answered my unasked question, again!

"Aargh! Why do you have to read everything I think?!" I retaliated, frantic at his actions. He was being impossible, and his constant nagging wasn't helping one bit.

"Roshni..." He held my cold hands into his warm, assuring ones. I looked into his orbs to find faith mixed with fear.

"I-I don't know Faisal." My tone wavered, and I gave in. "I'm not too sure about this..." I left my sentence midair, waiting for him to complete, to object, to support, anything!

"We'll have to trust someone and take a risk." He reasoned, clutching my hands. His thick silver bracelet shivered my thin colored glass ones.

"With all these obstacles swarming over our heads, how do you expect me to trust anyone...but you?" I put forward, expressing my faith towards him. In such a circumstance, I could only consider my soulmate loyal towards me...no one else mattered.

"Then trust me when I say this Roshni, I won't let anything...or anyone harm you, I promise!" He clutched my hands, eyes darkening yet gleaming.

"I know..." I whispered, a small smile playing on my lips. "As long as I have you by my side, I don't have to worry about anything." I answered positively.

"Shall we?" He extended his arm, similar to the way he had done centuries ago, in Bijolia. This nostalgia seemed so magical at times, that I sometimes took a minute to recollect and revive it.

I nodded slightly as we continued. The streets still reminded me of home, a sense of belongingness that I hadn't experienced in 16 years. The once rocky paths were replaced by strong, cemented ones. Where once I saw villagers guffawing at silly antics or moments of pride, I now saw men and women, dressed sophisticatedly, too busy with their own life problems to notice their surroundings. Some viewed us hysterically, others came with a smile on their faces on seeing us still retaining our culture. My heart grew heavy; although we were progressing with the modern world, there were some of us who gave our culture little to no recognition.

Faisal grasped my right hand making my bangles jingle in joy, eyes still fixated at the road ahead.

"Do you have nothing to ponder upon, or are you too interested in my thoughts?" I queried, furrowing my eyebrows.

"Maybe both..." He smirked without making eye contact.

"How frustrating can you be?!"

"You know how much I love to annoy you, Rosh!"

"That name again!" I reprimanded.

...

"You know what you're supposed to do, right?" He anticipated, as we made our way to a clearing. We had reached the heart of the city by evening, and were currently crowded by numerous villagers, chaos filled in the air.