A story that is untold. A story that is incomplete. And a story that is unheard. Unveiling an alternate universe to Anurag and Prerna's love story in a wintery twist. As beautiful as winters. As cold as ice and as short as the season. Will they make...
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The clock struck half past eight when I walked out of the room with heavy steps towards the lobby of the hotel. Shivi and Anupam waited by the taxi for me so we could reach our camp again. I dreaded going there. What if he is there, how would I even face him. What if his girlfriend is there? What am I gonna do?
"Damn! You take ages to get on time! What even on earth were you doing?" Shivani bursted out. She dumped her handbag into the taxi seat and took a seat. She moved aside to the other end of the seat to give me space to seat. Well good thing she doesn't know what all happened this morning. Otherwise she would have made a heck out of my day. I plunged into the taxi and the engine started.
Just ten minutes into the drive I caught onto Shivi staring at me. She kept looking at me which was giving me anxiety. I decided not to react to her staring because the last thing I wanted to do was to answer her questions. But her expressions clearly shouted her suspicion.
"Preru! Who were with last night?" she asked sternly. Damn it! From where did my sister inherit such smartness which I was unable to inherit. How did she know I was with Anurag the last night? And now what answers am I supposed to give? Ugggh. Fuck my life.
"I am asking you something!" she urged once again for me to answer the question I dreaded the most. Anupam glanced back from his front seat towards us after listening to Shivani's stern voice. I remained quiet trying to process some excuses.
"You don't even tell me anything. Tell me who was the guy huh?" her stern look subsided and her usual teasing came along.
"No- No one!" I said trying to hide the fact as if it could change the truth. I wish it could have been that way.
"Come on Prerna! You clearly have a hickey right on your neck!" she chimed with a smirk that never left her face. Anupam's head sprung to us as he was now completely drawn into the conversation after what Shivi revealed.
"Prerna! Oh my god! This is gold. I never knew Auli could do this to you." he remarked shoving giggles on my face. I had to do something to let these teasings slide.
"Guys, you're over thinking. It's just a mosquito bite." I said trying to cover up the spilled milk.
"Preru! We clearly know the difference between hickey and mosquito bites. Don't try fooling us." Shivani said catching my lie in milliseconds. "It's okay if you don't want to let us know. We'll find out ourselves." she continued.
"Prerna, one thing. Whatever possessed you to do that should possess you more often. Least we sinful people must have some company right." Anupam said and clapped his hands against Shivani's palms. And they carried on to giggle their entire way in the taxi. God! What do I do?
We reached the camp area and Shivi and Anupam jumped out and ran into their tents. I carried my backpack on my shoulders and walked towards the purple tent with my name on it. I walked with heavy steps dreading meeting my hot guide. I mean 'guide'. Fuck! I need to stop thinking about him. Just the. I bumped into a beautifully fit muscular man.
"heya! How's the day?" Anurag took off his sunglasses and his glassy eyes stared right back at me. He was at complete ease as if nothing had happened.
"uh.. um." I stammered, Unable to react.
"Look I know whatever happened this morning was embarrassing. And I apologize for that. That wasn't meant to happen." he said with expressions that were seeking apologies.
"I don't think we should even be talking." I said completely ignoring what he said and jerked his body out of my way and continued towards my tent only to get pulled back by him.
"Are you straight up ignoring me?" he said glaring back at me. I tried easing down under his grip but I guess nothing worked. I just wanted this conversation to end as soon as possible.
"I have neither the time nor the crayons to explain this to you." i said as sprung into the tent as soon as possible. i shoved my bag in the corner when Anurag pulled me into his arms again. His sudden actions scared me and as a reflex I shrieked.
"You scared me." I yelled at him.
"Well, I'm naturally terrifying." he replying high on sarcasm and then continued, "First of all you need to tell me why you're ignoring me?"
"Are you serious? After all that happened this morning we stand a chance to speak to each other." I said in an obvious tone. "wasnt your girlfriend mad at you for doing that." i continued.
"Well, Dont worry about her. I managed her. She's dumber than a pile of unscented soaps." He said much to my surprise. well i did not expect that from him. Why would he say that to his girlfriend?
"Wow, such venom. Do you not love your Girlfriend?" I asked out of curiosity.
"That's none of your business." He said with his expressions turning pale and the colors on his face draining out. I kind of got triggered by that reply. He was the one say ill about his own girlfriend not me. he then continued, "Whatever, I was saying lets just forget everything that happened this morning. You will be here only for the next 20 days. Lets just pretend nothing happened between us. That way, things will be easy for us."
"I wish pretending could actually change the reality." I spoke while he heard me instinctively and turned over and walked away. I guess it was hard for him to accept the truth. I bend down to set my mattress on the floor just when the flap of the tent once again flew open and a yet again familiar face walked in. His girlfriend.
"Hey you! I told you! I told you to stay away from him. Do you not understand?" She yelled on my face.
"Listen mam, I am truly sorry about everything that happened. Even I never wished that to happen." I said trying to clarify things. Since Mr. Anurag Basu isnt doing anything. I guess I will have to do something to pacify her.
"Oh Please! Keep your excuses to yourself. You probably dont know who I am. Let me tell you one thing very clearly. Anurag is mine. Anurag belongs to Komolika. You better keep your hands away from him, you bloody whore." She yet again spat her venom. Just then her eyes caught on to the hickey on my neck. "And Oh wait you have a hickey on your neck too. Do you not know only I, only I have the right to get marked by him." She said as she grabbed my wrist and twisted it causing it to pain. I freed myself in what I may count nanoseconds. But her grip was so tight that it left her fingermarks on my wrist. I jerked my wrists to release the shooting pain.
"Komolika, I have no intentions to get into your relationship with Anurag. I said everything that happened was unfortunate and I APOLOGIZE FOR THAT." I said emphasizing on the apologizing part. I felt demeaned being called a whore by someone who herself wore slutty clothes. I walked out of the tent, leaving her behind me in the tent. I clearly couldnt help handling all of this.
[But one thing that went unnoticed by Prerna, which she is gonna regret in future- Komolika had a black pouch hanging around her wrist which she skillfully hid behind her posture. Prerna never bothered knowing what that pouch had, if only she knew what her intentions were.]
