A New Journey

A night together

The night was dark. The sudden lightenings were the only source of light. It was raining heavily and the highway was blocked due to the trees fallen on roads. It was a stormy night. Not a kind of night Tarika liked. She loved rain but not storm.

Tarika looked at her side. Not so far, at another side of veranda, there stood Senior Inspector of Mumbai CID in his ever so charming style, leaning his one shoulder against the bamboo which supported the straw roof over them. Hours ago when she left the library to reach the farmhouse she was worried about the weather herself. Sure, it didn't start raining then but it wouldn't have taken a second guess for the silliest person to acknowledge that it would rain. Nevertheless Tarika decided to go to fetch her dead mobile and purse with her identities. Stupid. She knew she was stupid for leaving her belongings behind. But, at least she had her own car with her.

But her car betrayed her too, on the middle of the road in a bad weather. And not to mention with a dead phone. To say she wasn't scared would be a lie. She was trembling in her shoes in anticipation and was wishing her stars to shine and send her some helps. The highway was new to her. Heck, Mumbai was still new to her. Yet, she could remember noticing a garage nearby when she was accompanying Abhijeet to the farm house that afternoon. It seemed risky too, to walk alone in a garage asking for help. But she decided to take a chance. Meantime rain started. She got into the car and locked all the doors. She didn't have any umbrella even. Although it wasn't raining so heavily then she could guess how wild the weather could turn in a fraction of second.

When she was pondering on her stupidity she heard a soft knock on her car's window. She jumped on her seat. Never in her life had she found herself in a more dreadly situation than this. Slowly, she turned her head and her face lit up in sheer happiness upon discovering the person behind the glass. For a moment she couldn't believe her eyes but when realization hit her she didn't take a second to open the door of her car and came out of it. The person was ready with his umbrella. As soon as she came out of the car he held the umbrella high, covering both of them. However, Tarika flung her arms around his neck as she hugged him. She had been very strong but as she saw him she felt her guards breaking down. She could taste her salty tears. She pressed her lips to supress her sobs being hard by the person.

''Abhijeet!'' That all she could utter. Letting herself breaking in his arms. She felt her hesitant fingers on her back, as if he was trying to touch and push her away at the same time.

''It's okay Dr Tarika.'' Came his calm voice.

Tarika let him go. She set her hair and wiped away her tears. But she denied to look at him. She was embarrassed after all.

''I am sorry… Actually..'' It was hard to convey her feeling through words for her.

''It's fine Dr Tarika. I can understand, you must be very scared.''

Tarika nodded, still denying to look at him. They were standing close under the umbrella.

''You car's broken?'' Abhijeet asked.

Tarika nodded again.

''Lemme see..''

''I tried. It's the engine.'' Tarika said, her voice was harsh due to the crying.

''Hmm.. okay. But at first please relax.''

Tarika nodded vigorously.