Thikaana

Chapter Four

It had been around 20 minutes since they were stuck in the traffic jam. Sana was getting agitated by the minute, she was feeling so helpless, she was stuck with him in his car, taking his time, plus there was no way the traffic would resume anytime soon, or so it seemed. She was constantly rubbing her hands and was looking out of the window and at the front. There was silence in the car. The sound  of the rain slowly falling on the car & the horns outside was highlighting the silence inside all the more. It was slightly uncomfortable for the both of them. They were still strangers to one another & sitting inside at such close proximity not knowing how and when they'll be getting out from the traffic was making them restless.
Sidharth was quietly sitting with one hand on the steering and the other hand's elbow was on the window with his fingers cupping his mouth. He was trying to assess the situation of the traffic ahead. He knew she was getting restless by the minute & he didn't like it. He still didn't know why, she still was a stranger for him but he wanted to be there for her. He wanted her to be at ease with & around him. He had to think faster. He thought of something yet he didn't wanna appear overpowering.
" Sana? See, this traffic isn't going to end anytime soon. Hum already yahan pichle 25 minute se ruke we hai aur trust me, Mumbai rains mai yahi hota hai. The traffic gets stuck & doesn't clear up for hours. Baarish aur zada kaam kharaab kar deti hai" he spoke looking at her,  taking her attention. She looked at him.
"Dekho, we still have chance to turn back from this. Agar zaada gaariyan peeche agayi then we will be really stuck" he said cautiously. He was a bit scared of how she'd react to what he was about to suggest. She looked at him waiting for him to go ahead. Her big innocent eyes were looking at his face. She slightly nodded waiting for him to go ahead.
"So, what we can do is that we turn back right now & go back to my place? You can stay there for however long. It's not a problem. The forecast says it's gonna pour for the whole night, this traffic isn't getting any better. Plus, it's Friday night hence the rush. You can stay over at my place tonight? As soon as the weather clears in the morning, I'll drop you" he said calmly trying not to scare her. Sana's eyes widened a bit & she gasped.
"No no no. aap pagal ho? How can I stay the night at yo.. and plus, I don't even have any clothes..plus clothes bhi choro mai aisay apke sath..uparse ye traffic baarish..aur aap ko takleef..mai" she blabbered.
"Stop stop stop" he said putting both his hands in the air. He knew she'd lose it. "Dekho my love", she instantly looked up. It sounded so special. He said it as if it was the most natural thing.
"See, I know it's all a bit too much for you to take. But the situation is right here in front of your eyes. Its already going to be half an hour since we haven't moved an inch. Aur yahan se nikalne ka bhi koi scene nahi hai as you can see. If you want, we can keep sitting & waiting here in the car but lemme tell you, that can even take the whole night with the current rain situation. Tum mere sath chal sakti ho, the whole house is empty. You can be there for however long it takes, jab aur jese tum kahogi I'll drop you right away. Khaunga nahi tumhe, pakka" he said chuckling. He looked at her intently. She seemed conflicted. It seemed like she wanted to trust him, she was understanding what he was saying yet she was holding back. He let her decide.
Sana listened to him carefully. Whatever he said was making absolute sense. She knew he wasn't just making anything up. She could see the situation for herself. She had understood by now that if anything, he was a man of practicality & logics. Every time he spoke to her, he made sense. The way he explained to her about bringing her home, she instantly understood. Even now when he was explaining her about the situation, she knew he was her well-wisher. She looked at him silently and again started rubbing her hands. He sighed. He took her hands and unclasped them. "Don't do that, relax". He said authoritatively. "Par won't it be too much of a hassle for you? Mene wese hi apka sara weekend kharab kar dia" she pouted sadly.
"Aisa kuch nahi hai. Mai koi tumhe khud apne khande par utha k nahi phir raha jo mujhe hassle hoga" he said rolling his eyes at her. Trust me, there's nowhere else I'd rather be" he smiled at her. "So shall we head back then?" She nodded. She was willing to trust him. She wanted to. If anything, he had been so kind to her until now. She sat back a little relaxed this time. Sidharth looked back & started to reverse the car. He extended his left arm keeping it at the back of her seat & tilted his head back while reversing. His face was so close to her. His muscles were flexing. He looked hot. She looked towards the other side & sighed.
**** 
As soon as they entered back in his apartment, Sana went ahead & sat on the sofa they were previously sitting on with a sullen face. He was observing her. He was glad that she chose to listen to him & trust him but he could tell she was not very happy with the whole situation.
"Coffee"? he asked while moving towards the kitchen. She looked at him and nodded. She sat on the sofa for a few minutes observing him, how he moved with so much of ease & power. How his muscles flexed every time he moved his hands. She went behind him. "So, aap kya karte ho jab kaam nahi kar rahay hotay tab?" she asked him. He looked at her & smiled. She was trying to ease up to him, it made him happy. "I go to my mom's & spend time with her, ya kabhi she comes over. Kabhi agar I just wanna be by myself tou bas ghar par rehta hoon or I go out for a drive". "Aur apkay Papa?" she asked. He stopped doing what he was doing & sighed. He slowly looked at her. "I lost him 9 years ago. So it's just mom" he said. Sana instantly regretted asking that. She could tell how affected he still was from his dad's death. His movements and his tone had visibly slowed down. "I'm really sorry" she whispered looking down sadly. He looked at her. She was biting her lip and standing like a small kid who had done something wrong. She was a baby. He came closer and grabbed her hands slowly. She gasped at the sudden contact & looked up. He was so close. "Hey, don't be. You didn't know. It's fine, I promise, okay?" he was talking to her like you explain something to a kid. She nodded and slowly removed her hands.
"I have two older sisters. They're married & settled in the US. They usually visit us in winters or summers. Or if I'm there on a flight for a few days, I visit them. So yeah, it's cool" he told her while taking the cups out for the coffee. She was listening him so keenly that he wanted to share more with her. He liked that she was listening. He didn't really have company ever in the house. So it felt good. She watched as he poured the coffee in the mugs & gave one to her. He pointed towards the living room & they started walking. The sound of the rain outside was till there but this time, the silence inside wasn't uncomfortable or awkward. The settled on the same sofa, sitting at a decent distance. Sidharth crossed his legs & put them on the table.
"So tell me about yourself Sana. For how long are you here? What are your plans? Ghar par kon kon hai, hmm?" he asked sipping his coffee.
Sana kept the mug on the table across & folded her legs, settling in comfortably. He noticed. "Mene tou na hamesha se hi socha hua tha k parhayi k baad job tou karni hi karni hai. Aisay ghar pe thori beth sakti hoon parh likh kar. Yahi karna hai tou faida itni mehnat ka? So ba papaji ko bara manaya bari tarle turle dale phir wo mane. Bohat zada time nahi diya unho ne tou bas socha k chalo saal na sahi kuch 8-9 months bhi yahan achi job jub karu, kuch naam banaun kuch independent karu zindagi mai phir chale jayenge wapis Punjab" she said picking the cup. He sat there enjoying her talk, he realized how pure her heart was. He could tell if she's comfortable with you, she'll bare it all out. He didn't like the going back part though. "That's wonderful Sana, that's an amazing thinking. I'm so happy you decided to take that call for yourself" he smiled at her, she smiled back. "But why 8-9 months sirf? Why go back so soon? Aar naam banana hai kaam karna hai tou uske liye apne apko itna kam time kyun dena?" he asked. She kept quiet. She had her reasons, big major reasons. Her hands were tied. But she couldn't just open her heart up to a man she was actually meeting for the first time, technically. "Umm, bas aisay hi.. wo papaji pehle bhi itne convinced nahi they na for my job, aur Dada Dadi bhi hain, wo door rehte hain par unko bhi yahi tha k bas ladki zada ghar se door na rahay, apna shauq poora karay aur wapis ajaye. Mer liye ye bhi bohat hai, at least something is better than nothing" she said softly smiling at him. He smiled back. Though he could feel that this isn't where her heart was. She wanted to work for longer but that power wasn't in her hands probably. He let it go.
"It's pretty late" he said looking at his phone. "You wanna rest? I can show you the guest room. You've had a very long day, you should rest". Sana nodded. She had already taken up so much of his time, she didn't want to keep him from resting. They both stood up & he took her to the room across his. "Here" he said opening the door for her to walk. The room was decent looking classy and big enough. "You can hit the bed, & if you need anything I'm right across".
"Thnak you so much. Aap jao aramse. I'll be fine" Sana said smiling. Sidharth nodded & began to leave. She suddenly remembered. "Uhh suno suno, wo agar mujhe paani lena hua tou mai bahir jaa k le sakti hoon na?" she asked. He looked at her for a few seconds baffled. She was such a kid. He smiled. "Of course you can, you don't have to ask." He left the room. Sana closed the door behind him & locked it.
****
Sidharth was in his balcony smoking. The whole evening was playing in his mind. What would have happened to her if he wasn't there? She was here, in his house, sleeping in the next room. He was amused at how strongly he wanted to protect her. It was just the second time in his entire life that he had seen her today, yet the urge to protect her, be there for her & to keep her safe was so strong. It surprised him. He was so drawn to her beauty, especially today, seeing her like that but he was also so drawn to her childlike innocence & purity. She seemed like a little baby to him who was just beginning to step in the real world. It was all too strange for him. Strange yet it had this unknown familiarity. It was not like he hadn't been around women. Yes, since the last 7 years he had made serious conscious efforts to stay away from them & to keep away from relationships but he was a pilot, & that too such a sexy one. He worked with women who were always more than eager to hit on him but he steered clear. This time however? This girl who he had literally seen for a few minutes randomly in a grocery store had him drawn like a magnet. There wasn't something particular about her, it was basically everything he thought. He had seen her in the roughest of looks at the store, she was chubby but so hot, so beautiful. The thought that she was safely sleeping in his house was giving him an unknown peace. He didn't understand it, but he liked it.
Sidharth was just coming out of the kitchen after filling up his water bottle when he heard the lock unlatch. There she was rubbing her eyes like a baby. He felt things he couldn't understand or explain. "hey, what happened? You okay?" he asked concerned while walking towards her.
"Haan mai theek hoon, bas thora darr rahi thi andar. Is it ok if I sleep here on this sofa plz?" she asked him innocently. "Haan of course it is, par are you sure you'll be comfortable here?" He asked her moving towards the sofa and removing the cushions & already making space for her. She moved towards him. "yeah yeah I promise I'll be fine. Wese bhi bed se zada comfortable tou ye sofa hai" she laughed. He chuckled.
"Theek hai, sleep. Agar sahi na laga, just go back in, hmm?" he spoke softly. She smiled & nodded. She was so grateful to this stranger, but he ddin't feel like one, did he? She could feel how he was making sure since the entire evening that she's ok. She felt a strange kind of comfort knowing that he too is here in this city with her & gave in to the sleep closing her eyes.
****
Sidharth woke up and checked his phone. It was 7;55 am. He was just stretching wanting to sleep in a bit more when he suddenly remembered. His eyes shot open. Sana. He quickly freshened up & went outside but the sight in front of him made his heart beat a little faster. She was sleeping like a baby. There was a small pout on her pink lips and she was holding a cushion tightly in her hands. Her face was pressed on the cushion beneath her, and her cheek was pushed up. She was looking like a literal baby. Sidharth couldn't move. She was in his house, sleeping so comfortably in his sofa & looking like an absolute baby who he just wanted to squish. He broke his chain of thoughts & decided to let her sleep some more. The rain had stopped & the weather was clear. He would drop her home as soon as she wakes up. He went in the kitchen to get some coffee for himself. It had been a few minutes when he heard her groggy voice. "Hi, Good Morning". He turned around to see her. Her face was swollen & hell she looked gorgeous. He smiled.
"Hey, right on time for some coffee" he said taking out another mug. He poured it & they sat down for the coffee. "Did you sleep alright?" he asked sipping his coffee. "Oh yes, mujhe tou koi hosh hi nahi thi, bas abhi ankh khuli. Coffee pi kar hum nikle?" she asked hesitantly. She was being such a bother for him she felt. He nodded.
They had just dropped outside her building. Sidharth too had come out of the car to see her off. Sana was standing there awkwardly, there was so much she wanted to thank him for yet she didn't know how. "Okay then, take care of yourself & rest well. If there's anything, absolutely anything you need, just gimme a call. Take my number. You should know Sana, you're not alone here. You can count on me for anything, alright? Don't think twice before reaching out. I'll be more than happy if you do, hmm?" he said. She just looked at him. This man was so kind. He had no reason to go out of his way to help her out and yet here he was. Sana nodded.
"Sachi, I don't know how to thank you or where to start from. Kal se apka poora Friday barbaad kar k rakh dia, apko itni takleef di but thank you so much for being there for me. I'm so grateful. Sachi, agar aap na hotay kal tou pata nahi mai kya karti. You made me feel so safe & so comfortable. Really, thank you so much Sidharth" she said straight from her heart & he could tell. He smiled & moved a step closer. He slowly tucked her hair in, she wasn't expecting that. She inhaled sharply as soon as his fingers touched her face. Before she got awkward, he spoke with so much care & genuineness. "Sana, please don't thank me again & again. Like I said yesterday, I'm so happy I could be there & I wouldn't be any place instead, so just relax okay?" She smiled back and nodded. She took his number & gave him a missed call. She was moving towards her building when she stopped & turned back. He was standing there. Leaning on his car with his arms folded across his chest. "Sidharth? I too am glad that it was you who was there yesterday" she said. He slowly took in what she just said & such a beautiful smile spread on his face, crinkling the corner of his eyes. He was gorgeous, she thought. She smiled back at him. This time it wasn't an awkward uncomfortable guilty smile. It was a comfortable genuine smile that she gave him. "I'll see you around then" he said moving towards the door. He got in after she went inside & left. The smile wasn't leaving his face. It was a good Friday after years.