Durga | ✓

13. Strange Dreams And Bluffing

Somehow, the image of Rudra slipped out of her mind.

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The bus was in their point of perspective. It came slowly on the road filled with potholes. Durga, Rudra and Ramaiah stood at the bus stop, waiting for the bus, patiently. Patience was not applicable to Ramaiah as he had made up his mind to report the condition of road to the government officials. Rudra warned him that officials will take their own sweet time to respond. Ramaiah, didn't heed to their advice.

Durga had refused to let Rudra or Ramaiah to hold her bag. Ramaiah thought she was very possessive. But Rudra saw that come what may, Durga won't let anyone help her.

The bus finally came and they sat on the front seats. The first two front seats were arranged opposite to each other. Rest of the seats were arranged in usual manner.

They let Durga take a window seat. Then what followed left Durga amused. Rudra and Ramaiah had a verbal fight for the other window seat.

" Listen Rudra, I have booked the tickets, so I will sit there."

" Of course not. You hadn't booked the return tickets."

" So? To err is human."

" But you don't even seem to learn from your mistakes."

Durga got up, irritated. " Please, you both take window seats. I will sit here." pointed Durga towards the next seat beside the window seat.

Rudra said, " No Durga. Please sit there. I will deal with him."

Durga sighed and sat.

Rudra decided to use his trick. Pointing towards the opposite seat window, Rudra screamed, " Lord Shiva! Aishwarya Rai!"

" What?" asked Ramaiah and peeped through the window. Rudra grinned and sat on the window seat.

Ramaiah understood his trick. Grumpily, he sat beside Rudra.

I will take my revenge Rudra. Before we reach Kudremukh.

After half an hour, the bus started moving. It started showering. Durga had never felt rains can actually be refreshing. She saw the rain drops washing away the dirt settled on the plants and trees. She felt Mother Nature was encouraging her to start her life once again.

She didn't realise that she started singing.

Barso Re, Megha Megha Barso Re
Megha Megha Barso Re, Megha Barso... (2)
Meethaa Hai, Kosaa Hai, Baarish Ka Bosa Hai
Kosa Hai, Kosa Hai, Baarishon Ka Bosa Hai... (2)
Jal Jal Jal Jal Jal Jal Jal Thal Jal Thal
Chal Chal Chal Chal Chal Chal Chal Chal
Chal Chal Behta Chal

Naa Re Naa Re, Naa Re Naa Re...
Naa Re Naa Re, Nana Na Re Na Re... (4)

" Wow Durga, your voice is melodious. Why don't try your career in singing. With Vijay Prakash?" chuckled Rudra, trying to pull her leg.

Durga laughed and said, " You think I chose wrong profession?"

" No I don't think so. It was just a suggestion."

" Do you like listening to songs?" asked Durga.

Here is my chance to impress her.

" I like listening to songs but I was busy with art."

" What? You are an artist?"

" Not an artist, but I like to draw. Sometimes to kill time."

" Then who are your favourite artists?" asked Durga as excited as a child.

" I like Da Vinci, Picasso..."

" Wow! That's great." gleamed her eyes expressing the excitement.

" Yes but I like reading books more than that."

Durga looked at him with awe. " You even read books. Tell me your favourite authors."

" Dan Brown, Leo Tolstoy, Paulo Coelho, Shakespeare, Mark Twain,..."

Durga was looking at him with admiration. Everything was perfect until Rudra felt a sharp nudge on his waist. He found Ramaiah looking at him with narrow eyes.

"... Charles Dicken,..."

Face muscles of Rudra's face twitched as he felt another sharp sensation. He found Ramaiah looking at him with even narrower eyes. Durga thought that he was trying to remember the names of author so she patiently waited.

" ... Amish Tripathi, Jhumpha Lahiri, ..."

Another sharp nudge and Rudra gave up.

"... Sudha Murthy."

Rudra looked at Ramaiah. Ramaiah smirked.

" Ramaiah did you hear? Rudra Sir has read so many books." said Durga, looking at Rudra with eyes full of admiration. As the number of authors increased, her admiration for him increased with few notches.

" Yes Durga. I heard it. Can you tell me the list once again?" asked Ramaiah. Durga, now looking at Ramaiah nodded. Rudra scratched back of his neck and then slowly palmed his face. Durga was oblivious of Rudra's reaction, started telling the list.

" Dan Brown... Paulo Coelho... Shakespeare... M-Mark Twain... Amish Tripathi, Sudha Murthy."

Ramaiah and Durga heard a light snore. They looked at Rudra, leaning against the metal wall of bud, sleeping peacefully. Durga felt bad that he slept without listening to her. Ramaiah must have sensed it.

He tried consoling her by saying, "Maybe he was bored by his own list."

Durga looked at him confused. She couldn't understand what Ramaiah wanted to imply. She turned her gaze towards the window. Lost in the cool mud smelling breeze, she went into her world of fantasy.

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The song in this chapter is 'Barso Re' from the film 'Guru'.

The scene after Durga sings the song, is borrowed from the Tamil movie, 'Thaandavam'.

Thank you for reading.