Undying Love |✔

Chapter 50- Donkey's Hee-Haw

It would have been so much better to set back on the road in the morning. At least this afternoon sun wouldn't be glaring at us, like it wanted to suck all our energy. The whole trip seemed a sort of TV advertisement, where a straw was invisibly attached to our heads and the sun was absorbing all our stamina, leaving tired and sweat drenched souls behind.

The place was quiet, and only cuckoo birds filled the atmosphere with their distant sweet melody. At some places, not even a barren tree gave us its shade, and we had to force our way forward while bowing our heads, and squinting to look even at the ground.

Sam seemed exhausted. Even though we were descending the slope, I'd a sense that the rickety path was difficult for him.

The backpack I'd carried for here, now sounded like a burden in this scorching heat, and my legs often got stuck between the tiny pointed thorns. Those small little things seemed to trouble me more than the fear of people behind us. They were so stubborn, that when I tried to take them out of my socks, they stuck to my fingers and pinched my skin with their pointed hands.

"How much more?" I asked, forcing myself to look around and to speak even in a broken monologue.

"Just a few minutes more, Aditya. You seem exhausted." Aamir answered my question, looking at me amusedly.

"Are you not?" As if the sun was paying special attention only to me.

"Nah, I'm used to working in the field, remember?" He winked. But his soaked shirt told me a different story.

"Don't show off, you silly villager. It's so hot in here." I reiterated.

"Why, city boy? Love's way is not easy. You should have known that much." Sam- the old man, piped in as if he was a teenager, jogging the whole distance.

I glared at him as I couldn't say anything to that. Love's path was indeed difficult.

Rohini had been listening to the conversation, smiling silently, trudging forward slowly. Amit was at the front. His back was to us, but I had a sense he too was listening on our conversation.

"Keep up this pace, and we'll be here for a while." Aamir again taunted me. Looking at his smirk made me frown.

"Get lost. You villagers are so heartless." I defended, and a bout of laughter was to be heard from all the corners.

After that, it was a monotonous equal paced walk, and soon we arrived at the area we'd left four days ago. It was serene to look at the familiar place once again, and anticipation bubbled inside me by seeing the familiar surroundings. The highway was just on the other side, and thinking of that made me think of Delhi.

Ah, how long had it been? It sure sounded like ages since I'd been to the familiar place.

"I can't walk anymore. I'm just going to sit here for a while." I declared, huffing, and sat at the same big stone Aamir had occupied when we'd landed here for the first time.

"Such a weakling." Aamir again taunted. I flipped him the bird, and he shook his head while chuckling to himself.

I was finally under the shade of a tree. Although the leaves were burnt and the tree itself looked like it hadn't seen water in ages, I was reveling in the feel of a shade nonetheless. I sighed deeply, stretched my legs, rested my back against the tree trunk, and closed my eyes. It was so good to not feel the sun's burning heat on my back.

I heard sounds, and some shuffling. Aamir was talking about getting the jeep, and Sam was muttering how he wouldn't sit at the back. The old man had more tantrums than a girl.

Rohini chuckled at Aamir and Sam's quarrel; it made me smile despite my closed eyes. Amit's voice couldn't be heard, and I gathered he was silently shaking his head at those two.