Morning songs; she had heard them all these years but that morning, it was of chirping birds. She opened her eyes to a rinsed world. Everything around looked anew as if some dust had been taken off those enchanting views. On her lap, she felt a knot. Knot of their hands, he was sleep leaning on tree and their hands were still entwined.
He looked different. Not a single line of worry on his angelic face, he was sleeping like a carefree kid. His grip was firm even in his deepest slumber.
Their cloths were still drenched; Hers, at least. Woolen pile of cloths on her body was nothing but troubling. She moved a bit just to wake him up. He opened his eyes. Before she could say something, his hand traveled to her forehead.
Was she sick?
She felt alright.
Before she could open her lips to say something, he said, "you are indeed not that fragile."
Nandini smiled genuinely.
"You love to make remarks on me, don't you?" She asked.
"And you love to ask questions, don't you?" He counter questioned.
She grinned and got her hand out of his grip.
She got up and walked out of thick shed of trees to seek some sunshine.
As soon as rays of sun touched her flesh, a tremble escaped her body. She squeezed her arms near her stomach. Looking up at sky, she closed her eyes and a smile touched her lips.
"Take off your cloths," his voice brought her back.
"Huh," she asked.
"You'll get sick with those wet woolen cloths on," he cleared while walking next to her in sunshine.
She walked back to tree and took off her sweater. She was her overcoat hanging on one of branch. She smiled thinking how he must have put it there.
Getting rid of every woolen piece and her gumboots, she was only left on her frock which was almost dried now.
Bare feet, she walked next to him and he looked at her. This time, there was less of conflict in his eyes and more of something new.
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Camping near river, army was about to resume their search mission. They were walking along river as their guess was quite realistic that Manik and Nandini wouldn't wander in thick forest for long.
Back there at camp, Mrs. Murthy had talked to Mr. Murthy over phone. She was sitting quietly since she had that conversation.
He had told her about how Nandini got to know everything. She was dying to see her daughter but started to dread it as well after knowing actual reason of her escape.
"My baby, come back. I promise I would explain everything," she kissed her picture and put it back in diary.
Aryan on other hand had turned more distressed. He didn't care for Manik his entire life. He never liked his elder brother but he dying, this thought had never stood shamelessly in front of him either. He couldn't sleep entire night and now he was back to camp to know about new developments.
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Her frizzy long hair and golden skin, she looked like a dream to him. He kept looking at her while she gazed sky and then closed her eyes. Floral frock of hers, reaching her knees and he noticed she was bare feet. He hadn't seen something more pure before. For a moment, it sounded unfair how she had to put her feet in muddy ways. It looked wrong that she had to stand cold in nowhere. It sounded brutal that she was there standing next to him. His forehead had formed fine lines thinking all this when his eyes noticed her smile. It hadn't even ounce of fret in it. She looked calm and happy.
He smiled. He didn't even realize when his lips were caressed with a smile.
Then a sound drew their attention. She opened her eyes and looked at it. He tried to look at dense bushes to know the source of that noise.
"I think we should leave," he said.
He looked tensed. His eyes didn't meet hers but she could tell how his facial muscles had stiffened.
Nandini ran back to get her cloths.
"Take only those which you need," he said.
She took her overcoat and gumboots in hands. Manik saw her struggling with muddy ways. He strode towards her and before she could apprehend his intention, she was in his arms. He had picked her up and started to walk out of forest.
"You can put me down. I will manage," she said.
He looked at her intensely and said, "And you struggling with muddy ways would take us years to reach a safe place. I am sure you weren't much comfortable with walking bare feet in mud."
She looked down and he jerked her a bit to find a proper grip over her body. She in turn encircled his neck tightly with her arms.
Walking for minutes, she could feel his tired breaths and tightened muscles.
"How do you know these paths so well?" She asked.
He didn't answer but kept walking fast.
"I mean, knowing this forest is almost impossible. But you do," she added.
He spared a look at her and then looked ahead again.
"You can actually put me down if you are feeling tired," she said, "and.... "
"Can't you keep quiet?" He yelled.
She was taken aback. She didn't expect to see this side of him again, especially after last night.
"I was saying that my gumboots would be dried by now and I can walk," she completed in low tone.
He took a deep breath and kept her down on a rock. He stood beside keeping his hands on waist. She quietly wore her gumboots and stepped down.
"Walk me back to camp, please," she said.
He looked at her all amused but then that glimpse didn't stay for long. He wore his stern face again.
"I was about to say same thing. You should go home," he replied.
He jumped off rock and started walking.
She kept standing there, unable to move. She felt a sadness taking over, an unknown sadness.
Didn't she want to go back?
She did.
Then what didn't go well?
That he said he wished that she should go. Maybe.
No, it can't be.
She brushed off the thought and followed him.
They cane out of dense forest and then stood at a cliff. There was a vast valley in front of them.
"Just down this valley and we would be at river," he pointed.
"From there I can walk back to camp. Alone," she said.
He looked back at her.
Did he look annoyed?
No, he just looked plain stern as always.
Then why there was a turbulence in his eyes?
Must be about something she has nothing to do with.
She jerked the thoughts away and sat down. She was feeling down and tired.
"Can we rest for few minutes?" She asked.
He nodded and walked to edge of cliff.
She had a tornado of questions inside. She had a lot of unattended queries. Sun felt scorching even if she was in mere frock, she was feeling congested. Her body had started to ache and she felt restlessness building.
Thought that she would return and he may never be seen again, it haunted her.
"What do you mean last night?" She asked wiping tiny sweat drops off her forehead.
He turned around and looked at her keenly.
From edgy stare to worried face, transition was noticeable as he walked towards her.
"Are you alright?" He asked seeing her sweaty and pale.
"I am fine," she replied struggling to avoid everything else.
"What did you mean by I help you every time you see me?" She again asked while undoing knot of bandanna in her neck.
He unconsciously walked towards her and touched her forehead.
"You aren't fine," he murmured.
"I am fine I said," she tried to keep herself composed.
She was feeling drowsy and she didn't want this to take over her. She needed answers.
"Answer me, God damn it," she almost yelled when he was checking her pulse.
He fidgeted at her outburst. She had started to cry a bit and he was sure she wasn't feeling fine. Her pulse was fast and she had slight fever.
"You need doctor," he mumbled and tried to lift her up when she pushed him.
Before she could register her restlessness, she stood up and walked to him.
Holding hem of his vest, she pulled him closer.
"Tell me, what did you mean?" She asked in fierce yet weak tone.
He could feel her trembling.
"Nandini, listen to me," he said softly while putting her tresses behind her ears. She was sweating profoundly till then.
"It's not important right now. You need help. Let me take you to camp," saying this he tried to pick her up.
But she almost pushed him again crying a bit. Fever was taking over her senses. She was restless, anxious and irritated.
"Listen," she grabbed him again, "it is important. You know... "
She was hardly able to open her eyes and stand on her own. She had put her weight on him as he supported her holding her waist.
"You know... I may never see you again. What if they catch you and harm you? What if you never return?" She said while he made her head rest on his chest.
He was patting her back to calm her down while she kept blabbering.
"Rest. Just rest. Everything would be fine," he hushed her while she was losing her conscious with every second.
"No, I don't wanna rest," saying this she tried to part but failed miserably as her knees refused to take her weight. He held her tightly while she encircled her arms around his neck to hold on.
"What if I close eyes and I never see you again? What if you are gone when I open my eyes?" she asked in weak voice.
"Shhhhhh! Nothing like that will happen. We would talk about whatever you want to," he affirmed while she hid her face in his chest.
"Promise?" She asked.
He took a long breath and answered, "Promise. I promise I won't be gone when you would open your eyes."
He tightened his grip looking at sky.
She didn't say a word after that.
"Nandini"
He called out but she didn't reply. Her burning flesh was telling her fever had shot up. He tried to part their bodies. As soon as he moved her a little, She was almost on ground. He caught her tighter before her knees could touch ground. She was unconscious.
He picked her up and started to run down the valley.
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A warm touch on her head, she struggled to open her eyes. Something warm wrapped around her body, she moved a bit. She opened her eyes to mild light. Tent roof in front of her eyes and she tried to recognize where she was.
Realization didn't take long to strike and she tried to get up with a jerk when a hand stopped her from moving.
"Nandini"
Her mother sitting beside her all worried. She was teary eyed and before Nandini could register anything further. She was wrapped in a hug. Her mother clutched her in arms.
She let her weep while she realized she was back at camp. She was lying in medical tent. A few medicines on side table and very hygienic decor, she patted her mother to stop her from crying.
"I am fine, Mother," she said.
"You scared me, Nandini," she told sobbing, "Doctor said there's no vaccine and medicines for malaria here in camp. I thought I had lost you."
"Malaria?" Nandini mumbled.
She remembered how she had collapsed in Manik's arms.
"Manik"
"Where's Manik?" She asked quickly.
Her mother's face filled with unknown cold as she heard his name.
"Mother, where is Manik? He brought me back? Where is he?" She asked again.
Her mother let go of Nandini's hands and stood up.
"You need to rest. I am sending in doctors," she said and started to walk away.
"What did you people do to him? Where is he?" Nandini yelled as her mother walked out of tent.
"Where is he?" She mumbled to herself, "if he had walked here in camp, that means.... "
"No...no," saying this she tried to get out of bed when a few doctors and nurses entered the tent.
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It was dark outside. A dreading silence was almost making it even more pathetic. She couldn't come out as they injected her with tranquilizer. Her agitating cries got lost in dead dark as well after a few minutes.
Where was he?
She closed her eyes with last thought on her mind.
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