Character Aesthetic : Tara

i.

P O L L U X » the sweetest

"And why would the Brits call Shimla the winter capital of India? They probably never visited Dehradun." My brother states begrudgingly, rubbing his palms together to generate heat. He then places them on Aarav's cheeks to keep them warm.

True though, the winters in Dehradun have always been bone-chilling. The air here is like a frozen lace on my skin, delicate and cold. The snow falling seems like the beads getting entangled in that lace.

I have always hated winter because there is no enjoyment - it wasn't fun like the gentle sunshine of spring time or the serene smell of after-rain.

In fact, winters weren't pleasant at all.

"It's too cold here, I think we should come back tomorrow." I say, turning on my heels to go back to our hotel. The heater in the room was alluring.

I hear Aarav giggling as he loops his tiny hands around mine to stop me. "Chachu, we came her for absling, and I want to do absling." he hushes out quickly, inhaling a sharp breath.

I laugh at how confidently Aarav spells out abseiling as absling.

"Don't laugh at me. I know you're scared of heights and that's why you're in such a hurry to rush back to hotel." Aarav shoots back almost immediately, a pout covering his lips.

"I am not scared of heights." I mutter, rolling my eyes at him. Truth to be told, I was terrified of heights.

"We will see that." Vikas grins. He knew about my fears more than anyone else. Although, I've always been a mamma's boy, I was never comfortable talking to my mom about certain things which could trouble her So, I always used to end up in Vikas's room with my sob stories and he would hear them out without complaining. "But right now, we are not going back to hotel room. Aarav's winter break ends in two days, and I want him to enjoy each and every second of this trip." his voice startles me back from my thoughts.

"Okay." I agree with a grimace, while Aarav gives me a victory grin. Still grinning, he jumps out of his father's arms and runs away towards the rappelling point.

Vikas and I share a glance before running behind him. My mom always used to say that when God was teaching that kids aren't supposed to be naughty in his mom's womb, Aarav was probably in the meadows, running behind the butterflies in an attempt to catch them - because Aarav was one of the naughtiest kids on the face of this entire universe.

An amused smile graces my lips when I see Aarav arguing with the manager of the place.

"But why can't I go out for absling? I am the tallest guy in my class, and I am not scared of heights." he huffs, puffing his cheeks in anger as he looks into the eyes of the manager.

The manager crouches on his knees to reach his height. "I am sorry, bacha. But abseiling is only for adults - age limit is eighteen." the manager deals with him patiently.

"Okay, I may not be eighteen, but I am one plus eight that is equal to nine. So, I can go for absling. Thank you so much." Aarav replies back dismissively, then tries to snatch the number card from him. The manager's eyebrows raise until his forehead is creased - two precise lines deepened through his skin as he tries to dodge Aarav.

I glance over at Vikas bhai, and see him shaking his head at the scene his son was creating. He tries his best to stifle his laughs but anyway ends up with a helpless splutter of laughter. "And Chetna says that Aarav is the most graceful and innocent kid of all times. Ah." he sighs, catching a breath in between his laughs.

"I'll just cut the crap before Aarav creates a scene." I tell him with an exhausted sigh, to which he silently nods. In no way, Aarav was going to let me enjoy this small break I was granted by BCCI. I had so many plans about this vacation - which included buying a house from investment prospect here, and also traveling the valleys and hills all around. But I should've known that if Aarav was gonna come with me - it will end up with me babysitting my little nephew instead of enjoying this break.

With a small sigh, I run in the direction of the counter. I lean to Aarav's side, and scoop him in my arms. "What happened champ?" I ask him, and then look at the manager apologetically. "Why are you fighting with people?"

Aarav's mouth parts open as he frowns. He lifts his hand, and presses it against his dry cheek, shaking his head and getting all crumpled up like he was close to crying. "Chachu, he is saying I am not old enough to go for absling. Please tell him that I am the eldest and the most mature guy in our family." he sniffles, rubbing his eyes.

"I didn't know he is with you, Sir. I am a huge fan of yours, but your nephew can't go for abseiling. He's a kid for God's sake." The manager replies with a gulp as though he was intimidated by my presence.

I just smile at him empathetically, before looking at Aarav. "Abseiling is dangerous for you, champ. First grow up, get your height and muscles like your chachu, and then we will come back here again, okay?" I try my very best to make him understand.

Aarav shakes his head defiantly and says, "It's my winter holiday Chachu! I really want to go for absling."

I resonate my voice to a little stern one in my throat, "Please be a good boy, and listen to what your chachu says - "

" - no chachu. You promised me that I will get to do whatever I want during this trip, and you can't break that promise." Aarav says, rolling his eyes at me, his lower face screwed up in disdain.

When I was about to open my mouth for another argument, I hear someone's footsteps approaching us. "Hey cutipie." The voice.

I look past Aarav to see the most beautiful girl I've ever seen in my life. A grey woollen jacket, a pair of faded blue jeans and a red muffler have never looked so beautiful on a girl before. The girl waltzes on Aarav's side with an effortless saunter.

"What happened? Why are you crying cutie?" she asks him, crouching on her knees to reach his eye-level.

Aarav looks at her with his puffy, red eyes, and then starts crying again. "Didi, they're not letting me go for absling."

Confusion is visible on her face as she tries to understand what he means. Upon realization what Aarav actually meant, a smile spreads across the soft cushion of her lips.

"You want to go for abseiling?" she asks, her lower face screwed up in hilarity and grimace. Aarav nods silently, without uttering a single word. "You know, for abseiling people have to go to a lower level but you're a big boy, right?" he nods again, and she ruffles his hair lovingly. "So, why do you want to go a level down? We should always try to move a level up, just like we try while playing video games, right?"

"You're right, didi. I don't want to go for absling now." Aarav makes an unamused face and scans the place. "I will go to that rock climbing section and climb a level up." he beams, pointing towards the playground where a small rock climbing stage has been set up along with ropes and nets for kids. The girl nods in response, and kisses him on the cheek before Aarav runs towards the playground.

Blowing out a sigh of relief, I look at her feeling profoundly thankful. "I owe you a lot, thank you so much. Aarav can be a little too demanding at times." I chuckle, shaking my head in amusement.

"Kids will be kids. Sometimes you just have to deal with them with patience." she smiles while I agree quietly. Damn, her eyes light up in a way that it makes me feel that God had gifted her all the stars in the sky. She is so fucking gorgeous -

I shake my head to drive away the thoughts. Don't forget, Virat... girls are a waste of time. I remind myself.

"Sir, do you want to go for abseiling?" The manager asks me, snapping me out of thoughts.

I shuffle back a little, uncomfortable with the question. "No, thanks." I breathe out, twiddling my thumbs in nervousness.

The girl's laughter breaks my trance as her hot breath tickles the nape of my neck inviting all sorts of uninvited feelings to my body. "Please don't tell me that the Virat Kohli who smashes the most dangerous bowlers of this world for massive sixes is scared of heights." her lips quirk disbelievingly as her eyes flick mine, looking for an answer.

I turn around, and squint my eyes at her before I say, "I seriously thought you didn't recognize me."

"Of course I did. Not recognizing you is kind of illegal in India." she chimes in, arching a brow at me, then laughs, "Don't change the topic, are you really acrophobic?"

I shrug cheekily with a light nod. "Yeah, but don't make fun of me." The warning laced in my voice is subtle as it creeps down to a whisper.

"Why would I make fun of you for being acrophobic when I am also terrified of heights." she euphemises, making me startle.

"And you're still going for abseiling. Are you mad?" My eyes widen imperceptibly as I ask her.

She laughs again, "No, I am Tara. Tara Dobriyal."

I cannot deny that I am in fact fascinated by her name. Tara meant star in Sanskrit, and I was a man who is scared of the light, metaphorically speaking. We could make a pair of star-crossed lovers if it were to happen. "Okay, Miss. Tara Dobriyal. Why do you want to go for abseiling when you're scared of heights?" I ask, scepticism clear in my voice.

"Because I want to conquer all my fears." she replies, parting her lips as she sighs. My eyes wander to hers as I'm absolutely appalled by her thoughts.

"But abseiling cannot be the cure to your acrophobia. Are you insane, Tara?"

"Maybe because I believe in smiling through my fears, through my tears and everything that is rolled in my life. And we should do one thing that scares us - every single day, and that's exactly what I am doing." she says, flipping her hair. I give her the I surrender look, feeling my nerves getting on fire. "Correction; we are doing."

Tara shoves the triumphant feeling in her body in my face which leaves me perplexed.

I am unaware of her intentions. That is until she takes two cards for abseiling. Before I can respond, she grabs my wrist like we've been friends for a ridiculously long amount of time, and tugs me along.

Oh Virat, you're so dead today.