Part10 

Khushi was blushing like hell, thinking about the incident which happened a few minutes ago. She couldn't understand herself. She was a girl who stays away from men usually. But today, she didn't feel awkward for being close to Arnav. He is a pure gentleman. He behaved so gently. She couldn't imagine her condition if someone would have been in his place. Not everyone behaves like Arnav. Arnav has gained a good impression of Khushi's heart. She was thinking about it the whole day.

At the same time, Arnav was also floating in the air. He was going towards the temple smiling and hoping. He didn't expect that their meeting would bring something fruitful. Is there any chance for Aman's words to be true? Is that dream is about their previous birth? He and Khushi are lovers in the previous birth? Even though he doesn't believe in REBIRTH it felt so blissful to be Khushi's lover. Yes... she was on his lap... he hugged her tightly... she fed him food... They played pakadam pakadai... An adorable smile decorated Arnav's face. He thought about how she had been hugging him in the pit. He wanted to hug himself. He crossed his hands across his chest smilingly. He was not completely in his sense to understand that he is behaving crazy.

Arnav got his sense only when the president of the village tapped his shoulder. Arnav saw himself near the Temple. The president was also confused seeing him near the forest.

"What are you doing here?" he questioned Arnav.

"I came to see this Temple"

"How do you know about this Temple?" He asked with confusion.

Before Arnav blathered anything,

"I told him about the temple"

Arnav turned around and saw NK standing.

"They are archeologists; I just want to know the age of the temple. So, I asked him to do research on it"

The president looked at him suspiciously.

"Don't you know about this temple?"

Seeing Arnav frown, he composed,

"I mean, this place is not safe. No one comes here"

"We had seen more dangerous places than this" Arnav said casually.

"Might be... but you are my responsibility until you stay here. I can't take a risk."

"I will be with them Ramji, don't worry." NK gave him assurance.

The president gestured to NK to come with him. NK knew what he is going to talk about.

"They shouldn't know about the young man. Don't say them about him."

"But why?"

"Why should they? It's about our village's pride"

"But we have not seen him ever?"

"So what? We have not seen him because he is not a normal human. If these guys get to know about him then they will do research on him. Then the young man will get angry and will curse our village"

"They won't believe it even though if I tell them the truth. They are from modern society. They make fun of this issue"

"You are right"

"But what if the young man himself appeared in front of them?"

"Are you kidding, Nanne? Youngman and appearing in front of them? I'm sixty years old. I have never got his glimpse yet... not only me... anyone from our village. If it is so, how could he appear in front of strangers?"

"I just asked..."

"Keep eye on them"

"Sure"

The president nodded yes and left. NK smiled inwardly. The president speaks so confidently. But he doesn't know that this stranger knows more than anyone in this village.

"Did you come here to meet the young man?" NK asked.

Arnav nodded yes.

"What the president said?"

"He doesn't want me to tell you about the young man"

He smiled.

"Ohh... interesting"

"Obviously"

"But why?"

"He is afraid of the young man's curse"

"Would he have cursed anyone?"

"No... but villagers think so"

"Oh..."

"What about your dream? Have not you got the dream again?"

"I got... but nothing new"

Arnav lied. NK smiled inwardly.

That's when NK got a call from his father.

"Hello Dad"

"Nanne, my friend is coming to our village. He needs a book for reference. Give it to him."

"What book Dad?"

"Indian freedom struggle, it's in my trunk"

"Ok dad"

"He would be reached our place, as of now. I gave him your number. He will call you"

"Ok Dad"

"How is the archeology work going?"

"Yeah, under process dad"

"That's great. Provide them necessary things"

"Sure dad"

"Goodbye"

"See you dad"

NK disconnected the call.

"I have to go to my home"

"Ok... you just carry on"

"No Arnav... the president wants me to keep eye on you. So, please don't go to the temple now. He may suspect us. You can go to the temple later. Now, please go back"

Arnav nodded yes and sighed.

"Ok..."

Arnav didn't want to put NK in trouble. He is the only helping hand in the village. Arnav doesn't want to spoil it. So he agreed to NK's request and went back.

NK came to his house. As his father told him, his friend was waiting for him to get the book.

"Hi, I'm Vinod. Your father's friend"

"Hello, sir. Please be seated. I will bring the book"

"Ok"

NK made him sit and went to the room. He brought the ladder and climbed on the loft. He pulled the trunk and brought out the book. An old photo slipped from the book which NK didn't notice.

He gave the book to Vinod and he thanked NK.

"It will help me for my Ph.D. studies. Thank you"

"It's our pleasure sir"

NK went to the room to bring the ladder out. That's when the photo got his attention. NK frowned seeing an old photo. He took it from the floor, bending down. His eyes widened, seeing the pic. He couldn't believe, what he is seeing as his true. Two men were in the photo, one is his grandfather and the other one is ARNAV. He squeezed his eyes and looked at the pic again. Arnav was in an old-style outfit. His hair was also being combed differently. But he is indeed Arnav.

Yeah... he had seen this photo long ago. His father showed him when he was small. That's why he felt Arnav familiar when he came to this village? But, how Arnav is with his grandfather? Does Arnav's father or his grandfather look-alike Arnav?

He removed his phone and dialed his father.

"Dad, I had handled the book to Mr. Vinod"

"That's fine"

"Dad... I saw a photo in which grandpa is with someone. Who is he?"

"Ohh, that one? He is my father's friend. I have told you once. I think you have forgotten"

"Grandpa's friend? What's his name?"

NK dumbfounded hearing his name.

"ARJUN"

To be continued...