Barmer, 1951

"Rajveeer waha chaliye, dekhiye kitni sundar chhudiya hai" She dragged him to bangle stall.

She wore green bangles and showed him how that was, he denied.. She then wore yellow bangles, he didn't liked them also.. She pouted. He then himself selected bangles for her and make her wear.

"Dekho... Laal rang tumhari kalayo pe kitna acha lag raha hai... " He said admiring her wrist.

"Haa bahot achi lag rahi hai... Chaliye, waha odhni mil rahi hai" She dragged him again, not before paying.

"Kitni sundar odhni hai, kitne rang hai... " Her eyes were glittering. She picked up blue colour odhni and drapped it on her shoulder "kaisi hai.. "

"Acchi hai, lekin" He picked up another odhni in red and placed it on her head "ye zyada khubsurat hai"

"Haa ye to sabse sundar hai... " She got excited.

"Bhai sa, isey bandh dijiye... " She told the shop vendor. "Chaliye.. Ab mojdi leni hai" She almost pulled him.

"Are araam se.. " He said getting disbalanced.

"Bhai sa wo wali mojdi dikhaiye dikhaye na... " She asked

"Nahi wo nhi, wo wali.. " Rajveer Intterup.

She wore them and looks at him "achi hai lekin firse laal?"

"Wo.. Mujhe laal rang pasand hai na" He smiled sheepishly.

"Ek baat bataye.... Laal rang hume bhi bahot pasand hai" She giggled and he too laughed with her.

"Chaliye, hume bahot tezz bahot bhuk lagi"

"Shukar hai tumhe bhuk lagi, warna mujhe to laga ki aaj tum mujhe ghuma ghuma ke hi bhuka maar dogi" He joked.

She scrunched her nose "very funny.. "

"Are wahh.. Tumhe to achi khasi english bolni aagayi.. " He said getting impressed.

"Piractice" She said proudly and he laughed at her wrong pronunciations. Meanwhile a group of 3-4 ladies were observing them from long time.

"Ye to Chauhaano ki bahu hai hai na... "

"Haa wahi nayi wali... "

"Ye ladka kaun hai iske sath"

"Arey iska pati hoga na... "

"Chal pagli ye to kunwar Abhimanyu ki patni hai, Or ye Rajveer hai, Rajasa ka bhatija".

" To ye apne pati ko chhod ke isske sath kya kar rahi hai...kitna hass bol rahi hai, mera pati mujhe aise dekhega to hath pair tod ke ghar se bahar nikal dega".

"Arey bhai bade log badi baate"

"Suna hai ki chauhano ki badi bahu ki goad nahi bhar rahi thi isiliye isko biha ke laye hai".

"Hmm... Lekin ab to iske biha ko bhi ek baras ho gaya... Ab tak koi khabar nahi ayi... "

"Lagta hai bechaare kunwar ke haatho ek baar fir khota sikka lag gaya hai.. "

"Kisey pata khota sikka hai kaun akhir" They all laughed.

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Some Days later...

They went to temple on Naina's instance as she wants to go with him only. "Naina tum jao.. Mein andar nhi aunga".

" Kyu bhala, itni dur aye.. Or devi maa ke darshan bhi nahi karenge"

"I don't believe in all this.. Or mere jaise nastik ke liye yaha koi jagah nahi hai" He said carelessly.

"Aap nastik hai? Hume nahi pata tha, lekin fir bhi chaliye na.. Pooja na sahi aise hi hamare sath ajayiye.. Hamara sath dene ke liye... " She asks innocently which he couldn't deny.

He is stepping inside any temple after years he stopped believing in God long before, she started doing her prayes, closing her eyes joining hands... He was admiring her, she was looking so pure, serene, calm, pious nothing seems more innocent than this... He went into other land, as if he is her devotee.

She completed all her prayers her heart skipped a beat when found him staring at her with affection, she never felt like this under his gaze, she lowered her eyes blushing,. . . She didn't find it awkwards Or uncomfortable rather she felt good as if it was meant to be like this, as if it was his right to watch her with such intensity.

She went near him and offers him prasad without saying anything, then remembers that he is an atheist, before she could withdraw her hand he forwards his without taking his eyes off from her face, making her stun, she smilingly gives him prasad, she felt happy that having no faith or believe in God he accepted prasad only because he didn't wanted to offend her or make her sad.

He rubbed his finger on her nose making her shiver and confuse, understanding her unsaid statement he shows her his finger.. It had sindoor on which he wiped from her nose, she thanked him through her eyes to that he smiled.

"Waise... Laal naak ke sath, bahot cute lagti ho" He teased her and she blushed, lowering her head.

"Chale?" He asks to which she just noded, feeling new emotions inside her.

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They entered inside the mahal, he saw some ladies going out looking at them wirdly but he ignored them.

walking beside each other silently, trying to analyse these new found alien like emotions they are feeling now days, they every night wait when will sunrise, so they can see each other, talk with each other, fight with each other, pull each others leg.. Never wants the day to end as the night comes they fears if they can meet again tomorrow or not. What if his duty calls him.. .

He was never worried about his call to join back his duty during holidays before, hell he never took holidays he hated them, for him his duty was his love and passion but now days he don't want to go back leaving her behind.. . He fears what if he will never see her again.. ? This trepidation is eating him up all night what if he has to go back and then never be able to return back to her? He dreads that day.

It was almost night. It was time for them to go back to their respective rooms but didn't had the heart to.. . They wanted to talk but there were no words Coming out from their lips to put in place.. . They stops in their track to together and faces each other. . Before one could say anything a servant comes there.

"Chote kunwarsa, apko Hukum ne bulwaya hai, apne kaksh me".

"Ata hun.. . " He said, and starts to leave but not before giving her his sugery smile to which she also replied back with a equally sweet smile.