𝘊𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘥𝘪𝘨𝘢𝘳𝘩, 2017
𝘗𝘳𝘪𝘵𝘪𝘬𝘢

The methodical bedtimes were no more normal, the regular days were no more conventional, the earlier life had disrobed amazingly and a new covering had been wrapped across; it all felt excessively uncanny to have my dogma in it. I had everything in my life ─ caring parents, supporting brother and sister-in-law, dainty niece to spend my days with, and adorable kids to train, with a well-paying job for self-independence. But amidst all this, one thing was missing─ a lover. About whom I had never given a second thought as I had presumed that it was a chronic disease in which I hadn't wanted to taint myself.

But, alas!

I was drowned in the very ocean of the waves of love which was yielding tsunamis every day like a routine inside the four-chambered love symbol nom de guerre as ─ the heart.

I tossed and turned and gazed at the ceiling which no more fatigued me. It was three in the night and I was still not able to close my eyelids to welcome the sleep from the fairyland as if I was forbidden from getting any siesta from the past few months. Divyaant was already snoring as I could hear the lub-dub sound of his heartbeat on the speaker.

He'd have again kept his phone on his heart and dozed off, I grimaced and sighed heavily.

A few minutes ago we were talking on the phone but then prostration and stress took a toll on Divyaant and he languished without even bidding me a proper good night wish and kiss, huh, I fulminated and closed my eyes in a little disappointment. From the past several days, his schedule had been tumultuous with loads of volumes of books to analyse for, after his professional hours, and then giving time to me for which I always used to anticipate. I know I shouldn't act like a grouchy kid, but I truly missed him a lot these days.

It wouldn't be even fifteen minutes or so and he'd be already wheezing. That's how it was going.

Our chat time was minimal,

Our call time too declined,

Our quality time too was subdued a lot.

And all these things were making me yearn for him more and more. We hadn't even met from the past four weeks at least. Video calls weren't even communicated between us as his smartphone's camera wasn't functioning properly as per by him and the new phone was out of context as he didn't have the time to buy it. But I know the reason better, he was a 100% desi Baniya. He wouldn't leave this phone till it dies on its own as it was just a year old device, wasn't it? He would operate it for at least ten years, won't he?

I chuckled at my lame joke and opened my eyes to take in the black and white view of my room as the lights were switched off. Silhouette of my table and chair could be seen. I could still hear the lub-dub of his heart, it was the most pleasing and comforting melody for my ears to hear his rhythms.

Even I couldn't believe that I was in love with the same man whom I had─ made fun of, called hippo gazillion of times, pranked against, and fought against at the silliest of things.

I could still reminisce the day when that hippo took me for an unplanned and unexpected tour for which I had to lie to my family.

It happened around four full moons and new moons back.

~

The day was a pleasant excursion day and I was engaged in indoctrinating Mathematics to my students when I heard someone calling me. "Pritika madam, someone is calling for you outside the school premises," it was Mr Tyagi, our experienced peon who informed me diligently when I got outside the classroom. I was confused haphazardly as I couldn't pinpoint who could it be. Veerji or Daddy? Giving a brief nod to Mr Tyagi, I went inside the classroom and gave some sums as homework to the kids and the bell consecutively rang.

My classes were over for today, I sighed and after putting my duster, chalk, markers, and projector's remote inside my locker, I went outside the school and saw a very familiar car which was parked at the farthest point from the school's main gate.

Divyaant?

What was he doing here; having this thought in my mind, I trudged towards him in a more accelerated pace with unknown merriment doing somersaults inside me and butterflies too was doing tummy-diving inside my duodena. After the mall episode, we hadn't coincided and today we were subsequently meeting and that too like this.

"Hey," he was already outside his deluxe car and greeted me mirthfully; dressed in a black polo t-shirt matched up with beige pants. For the first time, I saw him in legitimate clothes unlike his usual Vakil threads and it'd be extremely depthless of me if I won't sing phrases of praises for him.

Azeem-o-shaan gainde
Azeem-o-shaan gainde
Furwa rawa hamesha, hamesha salamat rahe

Before I could've checked him out openly, he made a sound of tsk-tsk and it got me back from the reminisce of the song from Jodha Akbar movie. What do I do now, I pondered puzzledly and gave him Why-did-you-call-me-here look. "I was thinking why don't we go for a long drive? You and me, me and you?" I knew this man was a little crazy but wasn't knowledgeable that he was a certified lunatic too.

Who would call someone out like this at this working hour in the middle of a day and that too for a date?

"Are you crazy or your upper compartment is abandoned?" without beating around the bush, I let out my words, folding my hands across my chest. "Why? What did I do this time? Last time we met, you were so desperate for a date and when I am supplicating for one, you are downright calling me a frenetic," he denounced like a kid and imitated my posture, folding his hands across his chest.

A P E

I groused under my breath and swirled my eyes at his puerile antics.

"Bhalai ka to zamana hi nahi hai. The world surely is evil to good ones." I knew what he was pointing at with a pout posing on his lips.

I never knew this was the same hippo-like Divyaant who could behave like this too.

Like a cute, cranky kid just for a date?

Had he hit his head somewhere?

Why was he being the exact specimen of a man whom I was liking now?

Why?

Pressing my lips to suppress the grin that was trying extremely strenuous to exhibit, I questioned him, "What bhalai would your date do to me? Tell me?". I lounged against the sunbonnet and stared at him with tantalisation already on the brim of my amusement. "Bhalai? Of course, it'd do bhalai for us. I mean, Do Dil mil rahein hain, and stuff like that. Won't it make two people get to know each other who could later fall in love with each other?" he said scratching his head, looking a little nervous.

He was having lice inside his hair, why was he scratching like that?

Panic filled inside my fortitude and I moved a fraction away from him but ensured he wasn't aware of it. I hated lice, once they had made their home inside my long tresses and I wasn't able to get rid of them for one complete week and the whole week was spent in either scratching my head or pulling my hair in utter defeat and resentment.

From then on, I maintained the distance of my summit from any person, no risks were taken.

Back to earth, my memoir reminder hinted me and I was back to present.

Chewing my inner cheeks out of utter jubilation and amusement, I asked, "Are you hitting on me, Mr Jain?" I challenged him in a whimsical tone, I too wanted to authenticate that ─ was he really interested in me or doing all this for time pass!

"Well, you can say that Miss Kaur," he affirmed nodding his head with a frolic smile dancing on his lips. "Can I know the purpose of this suddenly changed behaviour of yours towards me?" whatever he had said was giving me a hard time to control the enchanting smile that wanted to come in front and flash like tube light, making me feel all giddy and jittery. "For that, you've to come with me, would you do the honour?" professionalism oozes off him, I rolled my eyes noticing his etiquettes ─ how gingerly he opened the car door for me as if it was made of glass.

"Hey, you had said something about kidnapping me? Are you here for that purpose? I will not come with you, NO WAY," proclaiming this, I was just going to dash away when he yanked me back and I landed straight in his embrace, too imminent to him for the first time of all our eccentric encounters.

The time-space halted.

The wind too didn't hasten past us.

The clouds covered the sweltering sun.

When he looked at me it was as if every ounce of breath was taken from my lungs floating into the air like midnight smoke. If not for his hold on my arms, I would've surely fallen on the ground as it was as if my legs were turned into jelly.

This feeling was so newfangled; it tightened throughout my whole body. It was baffling, yet it made me feel complete. It had no bound nor length nor depth; it was just absolute. It felt as though I was in a dangerous fire, yet I was completely safe at the same time. It felt as though someone had given me peace. It felt as though my heart was dancing around my chest; and a hole, I was never aware was there, had been filled. I felt so light like I was on top of the world yet my heart was constricting and it felt as if there was no oxygen in my lungs.

Was it my hidden feelings voicing out loud?

What were all these things which I was feeling right now?

One time I felt I was burning and at another, I felt as though I had been on a glacial mountain.

"So, yes or no?" the sudden question brought me back from the sky-diving solicitudes of mine.

"I have school," moving out of his arms abruptly and awkwardly, I choked out and looked anywhere but him. This person was a baba for sure, how could his single hold make me feel such supernal things which I had never felt. He'd have surely gained all these mystic endowments after consecrating thirty years on the Himalayas, didn't he?

His optics had felt as if it'd just make me swamp in it for perpetuity, I couldn't precisely point out what all these ventures meant that I had no experience of. "You can take a leave!" scratch the etiquettes, this person was now directing me, constraining me to say yes for his date or baby-snatching, who knows. "Why should I?" I redirected back in a little irked tone, not liking the way he was commanding me.

"I played the role of your fake fiance and even tolerated your prick and punch. Can't you do this much for me?" putting a hurtful visage, he let out his words and started retracting back to his car. "Okay, just for that sake. I will apply for a half-day leave then," I was ready to go from the starting only, but tip number one for the girls of any dating website is to give a little hard time to the guy; I just complied to that.

After doing the formalities and telling a blatant lie of a day out with my self-made best friend to Simran Pabhi, I was finally inside the posh car of Mr Hippo that I had also admired a few days back. Call it my intuition or the aura, not even for once did I felt that I was out of space; it felt home ─ a beautiful, heartwarming home.

"Your car is nice," I complimented the car, fastening my seat-belt which he reminded me the moment I set my buttock on his opulent car seat. "You want me to put the radio ON or should I connect my device?" like a perfect gentleman, Divyaant asked after igniting the engine.

"Your vocal cords would do," I vocalised out boldly giving him a pleasing smile. "What?" he was open-mouthed was just an oversimplification. "Your vocal cords work, right? So, sing a song for me? What's the big deal? It's a date proposed by you, so, I am the chief guest and you're my host. So?" I know I functioned as a lawyer and not him after judging my negotiation skills, but I really craved to listen to his singing voice.

"Okay, which song?" I just observed we had passed the two roundabouts and he was driving at affluence even with one hand as the other one was cached on the window sill. "Any song which you'd like to dedicate to me?" I know I might be sounding too cheesy but the exaltation inside me was making me do things I'd not have in a sober state.

With him, I always behave differently.

Like an intoxicated and sozzled boozehound, a part of my brain mocked me and I internally rolled my eyes.

"Umm...let me think," he made a solemn face and started meditating, furthermore I was hitherto getting pretty excited and inquisitive to know about the first song he'd be dedicating to me as if I was a teenager.

"Jarurat hai, jarurat hai, jarurat hai,

Ek Shrimati ki, kalavati ki,

Raksha kare jo pati ki......"

What?

What did he just sing?

A blush charred through my cheeks and for a minute I thought my face was on the hearth. I suddenly felt awkward, demure, and coy; even going as far as attempting to hide my roseate highlights behind my slim fingers because I could see how he was piercing through me from the ridge of his eyes including a simper on his face to make me extra conscious of my ticklishness.

I turned my head to the side to avert my gaze, I didn't want him to see the blush and the coy smile which was too obstinate for me to circumscribe from appearing on my lips.

I should've reprimanded him, but I didn't.

I should've stopped him, but I didn't.

I was at a loss of words ─ I couldn't even squeak, I suddenly had become a Dumb Charades performer who was pretending like a newly espoused bride, reddening as if she was questioned about the first night.

"Liked it? Should I continue?" the effrontery of this man, I promptly altered my head towards him and fired him a glare. "I hated it," lying wasn't my thing but why should I be giving him another wheel to ride on his Lala land of arrogance and self-importance? "But your expressions were telling a whole different story," he stated and blush again crept through my cheeks; not of shyness but of an embarrassment of lying.

"Can we change the topic? Let's play Antakshari," I knew wherever he was taking me to, it'd be far away and to pass the time with him and also to escape from my blushes and smiles, I needed to do something and what would be better than playing Antakshari ─ the favourite game of every 90's Indian kids.

After transpiring through the road which was as straight as dried spaghetti, I could finally notice where we were headed to. It took seconds for my eyes to travel its length across the prairie until it melted into the blue-grey horizon in the far distance ─ the road towards Kasauli, a Shangri-la established among the statuesque flora and fauna of the lower Himalayan ranges.

"How do you know about my love for hills?" I know it'd be seeming by my eloquence as if I had won 5 crores in KBC but I was completely spellbound by the graceful gesture of this man who knew things about me which I hadn't even shared with him. "Wow, you loved it? I had just guessed that you might be loving hills as even I too get lost in its captivity," he brightened gleefully and I gave him a gratitude wala smile.

He was not arrogant, scratch that

After that, we went on again, and now the road struck westwards and left the river, and the great shoulder of the south-pointing mountain-spur drew ever nearer. At length, we reached the hill path. It scrambled steeply up, and we plodded slowly one behind the other, till at last in the early afternoon we came to the top of the ridge and saw the wintry sun glowing charmingly among the lush green mountains and peaks.

It was artistic.

It was enchanting.

We subsequently were far away from the artificial beauty of city life and now were scenting the cool and serene air of nature where everything seemed ethereal.

"Let's go," Divyaant poked me as I was diligent in taking in all the splendour of the sumptuous nature. We trudged towards a pathway I had no idea about, side-by-side, hearing the sounds of crickets, insects and chirping of the birds. I was in a daze already, hills were love and I was a crazy lover of it.

The more we hiked, the more awestruck I grew as I hadn't witnessed this exquisite side of Kasauli ever. The untouched, unexplored divine part of a paradise where Divyaant was taking me to.

And we subsequently reached to the place which was hidden so splendidly inside the woods and greens of Kasauli.

As we reached the summit, I caught my breath. The beauty and the thinness of the air overtook my senses. I knelt down in the greenery looking out to the world below. The view from the peak of a mountain is very different from being in an aeroplane. We were at the top? I hadn't realised that yet. I could see the adjoining hills, I could see the small houses, I could see the steep-farming, the fields, the snowy mountains, the green-blanketed one too, and I felt an extreme flood of rhapsodies inside me.

The sense of awe I had was enhanced. The world seemed more real. A smile came to my face as I remembered my childhood. How I used to nag my parents to make a house on hills as I always had a fascination towards them. The domain where we were standing was a utopia with assorted types of flora and fauna swaying in the lap of nature.

I could see transcendent birds I hadn't caught sight of ever.

I could see and inhale the intoxicating smell of the perennials I hadn't witnessed before.

"So, you liked this?" Divyaant asked drawing me back from the chain of thoughts that I was making inside my head. "I loved this, thank you so much for this," giving him a full-grown thankfulness-filled smile, I again turned towards the majestic mountains and started enjoying bathing in the shower of the empyreal excellence of nature.

This was the authentic beauty, this was the paradise I had always desired to savour.

Before I could've touched the perianths of a pastel purple Hydrangea, I heard the throat-clearing vibration of Divyaant. I turned towards him and saw him on his knees. My eyes popped and my mouth opened.

He was on his knees with a ring? I looked at him completely dumbfounded and then at the ring.

The ring was not a golden, platinum, silver, local market or anything like that.

It was a hand-carved, flowery ring that he had very zealously made for me?

He already won my heart but I think he had a lot of wonders in store to offer to me today.

I suddenly felt too prosperous.

"I really like you, Pritika. I don't know how, when, where; but I had started to like you a lot. It feels as if I wouldn't be able to live without you. I want to gaze at you all day long. I am not a pro in this and I know I have forgotten everything that I have prepared to say to you. But still," he paused and I was shocked, mantled, reddened, anticipated, enthralled, amazed, dumbfounded and whatnot. I couldn't believe he was saying all this. I laughed awkwardly and stared at him completely stupefied.

Was it really happening?

Was he really proposing to me?

"Would you be my date and prepare Maggi with me in this kettle that I brought; using the firewood that we'd collect together?"

Just then I saw two Maggi packets and a kettle kept behind him and stared at him again though this time with my heart in my mouth and my eyeballs out.

This man was crazy, romantically crazy.

How come this hippo was this much entertaining and adventurous?

Who in the world could believe that this man was doing all those things which were just some stupid fantasies of mine?

"Would you like to be my exclusive chewing gum and stick with me till the eternity?"

The NERVE of this man!

~

That was the best day of my life which I couldn't forget ever ─

How we had collected firewood from the groves,

How we had hit each other jokingly with those wooden offshoots,

How we had tried to ablaze the wooden twigs using the friction of stones,

How carelessly and childishly we had licked the Maggi Masala,

How we had fought for extra Maggi,

How we had licked the last drop of Maggi from the glass bowls he had brought,

How we had together gazed at the sky and the mountains,

How we had held our hands for the first time,

How we had captured crazed photos and videos,

How we had laughed our heart out at our older selves,

Everything had felt so ethereal and euphoric.

So unearthly yet so real.

It was far better than any of the lavish restaurants' dates that I've heard of. In fact, the best date in the whole world; where our sophistication didn't matter but our child-like zest and blemishes did.

Having a smile on my face and the giddiness of embracing that day again, I closed my eyes and welcomed the sleep from the fairyland to take me to the lands of divine chimaeras and remembrance of my hippo.

My one and only Hippo whose chewing gum was I.

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Longest but the most needed chapter of this book.

How was it?

How was the proposal?

If you can increase the number from 1692 to 1700 fans, I'd really give an instant update but I guess its impossible. Uff!

P.s. - Copying the ideas, scenes is now getting very common on Wattpad, if you see anyone doing it, kindly pm me ASAP.