-• rain, rain, go the fuck away •-

Taranya

We walk in silence.

Apart from the crunching of leaves, swaying of the branches and the birds singing in distance, nothing else fills the void. My hand slowly starts to get clammy, and before it sweats to the point he notices, I really want to wipe it to my dress, but then I don't have the courage to hold his hand again. And I badly want to keep holding his hand. It's the least intimacy we can have in reality, because in my dreams, we do a lot more than just holding hands. Like last night, I dreamed of kissing him. Funny, isn't it? Kissing him without a tongue was probably the most innocent dream I've had of him till date.

"Uh," he clears his throat. I look at him. He's staring down at our hands. They're slippery now. Because of me. Because I sweat like a fucking pig.

"Right," I pull away and dry my hand on the skirt of my dress. "Sorry, my hands are warm, so they often get clammy." I make a useless excuse. Seriously, Tara? He's not interested in knowing the anatomy of your body. Shut up.

"It's okay," he wipes his hand on the joggers, then holds it out again. I blink. "The ground is-"

"Uneven."

"Yeah," he nods, "you might-"

"Fall." I completely understand him. My hand slips into his and we interlace our fingers. "Thank you."

He smiles. "You're welcome." He looks ahead, I do the same.

The forest is scarce, it has tall trees and thick bushes, but it isn't dense so I clearly spot the campsite when we reach closer.

"Did you get her back to the campsite safely?"

He hums.

"Where did you find her?"

"I don't know," he shrugs. "I mean, there's no board around here naming the places, is it? I just stumbled into her randomly." He glances towards me. "On second thought, do you want to see that place?"

"Huh?" I manage to say, taken aback with his offer.

"The sun isn't fully up yet. We might get to see the most beautiful sunrise of our life." He shrugs.

"Careful, Rajawat, you're giving me high expectations." I eye him teasingly.

He tries to hold back a smile but fails. The dimple reveals. It sits in the corner of his lips. Tiny little thing. But it transforms this cold, poker-faced guy into the most boyish, charming man I've ever seen.

"Have I ever disappointed you?" He grins lopsided.

"Oh," I hold up a finger, "A lot of times," I nod.

He chuckles sheepishly. "Not this time. I promise. C'mon," and he tugs at my hand adorably. I give in with a defeated sigh, acting as if I'm doing him a favour, when from inside, I'm dying to see the sunrise he claims to be the most beautiful sunrise of my life.

No, it's not because I want to spend some more time with him. Definitely not because his smile makes me all giddy and jumpy from inside. It's because I'm an artist, a painter. We're nature freaks. We love observing things, people, world, and the littlest details, the flaws and the perfections that makes them.

"Careful," he helps me climb a big rock, but when it comes to stepping down, I tug at the hem of my dress and take a step forward, only for the wind to blow harder and force me to stand back straight.

"Sorry, I should've worn pants or something." I mumble softly.

"It's okay," he comes closer, "I know a good way," he grunts out the last word as his arms slip around my thighs over the skirt, the other wraps around my shoulders, and he effortlessly lifts me off the rock, holding me in the scoop of his arms. I squeak, locking my arms around his neck, my eyes falling close in instinct.

When they open, I find him staring at my face. His gaze flickers to my lips, they fall apart to breathe. Then his attention shifts upward, meeting my blue ones, and I exhale deeply.

"Your eyes are," he trails, sounding unsure.

I urge him in a whisper, "My eyes are?"

"So blue," he completes.

I blink.

I was expecting something else, something poetic, spell-bounding metaphors, or their comparison with nature. Just like heroes in movies say, like guys in my school tried, no matter how cringe it was. But this was the most bland description of my eyes. And yet, my heart fluttered like never before.

"Thank you," I say softly.

He nods and gently lowers me to the ground. I stand straight and fix my dress. "Let's go," he doesn't ask for my hand this time, he holds it without my permission. I swallow nervously. Are those butterflies trying to come out of my belly? Because it feels like it.

I stare at his arm guiding me through the rough trail. He's wearing a white sweatshirt, the sleeves rolled up until his elbow, and every time his arm switches position, the muscles in his forearms flex, the veins become clear, the skin appears like a translucent sheet of silk hiding a constellation of emerald stars beneath. Are stars emerald? I don't know. I'm not smart enough to know science. But I just know if he was a star, he would be green. Something between hot and cold.

He glances over his shoulder and the first ray of light clashes with the sharp line of his jaw, before it bounces off against his pale pink lips as he smiles, catching the sparkle in his light brown eyes and getting trapped in there. "We're just there," he tells me.

I nod dumbly.

And step into a puddle.

The splash brings me back to reality.

"Oh, shit!" He steps back, releasing my hand as I remove my foot from the puddle and shake it aside to get rid of the mud. I click my tongue against the roof of my mouth. If I wasn't so busy staring at him like a fool, my leg could have been saved. But no, I'm dumb. Why can't I stop staring at him? It's not like I haven't seen such hot specimen before.

On second thought, I haven't.

"Wait," he brings me away from the puddle and fishes out the small bottle of water from his pockets. Then he squats to one knee and surprises me by lifting my ankle in his palm.

"No, what are you doing!?" I titter back.

He looks up. "Washing your feet, Tara." He says, as if washing someone's feet is the most common thing in this world, especially for a Prince.

I watch him pour a little water on my dirtied slipper to clean it. He keeps it aside and scoots further, wrapping his fingers around the back of my ankle and lifting it off the ground. He pours some water on my foot, washes off the mud, and puts the bottle next to him before grabbing his handkerchief from the pocket and wiping my foot dry. "There, done." He gets up, stuffing the handkerchief back in his pocket, a smile on his lips, directed at me.

I find it hard to look away from him.

"Tara?" He waves a hand in front of my face.

I blink, looking away and slip my cleaned foot into the wet slipper. "Is this in your job description?" I walk ahead, twisting my hands together because I'm afraid if we hold hands again, I'll really lose it and end up kissing the hell out of this man.

"Taking care of you?"

I hum. "I don't think that's what bodyguards do."

"I wouldn't know. I'm new to this stuff." He shoves his hands in the pockets and walks alongside me. I look at him, he tilts his head to the side in question.

"What way?" I ask blandly.

"Right." He points. I nod and resume walking.

"Well, I'm telling you then, taking care of me isn't part of our deal." This has to be the most ridiculous excuse I've ever made to establish boundaries between us. Can't I be clear? Can't I say on his face to keep his distance? Why am I talking in riddles? He's either in or he's out. Why am I hanging on the threshold with him? He wants me with marriage in mind, and I'm ages away from that thought. Let's not even talk about my family's reaction to this. If they ever find out about me and Shourya being more than just acquaintances, it's over for us.

"Deals, duties, work, they're all obligations." He states. I meet his eyes. "I don't consider you an obligation, Tara."

"What do you consider me then?"

He motions to his left. I follow. "Need," my breath hitches. I look down to continue acting normal.

"And needs are taken care of," he murmurs. "For it's a survival instinct." He adds nonchalantly, like he just didn't rip my heart open, set it on fire, and watched it burn for him. "We're here." He smiles, gesturing forward.

I tear my eyes off him and look ahead, gasping in awe. It's the infinity of sky, splashed with different shades of reds and oranges spreading until forever, with the beaming sun peeking from the horizon that captures my heart. I've never seen a more beautiful sight before. It's absolutely stunning.

"This is so pretty." I murmur, afraid if I spoke a timbre higher, this might turn into an illusion, a dream, and I'll wake up from my sleep, back in the four walls of my bedroom.

"It is." He sighs. I glance at him. His eyes hold the sky in their limits, and for the first time, I find him the most calm, the most serene, and the most unrushed. Like he's here to stop, breathe and smile.

"Why are you helping me?" I blurt out. The question has been bugging me since the night he saved us from those local goons. I'm a hundred percent sure Inayat's suicide and Meera's abrupt missing has to do something with his family, and I know he knows why I'm digging so deeper into this case, yet he's still helping me, without any ulterior motive. I find it hard to believe, and the most absurd thing being, I want to believe it.

"I'm not helping you. I'm protecting you." He looks at me.

"You don't think the secrets I'm behind might affect your family?" I ask.

He bites his lower lip, as though he's contemplating the answer in his head. "The secrets my family is trying to hide are horrible, inhumane, and I rather you not know them, but I know you, and I know you're not stopping until you find out the truth. Those secrets are of criminals who've committed the most heinous crimes, but the thing about crimes is, Tara, you can't prove shit if you don't have enough evidence. And just as I know you, I also know my family."

"Are you saying even if I find the truth, I wouldn't be able to do anything?"

He doesn't answer. But I hear him. It's in his silence that he mocks my capabilities. In his eyes, he sees me as that little kid who fills sand in his toy truck, thinking he's doing something grand, while you're just worried he might inhale the sand or eat it.

"You underestimate me." I say for him.

He breathes out softly. "No, Tara-"

"You do. You think I'm dumb and I'm just wasting my time, but I'm also stubborn so all you can do is let me play for a while and jump in as my protector if I end up landing myself in troubles." I nod. "But I don't need your protection. And I'm not stopping until I get to the end of this." I snap, turning around to leave.

He grabs my elbow and yanks me to his chest. I squirm helplessly in his iron like grip. "Let me go!" I grunt.

"Stop!" He warns.

"I said let me go!" I growl, glaring at him heatedly.

"And I said stop." He repeats.

"Shourya -"

"Another word and I'm kissing you, Esther." Is that supposed to be a threat? I suddenly feel like a rebel. Damn it, Taranya. Focus.

"First thing, I'm not underestimating you." He says. I roll my eyes. What a fucking liar. "I'm being honest." He adds softly. Our eyes lock. "I find your determination the most sexiest thing about you." Oh. "I saw you giving presentation in your class -"

"Creep."

He grins. "And I wanted to kiss you so bad." He cups my face in his hands. "Women in control are the hottest fucking thing. I loved how you owned that stage, your confidence, that stable eye contact, and this dress," he looks down at my cleavage, "God, if you were mine, you wouldn't be walking straight right now." He says, looking deep into my eyes.

"Spa- Space." I croak out.

"Huh?" He frowns.

I clear my throat and say more firmly, "Space."

"Oh, yeah," he drops his hands and shuffles back. "I'm not underestimating you, Tara." Ignoring the pitter patter of my heart, I look up at him. "But yes, you're definitely underestimating my family. My grandfather has ruled three generations of Rajawats. His own father's, his and then Vir- my father's. If you think that man is lousy when it comes to protecting his secrets, then I'm sorry my love, but you'd be highly disappointed."

"That doesn't make me want to give up."

"Good." He nods. "Do your own thing. Do whatever you want. I'll stand behind you until someone tries crossing your path."

"You'll kill people for me?" I decide to lighten the situation.

"Remove them from your way, yes."

"So that ultimately means you'll kill them."

"No comments." He looks ahead.

I gasp. "Shourya, will you kill them? No wait, let me rephrase my question. Have you ever killed someone before?"

"The sun looks beautiful."

My jaw drops. "Shourya!" I grab his arm and shake it. "Please tell me you don't kill people."

"I do." He looks into my eyes.

I stumble back in shock and slip, screaming in panic as I'm propelled backward with a forced thrust. Shourya grabs my hand and pulls me back into his arms. "What's with girls falling into my arms all the time?"

"Excuse me?" I heave harshly.

"Akansha fell the same way here yesterday."

"And you saved her the same way?"

"How else would I save her? I'm not Aladdin. I don't have a magic carpet." His tone takes a teasing turn.

"And here I thought you can skip mountains." I click my tongue, faking disappointment.

He chuckles. "I've skipped lectures for you."

"Oh, modern times Prince, huh?" I bite my lower lip to stop the grin from spreading wider on my face. He laughs.

"Did you also talk like this last night?"

"How? Like this?" He pulls me even more closer, his hands guiding themselves around my waist ridiculously slow, almost sensual.

"Something like that," I nod, my arms unlocking to settle in the dip of his broad shoulders.

"Yeah," he whispers, "I also remember something else," he leans in.

"What?"

"Wishing it was you in her place."

"Aren't you a lucky fella?" I tilt my head to the side.

"I know right, I should have asked for something else." He pretends to be serious.

"What a wasted opportunity."

"Tell me." He smirks.

I blush and to hide it, step out of his arms, facing front to see the sunrise. "This is really beautiful," I say, dissipating the tension settled between us.

Thankfully, he plays along. "It really is."

Around eight am, we start making way back to the campsite. "By the way, I'm really hoping the killing people thing was a joke," I say, as he helps me down a low steep slope.

"It was." He nods in affirmation.

"Thank God."

"Scared I might kill you?"

"Nope." I say, nodding when I'm safely down. He lets go of my hand.

"Then?"

Scared I might hate you.

"Scared I might be considered your accomplice."

He snorts. "I'd rather go and turn myself in than make someone like you my accomplice."

"Hey!" I hit his arm. "I can be a damn good partner in crime."

"Are you saying we can be good partners?" He cocks playful brow at me.

"In crime." I press significantly on the second word.

"But still partners."

I shrug unsurely, not giving him a definite answer.

"I want to test the theory. Should I just go and commit a crime?" He points over his shoulder excitedly.

I laugh.

We reach the campsite in less than an hour. No one's awake yet. Not surprised. We all stayed up until late last night. "So, this is me." I stand before my tent.

"This is you." He nods.

"And I'll see you later?" I slap my arms to the side, because I don't know what to do with them, and I can't stand still.

"You'll see me later." He confirms.

"Uh, I didn't say it, but good morning."

He chuckles. "Good morning."

"Good morning!" We both flinch hearing the third voice. Janet has her head poked out of the tent as smiles up at us.

"I should go." I look back at Shourya.

He forces a nod, turns around with a whip and it sends dust flying into Janet's nostrils. She coughs. "YOU DICKHEAD!" She screams. If anybody isn't awake yet, that must have done the job. I see Shourya's shoulder shake as he holds in a laughter. I sigh at the two and enter the tent. The smile on my face drops seeing it empty of Akansha and her belongings.

"Where's she?"

Janet cleans her face with wet wipes. "A car came to pick her up this morning. She went back home."

My frown deepens. "She did?"

Janet nods. "Ugh, that bastard, I just had a bath!"

"You had a bath?" My lips twist in confusion.

"Hmm, everyone was asleep, so I took a swim in the river." She shrugs. "You want to come? The place I found is secluded and no one can come there." She offers.

"Yeah, well, I'm definitely in need of a bath." I smell my arm pits and almost faint. "Scratch that, I'm in a dire need of a bath."

"Yeah, I can see that. C'mon, grab your things and follow me."

So I do that.

Without Akansha, the getaway finally feels like our own. We barbeque for breakfast, play volleyball in the afternoon, eat vegetable rolls for lunch, and go swimming in the evening.

Everything was going great, everyone was having fun, well, that is until it started raining.

And God damn, the sky showed no fucking mercy.

"My kebabs!" I shriek, watching as rain propels on the grills.

"Later, Tara," Shourya grabs my arm and drags me towards the car. We watch from inside as everything soaks in the heavy rain. I drop my head back with a thud.

"Let's go back home. Everything's already ruined." Arush suggests.

"No," Atharva and I echo. "Let's wait until rain stops."

"And what are we gonna do? The winds are strong tonight. Our tents are not surviving. Let's just go back home."

Atharva and I look at each other in impending defeat.

"Uh, guys," Shourya suddenly speaks up.

"What?" Ayush questions.

"It seems like we don't have enough fuel."

"Not this again!" I groan.

"Again?" The twins ask me.

I swallow. "Don't you guys carry extra in the car or anything?" I try changing the subject. "How far is closest gas station?"

"Quiet a far." Atharva nods.

"This is not my car, so I wouldn't know." Shourya answers the first question.

"We don't use this car enough to check up on the fuel and all." Arush justifies.

"Are we sleeping in the car tonight? I don't mind." Janet says.

Nobody answers to that, because everyone already knows. We're spending the night in the car tonight. "How come none of us checked the weather forecast?" I mutter.

"Who does that?" Arush questions.

"Normal people, Arush." I state.

The sky crackles with lightening and everyone flinches. "Should we call home?" Ayush asks.

"Should we?" I look back at him. The lights go off. "What the fuck?"

"The car battery died." Shourya answers. Everyone turns on their flashlight.

"Oh great, the luck is not on our side. There's no reception." Janet says sarcastically.

"This feels familiar." Atharva snorts.

"Let's just wait until the rains stops. And turn off your flashlights. Just keep one on. We need our phones." I say. Everyone turns off their flashlights so I keep mine on. My phone's battery lasts longer anyway.

I don't know how long we stay like that but the rain goes on and on. Janet even dozes off for a brief time in between.

A knock on my side has me instinctively turning my flashlight towards the window. Two black pupils stare back at me through the glass. We all scream. Shourya too. That is until he grabs a gun from the dashboard, startling us to the core. He loads it and opens the window, ready to shoot the person.

"Hey! Hey, now!"

Oh, I recognise that voice.

I quickly lower the window and see the familiar face.

"Don't!" I rattle Shourya's seat. He reluctantly lowers the gun. "That's Dr. Khan."

"Who Dr. Khan?" Three mouths resonate.

"Didn't I say I stopped practicing two years ago? It's Mr. Khan." The man with the umbrella states.

"Right. Mr. Khan." I correct myself.

Okay, bas ho gaya abhi romance. Let's spice the things in next chapters.

Hope you enjoyed the chapter. Don't forget to vote and comment. Makes my day.