The Wait : Part 7

Read previous parts here : The Wait 

Shalu was waiting for Nitin to open up. He was behaving weird, and that was a good beginning, well atleast he was unfurling the covered truth. But before things could go forward, a couple barged into their space. Shalu felt angry as she knew Nitin would be laughed at, and she wanted to guard him against the world, to teh least, for now, when she can and only she must .. 

She took out her key from her empty handbag and somehow made him sit behind her Activa. This was the first time since in his company she was driving, as it was Nitin who would always drop her few streets away from her house and would refuse to give in to her requests of self driving. She always felt bad for making him drive her all way to her place, while he resided at other end of city, having to cover quiet a long distance with public transportation which soaked some kilo calories. That was the only reason she reduced her number of visits over months. Technology had thankfully saved his energy, and she was happy with virtual communication. 

Nitin was thinking of the times he had rode with her, and her sense of guilt every time he dropped her near home. He felt happy to make her comfortable although he was aware that she didn't want him to have a long journey to his PG room. That was quiet feminine. Today sitting behind her, his rough palms rested around her waist. For a moment, Shalu who was already nervous as to driving without a helmet, and a man behind her seat, could visualize the consequence if someone accidentally watched her. But as his grip tightened, she shut doors of that part of brain which scared her always. He wanted support, and only she was, and only she  could offer him, at least for the moment.

Marina Beach was hardly a five minute drive from the road opposite Cafe Ashvitha. But since they had been on the wrong side, she had to take a U turn which was a little far, stretching the drive to eleven minutes. The first five minutes had melted quickly, but from sixth minute, with the hug, her heart began to race faster than the accelerator. She squeezed the 11 minute into a 8 minute togetherness, the compressed two minute hiding her fear, and at the same time offering him comfort, which he was very much in need of. As the sun was still releasing its strong rays, the crowd had stayed away from the hot sand, leaving the parking space and the roasted sand almost deserted. The duo walked silently, their feet sinking with thirsty sand. As they reached their waves, the vast sea resembled Shalu who resembled the role of a responsible friend, while the restless waves resembled Nitin who was swinging between using his common sense and blankness. 

Nitin, for first time in minutes came in complete consciousness as to where he was. He didn't knew how it changed his feelings, was it the company or the breeze or their combination ? He just knew he would feel light here. Finally. And then it dawned him of his behaviour during the drive. He didn't want Shalu to give wrong signals. He was aware of her extra softness towards him, which gestured first seeds of love. She was his best friend now, more than Subhash, and the hurt inside had squirmed his movements. Would she understand that? Hopefully he wondered.

Shalu answered the unexpected call, which couldn't be silenced. And in those 48 seconds of brief exchange of words over phone she grasped thoughts wavering inside Nitin's mind. She cut the call and assured him " Its fine.I understand. Don't worry." Nitin felt little relaxed. But the next second the emotions that had suddenly become invisible, came back. The truth had to be stripped, and he inhaled deep breaths. He waited for waves to rest, but they kept coming... just like his truth..

Shalu had shown tremendous patience. She had waited longest she felt. The sea was silent, yet the waves broke the silence ..It was time the sea of secrets spilled some salt .. 

( To be contd)

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