The Stigma Called Love - Chapter 18

Aparna’s phone buzzed on the side table right at 6 in the morning waking her up from the exhilarating feeling of Nishant’s arm around her. Sighing, she picked up her mobile and switched the alarm off. Then, she looked at his face, which was nuzzled close to her shoulder. An overwhelming feeling of tenderness engulfed her as she touched his forehead. Even though, he had been so close to her the entire night, he had not done anything other than hugging her to sleep.

Aparna smiled seeing him sleeping so peacefully. Placing a small kiss on his forehead, she moved his arm away silently trying her best not to wake him up. Tiptoeing towards the table, she picked up her shoes and purse. Then, she wrote something on a piece of paper and slipped it under his phone, and left.

*****************

Nishant woke up in the morning to a glorious feeling of Aparna’s smell all around him. Smiling, he turned and placed his hand on her side trying to pull her towards to him but instead found the bed empty. Opening his eyes with a start, he looked here and there in the room, but could not find her. As he reached out for his phone, his fingers touched a piece of paper.

“Gone home to pack. Pick me up by 8. Will be waiting,” the note said.

Smiling at the brisk yet touching note, he sighed and pressed his face to her pillow and inhaled hard. All these months, he had been trying hard not to imagine Aparna in this bed but now it was completely impossible. Her smell, her presence was all over in the sheets and pillows.

God! This is crazy!

Shaking his head, he sprung from his bed and rushed towards his wardrobe.

********************

Aparna found Madhu looking at her with strange eyes as Nishant loaded the boot with her bags. Smiling at her, Aparna grabbed her hand and dragged her inside.

“What?”

“You tell me. What is going on between you guys? First you stayed out with him the entire night. Now, he is here to pick you up.”

Aparna’s smile vanished the moment she heard the questions. Biting her lip, she looked at Madhu apologetically.

Madhu’s protective instinct kicked in the moment she saw her face fill with regret.

“Hey, I am not complaining. I am just worried about you.”

With a sigh of relief, Aparna hugged her joyfully.

“I’ll tell you everything when I get back.”

“Promise?”

Nodding hard, Aparna rushed out of the door with a broad smile on her face.

Madhu watched her go and waved as the car sped away. Then, she looked at the Shivling in her small temple and said in a solemn voice, “If you are brewing something between these two then it better be good and lasting. Please.”

***********************

The moment Aparna sat in the car, Nishant handed her a box wrapped in colourful packaging. Surprised, she looked at him questioningly but he just smiled.

“Open it!” he commanded.

She opened the package with bated breath and pulled out a small trinket box from inside. Nishant smiled the moment she saw her face light with surprise and joy.

“My keys!”

“Yes. They fell in my car that night.”

“And, I thought I had lost them,” Aparna said clutching them hard to herself.

Although the keys had been replaced but she could never find the same key ring. It had Prakriti’s name inscribed on one side. She closed her eyes the moment the thought of her daughter entered her mind.

“I know you miss her.”

Aparna looked at him with surprise but could not say anything.

“Go and meet her after this trip is over,” Nishant said squeezing her hand affectionately.

Aparna smiled widely the moment she heard him. She sighed with satisfaction and looked out of the window. Then, suddenly realised that Siraj was not with them and as far as she knew, Nishant never went anywhere without him.

“Is Siraj going to join us on the way?”

“Nope! Siraj is not going to be with us on this trip. He has some other important work somewhere else.”

Nodding, she looked out of the window again and Nishant felt a little awkward. Why is she asking about Siraj? Is she afraid to travel with him alone? But that should not be the case after what happened between them. Straightening, he looked at her and slowed down the car.

“In case you want, we can take public transport.”

At first, Aparna just nodded lost in her thoughts then, suddenly when she felt the car stop, she looked at him with surprise.

“We will take a flight to Chandigarh then from there, we can hire a cab to Kasol,” Nishant said pulling out his phone.

For a second, Aparna was completely lost then, she remembered his question and finally understood his behaviour.

Touching his arm, she said in a reassuring voice, “Nishant, its ok. I am not afraid to travel with you alone. I trust you. Let’s go.”

He smiled widely as he heard her. Putting the car into motion, he meshed his fingers with hers.  

********************

After travelling for more than 1 hour, they reached Murthal, which according to Nishant’s itinerary was the first halt for them. On the way he had explained the entire route to her.

Breakfast at Murthal, lunch at Chandigarh, tea and snacks at Bilaspur, another round of tea at Mandi and then finally Kasol.

Apart from Chandigarh and Kasol, she had never heard of the other places. And, after a long time her stomach was bubbling with excitement.

As Nishant ordered two different types of parathas for her, Aparna quickly went to restroom to freshen up a little. After she had washed her hands, she pulled out her phone and dialled Prakriti’s school. Well, being a Sunday, her daughter should be in her dorm right now.

“Hi, sweetheart,” Aparna greeted the moment she heard the warden habding the phone to Prakriti.

“Mama!” Prakriti shrieked with joy.

Laughing, Aparna listened to her chatter as she told her about what she had been doing all these days.

“Whoy! Calm down, sweetheart. Mama has to go now. But mama will call you soon again. Love you, baby.”

“Mama, when are coming to see me?”

“Soon, sweetheart. Now, you be a good girl and give mama a kiss.”

Aparna disconnected the phone with a heavy heart after returning Prakriti’s kiss. Somehow she has to get Prakriti with her here in Delhi, but for that she will need a good bank balance and right now her account resembled her daughter’s piggy bank. If only there was some way to stop Kavin from milking money out of her. Shaking her head hard, she tried to discard the desolate feelings growing inside.

Stop thinking about these things for once and enjoy yourself! Your daughter is safe and sound, and someday you will get her here with you for sure. But, for now just enjoy yourself and work, her heart told her.

******************

Nishant kept on looking towards the restroom wondering what was taking Aparna so long. He was about to check on her when he saw her coming, shoving the phone in her pocket.

With a smile, Aparna sat down and looked at her plate. The parathas looked piping hot and were accompanied with some mango pickle. She looked at Nishant to thank him but found him looking at her strangely.

“What?”

Lowering his head, Nishant flicked his gaze at her with a sad smile on his lips.

“Do you trust me?”

Aparna looked at him with confusion filling her eyes. Why was he asking her this question? Doesn’t he know? She just nodded and waited for him to say whatever he had on his mind.

“If you trust me then you wouldn't have gone to the restroom to talk to Prakriti.”

Copyright © Paromita Majumder. All Rights Reserved.