The Stigma Called Love - Chapter 24

By the time they finished all their work, it was already 4:30 in the afternoon. So, there was no way they could trek their way to Tosh as it would become dark quite soon.

Nishant started packing his bag and looked around for Aparna, but she was nowhere to be seen. He was about to call her when she walked in the room.

“Is it time to go?” she asked looking at his packed bag.

“What do you think?”

Smiling weakly, she started to pack her things and then suddenly remembered about the trek.

“Nishant, I don’t think I’ll be able to trek all the way to Tosh.”

“I know. I have already arranged for Lakshman to pick us up. The road is somewhat broken so it might just take some time to reach but otherwise it’s fine.”

Aparna sighed with relief as she heard him. In her condition, trekking was completely out of question. She bent down to disconnect the laptop charger and winched as her back protested heavily. She was about to leave the room, when Nishant clutched her hand and asked in a concerned voice, “Is everything ok?”

She smiled and nodded, knowingly too well that it was their first night together.

Alone.

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

Aparna had meant to catch up on her sleep on the ride but the bumpy road just refused to let her be in one posture for long. It almost took them more than an hour to reach Tosh.

Although, it was 6 in the evening but still she could make out the darken silhouettes of the mountain ranges surrounding the village. Small shrubberies lined the narrow paths making the entrance of the place look like a heaven tucked away in the wild.

Vehicles weren’t allowed inside the village as it was a mountainous path so they trod a little higher to go inside the village. Aparna was so mesmerised by the surrounding beauty that she forgot about her pain completely.

Nishant held her hand all the way as they climbed towards his guest house, smiling seeing the awestruck wonder on her face.

At first Aparna did not see it, but when she did, her eyes enlarged with amazement. A huge and colourful three-storied house stood in front of her with the backdrop of a huge mountain.

Nishant looked at her and smiled. Her gaping mouth was proof enough that she liked what she saw.

“Although there are no flies here but still something could get in that mouth of yours,” he said laughing, putting a finger underneath her chin to close her mouth.

Aparna hugged herself looking at him go. The place was amazing. Mountains, chilly weather, fresh air and a hushed sound of a nearby waterfall somewhere: she couldn’t have asked for more.

She slowly treaded along the stoned path towards the wooden gate and was welcomed by greenery everywhere. Nature was flourishing in its best form, she thought.

An elderly man with the characteristic Himachali cap, introduced to her as Mahaveer, welcomed her inside a huge hall. She noticed the immaculate collection of antique furniture along with the polished wooden walls, which were covered with huge pictures of the breathtaking mountain capes. She turned and looked at Nishant, who was sitting on a huge arm chair by a window on her left talking on the house phone.

“Aparna Ma’am?”

She turned and looked at Lakshman, who was a lanky fellow with a pleasurable smile and behaviour. All along the way, he had been telling her about his wonderful village and how years ago he and his father, Mahaveer had come to work here for Nishant.

“Yes, Lakshman?”

The moment she uttered his name, she saw him blush hard.

“I’ll take you to your room,” Lakshman said gesturing upstairs.

He showed her everything inside the room and then left. Closing the door, she looked at door just next to the bathroom. That must be the balcony. She opened it and ventured outside.

Small lights twinkled along the mountainside as the blanket of darkness covered it. Aparna sighed and felt at home. Hugging herself, she leaned against the wall of the balcony and got lost in the mesmerising beauty of the Himalayas.

“You like it?” Nishant asked as he came and stood behind her silently.

Still in a haze, she nodded. Then suddenly realised that he was standing there admiring her and not the view in front.

“I love this. Now, I can understand why you can’t stay away.”

Nishant felt at ease hearing the joy in her voice. He saw her sit down on the bed and open her suitcase. Dwindling with keys of his room, he just waited for her to look up at him, but unfortunately she did not. Well, she must be tired.

“You freshen up and we will meet at 8 for dinner. Ok?”

Aparna nodded without looking at him.

Nishant waited couple of minutes more and then stepped out of her room.

Going inside the bathroom, she looked around for a garbage bin and found one by the bath tub.

At least, she can dispose the napkins here till she found another way of disposing them.

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

It was almost 8:30 but still no Aparna. Nishant was sitting in the dining room downstairs patiently waiting for her. But finally when it was 9 his patience gave away. He walked up the stairs and knocked at her room. No response.

The door wasn’t locked so he opened it and stepped inside. There she was standing in front of the mirror brushing her wet hair trying hard to work through the knotted tangles. He saw her pull hard as her brush got stuck in one of them. Nishant frowned as he saw her winch. It was as if she was not pulling her hair but his.

With long strides, he reached her and took the brush away from her. Devoid of any makeup her face looked fresh and lively. He looked into her eyes through the mirror as he combed through her tangled hair with his fingers. One by one the knots gave way with his gentle insistence. Brushing her hair to one side, he lowered his lips to her shoulder and kissed the exposed skin.

Aparna closed her eyes and tried to control her mind to not feel the sensations rising inside her.

Stop him before it’s too late.

Tell him, you can’t.

But her body responded to his touch ignoring the warnings.

Nishant inhaled hard and her drugging smell mixed with the fragrance of her soap intoxicated him. Suddenly, his hands found their own vocation and started to caress her body all over.

“Nishant, please!” Aparna whispered trying hard to shake off his hands, but couldn’t.

“Don’t stop me tonight. I can’t bear this anymore. I want you,” Nishant said clutching her to him tightly.

His blood boiled with the feverish desire as he felt her bottom touch his thighs. An uncontrollable urge to make her his took over his mind. His mind echoed with only one thing.

Brand her. Brand her. Brand her.

Turning his face against her neck, Nishant licked her sweet skin and bit her gently.

Aparna froze as visions of the past flashed through her brain. Kavin grabbing her from behind, ripping her clothes, and then shoving himself inside her bloodied chamber while biting hard on her back and neck.

Disgust mixed with desperation coiled inside her mind as she felt Nishant’s teeth graze on her skin.

Anger boiled inside her and she squired hard to escape his grip.

“Don’t,” he commanded.

Pushing against his restricting body, she pulled away his grip and shoved him away from her.

Nishant desire fogged mind took a minute to understand what was happening. His back collided against the wall and he became fully alert.

“What?”

Aparna backed away against the corner and slid to the floor, clutching her thighs to her.

“Stay away from me,” her trembling voice boomed in the room.

“Aparna, what’s wrong?” Nishant asked not understanding what had suddenly happened.

“Don’t come near me. And, don’t you dare touch me again. You men are all the same.”

“What the hell are you talking about?”

“Yes, all of you are the same. Get out. I don’t want to see you again. Go. Now.”

“Aparna, please, listen to me,” Nishant pleaded with her coming towards the corner.

“No! Don’t you dare come near me. Leave”

Nishant looked at her scared form and felt helpless. But, he couldn’t leave her like this. His eyes widened with pain as he saw tears roll down her eyes.

“Please, Aparna. Tell me what’s wrong?”

“Go! You men are the same. All you want is sex.”

Stunned, Nishant looked at her. Did she really think this was about sex?

But, before he could say anything, Aparna got up and rushed to him.

“You want to have sex with me? Come on then, let’s do it. I am bleeding but so what. Nothing should stop you from taking your pleasure.”

Nishant closed his eyes realising the truth. Finally he understood, why she had been looking all flustered and in pain since morning: why she had winched on each and every bump on the way to Tosh.

God! He was such a fool.

Shaking his head, he tried to take her in his arms but she moved away.

“No, don’t. You and Kavin are the same. No, you are worse than him. At least he never pretended to care.”

Nishant backed away as her words hit him. Not able to believe his ears, he looked into her eyes and found nothing, but disgust and hostility.

“You think I am like Kavin?” he asked feeling filthy.

Without answering, she turned away.

Pain lashed out inside him as he turned away and left.

Aparna collapsed on the floor, her body rocking with anguished sobs.

When will the past leave her?

When?

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