The Stigma Called Love - Chapter 35

As their days passed in a matter of minutes, both Aparna and Nishant became more and more close. Their love blossomed to new heights with every passing hour.

If their days were occupied with the work at the site then, their nights were spent in each other’s arms. If their days included stealing moments of feverish touches then, their moonlit hours were filled with passionate embraces.

One more day was left for them to leave Tosh and Nishant suddenly felt uneasy thinking about going back to Delhi. He looked at Aparna, who was busy explaining something to Somnathji. Sighing, he flopped noisily in his chair attracting an alarmed look from her.

Aparna got up from the chair and signalled Somnathji to leave. Smiling, she came near Nishant and stood in front of him.

“What happened?”

“Nothing,” said Nishant frowning.

Then suddenly a brilliant idea came into his mind and he jumped up from his seat, startling her.

“Yes Yes Yes Yes!” he exclaimed taking her in his arms.

“What? Tell me. What is it?”

“We will go to Darjeeling to meet Prakriti.”

For a moment, Aparna was stunned then, when she recovered she turned away from him. She did not know how to react. Nishant was right now using every mean he had to spend more and more time with her. But, was that the only reason for meeting her daughter?

Nishant looked at her tense back and understood everything.

“You keep on forgetting that I can read your silence,” he said turning her towards him.

“Yes, it is true that I want to spend more time with you but that is not the reason for me meeting Prakriti. I want to meet her because I want to know her. But, if you don’t want me to then, it’s ok. I’ll leave for Delhi tomorrow. But, you will be going to Darjeeling. It’s been a long time you have met her,” he said letting her go.

As he turned away from her, she bit her lip to stop the tears from falling. Grabbing him from behind, she hugged him burying her face in his back.

“I want you to meet her,” she said gulping down the choking tears.

He turned and took her in his arms.

“One more tear and I’ll kill you.”

Aparna smiled knowing well enough that Nishant had become an integral part of her life.

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

The next day they completed their work quickly and said goodbye to Tosh. Taking a flight from Shimla, they reached Baghdogra Airport at about 4 in the afternoon. Nishant was happy to see Aparna smiling from ear to ear. As he hired a taxi from Baghdogra, he felt at ease. Finally, he would be meeting Prakriti. He had already booked a room for all three of them in Darjeeling.

Aparna was chatting happily showing the different stunning views along the road, when suddenly Nishant felt his phone vibrating in his pocket. Taking it out, he looked at the caller ID and sighed.

“Yes, Dad?”

“What are you doing in Darjeeling?” he heard his father, Naresh Naik ask in an angry tone.

Nishant’s face turned grim the moment he heard the question. He was about to retort, but changed his mind. Closing his eyes, he took a deep breath and replied, “I am here to meet Aparna’s daughter.”

“She is an employee. You do not need to meet her daughter. And, you halted in Delhi but did not bother to tell us.”

“Dad, please,” Nishant said losing his patience little by little.

His father kept on riling him about Darjeeling and finally Nishant lost his cool.

“Enough, Dad. I have reached Prakriti’s school. I’ll speak to you later.”

Without waiting for his father to react, he disconnected the phone and looked at Aparna, whose face was all flushed with embarrassment.

“What?”

“Naresh Sir is angry.”

“So?”

“Nothing,” she replied and looked outside. This is all because of her. She should have said no and straightaway gone to Delhi. Biting her lip, she tried to control the thoughts raging within her mind.

“This would not be the first time he is angry with me. And, don’t think this is because of you. I wanted to come,” Nishant said sliding an arm around her shoulder.

When she looked at him, he said in a low tone, “I love you, don’t you ever forget that.”

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

Nishant stood near the car as Aparna went inside to get Prakriti. Turning his back to the school, he looked around.

The surrounding mountains mesmerised him with their towering height, but most of all what took his breath away was the greenery around them. After every little patch of brown there was something green.

If the Himalayan beauty of Himachal enthralled him then the picturesque mountains of Darjeeling made him ecstatic.

“Nishant?”

Hearing Aparna’s voice from behind, he turned and his gaze collided with a pair of eyes trying to hide behind her.

Smiling, Nishant sat down on his knee and offered his hand. The pair of eyes still looked on with a stray of doubt in them. He opened his palm and held out a chocolate bar.

Aparna smiled at his thoughtfulness. She tried to pull Prakriti out from her hiding but the bashful girl just didn’t budge from her post.

Nishant slowly stood up and walked towards Prakriti. As he sat down in front of her, she looked at him with wonder. Slowly, she extended her small fingers and took the chocolate from him.

“Who are you?” she asked, now partially shy.

“Well, I am your mother’s friend and I have come here to play with you.”

“But I can’t play now. I have to do my homework.”

“Ok, then we will play when we are done with your homework.”

Prakriti stared at him and tried to figure who this man was. As her mother sat down next to her, she placed her arms around her neck.

“Are you a bad guy or nice guy?” she asked sticking close to her mom.

Nishant’s smiled vanished and he looked at Aparna, whose eyes misted over with old memories. Getting his composure back, he offered his hand again to Prakriti. This time, after a moment’s hesitation, she placed her hand in his.

Her small fingers touched his bigger ones and Nishant’s chest swelled up with love as she clasped his hand trustingly.  

“What do you think? Am I a bad guy,” Nishant asked placing his other hand on hers.

At first Prakriti looked at her mother and then him.

Gesturing to the chocolate peeping out of his breast pocket, she said, “Will you give me that chocolate if I say no?”

Both Aparna and Nishant burst out laughing as he slipped the other bar into Prakriti’s hand. Picking her up, he gestured towards the car and asked, “Would you like to go for a ride?”

“Can I climb a mountain? Mama doesn’t let me. Says I’ll fall.”

“Well the next time she says that tell her I am with you. Deal?” he said extending his hand to her.

Conspiratorially, she smiled and clasped his fingers.

Copyright © Paromita Majumder. All Rights Reserved.