WILD SUMMER ECHOES

EPISODE SIX

“Remember, we are madly in love, so it is alright to kiss me anytime you feel like it.”- Peeta, ‘The Hunger Games’

“WHAT…… Are you out of your mind?” an enraged Sandip asked Sahana.

“Why are you getting so angry? I am just discussing an idea with you.” Sahana explained, crossing her fingers behind her. Her plan was working….

“What insane ideas do you come up with Sahana? Farin? Seriously which i***t asked you to go on date?” Sandip realized that he was almost shouting at Sahana and lowered his tone.

“Why? If you have girl friend why can’t I?” she asked

“Who said I have girl friend? I don’t have one OK? That girl you saw just now is an acquaintance. And chuck this crazy idea out of your head. God, sometimes you act like a five year old. Forget this ridiculous idea of dating some random guy. What kind of people work in your office? Stuffing your brain with nonsense…” he yelled at her and walked back to the front door.

“Sandip…” she called and he turned back to look at her.

“Have you ever kissed a girl?” she asked and he felt the blood rush to his head….

Sandip’s eyes caressed her face. She seemed anxious and restless. He nodded and her eyes widened, a shadow passing over her face. He strode towards her slowly.

The woodpecker outside the house made pecking noise and the sleepy summer twilight watched them with a bored expression. The clock continued to sound tick tock as if to remind humans that time stood for none and one has to grab the moment.

Sandip stopped in front of her. Her big beautiful eyes stared back at him with confusion. Her lips trembled and a lock of hair lay temptingly on her cheek. Sandip’s fingers brushed away the strand gently and tucked them behind her ears. Sahana’s eyes widened with slow comprehension. His gaze touched her pulse that was beating erratically near her temple and his breath stirred her skin when his face came close.

Sahana whispered “Sandip”

Sandip’s eyes glittered with an unknown emotion. She closed her eyes as his lips brushed hers tentatively. Her mint flavored breath enticed him and he pressed his lips on hers. Slowly, he lifted his head and watched her. With closed eyes and slightly open lips, Sahana looked so angelic and innocent that Sandip could not stop himself from giving her a kiss that shook her. His arm went around her waist to support her and she placed both her hands on his chest. Oh god! How he wanted her. The kiss deepened and time stood still for them. He was the first one to pull back from the tempting abyss of sensual pleasure and waited for her to come to her senses. Sahana felt bereft of his touch and opened her eyes. They stared at each other wordlessly. He stepped back. His breathing was uneven and his blood pounded with excitement.

“Are you alright?” he asked her softly and she nodded her head.

The twilight evening stirred to life and watched them excitedly. The dusk was fading and the moon was coming to life. It filled the universe with stars and spread a silvery brightness across the sky.

Sandip knew that if he stayed here, he would not be able to control his actions.

‘No Farin. Ok?’ he warned her.

Sahana nodded silently. After he left, Sahana sat down on the bed. A beautiful smile spread across her face. No one else could have given her such a sensual first kiss. Her best friend and child hood playmate Sandip! When did they grow up? Earlier in the evening, when she saw Sandip smiling at the girl charmingly, an unexplained agitation took over her. She demanded an answer from him because she was upset that he had moved on in life without her knowledge. She wanted to make him jealous. So she came up with Farin’s name. A frown marred her face. She enjoyed the kiss too much. Was she in love with Sandip? No she did not think so. He said he had kissed before and she did not feel jealous about it but she was curious to know the girl’s identity.

Her eyes fell on the letter and she picked it up. Sandip did not even read the letter.

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

During dinner, she told her parents about the offer of job. Her father read it and scowled,

“Sahana, this college is in Kochi. How will you go alone and work in a place like Kerala?”

“Why not papa? Kochi is one of the modern cities of India. Most of the women in kerala are educated unlike other states….” She had already planned on the points of argument with her father…

Govind Singh entered their house and joined them for dinner. Mallika served him roti and asked “Where is Sandip?”

“I don’t know. He left some time ago. He said he was going to meet a friend.”

Sahana frowned and wondered about Sandip’s whereabouts…He was supposed to be here supporting her. Was he meeting this new girl he met at the gym?

“What is this you are discussing?” Govind Singh asked and Mallika replied,

“Sahana has got a job offer from Kochi and she says she wants to go. How can we send her to some faraway city alone?”

“Ma, Kochi is a big city and unlike other states, Kerala is the only state in India with 100% literacy. Women are really well informed and educated. And Kerala is also one of the safest states. Why can’t I go then?” Sahana argued with her parents.

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

Sandip was in his house, hesitant to meet Sahana because he feared her reactions to his kiss. He did not want to encounter her anger after spending the whole evening thinking about the kiss. He went out for a walk but he could not stay away from Sahana. He wanted to know if Sahana felt the same magic in his arms.

But when he entered her house, they were talking about a job she had been offered. He felt aggrieved that Sahana had forgotten about the kiss whereas he could not get it out of his system. He walked in and heard the tail end of Sahana’s argument….

Mallika noticed him and told him, “Sandip, Oh you are here! Good! Put some sense into your friend’s head.” When he looked at her confusingly, Mallika explained “Sahana has got a job in Kochi. She says she wants to go. How can we send her alone to Kochi, Sandip?”

Sandip was shocked and glared at Sahana with hurt and anger. How could she hold back this important piece of information from him…And why did she want to go away? Was it because he broke her trust and kissed her?

As Sandip’s anger takes over him, waiting to confront Sahana, in another locality of the city, one by one from the huge group of men enter the warehouse to pick up his weapon. Each one is waiting to lash out his fury that had been bottled up for too long.

To be continued....