CHAPTER 23: A token of genuine feeling

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ISHAAN'S POV:

Right now, i am looking at her face as she's sleeping on my shoulder. She looks so calm and trouble free. She has a small smile on her face, maybe she's dreaming about something good. She looks beautiful. I still remember how she made me fall asleep like a kid last night. That was the first time after so many years was i able to have a good sleep. I've tried many medicines, changed many doctors, done many mental exercises, homeopathy, ayurveda everything! Not even one single thing helped me get a peaceful sleep. But all i need to fall asleep was her soothing voice and her continuous patting on my head. A small smile appeared on my face as well as i saw her sleeping peacefully with a smile on her face and releasing small cute snores.

She also told she would help me with my assignment which is really really important to me. Now that I think about it, It wasn't her fault all along, any person would get angry if i speak non sense about their country. The problem is, I don't have problem with india as a whole country, Its just that the worst of my memories include this place. This is where my mumma died. This is where i saw her lying dead in front of me and I couldn't do anything but cry.

I shrugged off the bad memories and decided to concentrate on the future. I felt her moving her head in discomfort. I think the sun rays might be troubling her, so i just took a jacket out of my back pack and placed it over the window like a curtain, making sure i didn't move too much and she was asleep. She's a heavy sleeper though. I was admiring her face when a stray strand of her hair fell over her face and blocked my view. I gently tucked the strand behind her ear to admire her more but the bus suddenly stopped with a jerk making us all jerk forward with it. I protectively wrapped my arms around her head before it could hit the seat in front and get hurt.

I removed my hands after the bus came to a complete halt.

ISHAAN: are you fine?

SAMAIRA: yeah i am fine. Thank you.

ISHAAN: no problem. So where are we now?

she just looked out of the window and a wide smile spread across her face. That smile, its really really addicting. I could watch her smile continuously with no other thoughts in my head. Stop acting like a high school kid ishaan! get a grip!

SAMAIRA: Well, gentleman, I welcome you to the pride of karnataka, MYSORE.

ISHAAN: is it really that beautiful?

SAMAIRA: ohh you have no idea! we'll stay here till night and then leave. I'll show you all the places here and you yourself will start taking pride over it.

ISHAAN: we will see about that.

SAMAIRA: sure! OKAYY GUYSS WE'VE REACHED OUR FIRST DESTINATION, THE BREAKFAST WILL BE GIVEN TO US IN THE BUS IN 20 MORE MINUTES AND AFTER HAVING THE BREAKFAST WE'LL LEAVE FOR THE MUSIC WORKSHOP. THE WORKSHOP IS FOR 3 HOURS. AFTER THAT YOU'RE FREE TO EXPLORE. BUT MAKE SURE THAT YOU'RE BACK BY 9:00 AS THE BUS WILL LEAVE FOR THE NEXT DESTINATION AT 9:30 SHARP. IF ANYONE IS LEFT BEHIND WE WILL NOT BE RESPONSIBLE. THE LUNCH WILL BE GIVEN AT 1:30 PM IN THE VERY GARDEN BEHIND THE HALL WHERE THE WORKSHOP IS BEING HELD! YOU'LL MISS THE LUNCH IF YOU ARE LATE. AM I CLEAR?!

ALL: yess chief!

SAMAIRA: ok then! that's it.

after that we all had our breakfast and went out of the bus inside the hall for the music workshop. Well, one thing that cannot be proved wrong. INDIAN FOOD IS ABSOLUTE COMFORT!

the breakfast is already making me feel soo good!

As said, the workshop took place for three hours, in which we learnt about different music styles, with main focus being on carnatic music. We also got to watch a performance which was apparently karnataka's traditional theatre. Samaira told me it's called yakshagana and It was a feast for the eyes to watch it. The expressions on the faces of the artists while be beautifully spoke their dailouges and their graceful moves left me in aww. Damn i really underestimated this culture. As an artist i was totally mesmerized. The workshop ended at 9:30 am and we were allowed to explore. I felt someone tapping my back and i turned around to find samaira. She was smiling at me which automatically brought a smile on my face.

SAMAIRA: shall we go??

ISHAAN: where to?

SAMAIRA: remember we need to work on your assignment? I'll take you to places which will mesmerize you.

ISHAAN: but where exactly are we going?

SAMAIRA: you'll know that soon.

saying this she held my hand and dragged me somewhere. From there we took an auto and she spoke something in the native language to the auto driver which completely went above my head. Damn i'll have to learn the language.

Soon we reached a place and i read a board saying, KRS DAM AND BRINDAVAN GARDENS.

SAMAIRA: this is the famous KRS DAM built by sir M. Visvesvaraya. Well you know, science also is important when you're accounting for a country being your inspiration and this is a total gamble piece for your assignment. There is a garden too which looks absolutely beautiful at night, but we have somewhere else to go during the night so just soak in the beauty in the daylight.

i just nodded at her and started following her as she showed me around and told everything about the dam and the scientist who invented. INDIANS ARE FREAKING INTELLIGENT MAN!

We explored the dam for a bit more and came out where we found few more people from our music club. They saw us and started coming towards us. I didn't want them to come to us. I wanted to explore it alone with her. Yeah i know its absurd but it is what it is.

GIRL: hey guyss!! heyy captain there's a fair going on near by, we're planning to visit it. Shall we go together.

Samaira look towards me asking if i was okay with going with them, but she really looked like she wanted to go and i didn't have the heart to refuse her so i nodded and went along with them.

SAMAIRA: *gasp* wow!

ISHAAN: what happened?

SAMAIRA: that pair of jhumka, they're so beautiful-

GIRL: ohh my godd chieff!! i was looking for something like this for soo long!! If you don't mind then can i buy it for myself?

SAMAIRA: y-yeah sure!

she had a fake smile on her face and anyone could tell she was sad. I couldn't see her sad. She really wanted those. I was thinking about different ways to bring those ear rings for her but then i was interrupted.

SAMAIRA: we should leave, its 12:30 and the lunch will be given at 1:30, we'll miss it.

ISHAAN: ughh you guys go ahead, i'll be back. I need to explore a few more things.

she frowned at me.

SAMAIRA: are you sure? if you want i can stay with you-

ISHAAN: no no! you can go..! i'll come back soo! i promise.

she gave a doubtful and finally went away.

END POV

SAMAIRA POV:

It's already 2:00 pm and he hasn't returned yet. Thankfully i had taken an extra box before the lunch was taken back or else he had to starve. Huh I'll surely ask him to return this favor. I was waiting for him and finally released a sigh of release at his sight.

SAMAIRA: where do you think you were huh? hadn't I mentioned that you need to be here at sharp 1:30 for lunch? Why don't you listen to me ever-

I stopped speaking as he placed his finger on my lips to stope me from speaking. Stupid heart! it was beating soo fast!

ISHAAN: you speak too much! and its okay if I missed lunch. I am not much hungry anyway.

he started to walk away after saying this. I held the cap of his hoodie which made him stop and he turned around.

I forwarded the lunch box in front of him. He looked at it, lifted his head back to look at me again and blinked his eyes as if he's the most innocent kid on this planet.

SAMAIRA: stop looking at it like that! it's just a lunch box.

ISHAAN: how come i am getting this? didn't i miss the timing?

SAMAIRA: i just took an extra box and kept it for you.

He looked at the box and smiled.

ISHAAN: thank you for thinking about me.

SAMAIRA: well, i couldn't let you starve, could i?

He just nodded with a huge smile on his face and sat down under a tree with me beside him. He had his lunch while we discussed about everything we saw until now and the things which he would like to include in his assignment.

Soon, it was 6 pm and i decided it was the right time to take him to the most awaited destination.

ISHAAN: where are you taking me?

SAMAIRA: you'll know that soon.

ISHAAN: the way you've been tormenting me with this whole mystery thing. It better be good!

SAMAIRA: ohh trust me it'll be the best!

Soon we got down from the auto which he had taken to reach the so called mystery place.

I just stood there with my mouth hung open. Whatever was in front of me.. it was freaking magnificent! Damn it was a freaking palace.

SAMAIRA: now now gentleman, i present to you, the one and only mysore palace. So, how did you like it?

ISHAAN: its- its magnificent. I don't even know how to describe it in words.

SAMAIRA: told yaa! well this palace looks beautiful at any  time of the day but during night with all the lights on, this should be experienced atleast once in life.

I just nodded looking at the magnificent structure in front of me.

(mysore palace at night)

There was too much rush and i was scared i would get lost. Also ishaan was new here too. I couldn't afford to let him go. He will have a difficult time finding his way out. He doesn't even know the native language! As i was getting worried thinking about this, I felt a huge hand grab mine. I looked up to find out that it belonged to ishaan.

ISHAAN: we can't afford to get lost in this crowd. Just hold my hand, we need to stick together.

i simply nodded at him and tried to make it look like it was nothing. But godd only did i know how fast my heart was beating right now. We looked around the whole palace with our hands held together. All the time i was blushing and i don't know why a smile never left my face.

Soon it was time for us to leave for the bus. I thought he would let go of my hand after we come out of the palace. But to my surprise, his grip didn't loosen even for a bit. We walked together, hand in hand, till we reached the auto and finally reported at the place where the bus was waiting for us. We all settled down and had dinner. I had a few instructions to give which i did and returned to my seat at the back, only to find a smiling ishaan. Though he didn't mention it, it looked as if he was waiting for me. I returned him a smile and sat down beside him. Surprisingly, he had wireless ear pods this time rather than those big head phones.

ISHAAN: music?

he asked as he forwarded one of the ear pods to me.

SAMAIRA: sure!

i smiled and accepted the ear pod only to be surprised. It had a bollywood romantic song playing in it. Maybe sir is taking a bit interest in indian culture finally. We just sat there, comfortable silence engulfed us from the outside and the sound of love kept playing in our ears. It felt intimate. This moment felt damn intimate.

Every one was lying dead on their seats due to the tiredness from today's activities. No had enough energy to stay awake and be hyped like they were yesterday. I was lost in my own thoughts when ishaan called my name.

SAMAIRA: you called?

i asked him after removing the ear pod from my ear. He just nodded and looked for something in his pocket. A satisfactory smile formed on his lips as he found it.

ISHAAN: here.

I looked at his hand and found the same pair of jhumka that i wanted to buy today but couldn't do so as a girl from our club wanted to buy it too. I tried to pretend it was okay but i really wanted to buy those. I looked around all the stalls to find a similar pair but was unsuccessful. It was not easy to find them. How did he manage to get those?

SAMAIRA: ishaan.. you didn't have to. These were not available anywhere. I looked for them a lot. It must've been very difficult to find these.

ISHAAN: naahh it wasn't that difficult. Just take it. It's a gift.

SAMAIRA: tell me honestly, how many shops did you look for these in?

ISHAAN: t-ten.

SAMAIRA: ten freaking shops?! ishaan you didn't have to take so much trouble. They were just a pair of ear-rings-

ISHAAN: i saw the look in your eyes when those ear rings were taken away from you. You really wanted those. Now take it and be happy.

SAMAIRA: thank you so muchh! i really mean it.

ISHAAN: well, i-if you w-want t-to t-thank me. C-Can i s-sleep o-on your l-lap again l-like yesterday?

SAMAIRA: huh?

ISHAAN: its just that.. it was after a very long time that i slept well. Its totally ok if you don't feel comfortable. I understand-

SAMAIRA: stop speaking and keep your head on my lap. You've worked very hard today. You need good rest.

he looked at me being shocked. But eventually he let out a small but genuine smile and placed his head on my lap. He pulled my hand and placed it on his head, indicating me to pat his head.

I just smiled at his antics and did what he wanted. Soon i heard him snoring softly, lost in his dream world. I chuckled at his pouty face and looked at the jhumkas he gave me. He went through a lot of trouble for this.

ITS A TOKEN. A TOKEN OF GENUINE FEELINGS.

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END OF CHAPTER~~!!

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