The gentle and loving caress on his head roused Eklavya from his light slumber. He knew the touch, had memorized it. Her familiar fragrance soothed the burning in his heart as tranquillity enclosed him.
He knew her. How could he not?! Even if he had his eyes closed, he could easily recognize her touch. It was as simple as that.
Flitting his dark orbs open, Eklavya became the witness to the most enchanting sight ever. Seeing her face, he felt relaxed and a sigh escaped his parched lips.
Her face was contorted into mixed emotions varying from worry, care, relief, adulation, and... inexplicable amount of love; and her brown soulful eyes conveyed to him what all she felt for him.
Her hand, still combing through his wild mane, had an assuasive effect on him, working like magic. Euphoria, he felt!
But soon this sense of peace was ruffled up when he gained back control of his senses. Averting his eyes from her mesmerizing face, Eklavya said dismissively, "What are you doing here? Go back home."
His harsh words fazed her the least because she'd already predicted he would act like that when she went to meet him. So, Anamika had prepped herself to not feel hurt. Because she understood it was his defense mechanism.
He didn't want to expose his susceptible self to her. Or to anyone in the world. Of course, his family was an exception because they were insiders. So, ignoring his words, Anamika continued caressing his forehead before she finally entwined their hands, one more time.
"The principal called out your name in the assembly three-four times last day. Your class teacher looked seriously miffed from the way he was glaring daggers at your nonchalant brother. I guess you'll have to hear the music from him once you return to school.
Oh! and also, I'm going to the doctor today. You remember he asked me to come and check if the bone has healed completely or not before taking the cast off. So, I'm going today with maa and grandpa." She cheerily finished her monologue, twinkling back her shining eyes at his peeved visage.
Sharpening his gaze, Eklavya glared hard at her and said, "I'll not repeat myself Anamika. GO BACK HOME." He said, emphasizing the last part.
Anamika chuckled lightly as if he'd cracked a fabulous joke, once again ignoring his brusque words, much to the chagrin of Eklavya who could do nothing but glower at her.
"Exactly. That's the point naa!" Anamika quipped convivially and continued, "You want me to stay away. I know. And I cannot stay away, that you should also know."
Sucking in a sharp breath, a futile attempt to curb his vexation, Eklavya said, "You're still in uniform. What have you told at home?"
He changed the topic, knowing that she won't be going anywhere. Not this soon. Anamika grimaced at his question. She was not proud of the fact that she'd lied to her family just so she could come and see him with her own eyes.
Yesterday, she couldn't muster up enough courage to see him wounded up so badly. But soon she realized her folly when she was not able to get an ounce of sleep and kept tossing and turning in her sheets.
"According to my family, I'm at Iqra's home; group studying," Anamika revealed to him in a meek voice.
Eklavya stared at her intently, as she fidgeted in her place; intimidated. She could clearly hear that he was displeased with the fact that she lied to her family, in his silence.
Clicking his tongue, Eklavya was about to say something scathing but curbed his strong emotions when he saw her fair features clearly painted with guilt.
Anamika peeked a glance at him, he didn't seem displeased anymore but his face told her that he was deliberating something important.
"Stay here." He spoke in his crooked voice.
A beautiful smile cropped up on Anamika's face at his words. She was about to say something when Eklavya beat her to it.
"In return, I want a promise from you Anamika." He said seriously, making her pretty brows scrunch up in confusion.
"What is it, Eklavya?" she couldn't help but ask.
Eklavya started at their entwined hands for a few moments before saying, "Swear upon me that you'll never lie to your family for me." He spoke, looking deep into her brown eyes.
Anamika was at a loss for words. The request was strange. How could he conjure up that they could continue meeting like this without one of them hiding things from their families? It was absolutely absurd and unviable unless they come clean in front of their families.
And that was impossible. As it wasn't the time yet.
But still, she nodded her head and replied clear-heartedly, "I understand. I promise I'll never do that again,"
Slightly pleased, Eklavya momentarily closed his heavy lids. He felt drowsy from all the medicines but still willed himself to remain conscious.
"In turn, you'll also have to promise me one thing," Anamika spoke, beholding him solemnly.
Eklavya refrained from saying anything, he knew well where she was heading. And he felt a sense of indignation at that. How could she know everything that churned in his mind?
"Promise me that no matter what happens, what troubles you may face in the future, you'll always face them head-on with a smile and no room for self-lamentation." She asked him, her voice strong and sturdy. And eyes glimmering with clear conviction. "You'll not ponder over unnecessary thoughts and bottle up your emotions."
She said looking him in the eye. As they stared deep into each other's eyes as her words percolated in his mind.
Anamika had refrained from asking him to share his thoughts with her. Eklavya functioned differently from all the human beings she knew. She just meant if not her, then at least he should talk it out with his brother.
"You ask too much Anamika," he said and for the first time, Anamika heard the deafening cacophony of his broken heart. His voice was so frail so vulnerable.
"I know," she smiled down at him, "It's all for you." She finished and resumed running her frail fingers on his scalp in a soothing manner. "Sleep, I'm here."
Soon, Eklavya felt his heavy lids closing as he drifted into a dreamless sleep. Anamika sat by his side running her lithe fingers through his healthy hair.
~*~*~*~*~
Ira for the first time in a long time felt truly astonished. She thought the biggest shock of her life was her father agreeing to her alliance with Raghvendra. But today, she'd been proved completely wrong.
She was finding it extremely hard to swallow the bewildering scene in front of her. Everything happened right under her nose and she didn't even get an inkling of it. How?!
The question stood glaring at her self-proclaimed strong intuitions and observant eyes.
Eyes shining with an emotion that was equivalent to 'what the f**k!' she turned her head to look at her brother, Rudra, who only shrugged his head.
"It is what it is." He said with a sympathetic smile after giving her a lifetime's shock.
"Give me a moment." She mumbled before the gears reared in her head and she finally grasped the situation in front of her. "I can't believe that you've got a girlfriend, my baby brother is all grown up now." She said to herself in horror, looking at Saanvi who stood beside Rudra, passing a bashful smile to Ira.