"I spy you!" - 70

Vasupradha looked at Pushpahaasa immediately. She wanted to know how he reacts when he confronts such a situation. After all, we have to learn something from our known persons.

His face was expressionless. But he was alert, which she could see.

“Why do you think so Adhokshaja... Gadaadhara?” he addressed both the young men.

The way the people of the two houses behaved did raise suspicion.

“They are too normal.... You know what I mean... it is never like a regular house where there will be bickering, talking back etc., Here everything goes too smoothly. It is almost as if they don’t want anyone to even check them. The other day Gadaadhara went to ask for a glass of milk since the milk at home had gone bad....” said Adhokshaja.

Gadaadhara took over from there. “The house has only men. I have not seen them going out of the house at any time.”

“How did you check that?” enquired Pushpahaasa immediately. Gadaadhara said that when he went there to ask for milk, they did not allow him inside. He was even gently pushed back when he tried to step in.

“If they have no problem, then what is the wrong in going into their house?” asked Adhokshaja.

“Some people are very private. So they don’t allow outsiders” Vasupradha tried to justify.

“No madam” said Adhokshaja and turned to Gadaadhara and told him, “Tell about what you got a glimpse of”.

“Oh yes, probably they did not expect me. When they saw me in the door, they carried something inside in a jiffy. Somehow it gave me an impression that it is an electronic device”

“What type of device?” asked Vasupradha.

“Lot of wires hanging around it...” Gadaadhara told in a hush-hush tone. “Is it a bomb?” asked with his eyes wide open.

“Hello, don’t you see movies?” teased Pushpahaasa. His voice had become milder observed Vasupradha. “We don’t know what it is with your description, but let me check” said Pushpahaasa getting up. So the youth got up.

“Will you tell the police yourself?” asked Adhokshaja. Pushpahaasa just nodded his head and opened the door and looked on both sides. “No one is here. You may leave. Don’t tell anyone. If you see something, please tell me!”

The command in his voice made those two young men to agree, thought Vasupradha.

Once they went off, Pushpahaasa closed the door, turned to Vasupradha and said, “Our job starts. We need to act. I am sure they would be observing us” and he walked near to her and held her from behind. Vasupradha’s heart stopped for a moment and started beating fast!

Oh God! Why am I feeling uncomfortable? Was it not the same I was always craving for?

"I spy you!" - 69

Now Vasupradha observed them. They were a pair of very young men. Might have been about 19 year old. Tall and well built. One was with a moustache and a day or two’s beard. The other was clean shaven and good looking. Vasupradha thought both of them were good looking and handsome in their own way.

“Now, can you tell me the meaning of your sudden barging in?” asked Pushpahaasa in a very severe tone. Even Vasupradha found that she shivered at the sharpness of his voice.

The boys (Yes, somehow Vasupradha felt that they looked like two boys who had lost their way and got stranded there!) looked as if they have been hit by a sharp arrow. She felt sad that both of them looked as if they were about to cry. Only thing was that they did not cry. Within a second or two they started looking defiant.

“I asked you who are you and what are you doing here?” asked Pushpahaasa with the same rough tone but there was a little softness in the voice now.

“My name is Adhokshaja” said the young man with moustache,  “And his name is Gadaadhara”.

“So, can you please give me the reason for your sudden appearance in our home?” repeated Pushpahaasa stressing each word.

Both of them looked at the windows. Vasupradha felt that they were trying to see whether their pursuers are still behind them.

It looked Adhokshaja was the talkative of the two. He mentioned that they are from a northern state and they have come here to try for a job.

“What job?” asked immediately Pushpahaasa.

“Medical representatives” said Adhokshja.

“What job your friend would do if he does not even open his mouth” told Pushpahaasa with sarcasm.

The other boy Gadaadhara looked as if he has been shot at. He opened his mouth to tell something. But Adhokshaja touched him on his thigh and motioned him to keep quiet.

“So, what’s the reason? Are you the only one who knows to talk tactfully? Is that why you are asking him to be silent?” Pushpahaasa threw barbed questions.

“No uncle, nothing like that” Adhokshaja opened his mouth. He had a very pleasant voice.

“I will tell uncle” said Gadaadhara.          

The two could tell a queer story. They lived in the outhouse. They felt that the house in front of theirs and the next house were having some people who were not at all friendly. They were always trying to spook these two boys.

Pushpahaasa was a little skeptical in the beginning. But his face grew serious as the boys narrated their experiences.

“We have a doubt that the people in the two houses do not have good intentions uncle. Looks like they are up to some nefarious activities” said Gadaadhara with his eyes wide open.

"I spy you!" - 68

She wanted to tease him. “What is etc.,?" she asked. Her voice was out of breath. The man of her dreams is actually touching her, being intimate with her. Even a little earlier on this day, she wouldn’t have dreamt about it.

“I will wash the utensils. I will wash my clothes. May be you help me in keeping the place clean and of course, I hope you can wash your clothes!” there was a smile in her voice.

The arms were still on her shoulders. Her heart beat was so fast that she hoped against hope that it won’t be heard by him.

Suddenly he separated from her and stepped away and kept a distance of 2 feet between them. She became very disappointed and angry. Disappointed that he was no longer touching her and angry on herself for having the feeling of disappointment.

What is happening to her? Why can’t she consider him as another colleague, say like Durjaya. Her lovelorn heart slapped her mind saying that even to compare the two is a sin. She considered Durjaya as a young brother. But she could not think of doing like that with Pushpahaasa.

Zaalim mohabbat bhi kya chaal chal gayi.... the treacherous love has played such a move in her life’s chess game... really very sad state of affairs.

She did not hear any of the words he uttered till they reached the house.  Her mind was admonishing her heart for this hopeless situation. She has to be strong, she thought.

Once they neared the house, he suddenly came nearer to her and put his long, strong arm very lovingly on her shoulders and pulled her towards him. Her heart went for a toss. What is happening? Why this sudden change of moods?

Then she realized and felt dismayed. He was playing his part of ‘husband’ to the core. They are in front of their ‘house’. In case if there were prying eyes, they would be hoodwinked with this intimacy.

He opened the lock holding her little tightly at her waist. She felt searing heat where his hand touched her. It was almost that he left his hand impression there. But the moment the house was closed from inside he stepped away from her.

She was confused, but then she remembered that he was married. So, naturally he did not want to take advantage when they were alone. Actually she was supposed to appreciate his action and thank him, instead she was feeling cheated!

She did not know what she would have uttered, if there was no sound on the door. It was a loud bang on the door, as if they were very keen and in a hurry to get inside.

Vasupradha became very alert. She looked out for Pushpahaasa. He too was looking at the door very cautiously. He signaled her to open the door. She went soundlessly and opened the door. Two people rushed in as if someone is pursuing them!

Both of them were stopped by the stretched hand of Pushpahaasa. Both of them stopped as if hit against a rock.

Pushpahaasa pushed them and brought them to two single sofas and made them sit.

"I spy you!" - 67

“Hey! What happened? Let me in!” said a man’s voice... manly voice which she immediately recognized.

This man! He has the power to make my life go topsy-turvy! All my sharpness seems to vanish when this man is in my vicinity! Vasupradha thought. But he just barged in and closed the door as if someone was following him.

She was still in the dazed condition due to the nightmare and his sudden and unexpected return. She was surprised to see him carrying two suitcases.

It was at that moment it dawned to her that ‘he’ was going to be her ‘partner’!

Her heart stopped for a moment and started beating fast! It is a sort of dream come true! If she puts two and two together, he and she have to work as a team... as husband and wife... a charade for the sake of onlookers! Even if it is not a real one, the drama itself is acceptable.... ooh! Pushpahaasa all for myself!

‘So, you are going to carryout ‘all’ the duties of a wife?’ teased her inner voice. She could not reply. She can’t do whatever she is supposed to do! it is a make believe drama. So, she need not surrender herself to him.

But... but... she thought, there is only one bedroom! What is the sleeping arrangement? It was as if she was doing a double role of a good girl and a bad girl. Good one wanted him to stay away from her physically. The bad girl wanted to spend each moment staying as near to him as possible.

He solved the issue very simply. He selected the Diwan at one corner of the hall to sleep. Only his clothes were kept along with hers.

“No one should suspect that we are play acting!” he started saying and stopped. He did a methodical search for the presence any bug. Though he looked satisfied, he suddenly took her arm and led her to the bathroom. She was shaking with fear, apprehension and thrill.

But she need not have worried. He was more interested in talking to her some basic rules. He turned on the shower and the tap in the sink. Above those to noises he said, “I will sleep in the hall! The window curtains would be drawn tightly and no one would suspect that we are sleeping separately. But once you get up, I will go and sleep on the bed in the room”

She understood and was barely able to nod. Her whole self was gone somewhere! Such a proximity with the loved one, especially when least expected!

They locked the house and walked hand in hand towards a restaurant. Vasupradha badly wanted to pinch herself to know whether it is for real or not. But she knew that he was playing his role. They had sumptuous food in the restaurant. She observed that he did not make small talk. Was there a hesitation in him? May be! She could not get any more impression than that.

They came out of the restaurant and walked towards home. He stopped and turned towards her, put his long and strong arms over her shoulders and said, “If you don’t know cooking, I shall prepare. You can help me in doing jobs like cutting the vegetables etc.,”

"I spy you!" - 66

He nodded his head when she gave him the address. She was eager to know what his job was in this town. She was hoping again and again, is he going to be my partner? Would not be a dream-come-true for me if it is so?

She made all sorts of promises to the God. If Pushpahaasa became her partner for this assignment, she would enjoy every moment as if it would never happen again. She would allow him to do whatever he wanted to do with her.

‘This is very unjust thinking Vasupradha!’ her alter ego shouted. This can’t happen! You can’t be a doormat for someone else. You have your own life and self-esteem.

They caught an auto. When he told the address to the auto driver, she marveled at the deepness of his voice. So manly! How come God has given every beautiful thing to this one man!

The auto reached the destination. It was a single bedroom house. She went into the kitchen. She found everything available. She prepared tea and poured it in two glasses and collected a packet of biscuits she had found there and came to the hall.

He was sitting there on a chair. He was going through his mails using his iPhone.

She came and handed over a cup of tea. He absent mindedly drank it.

She sat in a chair next to his and sipped her tea. She also nibbled the biscuit. Her mind was in questioning her. Who is going to be her partner? Was she going to be there with that person (whoever it is) for a very long time? This man... has he come to drop me or has he some other hidden agenda to stay here? She did her minimum duty of a host by offering him tea and biscuits.

The time dragged.

He got up suddenly and said, “Please lock the door!” and went out closing the door. She slowly walked to the door and bolted it from inside. Now is the wait for the other person whoever it was.

Pushpahaasa went off as if his role is over, as if he has done is duty of reaching her safely to her destination. This is not fair! Her heart cried. But the man, her heart stealer was gone!

She went back to her chair and stretched her legs. She adjusted her backrest pillow to give some support to the back of her head and closed her eyes. She was thinking whether this was what she wanted in her life. Traveling to some strange place, ‘live’ with a stranger, risk the life in many ways.... she dozed off. She had no inkling of time. May be the bus travel had zapped her energy.

She was in deep sleep. She saw Pushpahaasa in her dream. Dream?.... no, it was a nightmare!

She was going on top of the hill alone. She suddenly slips and rolls down the hill. She grabs a branch of a tree and hangs on to her dear life. She was shouting for help. She saw Amruta coming from somewhere and throwing her belt to Vasupradha. Belt? Why it is not a dupatta?.... No! it was not Amruta, it was Pushpahaasa!

She got up with a start. Sweat was pouring out of forehead and back of her head. She became aware of a knock on the door. She got up unsteadily and opened the door.

It was dark and there was no light in front of the house. She could not make out who was standing at the door.  She tried to close the door and the person outside had put one foot inside!

"I spy you!" - 65

“Are you planning to stay in this jungle?” Pushpahaasa asked with a tinge of laughter in his voice. Vasupradha hurriedly got into the bus. Pushpahaasa walked in and Vasupradha followed him. The driver applied brakes suddenly and Vasupradha swayed and was about to fall down. But a pair of steel arms which she knew too well steadied her. She had no choice but to fall on his chest. She felt heavenly. But the next moment she found to her dismay that the other passenger in her double bed is Pushpahaasa himself!

He seemed to have understood her plight and let her sleep on the window side and he slept on the aisle side. She could not trust herself to be restraint in front of him. The tension in her was quite crackling. She was hoping against hope that she would not put her arm round his neck or on his chest!

Thankfully Purshpahaasa sorted out that problem in a simple way. He placed their luggage  between them. She could not even see him in total except for his face. The small light ray from the space between the two curtains was falling on his most good looking face. She must have fallen asleep only for a few minutes.

She heard him calling her name. The name sounded so sexy in his voice. ‘Hey Vasupradha! You are obsessed with him. That is why whatever he does sounds good for you. Oh, poor girl!’ teased her conscience.

She got up and sat now. The bus which had slowed down, now completely stopped.

Both of them got down the bus as the other passengers did. But it seemed their journey was not yet over. They were asked to wait for another bus which would take them to the destination city. After what seemed an eternity, the replacement bus came. They again went into the bus. As it was daylight no one went to sleep. Both Pushpahaasa and Vasupradha sat on the bed with their backs to the partition between the beds and legs stretched.

‘Why this man is coming with me? That too he joined somewhere in the midway. What is happening?’ she thought and stole a glance towards him. He was lost to the world. Must have been quite some time since he slept deeply. A smile danced on Vasupradha’s lips. He was getting cramped because he was quite tall for the stretch of the bed. She felt blood rush through her body. Oh God! This man is too good looking. Why is he coming in my life again? I was hoping that I would never see him again.  Whenever I see him I get the idea of having him for myself forever!

She was so muddled with her thinking that she lost the track of time. Again it was Pushpahaasa who woke her up.

“Did you I wake you up from your sweet dreams?” he asked in a very mild tone which almost caressed her.

She shook her head so wildly that she got hit by the rod which was behind their head.

He immediately pulled her towards him gently and rubbed the portion where she hit her head. Oh God, please don’t give me these things temporarily and pull them out from me! Her crazy mind was praying.

He stopped rubbing only after getting her assurance that nothing was wrong with her head.

She now wanted to know whether he knew the address she wanted to go. She was wondering who is going to be her mate in this charade? What was the result they are looking for?

"I spy you!" - 64

Sleeping in the A/c sleeper bus was a new experience to Vasupradha. She entered the bus and found that the bus had about 3 to 4 beds in two rows. One side double beds and on the other side one side single beds. Oh, there were both upper and lower berths.

Oh God! Which is my seat...? She thought as she entered inside. The booking was done by the office. To her horror she found that she was booked in the aisle side seat of a double bed!

Whose idea is that? She thought furiously and went to the driver to change the seating. But the driver asked her to go to the ticket booking office which was a little far away.

“Please come back fast! We are leaving almost immediately!” requested the driver. She walked fast towards the ticking office. The signals made her wait before she could cross the road. The booking clerk raised his hand showing helplessness.

“Sorry! No alternative” he said. Vasupradha asked him about her ‘bedmate’. The clerk told that he has no clue about the other passenger. He also suggested that once the person comes, she can change the ‘bed’ if the other person agrees.

So, they don’t even know whether the other person is a male or a female? But she had no time to think since frantic calls came saying that the bus is just waiting for Vasupradha to get in.

The bus moved and Vasupradha thankfully flopped on to the bed. Though her bed was on the aisle side, she decided to stay on the other bed since she had the support of the side of the bus was duplicating as ‘wall’ for her.

The bus sped on for some distance. Vasupradha’s eyes closed to drift into sleep though the mind was alert about her strange partner who did not show up even after 2 hours of travel. She suddenly woke up. She did not know what made her start like this. She could not sleep anymore.

She got out of her bed without knocking anyone and came to the door which separated the passengers from the driver. She opened it and came out. The driver was sitting at the steering wheel and driving the bus with full concentration.

She sat on the seat which was near the door and stared outside. The bus was surging forward putting back many trees. The big glass in front of her reminded her of a big movie screen. The fine dust particles were picked up by the high beams of the headlights of the bus.

The picture looked fascinating to Vasupradha and she was totally lost in it when it happened.

The driver had to stop the bus suddenly when a man came in front of the bus. Vasupradha who was watching the road from quite some time, could not understand why, of all the people, Pushpahaasa should be the one who was stopping the bus!

Yes, it was her dream man! He had forced the bus to stop. The driver who was already cursing Pushpahaasa under his breath now started making loud noises. But when Pushpahaasa came nearby his abuses came to a standstill as if a cat had bitten his tongue.

His right hand raised to salute Pushpahaasa. Vasupradha got down from the bus to give space to Pushpahaasa to get into the bus. He got in and looked at her.