Infatuation.???????..Love.??????? Part 16 A

Days and night went in a blur for Naina, They spent the days going to Bhushi dam, Valvan dam, lonavala lake, and so many other places. Everything was great as she was with Rutesh. They had spent the first day sightseeing, second day till afternoon they strolled with hand in hand. Naina was regretting that they had to leave today night, she had taken a leave for Monday. But they had to check out and the arrangements were made, but she wanted to spend time with him alone. She knew she was being typical but couldn’t help it. The time they had together was too precious for her, they had decided to go in the market to buy some gifts. After lunch Rutesh had gone to make their leaving arrangements, and she had made some leftover packing. She turned when she heard the door open, Rutesh came in the room.

"So all set ready to leave?" Rutesh casually asked Naina. He was waiting for evening to get over so he could propose to her. He had made arrangements for the cozy dinner and then a stroll outside and then he would tell her to share her life with him.

"Yup" Naina took her purse and got up to leave. "Come, let’s go" She started towards the door but was stopped as Rutesh was standing at the door. She looked up at him, "What? You changed you mind now. You know you can’t let’s go"

He just turned her, "No, I have not changed my mind. You just go and grab you shawl then we are ready to leave" Naina made a face at him, tried the pout as it seemed to work on him. But he just shook his head, sighing she went for her shawl. It was true the in the evenings there was a quite a bit of chill, but it was boring to carry the shawl.

They both went out, waving and smiling at the other guests. She remembered the first day after she had got up they had come for lunch and she had noticed several couple smiling naughtily at them. After getting few smiles she had turned and asked Rutesh if something was wrong with her. And told him about the smiles, he looked at her thoroughly and then laughed. When she had pestered him about it, he had showed her the love bites on her neck which was the result of their early encounter. She had been too embarrassed to face anyone else and asked him to return to the hotel. But Rutesh being Rutesh had hugged her and asked her how long will she stay inside as she might get more marks because they were indoors. Well let’s say that had changed her mind.

They used the cab to go to the market, It was a bit crowded as evening many people had come to stroll and many had come to do the shopping. Weekends wre usually packed on these places as many family or couples come for the small holiday.

They had purchased the sweets called "Chicki" in different varieties, some of Kajal’s favorites. Well that they both had purchased as they knew their Kajal. There was not much of other things to purchase, still they browsed with Rutesh’s hand on her shoulder and she was draped in her shawl. They were just strolling lazily with no hurry to go soon, suddenly Rutesh stopped.

Naina looked at him and was planning to ask him why he stopped but he heard the reason.

"Kajal, what are you doing here. What a surprise!" And Naina saw Kajal in her jeans and a sweater making her look like a teddy bear with a guy’s hand on her waist. Kajal was shell-shocked just like herself. Well the guy was not showing that many emotions. Even they had done some shopping and seemed to be just strolling like them. And it struck her, like them meant they were having an affair just like she and Rutesh. Kajal was looking at Rutesh but not at her nor at his partner, Naina noticed it.

So did Sujit.

The guys came ahead and introduced each other as the girls were not moving from their place. Sujit knew Rutesh, he had heard a lot about him from Kajal. He had been a little jealous before, only a little. But now seeing him with Naina, he knew a relationship when he saw one. Despite of the girls still standing there, they both started talking to each other.

Kajal recovered first and came ahead to stand next to Sujit and punched Rutesh on the arm.
"You couldn’t tell me you were coming here" It was said lightly and taken the same way.

But guys have to be guys Sujit’s hand went to her waist and Ruetsh took the message.

Rubbing his arm Rutesh smiled at Kajal, "Well I can say the same to you, but I thought Naina must have told you"

That was the first time Kajal and Naina looked at each other, "No, Naina didn’t tell me" Kajal answered Rutesh but was looking at Naina.

Naina swallowed and came to stand next to Rutesh, "Well I was not aware of the location till he brought me here. So Kajal when did you decide to come here?" Naina knew she was trying to shift the blame but who cared. This sudden encounter had thrown her off balance, she had planned to tell her a soon as she reached home. But if the truth was told, she was relieved to see Kajal with that guy.

Rutesh had sensed the tension between Naina and Kajal, but this was not the time to discuss that. They chatted for some time and went their way as both couples were leaving in the night.

***********
Naina knew that Rutesh was upset with her, she tried to tell herself he’ll understand but some part of her heart was scared too scared. They reached the room in silence, if anyone noticed them would never guess that something was amiss between them.

When they reached the room, Naina went for her packing. She started keeping the stuff they bought in their bag. They were supposed to go to dinner and then leave, Naina hated confrontation so she ignored it.

She knew she was being a coward, but she didn’t care. She heard Rutesh coming in the room to stand. She was packing for him also, her hand stilled when she heard him.

"so when had you planned to dump me?" Rutesh said an edge in his voice. To his satisfaction he saw her hand stilled. He was hurt and angry, and wanted to hurt her. But he had to know why, what he had told her was his worst fear. And he had to get it away from him, so he had thrown the question at her to see how she reacts.

Well at least she looked hurt when he had asked her, so that wasn’t her intention. Now he needed to know why?

"Answer me Naina" Rutesh once again asked her, Naina was looking at the packets in her hand. She looked at Rutesh he was leaning to the door with his hands folded.

"Rutesh I know I lied to you and to Kajal, but I wasn’t planning to dump you" Naina put the things in the bag and sat on the bed.

"No, so I wasn’t a fling to you? Then what am I to you? Why your cousin didn’t know about us?" Rutesh was controlling his voice but the hurt and emotions were threatening.

"Answer me Naina, Why didn’t you tell her? I have to know"

"I thought that maybe Kajal had feelings for you" As soon as she said it Rutesh came and crouched in front of her. He didn’t touch her, well she wanted his touch. She had become so used to his touch, that now also she wanted him to comfort her.

"After being with me, after listening to me you still thought that" She saw the hurt in his eyes and wanted to erase the pain.

"No, no. Not you but I thought Kajal must feel something for you. So I waited, I was going to tell her when we reached Mumbai. I didn’t want to break her heart Rutesh. You know what she means to me"

Rutesh got up and went to the window, "And what do I mean to you Naina?"

"See Rutesh, let’s not fight over it. It wouldn’t have been a secret longer from Kajal. And I never thought we might be together for this much time to tell her"

As soon as the words were out of her mouth she regretted it. Rutesh turned to her now "Explain" He said only that word but she knew what she had done.

Gathering her courage she straightened, "Let’s be practical. What we have is an affair, and it can end anytime." Naina had to swallow her words as Rutesh had again come to her and crouched in front of her. There was so much hurt in his eyes that she wanted to hug him and forget everything.

"Affair to end" he repeated disbelief evident in his voice, "I love you Naina. I want to marry you. I was planning to propose you tonight. And you are telling me that you thought we were just having an affair."

Marriage and love from him, she was feeling dizzy. He can’t mean that, no he cannot plan to marry her. They were so different and his family, but she wanted to change it badly.

"Rutesh we can’t marry. Your family won’t approve of me. First of all we both are from a different caste and then you" Naina couldn’t continue as the hurt look in Rutesh’s eyes had come and was so intense that she tried to touch him but he retreated and got up. That hurt, it actually sliced her heart.

"Forget my family Naina, let’s worry about the bride now. You just thought that I was having an affair with you and we’ll split in some time. The differences you are telling me are first objection from you and not my family. If it came to that I will sort it out with my family if you are with me. But here you are already NOT with me. All the time we spent together meant nothing to you, it was only a distraction to you. Forget kajal, I can bet now that you haven’t told anyone about us" He saw the hurt in her eyes.

"Yeah you are right. Only Susan knows about us. But can’t you see how different we are. You are fair and I am black. How can we have a future together? You can get the most beautiful girl you want. Why would you want to marry me?

"Because I love you damn it, and the reasons I love you don’t ask me now. And what hell does it matter if you are black or brown and I don’t want any other girl. I LOVE YOU"

Naina was in tears now, no one had told her that before. And she was crying because it was over, finally the moment she was dreading had come. She cannot let him make this mistake, she won’t.

So she turned away from him, "Let’s go"

Rutesh had too much pride not to, so he went. She didn’t want his love so he won’t give. He took the bags from her and went to out of the room.