Next morning around eight Ashutosh knocked on Nalina's door, after waiting for a while when no response came he dialed her number, when she didn't answer the phone without hesitation Ashutosh used the spare key to open the door as he entered the room.
There she is sleeping like there's no tomorrow, sprawled out on the bed with a cotton scarf in her hands , close to her face, her whole body covered in comforter but her legs out in the cold as if to maintain temperature.
For a while he stood there watching her sleeping, he chuckled watching her sleeping like a baby. Maybe his presence or his chuckle don't know what but she suddenly wakes up , shocked looking around and then at him.
Her messy braided hair, beautiful face still with some sleep, makes her look vulnerable, innocent and so cute that if they were not getting late for the trip, he'd rather cuddle with her kissing occasionally.
Still slightly sleepy ,not in a mood to talk, she just raised her eyebrows in question as if saying ''what are you doing here?'
"It's already past eight , the breakfast has started. I think now is the time for you to get ready, then we can go for breakfast."
"Aahhh, you go I don't want to eat I'll be there by the time the car is here."with that she slipped back in the comforter.
With a deep sigh Ashutosh forcefully dragged her to the bathroom.
"Ah …stop it, what are you doing?"
" No, you are getting ready in ten minutes and then we are going down together."
"....if you want I can help you with the shower…"
"...…"with that the door of the bathroom closed and Ashutosh waited there for her.
After a few minutes she came out in peach coloured lounge wear, her face looking radiant with mesmerizing light herbal fragrance, Ashutosh took her in for a minute before swallowing hard, standing up.
"Ready ?" He asked.
" Yaa…just let me pick my bag and phone, with that she grabbed a claw clip tying her hair, she slipped a handkerchief and phone in her pocket before wearing a jacket.
Ashutosh grabbed her bag ,and they left for breakfast.
Downstairs Avinash and Riya were in heated discussion with the staff.
" Sir, we are really sorry for the inconvenience but if you can give us a little more time we are trying to hire a new ride for you."
" What do we do with your sorry, with no ride our whole day will be wasted, the shoot plan, the photographer's charge, will you pay for the loss." They both argued.
After breakfast Ashutosh and Nalina came out but the argument was still going on, seeing them the receptionist inform them.
" Sir , your ride has arrived and at your request we have packed breakfast and drinks for you, would you like anything else?."
" No, thank you." Ashutosh nodded with no expression.
Behind them a shriek sounded,
" Hey , how come their ride has arrived and only our ride got cancelled."
Riya voiced out with frustration, every day she posted some shorts from their shoot on social media and felt very content with everybody's praise and their hidden jealousy. Now what was she supposed to share today.
Now watching how Nalina is going out for a shoot and seeing their harmony a wave of jealousy surged up inside her.
Avinash stopped her going to Ashutosh telling him about their situation, in the end he convinced them to let them come along to kanatal, although they weren't going there but still better something then nothing.
Nalina stood there waiting for them to come in the seven seater car their photographer sat in front accompanying driver, the photographer of Avinash and Riya goes to back after him Avinash was going in but Seeing Nalina stood there sleepy Ashutosh stopped him and to Let Nalina enter in the middle seat first, understanding him Avinash too agreed.
Tired and sleepy while entering Nalina almost knocked her head with the car but as Ashutosh grabbed her back a little and at the same time out of reflex Avinash moved his hands in between to avoid hitting the car.
For a moment Nalina lost her sleep, shocked by his move , some old painful memories stirred in her heart, frozen for a moment the supportive hands of Ashutosh dragged her back to present, shaking her head as she entered.
Nothing of that goes unnoticed by Ashutosh and Riya but no one commented on it, Ashutosh didn't think much of it , the car started in the direction of Kanatal.
Riya, Avinash and their photographer sat in the back, in the middle sat Ashutosh and Nalina , with only two person in three seat, comforting space was there , the surrounding beautiful view lighten up Nalina's mood unknowingly resting her head on his shoulder she closed her eyes dossing off again, Feeling something soft, Ashutosh smiled looking at her forgot earlier event.
After some hours they reached Kanatal, they first checked into their booked hotel for the day, where Nalina changed and got ready, Ashutosh too changed into a simple green kurta.
His eyes fall on Nalina, sitting in front of the dressing table wearing bangles in a beautiful green south Indian silk saree with some light south Indian jewelry, her hair loose, for a moment he forgot to breathe, no matter what she wears, she looks heavenly beautiful.
Coming back to reality he made her eat something before they went out.
Then they went to a temple on the hill top. After worshiping the goddess they started their photoshoot around the temple.
The scenes, the atmosphere, it was another worldly experience all together.
After completing a couple photoshoot, Nalina made Ashutosh click some single shots of her, at that time Avinash and Riya also came there they noticed them, but remembering an earlier event in morning Riya misunderstood Avinash thinking he was looking at Nalina.
Frustrated, she took the chance of Avinash's absence and came directly to Nalina, warning her not to have any thoughts about Avinash. Then she left.
Ashutosh too heard it, if not for the morning event the look on Avinash's face, he wouldn't doubt it, but now Riya's poisonous words made its way in his heart as a doubt thinking as if there are still some old feelings left in Nalina's heart.
Inwardly he considered it, not showing it on his face, thinking if it's true he will leave Nalina, he just wants to see her happy.
A mere thought of leaving Nalina breaks his heart in thousands pieces but if she truly wants it he will be happy to endure pain for her happiness. Anything for her and everything for her.
But…..but…if…if it is only that scamming woman's false words, then he will make sure to take revenge on her for every pain she has caused Nalina.