The train was moving at its relative speed. Archana and Preeti decide to retreat to their seats so they can catch some sleep.
Sakshi was responsible enough to look over Arjun, in case he felt giddy again as it was his first train ride in his life. The rhythmic rocking of the train was too much for him but he gradually felt better. He was relaxed and extremely grateful for Sakshi, as she continuously rubbed his back to make him feel better.
"Ap vishram kijiye, thak gayi hongi!" he looked concerned at her.
"Koi nehi! Ap please chinta mat kijiye! Ap please settle...mera matlab so jai!"
Arjun smiled before fidgeting again. "yeh vahan, kab tak pohochegi, Mathura?"
"2 ghante lag jaigi or!" she casually says. Arjun was too tired to even ask what it meant. Then he wasn't sure if he wanted to address the reason for his anxiety to this girl. After all, she is a girl. But his nature's call is also giving him a tough time to stay put.
"Ap pareshan lag rahe he?" Sakshi notices his impatient expression.
"ah...mujhe ap thoda bata sakengi ke...yeh vahan yadi tanik ruk sake to?" he asked in a hoarse whisper.
"apko shochalay jana hai kya?"Sakshi's lips twitched into a teasing grin.
he smiles back with a sheepish expression. He is glad and surprised at how much she understands him, and he is getting comfortable around her! like-minded individuals from different timelines are just something rare.
"Fikar mat kijiye, train me washrooms hote he!" she smiles ruefully before getting up from her seat.
she stood up getting to the aisle of the train when suddenly the train jerked due to halting the brakes. "Ap chaliye, me apko leke ja..." Suddenly she trips; losing control over herself. before she could fall again she felt a sudden twisting tug on her arm and she was pulled up.
"mummyyyy" she crunches her eyes and shrieks like a fool as she feels the strong hands pulling her up just like a raggedy doll from falling. Now, quite uncomfortable for both her and Arjun, she was bracing for the dear god as she was gripping tightly to Arjun's shoulder, but she was glad for the steely grips of his arms secured around her waist.
She opens her eyes up and meets his gaze. His eyes were so intense and radiant. His sharp crooked nose looked as picture-perfect as his pink pouty lips. A well-crafted face that adorned a hint of stubble around his cheeks was hiding the faint flush as he held Sakshi so close to him. He was careful not to hurt her as he looked down, concerned for her, that he might have pulled on her arms way too hard.
"Ap thik to hai?" he whispers. Her mind, already flabbergasted by his radiance and closeness, clouds her senses as his melodious voice rings; she could only make her head nod like some freaking hypnotized sick patient.
Then the spell broke, as Archana coughes, quite deliberately, in her sleep.
"Oh, I am sorry!" Sakshi looked away and hurried to stand, careful not to trip over again due to the jerks and pulls of the train. Embarrassed by the situation that she faced just now she immediately escaped to the washroom, hoping not to look at Arjun in the eyes again.
He looked out to check if Archana was actually sleeping or just pretending, hoping that she didn't see anything before mindlessly following Sakshi.
Outside the washroom
Sakshi was standing near the open window on the main door of their compartment. The strong wind that gushes through as the train moves fast is calming down her alarmed senses. The cool breeze gushing through her loose hair flared by her neck and shoulders. She absent-mindedly tugged some strands behind her ears as she still couldn't get her mind off the situation.
It felt just some strange mix of emotion making her heart flutter. She sighs, thinking what the hell just happened? How is she drawn to this strange man, who has just stumbled into her present from the ancient past? It is just plain stupid to even get drawn to him like this. Though it is plain obvious that he is drop-dead gorgeous. Any girl of her age would feel lucky to be with such a handsome and strong man.
Even her friends could swear on this in a heartbeat. But she was sure none of her friends would want to date him either, after knowing where exactly he had come from.
Then why is she drawn by some invisible strings that strangely pull her to him. she nonchalantly waits for Arjun to come out of the washroom, though she feels zoning out due to exhaustion. So does she feel a sense of responsibility for him? He is just a stranger. That's it! She yawns as she pities herself, waiting to amend her needs to be around him, help him and guide him through all the means.
She groans, oh god why do I feel I am falling into a deep pit?
she felt a shifting from the corner, she turned her head to see Arjun standing in front of her. His eyes watch her with a strange mix of emotions.
Her feelings looked evident in her eyes;
"Chale?" she stutters; looking away from him as she turns around to leave when suddenly Arjun restrains her arm with his hand.
Her breath hitches as she turns to see him closing the gap.
"Shama kare! Par ap tab bhi girne wali thi! Or yeh vahan abhi bhi kuch adhik hi hil raha hai... kadachit pahiye thik nehi hai iske!" he guessed. She giggles at his innocent assumptions. He smiles back as he inches close to her, looking straight into her eyes.
"Main apko firse is tarah girne nehi de sakta!" he murmurs so soft. Her smile faltered as she could feel the intensity of his drawing emotion; she swore to god that her legs might just give up if he came an inch closer. She was breathing unevenly when she looked down as he still held her arm.
He realized it too before relaxing and moving his hand away. The train suddenly jolts to stop in the middle of the track. She caught off guard; and toppled into his chest. Her one-track mind is going nuts as this is happening over and over with her. She looks up to see his lips smirking as he is enjoying her squirm.
She was blushing, he could see it. The colour of her cheeks was turning a deep shade of pink as he held her so close to him. He could not help the desire to touch them. But he knew it was out of question to touch a girl like this. And he is way too forward to her now. He was mentally cursing himself too. But this strange feeling as he got since got to know how helpful she is; is an excuse for him to mind all detail about her features; a damn she is extremely beautiful is beyond his imagination. Especially, her dimples. The most favorite thing that could happen to him is to see them on her beautiful serene face.
"Arjun ji!" Sakshi hums his name out. He gulps as he feels strange Goosebumps as she says his name out so sweetly. The innocence that lingers in her modesty as she dared not look him in the eyes made his heart flutter more and more.
He could not retrieve his emotions; when suddenly a man in a black hat and a black uniform emerged out of the blue.
"Tum logo ko romance karne ke liye Train hi milta hai kya?" he rants, making the two jump as they back away from each other like bipolar magnets.
Sakshi was speaking gibberish with stutters, "TC ji, wohhh..hum.. washroom...fir...train...brake!"
"Ticket dikhao!" the man spoke in a hurry, least bothered to listen to their nonsense.
"Berth pe hai!" she looked down like a scolded child.
Arjun could only sigh, sulking.
As the TC left, Sakshi heaved a big sigh of relief. Arjun felt the need to not ask her any further questions. Who is this man? Why is he wearing such strange black clothes? He kept cursing himself for going overboard for holding her like that. Exposing his emotions to her like this. She is a stranger, after all!
She couldn't look straight at him, "Ap thoda aram kijiye jab tak hum Mathura Pohochte hai!"
"Ji uchit hai! Ap bhi...vishraam kar lein!"
She smiled firmly before snuggling close to the duffel bag.
Arjun sits near the window leaning his head as the train moves in rhythm. The wind is pleasant as it ruffles his long locks away from his face.
The rhythmic movements of the train were slowly luring him into sleep when he suddenly felt the need to look over at Sakshi. Is she okay? She snuggled into a ball, like a cat. She was fast asleep.
He smirked to himself as he recalled the moments when she clenched her fingers onto his shirt as he held her from falling. Her eyes, crunched to close as she felt that she might fall again. She is so beautiful, especially when she is blushing.
Whenever she looked at him, he could feel she was drawn to him. He felt good, good to know that he could comprehend her inner feelings towards him. That she also felt the same as he felt for her.
But one thing that crept into his mind. What will happen to them after he ends this journey? When he leaves Kalyug and travels back to Hastinapur? What will happen to their growing desires and feelings for each other?
He sighs, before closing his eyes again.
As the train stops
The girls and Arjun hop down the train and start for the road to their destination, Vrindavan.
The dawn light has irked across the skies, illuminating the deserted streets as it is early in the morning. Arjun helped Sakshi for holding the duffel bag. She was thankful. The girls were exhausted and hungry. Looking for any kind of mode of transportation is kind of difficult at this hour; they decide to walk until they can find one. Arjun didn't want to use his brain too much at this moment but he was still clueless about what they were all fussing about. Vehicles, Vahan...why can't they just walk?
"yar pichle janmashtami meri mummy mujhe kitna force kar rahi thi yaha ane ke liye...tab man leti to aj itna mushkil na hota rasta pehchan na!" Archana regrets. Preeti was clenching her stomach. She is starving.
"tu itni bhullakar hai! Tu tab bhi bhool jati!" Sakshi mused. Archana glares then smirks as her eyes fall on Arjun passing a sluggish grin at Sakshi for her savage comment.
"wese pata hai Preeti, kal raat humari Sakshi bhi kuch bhool rahi thi! Apna hosh-o-hawaaz!" Archana creeks making Sakshi do a retake at her bestie. Arjun's eyebrows furrow. What is this new word again?
"Matlab?"
"Matlab kal raat to humari bechari Sakshi girte girte bachi! Firse...woh bhi Arjun ke..."
"AH...AUTO!" Sakshi croaks suddenly, "Finally, heh mil gaya!" Saying this she makes a sheepish escape; running to fetch it. Arjun gulps, not sure if he should follow her. The girls begin to giggle at each other, before looking at the timid ancient man.
"Preeti ji! fall khana hai ap ko?" He immediately suggests as he points at the mango tree on the other side of the road. Preeti looked around with gleeful excitement. She nods immediately. Archana sulks, he was skilled in switching the topic, too.
"Tum dono jao!" She shrugs. Agreeing, Arjun takes Preeti with him.
"250 rupay lagenge madam ji!" the Auto wala looked unconvinced at Sakshi's pleas.
Archana came around Sakshi,
"kya hua?" she asks,
"Aree yar dekhna! 25 minute ka to rasta hai! 250 mang raha hai?"
"kyu bhai, paise kya per pe ugte hai?" Archana looked savage.
Sakshi rolls her eyes at her choice of words,
"Bhai saab, 150 karlo! Please!"
"Dekhiye madam, 200 bola! Ab chalna he to chalo!"
She looked at Archana, pouting.
"kya hua Ram Prasad!" Two hideous-looking fellow lurks near the auto, checking out the girls.
"Nidhi van mandir jana hai madam ko!" the auto wala spoke with slight smugness.
"Oh ho! Koi nehi! Ap humare saath ayiye hum le chalte hei!"
Archana grits her teeth ignoring the mawalis, "Dekho tumhe 200 chahiye to thik hai! Aja Sakshi!" Archana began to move until the two men came in front of her; blocking her from leaving.
Sakshi panics, sensing trouble. The deserted road looked scary enough to creep the hell out of them. Arjun and Preeti are also out of sight.
"kya battameezi hai! Jane do!" Archana growls.
"aree madam! Hum apko free main Vrindavan or Mathura ghumane ko tayyar hai! Ap chaliye to sahi!" Saying this he catches hold of Archana's wrist. She looked furiously at him before yanking her hand free and smacking him square on his face.
"How dare you touch me?"
The man was furious now, "Teri itni himmat! Saali!" saying he lifted his hand for a hard blow. Sakshi gasped, moving her friend out of the way before he could hit her.
"Dekhiye please hume jane dijiye!" she pleads. Archana looked infuriatedly at her bestie for being such a wimp.
"Aree baby! Hum tumhe ab kaise jane de! Tumhari dost ne mere muh pe thappad mara hai! Faltu me! ab to hum tum dono ko to chor nehi sakte!" he sneers like a maniac. The auto wala and the other man looked amused.
Sakshi held Archana without saying anything reckless and started to leave the sight then and there. The guy immediately grabs Sakshi by her hair. She groans in pain. Archana looked furiously at them and raised her hand to hit the guy back but paused as she saw Arjun. Standing behind him. Arjun slowly shakes his head, signalling her to not do anything stupid.
"chor dijiye unhe!" he calmly spoke; the voice still holding its melodious harmony. The guy looks around and sees the huge-looking young man standing in front of him. He immediately let go of Sakshi's hair. She looked around wincing in pain and saw Arjun.
"Kaun hai be yeh? Khalli ka rishte daar ya taal ka jhaar?" saying this, the men began to roar in laughter.
"Main kaun hu yeh janne ki avashyakta kisi ko bhi nehi he yaha!" Arjun smiles; and motions the girls to follow him.
The girls start to leave but the man is not ready to give up and grabs Sakshi's hand, preventing her from leaving.
She yelps. Arjun blinks his eyes to control his rage before turning around.
"Chor ise!" Arjun threatens again, his voice has a strange coolness which ironically is enough for any criminal to pee their pants. The man didn't oblige him, on the other hand, another friend of his suddenly roared and ran toward Arjun, probably ready to lurch on Arjun. Arjun's face darkens and he spins his body, kicking the approaching man in the gut at the right time. The man's face puckers as he moans in pain. The other man who was clenching on Sakshi's hand, suddenly backed off.
Not wanting to book a ward in the hospital. The men look above as the sky begins to darken particularly around them. The girls look at each other, sensing the reason for the sudden climate change. As if the skies were not apprehensive as Arjun looked angry, his eyes were boring into the soul of the men.
"Sahabb jane dijiye! Ap logo ko Nidhi van mandir jana hai na!" The auto wala came to rescue his mates.
The girls look at Arjun, as he nods at them. "Jake bethiye ap!" he smiles.