Chapter 75: Chapter 75

Author's pov

" Yes, move your hands like that. You are doing great, Raksha," Orni complimented Raksha's dance moves.

Neela asked imitating Raksha," Am I doing right, aunty?"

" Of course, dear," Orni replied patting Neela's head.

Whenever Rudraksh goes to work, he leaves his daughter in Orni's house. Neela often comes to visit Orni and her friends Roman & Rion. So, Orni teaches the kids classical dance in her spare time.

It's been days since Rudraksh and Orni got close to each other. Are they friends? Are they lover? They don't know. The only thing that they know is they like talking to each other, they like sharing everything with each other and both of them have soft corners for each other but no one shared their genuine feelings till now.

Rudraksh asked Orni about her health a lot of times but Orni just said that she is fine. He almost forced her to see a doctor but she refused. In front of Orni's stubbornness, he didn't force her anymore. He doesn't know why he always feels that something is wrong with her and she is hiding something.

" No.....No.....You guys are doing it wrong. Look, how I do that," Saying that Orni started showing the correct move.

Suddenly, she felt like someone was staring at her secretly. She looked here and there but she found no one. She will just divert her concentration back on the dance move, she noticed a pair of black shoes behind a thick mango tree. It didn't take a lot of time for her to realise who was there.

" Someone has sneaked here without my permission," Orni said loudly taking slow steps towards the mango tree.

Neela said seeing a squirrel running away," Aunty, it's a squirrel."

" Raksha, when did your Daddy become a squirrel?" Asking that Orni grabbed someone's ear pulling him out in front of the girls. It was Rudraksh.

Orni asked suspiciously," What are you doing here?"

" Just wanted to see what kind of great teacher my daughter got that all the time she just talks about her teacher," Rudraksh replied giving her a toothy smile.

Orni asked suspiciously," Only she talks about me all the time?"

Rudraksh bit his tongue lowering his eyes. Orni let out a chuckle seeing his awkward expression. He was behaving like she had caught him red-handed doing something wrong.

" Rudra uncle!!!" Roman & Rion shouted from behind.

They came running towards Rudra and jumped on him. Picking them up in his muscular arms he kissed their fluffy cheeks. Just in a short time Roman & Rion get close to Rudraksh.

" My chams are here! I see," Rudraksh said chuckling.

Roman and Rion started talking to Rudraksh while he heard them patiently. Orni was smiling looking at them together. She was glad to see Rudraksh's caring sides to her children. She thought she will face great difficulties to convince her children about VR. But, Rudraksh's presence lessened this difficulty.

" Aunty, let's play hide and seek," Raksha suggested pulling Orni by her hand.

The other kids beamed with excitement," Yayy.....Let's play hide and seek."

Orni and Rudraksh shared a silly smile. They knew that in front of this lil gangs they have no courage to refuse them.

" Let's play then," Orni giggled tickling Raksha's belly.

Srilekha and Sanjay saw Orni and Rudraksh playing with the kids. They saw them from the balcony. Both of them were smiling seeing Orni so much joyous after a long time. Srilekha had tears in her eyes seeing Orni running like a carefree innocent Angel. She doesn't know how many years she craved to see her daughter like that.

" Rudraksh is a good man," Sanjay said observing Rudra with his scrutinising eyes.

Srilekha agreed," Indeed, he is."

" Our daughter deserves a gentleman like Rudraksh," Sanjay said and instantly Srilekha's head turned at Sanjay.

She raised her brow when he asked," Don't you think?"

***************************************

" Your breakfast. Have it hurriedly. You've got a lot of work," A constable said tossing a plate of food to VR who just woke up from his sleep.

A humorous chuckle left his mouth seeing the food. A very small portion of rotten rice along with vegetables. That's it. The food was looking so gross that even rats wouldn't like to eat it. But, VR has to. If he wants to survive, he has to eat it. It's not like VR is eating it for the first time. He has gotten used to it.

Taking the food in his hand he started eating it silently. Looking at his appearance no one can recognise VR anymore. There were noticeable changes in him. He has lost enough weight and the glow of his face. His hair is dry and messy. The handsome hulk in him is nowhere to be found. Now, he looks lean, pale and older than his actual age.

He spends his days staring outside through the small window he has inside the cell. Every second, every minute he only thinks about Orni, Neela & his kids. He wonders how they are. What are they doing?

He craves to see Orni. He craves to hear her voice. He craves to hold her in his embrace. 30 years is a long time he knows that there is no guarantee that he will live this long. But, still, he has hope that one day he will be with Orni & his children. Till then, he wants them to be safe and healthy.

" Khana hogaya to kam dhande pey laago (If you are done eating then start working)," A constable ordered opening the gate.

Silently VR came out of the jail and stood in a line with other prisoners. They will be taken behind the jail where they have to work on abandoned land. The authority wants to grow vegetables here. This prison is like a hell for all the prisoners. They had to work 15 hours in total. Except working in this field they had to clean the officials' quarters as well.

VR does whatever he is ordered. This suffering doesn't bother him because he knows that he deserves it. He just hopes after this punishment he will have the chance to be with Orni, Neela and the boys.

Orni's pov

Standing under the shower I was closing my eyes and felt the cold water running down my whole body. I just returned home from college. And, the person who dropped me home was none other than Rudraksh.

My whole mind was occupied by him. I thought he will just be a mere friend of mine but he was more than that. I don't know when did all these happen. After Vijendra I thought I will never be able to feel anything for any man but I was wrong. I am not understanding this feeling at all.

All the time I just think about him. I imagine him everywhere. It's not like he did something to impress me. He always behaved normally. He never crossed his limit as a friend. I enjoy his company. His talking, his personality and his way of thinking are different from that monster. He is a nice person. A nice man.

Most importantly, he is like me. Betrayed by past. A single Dad with hundreds of responsibilities.

" Gosh! I am behaving like that teenage Orni again," I mumbled twisting the shower knob.

Wrapping a towel around my body I returned to my room. My chaotic mind turned upside down seeing Rudraksh sitting on my bed.

" Now, I have started imagining you in my bedroom too," I let out ignoring him completely.

Going in front of the mirror I will just remove my towel when subconsciously my eyes fell on Rudraksh through the mirror. He was staring at me like he has seen a ghost. By the way, is he really here or I am hallucinating!!

Taking slow steps I stood in front of him and asked tapping his cheek with my finger," Are you here?"

His skin felt warm, a little bit oily and the beard on his face poked my finger. Wait!! He is really here!!! Screaming loudly I crossed my hands on my chest and he turned behind immediately.

" You saw everything!!" I shouted at him.

I heard his trembling voice," I didn't."

" Liar!!" I screamed.

He answered nervously," Just a little bit."

" What did you see?" I yelled again.

He replied in one go," A mole."

" I am asking you questions and you are even answering!! It's awkward. You should leave my room at once. Leave!!!" I ordered and I am sure half of the locality heard me.

By the way, where are my parents and my boys? Didn't they see Rudraksh entering the house? He left my room hurriedly. God!! Why are you always putting me in embarrassing situations? That too in front of Rudraksh!!

" Did he really see me!" I asked burying my head inside a pillow.

Coming out of my bedroom I learned the whole truth. It was my kids who pushed me into this embarrassing situation. Ma & Papa went to the nearby park for a walk. So, when Rudraksh came to the house and asked for me, my kids showed my room to him. By the way, why is he here?

" Ummm....... suddenly......you........" I started mumbling without looking at his eyes.

He replied forwarding my purse," You left it in the car."

" Thanks," I replied shortly taking the purse.

When I took the purse my skin brushed with his skin and I felt like electricity passing through my body. I took away my hands hurriedly because of embarrassment.

I was looking down when he bent down to my level. I looked at him nervously and found him staring at my eyes suspiciously.

" What!!" I asked.

He asked back," Why were you imagining me?"

" What? Wh....en!! I.....didn'.....t," I hesitated while talking.

He smiled mischievously and then handed me a small piece of paper. Without saying anything further he left my house. Thank God! He left. Out of curiosity, I looked at the paper and there was an address written there. I know this place. It's a beautiful place near the mountains.

" Why did he call me there?" I asked myself.

My subconscious mocked," To murder you!!"

" Now, shall I take a police force with me!!" I let out while brushing my wet hair.