Episode 4: The Paradise has a Heart

 Hesitantly, Roja opened the door and entered the room with the fireplace. The floor was covered with carpets and over them were electric blankets and pillows. There were a few more woollen blankets to wrap around. The whole room was warm and cosy.

‘Welcome back, Roja,’ said Preetham smiling at her.

'Hi Preetham,' said Roja waving at him.

In the next few minutes, she exchanged pleasantries with his wife Sushma, Vasa's wife Jennifer and Nakul. Except Nakul, the rest of them already knew Roja from the past. Nakul was a recent addition to Agnivesh's gang but even he was aware that Roja and Agnivesh had broken up four years ago. Jennifer made Roja sit next to her and they both shared a blanket to wrap.

‘Thank you, Jenni. This feels so good,’ she said pulling the blanket closer.

‘No problem, Roja. By the way, have you come alone?’ she asked with disbelief colouring her tone.

‘Yes. I wanted to go on a solo trip.’

‘Solo trip to Srinagar! Wow! My parents would have never let me come,’ she said shaking her head. Roja smiled at her words.

‘Well, mine didn't agree either. It took a lot of effort to convince them, but it was certainly worth the try.’

Just then Karna walked into the room.

‘Let’s go to the dining table. The food is ready,’ he said looking at the group.

There was a dining table in the living room with eight seats. As Roja pulled a chair to sit down, she spotted Agnivesh walk out of the kitchen carrying plates. A dull pain entered her chest. A part of her, however small, wanted to flee from that place. Yet she was successful in keeping a calm facade. He placed a plate in front of her.

‘Thank you,’ she said politely.

He simply nodded his head and took a seat, that was possibly the farthest from her. Everyone began eating the chicken fried rice and it was not half as bad as she had expected.

‘So Roja, how long are you here for?’ asked Vasu.

‘For five more days. I have a return flight on 3^rd January.’

‘Great! Our return flight is also on the same day. Then why don't you join us for the rest of the trip?’

‘But I already have a car booked for my travel,’ she replied.

‘That is not a problem. We also have a tempo traveller booked for our travel. Let me speak to Mr. Wahib and request hi to cancel your car booking. I am sure he will agree,’ said Karna.

Roja hesitated for a moment and gave a fleeting glance towards Agnivesh. He was looking down at his plate but he was not eating his food.

‘Come on Roja. It will be fun to travel as a group,’ insisted Karna.

Roja found it hard to say no to him.

‘Alright, I will join you guys but only on one condition. I will pay my share for all the expenses.’ Agnivesh glanced up at her but stopped himself from saying anything.

‘That’s wonderful! This is certainly beneficial for our budget,’ quipped Nakul.

Roja could not help smiling at his words. The rest of the dinner was completed with light banter and plans for the next few days. She felt at ease talking to his friends again. They were nice enough to not utter a single word about her past relationship with Agnivesh. He remained quiet all through the dinner. Roja knew that it was going to be hard for both of them to break the ice.

Although the room heater was on, it was too small to have any significant effect on the temperature of the room. Roja was indeed disappointed that they did not have oil filled radiator heaters. Mr. Wahib and his wife had assured that she would be absolutely warm inside the blanket but still she was not convinced. The electric blanket on the bed was switched on and there was another thick blanket over it. Roja sandwiched herself between these blankets and to her surprise, she felt comfortably warm after 15 minutes. She closed her eyes to brace for a good night’s sleep. The image that filled her eyes before she fell asleep was that of Agnivesh staring at her.

The next day when Roja woke up it was a little past 9 AM. Sunlight was streaming in through the beautifully embroidered curtains. The room heater was no longer operating and that was when she realised that there was a power cut. She gingerly peeped out of her blanket but it really took some effort to come out of the warmth. After her morning routine, she craved for a hot cup of tea. When she came out of her room, the doors of the two rooms on the same floor were still shut. While Vasu and Jennifer were in one room, Preetham and Sushma occupied the next one. The entire house was quiet so she assumed that nobody had woken up yet. As Roja walked down the central staircase, she saw Agnivesh staring out of the window in the living room. His back was facing her. She was not sure if he had heard her footsteps down the stairs. He seemed lost in thought. When she stepped down onto the ground, he suddenly turned around. He froze with his mouth half-open, unspoken words waiting to tumble out.

Yesterday Roja deliberately did not pay attention to him, but now she did. He was not the same man that she had left four years ago. He had a clean haircut with trimmed moustache and a light stubble. It suited him well and made him look quite mature. Although he looked like he had gained some weight, it was not very prominent under his sweatshirt. If there was something that remained unchanged, it was his fierce black eyes. She had always been attracted to them and now she hated to admit but the truth was that his eyes still had a hold on her. Agnivesh was looking at her with the fire of longing burning in his heart. Her hair was pulled into a messy bun while a few loose strands carelessly grazed her cheeks. Her dusky skin had attained a reddish glow in that cold weather. Her cheeks were no longer hollow, rather they were a little chubby which enhanced her smile. She had transformed into a curvaceous woman from a lanky girl.  His eyes rested on her lovely lips which were pinker than usual. Immediately his memory of their first kiss was desperate to be rekindled. He sucked in a deep breath to bring his thoughts under control. He hated the fact that this woman could still drive him crazy.

Roja slowly walked toward him instead of going into the kitchen.

‘Hi Agnivesh,’ she said in a more than necessary formal tone.

‘Hi Roja,’ he said finally.

‘How are you?’

‘I am good. How have you been?’ he asked tenderly.

‘I am doing well, she said with a slight smile.

She had really not planned this conversation but then it was not as difficult as she had expected. There

were a few moments of awkward silence and then she decided to address the elephant in the room.

‘See Agnivesh, I really did not expect to see you here. It was good to meet all of you after years. But if my presence is making you uncomfortable, then I will move to another accommodation,’ she said genuinely.

He looked at her raising an eyebrow. He realised that it was not just her appearance, her entire demeanour had changed.

‘That is alright Roja. I am happy to see you again. If you have no problem in travelling with us then I am fine with this arrangement.’

‘Thank you. I have just one request. For the next five days, can we be civil with each other?’

‘Sure,’ he said shrugging his shoulders.

She gave him a full smile and he could feel his insides twist in pain. That moment, he wanted to pull her into his arms. Outside his war-ridden heart, Srinagar was peaceful as ever on a beautiful sunny day.

To be continued...