Chapter 18

The next morning as he neared the clove for his morning run, Simrat joined him. They ran a bit passing the rock cave and ahead in silence, the only sound being, the roar of the morning tide and the seagulls squealing away to glory. He wondered if he had to raise the topic of Manpreet’s conversation with her…They halted at the end of the long beach panting and he saw Simrat wipe the saline sweat off her brows. The simple action along with the tracksuit acting like her second skin did nothing to pacify his aroused state ever since she had joined him.

He sighed and stared at the distant horizon…not failing to notice the uncanny resemblance with his life, spread like the sea before him full of waves and its acumen further away blurring into infinity. Simrat moved close to him. “…Anshuman… about last morning…”

“…its… it’s fine… I understand… I know why you don’t want me to meet Manpreet…”

“…And yet you saw him behind my back…” She interrupted him.

“… It’s not like that Simrat…He insisted and I couldn’t deny…”

“…but why Anshuman…? Why do I have to repeat myself…?” She sounded exhasperated as she panted with her hands on her hips.

He turned towards her and saw tears welling up in her eyes. He held her shoulders. She tried to prove time and again that she was strong but all he could see was the vulnerable single mom fighting battles dime a dozen. “…Simrat…look at me please…” he said softly and she peered into his eyes. “…Simrat… I have no intentions of causing any harm to Manpreet… I am capable of protecting him… so don’t be scared… OK…?” But she shrugged away his hands and moved away crossing her hands at her midrib.

“…Anshuman… it’s way beyond even your imagination… I… I cant risk Manpreet at all…he is…he is all I have… and….”

“…don’t you think Simrat…in the garb of being protective you are depriving him too…”

“…I want him to survive Anshuman…”

“…I want him to survive as well as have a good life Simrat…” he was annoyed.

“…You are living in a fool’s paradise… you know nothing… the world is cruel and deceitful…”

Anshuman stared at the woman with blazing coals in her pretty eyes. “…Simrat… since you have been watching me so far… you know why I am in Goa in the first place… I am sure you must have heard what had happened to my sister here… She lived a life of misery and even died a cruel death…” He paced a moment to gather his breath and bring down the upward surge of emotion threatening to clog his throat. Looking back at Simrat he continued. “…Simrat… something about Manpreet… it just…it calms my inner turmoil… I love that boy… I am willing to do anything for him… do you know…? He doesn’t stutter at all when we chat…isn’t that something…? He is not the dyslexic child that he is touted to be… he is really good… and for crying out aloud…Simrat… your profession is more dangerous for him than him being with me… don’t you think he has improved in the few days…?”

“…That’s enough… please Anshuman… I am on my last mission now… I have lived the last nine years only for Manpreet… everything I am doing now… its for him…more than the country…All that improvement you are talking about is valid…but…only if he survives…”

“…Who were those men Simrat…?” Anshuman abruptly asked.

“… who… who… are you talking about…?”

“…The man in the mall…they were looking for Manpreet… why… why do they need a small frail kid…?”

“…Its… it’s because of me…Rewa Ma’am must have updated you…our team has been after the sleeper cell activated here in Goa and I have been busy all these years building a net to trap the bastards… they got wind of it and now are after Manpreet to rein me in…”

“…Simrat… this doesn’t make sense… they may stop you but not the entire SOP… so what’s the point in…”

“…there is a lot more than what looks the eye…” Simrat blurted and the emotion on her face this time wasn’t anger… it was fear.

Anshuman pulled her close and she went into his arms willingly. “…Simrat… I know you are strong, trained and all that… but I am here for you and Manpreet… just remember that… I won’t ask you your job details… because I know it’s classified… but can you at least let me in… at least where Manpreet is concerned… just… let me be the shoulder you can lean on…” he rubbed her back and felt her relax.

They stood like that in the company of the warm sun rays heating their bodies. Simrat looked up into his face and he couldn’t resist the urge to kiss her. Holding her face in his palms he apprehensively bowed and slowly his lips touched hers. The tender petals immediately parted letting him slide in and he reveled in her soft warmth. They kissed for a while and all world had come to a standstill… it was just the two of them giving and taking solace from each other, each fighting their internal demons.

They walked hand in hand towards the rock cave and the silence beckoned them. He stopped and looked into her eyes…his want was reflected in her beautiful depths and without another word he held her hand and walked into the semi-dark turning, hiding them away from the rest of the world. Their love-making surpassed all emotions he had ever felt… as they lay spent in each other’s arms, he said. “Simrat…?”

“…Hmmm…?” She yawned lazily.

“…there is a carnival and fair at Baga… its specially for children… can I take Manpreet there…? He will enjoy it for sure… I promise to take care of him…”

After a pause Simrat replied. “… fine but I will be there as well…”

Anshuman chuckled… this was something he had always wanted ever since he had known Manpreet was her son.  “…feather in the cap, Simrat… of course you will be there as well…”

And then his heart swelled further when Simrat asked. “Anshuman… what about spending a day together… all three of us… today…?”

©priyagole. No part of the story can be copied or shared anywhere without the consent of the writer.