Dwija had moved away in a blink of an eye from Sashi's embrace to the other corner in the car's back seat. Sashi's hands had fallen away down on his lap. He kept looking outside to some far distance.
"What did you say?", Dwija asked with an unbelieving undertone laced in her words.
"Marry me!"
"Sashi look at me."
Sashi turned his head towards her, she could see his eyes fluttering, failing to meet hers. She said carefully, "Have you forgotten that your mother, Mithila bua is my father's sister? I have always had you as an elder brother! Even though we are not blood-related directly, we are first cousins. How can you expect that kind of thing from me?"
"Why pretend to say this brother-sister nonsense Dwija? You can simply say that you don't like me or see me unfit as a match for yourself, it is fine with me. You also know that this marriage between first cousins is acceptable in our tribal culture. Just say you don't like me, don't give me any other useless crap", his eyes were lowered as he spoke in a curt tone. He took a long breath and then met her gaze, "If I did not happen to be your cousin, if I were a random guy, would you marry me then?".
Dwija did not answer. Maybe she did not have one. She had never thought of Sashi from any other point of view other than an older brother, the one sibling who cared for her and loved her.
"I got to go, I am already late for college.", Dwija hurried to get out of the car when Sashi gripped her wrist.
"Your mother was correct. Problems are going to arise Dwija, very soon. People will start taking advantage of your father's absence. They will be both insiders and outsiders, and you will never know who the person is until the very last moment. I won't be able to stop everyone and sometimes you might find me on your opponent's side. So, marry me. I know you have never loved me, but you will come to. Every arranged marriage happens that way, isn't it? This alliance will be an answer to all those malicious people out there, that you are not alone. I am with you. I will protect you."
Dwija freed her hand once Sashi was done talking and was opening the door of the vehicle to get out. Sashi who was now looking down at his empty hands said, "You will regret this Dwija".
Dwija turned halfway and while looking at Sashi sideways she said, "Let me. You are asking me to call for a truce even before the actual fight has begun? I am not the types to seek a man with the purpose to hide behind him just because my household now is devoid of one. I don't love you, so problems or no problems I won't marry you, it is as simple as that. And whoever those people you were talking about, and you too bring your A-game on. I am waiting."
Sashi's expression looked troubled. He ran his hands through his tousled hair. He was bothered by Dwija's words. That small innocent Dwija he had known for so long, who had leaned on him for every single thing, had now outgrown, she had outgrown the cage of his embrace. She did not need him anymore. He felt abandoned. "I won't keep you long Dwija, Gagan kaka will take you to college.", Sashi said, either of them not looking at one another.
"No, you need not be bothered for me."
"I am bothered when you don't listen to me. So, Please!, Please listen to me this once. I am tired. I can't argue anymore.", saying so Sashi got off the car.
Gagan got into the driver's seat and looked at Dwija from the rear-view mirror. She was looking at Sashi's receding back. Her face looked paler than before. Her eyes looked ready to shed a fresh batch of tears. It had been only a few months and days since she had lost her grandfather first and her father next. Her two vital lifelines had been severed. Two important veins had been slit open brutally, one after the other. She was nursing her wound under the intricate stitch and perfect band-aid that Sashi's presence provided. But the band-aid was ripped out mercilessly, the stitch was torn open cruelly leaving the veins, rawer than before, more profusely bleeding than before. She had no idea how long it would be before she was drained to death. She already felt exhausted.
Dwija caught Gagan looking at her. "College chalo, kaka. Let's hurry."
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Several hands touched her body, she felt that. She was lifted, raised, laid down. Things, cold, slippery, wet rubbed across her skin, no place left untouched. Torrent of a variety of feelings kept washing over her. One moment it was pain, other moment it was relief. One moment she was tired, other moment she was relieved. One moment it was cold, other moment it was warmth. One moment it was burning, other moment it was ice cold. One moment she felt wet, other moment completely dry. All the sensations ran their courses through her entire body. Her consciousness slipped in and out faster than the fastest thing in the entire universe, so fast that her mind barely got the chance to register what was happening to her. She tried hard to comprehend, she tried to fight to stay awake, but she could not. She had to surrender, she thought. And finally, she gave in letting unconsciousness get the better of it.
When Dwija woke up, she realized that she had been lying down. Her body felt sore, but she did not feel any pain. The horrid feelings from before, all were absent. In fact, she felt relaxed, well rested. She tried moving her hands and legs. They were free. She took a deep breath. The air felt fresh and warm. She felt weird.
"Is this a dream or was that a dream?"
She was perfectly capable of comprehending her situation with just opening her eyes. But she did not dare to. "What if this, now is a dream!", she thought. She did not want to get back at that nightmare. She wanted to stay here, this way.
"What if that was a dream!"
"Dwija!"
Dwija's thought process broke its trail at her mother's loud call.
"Yes, I am at my home with my mother, everything else was unreal, surely a nightmare. I am okay, everything is okay."
She was ready to brush aside the nightmare and return to her own world.
"Dwija!", her mother called out louder.
Dwija opened her eyes and tried to hoist herself up on her elbows. Her eyes caught her mother's. She was unable to decipher her mother's emotions from her tear-stained face.
"What have you done Dwija! What have you done!"