Raj came back to his farmhouse in a trance.
" Oh God!", he said.
His mind was still on her. How soft, how fiery , how soothing how...feminine.
" Mine", he said again.
" DUDE", screamed Maddy. " WHAT THE HELL HAPPENED TO YOU"?
" Me", he was confused. " I am great".
" You look like you rolled in mud and grass", said Parry.
" And have that scratch on your head" noticed Ro.
" Ohh I fell", he said non-chalantly.
Raj touched his head.
" Fell", said the other four in unision.
" Were you attacked", asked Soly. " Somebody tried to kill you"?
" No my friend. On the contrary someone saved me", he said remembering her.
" Saved you", queried Ro.
" From a sure death", he said.
" Death", said the other four.
" She defeated my death. She is my life", he said.
" Are you high", asked Ro. " Did you consume anything"?
" Probably", said Raj. " Its all just a dream. Angel she is! Or a fairy?"
His friends were realy scared now. He has been poisoned before. But Rohit being an expert on poisons and antidotes saved him.
" Okay I am taking his vitals", said a worried Ro. " Hold him", he ordered.
" Just not the palm. Its where she held me", said Raj.
" Okay bro not the palm", said Parry.
After some time
" I have checked his vitals", said Ro. " He is fine except for the increased heart beat".
" Its because this heart beats for her bro", said Raj. " Its if like I am bound to her. I belong to her. She is mine to love and cherish. My life. When she smiles its the bright morning. If she is happy its a rainbow. If she is angry a volcano erupts and if she is sad the sky is grey"
HE WAS TOTALLY ENAMOURED.
" What if she f*cking leaves you Raj", Solly bellowed in pain.
" Solly", Maddy held him.
" What if you are no good in her eyes", cried Solly. " What if you always fall short"?
" Solly dude please", said Maddy.
" Then you feel like corpse my friend", said Solly. " Stop yourself Raj. Stop before you are in too deep". He wiped his tears and headed to the bar.
" I'll be with him", said Ro.
Maddy nodded.
" I don't know how much this love will eat Solly" , said Maddy. I am good waving it goodbye from far. I have seen my parents suffer in it".
But Raj knew whatever comes in their way Kenny will be his.
The day passed away quickly.
Next day
Raj was baffled. In his 29 years of life he has never felt this kind of pull towards a girl. Solly was dead against finding the girl.
" Save your heart and peace of mind", he said.
But Raj had already lost it to her.
He rose early, bathed and decided to take a stroll. While he was wandwring a few people told him about a Shiva temple nearby.
" It grants wishes", said a villager.
" How to reach there", asked Raj.
" Hop in in my tractor" , said a villager. I am going there".
Raj thanked him and climbed up. It took 10 minutes to reach the temple. He washed his hands and legs collected puja things and climbed up. As he was climbing a vision came
A sixteen year old boy and six year old girl getting married. Priests blessing their union in the name of Shiva.
As he reached up he saw a large compound lined with trees. His legs carried him to the back side of a temple. An old idol was there. It looked dirty and neglected. Something propelled him. He got water from nearby tap and cleaned it. He used all his things to clean and decorate the idols. He also got flowers to decorate it. Suddenly he halted looking at his hands.
" Why don't they burn", his thoughts came out loud.
" And is burning of your hands while worshipping the Lord normal Prince Rajeev", came a voice.
He turned around. An ascetic was smiling. He touched his feet.
" May Shiva bless you Rajeev", he said.
" Do you know me punditji"?
" I knew your mother. I am pundit Agnisharma. She was a staunch devotee", said the ascetic. " Why should your hand burn"?
" It felt like they have in past", he said.
" Time is relative", said Agni. " The only thing stable is this soul and God. Maybe in some other life the hands burned. Old habits die hard".
" I feel familiarity here. Umm actually I feel familiarity with a person I met just yesterday like I have always been searching her", he said.
" Then you are at right place", smiled Agni. " Shiva grants wishes. As you tie a bell you make a wish. And if wish is completed the bell comes off".
Raj stared at him.
" Go and do puja my son. Shiva will show you the way. You have a battle ahead in your life. May Shiva give you your Shakti", said Agni. " It will be a divine signal".
Raj moved back to the front.
Battle yes he had that. But how will Kenny help. Confused he joined the line for darshan.
As his turn came he silently bend down to touch his forehead to the ground to worship Shiva. As he stood and put his hands forward for prasad the priest blessed:
" May Shiva bless your union. May you two always be together".
" Me and", he suddenly turned towards his left really confused now and.....
" Raj", Kenny was pleasantly surprised.
" Kenny", his smile grew wild.
" Please move we need darshan too", said other devotees.
He held her hand and moved to the compound.
" Wow its nice meeting you here", she said lifting her dupatta.
She wore a fuchisa pink suit and dupatta. Bangles too with a bindi.
" You look beautiful", he said.
" Thanks", she shyly looked down. " This place is serene and peaceful", she said as they heard chimes of wishing bells.
Tanaak a bell came out.
Suddenly Kenny got a vision of Riya tying it and asking for Shiva to bless her and Vicky again.
"" Riya", she whispered.
" Ohh look the bell came out. It means Shiva granted us a wish", said Raj. He explained her what ascetic told him.
" Did you wish to see me Raj", Kenny said cheekily.
" With my every breath", he said looking in her eyes.
She shyly looked down again. She liked Raj. She knew that. She wanted him too. And Malti has always told her to go after what she wants.
" There is a fair downstairs ", she said to him. " Would you like to visit it with me"?
" Very much so", said Raj.
Well the ascetic was right. It was a divine signal. He met Kenny again. And Shiva's priest said she will be his. The bell came out too. He might have not tied it but he wished to meet her all the same.
So " Thank you Shiva", he said in his mind as he held her hand. Then they moved together to visit the fair.