Chapter 40: chapter 40

Arnab  looked at the silent figure that sat in the passenger seat peering out the window. They were headed for Kasauli which they would be reaching in about another fifteen minutes or So. All the way here Mowri  hadn't said a word to him and all because he had insisted on driving himself instead of taking a taxi. She was very stubborn that way. Arnab  couldn't help but smile.He was feeling fine and he had told her so but she hadn't listened threatening him with a phone call to Harpreet but he hadn't given in and he had also removed the sling. Kasauli wasn't so far only an hour and a half drive from Pathankot. He had driven the car carefully not straining his right arm too much. But it seemed Mowri  was upset with him over this. She probably worried too much.And that needed getting used to a bit. Nisha had never been I ike that and since his divorce hehad been living alone doing things his way but now that he was married to Mowri  he had to take her into consideration as well. He had already arranged for a room at the army guest house in Kasauli after a lot of nagging and bullying fromboth Jassi and Harpreet last evening. They were to stay in Kasauli for a day only. He didn't like her this quiet so he decided to break the silence."You sure you don't want to talk to me?" Arnab asked cheerfully.Mowri  glared at him not that it fazed him his smile only broadened."l am fine Mowri  you are worrying over nothing."he said as he glanced at her then straight ahead on the road.That did it."Worrying over nothing?" she said almost screeching. "You were shot. I don't care if that wound is just a scratch. But how does it concern me? In your opinion being macho is more important than being careful. I will not take care of you if you fall sick because of an infection," she said and looked out the windoW.Mowri  had been livid with him so much so she hadn't spoken to him at all. No matter how much she asked him to take it easy and take a taxi he refused to heed a word. So, well, if he was being stubborn so was she. She didn't care if he thought it was immature of her to do somethinglike that but if he was going to ignore reason she was going to ignore him too. Though he drove carefully. Taking care he did not strain his injured arm the damn man had even removed the sling. She had threatened him with a call to Harpreet but he had laughed it off. What was she supposed to do? As they neared the city she looked curiously at him. She couldn't see his eyes as they were covered with his glasses.Those aviators suited him so well. Hell, he was handsome. The devil. Why was she calling him names? Because she was upset with him a tiny voice replied. How could he take his injury so lightly?"I thought you weren't talking to me,'he replied with mirth.Mowri  decided not to even look at him. Why was she so worried? Damn she was becoming soft. She will have to watch out else she will become all mushy. What was happening to her?Where was her control? She was upset because he wasn't taking care of himself. But he was a grown man he knew what he was doing. He was levelheaded, mature and experienced. Then why was her heart not listening to her? She was sO upset. Her lips trembled a little. The emotion whatever it was, was choking her. She had never felt this way before and so to handle her feelingsright noW was a bit too much. Why were men such idiots? Why did they never listen to reason especially if their wife gave them one? Was itego? Or just plain male brains?"I have better things to do," Mowri  replied hotly."Like?" Arnab  asked amused."Why should I tell you?" she countered. "If you don't listen to a sound of reason then why should I tell you anything?" she said."Because we are friends," Arnab  said quietly.That made her look at him. Now he was acting hurt. Really? He was going to play the emotional card on her now. Damn the man but he looked so earnest practically adorable despite his obstinate nature."Did you just remember that?" Mowri  asked and raised an eyebrow."Ouch, he said with pretended hurt, "you do knowhow to hurt," he said and then grinned.And that made her heart stop. For a second. She couldn't look away. It made him look years younger. Almost boyish. She gulped. She could see the glimpse of another Arnab  in him.Probably the one he had been before things changed for him."Arnab " Mowri  said seriously, "I know maybe you are not used to being looked after or maybe you think you are fine whatever it is I wouldn't like it if something was to happen to those stitches.Harpreet said you should take three days of rest and you are doing the exact opposite," she said."Mowri , we are going to Kasauli to spend time together" Arnab  replied still smiling, "what do you think we are going to do there," he asked then went on without waiting for her reply, "I assure you I will not do anything strenuous, besides this drive is a breeze. I am resting. Relax" he said.Mowri  sighed and shook her head. It seemed he wasn't going to listen well, had he wanted to hewould have done so before only, in any case they had almost reached the city now. She couldn't do much. Only make sure he did rest. She looked out at the passing scenery. She had to find an opportunity to talk a bit about their past at least hers and then take things from there. But how?She bit her lower lip as she thought. "Have you ever been here?" he asked."Yes," Mowri  replied, "but I was very young. I don'tremember much of it," she said."Hmmm," Arnab  said, "| have been here many times. It is a beautiful quiet city compared to a lot of other hill stations. I like it here" he told her."Have you travelled a lot?" Mowri  asked."Yup," Arnab  answered with a smile, "I love travelling. Going around, exploring new cultures, meeting new people, eating local cuisines, you can call me an enthusiastic traveler" he said.Mowri  smiled. She heard how much he liked to travel. There was a certain amount of satisfied happiness in his voice."Do you like travelling?" Arnab  asked."I do, butI never got the opportunity to do much," she said."Okay, then we should improve that littleopportunity" Arnab  said and smiled, 'so what place would you like to travel first with me," he asked. Mowri  hitched a breath. The way he said those words though casually said took on a whole new meaning for her. He was asking her where she Would want to travel first with him. That was the Sweetest thing he had ever said. All anger she had felt, all upset at him not listening to her this morning vanished. He was slowly unknowingly breaking her shell. She smiled. A warm genuinesmile.And this time it was Arnab 's turn to miss a beat.She looked so radiant when she smiled like that. He felt his throat constrict. He had no clue what had brought that smile on but he wanted to keep it there. Her smiles were so rare they were precious. Wait? What? He cleared his throat and looked back at the road to see they did not end up in a ditch."How about a place with a beach?" Mowri  suggested."Okay, in lndia or outside?" he asked."In India," Mowri  said lightly, "I guess we should explore our country first and then probably go international," she said."Sounds good" Arnab  said liking the way she said 'we' including him in her plans, "but for now you will have to do with Kasauli ma'am" he said as he entered the city, "we will check in and then go tour the city today," he said with a smile, "but first I think we should stop for lunch you must be hungry." he said and as if on cue her stomach grumbled. Arnab  looked at her and grinned.Mowri  looked away embarrassed. Arnab 's sensitivity always took her by surprise. In her anger and upset she had forgotten she hadn't eaten anything since morning and it was close to noon now but he hadn't. Mowri  realized that so far her time with Arnab  had gone without a hitch because he had made it so easy for her. How had he fared? Had she made his adjustment to her easy as well? What did he think of living with her? Did he ever compare her with Natasha? If he did what did he think? Of course he must have compared her with his ex. It was only human.Did she hold a grudge if he did that? She thought about it. Actually no. It was perfectly normal for him to do it, what mattered was the result. Was she seeing green somewhere? No. And then she frowned. Why would anybody leave such a thoughtful, understanding man in the first place?They will have to talk about their pasts. Being unsure of where you stood in a relationship was not good.     She took in a deep breath as Arnab  parked the car in front of a nice restaurant. Maybe she should start with hers. Not the whole truth perhaps but start somewhere and build the trust slowly. That would open a door to converse and know more about each other. After all to cure a disease you needed to know what you were dealing with first. And with that decision madeshe got down from the car.****************