chapter 15

Chapter 15In deep seaThe next day both of them went snorkelling over the shallow reefs of the island. They listened to the instructor quietly as he said, “Do not walk or step on the corals.” Choosing a mask that fit snugly, they tested it by putting it to their faces and breathed in. They attached the fins, put on the snorkels and entered the inviting waters. The underwater was magnificent; they could even touch many of the bright coloured fish! They saw turtles and sharks. They observed the eels with their heads peeping out of holes and crevices of the corals, slithering out in a serpentine motion – they looked so creepy and scary with their sharp teeth!Ved and Ishiqa came up to the surface slowly. “Wow! This underwater kingdom is so marvellous! So much fun when you gently touch a fish and it wriggles quickly away like a touch-me-not” Ishiqa squealed with joy. Then sighing happily, she leaned against Ved’s shoulder as if it were the most natural thing to do.“You are so right sweetheart, and if you have not had enough, our next destination is whale and dolphin watching.” He checked his watch. “There is still time to catch up with the whale watching safari. Come let’s go.” They returned the hired fins and snorkels and joined the group headed for the safari. Not wanting to miss out on anything, Ishiqa hardly blinked during the safari. For her effort, she was rewarded with the sight of many water species, including the blue whale and plenty of dolphins - the bottlenoses and the striped ones. “Hey! Which one was the Fraser’s?” she asked gleefully as the guide pointed out and named the species that were visible. “Ved! Did you see that!” She jumped like a small child getting her favourite lollypop. Ved was touched by her effusiveness and watched in wonder as her expressions changed in seconds - from curious to gleeful and uncertain to searching, or back to just being happy again. He felt something tug at his heartstrings when she very unselfconsciously brushed against his shoulders, or their thighs touched, sending electric jolts through his body. She wore her sunglasses, hiding the lovely colour of her eyes. Her T-shirt clung to her body like a second skin, as she wiped away the trickling sweat from her neck. He studied her willowy figure as she stood on the deck of the boat, her long, shapely legs bare under the shorts. He came back with a start when she turned to him and demanded, “Ved, can you spot the orcas?”“And what would that be?” “You mean you didn’t hear the safari dude saying that if we are lucky, we might spot the killer whale? They are called orcas. I am so scared! What if they attack us?” “Normally they wouldn’t, I suppose. But if you sizzle like this, I am sure they will want to!” She pouted. “No, don’t! Don’t you start off with all that again! Besides, you promised.”He rolled his eyes, as if to indicate he regretted it already.They reached the shore and Ved held her by her hand to help her out. “Next is sky diving.” “What! No ways! I am not going on that; no, no and no Ved!” Ishiqa squealed.She ran, and he playfully dived for her, missing her. She turned to see if he was following, and did not notice the stranded boat behind her. She bumped into it with force, and the jagged edges scraped her back through her T-shirt. She shouted in sudden pain and doubled up. She couldn’t reach the wound in her back, but felt pain where the skin had cut. Ved rushed up to her.   He sat down beside her and demanded, “Are you hurt? Let me see.” “No. Nothing much, I will manage,” she said bravely, but hardly felt that way. Ignoring her, he turned her around and observed that the wound was bleeding and her T-shirt was torn. He removed the grey sleeveless t-shirt he was wearing and asked her to put it on. “No, thank you Ved. I will be okay, honestly. Let’s get back to the hotel,” she protested. But he gave her a firm look and she lamely allowed him to help her wear his T-shirt. The T-shirt smelled of his citrus perfume, caressing her senses softly. Quickly they walked to their room.Â