Chapter 17

"Tarana? Are you alright?"

Jeet looks at me anxiously.

Was I looking that nervous? I shake my head side to side, "Yes, yes, all fine."

I guess I shook my head more vigorously than I wanted. The bun I tied my hair in, came undone, the wind taking the opportunity to whip my hair in different directions. I am sure my head looks like an anthropomorphic sunflower right now.

I frantically try to control the hair, but they dance about with a mind of their own. Keeping both my hands occupied trying to tie the rogue hair up, a sneaky strand of hair gets in my eye sending a brief stinging pain. I shut my eye, wincing at the sharp sensation, but before I could pull out the offending tress, Jeet reaches out his hand to remove it for me.

Although the whole process must have lasted for less than 2 seconds, in my mind it felt like I was in some sort of time warp, everything happening in slow motion.

Where instead of the quick flick of his fingers that happened in reality, he took his time, as he traced his index finger around my eye, pulling out the hair, his bent finger perhaps lingering on my cheekbone a fraction of a second longer than required?

Every smallest nerve, neuron, blood vessel, hair follicle, sweat gland, connective tissue and everything else that makes up the skin, including the bacteria that may be present on it, quivered with pleasure where his finger touched.

It is such an intense and unknown feeling, that for those two seconds I forget to breathe. I need to take a step back to regain my composure.

Jeet, hastily withdraws his hand and stuffs his hands in the pockets of his jeans. He looks down avoiding looking at me. "I..I have to go it's getting late."

I watch his retreating figure as the sun sets in the horizon.

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The next week is thankfully, pretty uneventful, beside a few temper tantrums of Nivedita.

Jeet is rarely seen in our department these days and when he does come, he will speak to Khushboo, Rohit or hang around in the graphic design section. He never acknowledges my presence, let alone speak to me.

When, per chance, we do come face to face, he just gives a curt nod and walks away as quickly as possible.

It looks like he is actively avoiding me.

Which is fine. I don't care..

It's not like those beautiful caramel eyes are haunting me... or that his presence around has any effect on me.. nope.. of course not.. definitely not.. no! No! NO!

"Taruuuu," Purvi comes bounding with her usual enthusiasm. "Hope you are all set for the picnic on Saturday," she chirps happily.

"Ugghh!" I groan. "I am not really interested in going," I get up to make myself cup of tea in the small kitchenette on our floor.

"Why not?" Purvi follows behind.

"You know me, I'd rather be alone at home, than with a bunch of unknown people."

"C'mon!" Purvi protests, "since when did we become unknown to you?" her voice sounds pained.

"You know what I mean, sweetheart," I reach out and touch her arm reassuringly. "I don't know most of the people in this company, other than the ones in this department." I stir the sugar in my tea, "Besides, I see you all here 5 days a week, and to think I have to see you all for an extra day," I pull a face.

Purvi playfully punches my arm.

"You can pretend we are not there," she sticks her tongue out at me. "And then, what better time to meet and know other people?" Purvi reasons.

"It is not a big crowd, just a few guys from marketing, another couple of people from accounts and the rest from our department. You know Ashok from marketing? He has arranged this picnic in Karjat. We will go trekking to the waterfalls, have lunch there and then return. We should be home before nine p.m. "

"Aaand.." she nudges me with her elbow, "the guys in marketing are hot, single and ready to mingle,' she finishes, winking mischievously, making me roll my eyes.

"What say you?" Purvi asks hopefully.

I bite my upper lip pensively. The plan sounds fun. I should meet new people. I can't live my life hiding from a perceived threat. Besides I may be in for some thrilling adventure and wonderful memories.

"OK, count me in," I nod in affirmation.

"Yippee!!" Purvi utters ecstatically, "Those of us taking the train are meeting at Dadar station at 6:00 am, be there by then." She bounds off to speak to Kavita.

Well, there's something to look forward to. I guess.

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I spot Purvi and Khushboo already waiting at our designated meeting point at the station, when I reach there at five minutes past 6:00 a.m. I am informed that Rohit and two guys from accounts will also join us.

Purvi whistles appreciatively, "Woah! Taru, you look so cute in that outfit. You should so totally ditch the boring salwar kameez you wear all the time."

"Yeah Tarana! You look so young and different," Khushboo chimes in. "I wish I had your figure to carry off that look," She adds with a touch of regret.

I look down at my outfit. I don't think I am dressed very fashionably. Just a simple light green t-shirt tucked in under comfortable khaki cargo pants and ubiquitous running shoes. My hair is tied in a high ponytail, to keep it off my neck.

And it's not like I have a model's figure either. I usually wear a size 8 or 10, which is pretty average, I guess. I am comfortable in my skin and don't really pay much attention to my size.

In fact, its Purvi that looks like a bombshell. She is like a size 4, above average height for Indian women at 5'8" with gorgeous thick long hair and her outfit today is just fab. Denim shorts, showing off those unending legs, with a black tank top under an open red and black flannel shirt. Sometimes I wonder why she did not take up modeling. She would have totally killed the competition.

It is almost 6:30 a.m. by the time everyone arrives, and we board the train. Due to the fact that we are heading in the direction opposite to regular traffic, this early on a weekend, the train is pretty much empty and we all travel in the same compartment.

It takes around two hours to reach Karjat station and another twenty minutes reach our destination. We all had a good time enroute, especially with Akshay from accounts, who I must admit is kind of cute.

Akshay is a pretty talkative chap and we ended up talking to each other for most part of the train journey, mostly about our love of old hindi movies and songs.

Kavita and two girls and two guys from accounts meet us at Karjat station.

Somehow, I ended up sitting next to Akshay in the mini bus sent by the resort to pick us up. I have a feeling, actually almost certain, this was purposely arranged by Purvi, who was herding us inside.

I narrowed my eyes at her, knowing what she did. She just smiled innocently as if it was a mere coincidence, but the innocent smile turned into a smug grin as she walked away. Cunning brat!

I know what she is doing, but I can't really be angry at her. I know she has my best interest at heart and wants me to be happy and frankly I really don't mind sitting next to Akshay; he's fun to talk to. But if she hopes there will be something more between us, then she's sadly mistaken.

No way am I going down that path! Right now, my goal is to make something of my life. I need to ensure my security - financial, physical and emotional. I have promised myself, to never be vulnerable again. I don't want to be the scared, whimpering Tarana that I once was, who foolishly trusted and lost everything in the bargain. I cannot allow any distractions in my life and certainly no foolish, fickle emotions like love, if such a thing exists.

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The main building of the resort is a beautiful two storey high structure, situated at the base of a hill, with a densely wooded forest fanned out behind. A small well-manicured lawn is spread out in front of the resort entrance. A massive, kidney shaped swimming pool, divided into adults' and children's section is situated behind the complex with a pool bar and a games room next to it.

A larger lawn surrounded by palm trees, and other tropical vegetation divides the pool from around a dozen or more individual cottages scattered around.

The entire place has a calm, earthy feel to it. I immediately feel my stress draining away as I enter through the gates.

The hostess greets us at the entrance as we troop in and shows us to our cottage where we can keep our bags and belongings.

We drop our bags and are led to the dining area where breakfast is being served, which was really not necessary as the smell of the food and my rumbling stomach would have guided me there anyways.

Purvi and the rest walk ahead of me chatting with each other.

I turn to glance at the people sitting around the tables, looking for known faces which I see many of, although I hardly know any by name, when my eyes lock on to a pair of all too familiar, caramel eyes.

The very brief flicker of sparkle I see in those eyes, when our eyes clashed is immediately replaced with a coldness that freezes my just forming smile. Jeet turns his head away to continue his conversation with the group of men at his table.

I still have no clue as to what I have done to make him act so cold towards me. Granted we were never close or even friends, but as colleagues, I expected him to at least be civil to me. And here I was thinking that we were actually going to get along.

Lost in my thoughts, looking at the floor, I absentmindedly turned assuming to follow whoever was in front of me, not looking at where I was going. Too late, I saw a large figure looming in front.

Before I could stop myself, I crash into Deepak Ashay!

I bounce off the protruding potbelly like a kid in a bouncy castle. My step falters as I am pushed back. Deepak's hands grab both my arms tightly.

His lascivious grin gets wider as I unsuccessfully try to wriggle myself out of his grasp.

"Tarana, are you alright?"