‘You want to kill me or what?’ Taasha howled as she stood entangled in the wings.
‘Bahut zindagiyaan lee hai inhone!’ Amaal let out a pained laugh.
I pushed my frown up and hard in response. Nothing right now in front of my eyes was adding any ground to these allegations, both of these allegations to be precise. Rather , thankfully, the Sun was diligently competing with the wind speed today which was rare in these mountains, knowing them well since my childhood. Like estranged lovers they always teethered in opposite directions. What if there was only good wind speed today, which was , mind you, the only requirement of the shot, and no Sun at all? She would be hanging frozen in the air. But Taasha being Taasha could fish out a drama even amidst a funeral and Amaal was leaving no stone unturned to make the most of his time left.
I better hide behind the camera. Let the hunk bear her ramble.
He was standing next to Taasha. His pulsating and ready to break off biceps were holding the angles of the paragliding equipment with a solemn firm while she was struggling to align herself with the wings. He was enacting the instructor who was to teach her paragliding as per the script. Being the methodical actor he claimed to be , he had already spent the last few days on learning the nuances of the sport itself despite being told and knowing himself well that the role required him only to mouth the instructions while on the ground and buck her up when she was in the air later.
Actually it was Taasha who should have practised hard in his place . But her fear of heights and the deadline of 21 days left me with no choice than to make her shoot at the first go with simultaneous intermittent training. But next time, this chap will not be in my team. However accomplished an actor he may be, if he can’t listen to his director, not my worth. I avoid these art school types who believe that few minutes of their performance can carry the whole movie on its shoulders and make it sail through.
He had enticing eyes though, the olive green kinds , difficult to stay angry with, for long.
‘Ahem ahem!’ Amaal cleared his throat, ‘Abhi hum hai yahaan, kuchh din hi sahi.’ A grunt and then a smile followed.
‘You should never do this to the ones you love Tughlaq!’ Meanwhile Taasha had decided to grunt at me now.
‘Ab kya hua?’ I tore my eyes away from the olive green ones on the screen.
‘You knew well how much I dread heights, and this cold , uff?’ She snapped tearing her face from the lash of the winds. Her skin was drained of all blood. Shaking off her hair falling in her eyes she continued. ‘ Why could not you think of the climax somewhere in silk harems or exotic beaches? Just because he wanted it? Right Amaal?’
‘You go Girl! Amaal laughed it off.
I shot my eyes chiding at him. ‘She is such a child and you are playing along’.
‘Mohtarma, mind you, a child’s instincts are always the strongest!’ The thought unnerved me.
I had told her specifically not to have that strawberry shake first thing in the morning. But we know Taasha. It was giving a nice shade to her off white jumpsuit though.
I shouted to Ajay, an assistant on the team, to help her clean up a she ran towards us. She was forced to stop midways in the run up to the flight as her insides threw up in fear. I made her sit down on my chair in front of the screen. She was in tears from the acute strain on her gut. Was gasping. I gave her a bottle of water to wash meanwhile as Ajay got hold of a few hand towels. She took a quick swig in and held my hand.
‘Does he know about it Angie?’ Her words wet with tears implored me. She did not stop at that. ‘I am sure he does, but did he mention, did he ask? I was running. All was fine but suddenly from somewhere this thought came and I froze and all of this’. She ran her eyes over herself.
‘Please tell him we never meant it, at least this ways.’ She pressed my hand.
I shuddered her hand away and looked at Amaal. He was busy throwing stones on the opposite side aiming for the blue rock. He looked back. His gaze further drained all the blood left in me. I knew he could hear my shudder. I quickly got down to Taasha and began wiping her with a white towel and reprimanding for not listening to me , ever.
‘Tell na? What is going on?’ She chose otherwise instead.
‘Oh my God! She is a witch, I thought she was joking all this while!’ Amaal squeaked followed by a chuckle. I mimed my lips to ask him to keep mum, pretending as if nothing happened. Taasha’s gaze followed mine. Meanwhile, I mimed another query at Amaal.
Are you mad? Why would I allow her? He feigned a pale shrug. He had heard what I did not want him to but why was he not coming to it and avoiding the subject? Knowing him well his hands should have been at my throat that night at the foot of the mountain itself. May be there exists a part , a back story which I am not aware of. But this is not what he is, or atleast was? Is he bound by some instructions, some rules, some direction from the guys above? I know he is listening intently to every word right now scurrying across my mind .
His ramble is just another feign, a mask.
Seriously why would I give her the permission, let her know of my coming back? Of all the people, her? Never. How many times in my life had she lied about you not being there with her when I called up? I am not judging it right or wrong, there may be reasons, hers or yours, but painting me a villain or someone who should stay away from you was just not done. I had my issues but then you had only me, how could she do this to you?
All couples have problems. They are simple finding their way. It may take years or even a lifetime for some. None has a right to pass a judgement or barge in and claim a right to replace, in the process.
His mind paused for a bit , only to continue again. But yes, this Taasha in front of me feels different. I don’t know how, let ’s say may be someone on his way randomly tapped on the manhole of her shallowness and she could not help sliding down in some depths and bamm.. found her real, her solid ground which is good for her. But somehow does not feel right for me. I am finding it hard to stand her piercing eyes which are rightfully piercing me abiding all the laws of Physics but actually peeling me off with every fall of her gaze. Let’s see till when I shall survive.
The piercing eyes and the almost cleaned up jumpsuit got up once again to navigate through the wings and began running.
‘So, finally what you imagined is happening?’ I beamed looking at her as me and Amaal stood in front of the camera screen.
‘What we had imagined, Madam!’ He nudged me with his shoulder.
‘Yes Sir, absolutely. Just that in those days there were no glides and all’.
‘Why did we grow up Anjana?’ The Sun was fighting its way in to his eyes , daring him but Amaal kept staring out without a blink.
But that day, years back,there was no glimpse of Sun and the chill was seeping in to my bones even through my wind cheater. I don’t even want to mention my bare legs. I had carefully hidden those ugly black leggings which Ma wanted me to wear, behind the curtains facing the valley , right in the morning. She could never find them as she dreaded the depths .
I wanted to wear the sunshine yellow dress that fell right above the knees. Amaal had brought them from his London trip. Since he could not stay away from me for long, he had landed here the next day. I wore the dress only for special occasions. Ma was howling when I left the guest house , only in that. The trail of goosebumps on my legs had already risen , stiffened and died down after about ten minutes of the hike. And them being dead, it was only the upper part of my body which though well covered was making my teeth chatter. The wind was roaring at such an intensity that even if gliding facility was somehow available that day and in those times, even the equipment would be blown away much before unwrapping.
Another reason for our excitement and hurry was Vinay Uncle and Babita aunty who had again sneaked out of the guest house, a few minutes back. We often followed them for fun and sometimes….
Wait, wait. Let me introduce them properly first. They deserve it. They were the only couple who radiated some hope amidst these bickering,lamenting, cribbing, farting and burping couples who smiled only when required socially. That also only when required badly. And the intensity of that ‘badly’ lost its strength with every consequent anniversary dinner.
But Vinay Uncle and Babita aunty were this eternally in love couple who did not hesitate in sneaking out or in , depending on the situation, at every opportunity for some private moments.
‘Do do bachhe ho gaye , phir bhi inko sharam nahin aati!’ Ma would squirm in unison with her gang huddled in a corner knitting monkey caps for their husbands. While all the Dads would behold them like two little kids frolicking in the rain.
They had sneaked out today in heavy coats and mufflers.
‘Must be something really scandalous that they needed to hide their faces!’ Amaal had wondered from behind the iron railing facing the exit of the guest house.
‘ Must be the cold buddhhu.’ I had tapped on the back of his head.
‘Oh yes! They must be going uphill probably. Why wait then, follow me, Agent Angie!’ He flapped up the hoodie attached to his jacket. It landed right on his head twining with mine.
Shivering, clambering and snorting we followed their footsteps. The two of us appeared a younger version of theirs, past following the present. Except that we were only holding hands and their hands were wrapped around each others’ bodies pressing them close together , which to our eyes seemed more out of love than cold. The chilly breeze was rushing past us after brushing and tickling them . In the process it daintily was also delivering the whiff of the fragrance Babita aunty always wore. Every couple in the group wondered about it; together and individually but it was only the two of us who knew. So what if Amaal was slapped really hard by Uncle Vinay for snooping in their room in their absence.
He had announced the name of the perfume with a victory shout when he was thrown out , while caressing his reddened cheek.
Passion, it was.
‘Is this their secret?’ I had jumped.
‘I will buy you one when we get married. Rather I will always keep a cupboard stashed. You never know. Remember they suddenly without warning stopped those sweet cigarettes last year.’ He had promised with a still red cheek. Our little talisman for not ending up like others. We had decided not to get married ever till we discovered the secret.
It had been a while climbing now. I was wondering if they were also panting like us. The track seemed less and less taken now. Even the perfume seemed to be lost in the meanderings. Hope we had not lost them.
‘Whoa! Can you see that?’ Amaal whispered.
Oh yes! It was the cliff at the edge of the mountain. Our eyes which had turned wide at the sight , suddenly squeezed in. It was also the suicide point which our parents always warned us of .
‘But only if one is sad or depressed that it should be dangerous. In fun why will anyone do that? I had asked Dad.
‘There is a certain energy there which pulls you down, you , your heart and your mind’ . He had clarified with a snort.
‘Bhoot kehte hain usko'. Ma had brought an end to the conversation.
As we were growing , many a times we planned to pick this dare but the thought of the energy pulled us back, every time.
‘Arre I hope they are not…….?’ I squeaked. Amaal put his hand over my mouth. Tears rushed out huddling in despair . Our last hope was also going down the valley. Oh God , please do something. We was praying feverishly. Our feet frozen .
They were standing there, at the top, Vinay and Babita. Solemn and white faced, both in wind and fear. Uncle propped Aunty to stand ahead, in front of him, facing the valley.
‘Oh my God, is he going to push her?’ I jumped.
‘Better , no? What if she cowers down and does not jump after him? You never know with girls’.
‘Uff!’ I wringed out his fingers in my hand.
Meanwhile Vinay Uncle took a little step forward and grabbed her from waist.
‘Oh they are going to jump together. Marenge ek saath, jeeyenge ek saath types!’ Amaal winked.
They stood in silence. Uncle was calm, in control but Aunty was shivering in fear and doubt.
‘Why is he forcing her? You won’t do this to me na? Ever?’
‘Shh..’ He place his finger on my lips.
Vinay Uncle then pulled himself up, took a deep breath in and began sliding his hands up her body closely . He slid them up till her arm pits and then raised her upper arms, elbows and then hands and fingers in a straight line. He just stayed there.
Two bodies, one soul.
I’ll die, I’ll die, I’ll die…She was chattering.
I’m there, I’m there, I’m…. He was chiming along.
After a while, as if on his command, even the wind abruptly halted and stood in a respectful silence at this spectacle. Tears rolled down in their eyes. And ours.
Few months later, the same tears rolled again when Jack and Rose posed the same, unknowingly daring the menacing yet beautiful glacier. The tears were more for how the angrez had robbed our ideal couple off their due credit and raked in millions. These colonizers, they still had not got rid of their habit. I fumed.
‘Angie!’ This is a Hollywood pic, not British! Amaal had tapped on my hand shaking off the extra salt stuck in his fingers before dipping his nose back in the popcorn bucket.
You know those moments when your eyes fall short to capture the awe, your cheeks feel stretched, unable to beam and widen further and your hearts jumps in the air, out of you, to encompass it all. My eyes gushed as we stood replacing them . Me and Amaal, hand in hand, errr .. arm in arm perched right at the edge of the cliff , right at the beginning of another world. Our ideal couple had just left, much more entwined around each other, leaving us tickling with their ‘Passion’.