Flight To The Unknown!

'You seem disturbed!' His announcement still a vivid echo around her.

Tara stared at Aryan for a moment, her thoughts still somewhat distant. The train's movement seemed to have a soothing effect on her as it began its journey, a feeling completely opposite to her inner thought process! She finally let out a sigh and said, "I just have a lot on my mind, Aryan. It's been a hectic few days."

Aryan nodded in understanding at her admission, recognizing that sometimes life can be overwhelming. "If you ever want to talk about it or just need someone to listen, I'm here," he offered, a soft smile playing on his lips.

Tara managed a faint smile, appreciating his support. "Thanks, Aryan. I might take you up on that offer."

As the train continued to carry them forward, she hoped that this journey would provide the break she needed to clear her mind and find some peace amidst the chaos.

As she leaned over, her back resting against the wall while her hand at the edge of the window, gentle breeze caressing her soul, her hair reacting, Tara felt the soothing sensation running through her veins. The sound of the engine, passengers chatter from other compartments, nothing, seemed to disturb her. The view of trees and surroundings passing by, having themselves blurred over time and distance, an easiness enveloped her.

Yet, in her distant memories, she could find many swirling thoughts and the top of them was just one, the recent information she discovered through her bodyguard!

No, not Aryan, of course!!

Why did.....Deep lie?!

Whom did he meet....that night?!

Why is he doing all of these things? In secret?!

She vividly remembered the conversation they had, him asking her to treat him as an outsider if needed!

Her heart somehow already heard it, not an asking but a request he wished, his eyes conveying the unknown suffering.

What was just happening?

The sudden feeling of being things kept of from, made her feel uncertain all over again.

The only rational reason she could find was- Deep getting to know about something which he couldn't share yet.

Did he get to know about any clues of the attacks?!

Why did he meet someone in secret? What for?!

Her thoughts were never ceasing, and the nervousness of the meeting ahead with her grandparents is not helping either.

While the other way, Aryan kept looking out the window, his feelings a mess, a mess that was temporarily getting treated by the view ahead.

Knowing he was the one to push away his own people, the reunion seemed hard to accept, from his side. Knowing he had somehow hurt them while hurting himself as well, was a painful swallow.

The uneasiness of unknown, nervousness of known, fear of uncertainty and the disturbance inward, whole of a mess.

He with a sigh tilted back, his gaze soon embracing the most pleasant view he could cherish.

Tara.

Her emerald eyes shining, reflecting the greenary outside that passed like a continuous series.

He could somehow understand, he at least had a reason of forgetting as a shield against the uneasiness he felt, but she had none! She really had none and the self-blaming part always hurts!!

The journey was long, perhaps long enough to get adjusted to the mixed emotions, and they both felt the time passing too slow.

Slow by slow.

Each second like an hour.

But the view was, really, soothing enough.

A cooling balm over the unseen wounds!!

***********

Deep's eyes had their motive set, travelling every corner of the flight, trying to find Aarohi! Knowing she's upto Mathura as well, he knew she's travelling with him, but finding her seemed a difficult task.

His goal was to hide from her while the execution of exactly opposite, was in its way!

Vinson's assigned task was just one, keeping an eye on Deep, and following the given commands. And so, his gaze never left the man seated beside him.

And Aarohi, who was seated in the business class, thanks to her brother, felt glad Deep had chose the economy class. Else she would have been found by him.

A chuckle escaped her, finding herself in an ironical situation.

She didn't keep things with him, yet she was trying to hide! Doing something unnecessary cause he knew she would be here! Flying along with him.

Yet, she hid while checking in. Perhaps she just didn't want him to feel uncomfortable, cause by informing about her travel, she sure had already made him feel that way.

Time felt increasingly suffocating for both the souls as the flight began.

The flight, to the unknown!!

************

Neel walked in the daylight, the busy world around drawing him in! People roaming suddenly becoming his entertainment view! The sun was bright, sky was clear, with very few clouds passing, and birds flying.

The buzzing busyness of the world didn't bother him, instead made him breath!

A sense of emptiness blended with relief embraced him!

His steps dancing somewhere between the carelessness and steadiness.

And the dance, took a halt when his eyes focused a feminine figure coming his way, her steps struggling for the steadiness unlike him. Hands busy holding bags more than necessary to hold.

His hands that rested in his pockets almost feeling the weight her hands were bearing.

Why is she holding that many bags? Too much weight that threatened her a fall?

Why is he even caring?!

As he watched her in wonderment, Meera unknown to his presence, kept heading towards him, her eyes focusing on not letting anything fall! Her gaze most of the time down to earth than up to the road!

And just a second, she would collide with him, until he voiced.

"Watch...." He warned low, standing unbothered, "your steps!!".

His voice brought up a frown on her face, looking up at him, it just grew more.

"You?" Her voice puzzled!

He watched her blankly, a sudden change in her face clearly noticed by him.

"You act as if you have seen my ghost instead me!" He chuckled.

She found no response to react in. Meera just breathed deep before a smile slowly formed on her lips! "Surprisingly, we meet again, mister!"

A brow raised, mister!

"Coincidentally?!" Neel shrugged.

Meera nodded hesitating, "If you mind giving me way, I have to go."

He nodded, "Where is it you're going to?", he asked surprising both her and himself.

He definitely is doing things that are unnecessary to him.

A step back, wasn't it what he was doing his entire life?

Well, she is just, a mere addition then!!

"I wonder how would that information be helpful for you!" She shrugged doubtful.

Neel shrugged as well, "I don't know," looking her up to down, he said, "but your sight is making me disturbingly curious!"

Her brows raised, how did she look? Bad? Wait, why should she even care!

"I fear I don't have time to satisfy the disturbing curiosity that you've caught upon me," her hands adjusted again to the weight of bags, "I'm getting late."

Neel watched her for a moment, "I might be helpful!" he suggested.

Wonderment was clearly evident in her eyes, helpful? The person she knew him as, wouldn't suggest this! What was happening?

'Try as much as you can to stay away from him!!' Deep's precaution still a vivid echo for her.

"I would not like the thought of troubling you again, so thanks, but no thanks." Meera said with a soft smile playing on her lips.

Neel shrugged, his hands taking half of the bags from her despite her reluctance.

"Mr.Neel, please...."

"I have free time, unlike in the past!" Neel cut her off with a shrug. He just turned away, walking ahead!

While Meera just stared him blankly, getting away with half of the bags, which his single hand held effortlessly.

Something was really strange about him today.

Neel chuckled at himself. He was behaving strange. He knew, but this acted good as a diversion. He meant it when he said that he was busy in the past. Yes, he was busy doing things he didn't care for. And today, he was free, at least for uncertain time, he was free.

And he didn't wish to think of unnecessary things in this free time, hence, this, was a good diversion!!

Another chuckle escaped him at his trial of justifying himself!

Perhaps, got too addicted of doing unnecessary things.

Meera anyway, involuntarily felt a sense of relief by having half of the weight her hands were bearing, now gone. With a sigh she rushed catching up his pace and they walked slow.

"I don't encourage the ignorance towards my questions, lady." Neel said, without even looking at her, his gaze kept ahead.

A sudden rush of another wonderment and realisation strikes her as she thought about his question, "I was headed towards the orphanage."

His head titled slightly as he recalled her self realisation that night - 'I was returning from an orphanage, that man might have seen me there!', "Your boss then do have morals like you mentioned, to let you go out on working days!!"

His comment did again wonder her, why is this man speaking so much today?

First he didn't talk to her the way he always had done.

Second, he offered a help from his side, something really strange! And her once infuriating helper now became good?

And the last and most important, he is, having, a, conversation!!

"Are you perhaps in a good state of mind, today?" Meera asked instead.

'Better state of mind, actually!!' She bit back her thoughts.

Neel looked at her just a moment before continuing to walk with a shrug, "It is a strange realisation you provide that offering a help origins from having a good state of mind!"

Meera, as always, couldn't shake away the way his way of responding to things, made her feel.

Bothered yet very unbothered!!

"I'm on a leave!!" Meera informed, a response to his unnecessary comment.

Neel chuckled low, her boss was on a trip, a threat to be precise, and here she was, on a leave! The so called important personal assistant of Deep!!

"You should have hired a taxi!" He commented instead, again.

Meera was the one to shrug this time, "World is too busy to provide a ride for me today," she sighed, "couldn't find one!!"

"We shall go for the bus then!" He suggested again, stopping with a sigh, turning towards her.

Meera watched him for a second, before a nod, without her permission, was provided.

His actions would not surprise her to this extent if not for Deep's precaution.

And she couldn't help but find herself aware about the situation, her primitive instincts of fear-danger, alarmed.