-: Pancha Vastra :- ( By Shailu )

[shailu4ever]

 
Her face is not conventionally beautiful by Bollywood standards, her features are too delicate, too thoughtful.
 
Her nose is slightly long.
 
Her chin gently pointed.
 
There is a small scar near her left eyebrow, barely visible, that he didn't notice before.
 
But her eyes.
 
God.
 
Her eyes.
 
They are dark brown, almost black in shadow.
 
But in direct sunlight they turn amber warm, flecked with gold.
 
Deep-set beneath natural brows she has never shaped or altered.
 
Untouched.
 
Real.
 
Honest.
 
 
And the way she looks at him,
 
There is no performance there.
 
No calculation.
 
No attempt to appear attractive.
 
She is not posing for his attention.
 
She is simply present.
 
Looking at him with the same open curiosity he feels toward her.
 
Unafraid of being seen seeing him.
 
 
"We can rest here if you need to," she says.
 
Her voice is soft, so soft he has to lean slightly forward to hear over the stream.
 
But it is clear.
 
Musical without trying to be.
 
Each word carefully chosen, as if language itself is precious.
 
"I'm fine," he says.
 
Then, because honesty feels necessary here:
 
"I was watching you walk."
 
He hesitates.
 
"Sorry if that's... strange."
 
"I wasn't trying to be creepy."
 
"I just, "
 
"I know."
 
A small smile appears on her face.
 
"I could feel you watching."
 
She shrugs gently.
 
"It's okay."
 
Her eyes meet his.
 
"We're supposed to see each other, remember?"
 
 
She kneels by the stream.
 
Cups water in her hands.
 
Drinks.
 
The movement is simple, elegant, completely unselfconscious.
 
Nothing wasted.
 
Nothing exaggerated.
 
Just a person drinking water.
 
When she stands, droplets cling to her fingers.
 
They slide down slowly, catching sunlight.
 
She wipes them casually on her uttariya, leaving darker patches in the indigo fabric.
 
She doesn't seem to care.
 
"We're about halfway," she says.
 
"Suvarnakosha path gets steeper, but there's a, "
 
She pauses.
 
Searching for the right word.
 
 
"There's a reward at the top."
 
Her smile grows slightly mysterious.
 
"You'll see."
 
"Can you tell me about it?"
 
"Where we're going?"
 
She tilts her head thoughtfully.
 
"I could."
 
Then she shakes it slightly.
 
"But I think it's better if you experience it first."
 
"Some things lose their magic if you describe them before seeing them."
 
"Says the weaver."
 
He grins.
 
"Don't you plan everything before you create it?"
 
"No."
 
She starts walking again.
 
This time the path is wide enough for two.
 
He falls into step beside her.
 
"I have an idea," she continues.
 
"A direction."
 
"But the fabric tells me what it wants to become while I'm working."
 
"If I plan too rigidly, I force it into something unnatural."
 
She glances at him.
 
Her eyes thoughtful.
 
"Better to have intention..."
 
"...but remain open to possibility."
 
They walk side by side now.
 
And Arjun becomes suddenly aware of the space between them.
 
Barely two feet.
 
Close enough that their shoulders almost touch.
 
Close enough that their arms brush occasionally when the path narrows.
 
Each time it happens,
 
electricity.
 
Not dramatic.
 
Not explosive.
 
But unmistakable.
 
A quiet spark.
 
A reminder.
 
Tomorrow night.
 
At Suvarnakosha.
 
The first Vastra will be set aside.
 
And their five-day journey will truly begin.

-- oOo -- 

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