Fairy Tale of A Village Girl 56 Questions and Expressions

Party is being organized in Siddhi Gardens in Erandwane, Pune. It is a drive of almost 30 minutes in an ideal traffic condition of Pune city.

Akash drove the car slowly and leisurely. He could feel the nervousness of Varsha beside him. She is clutching her purse in both hands and looking out of the window. Akash could understand her thoughts and he is also feeling the same in the current atmosphere.

He knows that Varsha will never start the conversation by herself and he has to do something to break this awkward silence. He stopped the car when it is a red signal at one of the crossroads and looked toward her and found her still looking outside the window. He spoke, "Are you going to stay like this whole time?"

Varsha turned toward him and said "Huh? Sorry I did not hear."

Akash was feeling that what a dumb thing he has asked. But when he heard that she did not hear, he laughed and said "Aren't you curious about something? We have almost 20 minutes, if you want to ask something, you can ask." He smiled looking at her cute doubtful expression.

Signal turned green and Akash started driving while looking ahead. Varsha looked at his face and then said nervously "But I have so many questions. I am afraid you won't like them."

Akash felt so bad hearing her words. How can she say that he won't like it when she asked too many questions? So, she will turn mute instead of asking him. He has really failed in making her feel secure around himself. He rebuked himself for it.

He laughed and said "Just ask and use the whole time we have. Otherwise, it will be more boring if we don't talk about anything."

There were a few seconds of silence. Akash took a side glimpse of her face and smiled seeing her in a thoughtful expression. 'Dumb girl has a lot of questions but does not know which one to ask first' He thought.

"When we meet some people, how should I greet them?" After few second Varsha asked her first question hesitatingly.

Akash smiled and said "Haven't you seen in movies or anywhere else. Just say 'Hi' or 'Hello' and that is it. No need for any extra courtesy in these formalities."

"What type of food there would be? I heard that they have vegetarian and non-vegetarian arranged at the same place. What if I ate some non-vegetarian by mistake?" She asked. Patel family is a vegetarian family and they do not eat non-vegetarian due to both cultural and health reason. Varsha also is a vegetarian from always. Then she looked toward Akash subconsciously feeling afraid that he will scold her.

But opposite to her expectation, he smiled and said "What a dumb question?"

Varsha felt her eyes turn teary from his response. She lowered her head and said, "I am sorry."

Akash looked toward her for a moment while driving and he understood how her face might be looking like now. He has understood her by now and knows that she is very emotional and gets affected by words very easily. He said "Won't I be there with you? If you don't know anything you can ask me."

Varsha was feeling sad but when she heard his next words, she felt her heart surging from happiness. 'I will be there with you' hearing this felt like a rain of happiness to her and she felt like most of her questions were answered instantaneously.

She looked toward him and felt her heart surging with the feeling of love. Akash looked toward her and found her looking dumbly toward him. He turned his head back on the road and said "Don't keep looking like a fool. Ask your questions. Didn't you say you had a lot of them?"

Varsha heard him calling her a fool but she did not feel bad this time, instead, she laughed and then covered her mouth remembering what she has done unknowingly.

Akash took a side glance and smiled and said: "Don't worry and ask what is your next question." He felt like he needed to encourage her otherwise she will never show that happy smile of hers to him.

"Is it okay if I am not wearing high heel? Would it look appropriate? But I am afraid I will become unbalanced and fall in heels." After a few moments, Varsha said in a low voice.

Akash smiled and said "Didn't you answer it yourself? You are not used to heels, so you wore flat sandals. Or you wish to go back and change if I say otherwise."

Hearing his response, Varsha looked towards Akash with a crestfallen expression. Akash laughs and says "Did not I say at the house that you look good in what you are wearing?" And this response turned her face bright again.

Akash looked at her changing expressions and said "You are really odd. You become sad in a moment and then become happy next moment. It seems to me that we are playing a game of questions and expressions."

Varsha looked at the joking manner of Akash and felt happy in heart. She wished to show her heart to him. Akash is looking ahead while driving. She looked toward him with a gentle gaze and said: "I am afraid, I might make a mistake and will make you look bad."

Akash felt bad in his heart. The girl which was so self-confident in the village is now feeling less confident due to the hype of this high-class society. He looked at her expression for a moment and said softly "Don't go anywhere by yourself and remain by my side. Ask me even if it is something silly. I know you won't do anything wrong but If anything goes wrong I will take care of it."

Varsha felt so emotional hearing his words which were said so softly that it felt like touching her heart. She wanted to cry due to happiness but she held it in. She also felt like self-consciousness she was feeling beside him is going away slowly.

Suddenly Varsha thought about something and giggled. Akash looked at her questioningly and she chuckled and said "I just remembered what Ira said about making mistakes." and she stopped and looked at Akash. She did not know if she should continue her blabbering.

Akash looked sideways and raised his eyes and said "Don't hold it in. Share the joke. I am also curious to know what that evil girl taught you."

Varsha said meekly "You might get angry. It is just a joke."

"Just tell me. Okay, I promise to not be angry." Akash said calmly. He is enjoying her timid expression, He is also feeling curious to know what is making her laugh. He is also feeling good thinking that she is not sad anymore like yesterday.

Varsha lowered her head and said "She said if you make any mistake, find someone to blame for it. If no one is around to blame, act as nothing happened." Her voice became barely audible by the end of the sentence as she was afraid he will scold her for this.

"Haha. That girl is really evil. I remember in one party she twisted her ankle when she tried high heels for the first time. She found one girl standing behind her whom she had a conflict with and she accused the girl of pushing her. Later when I asked she said that it is better to fight someone and be called a feisty girl than being called a clumsy one." Akash laughed and told Varsha.

Varsha thought he will scold her. Instead, he just laughed it away and also told something. Ira has already mentioned this incident to Varsha. Varsha felt a surge of happiness in her heart due to how good the talk between them is going on.

They remained silent for few minutes and then Akash said "But you should not use the things Ira has told you. Just be with me and ask me if anything."

Varsha came out of her daze and after a few seconds when the words registered in her mind, she smiled and said "Yes."

Akash looked at her and seeing her happy expression made him also feel content. He remembered how bad he was feeling from that night when she cried. He noticed that watching at her cheery face is really very satisfying.

He decided not to make her cry and be careful about her feelings. He felt odd about the way he wanted to caress her cheeks when she smiled. Yes, he felt odd but it did not feel wrong in any way.

Chapter end