As Karan and Monami walked through the streets of the village, Karan showed her the thatched houses and explained how the people construct it by themselves with mud, bricks and dried coconut branches yet the built being so strong and protective.

Then they came across a big common well of the village, from where the women drew water while having talks about their daily household chores and life, among themselves.

Monami liked their way of interaction and approach towards each other which looked more lively, beautiful and definitely different compared with her own isolated and bounded world.

Karan saw Monami being lost in her thoughts and asked,"Kya hua? Bore feel kar rahe ho?"
Monami : "No.. I am actually liking exploring this. Let's go further!" to which he nodded and they proceeded forward.

On their way to see the fields and farms, Karan narrated her more about the village life, people's habits and to the way of living the villagers are adapted to.., when they came across a small potter's hut and Monami stood back in her tracks, amazed by the skills of an old man doing pottery there. Karan observed Monami looking interestedly towards the making of pottery and took her inside the hut asking the potter if they could do one., to which the old man agreed and provided them with the necessary materials.

Karan : "Here you go. The materials are here. Shape it out into a pot!"

Monami : "Lekin mai kese kar sakti hu? I don't know how to do it neither have I never done this before."

Karan : "There's no wrong in trying it once. Come on.. you can do it."

Saying so, he moistened the dry clay and placed it on the top of the wheel right at the centre, then rotating the wheel and gesturing her to go ahead with the process..

Monami tried to shape the clay into a pot by following the steps she had seen from the old man doing.. but couldn't implement it properly.

Seeing Monami getting disappointed, Karan went near her and sat down at the back, with her in his front and held her hands from behind helping her do the pot again. He rested his head on her shoulder as he explained her the steps how the material has to be moulded and guided her by holding her hands in his and eventually shaping out the clay into a perfect pot. Monami felt happy as Karan took out the pot from the wheel and showed it to her.

Karan : "See.. we have finally made it."
Monami : "Yes, its beautiful. Thankyou."

They washed their hands and thanked the old man as they left to see the nearby fields.
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Karan : "Monami sambal ke aana.. neeche geeli mitti hai, agar slip hogayi toh gir jaoge. Be careful" He instructed as they walked on the elevated mud surface laid between the fields with crops on its either sides.

Due to the irrigation going on in the fields the mud pavement has become wet and they had to remove their footwear in order to stabilize their grip to walk on it.

Monami held Karan's kurta in her fists and walked carefully behind him watching her step. As they moved forward, enjoying watching the waving greenery crops of the fields to the tunes of the blowing wind.. Monami's gaze shifted down to the mud pavement., when she noticed Karan's feet leaving their depressed footprint marks on the wet mud.

She hopped on and landed her small feet into his bigger footprints 👣 and chuckled seeing how big his toes were compared to hers.. As Karan was moving forward ahead of her, continuing his talks on farming.. Monami here backside was enjoying herself hopping onto his footprints.. which he was leaving behind while walking ahead.

Listening to her giggling sounds, Karan turned back to see what Monami was doing and due to this sudden turn of his and due to her inertia of motion.. she hopped onto his feet and lost her balance, almost falling back., but Karan held her wrist tighter and pulled her towards himself, protecting her from falling down. The sudden pull resulted in hitting of Monami's forehead to Karan's lower part of face and his lips pressed to her forehead.. and she closed her eyes in reflex to it.

Karan backed out first and asked Monami if she was fine.. cupping her cheek, to which she nodded her head in yes.
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As it was almost time for the twilight and as the sky changed in its colour from blue to shades of yellow, orange and red.. Karan and Monami settled themselves on the dried grass heap, watching the beautiful, rich sunset.. while munching their sugarcane stems.

Karan: "So.. how do you like the village?"

Monami: "Oh! I just love this place.."
(Taking a pause and hugging his arm, resting her head on his shoulder) "Soch rahi hu ek ghar bana kar yahi settle hojavu tere sath. Kya kehte ho?"

Karan: "Not a bad idea! But mere sath he kyu?"

Monami: (teasing him) "Arey koi toh chahiye na survive karne keliye warna akeli bore jaungi."

Karan: "Achaa.. am I being dragged into your plan just to give you company and nothing else? Hm?" (questioning her.. raising his eyebrows)

Monami: (giving an innocent look and nodding her head in yes) "Humm.."

Karan: "What 'humm..'?" (turning his  face to the opposite side) "Go get someone else for that. I am not interested if that's the reason behind."

Monami: (holding his face and turning him towards her)

"Arey mai toh bas joke kar rahi thi. Agar tumhare sath nahi toh aur kiske sath rahungi..? Aur wese bhi Papa ke baad ek tumhe toh ho jise apnon mai keh sakti hu..
We bond well with each other..
We help each other..
We care for each other..
We understand each other..
We trust each other and I believe that if we are together we can withstand and fight even the toughest circumstances that come along.."

Karan: (holding her hand in his and interwining their fingers) " True.. and I promise you that whether in  happy situations or not., but definitely during the tough times I will always stand with you, beside you.. holding your hand and we'll go through and solve it together."

Monami: "I know that you will always be there for me and thankyou.. thankyou for this beautiful day-Today! Had the best time at the best place.."

They enjoyed the nature and the atmosphere.. with a smile adorning their faces, as they watched the sun going below the horizon and it witnessing the closeness of hearts these two beautiful souls shared..

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    * Will be continued in Part 10 *

Thankyou for reading!!
~Happysoul.