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AN ALPINE AFFAIR

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Part :funf

On their way down, avni stopped mid way pointing to a rundown looking church and said, " Neil, dekho church, chale kya?"

Neil looked at his watch and then looked up at the sky, there was a sudden change in weather. The sunny day was suddenly replaced by gray clouds, turning the bright cheerful day gloomy. " avni, 5 bajne me half an hour hai, aur dekho barish bhi ho sakti hai, hum station chalte hai warna train miss ho jayegi. " he said.

She tried to argue, "par Neil,.."

"par war kuch nahi, hum nahi ja rahe hai", he said sternly. And started walking, while she sulked behind him, scowling at his back.

Once they reached the station, the lady at the counter informed them that a blizzard warning had beeen issued and thus, the 5 o clock cogwheel was cancelled. cursing their fate, he asked the lady, "madam, is there any hotel or lodge that we could atay in tonight? "

" I am sorry sir. This is a very small town and we don't have any tourist establishments. I wish I could help you." she replied politely, in a very heavy german accent.

Neil thanked her, and they came at the only platform. He covered his face with his palms and muttered " ye kaha fasa diya avni"

Avni looked at him with blazing eyes and said, "kya kaha? Mene? Mene fasaya?"

Rather amused at her for such a trivial statement he decided to rile her up further, " aur kya?? Na to tum yaha aaney ki zidd karti, na to hum yaha faste. Aur dekho, kabhi bhi snow fall ho sakta hai. "

She pointed her finger at him, and said" ye galat hai Neil! Jaiseki tumhe yaha aakey mazza hi nai aaya. Duniya me saari galtiya kaun karta hai... avni!! Aur sabse mahan kaun hai.. NEIL"

now, neil was getting really angry too. In a fit of rage he said, " bilkul, har baar musibat me fas jaati ho, aur nikalega kaun? Neil!!"

"neil, mujhe na tumse koi baat hi nai karni hai" saying this she stomped to the only wooden chair on that platform and sat down.

He replied, " toh mujhe bhi nahi karni hai" at her retreating body.

They both sat sulking at two ends of the wooden bench. It was getting chilly and cold wind was blowing. It could rain any time.

About an hour later, Neil glanced at Avni,who was rubbing her palms together, her teeth chattering. He got up and sat down next to her draping his arm over her shoulder. She moved her shoulder in a backward manner trying to get away from his grip. This only made him tighten the hold on her shoulder and he took her palms in his hand and started rubbing them to provide some warmth. She in turn laid her head on his shoulder and both of them simultaneously said "sorry"

Neil gave a short laugh and avni placed her very cold nose at the hollow of his neck to get some warmth. This earned her a hiss from Neil who yelled, "avni!!!"

She laughed, still keeping her nose at his neck and said, " this is warm".

After a few minutes, still in his embrace, she said" ab kya kare?" and looked up at the sky. It had turned algid gray and thunderous.

Suddenly neil remembered, "chalo us church me chalte hai, ya to kisi ki help miljayegi, if not at least we'll have a roof on our head".

They literally ran down to the church, fearing it mighy rain and met the pastor. When the pastor heard their whole story, he offered them a room at his friend's place for a small price.

His friend Jon and his wife Martha, an elderly couple lived at a 2 minute distance and had an empty room as their son had shifted to the city.

Neil thanked the pastor profusely and they went to the above mentioned house.

It wasa small cozytwo storied house .Martha was a lively old lady who loved to chatter. As soon as she saw neil and avni she smiled at them widely, and said to her husband," look jon,young love" hearing this avni blushed, so she teased further" and look at the blushing bride".

Jon gave them a warm smile, and welcomed them inside. Martha made them a hot cocoa and the four of them sat chatting.

Martha was an absolute sweetheart . And was completely smitten by "her jon" as she called him everytime she mentioned him. Avni and neil felt very happy in their company .

She told them, how jon and her had a rebellious marriage. " scandal of the decade" she had called it when she eloped with him. This made avni reminisce their own scandalous marriage . She turned to neil, eyes blazing with love . This didn't go unnoticed by the very observant jon. A man of very few words, he said to avni, " you know, I see someone in love and I instantly know what their future holds. And I see us in you both." and held Martha's hand. "I can tell that for sure" he added, raising his cocoa cup to them.

Neil smiled at him and said," thank you jon, but I think she is going to be more like you sullen and brooding, and I'll be like lovely Martha here".

This earned him a furious blush from martha and a whack on shoulder by his wife.

After that, Martha showed them the room they were to sleep in. It was a small cozy room witha small bed at the centre, alittle dresser on the opposite sidebwith a single cupboard besides a single window.

"its not much but it is all we have", Marth said.

Neil held her hand in his and said," it is more than enough. I can't be thankful enough that you took in a young unknown couple on a night like this and shared your lovely stories "

She patted his hand back and told them, "the night might become extremely cold, so extra blankets are in the cupboard. Now, I'll make us a supper. Do you want anything specific"?

Hearing this Neil asked, " would you mind if we cooked for you tonight? It is the only way we could repay you for all the warmth and hospitality "

Martha turned to avni and said rather cheekily "this man is such a charmer! You my dear are very lucky".

Then she turned to neil and said in a grandmother like authority " now, freshen up, I expect you two in the kitchen in half an hour."