Chapter 3

Dawn came in and sun rays were coming into the room through the window. Touching his eyes.  He opened his eyes there was sun in the sky, shining and birds were twittering, cold breeze was moving  in the air and few birds were cooing. It seemed like everything here was lullabying him to get him back to peaceful sleep and greeting him in this beautiful and lovely valley. 

He got up from the couch, rubbed his eyes and turned to counter. There he found some tall, young fella was standing behind the counter.

Some passengers were checking out from the hotel.

Hope raised. He walked towards the counter. 

"Where is that madam", Rakesh asked that young fella standing behind the counter.

"Oh miss Payal! Its not her duty hours"  Young fella answered him.

"Could you please check waiting list for my name, miss Payal promised me that I will get a vacant room in the morning."

"Your name, please?"

"Rakesh... Rakesh Paracha" 

That young fella checked the list entirely and turned to Rakesh.

"Room number 303 is reserved for you, that room is on the second floor."

Young fella opened the check-in register in front of Rakesh and asked him to sign for it. Then gave him keys of his room. 

Rakesh was happy to get free room ,picked up his bags and walked towards stairs, there he encounter with misses Laura on stairs he saw his tie pin on her coat but could not say a words. Smiled at her and moved on.  

Rakesh opened the door of 303 room. And entered into the room. The room was fashionably decorated. Everything was up-to-date there. The room was warm, bedsheet was lying in Sophisticated manners. There were white fresh flowers in the vase on the table. He was surprised to see that there was a card on the tables placed just close to white flowers. He picked up a card and opened it. 

He read that card it was written, "Hotel snow land and its employees welcome you here in our hotel. I hope, serenity of this room would overcome the troubles of last night."

Rakesh read that letter and kiss it with a shine and a smile on his face. He was reading that letter over and over. 

It was noon. He drove his car through the main gate of the hotel. Before going out he peeped towards counter to have a glimpse of that pretty face but she was not there. He didn't ask about her because he didn't want anyone to talk about them. 

He turned his car to the main road, he got surprised. There he saw a young, pretty and fragile lady walking on the road side. She was Payal. He was thinking how much fortunate he is to see her again. 

On reaching the car next to her, he applied brakes she turned back. She got surprised to see the smiling face of Rakesh behind window pan. She was numbed for a moment like an unlikely thing happened to her. Her cheeks got red and face was Britten like a lamp. Rakesh came out of the car and greet her  a smile, "Hello, Good morning"

"Good morning" Payal greets him timidly. 

"Where are you going in this way, if you want I can drop you" 

"I am going to market, today I have off from duty"

"Oh, I am also going that way you come in the car I will drop you there"

At first place Payal declined to go to him later on Rakesh claim she was ready to go with him in the car.

 "you have done me a favor last night now its my turn to favor  you and you have to accept it"

"Oh, that was not favored to you, it was my job" Payal said

"Then it is my job, so please come in the car" he was insisting.

Rakesh opened the door for her, Payal got in the car.

"I am sorry for all the troubles you faced last night because of me." Rakesh said.

Payal replied, "no, instead I am sorry I didn't know my sympathy would turn into a trouble for you"

Rakesh smirked at her and said, "and I didn't know that it will turn into beautiful coincidence"

Her cheeks were blushing, she turned her eyes away out of windows.

To cope with her shyness she switched a topic and asked about him.

"Tell me something about you"

They're gossips continued and his car, reached in cheerful market.

"Oh, you can drop me here," 

 Rakesh stopped his car there.

"May I help you further with the market, if you don't mind"

"No thanks, I will manage alone

And yes, it's our hotel birthday tonight you are also invited, misses Laura invites all her costumers in that party every year" then she came out of car on exchanging a warm smile at each other.

"See you tonight miss Payal" he was delighted.

Before starting the car Rakesh found Payal's sun shades on the front seat where she was sitting few moments before. He picked up her shades and came out of the car and started searching her, but she was already lost in this big bulk. He entered in this bulk and started calling her name but in this bulk he couldn't get her response. He continued his search for her. On the way his shoe collide the stone and fell into a trough filled with mud.

It was completely drenched in muddy water. All people standing around were started laughing. Their laughters attracted Payal towards that side where all this was happening. Payal came near to see what was happening there, "Rakesh, you?"

"Rakesh what are you doing here man?"

Rakesh was looking at her like a small innocent child with her broken glasses in his hands. 

"I came after after you to give you your shades, now you see, " he was saying all this with pointing towards her broken shades. Payal started laughing, then both were laughing at his situation and  all of this scenario.