Madhuri

Climbing a wall

After talking with his mother, Salim went to his room. It was late evening and Salim was resting on his bed after having his dinner. He was almost sleeping when he heard ,
" Shh shh!" Something whispered in his ear.
He didn't wake up instead he thought it was a fly.
Someone patted him this time. He still didn't wake up.
"Salim!" He heard his name whispered again .
He opened his eyes but didn't turn around.
" Salim! Wake up please."
He turned around and was shocked to see her.
" Madhu? You? Here?  Am I dreaming?"
" You are not dreaming, Salim wake up I need your help."
" I am definitely dreaming, you can't be here now." He laughed and tried to go back to sleep.
" Salim No." She patted him on his cheeks.
" Salim it's me and I need your help please."
" Oh you are really here. What happened?"
" Salim I am so - so scared and I don't know what to do, help me please." She was stammering.

" Madhuri , calm down, tell me what happened." He held her arms .
" Today we had our dinner in the palace, so my family was there with me and then - then when they were about to leave for home, I said that I will come later as I needed to practice singing for tomorrow's special evening. So then they all left and then I was practicing and then I don't know how the time flowed but the palace's main door is closed and now I can't go out."
" Ask the guards for the door and go ."
" Salim! Don't you think I tried that. The guards are not opening it. They said it will open tomorrow morning and I can't wait here , my parents must be waiting. Help me please."
She was about to cry.
" Okay okay Madhu calm down, I will do something."
He started thinking.
" Okay let's go from the backside."
" There is no gate there."
" We don't need a gate and that's the safest , no one will see us and you can go out ."
" But how?"
" Come with me ."

He looked at both sides while coming out of the room. Madhuri was behind Salim holding his arm so tightly that he was not able to move it .
" Madhu?"
" Yes?"
" If you hold my hand like this , it may fall off."
" Not a good time for jokes Salim."
He closed the door to his room and started to walk without making any noise.
" What's that noise?" Salim asked
" It's my earrings."
" Remove them ."
She removed her earrings.
" Where should I keep them , I don't have any pockets."
" Give it to me ." Salim took them .
They both came out of the palace safely and headed towards the backside.
" Hey look ,an owl." Madhu pointed it out to Salim.
" Seriously Madhu now? You asked me to stop joking and now look at you."
" Sorry. Let's go."
He held her hand all the way from the room till they reached the backside.
" Where now?"
He pointed at the wall.
" Don't you tell me I have to climb it."
" Of course, Climb this wall , you will reach directly near that banayan tree, and I hope you know how to go from there."
" I know that but how could I climb this wall. Look at what I am wearing."
" Madhu come on , you have to , I will help you."
" Okay ."
" So place your foot on this brick first . Hold on to that gap in the middle. "
" Salim that brick is too high for me ."
He understood that, she doesn't have any practice for such kind of things. She might need support.
He bent down and offered his back as a step.
" Put your foot on me ."
" Salim , no."
" Madhu faster don't think , we don't have much time."
He placed her foot on his back and gave her his hand to balance herself  on him.
" Keep doing that now , now that brick , now that one." Like this he helped her reach on the top of the wall .
" Okay now jump to the other side."
" What ?! Are you mad ? Can't you see how high this is."
Salim was still down.
" Then take the help of the bricks."
" Salim it's so high, I am scared."
" Madhu wait there, I am coming."
He climbed up a lot faster than her .
As soon as he was up, she held his clothes so tightly.
" Salim!"
" It's okay , Don't close your eyes. Look at me ."
She opened her eyes to only look at him.
" Okay now, I am jumping down.And then you come okay?"
" No no ! You can get hurt ."
" Madhu I have done this a hundred times . How do you think I come at night to meet you?"
" Oh"
" Look " He jumped right away.
" Madhu jump. " he opened his arms.
She thought for a while.
" Madhuri come, I promise I won't let you fall. Now jump."
Looking at him a one go, she jumped and he held her .
" See ? I told you, I will never let you fall ."
She didn't believe herself as she jumped.

" Salim Thank you so much , I am so grateful you came."
" You always help me Madhu, now it's my turn."
" But still , this had a lot of risk ."
" I am used to it . Now go ahead."
" Please go back safely and take care , Salim."
" You too."

As she was leaving , she turned back to look at him again, he was standing there looking at her. She came back towards him.
" What happened?" Salim asked her.
She didn't say anything, she cupped his face and gave him a small little kiss on his lips and ran away laughing.
Salim stood there stunned.  He said to himself,
" If this is my reward, I can help her climb a wall every day."
He turned around with his hand in his hair blushing and climbed all the way back .