“Where could they be?” Faizi wondered looking around the surroundings in contemplation.
Suddenly I remembered what that little girl was saying earlier. “Hey let's try going along the side of the stream in the direction the water is flowing.”
Faizi shook his head. “The stream is pretty shallow and the current pretty weak. It’s safe enough for kids to play in. There is no chance at all of them getting carried away.”
“No, but did you hear what that little girl back at the building was saying? Last they saw them they were making paper boats. If they were playing with boats by floating it on stream and decided to follow the stream to get it back…” I said explaining my line of thinking.
“That is brilliant. Why didn’t I think of that? Come on then.”
I smiled pleased at being appreciated for my intellect. I followed him to the stream bank. The terrain was rockier here, so I took off my high heels and held them in my hands as it was comfortable enough to walk barefooted. Though chilly the walk instantly became way easier. Faizi stopped for a moment and beckoned a man who was already there helping with the search towards him. Based on his attire he seemed like a local. Faizi introduced him to me as Peter. He was one of the caretakers in charge of the resort. He asked him to tag along with us. He looked worried.
“Dangerous to go that way at this time Sir. There are wild elephants and other creatures in the jungle and the sun is going down. “
“All the more reason we should check it out as soon as possible. This is a couple of little kids of ages 7 and 10 we are talking about. We will check for a few distances and come back before it gets totally dark.”
Peter reluctantly agreed and began leading the way. He walked ahead of us at a quicker pace while Faizi and I followed behind a little slower to accommodate my slower pace in my saree. Faizi held my hand every now and then to help me through some uneven and slippery surfaces. Though it was uncomfortable at first my barefoot soon got accustomed to the coarse surface we were walking on. Careful to keep to the edge of the stream so that the surfaces weren’t overly harsh.
Eager to complete the search as soon as possible Peter went so far ahead of us that we could barely see him in the distance now. We walked for almost 20 minutes, looking through the woods in every direction screeching the names of kids every few minutes. Suddenly we heard the distant sound of Peter yelling from far ahead of us. We squinted and saw him jumping and waving us over from where he was standing a good few hundred meters away. As we got closer we could hear what he was yelling.
“FAIZIEE………THERE ARE HERE. FOUND THEM”.
A rush of exhilaration shot up my spine as I heard that. But something was off about the place Peter was standing and waving us from. We still couldn’t see the kids though Peter reckoned he has spotted them. We increased the pace trying to catch up with him. As we got closer it became apparent to me what was something that I felt off. The small stream we were following joined up with a much bigger one coming from the north. The velocity of this stream was so strong that we could hear its roar even from this distance. And it wasn’t just the force of the stream that was fearsome, it looked dangerous in its size too. It didn’t take long before the children in question came into our view as well.And they seemed to be in a very precarious condition. In the middle of this charging water stood a large rocky outgrowth in fierce defiance against the oncoming current refusing to budge and making the water curve around it. And on top of this rock stood the couple of boys we were looking for. One of them seemed to be unconscious or worse. And the other one, presumably the elder one by his size was holding the unconscious kid and was sobbing uncontrollably. He was dripping head to toe with water and was freezing. The situation seemed very dire. We had to rescue them as soon as possible. It was Faizi that voiced out the question that was on everybody’s mind.
“How in the world are we going to reach them and get them ashore?” he wondered out loud. “Do know how to swim Peter?”
“Yes sir. But I can’t swim through this. The currents are too strong here I will get carried away. We should go back and get help.”
“That could take hours. Those kids already look in very bad shape. We need to get them out as soon as possible. Is there nothing we can do?” I asked urgently.
“Well, I could have given it a try if there was a rope. I could have you guys hold one end of it while I try to get across holding the other end. That way even if I get caught in the current you guys can pull me back ashore with the rope.”
“Where are we gonna find a rope in the middle of this fucking nowhere?” Faizi swore.
Again my brain presented me with yet another flash of an idea. However, this time I wasn’t so sure or as eager to suggest it out loud as carrying it out would put me in quite a compromising position. But it would be quite narcissistic of me to worry about my dignity in a situation like this. I took a deep breath and started.
“Well…I may have an idea.”
No sooner had I said this, both of them turned towards me immediately giving me their undivided attention, their eyes filled with hope. I gulped nervously and said.
“Umm….any chance my saree can substitute for a rope?”
Their eyes bulged like saucers as it occurred to them what I was suggesting. They looked at each other exchanging looks of wonder and a hint of excitement before turning their attention back to me.
“That is indeed a great idea. But not sure if your saree has enough length to carry that far?” Faizi said looking unsure how to react to my suggestion. Peter however had no such reservations. “Only one way to find out. Let’s check.”
I looked towards Faizi as though seeking his opinion. He just shrugs and says “Wouldn’t hurt to try I guess.”
I nodded and took a deep breath willing myself to get over my embarrassment of what I was about to do. Then like a robot I unpinned the saree from my shoulder and began unwrapping myself out of it trying my best to ignore the lusty stares of the two men enjoying the show. My belly tingled at being exposed out in the open like that in all its naked glory. Once I was done, I tentatively looked up. Faizi was smiling at me encouragingly, his face straining visibly with the effort he was putting on to keep his eyes from straying although despite his best efforts his eyes kept darting towards my cleavage and navel every few seconds. Peter however was staring pointedly right at my navel looking hypnotized. My body heated up making my insides clench with pleasure at the effect I was having on them. And my navel tingled feeling the intensity of the two pairs of eyes that were boring into its depths. I shyly raised my saree towards them trying to hide my smile.
It was Faizi that stepped forward to get it from me. He turned towards Peter who was still admiring the view and smacked the back of his head making him come out of his daze.
“Here hold this end. Let’s stretch and see how long it is” he said giving one end of the saree to Peter. Peter looked at Faizi blankly for a moment looking as though he hasn’t heard him. And then looked back towards me and my belly. This time however I crossed my arms over my belly hiding my navel from view. That seemed to bring him out of his daze a bit. Faizi repeated what he said again. Peter immediately grabbed the other end looking embarrassed and did as he was told.
“Not sure the length is enough sir.” Peter said doubtfully looking at the full length of the saree as they stretched it from both sides like a rope.
“Hmm then let’s make sure. Let’s add this too.” Faizi said pulling out his hoodie over his head revealing his ripped abs and chest. It was my turn to admire the view now as he went about stretching his hoodie to its full length by holding its sleeves together and tying it to the end of my saree. His well-formed arm muscles flexed as he tightened the knot. Not wanting to be left out of the undressing party Peter too joined in by taking off his shirt revealing his dark and hairy body taut with hardened muscles of someone who does a lot of hard labor. And he did the same thing Faizi did to his end of the saree. Bolstered by the extended support of both of their dresses on either ends, the combined saree-hoodie-shirt rope looked quite long now.
“Alright then. Let’s try this.” Faizi said nodding at both me and Peter in turns. Peter nodded, took a deep breath and tied his end of the rope around his left arm, and set to work. He took off his sandals and gingerly stepped into the running waters of that ferocious stream and advanced slowly trying to keep his best to keep his balance from slipping against the oncoming current. And Faizi lend his support holding tight from the other end standing way off from the edge but inching closer to the stream with every step Peter took. Deeper and deeper into the stream Peter went, he was soon chest-deep in water. Faizi was almost at the edge now, his muscles rippling with veins under the strain he was putting holding to his end. Peter looked back at Faizi and gave a curt nod before lunging forward with all his might trying to cover the rest of the distance swimming against the current. Faizi too suddenly took several steps forwards and went knee-deep into the stream to accommodate peter’s momentum, but it wasn’t enough. The force of the stream was too powerful and Peter began to get swept away. But thanks to the rope he stopped midway, but that was the only thing keeping him from getting swept away completely now. Panic gripped my heart as I noticed that Faizi too was struggling to hold his balance. Without wasting another second I too stepped into the stream after him and joined him in holding the rope from his front. Standing slightly to his front I was almost waist deep into the stream as I started pulling. I could feel the full force of the unforgiving chilly waters soaking me inside out.
Thankfully Peter who was swimming towards the rock with all his might succeeded and caught on to the rock and got on top of it. I breathed out a sigh of relief and waited anxiously as he checked on the kids. He took the unconscious kid on his shoulder first and signaled he was going to come back. He dived back into the stream with the kid on his shoulder and struggled to stay afloat without drowning the kid as me and Faizi reeled in the rope bringing them ashore. As soon as Peter was near enough I let go of the rope and went and took the unconscious kid from him onto my own shoulders and rushed ashore signalling Peter to go ahead and rescue the other kid too. I gently laid the kid on the shore and checked his pulse. Thankfully he was still alive, just unconscious. He will live. Breathing out a sigh of relief I jumped back into the stream to assist with the rescue of the next kid. Peter who has gotten somewhat accustomed to the force of the ruthless stream was more steady on his steps this time and got to the rock without much problems. But we had another problem now. My net saree which wasn’t exactly made of the strongest of materials was starting to tear slightly from a few steps ahead of me. But it looked like I was the only one that noticed it until now.
Peter got back into the stream again piggybacking the elder kid Afsal on his back. Faizi and I began to reel him in hoping against hope that my saree won’t give up on us now. With a couple more pulls that portion threatening to tear away would be behind us. But just before I can reach the portion with the last pull my saree completely tore off. I who have been keeping an eye and anticipating this let go of my grip and lunged forward to catch the torn end. Though I succeeded in catching I stepped on a sharp rock in the process. I screamed trying to bite back the piercing pain that was shooting up from the sole of my feet as I struggled to hold on to the saree with all my might as I was the only one supporting the rope now. Faizi who was still pulling on the torn end when it tore fell backward in the recoil.
“Faizieee…..help !!!” I screamed. If I let go, it was all over. We will lose both Peter and the kid. It was a life and death situation now. Suddenly I felt a pair of strong muscular bare hands wrapping around my torso from behind. Faizi !! One of his hands palmed strongly over my bare belly and the other on top of my left breast over my blouse. A shock of current shot up my spine at the sensation of feeling two of the most intimate parts of me being held by a strong masculine grip. His bare torso stuck close to my drenched skin from behind me as he held on to me tight, his chin resting on my shoulders and his hot panting breaths washing over my cheeks.
“It’s all right. I got you. He panted out in my ears.
Oh he has got me alright. And a handful of me at at that. I thought wryly.
“Hold on. On the count of three let's slowly start walking backwards …1…2…3..and go” he whispered from behind. And right on cue, we began stepping backwards simultaneously until we were close to the shore. I wasn’t sure he was aware of the inner turmoil his hands were putting me on. Was he doing it deliberately or is it an accident? We have reached the shore now. He slowly withdrew his hands from around me, dragging his palms over my skin like a caress in the process, his index finger dipping into my navel for a second making me gasp before releasing me completely and getting hold of the saree from my hands and took charge of the pulling. There was no way that was an accident. Was it? I thought as my navel tingled needily still reeling from that momentary touch. Wait what the hell was I thinking? That too at a situation like this? I berated myself for my horny thoughts at a time like this and helped Fazi in getting them ashore. Finally they both got ashore safely.
I doubled over in relief panting and sat on the ground heavily with a thud tired and spent. I couldn’t put wait on my injured leg anymore. I gingerly bend my knee sideways and checked the sole of my right foot and winced as I saw the gaping red wound still dripping blood.
The guys got busy trying to revive the unconscious kid. Faizi began to perform some first aid, pressing on the kid’s torso releasing the excess water stuck in his lung and stomach. Soon the younger kid coughed back into to consciousness and began to sob uncontrollably asking for his mum. Relief and happiness flooded through me. Peter sauntered over to me looking very grateful.
“Thank you so much Madam. You saved my life. If it wasn’t for you I would be surely dead by now.”
“Oh no. What I did is nothing. It is you who took the deadly risk of getting into the stream to rescue those kids. So thank you.”
He grinned and bowed his head. “Oh no !! You injured your leg”. He said suddenly noticing my wound and bending over to check it.
“I will be all right. Please quickly take the kids and get back to the resort. It will be dark soon. I and Faizi will follow behind. With my leg, it may take some time and effort to get back. Their mum is already worried sick. Please get them back as soon as possible.”
Peter nodded and said bowing to me. “I will do that. Once again thank you so much for saving my life, Madam. You are very kind. I will never forget you and what you did for the rest of my life.” Saying that he turned around and did as he was told. He gathered the kids from Faizi and set off towards the resort at a quick pace after warning us to not take too long to follow. Faizi stood tall and watched them walk away for a while. His back muscles gleamed in the mixed light of an early moon and final remnants of the sunset. I momentarily got lost admiring his form from behind. Once they were far enough he turned back around and grinned at me widely.
“There is a correction to what Peter said. You didn’t save just one but three lives today. He didn’t know it was your idea to look for them by following the stream. If it wasn’t for you we may not have even found them in time. And not just that. It was again your idea to use your saree as a rope.”
Happiness bubbled inside me hearing his words and I grinned widely at him. His eyes traveled to my wound and his face became concerned. “Let me fix that up for you.” He said walking over to pick up the leftover scraps of my ruined saree and tearing a piece of it. Then he came over to me and began typing up my wound. I looked fondly at the torn messy remains of my once beautiful saree, though I have been cursing my choice to wear it ever since the start of this journey, it indeed turned out to be a blessing in the end. Then I shifted my gaze to Faizi looking at him longingly as he tended to my wound while stealing glimpses at my cleavage. He was getting a good view as my blouse was a little low cut in the front and there was nothing covering it now. I suppressed a grin and resisted the urge to ruffle his hair wondering why his lust-filled gazes at my body were filling me up with giddy pleasure.
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