Rantara OS: The Beginning of Tomorrow

|| The Beginning of Tomorrow ||

Raghunath Naik'. He murmured slowly tracing the name on his braille tablet. It has been so long since he has felt his name. So long since anyone has called him by his name. It's almost 2 years now ever since he felt happy tracing his own name. he began to feel nostalgic remembering his time back home. For two years he have been holed up in a remote cottage outside the city nursing his wounds and hiding.

Raghu knew that hiding out was the best thing to do. He did not feel like gaining anyone's' pity or sympathy. the area was supposed to be one of the most loveliest parts out of the Mumbai city, though much of its beauty was lost on a blind man.

The beauty of the area was not lost to him as there were country lanes and lakes where he strolled through and went for boat riding, driving, climbing hills though it took much effort and many more with his friend machmach who was always by his side but never touching him. He felt grateful for his support because he alone knew what he went through post blindness.

Ultimately he felt at peace being away from the noise and people but there was also restlessness. Lately he has begun to feel nostalgic and incomplete and felt like moving back home where his aaji was patiently waiting for his return.

"bhai, I brought you tea" he heard machmach by his side and felt him pressing a cup of hot tea to his hands.

"we are going back" raghu announced all of a sudden.

"Mmm" Machmach said noncommittally setting aside the dishes. He knew machmach's respond will be as such. He could feel the faint smile in his voice although he was trying hard to sound uninterested.

"We will be leaving tomorrow, get ready" Raghu said sounding as indifferent as possible and walked away hiding a smile.

And so they went.

They travelled throughout the night and arrived to Naikvadh at first light or so machmach informed him. He was glad that no one was there to greet him yet as he would rather keep his arrival as quiet as possible for a while. Though he knew that by mid-morning, the whole colony will know of his arrival and hence, he went inside Naiksadan.

Upon his first step inside the house, he felt light footsteps approaching and a whiff of incense. He smiled and opened his arms to his aaji and she rushed to them. "you are back" she said between tears.

Raghu felt his eyes mist but instead of giving in to emotions, he smiled and began to tease her. "Aaji, you are still as beautiful as before, I bet even the men here is fighting for you"

"Stop it, Badmaash" she hit him lightly laughing. "go and get freshen up, I've readied a room for you"

"but how-?"

machmach called me" Aaji finished his sentence. "now go and take some rest, you must be tired"

Nodding he went taking machmach's hand. After settling down, he laid down to rest and closed his eyes and sleep took him over.

Antara Kaul opened her eyes when the first ray of sun shine hit her window pane. Stretching, she got up before sliding her glance to her sleeping family beside her. Her mother and brother. Smiling she got up to do her morning routines.

"Good Morning Aaji, you are looking very happy today" Antara called out coming to aaji's room and found her smiling and folding clothes. Aaji looked up and gave her a brilliant smile to which Antara was taken aback. She has never seen Aaji that happy before. "what happen? Did someone give you a gift?"

"Yes, something like that" Aaji replied. "My chintu has come home"

Antara looked at Aaji's smiling face. Her face was glowing with happiness and Antara felt her eyes sting with tears. She has been working as aaji's caretaker for two years and she have never seen her this happy. Antara have always heard about aaji's chintu' and today he have come home. After two long years. She did not know the reason for his long absence as aaji never talked to her about it and she never asked her of it as well.

"I'm going to prepare his favorite dish today, he has come home after so long" Aaji said heading out of the room.

Two years. Two Bloody years! Antara felt a sudden anger rise within her. Seeing aaji so happy for a person who was absent in her life for two years. Antara knew how aaji has spent her days wondering and waiting for her grandson to come back. Antara decided to confront him and give him an earful for making aaji suffer. Determined, she fumed out of aaji's room and headed towards chintu's room.

Raghu woke up as he heard soft footsteps outside his door. They were light and he can also hear a faint sound like from an anklet? It was like someone was pacing about near his room. He knew that it was not machmach as his steps was heavier and aaji's steps were light and slow but this new sound was intriguing. He sat up and listened for a while but whoever was still outside still did not stop pacing. It was like whoever was there was waiting for him to come out.

Antara paced near chintu's room but was unsure whether to knock on the door. She kept wringing her hands. Its bad manners to go in unannounced. She thought for a while. But still he needs to be told. Otherwise, I will not be able to have breakfast this morning.

She raised her hands to knock on the door but decided against it once again. Groaning faintly she moved away thinking that she will confront the devil later.

Raghu sat listening quietly as the footsteps faded away and before it did, he swore he heard a muffled groan. An angry groan at that. His lips twitched at the sound. It was not every day he get to hear an angry female at the other side of the door. Suddenly, he felt that staying in Naiksadan is not going to be bad at all.

Antara entered the kitchen and found Aaji by the stove. The aroma of her food was mouthwatering. She envied chintu for having someone like aaji. It has been so long since her own mother had made anything for her, her mom was still recovering from the shock of her father's sudden death due to a stroke.

"Aaji, let me help" antara said approaching and taking the spatula from her. Aaji smiled and nodded her head and went to prepare another dish. The next hour went with them in the kitchen preparing breakfast and when finished, Aaji went to prepare the table herself. Antara watched confused as Aaji placed crockeries at various lengths. with each one, Aaji took a hand measurement and placed it at the exact place.

"aaji, what are you doing?" Antara asked.

"Oh this" she smiled and continued. "it will be easier for him"

Antara have begun to dislike this chintu. From the looks of it, she was sure that he is very haughty and arrogant. Gritting her teeth, she set the table alongside with aaji.

"Antara, go freshen up a bit, Raghu will come down for breakfast any minute now" Aaji said looking at the clock.

"Does he take his breakfast precisely at 9?" Antara asked expecting to hear what she have already assumed.

"yes how did you know?"

"Oh nothing...just a wild guess"

Antara was walking towards aaji's room carrying the washed linens when she suddenly crashed into male body.

Brown. The first thing she saw was deep brown eyes looking down at her. his hands were around her waist supporting her balance which held her lightly, yet in a strong grip. Antara stared at him, dumbfounded for a moment before she wriggled out of his hold and took a careful step away from him.

Raghu knew the moment he crashed into her that she was the third person in the house. The one who was pacing near his bedroom earlier. She was slim and smelled of lemon.

"Cant you see where you are going? You dropped all the linens" His head snapped at her direction. "why are you standing there? Help me pick it up!" she ordered him and began to pick it up. Raghu stared at her incredulously and his brows creased in confusion. The girl must not know that he could not see. Deciding that it was best to talk to aaji about her and let her find out herself, he remained silent. He heard the rustle of cloths and her inward murmurs about men and their clumsy. His lips twitched into a smile once again.

Machmach came behind him and said. "bhai, let's go" Raghu nodded at him and taking his arm, he walked away.

"Excuse me" Raghu said stepping over the linens.

Antara looked at him disbelievingly. He did not even have the courtesy to apologize or help her and is just walking away treating her like nothing. Fuming even more, she picked up the linens and went to keep them before she descended down to dining area.

Raghu sat down and began to touch the plates at his side to familiarize them. He smiled at the aroma of his favorite gobi parota'. He felt machmach by his side and putting his food on his plate explaining to him where and what was in them. Nodding his thanks, raghu reached for aaji's hand beside him and held them tightly. He knew from her silence that she is still trying to come to terms with his blindness.

"the food smells delicious aaji" said raghu giving her hand a tight squeeze.

"Antara, come sit" he heard aaji calling out. Raghu turned his head to the direction of the third person in the room. She was moving slowly and he felt her sit with the slight dip of the table due to her the slight pressure of her hands.

Raghu knew she was sitting opposite him and he could sense her glare at him. He stared back at her and began to eat.

"chintu, this is antara, my caretaker"

"we have met" Raghu replied. "and please aaji, stop calling me chintu"

"You have met?" Aaji asked. "when?"

"just a while ago when he dropped all the linens" she heard her reply.

"I didn't do it on purpose"

"Okay" she heard her sarcastic reply. "When people like you walk, its hard to see others"

"Antara!" Exclaimed aaji. "Apologize to him right now!"

"Aaji please, I know you are very happy with his return, but he came after two years!"

"your point being?" Raghu asked politely knowing very well that she getting angrier by minute and he loved it. It has been so long since he was treated like a normal person and he did not want the moment to break.

"seriously you want me to tell you?!"

"Yes please do, since you seem to know a lot"

"Well, I'll tell you alright! You left without a backward glance and aaji here have been waiting for your return for two damn years. Do you have any idea what she was going through? And now all of a sudden you come here and then what? You will once again leave her alone. Its better that you did not come back at all!!" she shouted the last words. He heard her take a deep breath and said in a sulking tone "and on top of that, you did not even apologize to me this morning!"

Raghu began to smile. He did not know who this girl was but whoever she is, she clearly is a lioness. Amused, he sat back and waited to see if she had anything more to say. The silence was deafening. Neither she, aaji, nor machmach said anything for about a full minute.

"Yedi, are you crazy? Do you even know what you are saying?" Machmach broke the silence. He sounded angry and Raghu motioned him to keep quiet.

"I'm sorry"

"sorry?" he heard her ask incredulously. He could almost picture her jaw drop.

"You heard me, I'm sorry for not helping you this morning"

"its not for that I want an apology"

"You don't want an apology?"

"No! I mean yes"

"Look, Ms Kaul is it? I'm getting tired so will you please make up your mind and tell me what you really want?"

"Nothing!" Antara had the urge to stomp her foot.

"Good so, if you will excuse me, Aaji, I'll go take rest" Raghu said in a dismissing tone which made Antara's jaw drop open. hiding a smile, raghu walked off with machmach closed by. Since raghu knew each and every corner of the house, he had no trouble moving about.

"snob" Antara murmured under her breath as he walked away.

"I heard that" Raghu called out before disappearing around the corridor.

Antara glared at him as he retreated and watched till he disappeared. She turned to aaji who was watching her with her eyes narrowed. "I did not expect such behavior from you"

"but aaji, didn't you see the way he just walked away without even answering back? Its like he is not seeing -"

"He cant!"

"what?"

"he can't...see" Aaji said in a small voice and taking a deep shuddering breath, she said. "He's blind"

"Oh no!" Antara breathed, lifting her fingers to her mouth in shock.

"he lost his sight trying to save someone who was not worth saving" Aaji sighed lowering herself to a nearby chair. "he could not save her but lost his sight in the process. He blames himself for it"

"I really did not know-had I known, I would not have..." Antara whispered with a stricken stare.

"now you do" Aaji smiled at her fondly. "but I don't think, he took any offense with it, he crave for normalcy and today, you gave him, I wish I could treat him like one, but its difficult for me. He is not vulnerable as he seems. Will you do me a favor child?"

"of course Aaji, anything"

"will you look after him, like you do for me? Be his friend and guide him?"

"but aaji, he don't seem to need anyone"

"We always need someone child, even you do, he is all alone"

"he have you"

"I might not last long, surely you will not deny a dying woman's wish"

"What?! You are not dying, I forbid it!" Antara held aaji's hand looking shaken. "alright, I wont refuse you but promise me, you will not speak of such things again, I wont have it and that's final!"

Aaji stared at Antara intently. She did not press her. Aaji knew that Antara was a strong and stubborn and she is the perfect match for her chintu. She had noticed with the way they bickered at the dining table. There would be no one better for each other.

Later that night, Antara was lying on her bed tossing and turning. She was having trouble with sleeping ever since her talk with aaji. Her guilty conscience was not letting her to. she got up and headed towards the balcony and stared at the darkened mansion. It was not long when she saw a movement in the study area. Antara stared at the figure and knew that it was him. Thinking for a moment, she headed towards naiksadan.

Antara slowly walked through the darkened hallway. She moved silently and reached towards the study area and saw him reclining on the brown leather sofa. He lay with one knee bent, and the other foot sprawled off the side. One arm pillowed his head and the other rested across his flat belly. She padded across the threshold and peered him close. his eyes closed. Thinking that he might be asleep, her tense shoulders dropped. She felt terrible for shouting at him. She marveled at his restraint. He could have easily thrown everything back to her face but he remained silently retreating rather than answering her back.

Antara shivered as cold wind blew in. crossing the study, she closed the window and took a quilt from the nook by the window and covered him with it.

"I'm sorry" she murmured and straightened to leave. Before she did so, he opened his eyes and stared straight at her. Though he was looking at her, she could see the vacant expression in his eyes.

"You know" he murmured starting to sit up, Antara bent down and pressed his shoulders slightly.

"rest, you need it" she whispered

"Stay" Raghu said catching her wrist in a slight hold.

Antara paused and stared at him for a moment. He tilted his head back expecting her to say something. Antara just could not form any words for it. She knelt by his side and searched for words.

"Miss Kaul?" Raghu called his brows creasing at her silence. He moved his hands to cup her cheeks and felt tears at his finger tips. "what's wrong?"

"I'm so sorry" she whispered wrapping her hands around his forearm and pressing her cheek harder against his palm, squeezing her eyes shut as more tears escaped her.

he was silent. And when she flicked open her eyes, his serious gaze was fixed on her intently. "don't be, I did not come back to be treated like an invalid, you gave me a moment of happiness, I felt...normal"

she stared at him in wonder, clinging to his hand still cradling her cheek. He have gone through so much and yet he did not any arrogance. His pride does not let him. It was admirable. She felt a sudden burst of tenderness towards him. Not because he did not see but because he see everything though the eyes of his heart.

Raghu caught another tear with the pad of his thumb. He did not notice how soft her skin was before. Before he knew, he began to explore her face with his fingertips. She had long eye lashes and her mouth was wide and soft. He can tell that she was very beautiful.

"you are beautiful" he breathed. He sensed the rise of heat on her cheek indicating that she was blushing. Sensing that she must feel awkward with him touching her like that, he released her.

Antara let out the breath she was holding. She felt confused and awkward. She stood by his side, not knowing what to do.

"I'll just...go"

"I'm sorry I scared you" Raghu said smiling sheepishly. "I just wanted to see you"

Antara knew what he meant and shaking her head in denial she replied.

"no don't be I like it...I mean...well, you uh...needed to know how i..." Raghu smiled as he heard her fumbling for words.

"you all right?" he asked catching her hands once more. He found that she was shaking. Antara flinched a little but relaxed.

"Oh yes" she assured giving his fingers a light squeeze. She gave a breathless laugh, she was feeling good deal better than a merely alright.

"Goodnight raghu"

"Goodnight Miss Kaul"

"See you in the morning?" she asked meaningfully.

"yes, morning" Raghu smiled and antara nodded wordlessly and retreated out and went to bed grinning from ear to ear.

After he heard the soft echo of the gate close, Raghu got up and headed towards his room smiling remembering their encounter. He has never met anyone like her. She is one of a kind. "Its going to be interesting. Oh yes very, interesting indeed" Raghu smiled wider. he felt that the coming morning will be a new beginning for him. the thought filled him with unexpected peace that he have never felt for a long time.

Antara was lying on her bed covering herself with the comforter, smiling and blushing. Her skin still tingled where he touched her. Giggling like a school girl, she closed her eyes looking forward for the next morning where she will once again meet the enigma of a person...Raghu.

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Enjoy !

PS: this is my first attempt on writing on Rantara, please excuse any mistake or such, any criticism is most welcome. 😃

special thanks to Catty and Harshu for the title suggestion 🤗 and sari and anu for proof reading it 😆 [/NOPCOPY]