Thank you for your love and appreciation... your comments motivate me to write
To all of you patiently waiting for an update - you hit the lottery today... double whammy... thank abhita for it... my stalker is sulking. lol
@abhita - I am exhausted... but just for you, precap to showdown - enjoy
Warning it is going to be short... yawn!
Do not complain.
Chapter 23
While preparing lunch, Kamla maa turns towards Pakhi, looks at her speculatively and says, "How did you find out about them and when?" There was no need to say more, for it was obvious after this morning's escapade that Kamla maa was referring to Ragav and Kalpi's relationship. Pakhi takes a deep breath and says, "I found out last night. Nobody told me anything, I figured it out." Pakhi sees the stony look Kamla maa gives and says softly, "Kamla maa, when you look at them, it is so obvious they love each other", she adds sadly, "Their world revolves around just them, they forget everybody."
Kamla maa opens her arms and Pakhi runs to her for a hug as tears fall from her eyes. Kamla maa says, "I am sorry Pakhi, I know you love him." Pakhi lifts her head, looks at Kamla maa and pleads, "Please Kamla maa don't tell anyone, especially Ragav and Kalpi." Kamla maa nod and hugs Pakhi tightly, saying, "Your secret is safe. I am sorry for the role I played in making you think that Ragav loved you and wanted to marry you." Pakhi steps away from Kamla maa, tries to smile, but fails as she says, "It is not like you did that on purpose."
Sammy looks on quietly at the interaction between Kamla maa and Pakhi. He is relieved and pleased, for Pakhi is taking things well, he turns to leave when he hears the dreaded words Ragav had expected, "Pakhi, I can talk to Kalpi, to step back... if you still want to marry Ragav" Kamla maa says, she continues, "I cannot bear to see you cry." Shocked to the core, Sammy takes a step back, not believing his ears and thinks, "Oh my God... Ragav is right to not trust Kamla maa when it comes to her choosing between Kalpi and Pakhi." Not bearing to hear Pakhi's response, he walks out.
Kamla maa sees Ragav and Kalpi hug by the front door in the presence everyone and calls out sternly, "Kalpi", thus breaking Ragav and Kalpi's hug, not happy with the deep bond, she has observed between Ragav and Kalpi, she continues to she sets the table, and says"You are coming home with me tonight." Kalpi looks at her aai and says, "But aai..." Kamla stops what she is doing, turns towards Kalpi, her expression saying, I will not accept any arguments, she says, "I am not going to discuss it. Pakhi can stay and look after tai." She turns to Gauri maa and says, "tai, lunch is ready" Ragav looks on, his anger rising, not liking the way his wife is being treated in her own home. Before he can react, Kalpi looks at him, her eyes pleading with him not to give in to his anger. He turns away in frustration, telling himself to allow this to slide... just for Kalpi.
After lunch, Kamla maa and Gauri maa sit in the lounge and discuss the doctor's visit while Kalpi and Pakhi are in the kitchen, clearing away the utensils. Ragav sits opposite his mom and smiles as he watches his mum interact, his mind still absorbed by the two magical words my son'. He glances towards Sammy and notices that he is tense. He gestures to Sammy asking, "What is wrong?" Sammy looks at Ragav, he cannot decide whether to inform him or not about what he had overheard in the kitchen. Sammy decides that Ragav has a right to know... after all Kalpi is his wife. He looks at Ragav then glances at the stairwell leading to the terrace and gestures for him to follow him up.
Sammy waits for Ragav, his heart sad as he recollects Ragav's words when he had asked him why he needed to marry Kalpi as soon as possible... "Paakhi has always come first for Kamla maa and always at Kalpi's expense... I don't trust Kamla maa when it comes to choosing between Kalpi and Paakhi... losing Kalpi is not acceptable to me." He had not said anything then, but he had though Ragav was either exaggerating or was mistaken.
Sammy looks at Ragav as he walks towards him, his gaze filled with concern, for Ragav does not know what is troubling Sammy. Sammy reading the concern for him in Ragav's gaze gives a wry smile. He informs Ragav about the conversation he overheard between Kamla maa and Pakhi in the kitchen. Ragav does not utter a word, as he hears Sammy out, he does not trust himself... he is seething in anger. He turns and heads downstairs to confront his mother in law.
Kalpi is pouring tea for Kamla maa, kamla maa notices a brown smudge on her collar, she asks Kalpi what it is, Kalpi gulps nervously and says, "It is nothing aai" Kamla maa ignores her protest and rubs the mark, realising it is foundation, she rubs Kalpi's neck as she tries to understand why there is foundation on her neck. She sees Ragav's mark on Kalpi's neck. Kamla maa looks at Kalpi and says, "How dare you allow him such liberties?" She raises her hand to slap Kalpi when a voice from behind roars in anger, "Don't you dare lay a hand on my wife!"
P.S: need refill... mwah😉
Edited by angelpureness - 11 years ago