Thread 2-Celebration of Fates:RagNa FF, Part-44,Page-100, 21/02 - Page 35

PART-33

"Ten months?" Kalpi's astounded voice echoed not only in Raghav's makeup van but also in his heart. He flinched internally, trying to contain the pain he was to inevitably feel. What he was about to do would most probably hurt "his honeybee". The shocked and disbelieving look on Kalpi's face when she heard the words he'd uttered confirmed Raghav's suspicions. Even as he fought to keep his voice clear Raghav could feel the urge to shed a tear or two. But he refused to show any kind of emotion; and he did it. His face was expressionless, devoid of any kind of hint or emotion when Kalpi tried to read his eyes.

He had to do it, in the longer interest of Kalpi. Maybe now "his honeybee" can bear this minor hurt. But it will definitely keep her life from any bigger messes which his cursed fate might bring to her. So, keeping his voice firm, Raghav pressed his lips together before opening them to reply to Kalpi's question.

"Yes Kalpana" he said, using Kalpi's full name. He moved his eyes away from Kalpi's face and to the laptop open in front of him. Keeping his best to avoid looking at Kalpi's face to make his task easier, Raghav continued, "We will break this engagement after ten months. For our families and the world, we will think of a good reason. After that you pursue your dreams and I will be back to focusing completely on my business and acting career." Finished giving this little information Raghav shrugged, hoping the small gesture would give his words a believable colour. Heartless, that's how he wanted Kalpi to see him now. He stole a quick glance towards Kalpi from the corner of his eyes and found that probably his plan had started working. Kalpi's face was contorted into upset and confused lines.

"Why Raghav?" he heard soft almost inaudible yet firm voice of Kalpi, carrying just a hint of anger. This time Raghav stared right into Kalpi's doe-shaped eyes. "Because that's what is best for both of us. This attraction between us may or may not be the right thing for our respective lives; our careers a present. I still have my dreams to expand my business empire, to follow my passion of acting. From where I stand, I do not see this attraction or our plans of marriage helping us both in anyway. I cannot compromise on that Kalpana, I cannot" Raghav let Kalpi know, sighing and crying internally. He fought with himself to not call Kalpi by her nickname, her full name sounding foreign to his own tongue and ears. But his gaze did not falter from Kalpi's as she stared right back.

When he saw that Kalpi was about to open her lips to speak something, probably to protest Raghav showed a hand to her. "No, there's no room to discussion. Don't even try" he said and saw an angry determination and anger crossing Kalpi's face. This time he succeeded in his attempts. Giving a look of disapproval, confidence and accusation Kalpi marched outside the van, while her lips did the unexpected. Despite the cries of her heart telling to her to say otherwise, Kalpi's self-respect took over while she said, "Fine, I have no problem fake fianc". Her back now faced Raghav while walking out as she slammed the door of van shut behind her. The loud noise made Raghav flinch as his head bowed down in extreme sadness. The tears escaped Raghav's eyes while his hands covered his face.

With no one to see and no one to feel, Raghav allowed the strangled sobs to escape, his cheeks already wet with the salty water of his eyes. Every shake in his body was an escape to the immense pain Raghav had just allowed himself to go through. He couldn't stop; not until he found the courage through the realization that this was what his fate was about. That this was for Kalpi's brighter future and he has to do this.

Forcing himself to stop crying, Raghav sighed the gloomy look in his eyes now mixed with a steely determination. His lips quivered while he stalked with himself. Wiping his wet cheeks with the back of his hands he said, "I am Raghav Singhania; and I am once again alone. This time...for life. And the worst thing, I named my love for my honeybee as only an attraction; only an attraction". The steel in his eyes weakened in that second to let a teardrop trickle down his face.

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Kalpi paced in her bedroom, there was not even a hint of any sound in the rest of the house. It was just the day before when Raghav had uttered those hurting words to her. In front of him, Kalpi had acted as if she did not care and she was successful too. After all she'd always given importance to her self-respect all her life more than anything or anyone else. So, saying and acting that way had come like a natural reaction. But then, maybe she'd forgotten that lately her body, mind and heart had gotten used to another reaction as well.

Her reaction to everything Raghav did nor not did, said or not said; hid or not hid from her. Add to this the fact her whole being always revolving around Raghav since childhood, things was hard. This sudden need to accept the fact that after ten months Raghav would not be in her life was like a heavy stone on her heart. The good actors which Raghav and Kalpana both were, both of them had successfully hidden this little strain in their "relationship" from the eyes of everyone else.

But from each other and before each other, an invisible wall of pain stood between them. It was too much for Kalpi and she knew somewhere something was bothering Raghav too. But what was it? This one question had given her only sleepless night. This morning, like always she had expected Raghav to come to her van, give her Prasad. "To be honest" Kalpi admitted to herself, "I was waiting to feel the touch of his lips against my skin", remembering Raghav's daily morning greeting to her. But nothing of that sort happened. In front of others, Raghav had hugged her and lovingly caressed her cheek with one hand, his eyes tender and soft. To Kalpi it hadn't felt that Raghav was acting, it was as if those were Raghav's real emotions.

Oblivious to Kalpi, she was right. Those little moments in public, now Raghav was thankful to them. At least he could be close to his love then. He didn't care if kalpi thought that he was acting , he would take anything he got in this temporary phase of happiness in his life when he could still claim Kalpi as his. But the love in his heart still reached Kalpi, whose heart just knew there was a lot more than meets the eye.

Sighing Kalpi sat on the edge of her bed, gazing lovingly at the photo frame sitting on her bedside table. This was how their journey had started again; after eight long years. As she looked the photo showing herself in Raghav's arms she remembered how Raghav used to tease her; remind his promise to her. "And he won it" she thought her eyes now brimming with tears. "I told him too, that he won. But I could not tell him the complete truth. I could not tell him that I love him. I planned to do it on the day of our engagement, but before that he...he made it impossible to admit this one truth to him. Oh Bappa, please help me" she thought hugging the photo frame close to her chest. Sobbing she remembered each and every moment they'd spend together; each and every second when Raghav had made her feel that she was centre of his world, even when he was challenging her. She remembered how wrong she was about her idol, wrong in not trusting him. Her memories took her to the repeated promises Raghav had taken recently and she'd made to him; that she would never stop trusting him. That she would never leave him, Kalpi's eyes immediately snapped open.

"Yes!" she exclaimed and grinned happily seeing a ray of hope. Darting her eyes skywards and folding her hands, Kalpi thanked Bappa numerous times. "Thank You Bappa, you showed me the way" she beamed before turning her eyes back to the photo frame.

Smirking she said, "No Raghav, it is not so easy. You will not get rid of me so easily! I remember my promise and now it is my turn to fulfill MY promise. And you know right? Your honeybee is just as stubborn as you are; that just like you I will not let go of my promise, especially the one made to you"; "Just wait and watch Raghav. Your honeybee is after her flower, after YOU. I will never leave you; never stop trusting you. I will not rest until I know why you are behaving the way you are. What happened overnight? I cannot look without you Raghav and I refuse to accept the truth of our temporary & fake engagement. Till now, you tried hard to melt me; and now it is time to return your sweet favour" saying so Kalpi smirked.

"Be ready Mr. Raghav Singhania, your honey bee is coming, for you" she promised to Raghav's photo before taking out her diary and jotting down ways in which she could win "Her Raghav" over, to be together again and this time for life.

Disclaimer: This is a work of fiction using characters from the show "Ek Mutthi Aasmaan" on "Zee TV". The characters are owned by creators and owners of the show.