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Kalpana stirred in her afternoon nap as she involuntarily passed a hand over her eight and a half months old unborn baby. Just a week more and her delivery would be due anytime. She smiled as the sunlight sparkled her chubby face, as it was now, due to the pregnancy overweight.
Rubbing her eyes, she tried finding Raghav beside her with her hands as her eyes were still shut.
She groaned when she remembered that he had left for an important meeting at Pune with his car this morning.
She grabbed his pillow and inhaled his scent to make her feel that Raghav is there.
Her face which was wrinkled with sadness of Raghav not being beside her instantly got replaced with a wide grin as she realised that Raghav had promised this meeting to be his last one before Kalpana's delivery. After this important meeting, he was to take leave from everything regarding his professional life and focus on his personal life until everything is settled in the family and the little one is welcomed into the world.
She smiled rubbing her eyes again and slowly pulled herself into a comfortable position with her head resting on the headboard and hands caressing her stomach.
~~~~~~<><><><><>~~~~~~
Meanwhile at the headquarters of Singhania Group of Companies, Mumbai.
Mr. Samar Raizaada was working on his laptop in his cabin.
His phone buzzed.
He looked down at it and stared at the number with a puzzled expression ,"Who's this?" He mumbled and picked up the call, still typing on his laptop.
"Hello."
The other end spoke.
"Yes, it's Sammy. Mr. Samar Raizaada this side."
There was a long pause as Sammy's expression changed from a calm one to a this-can't-happen expression and fingers leaving the keyboard of his laptop.
He had his mouth agape, unable to transfer the given information to his brain.
It just ringed in his ears, again and again.
"How can this happen?" He said to himself.
He covered his open mouth with his palm and let out a painful moan with his eyes squeezed closed.
He dialed a number, but before he could call, some other call came.
It was Gauri Aunty.
~~~~~<><><><><>~~~~~
Samar rushed home, as fast as he could as soon as Gauri Aunty informed him about his Kalpana bhabhi entering her labour.
He hurried up the stairs, two at a time and followed the painful shouts, even though he knew the room's location.
"Kalpana bhabhi." He murmured and stepped into the room to see Kalpana shouting while Gauri tried calming her down with her words and rubbing her hands while a maid rubbed her feet.
"Raghav! Mom, where's Raghav? Aaarrgghhh. ." She nearly asked her question while shouting.
Samar stopped in his path, face embedded with sweat beads as he heard his best friend's name.
He stole his glance from Kalpana as she now saw him and enquired him about Raghav, again.
He gulped and looked down.
"He will be back soon, really soon bhabhi. For now, let's head to the hospital." Was all he could manage to say being safe with his words.
He rushed towards Kalpana and helped her get up while Gauri helped her up too.
In no time, they were at the hospital and the only person Kalpana wanted right now was Raghav. She couldn't help but inquire him about Raghav's whereabouts again and again. He lied to her that he is unable to contact him as he is still in the meeting. But he is trying to reach him.
He exited from the labour room into the hospital corridor while passing his fingers through his hair.
He threw his phone frustratingly on the sofa and said with a voice which was only audible to him,"How on Earth, do I tell a wife who's going through her labour that her husband is in a operation theatre going through a surgery since hours????!!!! HOW GOD HOW??"
He dialled a number and waited for it to be picked up, it was the same number which had called him in the morning to inform about Raghav's accident, which seemed to be a planned one maybe by one of his rivals.
"Hello, Officer."
"Yes Mr. Raizaada."
"Ho-how is Raghav?"
"Can't say anything, Samar. He's extremely critical right now and has lost a great amount of blood."
He sighed and walked towards the labour room in which Kalpana lay.
He looked at her with worried eyes.
"What are the doctor's saying?"
"They haven't exited the OT since the operation started."
"Hmm. ."
Sammy was about to end the call when he heard the Officer not asking him to cut the call as the doctors have just exited the OT & informed about the latest developments.
"Yes?"
"We are sorry to inform you Mr. Raizaada, but Mr. Singhania is no more."
He cut the call involuntarily.
Everything seemed to fade away in front of his eyes, the world slipping from his fingers.
In no sense to hear or say anything, he turned to leave. That's when, he heard a cry, a soft cry of a new born baby.
He turned and saw the doctor handing over the baby to Kalpana, informing that it was a girl.
A half smile crept up his lips and he saw the glow of joy evident in Kalpana's eyes. Seeing the eagerness in her eyes to see her husband and show him their first child made some of his tears escape his eyes.
He backed off and ran to his car.
~~~~~<><><><><>~~~~~
Closing the door and resting his head on the steering wheel, he finally let out his tears.
"Why Raghav, why? Why did you have to leave us all so soon? Who will take care of your wife and your new born Angel? Didn't you just want to see your daughter once? How will Kalpana bhabhi take in this news? God. How will I tell her the truth, the truth that she has lost her husband for ever?That she would never see him again neither their Angel." He said between his sobs.
As he was getting off the car, to go to Kalpana. His phone ringed. He picked it up and just said a yes after hearing the other person. It was the Officer informing him that they would reach Mumbai with Raghav's body within a hour as they have took a private jet.
Wiping his tears once again, he headed towards the hospital to face the reality.
~~~~~<><><><><>~~~~~
As soon as he entered the hospital, Gauri told him that they are going back to the mansion as there was no need to stay there as Kalpana was perfectly alright.
He nodded and headed towards the room on which Kalpana was resting while Gauri headed outside the hospital to make some calls and do some arrangements.
As Sammy was about to enter the room, he saw Kalpana trying to call someone again and again but the person didn't seem to pick up. With her daughter curled up in her left arm, she had been continously trying to call someone.
"Damn it Raghav! ! Pick up the phone! !"She shouted as slow as she could and threw her phone on the other side of the bed.
Irritation lingering on her face but it was quickly washed away as soon as she looked down at her daughter and after cuddling her close to herself, Kalpana muttered something into her daughter's ear, "Look Darling, you are just into the world an hour ago but Daidaa doesn't seem to care. Don't you worry love, I'll beat him to death when he comes back! " She chuckled at her words and kissed her daughter's forehead.
Sammy looked at the entire scene before him with pain reflecting in his eyes.
How he wished to see Kalpana beat the blue and black out of Raghav. But alas, it was not fated.
He walked up to the bed and stared at the beautiful Angel which lay in Kalpana's arms right now. How ill fated she was to have her Dad die on the day she was born. He looked down at her with pitiful eyes and he mentally made a note that he would never let her miss her Dad until he was alive, her chachu was alive.
"Bhabhi." He whispered.
Kalpana opened her eyes and looked up at him and asked, "Sammy.. where were you?"
"Nothing, just some important work you know. " He said with a faint smile.
"Yeah I know, even my husband falls in the same category! Workaholic people! " She said laughing.
Sammy didn't return the laughter, he just nodded slightly.
As Sammy prepared himself to talk to Kalpana about Raghav, Gauri walked in.
"Come on let's go. I have got the discharge papers issued. Let's take our Angel home." She announced and Kalpana nodded with joy.
~~~~~<><><><><>~~~~~
It was 2 hours since they reached home while the ladies waited upon Raghav.
Sammy had left out excusing himself for some meeting but the truth was that he needed some time before he reveals the truth before Kalpana.
Sammy was so lost into the happenings of the day, that he forgot that Raghav's body would arrive at Singhania mansion anytime.
~~~~~<><><><><>~~~~~
Singhania mansion :
Kalpana was sitting in the living room with her eyes on the door continously while her Angel was wrapped in her arms securely. She was adamant at staying downstairs until Raghav arrived even after Gauri's numerous failed attempts to get her to rest.
Gauri sighed seeing her and prayed to God to send her Raghav back soon otherwise her Kalpi will make herself sick.
As soon as her prayer finished, the door bell rang.
Kalpana's face immediately lighted up.
She tried getting up to go and open the door, but Gauri stopped her and went herself.
But Kalpana couldn't help but stand at least.
As Gauri opened the door, Officer Dixit was standing there.
"Officer? What's the matter?" Gauri questioned.
He sighed and gestured someone to bring in the body.
The hospital attendants entered with the body and after placing it down, left.
"Take care. I must leave now." Officer Dixit said and left himself too to give the family some lone time.
"Who's this?" Kalpana asked, with tearful eyes.
The fear creeping her back.
Who was it? Sammy? Or.. or.. or.. RAGHAV?
She stopped in between her thoughts deciding to check it herself.
She went ahead and kneeled down on the ground, right beside the body.
She looked up at Gauri, who reciprocated the same fear.
She gulped and with trembling hands clutched the end of the sheet so as to reveal the person's face.
She closed her eyes and pulled it down at once.
She heard a thud.
Kalpana looked back at Gauri to see her on her knees and tears streaming down her wrinkled face.
Kalpana looked on horrified at Gauri and then at last she looked at the face herself.
All the clocks in the world stopped, so did her heartbeat for once.
That face, those handsome features, lay so abnormally still.
She hated to see it, she hated to see that face, that body so still.
Her left arm which was clutching onto their daughter, loosened. She forgot for once about her daughter. All that which mattered right now was Raghav, only Raghav.
Gauri came forward and took her granddaughter up in her arms. Kalpana didn't once notice that happening.
Her fingers travelled up and she ran her fingers on his cheek with silent tears rolling down.
Her fingers of the other hand clutched her mangalsutra as she cried.
She cupped his face and brushed his closed eyes with her thumb as her tear fell on his lips.
She wiped of that tear gently off his lip as if reminiscing all the kisses they ever shared.
She squeezed closed her eyes and let her tears fall while her palms rested on his chest.
After what seemed like a hundred seconds, she looked up at Gauri who was standing totally expressionless while her sleeping daughter was wrapped securely in her Daadi's arms.
She got up and walked towards Gauri, engulfing her in a tight and much needed hug.
Gauri gave up to this gesture and broke into tears.
The two ladies wept endlessly for losing the most important person in their lives, a mother's son and a wife's husband.
After a while, Kalpana wiped her and Gauri's tears and took her daughter in her embrace.
She passed a look at Raghav's body and informed Gauri that she was heading to her room because her Princess needed to be fed.
Gauri nodded and Kalpana left.
Within a few hours, Raghav's last rights were done and his body was taken to be cremated, accompanied by Sammy.
~~~~~<><><><><>~~~~~
Time- 11:30 pm
Kalpana was dressed in a white suit as she sat on the ground with her back supported by the bed. Their daughter slept peacefully on the bed, unaware of all the happenings around. Kalpi sat there with Raghav's photos and some of his clothes which were her favourite.
She took each photo in her hands one by one, remembering the sweet memories connected to them with a weak smile.
She then clutched the shirt which was her forever favourite of Raghav's to her heart as tears rolled down her cheeks.
"I never liked that shirt to that extent. Why do you like it so much?"
A husky though irritated voice said that.
The voice so familiar made shivers run through her body.
She raised her head and looked back to see Raghav sitting beside her with his ever so warm gaze and a smile to die for.
Her heart fluttered.
She forgot about the truth.
What mattered to her was that her Raghav was beside her.
"Raghav." She whispered and touched his cheek while he held her hand which was on her cheek and pecked it.
He was there, he was.. she could feel him.
No joy on this earth ever felt so great to Kalpana as much as his closeness did.
Without giving a second thought, she hugged Raghav with all her strength, crying bitterly.
He caressed her hair and back lovingly as she poured out all the hidden emotions with those tears.
"I missed you." She said in between her sobs.
"So did I." He replied with a smile and rubbed his nose with her.
As he now broke the trance with Kalpi, his eyes fell on the baby.
He looked down at Kalpana and then the baby and after repeating that for quite a few times, he asked,"Is it--".
And a assuring nod by Kalpana made Raghav jump up as he looked down at his creation with utmost love.
Unable to resist the urge to touch her, he passed a finger on her nose and picked her up carefully. He noticed each of her features carefully and kissed her forehead, which was enough to wake her up.
Kalpana looked on with awe at the duo.
How she loved to see the bonding between them, the love between them.
Kalpana hurried to her feet sensing that her daughter would wake up and probably cry but it didn't happen.
She didn't cry.
She just looked on innocently at her Dad's face as if it was the best thing she ever saw.
Their daughter smiled.
She raised her right hand as if to touch Raghav, her small arms couldn't reach him so Raghav brought her closer to his face and she immediately landed her gentle palms on his rough cheek.
She laughed and kicked her legs, feeling her father for the first time.
Raghav and Kalpana laughed with their daughter.
Raghav now slowly turned to face Kalpana who was standing right beside him. He took her right hand and kissed her knuckles.
She smiled.
Raghav then held her neck with his left palm as his right one was busy with their Princess.
"Thank you so much for such a beautiful gift Kalpi. I am complete now." He whispered to her and took her lips in an unexpected kiss.
He played with her lower lip as she smiled at his habit.
When they broke off, Raghav asked," What did you decide for her name, Kalpi?"
"Nothing. 'Cause you said we'll do it together."
"Umm.. lemme think." Raghav replied and noticed his daughter's features with concentration.
Kalpana chuckled seeing his observation period.
"So, her eye's are like yours. Hair mine. Nose yours. Lips, mine. And my chin too!"
Kalpana pouted and said, "You are right! So did you think of a name Raghav?"
"Yeah! Ragna, Ragna Singhania." He said out proudly.
"Ragna. It's a beautiful name.. but what does it mean?"
"Ragna means Raghav and Kalpana. Understand my love?" He said looking at her.
"Oh, that's so lovely! But why does her name has three characters from your name and only two from mine. Why so? It should be equal-equal no?" She pouted.
"Haha. My clever wifey! I knew you would notice that, but that's cause her three features match to mine and only two to yours. Hahahaha." He broke into laughter while Kalpana remembered his observation conclusion and slapped him on his arm.
"Mean." She blurted out.
"Aww, my cherry!!" He said in an over sweet tone and pecked her cheek while pulling her closer from her neck.
"Yeah, my watermelon." she mentioned and smiled back.
He then took her hand and carried her to the adjoining balcony.
"Why are we here?"
"Sshhh!" He said and kept his finger on her lip.
He gently handed over Ragna to Kalpana and quietly came and stood behind her.
He encircled her waist with his arms and kissed her neck gently.
Kalpana froze with his actions, even though they were parents now and all this has happened many times before also but no one can deny the fact that Kalpana always felt shy and fluttered with excitement and joy whenever Raghav would come so close to her. She always reddened with their proximity.
As he kept nuzzling in her hair and inhaling her scent, he complained, "Oh come on love. Stop feeling so shy everytime I touch you, you are my wife after all. You don't suit with shyness, you suit better with wildness and possessiveness!" He completed and kissed her ear.
Kalpana was tomato red now, the word 'wildness' did no good. She tried to calm her frozen body now. Raghav smiled sensing her failed attempts.
"By the way Love, promise me something."
"What is it Raghav?"
"That you'll never wear white again. I mean bright colours suit you more.. wear red, blue, green, orange, purple.. anything but not white. If you feel like wearing white, team it up with other bright colours. Okay? And this suit is a total failure, my dear, all white."
Kalpi nodded and promised him that she would never wear white alone.
"That's like my good girl. And never will you stop wearing your sindoor, mangalsutra and engagement ring."
"Okay Mr. Husband. Done." She said smiling.
"And yes, take care of yourself, Mom, Sammy and this little Princess."
A question arises in Kalpana's mind as to why only she will take care of them? He will also be there na, they'll do it together. But as she turned to question him, she felt his hold loosening.
She panicked and turned.
"Raghav."She said in a hoarse whisper.
Her eyes searched for him.
But he was nowhere.
He was gone.
The reality came into existence.
~~~~~<><><><><>~~~~~
Its over now. Sorry for such a heartbreaking story lovelies. Love you all.
Udne Ki Aasha
Hollywood
