Part 6
Smiling weakly at Ragini, Nachiket proceeded to gulp down one tablet instead of two, having noted the look of disapproval on her face when he had removed them from the foil. He prayed that Ragini's care and affection would take care of him tonight and that his body would be kind to him.
He had over-eaten. He was bound to do so tonight. This felt like coming home in so many ways. Familiar faces, familiar food, he had forgotten about everything and lost himself to the warmth and smiles around him. He had even caught Sunny tai look at him and then at Ragini with a special fondness in her eyes. He wished he could just walk up to her and tell her that he wanted the same things as she did.. but he knew that was not possible. They were separated by more than years.
Gratefully, he pushed away the now empty plate a little away from him as he got up to wash his hands. As he came back to pick up his plate from the table and put it in the sink, he realised Ragini had been extra efficient and had cleared up almost all the table, leaving him no scope to help him. Frowning slightly, he took his plate, now in her hand and picked up the pile of plates and put it in the sink amid slight protest from Ragini.
She just looked at him in awe. He was behaving as if nothing had changed. Both of them worked and had an extremely busy domestic life when they were together.. with the kids being more than a handful. He had always tried and do her bit for her, in the littlest of ways. He had always wanted to let her know that everything between them was a partnership of equals. He would try to cook on the weekends or at least do the prep work so she only had to mix in the final ingredients. And he was always the same at the dinner table - taking the lead in cleaning up (not washing, they had a maid for that) - but he'd always make sure the food went into the refrigerator in those small containers, all ready to be used the next day as and when required.
Ragini would yawn and walk towards the kids' room to kiss them goodnight and would almost always walk back to the table to see him wipe it clean with a tired but happy smile on his face.
Coming back to reality, Ragini held back the sigh she was going to let go. This was just too much. He had to stop doing those things to her.. why could not he just finish the dinner as a guest and leave? Knowing what she could no longer have was even more painful than him in flesh and blood, walking around her house as if nothing ha changed.
Nachiket was not sure what he was supposed to do after dinner was done.. his agenda to stay was over as the way Ragini saw it. But leaving was the last thing he wanted to do.. he just wanted to stay back and talk to her for hours and hours.. talk to her about the migraine medicines he'd seen in her closet.. talk to her about her unchanged habits, and habits she'd picked up over the years.. ask her what was bothering her.. ask her if she was doing okay.. sort of apologise to her for adding to her worries and for not being there and helping her out emotionally and financially..
Nervously, he walked over to the couch and slumped over it. Looking over at Nachiket's nervous stance on the sofa, Ragini read his emotions instantly and thought of something that would occupy him without being forced or without it turning awkward. She wanted him to leave, and also not. She would not mind this familiarity that had returned to her life after so many lost years. She would do anything to make it last for some time more. She chided herself for being so unpredictable when it came to Nachiket - he made her so unsure about things..
Silently, she walked over to the coffee maker and put on the pot to brew some strong coffee. He smiled and immediately asked - You don't drink coffee, do you?
She smiled back and told him Aarav drinks coffee and so does Nishi and they had bought this coffee maker from a store after much insistence. Nachiket smiled at the accidental passing down of the love for coffee. He was tempted to make a 'it's in their blood' remark but refrained. She came and sat on the other end and they looked at each other in perfect silence, till the strong aroma of coffee interrupted their silent conversation and forced her to get up for the coffee.. she walked past him and left her own trail of smooth lavender, something that still drove him crazy and instinctively made him close his eyes and retreat to that solace of memories that continued to warm his heart..
To be continued :)
