'Ragini, Ragini' Nachiket called out from inside the room, a bit urgently.
Hmm ...' Ragini answered her concentration totally on the Lunch she was preparing.
'Ragini' Nachiket called out again, this time from near the door of the bedroom. 'I need to charge my laptop. It has died on me. Is there any other charging point in the room? Your phone's getting charged on the one socket I can see.'
Ragini turned around to look at him. He seemed so out of place. Dressed casually in an old pair of navy sweatpants and a worn out green coloured Tee, he hardly looked like the suave Cardiologist that he was in real life. He looked relaxed, she thought.
Ragini replied 'There's one by the dresser. You can use that.'
'Ok thanks' Nachiket murmured as he went back inside the room. Ragini turned back to the food in hand.
She turned off the knob off the cooking range, after about ten minutes, when the sound of a crash from inside the room, greeted her.
She hurried inside to find Nachiket standing there - with his hands on his hips, dismay written all over his face.
In front of him, on the ground lay the remains of the beautiful porcelain vase that had adorned the dresser some time ago. The vase had been a gift from Nishi and Aarav on her Birthday. Stalks of yellow tulips and water lay scattered all across the floor.
'I swear I was just transferring the vase to the side table' Nachiket said solemnly. 'There was not much space on the dresser.'
Ragini observed him carefully. The casual air that he had had since his arrival seemed to have vanished - to be replaced by a sense of uneasiness.
And the last thing she wanted him to feel was being uncomfortable at her place. In their house.
...
A day and few hours back
Midnight, 2.00 a.m.
Ragini was sure that she had burnt holes in the floor of her drawing room, with all her pacing. She was worried.
He was flying in directly from New York and was supposed to reach by now.
It was eerily quiet outside, and any sound from any vehicle outside caused her to run to the balcony, every single time.
She could feel the tension pulsing through her entire being. Forcing herself to calm down, she took in deep breaths, as she sat down edgily on the sofa.
Her mind raced on unbridled, as tears threatened to escape the confines of her eyes.
'Did he not board the flight?' Ragini thought, her heart sinking.
'But he did call me from the Airport' her mind counter reminded her.
She picked up her phone from the centre table, thinking whether to call him up or not. She decided against it, she didn't want to come out as needy and nervous.
After all, she has waited for 15 odd years. For this moment.
She turned on the television and stared at the screen absentmindedly, willing her mind to calm down. Finally when the clock struck 3 in the morning, she was ready to give up. Ready to acknowledge the truth that he would never come back to her.
And then the doorbell had rung.
Wiping the tears stinging her eyes, Ragini had peered through the peephole.
He was standing right there in front of her door, tiredness written clearly all over his face.
Her heart swelled with unexplained emotions as she opened the door to let him in. Into her life. Once again.
He entered the apartment, tugging his luggage behind him, as Ragini secured the front door behind him.
And he waited.
Ragini ambled off, walking towards the kitchen, getting busy - 'Nachiket, what took you so long? You could have called. I was worried. Worried about you ... was going to call you. Let me get you a glass of water first'
Nachiket realised at that moment what was happening to her. He knew her well enough. Though she portrayed that she was calm and cool, but deep within, he knew she was shaking with emotions. She was out of control, and Ragini did not like being out of control.
'Ragini' he called out.
She turned around to find him still standing in front of the door, his eyes fixed on her.
His eyes told her everything that she needed to know.
As if transfixed, Ragini moved towards him until and unless she was standing in front of him, a mere few inches away. She touched his jaw tenderly and pushed at it sideways, as she whispered
'You are late Nachiket. I could almost kill you for this.'
Even before Nachiket could answer, she had moved into his arms effortlessly, her arms going around his waist, beneath his blazer. He pulled in her closer until her head was lying over his heart; his chin resting on top of her head.
And then she had cried. He held onto her as she let flow those tears that marked years of loneliness and heartbreak and desperation. Unknowing to him, his tears flowed into her hair, as he patted her back affectionately, reassuring her of his presence. His Love.
After what seemed to be an eternity but what was actually a few minutes, Nachiket felt her relax against him. She disengaged slowly and then looked up at him.
She was back to being calm and composed, Nachiket thought.
Nachiket moved to the centre of the room and sat down on the sofa gingerly. He was tired. Gratefully accepting the glass of water from Ragini, he let the cool liquid run down his parched throat.
'God', he though. It is already so hot over here'.
Stifling a yawn, he returned the glass back to Ragini and ran his fingers through his hair, closing his eyes.
Ragini observed him closely
'Nachiket, would you like to eat something now? It has been a long flight, I know. Or would you like to go to sleep?'
'Ragini, I think I would rather sleep, I can't keep my eyes open any longer', he replied back.
'Good' Ragini said, as she picked up the blazer that he had casually shrugged off a few minutes before. She continued
'I have made the bed. You can sleep in Naani's room'
His eyes shot open as the words sunk in.
'That's the only room with an A.C. and it's already so hot in India. Further, Mom and Naani have gone visiting my Uncle in Ahmedabad' , Ragini explained.
...
Present day
Ragini looked up at Nachiket, from the broken pieces of the vase now lying strewn all over the floor.
She rushed out of the room and returned in a minute with a dishrag and a mop. She was as efficient and enterprising as he remembered her to be.
Pushing aside his open luggage towards the balcony. she continued, as she started picking up the broken pieces of vase from the floor
'Nachiket, let me clean this up. We cannot let your clothes and belongings get wet. I will clear up the wardrobe in some time. You can arrange your clothes there later.'
He looked grief stricken. Ragini stood up and walked over to him, and clutched his fingers.
Pressing lightly, she willed him to look into her eyes, as she said
'It's alright Nachiket. It's just a vase.'
She smiled at him as he smiled back gratefully, as he lightly grazed her forehead with his lips.
...
Anupamaa
