The Morning Before
Nachiket woke up to the smell of food, and his stomach churned. He was hungry. He had now not eaten properly for quite some time, but then all he had been thinking for the past few days, was reaching Ragini. Food was the least of all things he had in his mind then.
As he sat up, he took in his surroundings. He could hear the slight trickle of water in the sink, and someone singing in Marathi. He felt refreshed after having slept now for a couple of hours, without any disturbances.
Rubbing his eyes gingerly, he extended his hand towards the dresser where he had kept his watch and mobile, before going to sleep.
Looking at his watch, he cursed softly. It was already 1 p.m.
Did I really sleep this long?' he thought. He was somebody who could always make do with lesser sleep than others he knew, though he was aware that it was not a good thing to do, in the long run.
Getting up from the bed, he walked towards the window and partially pulled the curtains aside. The afternoon Sun beat down heavily on the near empty roads - Nachiket drew the curtains back to their original position, plunging the room into a soothing semi darkness.
He came back to the dresser to pick up his mobile, when he glanced upon a folded piece of white paper kept beneath a Rubik's Cube.
He opened the Note to be greeted with Ragini's handwriting - simple and practical.
He read on -
Nachiket,
I have to go to the Hospital today; there is some emergency and I am needed there ... will update you once I come home.
I will be back soon. The Cube will help you beat boredom, if at all ...
:)
Ragini
The Note put a smile on Nachiketa's face. He remembered how when they had been together all those years before, they would often leave small notes for each other to find, at various places they knew the other would frequent. And of course all the Notes led them back to each other.
This was surely a good sign to begin with, he mused.
He picked up the Cube and turned it around. It looked old, the edges seemed to have partially chipped off at a few places.
Could this be the same Cube?', Nachiket thought, his eyes tearing slightly.
He turned it around, his fingers absent mindedly caressing the different coloured tiles. He remembered the Cube, he remembered it all.
He had given this Cube to Ragini in the second year of their marriage, when she had accompanied him to an outstation Conference for Doctors. The Conference had continued for 3 days, and by the end of he 2nd day, Ragini was bored sitting in the hotel room, watching TV, with nothing to do.
She had grumbled a bit and Nachiket in jest, had handed over the cube to her, explaining how it worked. Ragini had not joined him for the Conference the 3rd day, and by the time he had returned to their room, she had become a pro.
He remembered clearly how she had caught him by the lapels of his coat and pulled him closer, and then whispered into his ears how she wanted him to take her out for a long drive, once the Convention Dinner was over, so that they could spend some quality time together.
The Dinner ... yes ... Nachiket thought. She had been the most beautiful and elegant person at the Dinner in the off-white Muga silk saree, that he had gifted her some time back, amongst the sea of black, navy blue, brown and red - all he had in his mind then was to kiss her senseless.
Nachiket smiled as he remembered it all. He had not forgotten a wee bit of their lives together - both the happy parts and the sad parts. And now, they had been given a chance to be together again, and he wanted them to paint only happy memories for themselves.
...
Stifling a yawn, he walked into the Hall to be greeted by Sunny Tai
Good Afternoon Saab. How are you feeling?'
Nachiket shook his head as he looked around for his luggage.
Ragini Tai has kept them in her room', Sunny Tai volunteered. Nachiket felt a stone lighter.
He padded towards Ragini's room,
Sunny Tai, can I get a cup of coffee please? I will just freshen up meanwhile'
He hesitated a bit before entering Ragini's room this time. During his last visit to India during Nishi's wedding, he had had access to all the rooms, sometimes knowingly, sometimes unknowingly. But this time, it was different. It was like stepping into the real world of His Ragini - a world that was waiting for them to make it their own.
He spied his cases stacked towards the dresser - this room was also enveloped in darkness - voluminous curtains tried incessantly to keep the heat out.
His shaving kit and toothbrush in his hand, he pushed open the door to the washroom. Another barrier crossed, he thought. he looked around.
It was spic and span - just like her.
Saab' Sunny Tai called out from the kitchen Your coffee's ready'
He responded Ok Sunny Tai. I will be there in 2 minutes'
Putting the travelling cases back, he looked all around her room. He felt voyeuristic, but his insides felt warm as he took in all the small touches in the room that screamed silently of Ragini's presence. And it had that distinctive smell - mixture of flowers in full bloom; it was intoxicating.
...
Sunny Tai placed the cup of coffee reluctantly in front of him. Nachiket looked up from the newspaper and urged her on.
Saab, if you don't mind, it's already past 1 p.m. Why don't you eat something instead of drinking coffee?'
She hesitated, yet went ahead
Ragini Tai had prepared food for you before she left.'
She looked embarrassed as she withdrew her hand from the cup. Nachiket looked at her contemplatively.
Placing the newspaper back on the table, he pushed the chair back and stood up
Then why don't you warm up the food, Sunny Tai? I will take a bath and join you in say, 15 minutes.'
The smile on Sunny Tai's face widened as she saw him walk into Ragini's room once again, for the bath. It was his territory, after all.
She folded her hands in a prayer and then whipped out her cellphone.
Dialling a number, she walked towards the kitchen. After a second, she whispered into her phone
Naani mubarak ho. Sab theek hai ... aap chinta mat karo. Sunny tai hai na'
...
The End
