OS : In Your Arms ...

Tere bina jiya jaaye na

Bin tere, tere bin sajnaa ... saans mein saans aaye na

Ragini looked around the apartment for a hundredth time now. She was happy, she was ecstatic. Nachiket was finally returning back to her after almost six months now.

From London. He had gone there for some certification, initially for three months which had later got extended to the half of the year. Half of the first year of their marriage.

She had missed him terribly, ached for him, but she knew that this was so necessary for his career. For his profession.

Of course, they spoke every day - whenever they managed to sneak out some time. His sweet nothings whispered over the phone made her blush and kept her awake on those lonely nights, when all she wanted to do was die in his arms and to spend all her living, eternal moments with him.

She knew that he missed her badly as well, and had often offered to call her to London. But she had stayed behind, they had a family to look after. And she hadn't wanted to divert his mind with her presence. She just wanted him back at the earliest.

And of course there was Pam in London. Ragini knew very well that Nachiket's sister was uncomfortable with her presence in Nachiket's life. Since Nachiket was put up at Pam's place there, Ragini thought better than to land up there.

And now Nachiket was coming back. Finally. She could almost feel the smile spread across her face. Her happiness was palpable. Even the servants could feel the burst of happiness all around them. They were highly tickled by the amorous endearments of this so-much-in-love couple, and wished the couple well.

...

Nachiket was already in Delhi. He had to stop there en route to meet one of his senior professors who had played a major role in his becoming a Surgeon, and who was now recuperating at the AIIMS.

He was already on a direct flight to Mumbai and checked his watch impatiently. His impatience caught the attention of a cute flight attendant who hovered around him unnecessarily. Nachiket flashed his dimpled smile at her, and shook his head slightly. The girl was cute but she had no idea who she was up against. His dimples deepened and eyes misted over as the beautiful face of his wife smiled back at him, totally enveloping his thoughts. The separation had been painful for him as well, after all the promises he had made to her when he was courting her, never to leave her alone. Ever.

'Oh my God' Nachiket thought. 'I am so hopelessly in love with Ragini. Never knew I could love her this much, and need her this badly.'

He was jolted out of his thoughts when the wheels of the plane touched the airstrip.

He was coming home.

...

Jab Bhi Khayaalon mein tu aaye

mere badan Se khushbu aaye

mehake badan mein raha na jaaye ...raha jaaye na

The servants were long gone.

Ragini carefully arranged the food on the table. She had tried to prepare a few of his favourite dishes, knowing fully well that he would just nibble a bit. Nachiket was not much of an eater when it came to his returning from long trips.

She looked at the watch impatiently. It was already late. Wonder what was keeping him for so long. He should have called already', she thought.

Dimming the lights of the dining area, she walked into the bedroom.

In his absence, she had tastefully decorated it so that it was more of a couple's room now and not the Bachelor's den that it used to be earlier. She had added some splashes of colour to it in contrast to the earlier steel, white and black combination and sincerely hoped that he would like it.

Walking over to the dresser, she looked into the mirror. She almost couldn't recognise the happy face that beamed back at her.

And then the doorbell rang.

Ragini nearly tripped the flower vase kept at the side of the dresser, as she rushed to open the door. Her heart leapt to her mouth as she opened the door, to find him standing in front of her, finally - looking so handsome, his coat draping his arm, while his bags lay piled up on the floor beside.

Nachiket's eyes teared as he took in her appearance. He almost could not believe that she was standing there in front of her, all the love in the world concentrated in those eyes.

Ragini was standing there in front of him, dressed in a red silk saree, red bangles adorning her hands - she was as beautiful and lovely and simple as the enchanting bride that he had brought home some months back. Her smile calmed him down - she was being patient. Waiting for him to come back to her.

Reshmi raatein roz na hongi

yeh saugaatein roz na hongi

zindagi tujh bin raas na aaye ... raas aaye na

Nachiket threw the coat away in the direction of the sofa, not caring where it landed. Pushing the bags inside, he closed the door behind them. And then he pulled her into his arms. Holding her closely to his heart, he rocked her gently as he realised that she was sobbing silently.

A few seconds later, he loosened his arms from around her, and cupped her face. She gently ran her fingers over the stubble that adorned his chin. Nachiket bent down towards Ragini and whispered almost inaudibly: "I want to kiss you."

Not waiting for her response, he swept her over in his arms and headed towards their bedroom.

'Nachiket, you should eat something first', Ragini whispered.

He whispered against her cheek - 'Food can wait'

She sighed against the raspy whisper he left on her cheek. Then he began the trail of slow, wet kisses up and over her eyes and down the bridge of her nose. Her body was screaming for more. Her mind, the stronger of the two, won out.

'Nachiket, I am hungry' Ragini whined. After a few seconds, she realised that he had kicked the door of their bedroom open and was now standing there, taking in the change, his mouth open.

He liked what he saw. A few seconds later, he replied

'Huh. Hungry? We will then have to do something about it after a while.'

His mouth was now on her neck, moving upward towards her ear. His back was hard under her hands, and it rippled with effort as he lowered her on to the bed. And then himself on the bed, beside her.

Propped up on his elbow, he studied her face calmly. He touched her cheek. "I can't believe that we are together once again and that I have the most exquisite woman in the world, in my arms."

Ragini lifted her head and claimed his mouth. He tasted incredible. He felt incredible. She needed more. Her hands found his head, and refused to allow their mouths to break. She held him and deepened the kiss. A whimper of response seemed to be all that Nachiket could manage.

After a while, the intensity of the kiss ebbed and for a few minutes they simply breathed against each other, lips parted and grazing; hands quiet. Having him close to her was a sensation Ragini had nearly forgotten. It was as if her entire being was now on fire and was opening to upto him and his love.

His lips returned to her mouth, and then made their way down her neck. Ragini slipped a finger under his chin and lifted his face to hers. There, in his eyes, behind the tears and longing, was a sort of love that made her heart bleed. He lowered himself back down to her, kissed her with more passion than she'd ever seen him with, as the night slowly slipped into oblivion.

...

Sometime later

The two of them sat cuddled in perfect company and harmony, in front of the TV in the drawing room, as they fed scoops of ice cream to each other.

They had stuffed the dinner back into the fridge and had settled for ice cream instead. Nachiket looked at his wife lovingly, as she tucked her legs under the comforter, her head resting on his shoulder. He noticed that she was fighting desperately to keep her eyes open. Keeping the ice cream container aside, Nachiket pulled Ragini in his arms as he settled down on the sofa. Pulling the comforter up to cover them both, he placed a kiss on her forehead. She mumbled something in her sleep which somehow sounded like 'Love You' to Nachiket, as he found the remote and turned the TV off.

...

The End