SS : The Sea ... Part 2 updated. Pg 13 - Page 10

Nachiket woke up to the sounds of sea waves gently lapping the shore. He felt he was still dreaming - dreaming about the gorgeous night that he had just shared with Ragini - a night which was a testimony to their love for each other; a kind of stubborn yet innocent love which through all these years of pain, trials and tribulations had never gone away. More than the act of making love itself, the fact that they were together this way, in each other's arms, in each other's heart and soul was much more profound.

Glancing at his wrist watch, he saw that it was almost 6.30 in the morning. He hardly woke up this early the other mornings, but this was special. This was the dawn he had been waiting for all his ruptured life.

His hands unconsciously searched for Ragini on the other side of the bed, as his eyes were transfixed by the serene beauty of the morning. He bolted up in panic when he realised that she was not there with him.

'Have I been dreaming all this while?' he thought dejectedly. For a split second, his mind zoned out. He looked around himself, everything was spic and span in the room. It surely didn't indicate the presence of another person there.

Puzzled, Nachiket walked towards the balcony. Two steps in the direction and he cried out 'Ouch' as his feet landed on something that had a sharp edge to it. He bent down and picked up the object - and smiled, when he realised that it was one of Ragini's ear rings, the ones that they had discarded haphazardly the previous night, while in the throes of passion.

Nachiket breathed in deeply as sanity returned - he was not alone, Ragini was surely there with him. This time around, she had not abandoned him.

Curious, he went to the balcony and looked out. The curtains billowed in the wind wafting in from the sea, as his feet tingled with contact to the hard wooden floor. Life seemed so simple and pleasant here, Nachiket thought as his eyes swept across the horizon. Used to a city way of life which meant super dependence on machines of every form, shape and size, this freedom was what he had been craving for, unconsciously. The freedom to be at the basest best.

He squinted his eyes slightly as he took in the form of Ragini sitting on the beach, by the sea. He inhaled deeply, thankful to God for the brainwave. Ragini loved the sea and Nachiket realised how deeply hurt and broken she must have been all these years, to stay away from it. He cursed himself for causing this to her - so much pain, grief, sadness and loneliness. While he had been hating her all these years, she had been dying inside - a little each day, while struggling to keep her family afloat. Nachiket did realise that they had their reasons for the separation, for the fight, for the hatred and the pain - God knows he has suffered as much - but every time he got to know how she had killed a part of herself during this struggle, his heart had bled inside.

He knew that for Ragini to heal, she had to connect back ... and what better way to start the mending, but with forging the connect with the sea.

He retraced his steps back to the bathroom and was surprised to see his toiletries neatly stacked by the mirror dresser, along with hers. Happiness filled his heart at this small gesture and his eyes shone with tears, as he realised that time had indeed been kind to them, that they were indeed back together.

...

Ragini sat there, looking out at the sea. Her feet was all wet and sandy from her stroll some time back, when she had stepped into the water. The overlapping waves seemed to cleanse her soul and she had wept her heart out. All the sadness, bitterness and anger had seemed to be wiped away by the touch of the ever gracious sea in that instant, and she had felt lighter. She wanted to wade deeper into the sea, but decided to wait for Nachiket. After all, it was his idea and she knew how important this bonding was for him as well.

She had woken up early in the morning to find herself in his arms; she had lovingly pinched his cheek but he was in deep slumber and she hadn't wanted to disturb him further. While unpacking their cases, she had realised how things were fast changing. The Nachiket Khanna she knew could hardly make through the night without the A.C. in full blast, and here he was now sleeping like a baby, totally oblivious to the fact that the cool wind from the sea was the only air-conditioning unit that had functioning since last night.

After a while, Ragini padded barefoot to the beach, but not before planting a light kiss on his forehead. He had grunted slightly in response. Ragini had not disturbed him further - she knew that he needed the rest, the peace and the calm after all they had gone through during the past 15 years and more. She knew fully well that he was trying hard to make it up to her and she promised herself never to doubt his love, come what may.

After a quick stroll, she had settled down in the shades of a coconut tree. She marvelled at how the trunk of the tree bent forward to reach out to the sea; the leaves singing their own song keeping up with the rhythm of the sea waves.

Her thoughts got interrupted when she heard him coming up to her. She looked up at him patiently as he stood a few feet away from her and surveyed the scenery in front of him, and ultimately landing on her. His Ragini.

He raised his eyebrows in an amused fashion and commented,

'Nice shirt huh? Nice shorts Ragini ? I think I have seen them before.'

Ragini grinned, as she turned towards the water

'You should have told me Nachiket that we were coming to Alibagh? I would have packed accordingly.'

She had slipped on the shirt that Nachiket had slipped off casually last night, feeling comfort in it's familiarity, and his scent - the woody kind of scent that she always associated with him.

Nachiket settled down beside her and pulled her close to whisper in her ears,

'Does that mean that I missed the chance of witnessing your beauty in a two-piece?'

Ragini pushed him away

'Nachiket, you are always joking. Ok, let me go back and change. You can keep your shirt.'

'Hmm, no you don't have to go in', Nachiekt nodded, his eyes gleaming with mischief.'But I want my shirt now'

'Shut up' Ragini ordered as she lay her head down on his shoulder, her eyes transfixed on the dancing water.

A while later, the Caretaker's son came up to them with breakfast packed in a wicker basket. Ragini thanked him kindly - she was really enjoying these moments. She wouldn't have believed if three months back somebody had told her that Dr Nachiket Khanna would be back in her life, with a bang and would turn it upside down, in a good way.

...

In the Evening

Ragini looked out at the sea from the kitchen window. She had come to make a cup of tea for Nachiket and herself, after Dinner. People in these parts often retired to bed early and there was a stillness all around.

It being a full moon night, the silver moonlight shivered on the water with a ferocious intensity, almost causing Ragini to react, almost making her yearn for the water. She had never felt such a pull to the sea earlier. Maybe the reasons which had earlier kept her from feeling anything remotely related to the soul had now given way for a greater association. For a passionate longing. Had given way to Hope.

'How I wish I could still swim?' she murmured after some moments.

Nachiket looked up from the newspaper that they had purchased while on their way back to the Bungalow, after a ride along the beach to the local temple and beyond.

He looked at her intently for a while. Folding the paper aside, he got up from the chair and walked over to her, placing his hands on both sides of the kitchen counter so that she was safely locked within them. He bent down and kissed her shoulder blade lightly, almost reverentially. Ragini sighed deeply as she leant back to his warmth.

After a few minutes, he whispered

'Ragini, how much do you trust me?'

'With my life' she responded in a heartbeat.

'Then come with me. No questions asked please' Nachiket replied.

Fifteen minutes later, they were out of the house walking towards the sea, hand in hand.

On reaching the beach, they built a fire to keep animals away. And settled down on the cool sand.

As the fire died down eventually, the water in front of them turned into a magical realm - a paradise, almost with a life of it's own. Nachiket threw his shirt away and slipped into the water and called out to Ragini

'Come on Sweetheart. come over to me'

Ragini shook her head. The darkness terrified her. Nachiket continued -

'We will stay by the shore only. I want you to feel the water as it is, it is wonderful over here. Trust me. And you can definitely keep my shirt on.'

He winked.

Mesmerised, Ragini walked towards the sea. While a part of her didn't want to step into the water, the other part wanted to plunge into the unexpected - especially since she knew that Nachiket was there to hold her.

She trusted him enough to know that he would not take any unnecessary risks. She also knew that he was trying to give her back what she had lost all this while. That side of her that was uniquely Ragini.

She stepped into the water, the cool water rose to embrace her. It felt wonderful. She slipped into his arms and was surprised to see that the moonlight had indeed given a life of sorts to the water. She could actually look all around and marvel at the pristine beauty of the sea.

Nachiket was right. It was both light and dark out. Dark under the water, light above. The moon had slipped up into the sky a little more and was spreading a silver path across the black water in front of her.

Not a prolific swimmer, Ragini had to rely on Nachiket to float around. She felt liberated. She felt like a drug addict, as if the water was transmitting magically though her veins. Suddenly she could feel her blood and it *was* surging through her body.

The water felt fabulous on her skin. The water wasn't quite still, the sea itself moved as if it were alive, caressing her everywhere. Cooling her heated skin. She dipped her head under the surface, it was as if she could feel the moon's beams sparkling along the skin of her back.

She looked up at the moon, at the stars, at the sky. She looked at him, he was watching her, concentrating on her.

"You can feel it, can't you, sweetheart?. Can't you feel it surging . . . softly? The moon pulling at your blood" his voice was soothing, caressing, like the water.

His hands were now moving softly along the skin of her arms, her back. He touched her with the lightest of touches. Her hands drifted, up to follow the line of his shoulders, down to run along his chest. She pressed her hand over his heart, she could feel it beating hard beneath her palm.Her skin was alive against his, her blood was alive inside her, the water was alive around them. The sensation was incredible.

Nachiket was mesmerised. She seemed a complete goddess in his eyes. Beautiful, ravishing, exquisite, adorable, precious she was in his eyes. He adored everything about her.

...

The next morning

The chirping of the birds, hopping along the railings of the balcony, woke Ragini up. She rubbed her eyes gently as the vivid images of last night inundated her senses. She tried to move, but almost immediately realised that Nachiket had had her in a bear hug, his steady breath tickling the hair at her nape.

She looked around to see their clothes all over the floor. She smiled warmly, all these didn't bother her anymore. She was safe and sound in his arms. And he had bestowed on her the best gift that he could give. A chance to belong, without inhibitions, without holding back, without any compromises.

Everything else could just wait, Ragini thought as she settled down deeper into his arms.

The END