FF - Destined to Love - Updated Part 4B - pg 14 - Page 5

Originally posted by: ronitfan

Oh this is just beautiful..
Thanks so much for this..such a beautiful buildup to their getting married to each other. Thoroughly enjoyed reading it and the bits that revealed more about Nachiket :)

Can't wait!

Originally posted by: iamcurious

Rachna, 😆 😆 firstly you never bother me dear.

Secondly, the thing is, I have to write aage. It is only in my mind. And what I have in mind is not what you are thinking. They will talk but not now.

Isliye kripya jo likha hai uspe apni vishesh tippani de. 😆

Originally posted by: metoyou

Oh dear God, please forgive me for not having read this masterpiece before.

This is absolutely exceptional! 👏So sorry iamcurious for being so late with my comments. I just read this now and I am blown away.
Yaar please don't say sorry. It happens you just miss the posts.

Each update looked like a movie scene and every single scene was playing right in front of my eyes.

Thank you for this. 😳

What a different approach to NeiRa, so unique yet you manage to keep the same passion alive even though they are complete strangers now.

Seriously, this is amazing. Thank you so much for this, keep it up because you are one hell of a talent!

You are kind :)

I want to read more and I am definitely looking forward to how this arranged marriage blossoms into one of the most romantic love stories 😳

Soon 😃

Also, I love the quotes right at the beginning of each update! 😳

Thanks for noticing that 😊

Originally posted by: poetic

I will - from home.
Waiting...Waiting 😆

Your updates are like reading a novel type of work. 😳

All emotions in place, beautifully written, propah English - oh how I love it!

I am definitely going to put all the segments in one place and read it all at once, once the entire piece is done.

I have it already in word. I will mail it if you want once its done. Thank you Rachna 😳

Originally posted by: NeiRaFreak

@imcurious 👏 lady U have decided to kill me with your updates out of curiosity... 😆😆 nooo...I'd not want to kill my readers.
Just Wonderful 👏 like I was reading some finest novel and wanted to read it whole in one sitting... Thats a wonderful compliment. Thank you. 😳

Loved d way you gave attention to even minor of the expressions and thoughts of everyone... And this Nachiket OMG too good 😳

All the Nachiket(s) are too good 😆😆😳

Plz plz plz write more soonest ... Eagerly waiting 😃

Soon soon Pakka 😊

Originally posted by: iamcurious

"Your heart knows things that your mind can't explain."

Few minutes ago

'No...why will we call off the wedding? I will speak to her. Just give me some time.' Ashaben faltered fearing that the worst is yet to come. She took quick steps towards the bride's room praying all the gods she knew that her daughter agrees to this alliance.

As soon as she stepped into the bride's room, she found Ragini quietly sitting and staring at oblivion. Her heart broke at the sight of her daughter's tiny frame weighed down more by the mental turmoil than the heavy bridal attire. Her face devoid of any expression. No blush, no fear, no excitement. Who would say she was a bride? She seemed more like a body without soul dressed in fancy clothes and grief being the only ornament on her.

Sighing heavily Ashaben requested Ragini's cousins and aunts to leave them alone for a while. She sat beside her daughter on the couch and lovingly patted her daughter bringing her back to her current surroundings.

Ragini turned to look at her mother; her eyes were seeking confirmation to the news her aunt just broke for her. Ashaben could only nod lightly in affirmation as tears spilled out of her eyes.

Finally Ragini found her voice and asked her mother, 'Why maa? Why do you still think marriage is in my fate?'

'Ragini, don't say that my child. Just because Aman was a wrong man, doesn't mean you are not entitled to a good life partner. See, you are so lucky; there is a proposal from a better man. He is willing to marry you. He is no less than god beta. He is saving us, especially you from such a big disgrace.'

'What disgrace are you talking about maa? Can anything be more important than my life? Aman was also a good man according to you. See what happened? How can you be sure this won't repeat? What if something happens after I'm married to this man? Will you still call him god? Tell me maa?', Ragini pleaded helplessly as tears stained her beautiful face.

'Stop it Ragini. Why don't you see, this was meant to happen? God chose Nachiket for you and if this is his way of presenting him to you then just accept it. Trust me just once more beta, Nachiket IS the perfect man for you. And I am not saying this to persuade you, but that man's will to accept you after knowing all this speak of his character. In the society we live in, who steps in to marry a girl who is left at the altar? Do you know he has put only one condition to marry you?'

Getting no response from Ragini, Ashaben lifted her chin up to meet her eyes and said, 'YOUR agreement to this wedding.'

Surprisingly a smile appeared on Ragini's face for a fraction of a second, but tears streamed down her eyes again and frown replaced her smile. Her face that lit up just for that nano second was despondent again as she said, 'How ironical na maa? He seems to care for my agreement while my own mother refuses to understand this.'

Standing up in frustration, Ashaben composed herself again. She had to for her daughter. Though Ragini could not see her life ahead, Ashaben was able to visualize a happy life for her daughter with Nachiket. Ignoring Ragini's plea, she wiped her tears and said sternly, 'Nachiket, is a Cardiologist by profession. Since he is also into medicine like you, am sure your wish to study further will be understood. He is known to Keshavji's family, so don't think I am getting rid of you by handing you over to the first man I found. No! I am not dumping you. I am your mother, will only wish good for you.'

Incapable of arguing further, Ragini wept silently. All the energy just evaporated out of her as it dawned upon her that there was nothing she could do. Little hope that she regained from life when the news of Aman's arrest came were shattered with the follow up news of her new groom. She didn't know if she should curse her fate or be thankful for it.

'If you wish to speak to him you could do so. But trust me beta, he is the man you've wished for. Dignified and noble.' Taking another deep breath, she asked,'I am waiting to hear from you Ragini.'

Still not hearing anything from her, but just her sobs, Ashaben chocked. She turned to face Ragini, folded her hands and begged, 'This is the least you can do for this old woman.'

'Maa', Ragini gasped in anguish. Those words were enough to jolt her out of the doom. She stood up weakly and joined her mother and silently pleaded one last time.

Ashaben was torn between collecting her daughter in her arms and comforting her and being the authoritarian mother and decide her fate. The uncompromising mother won as she sought her daughter's long term happiness. She wiped her tears as she escaped her eyes and said, 'Am sorry my child, but please give your verbal consent to this wedding that will put my soul to peace else I will have to consider your silence as an affirmation. Besides, I strongly feel you both are destined to love.'

Ragini had lost this battle. Silence engulfed the two once again.

A few seconds later she heard her mother sighing heavily and her faint footsteps moving towards the door.

Present

Ragini wished to rush back to the terrace in despair and jump of the building as she had planned to do earlier. Lifting her tired eyes slowly she looked out of the ceiling to floor window overlooking the city that came alive at night. The shimmering lights caught her span of attention as she thought to herself, 'Had it not been for him, I would have been lying lifeless in some hospital now.'

'Why did you save me?'

'Why did you show me the hope that never existed?'

"If you are strong enough to make such a decision that of giving self so much pain by jumping off, then why not be strong enough to face this life that you aren't even certain about being miserable?", his words replayed in her mind.

For the ten minutes that Nachiket stood there outside the room, he heard nothing from Ragini. Finally, when Ashaben opened the door to step out, the defeated look on her face made Nachiket even more nervous. He silently questioned if he could go talk to her, she nodded hopefully in approval. He took another deep breath and entered the room to find her standing at the far end of the room, her back facing the door.

'I wish you'd come and save me again', she muttered to herself.

Immobile she stood till she heard the soft click of the door closing. She sensed someone's presence in the room.

Before she could turn around, 'Umm...Ragini...sorry, Miss Patel', she heard the same voice again.

'I am Nachiket Khanna and I am here to...'

'Raginiii' Nachiket screamed suddenly when he saw her collapse on the floor at the far end of the room.

He almost sprinted towards her reflexively, but suddenly stopped on his way. 'At this moment I am not here in the capacity of a doctor, how can I just go hold her when she is not even conscious?'

Nachiket contemplated once more, but finally the doctor in him took over his subconscious mind that deterred him from going towards her. He had only decided to go help her when Ashaben barged into the room along with Ragini's friend.

'What happened Nachiket? Ragini? Raginiii', Ashaben saw Ragini on the floor and rushed towards her and lifted her head and put it on her lap.

'Shivani, beta please see what happened to Ragini', Ashaben pleaded as she rubbed Ragini's palms rigorously.

Nachiket watched the scene briefly and concluded that it was best to wait outside for now. He was forced to retreat and he stepped out of the room.

Shivani sprinkled some water on Ragini's face that helped her regain consciousness. She pressed her hand on her forehead and opened her eyes slowly looking around. She saw her friend smiling down at her and her mother sobbing. They both helped her up to sit on the couch and offered her some glucose water to restore the lost energy. Her brows furrowed in thought recollecting the name and she asked, 'Nachiket?'

'Yes beta he was here to meet you. He was hoping to explain the situation and his proposal to you, but you...', Ashaben trailed off shivering in fear.

'Am fine ma, but tell me he is the one who wants to marry me?', Ragini enquired in a low voice.

'Yes'

Ragini struggled to stand up on her feet distancing herself from her mother, she thought to herself, I hope this is not a joke but it's him, Nachiket. I can recognize his voice clearly. The same compassion, the hesitation, the modulate voice she can never fail to recognize.

Whatever little she could judge in the brief moment she knew he was a considerate and certainly would never wrong anyone. Why would he want to marry me? He hasn't even seen me, doesn't know me, just the accidental exchange of few words is not sufficient for him to do this. Is this out of sympathy? But why would someone take an extreme step such as marriage to help someone out of sympathy? Marriage is a lifelong commitment and not a momentary decision. Unable to find answers she sighed in vexation.

She closed her eyes searching for an answer when she heard her inner voice ask, 'Ragini, you listened to that man and agreed to marry Aman and give yourself another chance. What is there to think so much when the same man is asking you to marry him this time? Isn't that more prospective? If not better, it definitely won't be worse than marrying Aman. Give Nachiket and you a chance. You asked for him to come and save you and here he is doing just that.'

Ragini opened her eyes having found her answer. She did want to hear from Nachiket, answers to her other questions but that can wait. She was ready to gamble her life with Aman then why not with Nachiket? He sure is a safer bet.

'Maa'

'Yes beta'

'Go tell Nachiket that I accept his only condition for this marriage.'

Ashaben hugged her daughter instantly, unstoppable tears of happiness streaming down her eyes. 'God bless you my child. God bless you with all the happiness.'

After a few minutes

The wedding hall

When back around people, all heads turned to him for some news, the next bit of this intriguing story they would narrate to thousands later. Nachiket did not mention anything about Ragini's sudden fall in health to anyone except Keshavji. It was wise to not disclose about it to anyone which would only fuel the existing fire of confusions.

Nachiket waited patiently to hear some news from the women in Ragini's room. They had only waited for ten minutes, but it seemed like 10 hours, every moment filled with panic. For Nachiket it was not just to about the acceptance of his proposal but her health. She just fell in front of his eyes and he could do nothing.

'Give me a chance Ragini, I'll never let anything happen to you, ever.' he'd just muttered these words inaudibly when he felt a hand on his shoulder.

Ashaben smiled at him radiantly. A victorious one and not the made up or forced one. She looked at him and then at panditji and said, 'Please begin the procedures to solemnize this wedding, the auspicious time should not pass.'

Patting on Nachiket's arm to comfort him as if reading his mind, she said, 'It was syncope. You know how emotionally draining and tiring this wedding has been for her. She is fine.'

Nachiket knew it already but the confirmation coming from her did help him to calm down. The next question hit his mind and before he could ask he heard from her, 'She has agreed to this wedding Nachiket. What did you tell her in such a short time?'

'Just my name'

'That's it? And then she passed out?'

'Yes'

'But the minute she was up first thing she asked me was your name and then she said it herself that she agreed to this wedding and that she did not want to speak anything with you.'

It was Nachiket's turn to ponder and seek answers. Why would she want to marry me readily? She hasn't even seen me, doesn't know me, just the accidental exchange of few words is not sufficient for her to agree to this. It is a compromise, am sure like it was with Aman. But then in her gamble with Aman the stakes were too high, are they less with me?

Nachiket wanted to hear from Ragini, answers to his questions, but that can wait he thought. He stepped forward and bent to touch Ashaben's feet to offer respect and said, 'Let's begin.'

to be contd...