FF - Togetherness Again - Epilogue & A letter from NK Updated Page - Page 10

Part 6

2 days later

It had been a couple of days since Nachiket met Ragini. Although he was busy with his work and back to back lined up meetings, it turned out to be more and more difficult to get Ragini out of his mind. It was not just now, but ever since Ragini had braved to voice her feelings for him, she was pretty much on his mind. Taking business decisions was never a problem, but taking personal decisions was always a challenge for Nachiket. His personal decisions were often influenced by the people he respected and loved in life. His father was one such.

Soon after completing Post Graduation, Nachiket took over his father's business. He primarily concentrated on the business they had established in the USA. He was keen on moving out of India at the earliest as that was the only way he could have distanced himself from Ragini as directed by his father. Since then, he engrossed himself in business so much that everything else ceased to exist for him. He never lived up for himself, it was work and only work for him. He was determined to exhaust himself so much that Ragini or her thoughts could never haunt him, but he realized he could not cheat, not at least himself. Although Nachiket lived a robotic life, he never failed to perform his duties as a son.

***

'Fantastic! That is indeed a good news. Thank you so much doctor,' Nachiket said and hung up the call.

He quickly dialed another number and waited till the call was answered.

'Hello! Pam?' Nachiket inquired.

'Yes, Nachiket. How have you been?' Pam replied.

'Am good. How is papa feeling?'

'He is resting and don't worry, he is feeling much better.'

'Good. I just got a call from Dr. Sinha and he said everything was perfectly fine. Papa is improving as he is responding to the treatment.'

'Am sure he will be fine. By the way he has asked me to remind you to order for his favorite scotch,' she said and laughed lightly.

Nachiket laughed along, this indeed was a good sign he thought. He was clearly very happy to know about his father's recovery, no wonder he is responding to the treatment! Tell him it shall be done.'

'Hmm..Take care bhai !', Pam murmured.

'You too dear. Bye for now', Nachiket said and hung up. He kept looking at the phone in his hand for a while lost in some random thoughts. He was glad his father was feeling better and was assured that he would soon be fine. He knew all this was possible because of Pam, his younger step sister who took care of his father in his absence.

Nachiket's father Mr. Kailashnath Khanna, now a retired businessman settled in Mumbai post retirement, suffered a paralytic stroke when his second wife Kamolika left him for good. She left behind their daughter Pam, who fortunately was more of the pure blood of Khanna and nothing remotely close to her evil mother.

Pam was a simple and a very understanding young girl. Unlike her mother Kamolika, Pam was born with noble genes inherited from her father. She was more caring and understanding towards her father and elder step brother, Nachiket. She regretted that she was Kamolika's daughter, having her evil blood within her so much so that she chose to be with her father and her brother when her mother decided to leave Khanna Mansion.

Nachiket's father, Mr. Kailashnath Khanna was a very nobleman, a dignified person. He was an honorable man of words and success came to him easily because of his wisdom. Married to Krishna Khanna and blessed with a son like Nachiket, he was a happy man. He wished for nothing more in life as he was bestowed with all he had wished for.

Krishna Khanna's untimely death in a car accident and solitude led to a gradual downfall in business and Kailashnath was diverted from his ambitions and dreams. This invited Kamolika, an associate of a very successful but opportune businessman who was also one of the potential business partners of Khanna Industries. She was directed to take an undue advantage of the situation. Extending moral support and sympathy to Kailashnath Khanna during his weak, vulnerable moments, she won his heart and soon married him and became a step mother to the lonely Nachiket who was 10 years old then.

Things worsened as Kamolika successfully influenced Kailashnath Khanna who was totally under her control by then and began to capture his property one after another. She charmed Kailashnath Khanna so much so that she was capable of manipulating him from a contented, happy man to a greedy disgraced businessman. As Nachiket grew up, he found himself distanced from his family, primarily because of his step mother Kamolika.

Nachiket respected his father as his real mother always told him about his father's nobility and kindness which he had not just heard of but witnessed too. He'd promised his mother to never let go of her husband, his father no matter what and would always be by his side in her absence. This promise to his mother and being a man who honors his word, Nachiket took some extreme decisions in due course of life.

But one unfortunate day his father's blind trust on Kamolika proved to be a curse to Nachiket. He was summoned by his father, and that day changed his life again.


4 Years Back

'You will marry Rupali and no one else Nachiket', Kailashnath Khanna, his father declared in a firm voice. He turned to look away with one hand stuffed in the pocket and the other holding the lighted cigar while he spoke.

'But I love Ragini!' Nachiket argued.

Kailashnath turned to face him angrily and said, 'I don't care who you love Nachiket. Rupali is Mr.Oberoi's only daughter. Your alliance with her will benefit Khanna Industries a lot. They are proposing to invest in our new business venture in the US. As you know for some time now our business has not fared well. Khanna Industries is not the same anymore, its sinking, but your marriage with Rupali will change our fortunes.'

'And what about my life?', Nachiket questioned not believing his father's words. He knew this was Kamolika speaking and these were her words from his father's mouth.

Kailashnath took a step towards Nachiket and stood in front of him staring at him angrily. 'Nachiket, I have given my word to Mr.Oberoi and I don't want further discussions on this.'

There was complete silence and Kailashnath walked away without bothering to see or know his son's reaction. Nachiket was shell shocked. He loved Ragini and wanted to marry her and no one else. While his mind warned him to not disobey his father, his heart told him to forget everything and run to Ragini and gather her in his arms and elope.

Amidst this confusion he did not notice Kamolika's presence in the room. He heard some footsteps nearing him from behind and he slowly turned around to notice the source of distraction. He saw Kamolika smiling at him, an evil one, she looked definitely pleased with the scenario she had created.

She came closer to Nachiket with her hands folded across her chest and cleared her throat before she began to speak, 'So Nachiket, I hope your father has made it very clear about your wedding with Rupali. She is a fine girl, am sure you will like her as well.' She paused briefly and continued with a stern voice, 'Well, I care a damn about your liking her, all that matters is the investments in business which only your marriage with Rupali shall make it possible.'

'I am NOT marrying Rupali! Am I clear?' Nachiket grunted with disgust.

'I am marrying Ragini soon and SHE, and only SHE shall be my bride!' he stated further angrily.

Kamolika glared at Nachiket and said with a hint of warning in her voice, 'If Ragini is to be your bride, she shall be but..' She paused and looked into Nachiket eyes and said further, 'but only for a day.'

Before Nachiket could argue or interrupt she continued, 'She will NOT see the next morning Nachiket!' emphasizing on the word 'not'. Stepping closer to him and turning him to face a large frame of Krishan Khanna, his real mother, on the wall, she said, 'Am sure you don't want me to Re demonstrate to make you believe that I do what I say I will or I can...' she smirked as she tapped his shoulder and pointed at Krishna Khanna's picture on the wall with her eyes to finish off her warning in style.

Nachiket had suspected Kamolika to be involved some way in his mother's fatal car accident but her candid confession that day had startled Nachiket. He felt the ground slip away from beneath his feet.

She left Nachiket alone in the room fighting his tears and desires. He could see all his hope diminishing every minute. No way could he risk Ragini's life when he'd seen and had known the fact how he lost his mother to the evil intentions of Kamolika.

He had no options but to break Ragini's heart and stay away from her for her good. After his mother, Nachiket loved Ragini the most. He did not want to lose her now. Her being alive away from him was better than losing her when with him. Nachiket was shattered and disappointed. Life was being unfair and he could do nothing about it. He fell on his knees and broke down. He'd decided to keep his Ragini alive, but by breaking her heart. It was the toughest decision he'd ever made to sacrifice their togetherness that was meant to happen but did not...

To be contd...

Originally posted by: poetic

😛 Despo me