FF - Togetherness Again - Epilogue & A letter from NK Updated Page - Page 13

Originally posted by: poetic

* Deep sigh * finally I have regained my senses after reading the update again.

The way destiny gets these two to meet again warms the cockles of my heart. It is such a Serendipitious moment for them - they are so destined to be together. But now destiny has waved her magic wand and guided them back to each other, it is upto them to hold on. Nothing else or no one else can help them now.

As Scottie Somers would say - I never met destiny, until I met you 😳

Am glad that Nachiket invited her out for cofee; am equally glad that she accepted. Their silence, though awkward at times, spoke all that they were supposed to say, and couldn't find the words to express them with. A chance meeting at a Cafe, a cup of coffee, eyes meeting and feelings and emotions shared with the person you want to be with - its. Serendipity at work.

Nachiket indeed married Rupali, but he chose to separate. AM glad he did so, and didn't let the sore fester for long.

Ragini feels alive when Ranbir is in the picture 😊, that's really sweet. I just pray and hope that these thee form a sweet family bond in the coming days. The nanha mehmaan is of cousre, always welcome 😳

Hope the dodos open their mouth the next time around.

Please update soon.

Originally posted by: shabz50

Wow what a update destined to meet and be together love how they do not need words to tell each other what they ste feeling.

Looking forward to next update

Originally posted by: NeiRaFreak

Curious WOW their silent conversation and your choice of words to express it 👏 👏 👏

Every update knock me dead and I just run out of words to tell you how beautiful these two are 😳

So I gather Ranbir is not her son? May be only Aman's? The story is getting interesting and I can't wait to read moreee 😃

Originally posted by: ronitfan

Ohooo

Kya baat hai!

N can't control his feelings when it comes to her and she's the same guarded person in the show.. too hurt to confide and be vulnerable again. This was so beautiful!!

Especially that tucking the strand behind her ear.. my head is playing it over and over again in slow motion <3 I want this to happen so bad! AWW!!!

Thank you so much for your beautiful words!

This is just FAB!

Originally posted by: iamcurious

You make me read your comments twice Rachna. Thank you for reading it with so much sincerity. 😳

Yes, like I mentioned in the author's note section. If you are destined to someone's love it comes back to you no matter what. These two are destined but they have to pass through some tests to live happily ever after.

Your prayer and hope for a sweet family should come true 😊

Updating in a while. Its ready!

Part 8

It was a pleasant Saturday evening and Nachiket planned to spend some time with Karan. He'd been busy the whole week with the upcoming construction plan meetings and was also a little upset with his abrupt meeting with Ragini. Meeting Karan and Dimpy would lift his mood he thought.

He rang the Kapoor's doorbell and waited for someone to answer the door. Dressed in blue jeans and white shirt with sleeves rolled up to his elbows, Nachiket looked relaxed and casual unlike every time in formals. He had not considered calling Karan to let him know about his visit because he did not want them, especially Dimpy to get hyper and be over hospitable.

Now even after a couple of minutes when no one answered the door he was skeptical if he'd get to meet them. Just when Nachiket had given up and turned to leave, Dimpy answered the door. She was talking or rather gossiping nineteen to dozen over the phone and was so involved in the conversation that she did not even realize that it was Nachiket at the door. She simply opened the door and turned away, the cordless phone stuck between her ear and shoulder while one of her hand was busy filing the nails of the other.

Nachiket stood there fighting a smile and wondering 'What did they have so much to talk about?.' Instead of going in he chose to wait for her to take of him so he leaned on the wall with his arms crossed across his chest.

'...And this she has been saying since last year!' Dimpy quipped into the phone when she turned away after absentmindedly glancing just once at the visitor.

She stopped talking and slowly turned around to check if she actually saw Nachiket or was it just his look alike standing at the doorway? She gaped at him for a second and covered her mouth with her hand.

'Listen, I'll talk to you later, I've a guest,' Dimpy said and hung up the call.

She quickly hurried towards Nachiket who was chuckling at Dimpy's reactions.'Oh My God!' Mr.Nachiket Khanna at my doorstep?,' she squealed.

'What a surprised!!' she said and hugged him.

Nachiket returned her hug and walked into the house with his hand around her shoulder and asked, 'Why? Am I not welcome?'

'Of course you are!! Just that Mr.Khanna visits us voluntarily without being invited 100 times and without either of us pleading to see you. So naturally it's a surprise isn't it?' Dimpy continued cheerfully.

'Okay! I give up', Nachiket said throwing his hands up and shook his head.

He settled down on the couch and Dimpy planted herself besides him. She indeed looked very happy to see Nachiket and that could be understood from her beaming smile.

'So what brings his highness here?' Dimpy interrogated playfully and narrowed her eyes.

'Stop it Dimpy!'

'Okay am sorry...by the way Karan is in the playground across the street playing with kids', Dimpy informed.

'Oh is it?'

'Yup!'

'Then I think I'll catch up with him there', he said and rose to leave.

'Won't you stay for some coffee?' Dimpy asked and followed Nachiket who'd almost reached the door to exit.

'Next time!' Nachiket winked and disappeared into the elevator before it shut.

***

Playground:

Nachiket wandered about in the ground and spotted Karan playing football with Ronit, Rahul and other kids. It was an amazing sight for sure to see children playing. He was impressed to see Karan be a kid himself when he was with the other kids. He gelled with his children and bonded with them as a friend and Nachiket loved this. Whenever he looked at Karan's family, somewhere deep within his heart he always wished to have a family of his own but destiny had something else in store for him. He dismissed those thoughts and headed straight towards the boys. Karan saw Nachiket and waved at him. Nachiket jogged towards him and was quickly by his side.

'Nachiket! Surprised to see you here man!' Karan greeted merrily.

'What is with both of you, husband and wife?' Nachiket asked. 'I mean both of you seem to be surprised to see me?'

Karan smiled and casually commented, 'It's just that we don't get to see you often...so. Anyway why don't you join us?'.

Yes!'

'Okay!' Karan said and joined his kids to complete the game, meanwhile Nachiket went and sat by himself on the bench enjoying the view in front of him. His eyes ran through the ground and spotted Ranbir at the far end of the ground playing cricket with the other boys. A warm smile spread on Nachiket's face on seeing him playing happily. He waited to catch his attention but he was too engrossed in the play to notice him. He noticed a lot of parents in the ground actively playing with the children, mostly the fathers with the boys. After a couple of minutes Nachiket too got busy with a call while his eyes stayed on Karan playing with the other kids.

***

'Hey guys let's have the one on one competition today.' announced a small boy holding a long rope in his hand.

Ranbir and the other boys stopped the play as they were diverted by this boy who announced.

'What one on one competition?' asked Ranbir.

'You forgot? Last time we all agreed to play a game of tug of war with one partner in each team, Remember?' the boy explained with curiosity.

The other boys immediately cheered and jumped with joy as they recollected their agreement to play the game.

'Oh yes! I remember', said Goggi, a cute, plump Punjabi boy who sounded thrilled with the challenge. Secretly he wanted to defeat his neighbor Ranbir who was always in good books of everyone.

'Come on then! Let's go towards the centre of the ground', the boy said and sprinted towards his father who was standing with other gentlemen.

Goggi looked at Ranbir's sulking face and teased, 'What happened Ranbir? Won't you play? Or is this going to be the first game you are going to lose without playing?' and started laughing loudly.

'Arey Goggi, he won't play! Where is his partner? His mother is not around then who will play with Ranbir?' irked Gautam, another kid who envied Ranbir of his popularity and joined hands with Goggi and teased him.

****

'How about Nachiket and Ranbir in one team?' Nachiket asked chirpily.

Ranbir's eyes flew to see the source of the encouraging voice and found Nachiket wink at him. He was leaning against the wall with his hands stuffed in his pockets. He had overheard the kids' conversation and felt bad to see Ranbir so sad and disheartened. He wanted to cheer him up and so quietly followed him.

A big smile appeared on Ranbir's face and he happily ran to him, 'Hey! How are you? And how come you are here?'

Nachiket knelt down to reach his height and held his shoulders gently as he spoke, 'Am good! I was here to see Ronit's dad and saw you. So how are you?'

Ranbir looked very happy to see Nachiket, though they had met only a couple of times, the boy had taken a strong liking for him and answered, 'Oh that's nice! I'm good too'.

The uproar of sudden cheering and clapping diverted Ranbir's attention. He looked at his friends with a yearning desire who were all now playing the game and enjoying while he was unable to participate along with them. His innocent eyes saw the smiles of his friends, even from a distance and went moist. There was no jealousy in them, but they were just wishful to be a part of them and play with them like they all did with their fathers.

Nachiket looked in the direction where Ranbir's eyes were fixed and turned back to look at him. He read his expressions carefully and then said once again, 'Ranbir and Nachiket can also play as a team.'

'Really?', Ranbir's eyes lit up and he confirmed gleefully, and looked back again at his friends who were jumping with joy.

Nachiket smiled and ruffled his hair lovingly and said, Of course! Let's go!!' and lifted Ranbir and began to walk towards the cheering crowd.

****

'Hey Goggi, how about a game with us?', Ranbir spoke loudly in a confident voice. Goggi turned to look at Ranbir who stood with both his hands on his hips and head held high, along with him there stood a man who had protectively kept his hands on Ranbir's shoulder. Goggi gulped in fear and turned to his father,a cheerful young Punjabi man - Parvinder Singh.

'Oye! Why not puttarji?', Goggi's father said and walked past Goggi towards Ranbir and Nachiket with an extended arm to shake hands with Nachiket. He introduced himself and said, 'Oh ji Parvinder Singh, Goggi's father'.

Nachiket shook his hands warmly and smiling at the over enthusiastic Mr.Singh he said,'I am Nachiket Khanna! Ranbir's ...'

'Friend!', Ranbir completed his sentence and looked up at Nachiket who smiled back and said, 'Yes, Ranbir's friend'.

'And my friend too', Karan added and winked at Ranbir showing a thumbs up.

'Very nice Karan Prah, your friend is our friend ji! Oh ji welcome Nachiket Prah.' Mr.Singh said and took initiative to introduce Nachiket to the others along with Karan.

Ranbir glared at Goggi who feared and hid behind his father unable to face Ranbir. He was not sure if he would want to compete with Ranbir, after all Ranbir won everything he participated in. He looked around to see if he could escape and try to avoid this game with Ranbir.

'Come on Goggi! You can do it!' Gautam whispered in Goggi's ears. He looked at Ranbir and said, You have a great chance to win against Ranbir today'.

Goggi faked a smile and tried to appear confident, but trembled within with just the thought of playing against Ranbir. He tugged at his father's shirt and said, 'Papa lets go home, am tired'.

'Oh wait puttarji, one last game with Ranbir and his friend Nachiket and then we will go', Mr.Singh coaxed Goggi and invited Nachiket and Ranbir to come and join the game.

****

The play area was cleared and both the teams had taken their places. The crowd divided to cheer the teams, Karan and Ronit cheered Ranbir and Nachiket while Gautam and his elder brother cheered Goggi and his father. The rope lay on the ground, a red scarf tied on it dividing the rope for the two teams. Ranbir stood in front standing close to the boundary with Nachiket standing close behind him. The teams mutually agreed and picked up the rope and held it. Nachiket securely stood behind Ranbir, promptly holding the rope tight. Goggi and his father took their positions and waited for the whistle to blow that would announce the beginning of the game.

Gautam's brother blew the whistle and announced to begin the game - Tug of war. Both the teams began to pull the rope with all the strength. Ranbir in comparison to Goggi was a petite boy for his age, but his willpower was much stronger than that of Goggi, who had mentally given up to Ranbir. Nachiket too pulled with all his strength, he turned towards his right so that he could pull the rope with his left hand.

'Come on Ranbir', Ronit clapped encouragingly while Gautam cheered, 'Oye Goggi, chak de fatte!!'

Goggi and his father managed to pull Ranbir and Nachiket almost closer to the boundary not once, but thrice, one strong pull and they would win the game but Ranbir and Nachiket managed to put up a fight to last a while more. Goggi's eyes met Ranbir's, he feared the glare and tremble when he saw his fierce eyes. The rope began to slip from his sweaty hands and without realizing Goggi's grip gave way and both Goggi and his father were pulled into Ranbir's boundary.

The game ended and Karan rushed to lift Ranbir and put him oh his shoulder. Nachiket beamed with pride as he won Ranbir and him the game. More than winning, Nachiket was happy that Ranbir could participate and play like his other friends and did not have to kill his little wish.

'Oh wah ji Nachiket Prah, you were so good', Mr.Singh congratulated Nachiket. He thanked him humbly but his eyes were glued on Ranbir whose happiness had no bounds. All his friends were back to cheering him and congratulating him.

Even Gautam whisked through the crowd and congratulated Ranbir. Ranbir looked around to find Nachiket. Amidst the celebrations, he spotted Nachiket standing far away looking at him, he swiftly ran to him and threw his arms around his waist and hugged him. Nachiket embraced Ranbir and lifted him once again and kissed him on his forehead.

'Thank you Nachiket uncle! You are the best!' Ranbir said happily.

'You are most welcome beta' Nachiket said and put him down once again as his friends were waiting for him to continue their game. He saw Ranbir sprinting away happily with his other friends swaying and jumping in excitement, animatedly explain how he won the game to his other friends. Nachiket was delighted that he was able to bring this smile on his face.

Soon Karan and Nachiket were engaged in talking when they heard Ranbir shout loudly. Everyone rushed to see what made Ranbir shout. Goggi, in agitation had pushed Ranbir strongly and shoved him. Ranbir fell with a thud and on his face and his head hit a big stone.

Nachiket panicked and rushed towards Ranbir. He knelt and picked up Ranbir who lay lifelessly in his arms. He was unconscious and bleeding. Ranbir, open your eyes baby' Nachiket said in a tensed voice. Ranbir!', Nachiket called again and hit his cheeks but Ranbir did not respond.

Goggi got scared and ran away and did not stop even after his father called out loudly. Mr.Singh looked very disappointed, Oh ji am sorry on his behalf, these children...', he muttered apologetically.

'Let's just take him to the hospital first.', Karan interrupted

Nachiket quickly scooped Ranbir up in his arms and ran towards his car. Karan and he rushed him to the nearest hospital along with Mr.Singh who followed them in his car and all the while prayed for the child's health.

****

After a couple of knocks Mrs Malhotra opened the door and was shocked to see Ranbir being carried by some unknown man. Ranbir!', she squealed in shock. 'What...What happened to my son?' she stammered as Nachiket slowly walked into the house, led by Karan and gently put him down on the bed in his room.

Both walked out of the room and Karan gently held Mrs.Malhotra 's shoulder and made her sit. Aunty please don't worry and please sit down', he urged her to sit and not to panic. Nachiket sat on the couch beside and tried to calm her down too.

'Ranbir just fell down while playing with the children on the ground, we took him to the doctor, he has got a single stitch on the forehead, but...but he is fine now', Karan comforted her and continued in a calm tone, Doctor has given him an injection and he will be sleeping for a couple of hours. Don't worry aunty, he is fine now.'

'Thank You beta!', Mrs.Malhotra mumbled.

'Thanks to my friend Nachiket, we rushed him to the doctor and trust me he is fine'. Karan then introduced Nachiket to Mrs.Malhotra , who smiled lightly and thanked Nachiket once again. After about 20 minutes, Mrs.Malhotra calmed down a little though she looked worried she managed to bring them both a glass of water each. She set the tray on the table and said, Ranbir's dadaji has gone to meet his friend and Ragini is not at home, thank you beta, what I would do alone in this situation?'

Nachiket smiled at her and said politely, 'Aunty, you either stop calling me beta or stop thanking me.' Mrs. Malhotra melted and immediately broke into a warm smile. While Karan narrated the entire incident, Nachiket's eyes skimmed around the house. He found a picture on the wall, which he kept looking at it when Mrs.Malhotra announced, That's Aman, my son.' She took a breath and continued, He passed away four years back.'

'Oh! I'm ...I'm sorry!', Nachiket apologized and looked away and his eyes then rested on another picture of Ragini and Ranbir on the table. Ragini has brought up my Ranbir puttar all alone,' Mrs.Malhotra 's voice sounded in background as Nachiket continued to look at Ragini and Ranbir's smiling picture as if trying to comprehend something.

'Four years? Ragini got married to Aman in 2008 and he passed away the same year? Then Ranbir...' Nachiket thought to himself.

'Shall we leave Nachiket', Karan's voice interrupted Nachiket's thoughts.

'Huh?'

'Shall we leave?'

'Yes, lets...lets leave'. Nachiket said and stood up. He folded his hands and said a polite Namaste to Mrs.Malhotra . 'Beta, wait till Ragini comes, she will definitely want to thank you'.

'No aunty, it's really ok, and please tell Raginiji not to worry', Karan said and both of them left.

*****

Nachiket was on his way home in his car after a brief goodbye to Karan. He was pondering over Mrs.Malhotra 's words, He passed away four years back...'

He recollected his conversation with Karan at Ronit's party. The little boy lost his father when he was just a year old. He doesn't even know his father is no more.'

'There is definitely something more to this...' he muttered to himself and drove in silence.

To be contd...