SS: Train Journey (Part 5 Pg. 13) - Page 3

Later that evening

"Mom, I'm starving!" cried Agam, "Chalo khana khate hain."

"Haan Maa, mujhe bhi bhook lagi hai," added Aarav.

"Haan Ragini, jaldi se khana dedo," said RK.

"Haan haan baba, la rahi hoon!" said Ragini, getting up from beside Nachiket with a laugh. She was about to take a step forward when she felt a tug on her sari. Nachiket, she thought, partly irritated and partly smiling. She turned to see him pouting at her for getting up. The kids are hungry! she said with her eyes. So am I..., he seemed to say, without letting go of her sari.

Ragini smiled, shook her head, and turned. "Jignesh beta, woh packet dena zara." Jignesh reached behind Nishi to grab their dinner and handed it back to his mother-in-law. As he handed the packet over, Jignesh left his hand on Nishi's arm and Nishi moved back to rest on his shoulder.

Ragini smiled watching her daughter and son-in-law's chemistry. After Nachiket convinced Jignesh's parents that they should wait a bit before expecting a grandchild, the differences between Nishi and Jignesh nearly disappeared. She loved their new bonding; it almost reminded her of Nachiket and herself when they were just married.

Ragini turned towards Nachiket and looked at him questioningly. He released her sari and she lay the parcel down where she had been sitting just moments ago. As she passed out plates to everyone, Nachiket leaned in and let his lips rest on her ear. Ragini felt a jolt down her spine and she let out a barely audible moan. She hated when he did this in public; she couldn't concentrate on anything else.

As she reached for the sambhar, her hand missed. Nachiket turned and caught the container just in time, saving her pink sari from being stained brown. She gave him a stern look and he made puppy eyes back at her. Sorry darling...

Still angry, she handed him the last plate and gathered up all the garbage. Cramming everything into a bag, she sat down. "Arrey Ragini, tumhara plate kahan hain?" said Karan, stuffing his mouth with food.

Nachiket looked over at Ragini. Her hands were folded neatly in her lap. "Nai Karan, maine lunch mein bahut kha liya tha. Aur waise bhi, mujhe idli pasand nahi hai na."

How could you be so careless, Neil?, Nachiket thought to himself. Yahaan Ragini bhuki hai aur tum...

"Ragini, there is a stop coming up in two minutes. We'll go and buy you something to eat." Nachiket said sternly, leaving no room for questions.

"Nai Nachiket, sach mein I'm not hungry at all!" Ragini said, crossing her legs. "Mein bachi nai hoon; agar mujhe bhukh lage gi toh mein kuch kha loongi, I swear."

Nachiket wasn't having any of it; he put down his plate and stood up. Nachiket grabbed Ragini's wrist and dragged her to the front of the car. "Nachiket, kya kar rahe ho! Maine bola na, I'm not--" She stopped talking as Nachiket left her hand and brought his finger to her lips. Her earlier irritation vanished entirely with his touch. Nachiket moved closer to her and Ragini stepped back, until she felt a cold, hard surface behind her. Ragini blushed hard and averted her eyes as the distance between them decreased rapidly.

She looked up at Nachiket's dark, sexy eyes and gained confidence. Ragini rested her hand on Nachiket's cheek, caressing his stubble. He leaned his face into her hand, kissing up her palm and bringing her hand down his neck. She danced her fingers on his collarbone, enjoying his deeper breaths; then, she suddenly grabbed his collar. Ragini twisted her hand, forcing his head towards hers. Ragini pulled Nachiket closer until she could feel his breath on her lips. She closed her eyes and moved forward to lock lips with her love...

But all she felt was cold air. She opened her eyes to see that Nachiket had taken a step back and was holding a piece of idli. "Itni jaldi kya hai, Ragini?" he asked smugly. "That's your reward for eating this!"

Ragini opened her mouth to rebuke him when the train suddenly came to a stop. Ragini lurched forward and fell hard on Nachiket, who wrapped his arm protectively around her. Ragini looked up and Nachiket planted a sweet kiss on her forehead.

Just then, Ragini heard someone's footsteps and quickly separated herself from Nachiket. Someone ran out of the train, holding his stomach. "Aarav!" screamed Ragini. "Suhani!" yelled Nachiket as another body followed him, covering her mouth.

Nachiket and Ragini sprinted after their children, worried sick to their own stomachs. Aarav ducked into the men's room just as Suhani pushed her way into the ladies' room. Without saying a word to each other, Nachiket went after Aarav and Ragini after Suhani. The two prayed that their children were alright...

A short while later

Ragini came out of the ladies' room, holding Suhani by the arm. "Are you sure ki tum thik ho, beta?" she asked, hesitantly. Suhani had just barely made it to the toilet before throwing up the entire contents of her stomach.

"Yes, mom. I'm feeling much better now," Suhani replied, with a smile. Ragini looked towards the men's room, but couldn't see Nachiket or Aarav. She hoped her son was ok. He'll be fine, Ragini, Nachiket is with him, she thought, consoling herself.

"Mom!" Suhani tugged on her arm, snapping her out of her thoughts. "Dekho, Dad aur Aarav!" Nachiket was standing next to a small stall and was looking around as Aarav drank some water. Their eyes met and both parents instantly breathed a sigh of relief. Ragini and Suhani made their way over to Nachiket and Aarav.

"Kaise/Kaisi ho beta?" Nachiket and Ragini said at the same time. They both looked at each other in surprise as Aarav and Suhani giggled.

"I'm fine, Dad."

"Main theek hoon, Maa."

"Suhani ko bahut ulti hui thi," Ragini said to Nachiket. "Haan, Aarav ko bhi," Nachiket added. They both looked caringly at their children, upset that they were sick but glad that they were feeling better.

"Tumhara ho gaya, Aarav?" Ragini asked, taking the water bottle from Aarav's hand when he nodded. "Ye lo, Suhani, thoda paani pee lo." Suhani gratefully took the bottle and began gulping down the water.

"Nai nai beta!" Ragini said, tipping the bottle back down. "You should only drink a little bit of water after vomiting," Nachiket added. "Otherwise you'll vomit again," finished Ragini. "Take the bottle with you and go back in the train," Nachiket motioned, waving to Pam who was just getting off. "Pam ke paas jao, woh tum dono ko sambhalegi."

Suhani smiled wide. "Thanks Mom! Thanks Dad!" Ragini and Nachiket smiled back, as Aarav and Suhani walked towards the train. Ragini began following them, but stopped in her tracks when Nachiket grabbed her hand.

"Nachiket! Bache abhi abhi vomit kar rahe the aur tumhe romance ki padi hai!" Ragini scolded angrily as she turned towards him. Immediately, she saw on his face that romance was not on his mind (well, now it was). Nachiket raised his eyebrow at her, as Ragini looked back at the train to hide her faint blush from misinterpreting her beau.

"Ragini, tum chalo mere saath," he said, pulling her behind him, away from the train. "Kahan leke ja rahe ho mujhe Nachiket?" Nachiket stopped and turned. "Koi sawal nahi. Aur waise bhi mujhe tumse kuch kehna hai."