It Happened One Night
The smell of buttered popcorn floated across the apartment as Nachiket settled down on the sofa, in front of the TV, the remote in his hand. They had been planning to catch up on a movie together, now that the children were not at home.
Aarav and Agham had gone to a fishing and camping trip with Aakash; Ranbir had chipped in, and so had Karthik and Suhaani. The kids would be away for a four days precisely. Sunny Tai had requested for leave as well - a makeshift Bai was covering up for a week instead. And Ragini's Mother had gone to visit her own Brother in Baroda, and to bring Badi Naani back.
As such, they were alone together. And happy. For finally getting some much needed time together. After all the trials and tribulations over the past few months and more, their relationship was finally on a mend and they were both emotionally committed to work towards it.
Ragini looked at him from over the kitchen counter. He was lazily flicking through the TV channels, trying to find a suitable movie for their movie night together. Her cheeks flushed and her heart fluttered at the very thought of being this close to him, at the idea of spending quality time with him, trying once again to share their lives with each other. She believed in her heart of hearts that the efforts would be totally worth it, this time.
'Ragini' he called out, turning back towards the kitchen. Only to be met with the vision of her walking towards him, while balancing a bowl of popcorn in one hand and a small tumbler of lemonade in another. She looked lovely in a deep blue saree, her favourite, he knew.
He loved popcorn. She loved lemonade.
'You haven't added caramel?' he asked, as he took the popcorn bowl from her and put it down on the centre table.
'It's 11 p.m. Nachiket' Ragini replied. You don't need caramel in your system, right now.'
'Yet you can drink lemonade at 11 p.m.? Is this even being fair?' Nachiket grumbled, feigning a childlike hurt expression, as he picked up the bowl and settled in on his lap, his legs now outstretched on the centre table in front of him.
Ragini's laughter tinkled across the room as she poured the lemonade into two tall glasses. She noticed Nachiket looking at her steadfastly as she handed him a glass. She looked at him questioningly, and he answered in a heartbeat, his fingers wrapping around hers, across the glass
'I had forgotten how beautiful your laughter is ... and all these years ...'
Ragini looked away a bit embarrassed, her eyes welling with tears. Slowly pulling away her hand away from his, she questioned
'So what movie are we watching tonight?'
'It happened one night ...' Nachiket answered, his voice trailing away sensuously.
'Huh?' Ragini turned towards him
Nodding his head towards the TV, he said
'This Frank Capra comedy is on now. I thought you might want to watch it. Or would you prefer the Anacondas once again, Ma'am?'
Ragini replied as he snickered
'Shut up Nachiket. Clark Gable it is - such a handsome guy. And what a beautiful movie'
She removed the glass tumbler to the side table and then swung her legs up on the centre table, to join his.
Nachiket looked at her and smiled. He was really enjoying this version of Ragini; the version that had been lying underneath layers of rubble all this while.
Half an hour into the movie, Nachiket felt Ragini's hand drop listlessly beside him, the hand that had been vying for it's share of popcorn all the while. His lips curved into a pleasant smile as he remembered her saying
'Nachiket, you couldn't possibly be this hungry? You just had dinner an hour back.'
And he had steadfastly refused sharing more popcorn with her. She had looked pissed alright. And he had realised then how priceless these moments were.
He turned towards her; her head was now resting against the backrest of the sofa - she looked tired.
Pulling her closer, Nachiket circled her shoulder with his arm so that her head now rested against his clavicle. He was pleasantly surprised when she cuddled upto him further, her hand going around his waist as she she settled in for a deep slumber.
Nachiket glanced at his watch - it was way past midnight. He wasn't surprised to find Ragini asleep. He looked at her closely, his fingers lightly tracing the lines beneath her eyes and around her mouth. She was still as beautiful as before, yet there was a lilting sadness to her that haunted her all the time. His heart broke as he realised that he was principally responsible for the sadness that has embraced her life. And he swore that was willing to make amends, and make it all go away.
Switching the TV off, he effortlessly picked her up in his arms and walked towards her room. Ragini woke up a bit disoriented and clueless and looked at him questioningly
'Movie's over sweetheart. Time we get you settled in ... for sleep' his eyes twinkled with laughter.
Ragini lowered her eyes embarrassed.
'By the way, 54?' Nachiket asked.
Her eyes shot up to his, and she shook her head in negation and answered '56'. He looked at her amusedly as her face went a shade redder, her eyes still sleepy.
Ragini's room was shrouded in darkness. A sliver of moonlight guided his way to the bed, as he deposited her on the bed, gracefully enough.
Pulling the curtains closer together, Nachiket started towards the door when he heard her calling out to him
'Nachiket'
He stopped dead in his tracks.
And slowly turned around. She was now half inclined on the bed, looking at his direction.
He slowly walked towards her - he had to see her face, he knew. As he walked towards her, Nachiket could visually feel her tensing up and a thousand questions ran through his head.
A few seconds later, he had reached her and tried to peer deep into her eyes, helped partially by moon rays frolicking around the room, after trespassing the restrictions set by the curtains. She looked up at him standing there, waiting.
And he waited.
'Stay ... please' the two soft words floated across the room.
All their defences were down. Effectively.
He shuddered inside. This is it. She knew no other way and he wanted none either. Realising how difficult this was for her, he crouched down by the side of the bed, and asked
'You ...'
She had simply nodded.
He touched her cheek reverentially and then tucked a loose strand of hair behind her ear
'You lay down. I will join you in ten'.
...
Ten Minutes later
Those were the longest ten minutes that Nachiket had encountered in his life. And the shortest.
His mind went into a tizzy as he moved around the living room, switching off the lights, rechecking the front door and the windows in the hall, and then the kitchen and the gas burners, OTG and everything else.
As he walked towards Ragini's room in utter darkness, he realised he was shivering in anticipation. This was a big step for them - the trust that they were working towards to achieve. The respect that they were striving to offer to the other. The understanding that they were encapsulating to build into their lives. Love had never been a problem for them.
As he padded barefoot towards the bed, his mind raced. Was he ready for this as yet?
He noticed that Ragini was already asleep and hadn't even bothered to change.
He settled down and pulled her pliant form closer. She offered no resistance and readily moved into his arms, her face against the vee of his T.
He held her in his arms carefully, like she was made of spun glass. Precious and fragile, at the same time.
He was however wrong. A few minutes later, he had felt her shaking in his arms. A dagger went though his heart as he realised that she was crying. Every sob raking her slight frame. He pulled her even closer, if that was even possible, his tears breaking through finally. All the hurt, the allegations, the heartbreaks, and everything else in between ... just pure madness. The only thing that made sense was them finding solace and love in each other's arms. And that's all that mattered.
...
Early Morning
Ragini felt strange, a happy strange. As though she was floating, but at the same time she felt heavily weighed down. She found that when she attempted to move a hand or a leg, she was unable to make her body cooperate. Yet, in her mind's eye she visualised herself floating in an ocean of light. She forced herself to open her eyes slowly, and was rewarded with the most beautiful sight in front of her - him sleeping in her arms, his hair sticking out in all directions and the slight stubble grazing the top of her forehead. His legs were pinning her down to the mattress, but she didn't care. She dozed off to sleep, a smile etched on her face, as his arms instinctively tightened around her.
Sometime later, Nachiket woke up. He had to use the restroom though he didn't want to disentangle. Back from the restroom, he looked at her as he settled down again. Pulling her back into his arms, he realised how in all these years, all he had wanted every day was the chance once againt o look into her eyes when he woke up, the first thing in the morning.
'Hey, Sleeping Beauty. Can you open your eyes for me?"
He hated having to wake her, but the things he needed to tell her didn't seem to want to wait. She was so beautiful. He felt a tug at his heart when she smiled at the sound of his voice. Without opening her eyes she stretched out on the bed in an attempt to awaken her body from the restful sleep she had been in. She opened her eyes and brought her hands up to wipe the residue of sleep from them. He wanted to lean over and kiss each eye lid and let his lips trail to her mouth. She was looking at him now and Nachiket realized he had been staring.
Reaching up, she stroked his face, running her fingertips across the strong jaw line and pausing to caress his lower lip with her thumb. A little shyly, she leaned forward and brushed her lips against his cheek. She felt his breath, warm on her neck as she left her cheek resting against his.
Nachiket leant down slightly to kiss her other cheek and Ragini chose that moment to shift. Their lips met clumsily at first, marked by a moment of pure and utter panic. And then it was all over. The panic was replaced by something warm and soft, something that could be considered only as happiness. Those fleeting moments of happiness which no one could take away from them, the moments all lived and consumed there and then.
They made love then. Her mouth close to his ear, her breath teasing him; and him holding her incredibly carefully, holding her like holding moonlight. Just as soft.
They looked into each other's eyes to make sure that this wasn't a dream, not anymore. The feeling was overwhelming and Nachiket felt his heart constrict with emotions. Ragini then placed her hand over his heart and whispered
'Stay with me, Nachiket. My love'
Their faces glowed with love, their eyes shiny with tears. And at that moment, they were as close to each other they could ever be, because they had seen each other's fears, insecurities and weaknesses. And heartaches.
Nothing was said between them. They merely lay there, catching their breath. While he summoned the energy to scatter light, butterfly kisses over her neck, cheeks and eyes, she kissed him slowly, a kiss full of promise and devotion.
"Devotion. That's what this was about." Nachiket thought as his breath mingled with hers and it was sweet.
She smiled against his lips as she commented
'You taste like popcorn, Nachiket'
He returned the smile with a peck on her mouth
'And you, my dear Ragini, you taste as sweet as the lemonade'
She laughed as he continued
"Did you mean it?"
"Huh?" She enquired back.
"You said you loved me," Nachiket asked quietly.
"Always," she whispered, as he now located the sunbeams playing in her eyes.
That was all that they needed to know.
...
The End
