While the opening credits were rolling on the screen, Ragini's phone rang. It was Suhani.
"Haan beta"
"Mom, vo.. Hamne to dinner kar lia tha, but Aagham ne kuch bahar ka nahi khaya uski tabiyat ki wajeh se. Usne bola tha ki ghar aake kha lega. And now he doesn't want to disturb you. He was hungry. Kuch h khane ko?"
"Of course h. Aur agar nahi bhi hoga to banaungi uske lie. Bhookha thodi na soega. Send him up immediately,"
Ragini looked at Nachiket with concern.
"Kya hua? Nothing left from dinner?"
"No. There is. I am concerned about something else,"
"What?"
"I don't know. Sometimes I feel Aagham, Suhani and Ranbir hesitate to ask something from me,"
"You are over-thinking. They love you more than anything,"
"I know they love me. I would be stupid to ever doubt their love and affection. Its.."
Ragini couldn't complete her sentence because the door bell rang.
"Baad mein batati hoon," Ragini said to Nachiket and went to open the door. Suhani had accompanied Aagham. While Aagham joined Ragini in the kitchen, Suhani went to the living room and started munching on the popcorn. She noticed the wine and dim lights of the living room. "Sorry for ruining your evening, Dad," she smiled sheepishly.
Nachiket saw that she was not at all apologetic.
"Suhani, mom ne pasta banaya h. You want some?" Aagham called from the kitchen. Suhani grinned at Nachiket and rushed to the kitchen. Nachiket followed her. Aagham was setting the table when they entered.
Ragini served them the pasta and started on tea, while Aagham and Suhani filled them on their day.
"Bata kar nahi aa sakte tum dono? Aur door band kaun karega?" Ranbir entered the kitchen. He had come to drink water when he saw the main door open of their apartment and Suhani and Aagham missing from their room.
Both Suhani and Aagham apologised and Aagham offered him his pasta with an apologetic grin on his face, earning him a glare in return.
Ragini started to stand up to get a plate for Ranbir but he stopped her and brought it himself. After the dinner and tea, the kids watched the movie with their parents and Aagham fell asleep on the couch. Ragini didn't want to wake him up, so Nachiket placed him on the diwan and Ragini covered him with a blanket. Ranbir and Suhani kissed Ragini goodnight and went to their rooms. It was way past midnight.
Nachiket and Ragini were settling down for bed when Nachiket asked, "What were you saying earlier about Aagham and hesitation?"
Ragini had lied down and turned to face Nachiket, who was already looking at her, "I think they're afraid I would say no to them. It doesn't happen always. But whenever it does, I can see it on their faces. I don't know what I should do. Am I over-thinking?"
Nachiket smiled before saying, "You are not over-thinking. And I know what you are talking about," he paused to hold her hand,"You remember last month when I had gone with Aagham and Aarav to buy their laptops," Ragini nodded but had no idea where this was going. "When we had reached the store, Aagham had told me the laptop model he wanted and when I had asked Aarav what he wanted, he said he'll take the same one as Aagham. And that's when Aagham said that Aarav had been talking about some other laptop, then why is he asking for this one now. So, when I asked Aarav about it, he said he was all right with the one that they were buying. The price of the one that he wanted was more than the one that Aagham wanted. He didn't tell me what he wanted because he was afraid I would say no to him. So, what you are feeling right now is exactly what I felt that day,"
Ragini replayed his words in her mind and after a few moments of silence, spoke, "18 years is a long time,"
"It is. And their fear is justified. I talked to Aarav about it later on. You should talk to Agham, Suhani and Ranbir. It will help," Nachiket suggested.
Ragini smiled and nodded, "You're getting good at this parent thing, you know," she teased him.
"Darling, when you have five kids, you learn such things," he kissed on her forehead and both of them fell asleep while talking about the kids.
Hindi TV Shows
Current Affairs
