SS in Progress : Mrs and Mr Khanna ... Update on pg 275 - Page 153

'Here, come, sleep with me on the bed' said Ragini, moving to a side to make space for Nachiket.

'You won't be comfortable,' said Nachiket. Pam and kids had stayed for dinner. They'd left a few minutes back, and Nachiket was getting ready to sleep. He saw that there was space on the bed. But he was afraid of hurting Ragini's leg, albeit unintentionally.

'I'll be all right. I'll ask you to go if I'm not comfortable,' replied Ragini. Nachiket was assured. In fact, Ragini was letting him and the others take care of her this time. Yes, she was irritated at times and wanted to go home, but she wasn't being her usual 'I can do it myself' Ragini. This thought brought a small smile on Nachiket's face.

'Ab fir has rahe ho!' stated Ragini.

Nachiket kept the extra bed sheets on the couch and came to sit with Ragini on the bed. He hadn't commented on his smile. So, Ragini asked again.

'I was just wondering that you aren't being your 'Independent', 'Main apna dhyan khud rakh sakti hu' Ragini. You are actually cooperating! I am pleasantly surprised!' said Nachiket dramatically.

'Yeah, I'm enjoying all the attention I'm getting!' said Ragini, imitating the drama from Nachiket's tone. Nachiket adjusted the pillow below his head and then helped Ragini in lying down, keeping her head on his arm.

'Theek se leti ho? Kahin lag to nahi raha?' He questioned.

'Main theek hu,' she answered.

Nachiket started telling her about the improvement in the investigation of her accident case. Police was sure that they were going to find the culprit soon. Ragini stopped him from speaking any further. She didn't want to talk about the accident. She asked him about his US trip. He told her about the hospital, his high-profile cases, how the kids enjoyed that place. Later, Ragini again shared with him the experience of watching Ranbir, Aagham and Suhani's videos from School. Nachiket also told her about his conversation with Aarav and she told him that he handled the situation like she would have. She had seen that for the past two days, Aarav was staying in hospital more than anyone else and he called her every two hours to ask her how she was. Nachiket was telling her about a friend that he had met in US when he noticed that Ragini was asleep.

Ragini smiled in return, remembering how peacefully she had slept last night, after many nights, in her most favorite place. After, taking the vitals, the doctor announced Ragini fit enough to go out of the room on a wheel chair. Everyone was elated beyond measure, at this announcement and the twins grinned the widest. Agham, squeaked and leapt in excitement and tightly hugged Nani who was standing beside him.

After the doctor left, Aagham rushed to Ragini and embraced her.. "Mom, i am so happy, we were waiting to hear this, for so long", he said, still exuberant at the news. Aarav followed along with Maa, to join their celebration. Aagham jumped up and declared that no one will let the news go out of the room and they will make a plan to surprise Dad and others. "Bhai, ko pata chalega toh tu toh gaya!", Aarav warned immediately, to which everyone laughed. "Thoda risk hai, per jab woh maa ko bahar dekhenge, toh unka reaction aur unki chehre ki khushi dekhne layak hogi.. uske liye mein ye risk uthane ke liye tayyar hoon, aap kya kehte ho mom?", he finished turning towards Ragini and waiting eagerly for her response. Ragini, who had been constantly smiling, looking at her son's excited dramatic delivery of the plan, could not oppose, "Tu itna risk utha raha hai toh, mein kaise na kahoon", she said, as he hugged her again, thanking her earnestly.

The twins left for their colleges, while Sunny Tai and Maa stayed back, Nachiket entered after a while and was suspicious of Ragini's constant smiling, which made it even harder to keep her promise to her son. But thanks nurse who came asking for him, Nachiket had to leave and Ragini bit her lip, with a sigh.

The girl was presently in the ICU, under heavy medication and observation, and Nachiket decided to speak to her parents at the earliest. They could go in for the surgery immediately.

He picked up the phone and spoke to the Matron in charge of the ICU. The girl's parents were there with her. He requested them to be sent to his cabin.

There was a knock on the door.

'Come in' he said in a sombre tone, as he went through the last page of the file once again.

He heard the door open and waited.

'Can we get two minutes of Dr Khanna's time please? Sorry, we don't have any appointment though.'

The voice jolted him out of his sense as he recognised the person. He looked up to see Ragini, being wheeled into his cabin by Aagham.

Nachiket stood up on impulse, not believing his eyes, his heart thudding wildly. He was surprised, and Ragini's grin spurred him on. He went around his table and sank down on his knees, in front of her.

Ragini grinned back at him, as he leant forward and kissed her cheek. Aagham soft whistled as both his parents blushed.

'Dad' he said. 'Dr Dwivedi mentioned that Mom would be able to walk in no time.'

Ranbir entered Nachiket's cabin and confirmed the good news 'And Dad, if everything is fine for the next 2-3 days, Mom would be able to come home.'

Ragini beamed at her family, as they fussed about her.

After meeting the parents he went to ragini's room she was back in bed the kids were laughing and joking with her everyone was so happy after hearing that ragini could come home in 2-3 days. Nachiket sat down next to her he held her hand "have you eaten" "no yet i was waiting for you" he smiled then sunny tai came with the food the kids said bye to their mum and went with sunny tai nachiket served dinner and they eat together.

She continued

'I am so happy to be off the bed after so many days. At one point of time, I thought I would not survive, I would never see you all again.'

Her eyes were now swimming with tears. He walked up to her and sat by her bedside. As he tucked an errant lock of hair behind her ear, Nachiket said

'It was a great shock for us all Ragini. We are not used to seeing you like this. You are the one who takes care of us. Promise me something ... You will never ever give me such a square.'

As he palmed her face, she leant in slightly and kissed his palm. After a while, she sighed heavily and said

'Nachiket, you need to go home. I am fine, I don't need anybody over here. These days ...'

He shushed her over and said earnestly,

'Sweetie, you still look like a wreck, though I love you so much. Your right leg and left hand are still encased in plasters. I can't let you be here alone.'

He grinned

'Also this gives me a perfect chance to cuddle you through the night'

This earned him a grin from his wife, and his heart swelled.

"What date is it?", she asked, taking him by complete surprise.

"Why?", he responded confused.

"Just wondering how many days it has been. I can't remember, and have been trying to guess since morning", she said sadly, hoping that it had been only a few days.

"12 days, baara din ho gaye", he replied in a soft tone.. not wanting her to feel, she had lost a lot.

"baara din??", she exclaimed in surprise and then frowned, her face losing all the glow it had displayed since morning.

Nachiket walked up to her and hugged her from the side. Rubbing her shoulders, "It's ok Ragini, I am glad it's only been 12 days. It could have been worse. I am happy, you have recovered so much in such short time", he consoled her.

Still not completely convinced and feeling bad, Ragini turned to him and nodded, with a slight smile.

They remained silent for a while.. Nachiket going back to finish the clean up and Ragini lost in her thoughts, trying to comprehend her lost days.

"Nachiket!", she exclaimed suddenly.

"Kya hua?", he asked instantly turning around

"Nachiket, it's been 12 days!! I have been locked up in the hospital, mai baahar nahi gayi hoon... Mujhe baahar jaana hai, chaand dekhni hai, taare dekhne hai!

"Abhi? Yahan khidki hai, dekhlo na", he replied, surprised by her request.

"Haan, abhi!! iss khidki mein building ke siva kuch bhi nahi dikhta, Mujhe le chalo please.. ", she pleaded

"Abhi tumhara sone ka waqt hai, you need rest Ragini.. kal chalte hai", he tried to convince her.

"Nachiket mujhe abhi jaana hai!!", she begged like a 5 year old with a puppy face.

"zidd mat karo Ragini.. so jao", Nachiket said, with great difficulty ignoring her puppy face

"Nachiket, tum aise baaton mein, mujhse kabhi nahi jeete ho, koshish bhi mat karo.. aur mujhe le chalo", she ordered him sternly.

"Ragini,,", Nachiket whined. then finally said "Chalo!!"

He, very carefully, lifted her from the bed, in his strong arms, smiling at the sight of her glowing face, beautified by a gorgeous grin.. "Aise hi chale?", he whispered, with a wink.

She blushed and pointed at the wheel chair..

Soon he was wheeling her out of the elevator on the roof top..

Ragini deeply inhaled the fresh air, as though, she had not done so for years and excitedly looked at the gorgeous star studded sky.. as though, she had not seen it in years.