She was sleeping,.. she was running in nothingness desperately looking for something, she was flipping through her marriage album, she was at the edge of a cliff, she was writing her diary, she was lost in the forest.. she was standing at the window looking at the roads and suddenly the window glass came shattering down with a loud screech... Ragini opened her eyes terrified.. she was sleeping or so she thought.
The crank of the knob and a loud thud of the door closing right after, woke her up completely from her nightmarish short sleep.. it was still dark, she looked at the clock, it was 5 am.. Nachiket had walked out of the house.. Did he go for his morning run? was he here? did he see me before he took off?, she wondered in melancholy... then sighed deeply.. she was all alone. She laid staring at the ceiling, tiredness becoming the pretext for he wait for Nachiket.. Her mind wandered and took her back to the day of the anniversary at the farm house.
Anniversary day:
They had reached the farm house quite late, the previous night, and everyone had taken to their rooms, almost immediately.
"Nachiket jaldi chai peeyo.. jaana hai", Ragini begged him for the 4th time, as they leisurely sat sipping on to their tea in their room, in the wee hours of dawn.It was the same room they had celebrated and marked their togetherness 22 years ago.. their laughter and joy bouncing off every inch and the walls filled with invisibly framed memories, only they could perceive.
"Nachiket, kitna aahista peete ho tum", she nudged again. "Ragini, dont worry, mein bahot fast chalta hoon, we will reach sooner than you think", Nachiket assured her, taking a few slow sips.
"Ab chalo bhi..", she pulled him out of his chair, "I dont want to miss it! 22 saal pehle, tum mujhe isi tarah tang karke, le gaye the, yaad hai?", "Tum chai bhi khatam nahi kar paayi thi! Maine kar liya", he giggled. earning a blush-ful glare, as she reminisced that day. "This is exactly how you were blushing that day", Nachiket teased as her cheeks turned crimson, as she remembered - she was trying to have tea sitting on his lap and he was relishing everything but his tea.
Ragini turned her face, as she picked up the shawl.. "Mujhe ek aur cup chai peeni hai", Nachiket said, trying catch a glimpse of her, "us din ki tarah", he whispered to her, as his arms snaked around her waist. "Nachiket chodo mujhe.. chalo na, jaana hai na!", she urged in a hush, as she secretly moistened her throat, that was drying from his touch. "Chalo, mein kahan rok raha hoon?", he asked looking straight into her, holding her firmly in his strong arms.
"Chodo mujhe.. mein tumhari baahon mein aati hoon toh..",
"Toh? Toh kya?", "
"Toh, pata nahi, mujhe kuch ho jata hai", she said wiggling, attempting to get out.
Nachiket leaned forward and closer and closer, "ab nahi gaye toh sach mein miss ho jaayega", he whispered, earning a push on his chest and a wide grin of pride.
Nachiket grabbed his camera and they set out. It was a short hike to the top of the nearby hill that flaunted a breathtaking sunrise. Nachiket and Ragini always made it a point to catch it whenever they were at the farm house.
"Nachiket, yeh hai tumhara fast chalna.. jaldi karo na", Ragini mocked, walking quite ahead of him, as he strolled leisurely, often stopping to capture the beauty of the country side. "Maine kahan tha na, you wont be able to keep up with me!", she teased, before striding ahead faster. "I am so tired Ragini.. wait let me catch up", he shouted huffing and puffing as she sped ahead . Nachiket called out for her to stop 3 more times and then threatened her that if he catches up, he wouldntspare her. When she didnt budge, he took off swiftly and sprinted to her in no time, holding her in a hug and lifting her up.. "Nachiket! Nachiket! kya kar rahe ho?", she managed to say between her laughter.. "Nachiket.. woh dekho.. ", she pointed at the beautiful sky and the sun barely peeping out, as if secretly catching a glimpse of them. Nachiket gradually put her down and they welcomed the sun with open arms. thanking him for lighting up their lives and wishing for a brighter future... They closed their eyes and embraced the first rays...
Nachiket turned around to take Ragini into a tight hug. "Tum meri baahon mein aati ho toh tumhe kya hota hai pata hai?", he whispered, to which she shook her head.. "Tum pighal jaati ho, meri baahon mein", he said with a smile.. his eyes meeting hers...
They spent sometime admiring the sun and nature, capturing as much.. Nachiket nagged Ragini to pose for him with varied expressions and actions, which annoyed her, but he was adamant. He had clicked her away, like this, 22 years ago and he had got the chance to do it again today.., After a good amount of time, they embarked on the journey back.
"Ragini, I got you a gift!", Nachiket revealed as they walked.. "I know I know", he cut her off, before she could get started.. "I know you didnt want one.. but I found this very precious thing, that I wanted to buy for you, the moment I saw it.. couldnt help", he added. "Par Nachiket,..", she started.. "And guess what? The kids have got you a gift too..", he announced. "Kya? yeh sab mujhe kaise nahi pata, aur kya kya pata nahi hai mujhe?". she asked turning to him with her hands on her waist. "They all liked it so much, they all got one for themselves", Nachiket blurted out rubbing the back of his head. "Itna kharcha?", Ragini said impulsively... then thinking for a moment.. "Sab ne ek ek liya? kya hai woh? kiski baat kar rahe ho tum?", she asked as they reached the gates of the farm house where everyone was waiting for them. "Sab ready kar liya tum logone?" he asked, as he entered.. The kids came forward with a little sapling of the mango tree.. "Yeh aapke liye, happy anniversary mom!", they cheered handing over the sapling and showed her the spot, right in the center to plant it. Everyone else had their own saplings and they all planted them around her's, clapping, cheering, joking and teasing. It was a deja vu for nachiket and Ragini, only now their family had grown and they were all together...
As Ragini stepped into the room, Nachiket entered with a big present.. "Now, this one, is for you", he said, as he put it on the table. "Ab yeh kya hai?", she asked with a wide grin.. "my present for my beautiful wife", he replied.. "Although I must tell you, I dont like it at all, but i bought it as I knew, you would love it", he finished as she started to unwrap. "haaaw", she squealed with joy covering her mouth.. "This is so cute..the little bonsai orange tree, with little oranges.. I love it Nachiket, thank you, this is the best gift", she said as she stared closely at it. "Why dont you like it?", she asked curiously, after a moment. 'You will take care of it, spend time with it, As it is, your time is divided between work and kids and you hardly have time for me and now this!", he complained with a pout.. Ragini laughed heartily at his silly complaint.. "You know when was the last time I had a bonsai?", she asked.. "Dr Aman had gifted it to me on my birthday a few years after we... I took good care of it, but somehow it didnt survive for long.. I felt so bad when it withered away". she narrated and he only nodded, unsure what to make of it.. "But this time, I will take utmost care.. and Dr Khanna, from today, the tree will have a priority over kids and over you!'", she said jokingly. Nachiket shook his head with a frown...
Present:
Tring, tring, the buzzing phone, brought Ragini back to reality. She picked up, "Maam, aap abhi aasakte ho? he is very scared and needs you", the terrified nurse said...
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