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A few days had elapsed since Aagham's graduation ceremony. While Nachiket was busy with the Hospital, Ragini was a bit relaxed and relieved now. Nivedita and Aman's sisters were now in town and they were in control of the situation.
Following the ordeal, Ragini had taken a few days off work, she felt drained and tired. More than that, she was sad with the way things were between Nachiket and her still, when they were together alone. In front of the children, they strove to be an united front.
She felt as if Nachiket was avoiding her, and has hence been putting in all his efforts and energy in his surgeries and Hospital related work. She couldn't blame him, she only wished that he would at least talk about the same with her. Really talk.
Of course, they spoke, they conversed, but there was something missing. And it pained her to no ends. Nachiket Khanna was far receding while Dr Neil Khanna was returning with a vengeance.
Devika's words returned to haunt her - yes, they were true. While their history was for more than 20 years, yet they were together as a married couple for only the fifth year ... their dynamics as a couple was of course going to be much more mercurial, than their 22nd year as part of a family, with children. Ragini sighed and shook her head slowly
Tears spilled down her cheeks as she sat alone in the semi dark apartment, waiting for him to return. Maybe tonight she would start the conversation instead ...
... and tell him how important he is to her!
Minutes passed into hours and unknowingly Ragini slipped into deep slumber, on the sofa, shivering slightly under the coverlet.
...
It was nearly midnight when Nachiket walked in, using his own set of keys. He had messaged Ragini earlier that he would be late and would eat something from the pantry, but there had been no response. He was greeted with partial darkness and he squinted hard, to adjust to the darkness.
Depositing his laptop on the side table, he slipped out of his shoes and walked towards the sofa. He was right, she was sound asleep on the sofa, curved into a foetal position. She looked even more frail, and he didn't like it one bit.
Loosening his tie, he slipped out of his coat. He looked all around and wondered what they have come to. He missed her so much; the nightmares of his past flashed in front of his eyes as he remembered those years they have spent apart and regretted every minute of it.
He sat down on the settee and looked at her sleeping, shivering a bit every now and then. All he wanted to do was to reach out and brush the loose lock of hair away from her cheek, and hold her close ... maybe. Maybe drive away the chill and unhappiness away from her life.
He sighed deeply and stood up.
He moved away from her, nearly tiptoeing, and went to their bedroom. He moved quietly inside as he freshened up and then readied the bed for the night. He then returned to the living area, and picked her up gently.
'Nachiket ...' she whispered in her sleep, as she burrowed further into him, seeking his warmth.
Once inside, he placed her on the bed and covered her up, willing her to continue sleeping. As he slid into the bed a few minutes later, she turned gently and moved towards him, her hand going around his waist.
Nachiket held his breath, he willed himself not to move a single muscle, as he knew that she would move away the moment she woke up.
And he didn't want that. For sure.
They were both amenable to mistakes, he was well aware of it. But this distance was getting to his nerves, and he knew that he was hurting her with his aloofness.
He had his reservations about the entire situation, he knew ... and he wondered whether their getting back together was a mistake. After all, a separation of 15 years and staying away from each other for so long, were not so easy to deal with.
Love was not the issue, it has never been - he sighed once again, as he drifted off to sleep.
Ghum Hai Kisikey Pyaar Meiin
