SS in Progress : Mrs and Mr Khanna ... Update on pg 275 - Page 180

Once ready, she walked upto him and sat down. Combing his hair gently with her fingers, she said

'Happy New Year my dear husband. Why don't you sleep for some more?'

Instead of responding, he picked up her other hand and pressed his lips to her palm, driving shivers down her spine.

Ragini continued 'You were tired last evening and then too exuberant, past midnight'

His eyes now travelled all over her face and neck, sending all sorts of signals to Ragini and she pulled her hand away.

'Nachiket ...' she warned.

He dove back into the pillow, moaning

'I want you in my arms'

'Later' she whispered, she grinned at his reclining figure and left the room, pulling the door close behind her.

Grinning was good, Ragini realised, as she went own the stairs.

...

The children ambled down to the Hall one by one, rubbing their eyes. Agham collapsed on his Mom's lap and refused to move, all the time bickering with Aarav. Pam snickered at the children and sat across them, with a large mug of coffee in her hands.

Pam was excited. RK and her were getting married in a month's time and they were super happy. Ragini was genuinely happy for her and wished and hoped that RK would shower her with all the love and companionship that she deserved.

Ragini had purchased gifts for everybody yesterday, and she had laid them down on the coffee table, with name tags attached to each gift.

The children swooned over their gifts and kissed and hugged their Mother, when Nishi asked

'Mom, where is Dad?'

'He is still sleeping Nishi. He was tired last evening, he had two surgeries and the drive here was long as well.' Ragini answered. 'Let him sleep some more'

'Why don't we plan for an early Lunch?' Dimpy asked. 'That way Nachiket doesn't have to wait too long to eat. We can in fact wake him up once food is ready.'

Ragini smiled fondly at her. They were indeed blessed to have Dimpy, Karan and RK as their friends.

'C'mon Ragini' she called. 'Let's make Nachiket's favourite dishes. Otherwise, he will stay grumpy the whole day.'

They both laughed out aloud as they made way to the kitchen. Once there, Dimpy whispered

'Ragini, you really have to do something about that bite, near your sternum. All the children are here.'

Ragini, now completely flushed looked at Dimpy in dismay.

'Uff Nachiket, he will never learn ...'

Ragini went upstairs and into their room she closed the door and smiled he was sprawled on the bed sleeping on his stomach hugging a pillow he looked so peaceful she went to him and kissed his forehead "nachiket wake up" "hmmm" "wake up everyone is waiting" she went and stood in front of the mirror nachiket woke up and sat up he smiled seeing her "beautiful" "get up everyone is waiting" he saw her struggling with her sari "what are you doing ragini" "trying to cover up your deeds" "what did I do" ragini turned around and pointed to the bite "this" "oh did aagham notice again" "no thankfully dimpy" nachiket smiled "its not funny nachiket how many times do I have tell you no marks" he took her in his arms "you know I can't control myself when it comes to you" "well learn" "too late" ragini smiled he kissed her neck "nachiket please everyone is waiting" "let them wait" when they heard aagham "mum is dad awake yet I am starving" they both smiled ragini pushed him "go" nachiket went into the bathroom meanwhile ragini put makeup on her bite and covered it up.

Everyone was downstairs when nachiket came "finally" karan said nachiket sat down he smiled seeing all the dishes his favourites he looked at ragini and smiled dimpy and ragini served everyone then ragini sat down next to him nachiket leaned in "thank you" ragini smiled and they had lunch. They were all sat in the hall ragini and dimpy brought coffee for everyone and sat down "so dad what did mum get you" "what do you mean aagham" "mum got us all presents" "yeah nachiket what did ragini get you" nachiket looked at her "woh pam I forgot his present it's at home nachiket" nachiket looked at ragini she looked away she had just lied why did she do that nachiket thought. The kids were laughing and joking they were teasing RK and pam on their upcoming wedding ragini got up clearing the cups away nachiket followed her "you ok ragini" "yes fine" "its fine you can give me my present when we go back" "I lied your present is here" nachiket moved forward "where is it then and why did you lie" ragini ran her finger down his face and stroked his lips "you will have to wait for it nachiket" ragini went to go nachiket grabbed her "ragini" "another thing rest today you will need all your energy for tonight" she kissed his cheek and went nachiket stood there stunned

Thanks Shabbo 😊

Ragini snuggled closer to Nachiket. now wrapped up in his jacket. Her head lay on his shoulder as he held her uptight. He could see the same level of concern in Ranbir's eyes as well.

'Was it the ice cream, Dad?' Ranbir asked.

'I think so' Nachiket responded, as Ragini dozed off. He was glad that Agham and Suhaani were not in this car. Between them, they would have kept Ragini awake.

...

Once they reached the Farmhouse, Ragini excused herself and went to her room. Nachiket followed, after telling the children implicitly to stay with Pam and RK.

Ragini was already in the bed when Nachiket reached the room.

'Ragini?' he called gently, as he settled down beside her.

She opened her eyes and looked at him

'Sorry Nachiket. I spoiled your day'

He pulled her into his arms

'Why do you say so? Nothing is more important to me than your health.'

Pam came in, after a while, with dinner. She knew that his Brother would not budge from the room now, till Ragini was feeling better.

'I don't want to eat' Ragini complained.

'I know' Pam smiled. 'I got some soup for you'

Ragini looked at Pam questioningly, while rubbing her nose

Pam laughed

'Yes I can cook ... now. I learnt from RK'

She looked at his brother and sister in law as he looked down at the tray.

...

'I need to change' Ragini moaned as she got down from the bed.

'I can help' Nachiket offered, his eyes glinting with naughtiness.

Ragini threw a stern look at his direction and sauntered off to the bathroom. She returned to the room in a while, wearing her night dress, only to find Nachiket arranging the food on the table.

'You have to eat something Ragini' he said. 'You have to take your medicine too.'

She managed to gulp down some soup, as they sat together on the couch, her feet tucked under her body.

After a while, she dozed off, totally oblivious of Nachiket's words. And when she opened her eyes a few hours later, she found herself safely cocooned in her husband's arms, his skin, soft and warm beneath her fingers.