The Flame In His Heart
"Come on Kalpi, it will be fun. This is our last time we will be hanging out all together. Even Paakhi is coming along. Please say yes, yes, yes, yes..." urged Ansouya, Kalpi's college friend.
"Okay, lets hit the mall, girls." giggled Kalpi along with her buddies: Ansouya, a bubbly and very loud spoken girl, Paakhi who is the always hyper and Milena the quiet and observant one in their group of four.
It's been the talk of the town since weeks that the new exclusive shopping mall opening nearby was a must to visit and today is the grand opening. Hoardings were being showcased and pamphlets distributed everywhere to promote this mall. Discounts, free gifts and trials, surprises, novelty, fashion shows, music, dance and of course brand shops. The inauguration ceremony is planned at noon and it was still 11 am. They had ample time to see all the celebrations.
At the mall (11:50 am)
"So many people! And we are not able to even see the VIP persons doing the...how do you say that...cutting the red ribbon thing?" Ansouya was nearly jumping to have a look at the persons who stood at the front portal of the mall.
Crowded it was and they were at least three rows back. All they could see was the heads of suit clad men. Kalpi stepped on her toes and she saw a man. She was stunned to see him. Raghav!
He wore a dark black suit and wore aviators to shade his eyes. He was looking great, apart from all those men around him and most of all, Kalpi noticed, he was aloof. As if he was bored, uninterested in the ceremony. The announcer declared that its noon and politely requested Mr Singhania to do the honors of cutting the ribbon. Kalpi turned around to see if Paakhi has heard the name but she was busy fussing with Milena about how she should try out new nail paints when they get in the mall.
Raghav cut the ribbon swiftly and deftly and that too, under a thunder of applause. The announcer enthusiastically declared the mall officially open and not more than five minutes later, Kalpi and her friends were in the mall.
Kalpi's eyes were searching Raghav but looks like he disappeared. Anyways, she was here to enjoy, so she focused on her friends who were dragging her to a new shop- the Bridal Mart shop.
What she didn't know was that somewhere in an opposite coffee shop, Raghav was gazing at her intently. His eyes were following her every move. He had noticed her in the crowd long before she knew. He couldn't help but smile at the way Kalpi was giggling along with her friends as the other girls were essaying some bridal wears and parading outrageously in the shop. Yes, he noticed also that Paakhi, his rival's daughter too was there but he didn't mind her at all. Every ounce of his attention was directly focused on Kalpi.
"Now, move and try this one out!" said Ansouya. She gave Kalpi an outfit that was wrapped in papers.
"No! Its way too expensive and why try this out? It's a sari, and that too bridal type. No, I'm not going to try this." exclaimed Kalpi.
" oh yes you are!" said Paakhi and having said that, all three girls pulled her up and pushed her in the cabin along with the outfit.
Meanwhile Raghav went to get himself a glass of juice and when he looked back in the Bridal shop, he almost dropped his glass. He stood transfixed. Kalpi was turning round and round wearing a red bridal sari with golden hues and embroidery. Her choli was backless and she has pinned her hair up in a bun. She was simply looking breathtakingly stunning.
She laughed as her friends teased her and they all started to do some cat walk, laughing and clicking pictures of themselves.
It was Sammy who came and took him out of his trance. As mesmerized as he was by seeing Kalpi in a sari, he was also turning as red as a turnip for being caught by Sammy. They had to attend the ceremony on the third floor as he is one of the major partner and shareholder of this mall. With one last glance at Kalpi, he led the way out with a grinning Sammy following him.
15 minutes later
Boring! That's what it is this meeting. Raghav took a glass of champagne and went to lean at the bay window looking out at the shops in the mall.
Suddenly he changed his stance as he saw Kalpi enter the florists' shop. She loves flowers and he knows it. Since childhood, he kept track of what she loves and what she dislikes. She was caressing a bunch of white roses and daffodils. Then, she went to join her friends in a jeweler's shop. Paakhi, Ansouya and Milena were trying out different rings and Kalpi strolled in the shop. She saw a beautiful golden bracelet with two hearts and a dove pendent in it. It was simple, elegant and perfectly crafted.
"You like it, miss?" asked a salesgirl with a smile.
"Very much. It's such a lovely piece." Kalpi couldn't take her eyes off the bracelet.
"then, maybe you would like to try it out? Here let me help you" as soon as the salesgirl said that, Kalpi couldn't get time to protest and the bracelet was on her wrist. It shone and was looking so good.
"Loved it." Kalpi whispered.
"and it looks lovely on you. It's a handcrafted bracelet and it's a unique piece. I assure you that no one else is going to be wearing something similar as this one." The salesgirl was encouraging her to buy it.
"And how much it is?" asked Kalpi.
The salesgirl named a shocking price. Kalpi was disheartened. She removed the bracelet and handed it over to the girl and said never mind, but she was just window shopping with her friends, that's all.
She left the shop in haste and went to sit on an isolated bench near the fountain. It was Milena who followed her out.
"you did like that bracelet a lot, na?" asked a concerned Milena.
"Yes, but alas. And what are they doing in?" asked Kalpi trying to cheer herself up.
"Oh, trying out some more rings!" Milena rested her head on Kalpi's shoulder and they both relaxed there.
Both were unaware that Raghav who stood some feet behind heard their little conversation and once the girls moved to the food court, he went in the jeweler's shop.
1 hour later
"Bags!" called Paakhi
"Checked" chimed the girls.
"Then, let's make a move. We need to get home soon now." They gathered their things and started to move when a boy in his early twenties approached them.
"Miss kalpna Jadhav." Inquired the guy.
"yes, it's me" replied Kalpi.
"Hello miss. I'm Sid, delivery boy. Here's for you. And here's the card." The boy handed Kalpi a huge bouquet of red camellia and amidst the camellias was a single full bloomed rose. An exquisite bouquet! Kalpi was about to open the card when another delivery boy handed her a small velvet box. She was scared now.
"Just who is sending you all this?" asked in a chorus her friends. "and what's in the box?"
She opened the box first and was stunned to see the same bracelet she had loved. She caressed the bracelet and then noticed that on it was engraved: My Kalpi
With tears brimming in her eyes, Kalpi opened the card and a smile broke on her face. It read:
Red Camellia means flames in my heart! and the single rose means...
Yours, Raghav
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Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi 2
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